Of temporary endings

Detachedly, Reisen thought that she had seriously had enough of being injured and hurled backwards and forwards during battles. She had had enough of battles in general, but she doubted that she could’ve returned to that nice, sweet boredom of the beginning of her summer vacation. Considering her current predicament, she doubted that she could’ve returned to anything at all, actually.

She had rolled and then come to a stop on the ground, but she didn’t think she could get up again, forget fight, busy as she was with breathing and generally staying awake, even though everything was becoming colder and darker by the minute.

From a corner of her field of view she saw Sonogi take his own book in his hand and prepare who knew what other troublesome spell, while another part of her registered Yukiya screaming her name and getting closer in order to frantically apply pressure and healing magic on her wound. Reisen didn’t think it would’ve helped either of them in the long run, even though she appreciated the concern, so she did the only sensible thing and used whatever energies she had left to put herself in front of the kid, ignoring their protests, and bodily protect them from harm.

Surprisingly, though – miraculously, even –, Sonogi’s attack never hit.

Reisen heard the noise of what seemed the engine of a car, which probably could’ve sounded like the delirium of a person who was losing a fair amount of blood if it wasn’t for the fact that a few seconds later a reinforced off-road vehicle, driven by granny Miyako among all people, knocked down some tree trunks and appeared in the small clearing. From the car got off Nagai, who keeled over as soon as he saw Reisen’s injury, and the most beautiful girl Reisen had ever met, with long white hair and eyes of silver, that focused on Sonogi right away.

She held up a hand, and dozens of metal projectiles flew from her clothes pockets, nipping in the bud the man’s attempts on their lives. “This has gone on for way longer than it should’ve. Surrender at once.” Even her voice was charming, pleasing and strong like a gem.

Sonogi sighed, shaking his head. “I see that Mutsumi lost. What a shame.” Instead of getting worried, though, it treated the fact as if it was no more than a small inconvenience. “In this case, I’ll take my leave.” A wooden wall started building itself in front of him, his last look directed at the kid. “We’ll see each other again, Tsuchifuji Yukiya.”

The beautiful witch lost no time in drilling the magical shield with bullets, but when she destroyed it Sonogi had already disappeared. Her first instinct was obviously to follow him, but she refrained in favour of turning to Reisen and the kid.

As soon as she began to get closer with a determined expression on her face, however, Reisen instinctively went on the defensive, everything in her screaming that the girl was a stranger. “Stop right there.” She straightened her posture, swaying perilously, and heard Yukiya make a worried noise behind her. Their hands had returned on her shoulder, but she didn’t know if it was to heal or steady her. Maybe both. “Who are you?” It came out harsher than intended and was probably unfair towards someone that had just saved them, but, in her defence, Reisen had had a very bad day.

The metal witch actually stopped, something like irritation flashing in her eyes, but she quickly pushed it down and took a deep breath. “I’m Kazari Nagi, from the Mages Association.” Now that Reisen was actually paying attention to it, she noticed that there was the association’s logo on one of the girl’s dark violet uniform pockets. It was about time. “Please let me help, you’re not in good shape and your friend is getting exhausted.”

Reisen glanced at the kid, who hadn’t said anything but looked like they could’ve fallen asleep as soon as they closed their eyes, and relented. “… Okay.”

Kazari nodded and got close to her, applying more healing magic on her offended shoulder. “We’ll do more when we’ll be in town, but at least your wound shouldn’t reopen.” And then, with an expression of genuine worry, she gave Reisen her hand. “Do you need help to walk?”

Reisen felt herself blush to the tip of her ears; she briefly hoped it wasn’t noticeable from the exterior, but Yukiya had started snickering like they knew exactly what was going on, so she had her doubts about that. “No! Thank you!” That had to be the most embarrassing thing that had happened to her in the whole year at the very least. “I can walk perfectly fine on my own!” She proceeded to demonstrate that by losing her balance at the first step she took a bit too quickly, but she stubbornly went on until she reached the car, ignoring Kazari’s confused look.

As soon as she touched one of the back-seats, however, she was hit by a wave of exhaustion; the old woman probably told her something, but Reisen barely even heard her, since her brain was already shutting down all its systems for the time being. She didn’t want to sleep, per se, but the kid was finally safe, Kazari seemed trustworthy enough and in any case there were always granny Miyako and Nagai with them, so she gave in to her own exhaustion and let herself crash.

*

The day after they all found themselves around a comfortable, dim-lit table at Cafe Izumiya, down the old Nakasendō. Thanks to two miracles called Nagai and granny Miyako, who respectively dealt with the fire and the evacuation, Narai-juku as a whole was in a far better shape than anyone could’ve ever hoped for: the buildings were singed and frail, sure, but the citizens were all safe and sound. A town could be rebuilt, but not even magic could bring back a life, after all, even though Nagai continued to apologise for having let Oshibi escape in the chaos.

“She had been defeated” he complained, his forehead on the table, completely ignoring his matcha chocolate terrine. His skin was still a bit red, but at least it wasn’t scorched anymore.

“There, there, Hiro” granny Miyako said, patting him on the shoulder. “You saved our town.”

Kazari, who had a glass of fresh fruit juice in her hands, eyed the two of them with a curious but unquestioningly soft expression. “And I would argue that that’s the most important thing.” Her gaze gained a determined edge. “Now that we know about this Oshibi, anyway, I can assure that we will find her.”

“I like your enthusiasm, but why did the Mages Association even take so much time to come here?” Reisen asked. She ached all over, which had apparently become the norm in that period, but the seasonal home-made mango cheesecake she had in front of her on the table was playing an important part in lifting her spirits. Moreover, the bewitching girl was sitting right next to her.

Kazari grimaced. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but all of our electronic equipment stopped working for… a while. Phone calls, e-mails…” She shook her head. “We couldn't receive nor send anything. I doubt I would even be here, if it wasn’t for the fact that I found Madam Sagara’s letter when I was checking the mailbox.”

Granny Miyako smiled knowingly into her cup of green tea. “Good old letters, as I said. They never betray you.”

Kazari nodded. “In any case, we’ll have to find this… Sonogi, too, and investigate the Sonogi Foundation.” She frowned. “Monopolising magic, what an idea.” She stared into her drink for a few seconds, as if it could give her the answers to that mess – Reisen could relate –, but then she turned to Yukiya. “By the way, talking about that, from what I gathered you are in possession of one of the five celestial tomes, am I right?”

The kid raised their head from their brownie with hazelnuts and cream, looking for all intents and purposes like a lost puppy. “… the earth magic book? Well, technically that’s Reisen’s, not mine, I’m just… borrowing it.”

“And, more technically, that’s my parents’” Reisen pointed out. “Sonogi was interested in it too, but what’s all this fuss about celestial tomes or whatever?” She was very interested in knowing the answer, especially after having nearly died to keep one of them in their possession.

Kazari sighed tiredly. She probably wasn’t paid enough for all that, and Reisen didn’t envy her. “They have been called with many names during the centuries, but they’re basically five volumes containing each one the most complicated spells of its assigned element. Legend has it that if someone reunites all the books they’ll receive a secret sixth volume, that allegedly holds the secrets of magic.” She pinched the bridge of her perfect nose. “The Mages Association is in possession of the water magic book, Of assumed pliancy, and we assumed that the other four were missing or destroyed, but now I discover that you own one, Sonogi does too and, if this wasn’t enough, he’s searching for the others.”

Reisen smiled lopsidedly. “Well, with that amount of optimism it definitely sounds bad.”

“And it also gets somewhat worse, depending on how you see it.” Kazari’s silvery eyes got coloured with chagrin as she looked at the both of them. “For a reason or another, you two have now a big target on your backs” she said, as delicately as possible. “You can decide if you want to help us in our search or not, but, for your safety, you’ll have to be put under the protection of someone from the Association anyway.”

To be honest, Reisen had seen it coming: evil mages could try to kill you only so many times before someone stepped in. They would’ve had less freedom to do whatever they preferred, but it was for their own good.

Next to her, the kid was torturing their already suffering brownie, spreading its insides on the plate and mixing them with the cream. “I…” They glanced down. “I think I’d like to help, actually, but…”

At that point they looked at Reisen with their big wide eyes, and she huffed a laugh. “I think that, before doing anything else, you should talk to your parents.” When Yukiya’s lips pursed in something akin to worry, she added, more gently: “I know you’re not that eager to do that, but it's necessary.” She turned to Kazari. “Isn't that right?”

The other nodded. “Yes. For minors, we always need the parents’ authorisation to proceed.”

“Did you hear that?” Before Yukiya could reply, however, she put a hand on their head and ruffled their hair with a fond smile. “If they’ll allow you to help, though, I’ll be with you.”

If possible, their eyes widened even more. “Really?”

“Yes, you silly kid. Who knows how much trouble you could get into if I’m not watching you, after all.” Obviously, she was doing that for herself too: she was no mage, she had no place in that mystic mess, and she was no fighter, as much as she loved combat sports, but that conflict had become personal since her own parents had been touched by Sonogi’s spell; she could no longer stay on the sidelines and hope that the situation would solve itself, she had to do something. However, even more than that, she had to protect Yukiya: they were too important, and she couldn't just leave them alone.

“I don’t get into trouble that easily!” Factually incorrect statement aside, they pouted, but seemed relieved nonetheless.

The metal witch followed their exchange with an amused smile, and then slid a business card across the table. “Anyway, take the next few days to rest and recuperate. I’ll stay in town, but, just in case, here is my contact information.”

Reisen tried her best not to let her childish giddiness show, while Yukiya sent a very unimpressed and judgemental stare her way, which was totally unfair.

“Thank you, dear” said granny Miyako, taking the small card.

Kazari elegantly tilted her head to the side. “Of course.”

“If the important talk is finished, though, I propose that we let ourselves enjoy the rest of today.” The old woman smiled, and the world seemed to simmer down.

Next to her, Nagai huffed a tired, soft puff of laughter. “Agreed, Koko.”

Reisen fully relaxed and looked toward the window that faced the street, through which filtered the light from outside.

The future was uncertain, but that moment was theirs, and it was quiet.