Chapter 9: The Core Problem
I should have asked her the way back to my dorm, Vincenzo thought as he walked towards where he guessed the dorm was.
Earlier, Elliott had left, saying people shouldn't see the two of them together outside class and that she had things to do.
Ah, what should I do? he thought.
"Vincenzo!" A hand tapped him gently on the shoulder.
"Wait, what are you doing?" he said, instinctively raising his mana. But suddenly, a sharp, searing pain erupted in his stomach where his core was supposed to be, and he collapsed.
Where am I? Vincenzo wondered.
"Vicious!" a voice called out from a distance.
"What are you waiting for? Let's retreat! Our defense can't hold up!"
"Vicious, are you okay?" another voice said. "Ashford, what are you doing? I thought you said this would be easy," a third voice added.
"Let's retreat," he heard himself say. Then, with a jarring thud, he felt a sharp smack on his head.
He woke up in a room that looked like a hospital ward. A window was on the left, next to a table and chair. Across the room, Elliott and a young man were sitting at the table. To the right was a door and a cabinet.
"Hey, he's awake!" the young man said.
"Are you okay?" Elliott asked. "I was surprised you waited."
"And you are...?" Vincenzo asked, looking around the room.
"You see? I told you he's not okay! Edward, can't you see?" Elliott said.
"I can see, I'm not blind," Edward muttered glumly.
"Ehm, sorry to interrupt," a voice cut in. "But it seems our patient has dementia. That's why he has a hard time remembering who you guys are," the voice said.
"And you are?" Edward demanded.
"Oh, I didn't introduce myself," the voice said, laughing heartily. "Anyway, I am Juliana Rhys Catherine, the Head Mage."
"I'm sorry, please excuse his rudeness," Elliott said, bowing a bit.
"Don't worry about it," Catherine replied. "And it appears our patient doesn't want to stay," she said, looking at Vincenzo, who was already up and fastening his uniform. (The uniform was a grey trousers with a white shirt and a vest, with the shirt having the school logo and a purple stripe across the coat).
"I guess I've been busted," Vincenzo said.
"So that's why you were behaving strangely earlier?" Elliott asked.
"Wait, so he was behaving strangely, and you knew? What if they get wind of this? It would be trouble," Edward worried.
"Wait, who?" Vincenzo asked.
"I guess I can take my leave," Catherine said, heading for the door.
"Ehm, since he doesn't remember anything, it would probably be better for him, so we don't have to do it anymore," Edward suggested as Catherine left the room.
"Yeah, I think it's for the best. At least it's better than that," Elliott agreed.
"But I can't shake this uneasy feeling I'm getting. What about the thing that happened earlier?" Edward asked.
"It was just luck," Elliott dismissed.
"What are you guys talking about?" Vincenzo said, standing close to the door. "Are we leaving?"
"Oh, yeah, we are," she stammered. "But you don't remember anything, Vincenzo?"
"Yeah," Vincenzo replied.
"I have to pay. I'll catch up at the front," Edward said.
"Okay," Elliott replied.
"Ehm, Vincenzo, I have something really cool I want to show you, but I'm sorry that I'm not taking you to your room," Elliott said.
"It's okay... Besides, we are friends, right? Aren't we? You came for me even though I don't remember much," Vincenzo replied.
"Yeah, we are friends. Just follow me, Vincenzo," Elliott said.