Inescapable Fate

"Shit… shit… shit…" Nagisa repeated quietly to himself all the way furthest in the back, alone, with four guards surrounding him.

He had already been falsely accused in this world! On the first day of arrival and no one would believe if he shared his side of the story as to counter Miyuki's supposed justification of beating him up. All of Nagisa's insides hurt, and the insides of his mouth tasted like blood.

"Had I not managed to escape my fate? Why have I been summoned to an alternative world with everyone I tried to get the hell away from? Was my mischievous and final act all in vain? Miyuki is just going to kill me in this world and make it look like an accident!" Nagisa panicked, then manically laughed quietly by himself at his unfortunate fate.

He pondered if he was really fated for nothing in life. He reminisced about his abusive and alcoholic parents beating him, about his dad driving drunk and dying. Even his mother beat him a great deal which numbed his pain long after she had hung herself.

None of the homes wanted a supposed "trouble child" that was seemingly cursed. Therefore the government gave up and granted the fifteen-year-old Nagisa a small apartment and enough money to get by on his own.

"Where did it all go wrong? What the fuck did I do to deserve this!" Nagisa agonized internally.

The school days kicked in, and it was leaked he was the 'trouble child' somehow. All the bullying commenced shortly after. Six months. For six whole months, he had endured before deciding to end it once and for all, a sweet relief, what a cruel lie life really was.

Nagisa bit his underlip after thinking about his dark and distanced past, maybe, just maybe, he could have a way out.

"The bishop mentioned magic right? If I manage to fetch a really powerful one, perhaps I can fend off to survive on my own here, and the possible and inevitable clash with Miyuki and the rest!" He encouraged himself.

They arrived towards the end of the secret passage and exited, which led them to a grand corridor, then to the great hall.

The bishop nodded and looked at the group to remind them of how he had told them briefly just before how to conduct themselves. He then proceeded to clap his hands loudly and the two great doors opened and everyone walked in.

It was a grand gesture, guards were stationed at both sides, side by side from left to right, you could only move forward. There was even an upstairs floor with what looked like 'nobles' or high-ranking people in society being gathered together. All of them spectated their entrance.

Nagisa assumed this based on their attire alone and presence. Miyuki could not help to grin all the way until they had arrived furthest in, standing before the throne with the king and queen sitting down.

"Welcome heroes, I apologize for your abrupt summon, but as time is of the essence, let us proceed. I suppose the bishop has instructed you briefly on the situation. I am king Seiya. Step forward if you wish to be blessed and manifest the use of magic," The king welcomed them and proceeded onwards.

Miyuki immediately stepped forward, and could not help but keep his grin. He bowed gracefully in an absurd natural movement and flow.

"I am Miyuki, I heed your call in these dire times and wish to aid your kingdom to fight back the demons, if you would be so kind to bless me, my king, my queen, it would be my great honor to make myself useful," Miyuki deceitfully spoke with utmost grace.

Miyuki knew how to conduct himself and spat out only lies, a pure natural.

"I sense the honesty in this man, please raise your head and come forward,"

Seiya responded.

The king remained clueless of Miyuki's true nature, and the queen came forth with an orb upon a pillow in which she held with both hands under. The orb was then put on a small altar in front of them.

"Please place your hand on the orb, and the ancestral orb shall forcefully manifest your much-fated magic in you my hero," The queen instructed and resumed her seat.

Miyuki could not help but smile even broader. He arose and placed his hand on the orb. The orb started radiating immediately and pulsated minor shocks which were visible from his body twitching.

It started manifesting a pure red color, even excess started steaming outside the orb. The entire scene looked like a protagonist's awakening, however masked with him being the antagonist in an ironic ordinarily fashion.

"Oh, my!"The queen reacted and the bishop came forth.

"I see you have an exceptionally rare aptitude for magic, and you have awakened Fire Magic, one that only few can awaken, even amongst nobles. The magic manifestation reminds me of a legendary Fire user who was crowned the title Phoenix," The bishop began explaining in a theatrical sense while examining the orb and its results.

Everyone applauded, and when the moment had passed, Miyuki bowed to thank the king and queen once more. He then stepped to the side and the next person in turn stepped forward.

Sakai awakened Earth Magic and Ayato Water Magic. Up next was the class's idol, May. She placed her hand on the orb and it crystallized immediately. Her aptitude apparently rivaled Miyuki's and she had awoken an alike rarity, Ice Magic.

Everyone went before Nagisa who remained in the back. Once it was his turn Miyuki immediately smiled and "accidentally" took off his bracelet, so no one but them would understand him when he spoke.

"Do not disappoint us, Nagisa! Show us how you will awaken the best power this world has to offer, and overcome your past, or let us witness the real you, the one we all know, a true nobody!" Miyuki clapped his hands.

He raised a warm welcoming and concluding act of this magic awakening session. People followed and clapped Nagisa onto the stage. He immediately put the bracelet on and apologized, then deceitfully told them another lie that they fully bought. Nagisa took a deep breath.

"Do not let Miyuki wind you up, be calm and collected like you are outside school, it is just like him to get on your nerves, let's fetch a powerful magic attribute," Nagisa quietly uttered.

Nagisa gulped and placed his hand slowly on the orb after calming down. Nothing seemed to happen, it took a few seconds before the orb responded.

Miyuki tried to hold his laughter, but the giggling sound he gave off was heard across the hall.

The orb started to shimmer a small and weakened mist inside of it and the electrocutes of the magic manifesting painfully affected Nagisa. Enough so that it made him close his eyes. The laughter around him started to become loud once it had burst out.

Miyuki took the lead as always, "Look, at that poor aptitude, did anyone else before him manifest anything like that?" He pointed out.

"Yeah… I think he might even awaken Wind Magic like a few unfortunate other students have!" Ayato trailed on with Miyuki.

The voices were small and seemed all faded for Nagisa. He saw a clear pink color intertwining the small mist, inside the visual image he was instilled on with his eyes closed by the ancestral orb and its magic, however failed to acquire the meaning of it.

"Another Wind Magic user… and with an exceptionally low aptitude for magic"

The bishop disappointingly sighed and added.

The laughter did not let down once Nagisa had been brought back to reality and opened his eyes. He silently joined his supposed colleagues by their side, cursing to himself for the unfortunate event. The king came forth and started talking something about sponsors and the people on the floor above started to arise.

It was time for them to be taken in as adopted children in different households and begin their one-year training prior to entering the Magic Academy and taking its examination.

One by one, almost like an auction, starting with Miyuki, the question was posed to take them in, or sponsor them individually through smaller economical means. Ayato and Miyuki were taken in by noble families alongside May. Sakai was taken in by an upper-class family to sponsor him, as they had paid attention to his closeness with Miyuki and Ayato.

The ones with the poorer affinities or awoken magic were less unfortunate, most of them were taken in by regular families, and now it finally came down to Nagisa. No one raised their hand for some time, this triggered another event of laughter and ridicule, "how the black sheep was fated to remain the same, no matter what worlds".

After some time a fragile and beautiful young-looking girl raised her hand. That immediately silenced Miyuki, then the rest once they had noticed her rare beauty. The king asked if she was sure, and she nodded. Now that the matter had been settled, everyone had a full year to evolve their magic on their own to the best of their abilities or with the help of their set sponsors and families.

Everyone left in a hurry and met up with their new "foster children", which was mentioned that they would adopt the families' names. The girl came forth lastly to pick up Nagisa and put on a gentle and soothing smile.

"Are you ready to leave, Nagisa?" She asked.

The blushing Nagisa nodded, even her voice was something to adore. He averted her gaze slightly since she was a tad taller than his 5'9. Her social status was apparently shaded, and not mentioned unlike the rest.

Nagisa was still taken in by her green eyes, especially even more so since they shared the same unique eye color. She also had long and smooth-looking light brown hair, unlike Nagisa's light and scruffy hair. They left the city right away, quietly without exchanging any words, and went aboard on a horse carriage.

"Where are we going, miss? I thought we were all supposed to be trained in the city, or in the outskirts," Nagisa asked her.

"To the countryside, and call me Risa," She responded and he nodded accordingly.

The ride took a few hours, Nagisa lost track and just stared at the clear blue sky, pondering what does his fate entail. They arrived at sundown. Everyone greeted Risa as they passed through various smaller houses on their way.

"Here are some apples, they are ripe and sweet," An elderly man gave them an entire basket of them.

Risa thanked him, and another couple gave her some milk, then a man gave her some bread. Nagisa felt even more embarrassed now than earlier today, it was like he walked besides a celebrity, and an extraordinary beauty on top of that.

At last they had reached the smallest house yet in the countryside since their arrival, it was slightly outside the rest and on top of a small hill. Risa unlocked the door and they went in.

"Welcome to your new home for a year," She smiled.

"Thanks…" Nagisa said.

He glanced around, and the kitchen caught his attention from the ingredients lying around. Her house was small, there was only but a kitchen and a small round table, then a smaller room with a bed. The home appeared either really poor or one of a minimalist at best.

"Do you mind if I use your kitchen to prepare something as a thanks for picking me?" He asked Risa and she laughed.

"Sure go ahead!"Risa covered her mouth while laughing.

She then sat down around a small table with two wooden chairs, then looked at Nagisa as he prepared something in the kitchen. It took some time, but it was finally done.

"Smells fantastic, where did you learn to bake apple pie?" Risa looked at Nagisa.

"I guess apple pie is not out of the ordinary in this world either", Nagisa stated, "I am self-taught," he added as a mood breaker.

"No on the contrary, just from the smell I could tell you have quite the exceptional skills, this will surely be more than ordinary," Risa complemented Nagisa early.

Nagisa put the tray of baked goods on the table, and then he looked at Risa gracefully lifting a cut portion up and gently biting into it.

"Mm-mm! Delicious," She put on a gentle smile.

It made Nagisa instantly blush and turn away.

Risa slightly laughed, "You are just adorable!" Risa spoke.

"Are you not used to people smiling for you?" She added.

"Not kind ones… no… nor beautiful ones… ah…" Nagisa answered without thinking then immediately regretted his last remark.

"Oh my, are you not forward," Risa teased.

This made Nagisa turn away even more and increased his embarrassment. She rose from her seat and hugged Nagisa from behind.

"Thank you for your kind words, I am sorry for teasing you, let's enjoy the apple pie you baked for me, together, okay?" Risa embraced him.

Nagisa nodded embarrassingly and they both sat quietly in front of each other. Risa kept her smile up the entire time.

The smile reminded Nagisa of a nurse who used to intern at the school, she would always gladly patch him up and was working there to gain more nursing experience while pursuing a similar degree at a university. When she left, it all became darker quickly, her smile kept Nagisa going through his rougher days.

Nagisa looked up from time to time and then averted her eyes by looking repeatedly down. It took some time for Nagisa to finally be able to face Risa without averting her gaze and upheld smile.

He thought their smiles were too similar and he could perhaps come to trust Risa, thus encouraging himself to meet her gaze. In doing this he would be respectful towards his newly gained foster family by taking the first step.

"Finally we meet eye to eye!" Risa cheered before she halted her smile.

"Nagisa… I can tell you are a loner, in that regard we are both very alike… however I would like you to be comfortable around me, okay?" Risa added calmly.

Nagisa nodded once again, becoming more certain that it was okay to let someone in for once. Somehow they felt like kindred spirits in an odd sense.

"Tomorrow morning, we will practice some magic, alright? I will teach you the basics, so you will surely pass the exam in one year's time and be able to hold on your own," She calmly kept her voice.

And Nagisa felt for the first time a safe presence and relaxed his body and mind. He sighed and stared at the ceiling for a second.

"... But for tonight, you and I will be sharing and sleeping in the same bed," Risa slowly snuck in another detail.

It took Nagisa one seemingly long second to fully translate into his relaxed and spaced-out brain, in order to realize what Risa said for a reaction.

"Wh--aaaat?!" Nagisa yelled out.

Risa laughed out for a second, then slightly tilted her head to the right. Smiling forward towards Nagisa, just like before.