SPELL FROM HELL'S MAGIC PT. 3

The carpet descended gracefully outside their rooms, coming to rest against the wall like a loyal pet waiting for its master. Kane stepped off first, his shoes tapping softly against the polished wooden floor. He glanced around, taking in the dimly lit corridor, its walls adorned with intricate patterns that glowed faintly in the dark. Hitoshi followed, dismounting with a practiced ease. With a subtle gesture of his hand, the carpet obediently folded itself and settled neatly beside their door.

A few steps away, Loer stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, a resigned expression on his face. His brown hair caught the soft, ambient light, adding to his usual aura of nonchalant coolness. Kane approached him, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. “How many keys do we have?” he asked.

Loer let out a long sigh, his shoulders rising and falling in exaggerated exasperation. “Two,” he replied. “Aldine’s taking one, and the three of us will share the other.”

Kane frowned but nodded, the corners of his mouth pulling into a tight line. “Makes sense,” he muttered. As much as they could have used more space, it wasn’t an option. Forcing Aldine to share a room with them wasn’t even a consideration; she deserved her privacy, and making her uncomfortable wasn’t an option. Hitoshi shared Kane’s sentiment, his sharp eyes glancing between the doors as if weighing their options. They all knew Salavache had done his best, pulling strings to secure even these rooms. They couldn’t afford to be ungrateful.

A door creaked open, and Aldine stepped out. Her black hair, tied loosely, shimmered in the faint light. She looked sheepish, her hands clasped in front of her as she offered a small bow. “Sorry, haha,” she said with a nervous chuckle.

Loer raised an eyebrow but didn’t move from his spot. Kane glanced at her but said nothing, unsure if there was a reason for the apology. It was Hitoshi who finally broke the silence, waving his hand dismissively. “It’s okay,” he said. His voice was casual but kind. He didn’t ask what had kept her in the room—it wasn’t his place, and prying could only create discomfort.

“Let’s rest for today,” Hitoshi suggested, his tone shifting to one of gentle authority. “The band will set tomorrow, and our exams begin after that.”

Kane nodded. The system in this world was unlike anything he’d ever known—bizarre, self-governing, and full of mysteries he couldn’t begin to unravel. Somewhere, someone or something knew where he was, what he was doing, and what he would be doing next. It unnerved him deeply. Yet, despite the risks and uncertainty, he decided to trust the process. After all, it seemed to work here, and resisting it would only make things harder.

The brief discussion ended as Aldine offered a final nod and retreated back into her room, the door clicking shut behind her. The boys turned toward their shared room, and Hitoshi pushed the door open, stepping inside first.

The room was modest yet inviting, with a warmth that belied its simplicity. Two twin beds sat side by side, separated by a small wooden nightstand. To the right of the entrance was a long couch, its cushions plush and slightly worn, suggesting frequent use. On the far wall, a tall window stretched nearly from floor to ceiling, offering a panoramic view of the starry sky and the cityscape below. In front of the window, a small coffee table stood between two simple chairs, perfectly positioned for someone to sit and gaze outside.

Loer didn’t waste a moment. With a dramatic groan, he threw himself face-first onto one of the beds, his arms wrapped around the pillow as if it were a lifeline. His muffled voice came from beneath the fabric. “Finally…”

Hitoshi shook his head and shut the door behind him, his expression a mix of amusement and exhaustion. He walked over to the bed Loer had claimed and sat on its edge, the mattress sinking slightly under his weight. “You’re not even going to help unpack?” he asked, though his tone lacked any real irritation.

Loer didn’t respond, save for a small grunt as he adjusted his position.

Kane, meanwhile, wandered toward the window. He set his bag on one of the chairs and sat down, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the coffee table. The view was stunning. The tall buildings of the city shimmered with magical lights, their faint hum audible even through the glass. It was a stark contrast to the quiet, almost rustic charm of their room.

He glanced around again, taking in the details—the faint floral pattern on the wallpaper, the smooth grain of the wooden floor, the slight creak of the beds as Loer shifted. It wasn’t luxurious, but it felt safe, a rare comfort in a world as unpredictable as this one.

Hitoshi glanced over at Kane and offered a small smile. “Not bad, huh?”

Kane returned the smile, his earlier apprehension beginning to fade. “Yeah,” he said softly, turning his attention back to the stars outside.

"But," Kane began, his voice soft, almost distant, as his gaze remained fixed on the starry night beyond the window. "It doesn’t feel like home." He sighed, his breath fogging the cold glass for a brief moment.

Hitoshi nodded from where he sat on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. The quiet hum of understanding passed between them without the need for words. He didn’t look at Kane but knew exactly what he meant.

On the other bed, Loer lay motionless, his face still buried in the pillow. Though he hadn’t turned to face them, Kane’s words struck a chord deep within him. Home. The word carried a weight that felt almost unbearable. This place wasn’t home—could never be. The love, the warmth, the familiarity... they existed only in the places they had left behind. Loer understood that better than he cared to admit. But true to his nature, he didn’t lift his head, didn’t utter a word. Silence was his shield against the ache of reality.

Kane lingered by the window for a moment longer, his shoulders slumping slightly under an invisible weight. Then, with a quiet resolve, he turned back to the room. “I’ll unpack and freshen up,” he said, more to himself than anyone else.

He walked to the chair where he had set his bag, his movements slower than usual. As he began pulling out his nightclothes—a simple set of a shirt and pants—his head throbbed with a sudden, searing pain. The intensity of it stole his breath. Kane stumbled, his right hand shooting out to grip the edge of the table for support while his left clung tightly to his bag.

Hitoshi was on his feet in an instant, crossing the room in a few quick strides. He gripped Kane’s shoulders firmly, his sharp eyes scanning him for signs of injury or illness. “Kane?! What’s happening? Does something hurt?” His voice was steady, but the worry in it was unmistakable.

Kane’s breathing grew labored, his chest rising and falling in uneven gasps. Loer, startled by Hitoshi’s alarm, sat up from the bed. His usual nonchalance vanished as he took in Kane’s trembling form. “Is it because of Ximce?” he asked, his tone edged with concern.

Kane shook his head weakly, the motion almost imperceptible. His voice came in strained bursts between gasps. “I... I’m used to Ximce’s magic now.” His words were true—he had endured the physical toll of being bonded to the Sciro for long enough that the pain had dulled into a manageable ache. But this... this was different.

The room seemed to warp around him. The warm light dimmed, replaced by an ominous haze that made the edges of everything blur. Hitoshi’s grip on Kane’s shoulders tightened as if trying to anchor him to reality, but it wasn’t enough.

Suddenly, a surge of black energy erupted from Kane’s body, violent and unforgiving. It threw Hitoshi backward with such force that he crashed against the front door, the impact reverberating through the room. Loer was launched off the bed, landing heavily on the floor with a pained grunt.

Kane, now standing in the center of the room, was enveloped in a swirling shroud of dark, malevolent energy. The aura was suffocating, a tangible presence that pressed against the walls and seemed to consume the light. Kane’s eyes widened in terror as he tried to fight the overwhelming force, but his body betrayed him. The energy pulsed and writhed around him, a living entity feeding off his despair.

The negative energy was unbearable, even for Kane himself. His knees buckled, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides, trembling under the weight of the dark aura. His vision swam, the room around him a chaotic blend of shadows and blurred outlines. The voices of his friends, distant and muffled, barely reached him through the oppressive haze.

Hitoshi groaned as he pushed himself up from where he had landed, his ribs aching from the impact. “Kane!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the suffocating darkness.

Loer, sprawled on the floor, shielded his eyes from the pulsing aura. “What the hell is happening to him?!” he yelled, but his question went unanswered.

Kane’s head tilted back as the black energy swirled higher, expanding and growing more erratic. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t just a reaction to magic—it was something deeper, darker, and far more dangerous. And it wasn’t stopping.