Positives and Negatives

Pain shot through my body as I clutched my neck tightly, trying to stop the blood from pouring out of the wound. Ms. Smith and Mr. Brown were facing off, ready to engage in a fierce battle. Their eyes were locked in a stare-down, waiting for the other to make the first move. The tension in the air was palpable.

Suddenly, a strong grip on my arm pulled me down to the ground. I looked up to see my assailant standing over me, watching as I bled out onto the pavement. The situation looked grim until a familiar voice spoke softly.

"Don't worry, kid. I'll take care of you," Scarlett said, her voice soothing and calm.

Her gentle hands cradled my neck, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me as she healed me flawlessly. The warmth of her touch was reassuring, and I knew I was in good hands.

"Thank you, Scarlett," I breathed out, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over me.

"Don't mention it," she replied, a small smile on her lips.

Scarlett's abilities never ceased to amaze me. She was a master healer, able to mend wounds with ease. However, I knew that Scarlett saw her abilities as a curse rather than a gift. She believed that she was not capable of much in battle because she could only use passive magic.

"Aren't you going to help Ms. Smith fight Mr. Brown?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"I can only use passive magic," she sighed. "Offensive magic takes too much of a toll on my body."

I could sense her disappointment in not being able to fight, and it made me sympathize with her. But I knew that healing was just as important in any battle.

"Just because you can't fight doesn't mean you're useless. You saved my life," I reminded her, hoping to lift her spirits.

"I know, but I wish I could do more," she murmured, her gaze downcast.

Before I could say anything else, Ms. Smith was sent flying back, her body hitting the ground hard. She called out to us, her voice urgent.

"I need you guys to get out of here!"

But I couldn't just leave her. I stood up, determined to help.

"Scarlett, you heal Ms. Smith. I'll take on Brown," I declared, ready for whatever was coming.

"Be careful, Sora," Scarlett warned. "This man is no joke."

But I had fought him before. I knew his moves, and I had to think of something new.

"Gazing into the oblivion" was what Scarlett called it when I zoned out, deep in thought. I was trying to figure out a way to defeat Brown, who was a formidable opponent.

"Sora, what are you gazing at into the oblivion?" Scarlett's voice brought me back to the present.

"I'm contemplating on how to defeat him," I replied, staring at the looming figure of Mr. Brown.

Brown chuckled, cracking his knuckles, a malicious grin spreading across his face.

"I'd love to see you try, you little runt," he taunted.

I focused, condensing the light magic I had gathered into a single sphere and charged towards him, holding it out in front of me.

"COME AND GET ME, BRAT!" Brown yelled, preparing to cast a spell.

I released all the magic behind me, propelling me forward and landing me behind Brown, unnoticed. I swiftly placed my hand on his back and activated my "ABSOLVE" technique. Light strings snaked throughout his body, causing him to realize his grave mistake.

His scream of agony pierced the air, and the strings poured out of his mouth like parasitic worms. I wrapped my strings around his heart and started constricting them, crushing it.

"What... do you think you are doi-" Brown's words were cut short, and he coughed up blood, losing consciousness. He was dead before he could even fight back.

Everyone was in awe, looking at me with admiration, as I had taken down a powerful foe without exerting too much effort.

Scarlett approached me, demanding an explanation for what had happened. "What did you just do? How did he die like that?"

"I crushed his heart. I dug my fingers into his back and released my light strings throughout his body, and he couldn't react because I used condensed light magic to give myself a speed boost to get behind him," I replied, matter-of-factly.

The headmaster arrived, instructing everyone to return to their classes immediately. He led me to his office and demanded to know who Brown was.

"With all due respect, I don't give a shit who that man was," I retorted.

The headmaster grew livid. "DO NOT SPEAK OUT OF LINE."

"Yes, sir," I replied, repentantly.

"That man was a government official, and you just killed him. Do you know what that will do to this school?" the headmaster asked, looking at me sternly.

"He was a government official? He did tell me before, but I didn't believe him because he was about to torture me," I explained.

"He tried torturing you?"

"He wants something that's inside of me, and I have no idea what it is."

The headmaster ended the conversation, instructing me to return to class, leaving me with a lot to think about.

As I walked back to class, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was proud of myself for taking down such a powerful foe with ease. On the other hand, I was worried about the consequences of my actions. Killing a government official was not something to be taken lightly, and I knew that I had just opened a can of worms.

As I walked through the corridors, students stared at me in disbelief. They whispered amongst themselves, some admiring my skills, while others were scared of me. I could hear the whispers, but I didn't care. I had more pressing matters to attend to.

When I entered the classroom, everyone fell silent, and all eyes turned to me. The teacher, Ms. Lee, looked at me curiously, but didn't say anything. She resumed her lecture, but I couldn't focus. My mind was racing with questions.

Why did Brown want something that was inside of me? What was it that he was after? And why did he have to die?

I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my chest. I needed answers, and I needed them fast.

When the class was over, Scarlett was waiting for me outside. She looked worried, and I could tell that she had a lot of questions.

"Sora, we need to talk," she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me to the side.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned.

"Brown was a government official. Killing him will have consequences," she said, her voice low.

"I know, Scarlett. The headmaster already gave me a lecture about it," I replied, my tone dismissive.

"But do you realize what this means? The government will be after us now. We have to be careful," she insisted.

"I know, Scarlett. But there's something that I need to tell you. Brown wanted something that's inside of me, and I have no idea what it is," I revealed.

"What? What do you mean?" she asked, looking at me incredulously.

"I don't know, Scarlett. He didn't tell me anything. But I have a feeling that it's important, and I need to find out what it is," I said, determined.

"But how are you going to do that? The government will be watching us closely now," she reminded me.

"I don't know yet, Scarlett. But I have to figure it out," I said, resolute.

We parted ways, and I spent the rest of the day in a daze. I couldn't focus on anything, and my mind kept drifting back to Brown and the mysterious object that he was after. I knew that I had to find out what it was, but I didn't know where to start.

As I walked back to my dorm, I noticed that someone was following me. I turned around, but there was no one there. I shrugged it off, thinking that it was just my imagination.

But when I reached my room, I found a note on my bed. It read:

"We know what you have. And we want it back."

I felt a chill run down my spine. The government was already after me, and I had nowhere to hide.