Prelude to the Storm

My eyes went wide. 'Did he just say Dark Magic?'

"You seem to know of it," Professor Whitaker said in surprise. I cursed at myself for allowing my emotions to show on my face, but... it was unexpected, and very few people even know of the opposite twin of notes.

He looked at my face intently, but I now had it plastered in a blank expression. He asked, "What do you know about it?"

I stayed quiet, not even bothering to lie.

When he had enough of the silence, he sighed in defeat. "Alright. I'm not going to go ask any sensitive information. I just want to know how much you know of it, so I'll know what I have to teach."

"... Very little," I lied, but it did hold some truth. I could hardly say that I knew everything about it. Besides, I had reason to believe Eva held back on her teachings.

"You are utterly relentless," he murmured before collapsing more on his chair. "But I suppose you have the right to keep things to yourself, you being all... mysterious and such. For your sake, and for my sanity, I will simply assume you know nothing about it. I might go about like a fool teaching you the basics when you might already know them, but so be it. But in turn, I will have you in this room twice a week from now on, and you will go through our lessons with no complaints. Do you agree?"

I considered his words, but also knew this could be advantageous to me as well. After all, learning more about the mysterious magic could help me understand it better. But there was something that grated on my mind. "Why are you doing this?"

For a moment, we only stared at each other, both sizing the other up. However, his tone was oddly gentle when he replied. "I used to know someone. She had a completely black token back then, and she could hardly do any magic. She had been... a Sinus Fidei for all the time I studied in these halls. She could never advance to the inner rings. Alas, years after I had graduated, I heard that she had given up completely and simply disappeared."

I waited for him to continue his story, but he seemed too lost in his memories. "... Professor? What happened after that?"

He blinked back into the present, and then gazed down at my eyes. "Nothing. She's gone. However, I do have some regrets. She was a bright girl, and the Academy must have had a reason to accept her despite her lack of magical talent. In my years as professor, I had done enough research to fill an entire library, and... Soon, I discovered Dark Magic, and I theorized that this might be the answer."

I stared at him, wondering what could have happened to make him so enamored on a single person long after she had gone away. But...

"Answer to that girl's problem?" I asked.

He let out a long breath. "Not exactly. I mean, I know full well that I couldn't help her, especially since she's already gone. I suppose, I only wanted a reason for this... emptiness inside me."

'I don't think Dark Magic or anything else is the answer you're seeking,' I thought.

Instead, I said, "So you want to use me to test your theory? Since I have a black side to my token, you want to test if I could do Dark Magic?"

"Well, anyone can use both magics," he said. "Although, I do want to see if you particularly excel at it. The token a student has simply shows his potential. I soon learned that even someone with a murky token could go far with hard work."

I nodded my head.

Eva had told me once that Dark Magic was the opposite of notes. While notes were reliant on life and energy, Dark Magic thrived in death and negativity. Maybe because of this, it was harder to get glimpses of this magic in normal surroundings. But it hung heavily on anything that festered and rotted.

It wasn't an evil magic, since magic is simply a tool. However, there's a reason why it's hidden away from the public. It could get dangerous, and Eva had always told me tales of Order members going mad after abusing their power, killing their own allies to gather more magic.

I only knew the very basics of Dark Magic, so I was interested about what other things this man could teach me.

"I agree to your proposal," I announced, my childish pitch sounding much more mature with my words. "But I will have you know that I could leave anytime I please."

He smiled with a brow up. "Of course, why should I force you?"

"Also, I decide what I should learn, and I definitely won't stop complaining if it gets boring."

He looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, sir, that I already know some spells," I admitted. "But if I see that you know even less than I do, then I will not agree to this exchange any longer."

The man chuckled, his gray eyes twinkling with excitement. "Good. Let's see who knows more then, shall we?"

~~

I had more free time than I wanted, so my deal with Professor Whitaker was definitely timely. I knew that there must be more to it than simply a lost love, but I was willing to risk it so I could learn more about the magic. Besides, I had started to imagine the man as a lonely soul in search of a purpose. If he wanted to use me to fill up that void inside him, then I suppose I could allow it.

If it turns out that he's actually some evil man who would kill me off as a sacrifice to a demon, then I could simply run away. I had enough freedom and power to leave the school and Empire anyway.

So, for two more weeks, I enjoyed watching the man try to explain magic that he couldn't even do. I had to say, though, that he definitely studied about it a lot. He knew the foundations of the magic well, and he was able to teach me a few more spells with only his words.

Now, I stood at the center of the room with the professor standing watch. He had finished teaching me about a new spell, and now he had me have a go at it. Before long, I was already observing how I felt more energized after seeping at the life force of a flower. It wilted into a dry thing on my bare hands.

"You've done it!" the professor exclaimed, showing a momentarily joyful expression on his usually stern face.

I smiled. "I have a great teacher, after all."

But then, my smile faded away. "It's just that... I can definitely imagine why this power is dangerous. I already feel so much more revitalized after seeping out from a simple flower. What more could I possibly gain from animals? Or even... humans?"

"Well, let's not go there. You aren't even strong enough for that kind of magic," he uttered.

But, somehow, my worry only grew stronger. It was so easy for me to do it. I simply had to hold onto it, and then it was dead the next minute.

For a moment, I wondered if I should really be learning about this. I began to think that Eva had good reason for not teaching me all there is to know.

But, for now, I had bigger problems.

The Test of Waning was tomorrow, and if I had to take a test, it was only natural to try and pass it.