Morning walks and sudden shadows (part 3)

"What the hell!!!" I say, finally coming out of my daze, as I was waking up and trying to figure out what to do.

When suddenly, loud bells rang throughout the city.

'Huh, not just a meteorite? Why would that ring a bell... or chimes? What is the difference?'

"That sound..." Nicole mumbles. "Go to the castle, quick!" She yells at me before running off toward the academy.

I stop caring about that when I hear the screams of the surrounding people. 'Mm, I guess that woke up the whole town. I'd better stop daydreaming and listen to Nicole.'

I run towards the castle.

But... I really have no idea where I am. Luckily, my hearing is only surpassed by my smell, so I know where to go; I just have to follow the distinctive smell of the main street and it's a straight path from there.

Horses and everything that comes with them; plus, soot and ash from fireplaces and boilers, mixed with the strong chemical smell of cleaning products... It's not the best trail to follow, but I can't complain right now.

Even if I get lost, I would just have to follow my smell back home, or go over the rooftops straight towards the castle towers that come into view between the streets, rising into the sky.

Less than three minutes later, I am interrupted by an avalanche of people who have flashed onto the streets. And to make matters worse, although most of them were walking fast, many others were running as if their lives depended on it.

Fortunately, this is still a residential area with buildings not too tall or far apart, so I dash to an outside staircase of a small apartment building and climb to the top. From outside the railing, as there are people coming down the same stairs.

I'm confident I could come out unscathed even if I fell a few floors; I'm physically stronger than most humans. And my strong, beautiful legs and butt aren't just for show!

'... Not a great time to think about that, sorry.'

I reach the top smoothly and run, parkouring between the buildings. I have to concentrate... but there's too much screaming and...

Suddenly I feel a big chill. Maybe the entire city felt it too, because for a second there was a terrifying, total silence.

I turn toward where the meteorite, or whatever it was, fell and notice... Uh, I'm too far away to see properly even with my great vision, but it's a black mass that's... climbing buildings!?

I can also see multi-colored lights quickly approaching them... Are they aliens or something, and someone is shooting at them?

'... Again, stop freezing like an idiot, Seina!' I scold myself and keep running. After a few minutes of it, the buildings get bigger as I get closer to the center of the city where the royal castle is.

Mmm... Not as crowded as before. I keep going along the ground. Suddenly, some strangers and I stop and look down one of the smaller side streets where we see a flood of people running and screaming.

I don't have to wonder why for a long time, because behind them are... Huh... They look like xenomo— huh? Xeno what?

Again, strange words appear in my mind. It's been a while- 'HEY! Concentrate and run, you idiot!'

Five four-legged creatures, six to ten feet tall, with elongated heads, no visible eyes, sharp metallic teeth, and huge segmented tails with deadly-looking blades at the tips. Things that resemble something between machines and monsters; they are chasing the crowd.

Even though they don't seem to be in a hurry, they still match the crowd in speed.

"AAAH!" But before I could run, I saw a human woman, holding a girl who looked like her, being pushed to the ground.

One creature lets out a loud roar, abandoning its slow pace and charging at her at full speed.

'Aah! No! I should help— huh?'

Before I could finish the thought, I saw my surroundings move. Or rather, I am moving.

My outstretched hand shoots a fireball at the monster. It hits it right in the face and stops it dead in its tracks.

But it doesn't look particularly hurt.

I turn to the woman. "Lady, get out of here!" I yell, this time with all my might.

She doesn't answer me; just gets up and keeps running. When I turn back to the monsters, all five of them are looking at me... And now they are running towards me! But again, before I can come up with a plan...

I feel a tug in my mind that makes me turn towards the brick wall of one building to the right between me and the monsters.

Whatever it is... uh, it feels like the first time I've awakened my magic. Almost by pure instinct, I stretch my hand towards the wall, or rather towards what's behind it.

Darkness.

It's still early, but the sun came up quite a while ago. It's already quite clear out here, so for whatever reason, I understand that it's more effective to focus on this part.

With a confidence I've drawn from somewhere unknown and an unusual lack of fear or sense of self-preservation, I mentally call out to the darkness from inside the building.

I make a pulling motion to the left with my hand.

CRAAAACK!!!

Almost the entire wall, along with the interior of the first floor of the building, is ripped off and dragged toward the street. It hits the monsters! The stone, brick, and metal debris strike the body and gigantic head of the creature closest to the building, killing it instantly.

Its corpse also shoots out and hits two of its companions.

Once I hear that everyone is far enough away, I back up and begin climbing back up to the rooftops through a stone archway that connects the small side street to the main street, to gain a height advantage.

I don't have to worry about their survival for long because—

CRAAAACK!!!

A second groan from the building I had torn the wall off of signaled its ruin. In less than two seconds, the building crumbled on top of the stunned creatures and into what looked like a shop across the street.

I move as fast as I can away from the enormous cloud of dust. I press my ears back from the loud sound that almost resembles an angry roar.

Eh, I think I didn't hear anyone inside or nearby. But... I hope I'm not to blame for what just happened. Um, I'll try to deny any involvement if anyone asks later. I remember Nicole's wise but questionable advice, 'Sei, everything is legal if the authorities aren't around.'

No, no, that's wrong. It was a joke... I hope.

Anyway, It seems that this group of monsters were strays. Now that I know what their whistles and roars sound like, I can't hear any nearby. Good.

As I return to the ground and run toward the stone and crystal castle adorning much of the sunrise, I remembered what I had just done... Those who can use magic are supposed to awaken it before puberty, just as happened to me. I'd never heard of a second awakening.

And I somehow knew what I was capable of and how to do it. It was as if I'd done it a million times before... Weird.

'Besides, isn't non-magical darkness just the lack of light or something...? Although at the Academy they say that the world is filled with many mysterious energies.' I should ask Nicole later, as a court mage she should at least have an idea.

Anyway, it's fascinating, and a bit scary, to be able to feel the energy in every dark place. In maybe a fifth part of the vast metropolis that is this city?

Well, it's not really annoying. Although I did feel like a metaphorical bucket of cold water hit me, it's just... like... uh. Like being in an empty room when suddenly you blink and there are a million swords at your fingertips, ready to be used.

I even feel like I could...

Huh, that could work? I stop for a moment to test my idea.

I go up to the roof for the third time today, this time a clothing store; then I look toward where the meteorite fell.

Hum, they seem to be dealing with it. I don't know what kind of magic or attack it is, but with glowing projectiles that leave a trail of blue light behind them, they knock the creatures off the buildings.

"Great!" I say out loud. There's no one here, so it's okay.

Even though they look like they came straight from hell, they seem to be far from invincible, as I also proved with my act of bravery... Or rather, my act of thoughtlessness, impulsiveness and stupidity—

"NO! My fully conscious act of, uh, self-discovery, yes, of course."

I quickly search for the nearest creature I can find... and quickly spot a lonely one about, I'd say, a mile away. Just standing there, eating... ah, something I, uh, really hope it found in a butcher shop. I focus on it as best I can and... there it is.

The metaphorical sword around it and... also, inside the thing.

'If I can draw the darkness, can I crush it? Somehow, I know the answer is yes. Gesturing with my hand...'

I clench my fist.

And just then the creature gives a big jerk and falls over like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

Wow, huh... Even though the level of danger I feel from them is quite varied, they are certainly hostile. But still... to have your heart, or whatever it is they have in their barrel torsos, crushed without being able to do anything about it sounds quite unfair.

I almost feel bad. Almost.

"Well... Yeah, I can kill them, I should help, then," I say, changing my course.