Chapter 3

*Class 2-A*

“That is the lesson today.” Negi circled an English phrase on the blackboard then turned to his distracted class. “I will help you personally; that assignment is your way out of here or I will keep you here until you make a seventy.” He turned to his sister, who was idly watching him, and nodded at her.

The class bunched together and began whispering while keeping an eye on their young teacher.

“Don’t you think Negi-sensei is a different today? He seems more hostile and tired.” Makie whispered to the class group par Evangeline A. K. McDowell, Karakuri Chachamaru, and Hasegawa Chisame.

Naba Chizuru sighed while resting her head in hands. “I hope sensei isn’t sick.”

They glanced at Negi who was hunched over on the floor holding his heart. He was sweating and looked a deathly pale. Sage handed him an unmarked bottle with multi colored pills inside. He snatched the bottle and downed the bottle without water. He coughed and spat some blood, judging from the red dripping out of his mouth.

Sage looked agasted then grabbed him roughly, her hands pulling him by the hair. “You idiot! That was your month supply!”

He groaned. Then she realized something. “You haven’t been taking your mood and behavior meds have you?!” She screamed in frustration then threw her brother over her shoulder.

She turned to the class. “If you are here when I come back then I’ll explain.” Then she left with a quickness.

The class was enveloped with silence then chatter busted out about what happened. The most of the class was worried but a few had different thoughts.

Mana stared hard at the door after Sage carried him away. She knew those stern dark red eyes from anywhere, the ones that haunted her for years after the war. She may not believe that Sage killed Pavki but she does remember the days when Sage cruelly mocked her with those dark red eyes. A fire of revenge burned in her heart but she was not going to do anything. She had to play dirty like Sage did years ago during the Flaron War.

A few seats away Chisame was wondering why the school would hire a young teacher that could die at any moment.

In the far back Evangeline was thinking how to accelerate her plan. She need him alive or else her plan would fail. She had doubts Sage was actually Negi’s sister thus excluded her from her plans of escaping the vile school; her eternal prison.

*30 minutes later*

Sage returned from her trip to the nurse’s office and was mildly surprised so many people stayed.

Zazie and Ku were chatting about their past with Negi while Konoka, Nodoka, Yue, Makie, Kaede and Chizuru were listening. Kazumi was writing notes on the Springfield twins while Asuna was asleep.

“Hello.” They turned to the bicolored girl. “Negi is fine. Unfortunately, they are also pumping drugs out of his stomach. He won’t be in for a few weeks.”

Konoka spoke first. “What was that about? What is wrong with Negi-kun?”

Sage filed that for later then answered. “During the War, we were the age of 12, Negi gained multiple wounds. This was only during the first year of our involvement. He took a bullet to the heart. He should have been dead but emergence surgery and a replacement heart was installed. It wasn’t finished though. He has issues with irregular heartbeat, an over or under production of blood, and many more issues.”

Sage eyes had a far-off look. “He also has pains from having his arm reattached and a past of abusing drugs left a few scars on him. This don’t account for his mental issues and imbalance of proteins for his brain.”

The students sat shocked about their teacher’s problems. Quickly that shock became concern and they looked at each other.

Kazumi stood up while sliding her notes into her bag. She looked at the lone twin then said, “I won’t publish his condition in the school news but I will inform the class about him before tomorrow noon.” Then she left, trying to hide the hurt on her face. She never thought she may have to report on a death but if Negi’s condition don’t improve…

The other students began filing out and gave Sage their regards. Soon Ku, Kaede, and Zazie were left.

Sage knew why they were there, they saw through her partial truth and lie. She sighed then told them, “Negi is dying. He was cursed by a certain gun slinging demon due to her resentment towards our family. It was her gift to us. Her last physical battle with us.”

Kaede reached out and gave a comforting hand to Sage. “Is there a cure?”

The red head shoulders dropped lower than they were before. They noticed tears forming in her eyes and her efforts to hold them back. “Yes but it will never happen. Mana must forgive Negi and I. She must get over the hurt we caused on her.”

They stood there for a few moments but the weight of Negi’s condition was heavy. Ku could not phantom her husband dying. She had only met him again, she could not lose him. Kaede did not have a deep attachment with young mage but she did not want to him to go. However, her limited knowledge of magic kept her from forming any ideas on how to fix him. The realization of her weakness gripped her hard and she wanted to do something to fix her ignorance.

Zazie walked up to Sage and tried to give her a card. It was Zazie’s Pactio.

Sage stared at the magical item for a moment then realized what Zazie was implying. “No! You cannot take his curse as your own!”

Zazie gave her a hard stare, the rim of her eyes turning a dark gray. “!”

Sage bared her teeth, showing her canines growing into fangs. “Just because you are a dem-” She cut herself off when she saw Kaede’s eyes sharpen. “a demented being from the Magic World with a sturdy body does not mean I will let you kill yourself to save my brother.”

Kaede intervened. “Calm down. We will find a cure that does not rely on Zazie’s demon blood.” She hid a smirk when Sage looked at her surprised. “Let’s think like calm rational people.”

Zazie huffed then left with determination in her step. They could tell her emotions boiled to a head because a dark aura enveloped her body and grew stronger with each step.

They knew that this bad situation was going to be worst.

*5 Hours Later- With Negi*

Negi was sitting on the hospital bed, prepared to bolt. He knew that he had a limited amount of time before his elder sister came with his medicines and Sage with her iron fists. He already changed into his daily wear but he could not will his legs to move. He groaned in annoyance. Of all times to feel guilty and have cold feet, it had to be when he was screwed.

He sat there for another minute until his ears caught a particular foot pattern. He could tell she was furious with him. He heard her crash into a nurse and chew them out from down the hall.

He jumped to his feet and dashed out of the window. He would rather fall a few stories than deal with her nagging. He slammed into the ground, his body still weak from his previous heart failure but managed to drag himself back on to his feet. He limped himself from the scene, happy no one was outside when he did jump.

*With Sage*

She ran to Negi’s room after her ears caught a loud distant thud. She pushed her way through nurses who were insisting Negi was resting in his bed. It took her five minutes but she managed to open his door with five security men trying to drag her away. She ripped them off then screamed in anger when she realized her twin bolted.

She turned to the head nurse who looked at her in shock then growled. “It is all your fault.” Then ran off to find the injured teen.

*With Negi*

Negi rested at a tree stump, trying to catch his breath. One might blame him for putting himself in this situation but they would not know how it feels to be on his life-extending drug. He knows if he does not convince Mana to help him he would die. It was something his elder sister, Kenya, told him about two years ago. She told him that the curse should have killed him with in the first few months of contracting it but due to sheer will he managed it without help until they found her about a year later. The feeling of impending doom wears on him and the other medicines he was on don’t help. He would list them all off handedly: antidepressants, heart medicines, bone medicines, magic stabilizers, hormonal shots, inhalers, sodium tablets, and more.

He gripped his head due to a pounding headache. He realized that it was a full moon tonight and cussed harshly. The full moon was the worst time for the young man. He would lose all his morals on this night, often time his family would lock him away for the night due to compilations with the celestial object.

He growled in discontent, the silverlight bathing his body. He felt his weary bones heal and strengthen. His eyes changed from their dull red to a bright green while his brows turned a dark brown. He felt free yet locked in a wild disposition.

He sat there for a few moments, basking the nightlight until he smelt something familiar. A thick scent of ink and paper mixed with a hint of cinnamon. The roguish teen grinned then began tracking the scent. He has found his prey.

Now he has to catch it.