Chapter 4-Not Freinds but Allies

Tsucko stood over the boy who was currently leaking blood from everywhere as the mana wire had cut him all over his upper half. Tsucko made sure though not to put too much mana into the attack as it would kill him, and that was not his intent even after the boy had tried to multiple times.

The boy stared up at Tsucko his red eyes filled with anger and jealousy. The boy didn't seem to have any intention of talking leaving Tsucko confused.

[" Whats is deal. I know I just cut him up but it was in self-defense...Kinda. He's looking at me like I've tormented him since birth."]

" Kalci."

Right as Tsucko was about to give up the boy spoke

" Huh? What was that?"

"That's my name. Kalci."

" Oh, so you do talk!"

His voice was quiet but deep even for a nine or ten-year-old. The tone of his voice matched the look in his eyes as he continued to stare up at Tsucko.

" I thought you should know the name of the guy who's going to kill you and all the magic users in the world!"

" Oh. [ How interesting."]

Tscuko measured his mana before letting his guard down to make sure he had nothing in terms of surprise attacks. The short fight had completely drained him, but the same could also be said for Tsucko as he ended up using much more mana than he thought he would need.

" Kill all magic users you say. That's like 99 percent of the world you're talking about! Mind explaining why."

" Tsk!!"

The boy clicked his tung at him as he turned his head away finally breaking eye contact. Tsucko found himself even more interested in this boy as time went on as his mysterious nature was coming to the forefront.

[ " I need to know more about him...He could be a useful ally.] Listen, I think we could help each other."

" Okay, sure. Oh, could we possibly help each other?" He was being sarcastic. " You magic users are all petty and selfish...You took everything from me...And you expect me to help you!"

[" This is good!] We don't have to be friends, I just think our goals are similar. So we can help eachother."

"...Are goals are similar. I doubt that."

Tsucko smiled as he extended his hand out to Kalci who leaned back defensively but toppled over due to his injuries.

" Calm down."

Tsucko's hand began to glow as it touched Kalci. Kalci awaited some sort of pain but was met with less pain than he originally had. He watched as his bleeding stopped and wounds began to close.

" Huh!?"

" You don't know much about mana do you, too much time practicing with a sword."

" Hm."

" Mana isn't primarily used for healing but is suitable for cuts," Tsucko pulled his hand away after closing all of Kalcis's wounds " Though if you lose an arm theirs no getting it back no matter how much mana someone has."

" Is that all you've been doing in the library? Just learning about mana and magic?"

"Yeah, and all you've been doing is swinging a sword around."

" Tch."

Tsucko offered Kalci a hand up. He hesitated for a moment before accepting the offer. They then heard the door open and saw Nun Zashas's face pop out from it.

" Boys I heard some loud crashes. I sure do hope everything is all right."

Kalci and Tsucko both tensed up as the tone of her voice was the one she used when you were in some serious trouble. Kalci took a step back leaving Tsucko all alone to answer her question.

" Oh, we were sparring and got a little carried away...Uh, we're okay though so don't worry."

"That's good, I wouldn't want anyone getting hurt." Her eyes almost made Tsucko crack as they pried for an honest answer. She was good at seeing through lies but Tsucko wouldn't give in. She then slowly closed the door as Tsucko and Kalci stood in complete silence.

" Few!!" Tscuko rubbed the back of his head in relief.

" Good job."

"...You know you were the one causing the big crashes. You should have answered." Kalci walked back up standing next to Tsucko once again.

" Nah she scares me!"

" Yeah...Me too."

Tsucko turned around and looked down the hill that the orphanage sat on. Far off in the distance, he could see a village with smoke coming out of the chimneys of houses. Kalci joined him in looking.

" So. You want to talk about our similar goals."

" Yeah...Let's go inside."

............

 Kalci and Tsucko were now sitting inside the orphanage library near the back so no one would hear them. All the kids were currently out exploring the town at the bottom of the hill where Tsucko was looking, and Nun Zasha wouldn't bother them in the library making it a perfect spot to talk.

Tsucko sat across from Kalci with a table separating them. He had a book in his hand that he was scanning. Kalci looked at the title which read " History of Mana"

" Are we in here to talk?" Tsucko looked up from his book.

" I'll listen. So talk."

[" Making me go first. after he was the one who asked...All magic users are the same."]

"...Fine! As you said 99 percent of people in this world possess magic and mana, but what about that one percent."

" Is that you?"

" No not exactly, but I practically count since I possess so little of it...The ones who were in that one percent were my parents."

" Where are they now?"

Kalci squeezed his right hand which was resting on top of the table. He looked to the floor and bit his lip before answering.

" They were killed..."

" By magic users." Tsucko put his book down now giving Kalci his full attention " How old were you when this happened?"

[" He's making me open up.] I was around four, and I was brought here when I turned five by the same magic pricks who killed them."

Kalci was squeezing his hand extremely tightly now, to the point his veins were clearly showing through his skin.

" They had no magic so they were good for nothing they said. They forced them to do their laundry plow their fields or do anything they didn't want to do. I- I wasn't even supposed to be born."

[" So they were used as slaves...Guess our worlds aren't so different."]

Tsucko saw tears begin to fall from his face and his voice became scratchy

"After they found out. They forced my father to work twice as hard as punishment because my mom couldn't work...He was the first to die...Then when I was born they put my mom back to work, but without my father she was miserable. Though she lived for my sake."

[" It's strange, no matter where you are or even if you're in a completely new world humans refuse to change..."]

" I was three and had only rarely seen my mother. I would only see her when she was allowed home every couple of days...I only survived because they had someone stay with me...Since I had mana even a little I was more valuable."

[" Because they had no value their freedom was never an option. I'm guessing their fate was decided as soon as they were born...So those without mana are seen as trash and have no right to live the life they want...How disgusting!]

" Those magic users worked my mom to death, and after they tried to put me to work, but since I had that little bit of mana they couldn't treat me like my parents...Though they claimed I was just as worthless, after I refused they sent me to this orphanage."

" That brings us to now. Right?"

" ...Yeah."

Kalci wiped the tears from his eyes as he made eye contact with Tsucko once again. The skin under his eyes was bright red due to the tears he spilled.

" One last question...How come you are so fast with no mana and strong too? And how even after you de-summoned your sword the first time why couldn't I find you?"

" I can suppress all of my mana since I have such little of it allowing me to move like a ghost to anyone trying to sense me. And for my strength and speed...I don't know. I've always been like that."

[ "It's strange, but that doesn't change anything...Actually, it proves he's much more valuable than any magic user I've seen."]

"Let's help each other."

" You finally going to explain what your goals are."

" Hm...Let us create a world where nothing is binding us to rules. no social standard, no one telling you what's normal, or what's strange."

" The hell are you talking about."

" A world that is dictated by your strength and free will."

"...?"

[" Still doesn't get it.] Lets youse your goal. Kill all magic users...In my ideal world. If you're strong enough to do it you can do it. No laws will tell you otherwise and the only ones who can stop you are the ones strong enough too."

Kalcis's eyes widened as he finally got what he was saying. He thought about how a world like this would change things for his parents, a world where with no rules or standards. The only thing dictating your life is you and your strength. So even if you are magic-less you can choose your path without breaking the rules of society.

" A world where everyone can choose their own life!"

Tscuko nodded

[" A world where the strong can do what they want. without prosecution.]"

They sat in silence as Kalci thought about Tsuckos goals and how they could help each other. He thought about the risks and possible challenges, but to him. All that mattered was his vengeance, even if they failed he'd kill as many magic users as he could.

"...I'll help you."

A wide smile crossed Tsucko's face before he picked his book back up and began reading again.

" This means that we'll be practically going against the world...Do you think we can do it."

Tsuckos eyes looked at Kalci from over the top of the book. He then looked out the window where Nun Zasha had just discovered the impact of Kalci's sword. The sound of kids returning began to fill the halls of the building.

" We can stay in this orphanage until we are eighteen years of age. Until then we'll train and study. I'll help with your training, but you'll have to train me in sword combat as well."

" Then what?"

Tsucko closed his book and looked at Kalci wit unwavering eyes. He was dead seat on completing his dream

" The day I turn eighteen will be the start of our crusade!"