Chapter 29: Two Souls (1)

Chapter 29: Two Souls (1)

"Arma Cruz! Wake up!"

Someone kept urging me to get out of bed.

The voice wasn't Shirley's or Judith's; it was the last person I expected.

Machina Christie, the one who usually tried to make me uneasy with her calm demeanor, was the one standing here.

"... Winter?"

"Why are you muttering such strange things?"

"He lost so much blood that his consciousness has changed! Enoch Clark! Hurry up and call someone!"

I felt cold and thirsty, surrounded by many people.

Blinking my eyes, I noticed the ceiling had changed. The last time I opened my eyes, I saw the familiar yet sickening hospital ceiling.

I closed my eyes again.

"No... back here... boring...."

"Are you really saying that now?"

Someone pressed my nose with their finger, their voice filled with resignation.

Without even opening my eyes, I turned around to see the person and said,

"I think I will take a leave of absence."

"As you wish."

"I'm taking a break from school!?"

"Ugh..."

Judith, still wearing the helper's robe, stood up in surprise and sighed deeply.

The last time I saw Judith, she was in a knight's robe, covered in blood. Now, she wore a clean one; it seemed she changed while I was unconscious.

"Your mother, Countess Tessa Cruz, has been contacted. It's expected when my precious son is shot."

"Oh my..."

He committed filial piety, almost appearing immoral in various ways. Surprisingly, what devastated me more was that they contacted my mother because I got shot.

"The wound is completely healed now."

"You're saying that? If it weren't for Machina, you would have died."

"Ah, right. And her?"

"Resolved the accident."

"The festival?"

"Firstly, it was reported that your accident was accidental, so they proceeded to close it yesterday as scheduled but a bit early."

"Oh my...."Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

As if being falsely accused of murder wasn't enough, I got stoned, almost bit by a beast, and then shot. Regardless of the fact that the intensity of the crimes was getting stronger, it felt like some kind of disaster was starting with me.

"They say the incident was intentionally under-reported. It was judged that the hysteria of the cadets would go too far."

Judith said, pressing her head as if she were in pain.

"No, no, I don't think it is something to talk about now. First, you get some rest. If something seems wrong, shout out. Because of your situation, someone will be standing at the door."

I nodded. Judith watched me for a moment, then turned her back and left. I fell asleep looking at it all. It was a sleep close to an escape, so I fell swiftly into it.



"Is it because of me?"

"I am the council president, right? As president, I need to set an example for the cadets."

"I am truly sorry."

She just stayed silent, maybe thinking that any more talk with me was meaningless.

The restraints used at the academy are mainly employed to restrain the body and take away freedom when desired.

But this is an academy that trains elite individuals in magic.

When it isn't possible to subdue someone simply by restraining them, they vanish too. Even in a life-or-death emergency, Machina punished herself for breaking academy rules by wearing the restraints on her own hands.

There was a short silence, and then a knock was heard.

"Yes."

It would be rare for someone to come and visit Machina at a time like this. Finally, it was Sir William Reynolds, the president of Aegis Academy, who came.

Sir Reynolds was a nervous, middle-aged man with a stern look. His stubbornly raised eyes and mustache made him stand out.

"I am glad to see you healthy."

He must have come to see Machina, but he spoke to me directly without even turning to her.

"I keep causing trouble; I don't know what to say."

"Right, this one is... extremely tough. I hope you get what I mean."

"Yes."

"And Arma."

"Yes...."

Unlike how he usually dealt with Machina, he was nagging me in an overbearing manner. The nagging was so constant that it felt like the wound, which healed thanks to Machina, was hurting now.

"President. Don't you have something to discuss with me?"

Machina got up and stood between me and him.

"It is a bit unfortunate, but it would be better to end our talks here."

"Well, I have said everything I should."

"Nice, then let's leave it at that."

Machina didn't lose in words. It was a natural reaction since she seemed to have guessed that I was being considered the culprit. I left the Black Lily Hall with the cadet from the council who came with me.

First of all, it was known that my accident was an accident, so they closed the festival yesterday as scheduled and a bit early.

In any case, according to Judith's words, the incident in which I fell down after being shot four days ago was considered my own mistake.

"But this is better."

I hoped that Arma Cruz would be considered a lucky guy overall.

Because I was never going to say out loud that Arthur had shot me. And that wasn't the full truth.

"Arthur definitely put down the gun."

It might not have been Arthur's original intention to drop the gun and then fire. Thankfully, the injury was to the stomach alone.

First, he had a gun at my forehead, so it's a miracle that the hole was in the stomach with blood loss. Moreover, in that brief moment when Arthur's dropped gun hit the ground, it felt as if I had seen a struggle between Arthur, who pointed the gun at me, and Arthur, who didn't want to shoot. It was as if two souls in one body were clashing for power.

"But that cannot be."

It was something absurd---two souls in one body? And both of them, Arthur? Nevertheless, the fact that this truth couldn't be completely denied seemed like a bad joke.