The Kidnapping Of Itsuka Ren, Part I

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It was after Headmaster Argo had passed down his judgement regarding Itsuka Ren and his admission into the Institute for Practical Magic, having decided to dash his hopes of becoming a student. Only Argo and his pupil remained, the other council members and Ren having been promptly cleared from the conference room.

Shion still sat in her chair, a look of dissatisfaction on her face. She felt as though she had gotten Ren’s hopes up, only to let him down once again. She wondered why she had even said anything in the first place. Argo, meanwhile, stood behind her with his index finger pressed lightly to the back of her head where her neck met her back.

A light shone where his finger touched skin. He was in the midst of transferring his own mana to Shion, a process they would need to repeat several times before the trip was done if she wanted to avoid chronic depletion fatigue. Which could, hypothetically, halt the flow of magic in her body altogether if she wasn’t careful.

“You are uncharacteristically silent, my pupil. Usually it is during these times when we’re alone that you bombard me with all manner of inquiry.” Argo broke a long silence by saying. “And yet, your lips remain still. Could it be that you doubt my decision, despite not openly saying so?”

”No, of course not! I could never doubt you, master, it’s just…”

Ren had looked to Shion, bewildered and hoping for an explanation, but she couldn’t bear to look at him. Not because of anything he did, but because of her inability to keep her promise. He left without them ever exchanging a word about it, and it still nagged at her sense of guilt.

“Huhuhu, ‘twas only a jest, Shion. Please excuse my tactlessness.” Argo chuckled. “Although, I know you quite well, my pupil. Oftentimes even better than you might know yourself.”

Shion remained silent, listening intently.

“You are wondering what possible reason I could have for rejecting your chosen champion, yes? You need not lie, your feelings are always written plain on your face.”

“You… speak true.” Shion begrudgingly admitted. “The entire reason I delayed Ren-kun’s admittance was to alleviate any worries you might have had that it would turn out like before. Knowing what Alpha had done, I wanted to prove Ren X was different, stronger mentally than all the others. Tell me, is that the reason why you denied him?”

“Nine other realities have suffered a total loss due to Alpha’s direct or indirect actions, this much is true.” Argo stated matter-of-factly. “And, if you would remember, I warned you initially against intervening on behalf of a mortal. Your conviction was strong, but the ideas you planted in his head blossomed in ways you could not predict, leading to much destruction.”

“How could I even begin to forget… It was my ultimate failure as a time keeper, and your pupil.”

And I’m still suffering for it today.

Shion thought such things quite often in her head.

“But—the fact that you chose to intervene then, and that you’re doing so once again matters not to me. It is your own choice, and I respect it even now.” Argo said. “I also share the sentiments of the other council members, and agree that Master Ren would make a welcome addition to the student body. He’s strong of mind and spirit, and his potential exceeds that of the original variant.”

“So, why then, master? Why have—?”

“—Why have I denied Master Ren? Do you assume that it is because the timeline itself dictates that he should not exist in this place, or that I think he may grow to oppose us like Master Alpha?” Argo posed a hypothetical which confused Shion further. “Neither are of any concern anymore, child. What’s done is done, and I will continue to watch as is my duty. But I will offer a hint, the fault lies not with him.”

“Then it really is my fault for everything that’s happening to Ren-kun…”

Argo sighed deeply.

“My pupil, as time keepers it is our sworn duty to maintain the balance of reality following the sage advice of the Akashic Records. We are keepers of past, present, and future, but you live only in the past...” Argo explained. “When I entrusted the key to you, you asked me a question I still remember to this day. You asked: “What have I done to earn it?” However, that was the entirely wrong question to pose.”

“Wrong? What do you mean??”

“What you should be asking yourself is what CAN I DO to earn it.“ Shion’s eyes widened as her master spoke. “You can believe in the most righteous of causes, but without proper conviction you will find little success on this path you choose to walk. The path of interference, the path of action.”

“But I…I—!”

“—That spark you once had, that burning desire to save Itsuka Ren, it does not burn as brightly as it once did.” Argo proceeded to put the final nail in the coffin, pulling his finger back from Shion’s neck. “As you are now, child, you are not fit to be that boy’s guide.”

Shion was rendered speechless as something clicked. She finally understood what her master was getting at. Headmaster Argo had no such worries about Ren’s character at all, he was a separate person from Alpha despite their physical similarities, but with Shion as his steward in this world, the Headmaster couldn’t quite accept it.

She was at a loss though, with everything she thought to say seeming like it would ring hollow in her master’s ears. She badly wanted Ren to be accepted despite her personal failures, but if she came across as too desperate, Argo would be able to tell right away. There was no faking her way out of this conversation when the man she respected most in the world saw right through all her tricks.

“I must take my leave, the moot will meet the day after tomorrow and there is still much to do…”

Stuck, unable to come up with the right answer as her master began hobbling his way towards the exit, Shion simply sat, listless. However, a solitary thought occurred to her…

But what if… there is no perfect answer? What if, and I’m just speculating here, my honest feelings are enough to convince him?

“What can I…” Shion muttered inaudibly.

Her master kept walking, having not heard her. Slightly deflated by her weak attempt, Shion decided to try again.

“What can I do?” She said a little louder, her voice echoing in the half-empty room.

“What was that, my pupil?” Headmaster Argo asked without turning around. “I’m a little hard of hearing at my age, you’ll have to excuse me.”

“What can I do to prove myself to you??” Shion asked, standing up to her feet. “He needs this master, please reconsider!”

“Are you sure it isn’t you that needs Master Ren?”

She thought long and hard about her answer while her master waited patiently.

“I… I don’t know, but even so, even so!” Shion clenched her fists. “Even if I’m being selfish and he doesn’t need me as much as I need him… I’ve fully accepted that possibility, as much as it hurts. Please tell me what I can do to change your mind!”

Shion fully bowed, her forehead touching the ground.

“I’ll do anything!”

“And why would you go through so much trouble for this young man? After watching his variants, II through IX, perish one after another.” Argo asked, finally turning around. “For what purpose do you prostrate yourself so humbly, abandoning your pride. What do you truly desire in your heart of hearts, my pupil?”

“I want…”

To give him a place to belong, to see him blossom into a skilled magician and a good man, but above all…

“I want to save Ren-kun!” Shion declared at last. “I could never accomplish it before, but what’s in the distant past is done. I realize that now, but I want to see the future. A future with both of us in it, so please… tell me how…”

Argo smiled weakly, turning around to open the door.

“In that case, you can start by hearing Master Zero’s inquiry.”

“Zero…?”

Just as Headmaster Argo left the conference room, Zero burst in, wearing no shirt.

“Shion, we’ve got trouble!” Zero exclaimed. “BIG trouble!”

“Zero??” Shion pulled herself quickly to her feet, hoping he didn’t see her in such a sorry state on her hands and knees. “What’s the matter, and why aren’t you properly clothed??”

“It’s Ren.” Zero said as sweat formed on Shion’s brow. “I heard what happened from Headteacher Fury and went back to our room to cheer him up a bit, you know? But what I found instead of my partner was this…”

Zero handed Shion an envelope, exhaling deeply since he had run all that way.

“What is the meaning of…?” Shion began before her eyes hovered over some text on the outside of the envelope that read “Notice of Ransom”.

“You’re gonna want to read what’s inside.”