An Improbable Theory

Merlin and Azrael exit through a doorway made of pure hope, appearing inside a security holding office. Around are various species wearing dark blue hoods all on high alert. Glancing across the room, they see a holding cell that has the female lamia student strapped and bonded down with plant vines emanating blue mist.

Behind the main desk is a female dryad using her arms and various plant vines to tackle paperwork. Her demeanor is one of exhaustion and anger, but her mental clarity improves as she sees Merlin and Azrael walking in.

“Thank goodness you two are here. What is going on?” She says as her various vines lay on the table.

“I apologize Hanako, we’ll take it from here. The Overseers are going to come in anytime.” Merlin answers.

Hanako feels shivers through her floral body hearing his answer.

“Sir, I don’t know how much I can keep filling out the expulsion paperwork. Please tell me you found out the cause of this.” Hanako pleads to Merlin.

“I have some theories but they’re not good. Look, don’t worry too much about it. Azrael and I will talk with the Overseers about it.”

“Sure thing.” Hanako replies tirelessly.

Merlin and Azrael walk towards the holding room where they see the female lamia student strapped down on a bed. Sleeping soundly, she twitches and jerks around randomly, catching Merlin’s eye. He takes out his wand and approaches her and releases a blue mist from his wand.

Upon reaching her nostrils, the student begins to calm down as she breathes in the spell. No longer under duress, Merlin puts his wand away.

“She’ll be knocked out for the time being. As well as having better dreams.” Merlin says to Azrael.

At that moment, another doorway opens in front of the main desk.

Appearing through are the Overseers of Magic, consisting of 7 men and 5 women of various species. A fit looking elf with long silver hair and brown eyes walks up to Hanako.

“Where is Merlin?” He requests.

“In the back.” Hanako says while pointing at Merlin and Azrael.

The Overseers all march in a firm fashion. Merlin and Azrael see them approach and they give them a bow of respect.

“Hello Sylvanus.” Merlin says.

“Merlin, let’s save the pleasantries and go straight to the point. This is the second time in just under a week someone here has been using despair.” Angrily stated by Sylvanus.

“Believe me, you have every right to be upset. I am as well. Someone or something is targeting my students to use despair, and I have a theory.” Merlin says calmly.

Merlin moves aside to let everyone get in the room, closing the door behind them. Seeing it’s getting cramped; he takes out his wand to expand the interior space of the room. With no words, he makes it three times the space as his wand shines bright white.

“We shouldn’t blame this student; she didn’t even attack anyone else. Azrael found her upset and then she aimed her wand straight to the ceiling for her spell.”

Sylvanus and the others look at Merlin with confusion as he points to the sleeping student.

“Why does that matter?” Sylvanus rebuffs.

“I think this girl didn’t even want to use despair. Based on what Azrael told me shortly after the incident, she is a victim as well.”

“A victim to what?” A female human arachnid says.

“Zethros.” Merlin says in a stern demeanor.

Everyone in the room looks visibly shocked hearing that name.

“Merlin, do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?” Sylvanus says.

“It does but it’s the only thing that makes sense. No despair usage shouldn’t even be possible on school grounds, not with our security and the building and pool out front that has pure hope. It makes sense it’s Zethros.”

Sylvanus rejects this notion and looks disappointed.

“Merlin, your age hasn’t gone to your brain, right? Zethros is dead. The whole point as to why our world exists is that it's dead.”

“Look, I know it sounds insane, but it makes sense. In the old legends, its despair was powerful enough to get past anything incantation, barrier and spell. Even today, any random despair user is not that powerful.”

Sylvanus rubs his eyes as the other Overseers look and chat amongst themselves.

“If that’s true, how come your school hasn’t had its hope burned out? Or what about the students getting more upset and angrier? In fact, how come you haven’t handled this situation when you found out your students were getting their hope from malicious means?”

Merlin is visibly upset hearing his tirade.

“That was a poor oversight on my watch. All students that had their malicious hope source are now going through new training and classes to use something else. But this girl didn’t even have a negative source.”

“How do you know?” Sylvanus steps up.

Azrael steps in front of Sylvanus.

“I talked to the girl after subduing and bringing her here. She was depressed about missing her family and she told me she gets her hope from her mother's love and ambitions for her.” Azrael rebuffs Sylvanus.

Sylvanus takes a step back after hearing Azrael’s claims.

“Okay, let’s not lose our heads here. Let’s focus back on the girl, you do know she will have to be expelled right?”

“Yes, Hanako is filing them, but I will change them for a temporary expulsion. It’s not worth making her life worse.”

Sylvanus and the others turn to talk to one another. After a dozen seconds of chatter, they turn forward again.

“Okay, we’ll accept that. But what about her being marked? Any illegal despair users need to have their magic usage taken away.”

Merlin looks at her and shakes his head.

“No, for her, she needs a second chance. I’ll even talk with the Elite Hope Guardians if I have to.”

The Overseers, besides Sylvanus, look with remorse. Sylvanus’s demeanor turns calmer the more he looks at the student.

“Just this once Merlin, I’ll allow it. But any other further incidents, student or staff, I’ll mark them. I have to look out for the safety of Luxeria.” Sylvanus marks down on a notebook using his wand.

Using only his thoughts, he writes down the entire conversation with Merlin, word for word.

“As for your claims that a dead being is up to this, you need proof. I’ll talk to the Elite Hope Guardians about sending some Hope Protectors to stand guard.”

“Thank you for understanding, Sylvanus.” Merlin bows.

“Before I go, is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“Yes, it’s this book.” Merlin takes out the book Lila handed to him earlier.

“What is it?” A floating female fairy Overseer expresses with curiosity.

Sylvanus takes and inspects it. Skimming through and immediately sees what type of book it is, his face is full of fear.

“Why is this in your school?”

“I don’t know why. I found it in the library behind some reference books. Before you interrupted me, this was my evidence that Zethros is behind this.”

“Anyone can bring in a book anywhere. We need actual proof like witnesses or something in connection with despair so we can inspect it carefully.” Sylvanus states.

“However, this is disturbing evidence. We’ll take it out of here.” Sylvanus adds.

“Good, we’ll have to talk to the Elite Hope Guardians immediately. They need to hear my claims, and I have to tell them what that book contains.” Merlin says.

“I’ll set up an appointment with them. Someone or something won’t stop here. Good day Merlin and Azrael.”

Merlin and Azrael bows as the Overseers exit the room and conjure up a pathway from the same wall they entered earlier. As they’re now gone, Azrael pulls Merlin aside.

“Sir, why didn’t you mention Lila and her hope enhancer?” Azrael whispers.

Merlin shakes his head.

“No, it’s not worth it. The Overseers will just mark her and possibly imprison that nice young man against his will. You saw how Sylvanus acted.” Merlin says quietly.

“I know sir, but we can possibly use it to tell the Elite Hope Guardians that we have a being not from any known worlds and how powerful their hope is.”

Merlin raises his hand, signaling Azrael to stop talking.

“I don’t know if they will see it that way. The Elite Hope Guardians could kill that being in Lila’s wand for just being from an unknown world. Also, what’s to stop others from using it as well.”

“But sir, can the Overseers be trusted with that book.” Azrael asks cautiously.

“Yes. Besides, it’s incomplete.” Merlin takes out a few pages from his pockets with steps on the ritual. He immediately ignites them using his wand and no words.

Azrael watches as the pages burn to a crisp with Merlin turning them into pure oxygen.

“Come Azrael, let’s lift the lockdown.”

Azrael nods as they walk out of the room. With the threat of the school still looming. Merlin walks out knowing Lila and Haruto are part of something bigger, and potentially in something’s sights.