Prime Candidate
When Sophia and I returned to her room, hand in hand, Amy greeted us with the biggest smug look I had ever seen on her face.
"If this is the price I have to pay for successfully confessing, all things considered, I'm fine with it."
After a few moments of awkwardness, it was Sophia who spoke, after a few blatantly fake coughs.
«Okay... um... we've still got some time, we should take a look at the second floor before 9pm. We didn't get a chance to look around last time, maybe there's a good place to hide up there.»
«Shall I come with you? Or would you two rather be alone a bit more?» asked Amy, still grinning.
It seemed that the fact that my confession had been successful had lessened the nervousness she had felt earlier.
The same was true for me. I felt like I could have done anything right now.
Chuckling at Sophia's obvious panic, I replied:
«There'll be time for our first date later! For now, let's concentrate on staying alive, all three of us.»
I stood and opened the door as Sophia whispered:
«Date...?»
"She's so cute!"
But as we walked through the school corridors towards the second floor, that light atmosphere began to fade.
In fact, I couldn't help but notice that some of the classmates we passed were looking in our direction with fear.
"Sophia and I have killed before... and the second person I've killed was also begging for mercy. Maybe they think we'll come after them once the fight starts."
Indeed, using only cold logic, that would have been the best way to ensure our survival: to kill the 39 necessary students as soon as possible, before Aldric was freed from the barrier.
But...
"That duel changed me... but I didn't become a monster..."
If someone had tried to attack us though, I would have had no qualms about getting my hands dirty again.
We climbed the steps of the entrance hall and reached our destination.
«Since we're still safe for now, let's split up,» Sophia said, «let's see if we can find something that can help us.»
Amy and I nodded and headed off in opposite directions.
I started to walk the corridors of the second floor alone. As I had noticed last time, the layout seemed to be identical to the west wing I was familiar with.
I opened the first door in front of me to take a look.
«As I thought... these are the professors' quarters.»
I entered the small study and hurried to the bookshelf. It was full of old tomes about magic, nothing of interest.
Then I had an idea:
«Skylark's office!»
I started running, trying to remember where it was in these corridors that all looked the same.
"There was a cabinet full of documents in his room! I Maybe he left some clues!"
I recognised one of the paintings I had seen last time, I was on the right track. But as I turned the corner, I bumped into someone.
«Ouch!... I'm sorry... oh Philemon!»
The boy nodded at me. There was an unusual look of concern on his normally imperturbable face.
«What's wrong?» I asked, «Has something happened? Where is Celeste?»
The boy pointed to the last door in the corridor:
«I don't know what's got into her... I've never seen her like this.»
"Oh..."
I'd almost forgotten her reaction in class at the sight of Aldric.
"Nice friend I am..."
I headed for the door, which happened to be the one to Skylark's office.
«Excuse me...»
The study was exactly as I remembered it, except that it seemed to have been completely emptied. There were no papers on the desk and the cabinet was completely empty.
"I should have guessed..."
It had been pretty stupid of me to think Skylark would leave anything useful behind.
Celeste was sitting on the floor in the corner. She was sobbing and holding what looked like a piece of parchment.
«Celeste?! What's wrong?»
The girl looked up, her usual sophisticated make-up smudged with tears.
«Liz! I... this is so cruel!»
I approached her and put my arm around her back. My friend rested her head on my shoulder and continued to sob.
I held her close and waited for her to calm down.
Finally, with a sigh, Celeste handed me the paper she had been clutching.
«Look!»
«What... what the hell?!»
Aldric's handsome face smiled at me from a picture. It was a younger version of the wizard I knew well, and had nothing to do with the creature I had seen a few hours ago.
Next to the image were words written in an elegant handwriting that I remembered from my letter of acceptance: Skylark's.
Name: Aldric Highfield
Status: Commoner
Rank: Prime Candidate
Special ability: xxxx
Description: xxxx
Evaluation: Combined with his incredible special ability, the subject has an outstanding mana capacity and great control over it.
These characteristics make him one of the most interesting prospects for the purposes of the project. We recommend using the subject's emotional weakness as a vehicle for his development.
Some sections of the document appeared to have been deleted.
"Prime candidate... project... development."
As I imagined it, there was nothing natural about the state Aldric was in.
"After this battle is over, I must shed light on all this."
There was also another piece of information that could not be overlooked, one that would be much more relevant in the short term:
"Special ability... he has an innate power."
Now that I had read it, it seemed almost obvious to me that Aldric possessed one. Skylark obviously had no intention of revealing which one it was. That's probably why he deleted that part.
«Celeste, where did you find this document?»
«It was lying on the desk.»
«So Skylark wanted us to see it...»
What for? Knowing him, it couldn't have been good.
«How could they have reduced him to that state... He was my hero and now... he almost looks like a monster!» Celeste complained.
«I understand, I was shocked too.»
«I wouldn't say that, you seem pretty calm!»
There was no time to explain why:
«Anyway... this document, can I keep it?»
«Go ahead, but... do you think this project they're talking about is what's waiting for whoever wins between us? Will we end up being monsters like Aldric?»
Celeste had exactly the reaction I should have had. Seeing her certainties crumble before her eyes had shattered her eternal optimism.
I took her face in my hands, as Sophia had done to me when I had felt hopeless.
«It doesn't matter right now, Celeste. Just think about the fight ahead, ok? Just take deep breaths.»
«Okay...»
«And if that's the case... we have to make them pay. Not just for what they're trying to do to us, but for what they did to our idol.»
«You're right... thank you Liz.»
But as we exchanged these words, I heard a noise behind me.
I turned around and...
"I'm dead!"
I immediately let go of Celeste's cheeks as if they were boiling hot.
But to my surprise, Sophia seemed completely calm.
«I finally found you!»
«Um, I was looking for clues and I...»
«Explain it to me on the way, there's something you need to see!»
«Ok...»
But before I could move, Sophia approached Celeste with a strange expression on her face.
«Um... Fitzroy... would you like to join us for the battle?»
«HUH?!»
Both Celeste and I let out an exclamation of surprise in unison, looking at Sophia as if she were an alien.
"What the fuck?"
Celeste was the first to recover and finally managed to put on her usual smile:
«Thanks for the offer... but it's probably not a good idea. Phil and I have too many points after that tournament, I'm sure someone will come and try to take us out. With just two of us it will be harder to find us... but I really appreciate the offer!»
«I see... Let's go, Elizabeth.»
I followed her with my mouth open as Celeste waved at me.
Once we were in the corridor, I asked quickly:
«Um, who are you? And what have you done with my girlfriend?»
«Very funny...»
«No, seriously... I thought you said it was better to be in small groups and... it's Celeste.»
«I spoke to her fiancé to ask him if he knew where you were... he told me you were trying to comfort her about what happened to Aldric. So... I thought... it would make you happy if I asked her.»
«Huh?!»
«I thought it would be a good time to bury the hatchet...»
I grabbed her arm, giggling.
«What is it?»
«Nothing... I love you!»
«Yeah, yeah... whatever...» but she blushed again, «but if I see you touching her like that again, I'll cut your hands off!»
«Roger!» I replied, bursting out laughing.
«Anyway, what did you want to show me?»
I got serious again and showed her the piece of parchment.
I saw Sophia's brow furrow, but after a while she sighed:
«This confirms the nature of what I found.»
«What...?»
«Here.»
Sophia pointed to the open door to her right.
The room I entered was much larger than the offices I had visited so far. It was...
«A classroom?!»
The structure of the room mirrored that of the lecture hall where we usually had classes, though considerably smaller.
"Why is there a classroom up here?"
There were numerous rows of raised seats that allowed one to observe...
«What the hell is that?»
It was no ordinary lectern. On the table was a strange glass contraption. Numerous glass spheres were connected by a series of intricate tubes. I had no idea what it was for. By its side were strange devices of various shapes. I approached and noticed that Amy was also here, looking through a large bookcase on the left side of the classroom.
«What the hell is this stuff?»
«I was hoping you could tell me.»
«I've never seen anything like this before,» I replied lifting what looked like an oversized syringe with a strangely shaped needle.
«One thing's for sure, someone has been studying something up here.»
I shuddered.
"Project... candidate... development..."
«Sophia... do you think this whole thing is a...»
«An experiment. More specifically, a human experiment, the first product of which is Sir Aldric.»
As soon as Sophia uttered those words, a clear, loud voice rang through the room:
«15 minutes to the start of the event.»
«SHIT!» Sophia cursed, «I bet that was his intention in bringing us up here. He wanted to waste our time and try and scare us!»
«It's ok... we'll be fine. I thought about it and... I think it's better to stay in the corridors of the west wing. Unlike the second floor, we know the layout well. When the battle starts, I bet all the doors will open and we can use the rooms for cover if we are attacked.»
«Good idea... let's go!» exclaimed Sophia nodding, «Amy?»
«Wait a minute... look at this!»
The girl placed a large volume on one of the tables.
I read the title:
Advanced Magic Theory
"Doesn't sound like something I'd read before going to bed..."
But then my eyes fell further down.
Written by Evander Skylark
"A book written by Skylark?"
Come to think of it, there wasn't anything strange about it. As much as I hated him, he certainly knew his stuff... actually, it was strange that I had never seen any of his publications until now.
But then Amy turned to the first page, and as I read the book's preface, I understood where she was going with this
Evander Skylark is the most famous researcher of the nature of magic. His discoveries have catapulted the magical world several years forward.
«HUH?! The most famous researcher...?! But I had never heard of him before I came here!»
It seemed that the deeper one dug into what the Academy was hiding, the more disturbing details came to the surface.
«Damn it... we'll deal with this later!» blurted Sophia, «Let's go!»
We hurried towards the exit and down the stairs. The atmosphere in the school had become even more sombre. There were only a few students left. The others must have been in position, ready to fight.
We arrived outside Sophia's room, at the far end of the west wing.
Her owner was biting her fingernail. It seemed that our trip to the second floor had not helped her nerves at all.
«Are you all right, Sophia?»
«What do you think?»
«Sorry, stupid question.»
Sophia met my eyes.
«If we face Aldric... don't do anything dumb.»
"She is on to me."
«Don't you remember what I promised you? I have no intention of lettin-»
«Your promise doesn't say anything about yourself,» Sophia interrupted, grabbing my wrist, «don't do anything stupid... please.»
«Aye aye!» I tried to joke, but Sophia's grip tightened.
It was then that the voice uttered the fateful words:
«Let the event begin.»
Immediately I felt a chill, as if I had passed through a veil of icy water, and then... chaos broke out.
In the distance, towards the common room, we could hear a cacophony of shouts and explosions.
It seemed that no one had any intention of waiting for Aldric to begin his hunt.
«Incoming!» shouted Sophia as she stepped in front of me.
The fireball that had been thrown from around the corner hit her sword and disappeared.
«Already?!»
I pointed my wand in that direction and returned fire. The explosion that resulted from my spell swept away a large part of the floor. Without any intention of finding out if I had hit our mysterious attacker, I ran after Sophia and Amy, who had already headed in the opposite direction.
Suddenly, however, I noticed a sudden movement coming from one of the rooms ahead of us to our right.
«STOP!» I shouted.
My two friends stopped just in time. A gigantic spike of rock erupted from the door and crashed into the opposite wall.
I didn't have time to breathe a sigh of relief as the ceiling started to shake above us.
"Shit, they want to crush us!"
Like the trap of an old dungeon, the stone ceiling over us began to fall at an alarming rate.
«Let's go back!»
But as soon as I turned my head, I saw three figures in the distance coming towards us.
"It's like Sophia said, they're coming for us..."
The latter destroyed the spike of rock blocking our path, allowing us to move forward. I began to bombard our pursuers with spells, pointing my wand behind my shoulder.
The stone spikes attacks from the rooms were relentless, but thanks to Sophia's power we were able to continue without any problems.
«Soon we will reach the corridor leading to the entrance hall,» I said running to her side, «do you think we should go there?»
«Too risky! Let's keep going around in a circle! We might lose them!»
But as we rounded the corner we were confronted with an alarming sight. The two walls of the corridor in front of us were closing in like the fangs of a giant beast, blocking our way.
«Dammit! We can't go through here, we have to turn back! It would take too much time to cut through all this stuff,» Sophia shouted.
«I've got an idea!» I grabbed her and Amy and pulled them into the next room.
«The spell protecting the rooms has been lifted, we can proceed by destroying the walls between them!»
«Good idea... but it seems we can't escape this guy wherever we go. His power to control stone has an absurd radius if he's one of those behind us. Let's go through the rooms and try to catch him from behind!»
Sophia began to make her way from room to room, tearing through the walls as if they were made of paper. Meanwhile, Amy and I kept an eye on the corridor from the doors, trying to see where our pursuers were.
«They seem to have disappeared... but they were right behind us a few minutes ago!»
We decided to stop for a moment, to catch our breath.
«That was close...» Sophia sighed.
Amy looked breathless. Unlike me, she hadn't been trained by an iron sergeant.
But the pause didn't last long. The voice spoke again:
«15 minutes to the release of the examiner, 50 students remaining.»
Barely fifteen minutes had passed and 14 people had died. But an unpleasant voice in my head thought:
"I was hoping for more..."
And then, as if by divine retribution, the world turned upside down.
Amy, Sophia and I found ourselves pressed against the ceiling... and the floor began to shake.