Hopeful Standing

Looking at the etched writings from her door earlier, Haruto focuses his energy as Lila recites the spell.

“Recede Notationes”.

The door begins to return to its original state once again. Scratchings and all derogatory messages disappear, making Lila smile once again. With no messages left, Lila stops aiming Haruto.

“That’s better.” Haruto exclaims.

“I swear, the guys and girls that do this need to get a hobby.” Lila says.

Lila puts Haruto back on her waist holder and looks at him.

“With a free weekend, let’s practice some more spells, Haruto. We can…”

Thud

Just then, a few students accidentally bump into Lila, knocking her against the wall.

“Hurry, hurry! Some kid is fighting!” A male lamia says.

“I heard he’s using despair on school grounds!” A male halfling responds.

They look back at Lila as they rush.

“Sorry girlie.” The lamia says.

Looking on with confusion, Lila and Haruto head over to where the students are rushing. Step by step, they see more students exiting their dorms. Some go quick like centaurs, while others like beastmen take their time.

The two of them see a stampede of students rush over to the school’s entrance in the grand hall.

Swoosh

Catching their attention, they see the stone gargoyles hurrying to the main entrance. In the distance, they see a large gathering of students and hear a familiar voice.

“HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!”

Lila and Haruto are in utter belief by that certain voice.

“Taro?” Lila says.

Now worried, she begins running with the last of the crowd. There was a large crowd a few yards thick. Using all her might, she shoves the countless species and students looking on.

Whew

Lila and Haruto hear spells being conjured as the commotion gets louder. They soon make it to the front of the crowd and see it was their new friend.

Taro was shaking and breathing heavily. His arms were battered with him facing the being attacking him.

Everyone sees a human student, emitting dark violet energy coursing through him. Pointing his wand towards Taro, he looks fiercely towards him.

“All because you got a stupid coin, you think you can be better than me?”

“What are you talking about?!” Taro yells.

“I hoped to be better than you in every way, but you pass your midterm and then flaunt about it?”

The student’s soulless eyes sent shivers through Taro’s tail and ears.

“You destroyed my only reason for hope, now I have nothing left! Multa Pugnis!”

Aiming his wand, the angered young man releases bursts of energy from his wand. In small instances, they come out as frail disembodied hands and turn into ones full of rage.

Pow Pow

Taro dodges the first two punches, angering his assailant. The student then unleashes multiple bursts at him.

Taro looks on as he does his best to dodge, duck, and dive out of the way. Many close calls, until one.

Punch

Straight to Taro’s stomach, knocking him multiple feet back, scaring the other students. The stone gargoyles have arrived with some teachers and try to subdue the student.

Pinning him down, staff and the gargoyles try to separate him from his wand. His grip however was too strong, and he aims it now to the ones pinning him.

“Get off! Obex!”

The teachers and gargoyles are pushed off by a circular barrier. Rushing to the scene was Dean Azrael, tending to his hurt staff.

“I’ll show you what despair can do!”

Having had enough, Lila rushes forward in front of an exhausted Taro, readying Haruto.

“Get ready Haruto.” Lila whispers.

Haruto stares at the disturbed young man as he forms a grin.

“He…heheheheh.HAHAHAHAHA!”

The laugh was heard by everyone, startling nearly everyone.

“You! You think you can help your boyfriend! You’re the worst student in this school!”

Lila, visibly angered, holds Haruto firmly as he is visibly upset too.

“You don’t hurt my friends. You have no right to treat him like this.”

“Oh, just shut up! He was my only source of hope!”

“Him not passing before? That’s a lousy source of hope.” Lila says back, angering the student more.

“SHUT UP! Multa Pugnis!”

Multiple formed fists releases, targeting Lila. Energy flowing from Haruto flows into Lila as every student begins to step back from the scene.

“Repellendum!”

Haruto feels a burst of energy beginning to fill him, in a comforting way. He looks at the student causing harm to his friends and releases a massive burst of energy towards him.

Shocking the young man, it was a blue wall of hope, and it nullifies his spells. Now visibly scared, he screams.

Boom

A second wave of energy unleashes from Haruto, hitting the student with a full impact like a wave.

“AHHHHH!”

His wand falls out of his hand, and it shatters into a million pieces, any residue of despair is shredded out of his system as well. Pushed back heavily, the student lands dozens of feet into the pool of water, although submerged.

Everyone, including Dean Azrael, couldn't believe what they had witnessed. Lila puts Haruto on her waist and goes to check on Taro.

“Are you okay?” Lila checks his battered arms.

“Yeah, I couldn’t cast any spells since he went to my arms first.”

Lila puts him on her shoulder, helping him stand. Dean Azrael and some gargoyles look at the knocked-out student and restrain him.

Looking back, he sees Lila and Taro. He approaches them sternly.

“Get to the nurses office, both of you.” He tells them.

“As for everyone else, get back to your dorms now!”

Everyone scatters away from the scene with Lila and Taro getting some stares as they walk to the nurse's office. Getting to a wall, a fellow teacher assists them by pointing his wand.

“Thank you, sir.” Lila says to the teacher, nodding to her.

Lila and Taro feel a comforting flow of energy through Haruto. He looks at Haruto and smiles.

“Thanks stickman.”

They pass through the doorway to the nurse’s office. It has multiple rooms accustomed to all fellow species. Some are made of wood, some are hot, while others cold.

They see a male receptionist reading, until he sees Lila and Taro.

“What happened to you two?” Worriedly asked.

“Not me, my friend needs help.”

He steps away from his desk and supports him.

“Okay, you can wait here. I have a room open for your friend.”

Lila lets the receptionist carry him and puts him in a warm grassy room.

“Thank goodness. Taro’s been through too much the past few days.” Haruto says to himself.

Lila pulls out Haruto and checks him.

“I’m glad we saved Taro. Hmm, I don’t see any cracks on you.” Lila checks his back and sees the crack has fully healed.

“I don’t believe it; your wound is gone Haruto.”

Haruto’s eyes open at their widest.

“How? Mrs. Irigami said it would have taken 2 days to heal?” Haruto says, unheard.

A female elf nurse comes to talk to Lila.

“Miss, your friend will be fine. He’ll have to take the weekend to heal thanks to our best doctors checking him.”

“I’m glad he’ll heal.” Lila says.

“What happened to him?” The nurse asks.

“A student with despair attacked him.”

The nurse turns visibly shocked hearing Lila’s claims.

“Okay, um…you may go to your dorm. I’ll have to report this to the principal immediately.”

Lila nods and gets up with Haruto on her waist. As they walk to the wall, a doorway immediately appears.

Oof

A young female elf accidentally bumps into Lila and they both fall into the ground.

The female elf looks bewildered, as she gets up.

“I’m so sorry. I…I need to learn healing potions here.”

The young female elf rushes towards the elf nurse and guides her away.

“Taro’s in good hands here. Glad there’s one place that supports students well.” Lila warmly says to Haruto.

Haruto wiggles slightly to acknowledge Lila. With at least one place supporting all students, he feels warm on the inside as Lila walks through the pathway.