Chapter 7:The Silver-Masked Assassin

Volume 1: The Boy Summoned by MistakeEpisode 7: The Silver-Masked Assassin"Let me out."Kazuki heard that voice inside his head.Thump.His heart pounded hard.Violet energy covered his arms."No..."He gritted his teeth."I don't know who you are."The silver-masked woman stepped backward."That power..."Kael raised his sword."Kazuki! Look at me!"Kazuki turned his head."Breathe!""I can't!""Yes, you can!"The energy continued to increase.The walls began to vibrate.Lyra raised both hands."Kazuki, listen to him!""I'm trying!"The voice appeared again."You don't need to be afraid."Kazuki closed his eyes."How am I supposed to not be afraid?""Because I will protect you.""I don't want you to protect me!"Silence.For a moment, the energy stopped.Kazuki opened his eyes."..."The voice disappeared.The violet flames began to fade.Kael slowly lowered his sword."Good."Kazuki breathed heavily."Was that... close?""Very."The silver-masked assassin took advantage of the moment.She disappeared.Kael turned."Behind you!"CLANG!A dagger collided with Kael's sword.The assassin appeared behind Kazuki.Lyra reacted."Barrier!"BOOM!A magical wall separated them.The assassin stepped back."I don't have time for this."Kael looked at her."Then leave.""No."The woman pulled out another dagger."My orders are to eliminate the Heir."Kazuki raised an eyebrow."Could everyone stop calling me that?"The assassin looked at him."You don't know who you are?""No.""That's even worse."The woman lunged.Lyra raised her staff."Light Ray!"A bolt of lightning shot forward.The assassin dodged it.Kael attacked from the other side.SHING!The woman blocked.The impact made the ground tremble.Kazuki watched."She's fast..."The assassin spun around.Her foot struck Kael in the chest.BOOM!The old man was sent flying several meters backward."Master!"Lyra ran toward him.The assassin took advantage of the opening.She charged directly at Kazuki."Kazuki!"He raised the wooden sword.The woman smiled."That won't work."She attacked.CLANG!Kazuki blocked.The wooden sword broke.Kazuki's eyes widened."Oh."The dagger stopped just inches from his face."Too close..."The assassin attacked again.Kazuki ducked.The dagger passed over his head.He punched.The woman blocked effortlessly."Weak."Kazuki was struck in the stomach."Ugh!"He was sent flying.He rolled across the ground."Kazuki!"He tried to stand.His legs were shaking."No..."The woman walked toward him."You don't stand a chance."Kazuki looked at his hands."She's right.""I don't know how to fight.""I don't know how to use magic.""And I'm fighting a professional assassin."The woman raised her dagger."Goodbye."Kazuki closed his eyes.Thump.That heartbeat again.Thump.Stronger.Thump.The violet energy appeared.But this time, it didn't come from his hands.It came from his shadow.Kazuki opened his eyes.The assassin stopped."What...?"A dark figure appeared behind Kazuki.It wasn't Astra.It was a creature made of violet energy.It had the shape of a wolf.It growled.The assassin stepped backward."A spirit beast!"The wolf leaped.BOOM!The woman was sent flying into a wall.Kazuki stared in amazement."Did I do that?"Lyra was surprised as well."I'm not sure."The wolf positioned itself in front of Kazuki.Protecting him.The assassin slowly stood up.Her mask was broken.Beneath it was a young woman's face.Kazuki looked at her."You're..."The girl spat blood onto the ground and picked up her dagger again."It doesn't matter."Kael appeared behind her.The tip of his sword rested against her neck."It's over."The girl froze.Kael spoke calmly."Who sent you?"She smiled."I'll never tell."Kael sighed."I expected that answer."The woman disappeared.A small black stone fell to the ground.Kazuki's eyes widened."What was that?"Kael picked up the stone."A teleportation crystal.""So she escaped?""Yes."Lyra approached."Why did you let her escape?"Kael looked at the stone."Because I wanted her to escape."Kazuki frowned."What?""Now we can follow her."A few minutes later, the courtyard was silent.The soldiers had fled.The house was destroyed.One wall was completely gone.Part of the roof had collapsed as well.Kazuki looked at the destruction."I think we're going to have to pay for this."Kael crossed his arms."Yes."Lyra pointed at Kazuki."He broke the wall.""Me?!""Your magic.""But I was defending myself!"Kael nodded."Correct."Kazuki smiled."Then I don't have to pay.""You don't.""Phew.""I do.""Oh."Kael looked at the crater."Although it'll probably be expensive."Kazuki looked at the violet wolf again.The creature was still beside him."What about him?"The wolf raised its head."Can I touch him?"Lyra approached."We don't know what it is."Kazuki slowly extended his hand.The wolf sniffed his fingers.Then...It licked his hand."..."Kazuki smiled."I like him."Lyra let out a small laugh."Looks like he likes you too."Kael watched the wolf.His expression changed."That's not a normal spirit beast.""What is it?""I don't know."Kazuki looked at the wolf."Then I need to give him a name."Kael raised an eyebrow."Now?""Yes."Kazuki thought for a few seconds."How about Nero?"The wolf wagged its tail."I think he likes it."Lyra smiled."Then Nero it is."Kazuki patted his head."Welcome to the family."Kael shook his head."You've been in this world for two days and you already have a magical pet."Kazuki smiled."I'm making progress."Meanwhile...In an unknown location.The silver-masked assassin appeared on her knees."I failed."A figure was sitting in front of her.Their face could not be seen."I know.""The Heir partially awakened."Silence."And?"The assassin lowered her head."He manifested a spirit beast."The figure stood up."Interesting.""Should I return?""No."The figure walked toward a window."Leave him."The assassin raised her head."Leave him?""Yes.""Why?"The figure smiled."I want him to grow."The room fell silent."When his power fully awakens..."The figure looked toward Elaris."...it will be much easier to find the real Astra."That night, Kazuki went back to sleep.Nero stayed beside his bed.For the first time, Kazuki felt a little less alone.He closed his eyes."Good night, Nero."The wolf settled down beside the door.Kazuki smiled.But when he fell asleep...The black door appeared again.This time, it was completely covered in cracks.And behind it...Astra opened his eyes."Kazuki."The young man appeared in front of him."What do you want?"Astra smiled."I want to show you something.""What?"Astra raised a hand.The space behind him opened.Kazuki saw a massive battlefield.Thousands of soldiers.Dragons falling from the sky.A city engulfed in flames.And in the middle of it all...Astra.Holding a black sword.Kazuki froze."Did that really happen?"Astra answered:"Yes.""Did you do that?"Silence."Part of it."Kazuki clenched his fists."Then I don't want your power."Astra looked at him."Why?""Because I don't want to become someone like you."For the first time, Astra stopped smiling."Then you'll have to prove that you're different."The image disappeared.Kazuki woke up.The sun was beginning to rise.Nero was beside the window.And there was a letter on the table.Kazuki picked it up.It contained only one sentence:"Report tomorrow to the Imperial Academy of Magic."Beneath it was the Emperor's seal.Kazuki sighed."Looks like tomorrow will be fun."Nero growled."Yeah."Kazuki smiled."I don't want to go either."