Chapter 8: Silent Requiem

Far from the chaos of Tokyo Magic Academy, Naomi Tendou Kaname stood still beneath the pale sky.
The air around her trembled faintly, a pulse of ancient mana resonating through her body. Her eyes widened.

“No… impossible.”
“That feeling—it can’t be… he’s awakened.”

Her voice trembled with both fear and regret. She could sense it clearly now—the storm of dragon energy raging from the academy grounds.
Kanata had lost control.

The battlefield had turned into a wasteland of molten stone and shattered glass.
Shiranui Itsuha, bruised and trembling, staggered backward as Kanata advanced—his eyes glowing crimson, his right arm now a monstrous limb of blue-black scales. Every breath he took released a wave of searing mana.

“What’s wrong, little witch?!” he roared, voice distorted and guttural.
“Where’s that loud mouth of yours now?!”

Itsuha clenched her teeth, panting.

“That arm… it’s not magic. It’s—”
She didn’t have time to finish. Kanata blurred forward, faster than lightning. His claw tore through the air.

SRAAAASH!

Blood scattered across the arena floor. Itsuha screamed, clutching her right arm where deep claw marks burned with black-blue fire.

From the stands, the Four Witches watched tensely.
Aine gripped her sword, her knuckles white.

“We have to stop this—now!”

Nagisa stood beside her, fury burning in her violet eyes.

“That’s not Kanata anymore…”

But Lilith raised her hand.

“Wait. I need to see how far he’ll go.”

The ground shook violently. Kanata let out a primal roar that shattered glass windows across the stadium.
Students screamed and fled in panic as the once-proud arena began to crumble.

“Is that all you’ve got, witch?!” Kanata bellowed.
“You call that strength?!”

Itsuha fell to her knees, her vision blurring.
And then—
a whisper echoed in Celestine Vairne’s mind.

“Celestine. Listen to me carefully.”

It was Naomi Kaname’s voice.

“You and I don’t have time. Follow my lead when I give the signal.”

Just as Kanata raised his claw for the final strike, a sharp voice rang through the chaos.

“Freeze.”

A pillar of ice erupted beneath Kanata’s feet, encasing him instantly. The entire arena fell silent.
The flames dimmed. The dragon’s roar stopped.

Every student turned toward the source of the voice—and gasped.

Standing at the edge of the field was Naomi Tendou Kaname, the legendary witch of Nevantrax herself, cloaked in silver robes that shimmered with divine runes.

The crowd broke into wild cheers, relief flooding through them.

“It’s her! The legendary witch!”
“We’re saved!”

Kaname’s gaze remained cold and steady.

“Good thing I arrived in time. Otherwise, you might’ve completely awakened again… Obsidian.”

The ice cracked violently. Kanata’s distorted laughter echoed through the mist.

“KANAMEEEE!”
“You think you can stop me again?! I’ll never forgive you! THIS HATRED WILL NEVER DIE!”

The ice shattered into shards of blue light, and Kanata lunged forward—his monstrous claw ready to strike.

But Kaname had already begun her incantation.

“<Seal of Abyss>.”

A surge of radiant energy burst from her staff, wrapping around Kanata like chains of light.
He roared, his body convulsing as the black mist was ripped away from his soul.

“This isn’t over, Kaname! I’ll haunt you until the day you die!”

With one final scream, the dragon’s voice faded into silence.
Kanata collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Kaname exhaled softly.

“Troublesome boy…”

She drove her staff into the ground, stabilizing the mana around them. Turning to Itsuha, she saw the girl clutching her wounded arm.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-Yes, ma’am,” Itsuha breathed weakly. “You… you know who I am?”

Kaname smiled faintly.

“Don’t underestimate the strongest witch, girl. Now come here.”

She gestured with her hand, murmuring a healing spell.

“<Health>.”

A warm light enveloped Itsuha’s arm, sealing the burn wounds completely.

Then, Kaname turned toward the unconscious Kanata. Her eyes softened with sadness as she raised her staff once more.

Her voice became calm, almost like a lullaby.

“O light that remains within the dark,
hear my voiceless prayer.
Calm the souls lost between sin and curse,
and erase the pain that makes the world weep.
Let only peace remain within their hearts,
and let them sleep—without the memory of suffering.”

“<Silent Requiem>.”

A gentle white light radiated from her body, sweeping across the academy grounds.
One by one, the students and spectators fell silent—their memories of the battle fading into nothingness.

When the light dimmed, only the Four Witches remained unaffected, staring at the aftermath.

Kanata lay motionless at the center of the arena, his right arm once again hidden by a faint seal.
Kaname stood over him, her staff glowing softly.

“Rest, Kanata,” she whispered. “For now… your burden sleeps.”

Lilith turned toward the others, her tone grave.

“It’s official now. He’s not just a student.”

Nagisa clenched her fist.

“He’s a threat… to everyone—and to himself.”

As the night settled over Tokyo Magic Academy, one truth became clear:

Tendou Kanata was no longer just a boy with a curse.
He was the vessel of an ancient power—and the world would soon come to fear his awakening.