The infirmary was uncomfortably quiet. The usual frenetic energy of the Academy felt very far away in here, replaced by the heavy feeling of weight hanging in the air. Professor Shinigami was at the center of it all, his breathing shallow as Hana knelt beside him, her hands glowing faintly, pouring all her healing energy into stabilizing him. Despite her best efforts, the professor's pallor hadn't improved; it seemed the dark energy from his wounds were resistant to her soul magic.
Kyo had leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest while setting his gaze on the floor. His mind was in turmoil, a storm of guilt and confusion-a continuous replay of disastrous events from their mission.
The other students were standing in a loose circle around the bed, not knowing what to do or say. Mei's face was set into a hard line, her eyes flickering with concern. Daiki-for once-said nothing, fidgeting nervously with the straps of his scythe. Ren and Nori were hanging near the back of the room, watching with tension in everything about them.
Professor Shinigami's voice was weak, barely above a whisper, and came determined: "The Death Shadows. they are not just some sort of rogue spirit. They are ancient. older even than the Academy itself." His voice had cracked and Hana winced slightly with the attempt to press down his pain with her magic.
Kyo gritted his teeth. "We have heard of them before," he growled low, almost angry at himself. "But no one said they were this strong."
Nori-because he was in the back-said quietly, "You've. already told us about Death Shadows. more than once." His tone was soft, careful, as if he didn't want to draw attention to himself, and he shifted slightly under his blankets, casting his gaze down.
Ren gave a teasing smirk and nudged Nori with his elbow. "Well, at least someone's keeping track. Maybe he thinks we're slow." The casual tone cut the tension like a blade, and Ren received a few glares.
Mei whirled on Ren, her voice knife-like, "Enough, Ren. We must listen." Hers snapped back to the professor, her usual discipline reasserting despite the chaos of her emotions.
Professor Shinigami strained to stifle a chuckle of pain into his voice. "Perhaps. but this is different. The Death Shadows. they once rebelled against the balance of life and death itself." Now his words came in labored breaths, and the shaking of Hana's hands belied the effort of trying to sustain her healing spell.
Kyo muttered to himself rather than to the others: "Why does it feel like this is all me? Think about it, right when I died the death shadows wanna attack?" His frustration was evident, his eyes flicked up to meet the professor's for a brief moment before looking away again.
Ren said, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Because trouble has a way of finding you, Kyo." He grinned, though there was an edge to his usual playful tone.
Kyo clenched his fists. "I don't need you shoving it down my damn throat."
Ren shrugged, the grin not faltering. "Just making sure we're all on the same page."
Mei: "This isn't the time for arguing, we barely made it back alive." She then turned toward Kyo and her tone softened, though her words still had substantial weight. "Stop acting dumb; what happened out there is your fault, and you know it. Can't happen again, no, won't happen again."
Kyo turned away, his heavy words settling upon him. He could feel his chest grow tight as his mind replayed the mission once more. His impulsive charge had dragged the others into this trap. Now the professor was lying in a hospital bed, barely hanging on to life. It was all because of him. That was undeniable.
Professor Shinigami's voice was raspy, strained. "Kyo. you. you're unique. The Death Shadows are drawn to you. but it's more than that. You may be the key. to stopping them. or." He paused, taking a shallow breath as an ache rippled through him.
Kyo looked up, eyes wide, "Or what?"
Professor Shinigami had an intensely serious gaze, even in this weakened state: "Or unleashing them."
The weight of those words hit Kyo like a kick in the gut. He just stood there, paralyzed, while his brain worked out what that could possibly mean. The Death Shadows are drawn to me, he knew that much, but the concept that either their defeat or their rise can rest in his hands sent shivers down his spine.
Nori: "You didn't ask for this. and yet, here it is." He looked up for a moment; his voice barely above a whisper, which was typical since he was an introverted person and didn't speak up much, but something in the situation pressed him to say more than he usually would.
Ren shrugged, still chuckling, in an attempt to lighten the mood: "Nori's right. Kyo didn't exactly volunteer for the job of Death Shadow magnet. But then again, life-or death, whichever the case may be-isn't fair." He turned to Kyo with a smirk, though his sarcasm shrouded a hint of sympathy.
Kyo: __( clenching his teeth, voice low ), "I didn't want this, but it's here now, so I'm gonna have to face it." Then, he just clenched his fists; the anger inside him was starting to boil. "And I will."
Mei: crossing her arms, her voice firm but softer than usual, "Good. Then learn from what happened. You can't keep going off on your own and expecting things to work out."
Ren: "Not gonna lie, he didn't even wander off. I think I wasn't in his group, but whatever."
Nori said in a quiet tone, shifting uncomfortably: "You're not. alone in this, Kyo. We're a team. We have to figure it out together." He had kept his eyes down, fidgeting with the sleeve of his uniform, his introverted nature making it hard for him to speak up more.
Ren: "All right act like I'm not here!"
Hana, still hunched over onto the professor, looked up for a second, and her face was lined with exhaustion.
Hana: She said, her voice soft but full of concern, "I'm doing everything I can, but. his wounds. they're deeper than I thought." Her hands shaking slightly as she continued to conjure the healing spell in hopes of holding off the professor's condition.
Mei: Turning to Hana, "Will he. be okay?"
Hana: She let out a quieted sigh, her gaze failing to meet Mei's. "I don't know. The power of this Death Shadow. it is unlike anything I have ever seen. My healing is not enough." Her voice shook a little, so the usual composure was betrayed.
The group fell into uncomfortable silence. Kyo watched the professor lying still and pale, his stomach churning with his guilt.
[To be continued]