Just before she disappeared, a student who was passing by heard the commotion.The student briefly saw what had happened and alerted one of the academy's instructors. They took me and the prince away into separate rooms, asking us what had happened. I recounted most of what I remembered, the scene still fresh in my mind. After a few questions, they let us return, saying that they would "investigate" the issue.
To me, this meant that they would cover it up, leaving the third prince untouched since he was royalty. After all, there were no signs, no evidence to even be used to prove what he had done in the first place.
I walked through the halls of the dorm, shoving a rustic key into a knob, twisting, opening the creaky door. I looked around the shabby room; Two beds, two study desks, two chairs. A bare bones room that me and Ophelia had planned to clean out and decorate. A room that we could have made "ours". Now, that was no longer a possibility. I laid in my bed, curled into a fetal position, and began crying my heart out. I refused to believe that she was truly gone…
I cried myself to sleep that day.
For the rest of the welcome event, I stayed in our room, cleaning, unpacking her stuff, and displaying them on the desk that was supposed to be hers. Every item that reminded me of her made my tears well up, each memory that ran through my mind made me cry. Cleaning and decorating the room were distractions for my emotions to not destroy me even more than it already had. She had been the very reason why I came to the academy in the first place. She convinced me, encouraged me that I was good enough. She helped me study, staying with me for countless nights as we repeatedly went through all the possible questions that could appear at the academy's entrance exams. Now that she's gone, I see no reason to stay.
On the last day of the welcome event, I exited the room, packed with my stuff, leaving her side of the room decorated. I turned to the door, locking it, saying my farewells. I went to the academy's faculty to request my leave, the staff were frantically running around, both preparing for the start of the school year, and investigating the incident, talking amongst themselves regarding the possibilities of what had happened. I caught a glimpse of our testimonies sprawled across a chalkboard. One instructor noticed me and ran towards me.
The instructor was named Conroy Holt. An aged man in his late forties. He was a man who Ophelia had looked up to. He was a man known for his historical knowledge and medical research surrounding disabilities caused by instabilities related to Mana and Divinity, an issue Ophelia was significantly familiar with, and a topic they found great enjoyment in conversing about. He took interest in Ophelia's condition during a fateful meeting during a campus tour, and he has been studying her condition ever since. Even that was now impossible.
"Young lady, you look grim." He said, looking at my disheveled appearance.
"Hello… Conroy, sir…" My energy had all been spent crying, I was barely able to speak.
"Your friend would not approve of seeing you like this. Come, let us talk."
He was right. Ophelia would tease me the moment she saw me like this. She would make fun of my appearance, then immediately apologize if I even looked barely upset. The thought made my tears well up once more – if there even was any left. I followed the instructor, being seated on a chair. In front of me was a table, and on the other end was the instructor. He began to explain the reach of their investigation, what they had found, what they theorized, he explained it all to me.
"Right now, we've hit a wall, and you, young lady, could possibly help break it. Before that, let me tell you what we've found. We first found strange, unfamiliar markings etched onto the ground where she disappeared. We thought that it was the work of the heretic cult – however, our investigation could find no correlation. Her background was clear, your own background was clear, and the likelihood of heretics being able to enter the capital are slim to none. We also analyzed the markings, referencing it from known heretical marks and made no such discoveries." He explained, making gestures with his hands as if he had made a significant assessment.
This was something that was very obvious. A student as a part of the heretic cult? Improbable. I had known Ophelia since we were young, and she was raised in a household of a retired knight captain.
"Then we looked deeper into the markings we found. The markings date back far into ancient times, all the way back to the era of "The Shattering". After correspondence with the church, we found out that the markings were symbols of the old Gods. But with it being so dated, we have no way to know what the markings do or what they even did." He continued, standing from his chair, darting around the room.
"Does that mean… Ophelia is truly gone…?" I despaired, the expression evident on my face.
"Not quite. Just as we don't know what they do, we don't know if it did do something to Ophelia. The markings themselves do not seem malevolent. Our theory is that it simply translocated her to a different location. To where? We do not know." He rejected, explaining further.
"Then…"
"Correct! She may still be out there. Alive? Again, we do not know. But at the very least, the possibility is not zero."
"But- I saw her head be-"
"Severed? Your testimony and the prince's testimony does seem to coincide with each other – but we theorize that what had transpired could possibly be a sensory illusion. You recalled being temporarily transported to some sort of "void" where time had slowed, correct?" He interjected, his enthusiasm for the topic growing.
"Ye- Yes?
"The prince claims that you were both transported into the past. You see, magic from the era of The Shattering is on an entirely different plane of existence, defying the logic of the world itself. What the two of you described could very well be the power of the old Gods themselves. We have a theory and I would like for you to help us prove it." He explained.
"I- I really don't know sir Conroy… This all just seems like a big conspiracy. I don't want to further delude myself in the hope that Ophelia is still out there. I'm sorry sir Conroy, but I'll be leaving the academy."
"Estelle… Ophelia would not want this for you. Please… Just humor me this one time. We want what's best for you." He pleaded, putting his hand on my shoulder.
I was exhausted and mentally drained. What I heard was just a bunch of theories, words to fill me with hope. I knew what I saw, and I did not want to believe in sweet lies that were based on a hunch… And yet, a slight force tugged at the back of my mind. A slither of hope that everything that he had said, could be true.
"Just this once."
…
He took me out to the campus cathedral. Inside was an old man in grandiose garments. He was escorted by two grand knights. He was a member of the high clergy, the Cardinal of Ciceli.
"Right this way, young one." He guided me onto a raised floor, a marble statue of Aria Ciceli stood tall in front of me, gazing upon me.
From above, light pierced through the stained glass panes, colored rays of radiant light shining upon me. I turn back to the instructor and the cardinal. I looked upon them with a confused expression. They were kneeling in front of me, looking at me with great reverence.
A Hero was born that day.
…
The Cardinal gave me his blessings before leaving, shaking the hand of Instructor Conroy who gave his thanks to the Cardinal.
Conroy rushed towards me, skipping with each step.
"Quickly! We must tell the others!" He grabbed my hand, guiding me to the exit with haste.
"Wha- What's going on?" I followed, still confused.
"Our theories proved right! Your Divinity is as pure as it gets!" He exclaimed, smiling ear to ear.
I broke off his grip on me.
"I don't get it! How could this have proved anything!?" I yelled in frustration.
"Estelle, this proves the theory right! If anything, our understanding of it has just greatly changed for the better!" He was ecstatic.
"That doesn't explain anything!"
"She – Ophelia, could still, very well be alive! Estelle, the visions that you and the prince saw, were not visions at all. It was the past itself. That "void" was not somewhere the past "appeared", instead, you were physically in the past for a brief moment. It was magic that defied TIME itself. You were in an era where Divine power was at its epoch, a time where magic transcended basic understanding. The era of the gods!" He rambled.
"I- Huh? Instructor, slow down…" I uttered, puzzled.
"Allow me to show you!" He beckoned me to come closer to him with a crazed expression.
He took out a small wand, grabbed my hand, and placed the tip of it onto my palm, drawing a sigil onto the skin.
"Instructor…?" I was beginning to fear what he could possibly be thinking to do.
"Let me tell you something young lady. Ancient texts claim that the ancient people of our world had immortal bodies. How was that the case? The Gods willed it so. Before "The Seven" abandoned us, their Divinity poured from their very existence, enveloping the world itself. To even live during that time, the human body had to adapt to their presence. That was the first time humanity – and the creatures of our world basked in their power." His eyes wide, still drawing.
"I don't think I want to hear the rest…" I tried pulling back, but his hold tightened.
"Even a small exposure would cause someone… Someone like you, to gain such a body, especially when you get it… Straight.From. The. Source." He finished drawing, proactively activating the spell.
**Boom**
"Ahhh! What the fuck!" I cussed, screaming from the sudden excruciating pain.
A small explosion erupted from my hand, completely obliterating it down to my wrist. To my horror, my hand began reconstructing itself. The bones, the ligaments, the muscles, the veins – everything. It finally clicked. He's crazy, but he's right.
"That means… Ophelia also-"
"CORRECT! If the same effect that happened to you and the third prince also applied to her, then she would very much be alive. All we have to do is figure out where she is." He assured me.
I held my head, ruffling my hair in disbelief. The thought of my immortal body didn't even matter to me at the time, I was just extremely relieved that she's somewhere out there.
"Then why did she not return with us?" I asked, noticing the anomaly.
"That could be part of the spell's effects. A side effect maybe – or perhaps her "death" during the spell's effect caused it to act anomalously."
His answers made sense to me. Maybe they'll even find something new if they're given time.
"What matters most is how the spell was activated in the first place… What could have caused such a spell to activate… The possibilities are immeasurable… The prince's blood maybe? The beheading – no, no, that can't be…" Conroy began mumbling to himself, uneasy, walking in circles.
For now though, I had to escape the crazed Conroy. He had helped me get a grip on myself and filled me with hope, but he's not in his right mind right now. Taking the opportunity while he was rambling to himself, I slowly backed away and ran to the dorms, thoughts overflowing, fantasizing how I would welcome Ophelia back, adrenaline flowing to my head as I rushed to my room.
I opened the door, the adrenaline wearing off. That's when it hit me. It didn't matter if I knew she could return. One thing still persisted, the fact that she isn't here with me now …I took a long pause, just standing at the doorframe, staring into the room blankly.
**Plap**
I slapped myself in the face, steeled my resolve and sat on the bed to arrange my thoughts. I now have a new goal set for myself. I'll wait for Ophelia to return – and if not, I'll come looking for her myself once I graduate. I'll scour the entire world if I have to. I knew one thing for sure. No matter where she ended up in, I know we'll find each other again. I just know it.
…
With my newfound commitment, I planned to unpack my things and get settled. I then remembered that I had left my belongings at the faculty when Instructor Conroy got me to follow him.
"Eh, I need to go on a walk anyway." I thought to myself, getting up from the bed.
…
**Thud**
I was on my way to the faculty, and as I was rounding the corner, I bumped into someone I did not want to see.
The third prince was in front of me, his face was in complete shock.
"He- Hey…"
He greeted me, scratching his head, all awkward. He looked just as disheveled as I was.
"I just… I just wanted to say I'm so-"
**Smack**
I slapped him in the face. My fists clenched. Each word coming from his mouth reminded me of the incident.
"I… I deserved that…" He said with his head down.
"Look, I just-"
**Thump** **Thud**
My fist hitting him hard in the face caused him to fall backwards onto the floor.
"You! It was you! You did this!" I yelled, lunging at him.
**Whack** **Thud** **Thwack**
Blinded by rage, I got on top of him, hitting him multiple times. I punched, clawed at him with my nails, and slammed both fists into him. He had his arms up, blocking my hits, but he never fought back. He just took the beating.
I kept hitting him… then hitting him again, and again, and again.
"You're the one who did this… You… Your fault…" Tears began running down my cheeks, dripping down slowly.
Exhausted, my strength was beginning to leave me. Despite this, I continued hitting him, throwing blame and insults. Even when my blows stopped having any force behind them, even when my arms went limp, I kept going.
"It's your fault… all your fault… You fucker… You did this to me…"
I cried, my tears falling onto him. My arms now refuse to raise. I looked at him eye to eye, with my face twisted, filled with resentment.
"I'm sorry…"
Two words I did not expect him to say. Thoughts rushed to my head, once again reminding me of what he had done – what he had taken from me. I cried harder, my body shaking. With no strength to keep holding my weight, I collapsed onto him, still crying.
He sat up, I was pressed up close to him, his arm supporting my body so I would not fall over.
"I know what I did. I'm sorry…" He apologized again.
"I hate you!" I yelled.
"I know… I'm sorry… "
Unable to control my emotions, I cried uncontrollably, curled into a fetal position, gasping for air.
He held me, embracing me. With no strength or energy left within me, I let it happen.
"I'm sorry…"
I cried in his arms that day.