The Mage Who Used Black Magic

Henry

"You saw it yourself, then?" Gauss asked Lord Henry a week later, after everything had settled and the funeral for Bartleby was carried out.

"I did, and you aren't wrong. It was indeed Black magic." Henry had been anticipating this conversation. In the House of Hera, only Henry, Gauss, Bartleby formerly, and their newly hired butler Alfred knew the legend of the Abyssal King. It was a closely guarded Imperial secret, and as the Imperial Assassin, Henry and his confidants were privy to the secret. They needed to know in order to watch over the Seal.

"Then you know what we must do! Emilia will forgive you, she already shuns the lad! Just enter his room and execute him!"

Henry slapped Gauss across the face, and when Gauss turned to look at him with shock, he slapped the other cheek.

"No! I refuse! That boy is not our enemy!" Henry adjusted his collar before continuing. "The Seal is failing, but not gone. The Empire as it is has no way of reinforcing it, so it is only a matter of time before the King returns. You've seen it for yourself. That Dainn is a Miracle. That means he has the best chance of stopping the disaster that is to inevitably come. Killing him now is not only senseless, but arrogantly foolish."

Gauss scowled in response, unwavering. "I saw him crush a man's heart in an instant. You saw him defile the dead and use the fallen like slaves. What makes you so certain he won't kill us all in our sleep, just so he can test what he can do?"

Henry sighed, clearly recognizing the reference to the King's own true history. "Because, old friend, I watched him save Emilia before killing the one they called Yanxa. He has good in him, we need only nurture it.

"Speaking of, I need to speak to Emilia. Please, go check and make sure Eifa is settling in alright. If you see Emilia, send her my way. If not, get Alfred to do it."

Gauss didn't move for a moment. He scowled and huffed, before finally crossing his arms with a sigh. "Fine, I'll trust you on this, Henry. But if I see he's getting too dangerous, I'll be the one to kill him, and I'll do it without a second thought."

"I don't expect any less from you, old friend." With that, Henry gave him a very dismissive wave. Gauss bowed, then turned to leave.

Henry looked at the papers on his desk, at the intel Mother Michelle provided on a very special, very personal target. He hated leaving home so soon after such a traumatic event, but he needed to ensure that the rumors of Hera's wrath were strong enough to prevent another incident like this one.

He went over the intel until Emilia came running in, cheerful, though not as overflowing as she once was. She came and hopped right into his lap as he rolled his chair out from his desk to greet her.

"Daddy! You wanted to see me?" She giggled as Henry hugged her tight. 

"Well, yes. We need to talk, sweetie. I want you to explain to me why you haven't gone to check on Dainn." He hadn't left his room since that day, going so far as to watch the funeral from his bedroom window. The boy was depressed, and Henry couldn't be the one to comfort him.

She squirmed in his arms, her mood becoming sullen. "It's just that… he's scary, daddy. I had never been so scared before. I didn't like it…"

Henry nodded in response, patting her head. "Yeah, it was a scary night. That's for sure. Do you think it would have turned out different if Dainn hadn't gotten scary? Would everyone still be here, or would we have lost more than just Bartleby?"

"I don't know…" she grumbled.

Henry sighed, "My point is, Emilia, is that Dainn is young. He did what he felt he needed to save everyone. It certainly was a scary thing, what he did. It worked, but at what cost? We're all here. But Dainn?

"Let me ask you, Emilia. Does he deserve to have you shun him when he gave his all to keep you safe?"

She frowned. "I guess not, but…"

He put a hand on her shoulder. "Who convinced me to let Eifa give you a lesson with that bow you love so much?"

She frowned again, but sighed and said, "Dainn…"

"Who puts weeks into learning how to dance, just so he could make you happy?"

She cracked a shy smile before answering. "Dainn."

"Emilia, who saved you?"

She sniffed and Henry saw tears fall in her lap. "Dainn, daddy! I know, he's great, but… but I can't look at him the same anymore! Every time I look at him I see those eyes, that smile… I just don't want to be afraid anymore!"

"Emmy, you did indeed see a dark side of the lad, one that may always be there. However, that's just one side of him. Within him still remains that kind, considerate little gentleman. But if you shun him, leave him to soak in his despair, that version of Dainn might never be seen again. I don't know about you, but I think that would be a real shame."

Emilia gasped, and Henry knew she understood. "I get it. But daddy, what if he gets scary again?"

Henry smiled. "Just go talk to him, speak your mind and let him know your feelings. He can't know them unless you tell him yourself. And then, let him speak his feelings. When he is done and you've both made yourselves clear, you set boundaries. Honesty is the only way."

"Okay…"

Dainn

I lay on the bed, above the covers, just staring up at the ceiling. I hadn't left the room in eight days. I've been considering what to do, and have all but decided to just leave.

I'll become an adventurer, find new friends, maybe. Or maybe not, more likely I'll just stay to myself. I can create my own friends now, after all…

I had already packed a suitcase, and had it sitting by the room door. For when I finally decided to leave. Right now, I was contemplating on whether to leave a note or not.

Not a single person had come to check on me. They brought me food, but that was about it. I was starting to think they didn't deserve a goodbye.

I mean, it was clear I had outstayed my welcome. It was only a matter of time before they came to evict me themselves. Might as well be proactive, leave on my terms. So finally, I stood.

I could feel the tears well up again. I had tried so hard, and in the end, what had I accomplished? It looked like my fate was doomed, I would always be surrounded by darkness and death. I had thought I was broken in my former life, that circumstances had molded me into the man that was destined to be a serial killer.

Now, though? It was all too clear I was just a cursed soul. Evil would always surround me, no matter how hard I tried to avoid it. It's was just who I was, and no amount of self awareness could change it,

I reached the door, bending down to pick up my luggage. "It was fun while it lasted, I guess."

I reached for the door, opening it. I gasped.

"Emilia?"

Emilia

Emilia had been standing at the door to Dainn's bedroom, hesitant to knock. She didn't know what to say. She wanted the old Dainn back, but she was still terrified of what she saw that night. What if she was too late? What if that's all that remained? She couldn't take it, if that was the case.

The door opened for her, and she saw Dainn there. He had bags under his eyes, his hair was messy and unkempt. He slouched and hung his shoulders low. He looked, to Emilia, depressed. She for a moment found herself wondering if she had imagined everything, because how could this Dainn have ever been so crazed?

Then he looked at her, and she felt the sharp pain of fear in her heart. She tried her best to suppress it, knowing she needed to do this right. She wanted to save him.

"Emilia?"

His voice was so soft and ragged, barely audible. It was broken. Emilia clutched her chest, realizing just how much she had hurt him. It pained her to see him like this.

She reached out and pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She held back her tears, not wanting to make it about her. "Dainn! I'm so sorry! I feel so bad for hurting you!"

He didn't return the hug. He was silent for a moment, but finally she felt him put something down and gently push her away. She looked at him with surprise, then down at what he set aside. A suitcase.

"Dainn… please don't go…" she was quiet, her voice small. She didn't know what to say.

"Why apologize? You were right to be scared." He didn't look at her. He just clenched his fists and Emilia saw a single tear run down his cheek. "I'm a monster. I've always known it. I tried to keep it all caged inside, but it broke free." A dark shadow fell over his face, and she could see the disgusted expression on it. "You've seen the real me, so I don't blame you. I hate myself, too."

She barely managed to hold back a sob. "No…" she knew that wasn't the real Dainn. Rather, she knew that didn't have to be. She remembered the boy that saved her from creeps, who put up with her antics daily. The boy that saved her mommy and Daddy and sister. "No!"

She slapped Dainn, and he gasped and looked at her with shock and surprise on his face. "Emil-"

"No, Dainn! I don't hate you, and you're not a monster!" The tears started flowing, she had held them back for as long as she could. "You're my hero, Dainn! I got scared when you got angry! But you got angry for me! I shouldn't have pushed you away! I was the fool, you were just protecting me! So please, Dainn…" she put her hands on his chest and buried her face there, crying as she choked out her selfish request. "Don't leave me, Dainn… I want you by my side. I can't imagine growing up without you! I don't want to!"

Emilia let her sobs out, and finally, she felt him put his arms around her. "Are… are you sure?"

She nodded, never removing herself from his arms. For the first time in a week, she felt the fear subside, and instead was replaced with a feeling of safety, security. Home. "Yes, Dainn. Stay with me, and we can get through anything together. If you feel the monster coming out, then I'll be right there. I'll remind you of the hero you are. My hero."

He started shaking, and Emilia looked up. He was crying, a real, ugly cry. He went to his knees, and now he was the one needing comfort. She gave it willingly. As he hugged her waist and let everything out, she stood there and held his head, stroking his hair.

They stayed there for a while, but Emilia wasn't bothered. She still felt a little scared of Dainn, she was even more wary of ever seeing that side of him, now that he's made it clear it's always been there. But more than that. She was happy. Truly happy.

She had been faking all week, but in truth, pushing Dainn away had been agonizing. Without him by her side, she felt incomplete. It was strange, but she smiled at the idea as she held him.

"We'll start over. This time will be different." she leaned back to hold his face up to look at her. She gave him a warm smile. "Let's start by setting some ground rules."

END OF VOLUME ONE