A Boy, a Dog Girl and Madam VanVeer's Academy: Part Three

“Are you trying to become socially untouchable on your first day?” Chista asked as she led them up the stairs.

“Possibly. If he’s the type of guy who is popular, I’ll take unpopularity, thanks,” Zack said.

“He was at jerk,” Honey said, looking to Zack as if she were awaiting his approval.

“Yes, he was a jerk,” Zack confirmed. Honey smiled and nodded in satisfaction. “A jerk with some history involving our friend Chista. Why did he call you a failed experiment?”

“You two need to test to place into your correct career paths,” Chista said, pointing towards two rooms down the hall. “Zack, to the right. Honey, to the left.”

“Gonna ignore me, huh? Alright. Know I will not forget this,” Zack said.

Honey hesitated, staring at her door. Zack squeezed her hand once, tight and firm.

“After it’s done I’ll be right here,” Zack said.

“I don’t like alone…”

“You’re not alone…sweetheart.”

Honey’s eyes lit up. She happily kissed him on the cheek and entered her door.

“I’m gonna pay for saying sweetheart later…” Zack sighed. As his hand touched the cool metal knob, he looked to Chista. “It goes for you, too. I’ve got your back if you need me.”

“Why? If not for me, you wouldn’t be here.”

“And if not for me, you wouldn’t be here. Should tell you something, Chista.”

Zack turned the knob and calmly walked in.

The room was fairly normal in terms of classrooms. Rows of desks, a blackboard, a desk for the teacher, several plants on the shelves near the windows. Nobody was inside. Nothing was set up for any kind of test. In fact, the only unusual thing was the room feeling slightly warm.

“Well, this is annoying. Maybe I should…”

The wall in front of him exploded.

Zack was thrown back against the door by the blast, his back crushing into it as wood and glass and brick flew around him. A figure blocked out the sun as it landed within the room, large black wings folding along its back. The robe it wore barely showed a demonic, twisted face with glowing red eyes.

“Where is VanVeer?” it growled in a voice which sounded like gravel and death.

“Never heard of her. We sell insurance here,” Zack said, standing back up shakily.

“Adorable. Show me your magic, boy. You shall be my first kill.”

“Yeah, my magic…”

Zack yelped as the dark wizard let loose a blast of lightning from his hand. Zack ran along the room, dodging blasts before ducking behind a desk.

“Crap! Crap crap crap! Stop shooting at me! Hell, screw it! Maybe I do have magic!”

Zack stood, boldly squaring his shoulders before holding his hand out before him like his saw Chista and Chistos do. He concentrated, willing all of his spirit out of him.

Nothing happened.

The wizard shot another blast. Zack ducked as the cabinet behind him was hit, the door swinging open

“You are amusing, boy. Maybe I won’t kill you. Maybe I’ll transform you. I could use a demoness with fire in my harem. Or maybe a hellhound for the castle…”

“Sorry, I’m taken. I’ve got a golden retriever who would be sad if I cheated on her with another insane person,” Zack said. He looked around for anything he could use as a weapon. The cabinet which had been cracked wide seemed to be filled with strange objects. He reached over as he heard the wizard’s boots crunching over debris, finally closing his hand around a small dagger type object, more an icepick than a knife.

“Stand, boy!” the wizard demanded. Zack leapt to his feet, holding the weapon in front of him. The demonic wizard looked at it curiously.

“Yeah! You scared of this thing?”

“Do you even know what it is, boy?”

“It’s…pointy!”

“It’s a switch spike. And you won’t use it.”

“Why the hell not?”

“One, you don’t have any magic to power it. Two, when the switch spike activates, it drains the life of whoever is stabbed…so long as the holder sacrifices an equal amount of life force.”

Zack looked at the blade in his hand, his eyebrow raising. “Why is this in a school?”

“Goodbye, boy. I think I’ll kill some of your friends.” The wizard walked away. Zack’s grip tightened.

“Don’t turn your back on me! I’ll do it!”

The wizard stopped. “No you won’t. Boys your age, you want to live. Run away. Be successful someday. Your responsibility is over. You are no hero.”

The wizard did not make it three steps before Zack charged.

The blade began to glow a deep red. He raised it above his head. He kept hearing those words over and over. Not a hero.

Maybe not.

But he wasn’t a coward either.

He wasn’t a man who let his friends suffer. Chista, Honey, they would be safe.

The blade plunged towards the wizard.

Zack fell through him, falling face first onto the wood floor.

The room was fine. No damage, no wall or windows exploded. No dagger in his hand.

“What? I…”

“You okay? Up you go! You seemed to have an intense test!”

A boy with spiked red hair offered his hand. Zack took it, completely lost.

“Sorry for the scare, bro! Had to test your reactions to actual stimuli so the orb could figure out what you’re good at!” The boy clapped him on the back.

“You dick! I was scared out of my mind! I nearly…”

“Technically, YOU dick. Soon as you entered the room you created a scenario. It was all you.”

“Fine, okay, whatever! Either way…”

Zack never got to finish his rant. A girl in the hallway started calling for Chista.

“The girl is done, but…you’ve gotta see!”

“Honey…” Zack’s stomach dropped as he bolted from the room and ran across the hall into Honey’s room. Her tester stood there with Chista, pointing. Zack followed their gaze.

“Hi sweetheart…” Honey said, her body covered in soft golden yellow fur.