"Uther, Elle!" I yelled as I watched both their unconscious bodies fall to the floor.
"Boss?!" The Chief yelled as a figure of an old man appeared next to them, holding an old book.
"Grimoire?!" I whispered as I watched black shadows lurk behind him.
What is happening?
"Who are you? Where's Arthur Moralez?!"
Before I could realize it, the Chief's already on the floor, unconscious.
"STOP!" I screamed before placing Ori's book in front of me.
"You will not win this fight, you're an outsider, begone!" He uttered as black smoke came out of his mouth.
A bright light came out of my book and covered the four of us from him.
"Who are you?" I said as I tried to maintain the supply of energy for the Protection Spell.
It might burden my body later, but I need to borrow the First Mage's power to protect them, or I won't forgive myself if I let the Darkness win!
"Arthur Moralez, can't you see?" He smirked, eyes glowing red.
It can't be? Right?
"NO! Sir Arthur would never hurt somebody he treasures! WHO ARE YOU?!" I yelled.
Is this the mysterious Mage? No, that can't be!
"You don't have to know, you'll die with us after all!"
Is it Silvia?!
Before the black shadow could fully envelope us, I immediately opened the page in the book that the power inside me tells me to use!
"I don't care who you are, you hurt them and you're dead, die!" I exclaimed as I pointed my now glowing hand at him.
"Tsk, Azudeno, you're such a nuisance!" I heard him whisper before the light from my hands completely ate the darkness around us.
"Mister Arthur?" I whispered as I stared at the person standing in front of me.
He remained standing, and there I realized he's dead!
***
Achan's P.O.V
"Achan, thank goodness you're back!" Miss Irene squeezed me tightly.
"Careful!" Uther pushed her away.
"Tsk, I just missed him, okay?" Miss Irene rolled her eyes before patting my shoulder to excuse herself.
We're currently on the ground floor of Moral Ez Enterprises' head office. They wanted to talk to me, so I gave them a chance.
"So, you're going back to school, that's why you quit?" Elle bumped her elbow into me.
I just nodded and looked at Uther to see his reaction, but he just smiled at me and pressed the button to call the elevator.
"Did you recover well?" I turned to Elle when we entered the lift.
So that she'll be the one by my side while I hide on the corner.
"Yup! Still breathing!" She showed me her fist and smiled.
I nodded at her and stared at Uther when he tried to squeeze himself between us.
"Okay, I guess we'll catch up later!" Elle stepped back and went to the other corner where Miss Irene was, just watching the scene unravel like some kind of entertainment for her.
"He, I mean, we, missed you so much, that's why!" Miss Irene giggled as she stared at Uther's weird actions.
"What happened anyway? Why were you moving from place to place these past few weeks? Why did you file for resignation?" Elle looked at me after we all sat in the conference room.
Chief Clarence, Miss Irene, Elle, I, and Uther were the only ones here. They said that the other Chiefs are preparing something for the company's newest project.
"Yeah, why is that?" Uther added when I didn't answer.
Smiling like a weirdo.
"No-Nothing, I just thought that now that I've done my job, it's best to leave the company!"
"Hmm..." I hear Miss Irene on the corner with her skepticism.
"We already had 'the talk'. He'll continue his studies with his friends, and we'll take him back as soon as he graduates. That way, he can keep the position!" Uther smiled.
Or more of a smirk.
"Hmm? We, or you?" Elle copied Miss Irene's skeptical hum.
"So... The two of you already talked about what happened that day on the island?" Chief Clarence
"No-" My whole body jolted when a hand suddenly squeezed my leg.
"Yes!" Uther winked at me after seeing my startled look.
He must be having so much fun teasing me right now...
"Ye-Yes!" I changed my answer before looking away from him.
"Hmm?!" Both Elle and Miss Irene hum harmoniously.
"It was the only way to get rid of the Curse. My father thought the same, but nobody's been brave enough to help him end his suffering!" Uther slowly rubs his hand on my legs while explaining.
I tapped his hand off my leg and stood up.
"O-Oh? Would you look at the time, I still have a class this afternoon... Bye!" I tried to walk away, but Elle, on my other side, grabbed my hand.
"Wait, you're leaving so soon?!" Elle stood up to face me.
I slowly pushed her hand from mine and smiled at her.
"Yeah, let's talk soon-"
I was finally about to get away when Uther blocked my way.
"Where are you going?" He grabbed my arm and looked me in the eye.
This is annoyingly embarrassing!
"Oh, would you look at the time, we still have work to do!" Miss Irene suddenly panicked and grabbed Chief and Elle's hands.
She's smart, she caught up too soon... Too soon!
"Miss Irene, don't leave me with-"
'I'm sorry!' She mouthed as she giggled before pulling the other two out.
"Wait, what work- Achan, don't leave yet!" Elle tried to remain, but Miss Irene had already pulled them out of the conference room.
"Stay, you don't have to attend all the classes, it's still your first day, there's nothing important that would happen anyway!" He whispered before pushing me back into my seat.
"I ain't like you, I don't ditch work, I don't miss a single class!" I rolled my eyes, irritated by his sudden change of attitude towards me.
"Why? Aren't you happy that I chose you over anything else?" He said with a smirk on his face.
He knows that I knew that he ditched his work today just to meet me, and I can't even complain about that to him. He'll be even more proud of himself if I do!
"Can you cut it out?!"
"What? Are you still skeptical about me?" He bent down to level his gaze at mine.
"I-I don't know... You never let me talk about what happened on the isla-" Before I could even finish my sentence, there goes his muzzling trick.
His lips that seal off all words from my mouth, every time I wanted to talk about what happened to his father, he would start to kiss me, a long, passionate kiss!
*
[A few Hours Earlier]
"I'm sorry, but can I kiss you?" Uther placed his palms on my cheeks after using them to squeeze every part of my back.
What is he doing? Why is he behaving like this? Why are they at my school?!
"Fuck you! You already did the first time without asking, why ask now?!" I yelled at him.
He's acting like he's infatuated, when we know that it's impossib-
"Because I, I like you!" He whispered as he caught his breath.
Shocked, I push him away.
Why is he saying those words? Does he not know how heavy that word means?
"I hate you!" Is he playing with me?
He knew I killed his father, he hated me even before, why tell me this now?!
"You don't have to feel the same way, I just have to tell you while I still can-"
I didn't let him finish, even with all the doubts in my mind, I still pulled him in for another kiss.
I must tell him now, before I let him in!
"Before you tell me you like me again, I need you to listen to me!" I looked at his eyes, ready to say everything.
After coming back home, talking to everyone I knew, it made me realize that the thought, the fear on my head, is, in fact, just a thought of fear. Fearing what's to come, I chose not to pursue it, not pursue college, my life, and love. When I could just fuck it, don't mind any failure, because, you will never know if you haven't tried it yet, right?
"You don't have to say anything, I've already chosen to love you since the night we first met, and nothing you say would ever make me love you less!" He said with a smile on his face.
How can he say that with a straight face?
"You're joki-" Before I could even disagree with him, he had already stolen another kiss.
"What about now? Do you believe me?" He looked at me with that amorous glance.
It's not my first time seeing his eyes this close, but I just realized how mesmerizing they are! Those warm amber eyes that complement his long, thick lashes.
"You don't have to answer me, but can I date you?" He nuzzled his hands on my cheeks and slowly moved his face close to mine.
My whole body froze. It wasn't even my first time, yet every time he places his lips on mine, it always feels like the first time!
"I'll take that as a yes!" He smiled after stepping back to give me space after giving me our third kiss.
"But, what about your father's death? You still haven't hear-" My mouth was forced shut, once more.
"You sure do like kissing, do you?!" He smirked after kissing me for the fourth time- was I right? I lost count...
"Are you out of your mind?!" I pushed him off after realizing what he had just done.
"When it's you, I am!" He chuckled after seeing my reaction.
"I killed your fa-hmm!" I tried to push him, but he's just too strong!
"Let's make this our little game, talk about my father, and you'll be punished!" He smiled after kissing me again, pointing at his lips!
"You better stop it!" I slowly placed my hands in front.
"What? Are you... Turned on?!" His smile faded, and he stared down.
"Boss, we're ready!" The man dressed as the janitor walked into the hall where we were.
"Chief?!" I pushed Uther off and ran to Chief Clarence.
It was him.
"ARE YOU BACK?!" He screamed with joy after seeing me recognize him.
"I was not spellbound!" I tried to laugh off the awkwardness in my system.
I need to calm IT down, thank goodness the Chief managed to butt in on time!
I can't possibly fall for his trick, he might be doing this just to get back at me for killing his father!
"Please come with us, we need to talk!"
"No, I have classes!"
"Then we'll talk here!" Uther butt in.
"No!" My voice suddenly rose.
I can't let them stay here. What if the Old Man sent a spy? I know I'm paranoid, but I can't help it, Grama's still not back!
"Then it's settled, you'll go back with us to talk!" Uther smirked and tapped my shoulder before leaving us.
What is he up to...