Chapter 22: The Last Record
The train hummed softly as we made our way to Lelore. I stared out the window, my thoughts a chaotic swirl. The letter from Lelore's principal weighed heavily on my mind. Why had I been transferred so suddenly? Why was Violet mentioned? Most of all, what exactly did the principal want to discuss? The unknowns gnawed at me.
"Senior Naozumi." Violet's soft voice broke through my thoughts.
"Hm? Sorry, Edina. I was just... thinking." I smiled slightly to reassure her, but her worried expression remained. Lately, I'd noticed I was making people worry far too often.
The train ride ended, and we emerged into the fresh air, greeted by the towering gates of Lelore. The buildings inside were quite a distance from the gates themselves, as expected from one of the most popular magic schools.
"Sorry, Edina," I said. "Can you guide me to the principal's office? I don't want to get lost."
If not counting the forest area, Lelore was bigger than Protea, so I asked Violet to guide me.
"Of course," Violet replied, leading Alysha and me through the campus.
As we made our way to the principal's office, Violet took the opportunity to show us around Lelore, pointing out various key locations; it looked like the dormitory was situated at the back of the school, while the main high school building occupied the center. Eventually, we arrived at the door to the principal's office.
"Do you want to come in?"
"Is it allowed? This is a personal invitation, right?" Alysha clarified.
I was also unsure whether to bring Violet inside or not because there was a possibility that our transfer matters were somewhat similar as mentioned in the latter. The timing was too perfect to consider it a coincidence.
"I don't know either. I'm confused," for now, let's just leave it at that.
I knocked on the door and heard a voice from inside inviting us in.
"Excuse me."
'Are all the principals in the Eight Pillars still young?' I thought as I entered the room.
The woman sitting behind the desk—Elvira Tudor, as I would soon learn—smiled warmly. Her expression was calm, but there was an intensity in her eyes that hinted at a deeper understanding of everything happening around her.
"Thank you," she said out of the blue.
"For what?" I asked, confused. Before she answered, my power reacted—a brief notification: <Telepathy>.
This was Lelore, one of the most prestigious magic schools, yet the principal was an Esper. That was surprising. This wasn't just unusual—it was unheard of.
'Before anything else, I want to ask why I was called here. Is Violet involved in this? If so, I don't want to involve her,' I thought deliberately, directing the question inward.
"You can remain calm," Ms. Elvira responded immediately, her voice serene. "Yes, she is involved."
Vio seemed confused by the one-sided conversation. Alysha was also a bit puzzled, though she didn't seem to care much about the direction of our conversation.
"Sorry, Edina, Alysha, it seems this is a private conversation," I said, turning toward them. "You can go ahead. I'll catch up later."
"Alright, we'll go then. Come on, Vii," Alysha said. Without hesitation, she pulled Violet by the arm and led her out of the room. As expected of Alysha, she understood the situation. Or maybe she just wanted to leave the room.
The room fell silent. Ms. Elvira gestured to the sofa opposite her desk. "Shall we begin? Oh! Sorry—first, have a seat. It's not comfortable talking while standing."
I complied, sinking into the soft cushions. Her manner was gentle, but something was unsettling about being in the presence of someone who already seemed to know so much about me.
"Let me introduce myself," she began, folding her hands neatly. "My name is Elvira Tudor. As you've likely guessed, I'm the Principal of Lelore. Additionally, as you speculated earlier, all the principals of the Eight Pillars are, indeed, still young."
That wasn't really my concern, but I let her talk. What is the issue she wants to discuss?
Once again, my power notified me, <Telepathy>.
Her eyes softened. "The reason for your transfer and Violet's transfer to Protea."
Her words struck a chord. I had suspected there was more to this than coincidence, but hearing it confirmed felt surreal.
"Sorry," I interrupted, "but before we go further, may I ask something?"
"Of course."
"Why is the principal of a magic school an Esper? And could you please stop using your ability on me?"
She smiled knowingly. Instead of answering immediately, she opened a drawer in her desk and retrieved two items: a blue crystal diamond and a worn recording device. She moved to sit across from me, placing the items on the table between us.
"The reason I am an Esper is... a secret," she said, offering a wry smile. "As for your power notification, I apologize if it bothers you."
I frowned. How did she know I had a power notification? Only the Floaters knew this, and I trusted they wouldn't spread this information. So how could an outsider know about this? This made me very uneasy because it meant dealing with something very serious. Discussing my ability, which very few people knew about, made me think even further.
My unease grew. If Ms. Elvira was aware of something this sensitive, it meant I was dealing with forces far beyond my comprehension.
"If you're wondering where I got this information," she continued, "it came from the higher-ups. But don't worry—I'm on your side."
It seemed Ms. Elvira was used to reading minds even without her power. I didn't get any notification that she used her power.
I remained a bit worried about the "side" part because I didn't know exactly what that meant. Even though I wanted to find out, I didn't know where to start. Moreover, those higher-ups were likely the government with information about me that I was unaware of. I thought they only knew I had a copying ability, not my tracker either. I had to be more careful.
"Alright," I said after a moment. "I'll trust you—for now. So, about the crystal and the recording?"
The trust I gave was only because I had no other choice. I also couldn't prove whether everything she said was true or false. For now, it was better to trust her. Ms. Elvira also didn't give off a hostile vibe.
I took the recording and examined it. As I suspected, I knew this.
"Why do you have Evan's recording?"
"I can't say much about that. A firefighter gave this to me. Evan himself asked for it."
A firefighter? Was he the firefighter who saved me during the last incident? I wanted to meet and thank him. I never met him after that incident. In short, he was like a hero in my eyes.
"The recording contains several messages from Evan. I also received it, and it was his request that led to your and Violet's transfers."
Evander Edina. He is one of the influential people in the development of this era. He is also my best friend and Violet's elder brother. I owe him a lot and regret that I cannot properly thank him directly now.
So everything was planned by Evan? He knew I would search for Violet out of guilt. He also wanted me to protect his sister. I didn't know how many things Evan had arranged for me. Did he plan this for a long time? This wasn't something he could arrange in a short time. It truly left me confused.
Assuming this was his plan, I didn't know how Evan moved the government to transfer schools, but his effort succeeded. For a moment, my chest felt a bit tight. Thinking about Evan, my tears, which seemed ready to fall, were held back and wanted to roll down my cheeks.
After everything that happened, the chance he gave me, the heart that kept me alive, even after his life, he continued to help me. I held myself together and tried to smile so my tears wouldn't start falling. Ms. Elvira moved to sit next to me, gently rubbing my back to calm me down.
"I have labeled the recording file. You can play it if you want."
Thinking about it, I thought now was the best time to play it. At the dorm, Violet might hear it, which was not the right time for her. Alysha would undoubtedly hear it with her good hearing. I might not be able to listen to it alone because I feared hearing the truth. So I started playing the recording.
*
"This last message is for Naozumi."
Evan's voice crackled to life from the recording. "Hi, how are you? It might be a bit strange to say this even though you were just here, hehe. Khuk!... khuk!"
Hearing Evan's hoarse and unclear voice, the pain in his tone was evident to my ears. It was likely this was the last time we met. It seemed his condition worsened after I left to seek help. That cough was likely a cough of blood like before.
"Now I want to speak honestly to you. I won't survive."
I bowed my head, resting it in my hands. Tears began to flow, unrestrained. Those words, spoken with calm acceptance, tore through me.
After surviving that incident, the weight of the burdens Evan left behind never eased. People often say men shouldn't cry, but in that moment, it wasn't about pride—it was duty. Evan had given me hope, a second chance, and a life.
Hearing his final words, knowing he wouldn't survive, shattered my resolve. My tears flowed freely, the heaviest cry I'd ever experienced. As I sobbed quietly, Ms. Elvira sat beside me, silently offering comfort with a gentle hand on my back.
"Sorry for this, but I don't want you to blame yourself. I saved you by my own decision. I also know you won't be satisfied with this answer and will try to repay me in other ways because that's your nature."
He knew me too well. Even now, he predicted my guilt, my sense of duty. I couldn't accept his sacrifice as simply his choice. I owed him too much.
"That's why I entrust my sister to you. Because you'll likely only think about my sister to repay me when I'm not around. Khuk!..."
The hoarse coughs returned, more agonizing than before. My chest tightened as I imagined his suffering. I clutched at the pain, wishing I could hold it and throw it away.
"In addition, as I mentioned before, you can trust the friends from my group and also Ms. Elvira. You can rely on them."
Of course, I would remember his words. I would carry them, just as I carried the responsibility he left behind.
"You might protest my decision, but this is my choice. Take care, my best friend. Please take care of Violet, my beloved sister. I hope you two can be happy like before."
*
And those were the last words of the recording.
My tears continued to fall even after the recording ended, the silence in the room broken only by my quiet sobs.
After some time, I managed to calm myself down. Though the pain remained, my chest felt a little lighter. Evan's words had lifted some of the weight I had been carrying. I owed him everything.
No matter what happens next, I will protect what you care for most. That's my promise to you, Evan.
I sat in silence, my breathing unsteady but slowly returning to normal. Ms. Elvira sat beside me, her hand gently rubbing my back, offering comfort without speaking.
Finally, I steadied myself enough to speak. "Thank you. I'm calm now."
"Take your time," she said softly. "You're carrying a heavy burden, it is too much for someone in your age. If you ever need someone to listen or need help, I'm here."
Her kindness was unexpected but comforting. Remembering Evan's words about her trustworthiness, I felt I could believe her. "Thank you. I'll remember that."
"What will you do next?" she asked.
"For now, I'll focus on adapting to everything that's happened recently. If things worsen, I'll deal with them—whether it's the 'higher-ups' or anything Evan left unfinished."
Elvira nodded, her gaze steady. "If you need help, don't hesitate to ask."
"Of course."
"Well then, I won't keep you any longer. Alysha and Violet must be waiting."
I stood, feeling steadier. "Thank you again."
She nodded, and I left the principal's office, following the path back toward the dormitory.
The past may have been painful to confront, but hearing Evan's voice and knowing his wishes gave me a sense of purpose. I would face whatever came next—for him.
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