[17.6] Close Your Eyes

Suddenly, the box was picked up and thrown. Then, we could feel it start to move as if we were placed on a carriage.

Cyrus cried out, "Oh my god! We are going to DIE!"

"We aren't going to die."

"How do you know!?!"

I thought for a moment, "Because we are children?"

"Children die!!! Children die all the time!!!"

I let out a sigh, "Ah… You're right… But we are different."

"How are we any different!?"

I smirked arrogantly, "Because you are with the best magician in the world: Me."

"Wait!! That's right!!"

I nodded, "Fufu. I'm glad you agree."

"No, not that. You are hardly the best magician in the world, let alone the best in this city."

I frowned, "Oi."

"But you can use magic without a wand!!! So go on! Get us out of here already!!"

"....Can't."

"....Why can't you."

I forced out a laugh, "Well, I ran out of juice."

"JUICE!?!"

I sighed in defeat, "I can't use magic…"

He cried out, "Why can't you use magic!? You can always use magic!!!"

I frowned, "I don't know… I can't concentrate… My brain feels like putty… Not to mention I feel like biting EVERYTHING just to get my irritation out."

"...Please don't bite me."

"Aww... Why not?"

"Isn't that weird?"

I nodded and rubbed his back, "I suppose it is… But when you get older, you may change your mind. When you do, give me a call."

"Give you a call?"

"Yup! On my banana phone."

"Banana phone?"

I sang, "Ding dong ding dong, banana phone."

"...Why does everything you say make no sense?"

I sobbed, "Even I realize it doesn't make sense. I really do feel like I'm going crazy. I'm exhausted but I can't sleep. I keep dreaming about stealing corpses. I even started hearing voices and seeing things while I'm awake… I'm losing my mind."

He hugged me tighter, "They must have been planning this for a while…"

"Hmm? Planning it? What do you mean?"

"They knew you protected me before, so they tried to make you sleep deprived. That way you couldn't use magic…"

"Such a thing is possible!?"

"There's a saying: Exhaustion is the worst poison."

We hit a bump and my back collided with the top of the coffin, "OW!"

Then my body slammed into the side.

I cried out, "Can't you at least avoid the potholes!?!"

As if in response, we hit another bump that threw me to the side. I grit my teeth as I felt something wooden in my sock stab into me.

My eyes lit up, "Wait! I have a hidden wand!"

His eyes lit up, "Y-You do!?"

I reached into my other sock and pulled out a wooden stick, "Here it is!!!"

Cyrus took it in silence, "...This is your paintbrush."

"Oh…" I took it back and looked at it in confusion, "How did this get in there?"

I don't remember putting this in my sock…

He sighed somberly, "We are doomed…"

I forced a cheerful tone, "We aren't doomed. We can use this as a wand."

He clicked his tongue in disbelief, "How? I'm not like you. I can't just shout spells and have them work out. I need an actual wand."

"Then I will use it." I giggled and booped his nose with the paintbrush, "Abbacadabra. Leviosa. Open sesame."

He let out an irritated sigh, "...Are you just saying strange words?"

"They are spells."

"Those aren't spells."

Suddenly, we heard shouting and clamor outside. We both held our breaths and tried to listen.

The woman shouted, "HYAH!"

The carriage suddenly lurched forward and our box flew backward, hitting the back of the carriage. The ride grew bumpier and we were both covered in bruises as we were tossed around inside.

The woman screamed, "GET THEM, YOU IDIOTS!"

My heart started beating faster.

Was there someone attacking!?

The cart slammed to a stop, causing our box to roll around and ram into the carriage wall. Inside, we were tossed and thrown until the box was completely flipped over. Cyrus now lay over me, pinning me to the bottom.

I couldn't see his face, but I knew he was blushing.

I heard the Headmaster's voice shout, "WHERE IS REIKA!?"

Zephyr cheered, "Yeah!! Get 'em snowman!! Make her cry!"

Chief Gonza shouted, "Wait!!! Don't kill her! We need answers from her!"

The Headmaster spat back in irritation, "I'm not going to kill her."

Zephyr: "Aww… Why not?"

The woman in red shouted, "Set it on fire! Quick!"

My eyes shot open. I screamed and banged on the wood, "Don't you DARE SET THIS ON FIRE YOU B*TCH!"

However, she didn't listen to me. Flames burst around us, completely engulfing the carriage and our box. I grabbed Cyrus and pulled him to me protectively. I slammed my eyes shut as I felt the raging flames around me.

...I have to protect it…

...I have to protect it…

Wait, what do I have to protect!?

What is it!?

I could feel an important memory surfacing, but before I was able to remember it, our surroundings burst into ice, stifling the fire threatening to burn us alive.

I looked around the ice casket in confusion.

Did I do this?

Or was it the Headmaster?

"Reika!!!"

I heard the Headmaster's panicked voice outside and I shouted in response, "We are in here."

Outside, the Headmaster quickly put the flames out and rushed to look inside. He noticed the ice casket and waved his wand, "Ru-"

The ice casket broke apart and the cover was blown off. Cyrus and I both poked our heads up and out of the casket. When the Headmaster saw my beaten-up face, his expression turned dark in a frightening way.

Cyrus and I both gulped as the temperature around us started dropping rapidly.

Ice spikes shot up around the Headmaster's feet.

His voice was deadly, "Now I'm going to kill her."

Chief Gonza heard this and ran over, "I said we need to leave her alive!!"

The woman, who was tied up, noticed her two powerful captors had left her. She looked at Zephyr who was watching the two brothers with interest. With a smirk, she drew a magic circle on the ground and bit her lip. She spat out her blood onto the circle and whispered under her breath.

*Poof*

Zephyr sniffed the air and then turned to where she had been. Seeing the spot empty, his face paled. He glanced around the area hectically before shrugging.

Zephyr turned to the brothers and shouted, "Oi! Idiots! You let that lady escape!!"

Chief Gonza shouted, "What!?! You were supposed to be watching her!!!"

He rolled his eyes, "I got distracted by the fire and your arguing."

Cyrus climbed out of the casket quickly then turned to help me out. As soon as we jumped onto the ground, the Headmaster knelt beside me.

He checked me all over, "How hurt are you!? Show me!"

I clicked my tongue, "Relax. Relax. It's nothing bad."

His expression turned darker, "I'm really going to kill her."

I stared at the Headmaster feeling conflicting emotions inside. My chest felt warm seeing someone actually worry and care over my many bruises and wounds.

...But then a chilling cold crawled up my spine.

I unconsciously took a step away from him and averted my gaze, "It's really fine. Other than my aching body, I'm mostly just tired."

Oh god… Talk about feeling exhausted… My brain feels like putty.

There are even two Headmasters.

Suddenly, the Headmaster picked me up gently and waved his wand. His voice was like a lullaby, "Somnum."

A soft blue magic surrounded my body, threatening to put me asleep. I desperately tried to fight it off, worried that I would make things more difficult if I were to fall asleep.

He noticed I was fighting off sleep and rubbed my forehead soothingly.

His voice was softer than velvet, "Sleep. It's okay. Everything is okay now."

I smiled softly as a relaxing cold wave washed over my body. It wasn't an uncomfortable coldness, but it was soothing instead. I felt my mind drift away as the comfortable sensation consumed me.

I nuzzled into the Headmaster not wanting to let go.

…

When I opened my eyes, I realized I was in another dream. I saw a woman beside my bed with a gentle smile. I recognized her soft features and luscious light brown hair. Her icy blue eyes turned to me once she realized I was awake.

She reached out and rubbed my head, "Good morning, my darling Rei of sun… Are you ready to try walking again today?"

I glanced away with a frown, "Don't talk to me like I'm a child."

She giggled lightheartedly, "I know, I know. You're technically an adult, but that doesn't mean you can naturally walk in that childlike body of yours. Now come on."

She picked me up from the bed and put me down. My legs trembled as they struggled to support my weight. I bit down on my lips forcefully, "..Stupid body."

She laughed as she supported my arms, "Let's take a step."

Hearing the sound of her carefree laugh destroyed any anger or hate I had. I didn't even care if I was treated as a child if I could hear that laugh. I took a step, concentrating on the effort.

She grinned, "You did it! One more step than yesterday."

Her smile was infectious and soon, I too was smiling.

The door to the small shed was thrown open and a man came in carrying bags. He resembled the woman in front of me, only a bit younger. He nearly dropped his bags, "She took a step?!? I MISSED IT?!"

I rolled my eyes, "That's what you get for going out for groceries."

He cried, "Wait! Do it again! I want to see!"

I laughed as the two crowded around me with large doe-like eyes. Although my limbs ached from the exertion, my chest felt full of energy.

I nodded, "Fine. But I want a lemon tart."

He winked at me, "Do it again and I will buy you an entire tray!"

I beamed with joy, "It's a deal!"

Ah...

...I like this kind of dream.