2-paya

The negotiations with the Nova Roman Empire has deteriorated, and war is imminent.

People across the country were furiously discussing about this matter. As Noel walked down the cobbled road after school, he could hear the perpetual chattering among citizens.

Another country to waste lives on, he thought. Hastening his steps, he made his way into an alley.

Just then, he saw someone he recognized.

Standing in the shadows, between the rows of houses, was a classmate from school.

“What are you doing here?” Noel asked, visibly annoyed.

“It’s my liberty as a citizen to be wherever I want, is it not?” he replied. “I just happened to be standing here, minding my own business. Well, what are you doing here?” he returned the question.

“…None of your business.” Noel clenched his fists.

“Seeing your parents, I suppose?” the classmate asked, “Well, I can’t understand, for someone that almost killed off his own-”

His sentence was cut off by a strong blow to his stomach.

“Go away.” Noel said bluntly. Minding your own business, what bull, he thought.

“What, are you going to kill me too?” he replied. “It’s not like it’ll make any difference to-”

Another punch came, sending him reeling backwards.

“Whoa whoa, there. You don’t want to mess with me.” he said, taking out a small item from his shirt pocket and waving it around, “I have a DialDisc here I jacked from school. Don’t make me use it.”

“Have you heard the details of the incident with my parents?” Noel asked.

“Hmm? What, no, I only know that you almost-”

Noel smirked, and started walking past the classmate.

“Hey, are you ignoring me now? I won’t take any of that!” The classmate, now behind Noel, held out the DialDisc in his hand, and started an incantation.

Noel continued walking.

“…phayana nakhiri, laxrasisa nakhiri, nakhasina yanaka phichantiri.”

A small fireball materialized in front of the classmate and was heading towards Noel.

Then, just as quickly as it came into existence, the fireball vanished.

Noel continued walking, never once turning back to look at the dumbfounded classmate.

-

The temple hospital was quiet as usual, with only one or two people walking about.

Noel climbed the stairs to the second floor, and made his way down the corridor.

He knocked on the third door from the right, and entered.

The door shut. “Elliot, Hypoxia induced coma” was repeated twice on the door label.

Cries could be heard from inside the room.