"Hmmmmm? It's a combination spell. Didn't your teacher tell you anything about it?"
"No..."
"How is that possible? It's true that everyone knows this information now, but because of idiots and inattentive people like you, they are obliged to explain. What is your teacher's name?"
"Ms. Drake. "
"Huh? She was also my magic teacher. She was a patient and good teacher. It is unlikely that she would miss something like this. Ask her to explain it to you. "
I remembered the early days of my school. When I came across the first question that I couldn't solve. I raised my hand but I was ignored. I thought the teacher wasn't paying attention to the students. So I shouted: "Teacher, I don't understand this part."
Not only did the teacher not turned his back to the board, but no one even noticed my shoutting. I got up from my seat and went to the blackboard. I shouted in the teacher's ear. He turned to me. When I saw the way he stared, I took a few steps back in shock. It was as if he was looking at an insignificant cockroach that could easily be crushed underfoot. I looked behind me. The students in the class were staring at me in exactly the same way. I felt like I was being humiliated by them. After that, I didn't try to communicate with others anymore. Whenever I wanted to, I would leave the class. I slept as much as I wanted. and I made as much noise as I wanted. and no one paid any attention to me. So much so that I felt that maybe even the look I felt was not at me and a cockroach had really caught their attention. Of course, this year everything had changed with the existence of Nuka, but still there had been no major change.
"Can't you tell me yourself? A genius can explain it better. "
"Haaaa! Since you're begging me so much, I'll tell you. The combination spell is as the name suggests. A combination of power and inner spells. Have in mind, that its real name is Ward , but since it is a subset of the spell, a related name was given to it. This spell is such that you ask your sponsor for power with speech, or in other words, you worship them. They also give you the power to perform the desired magic. Each magic also has a special ward. "
'What an odd system. That's why I don't like the world of fantasy and magic tricks very much. '
"Any questions?"
"No, thank you for the explanation. "
After writing the power spell and placing it in the carriage, we all got in and headed home. When we arrived at the mansion, the weather was completely dark. It had started to rain again. As we passed the practice ground. I noticed Arina slamming her wooden sword into the dummy in front of her. I remembered that question I asked myself in front of the buffet at school.
'Why is she...'
Worried, I got out from under the umbrella that Bernard had brought with him and ran towards her.
"Angela!"
Aldous's scream did not stop me. I increased my speed. The sound of the cobblestones under my feet reached Arina. She stopped and turned to me. I finally stood in front of her. Her tired eyes locked on me as I struggled to breathe. Drops of water dripped from both of our hair onto the ground.
"Why are you out in such situation?"
She looked at me without speaking.
"Answer me. "
"..."
She was driving me crazy.
"Why are you so stubborn? It was a good thing anyway that you didn't got accepted "
I shouted at her.
She seemed upset by my words too.
"Where the hell were you two at this time of night? " she shouted.
"It's none of your business. Do you think you're my mom? "
Angry, she grabbed my collar.
"Then it's none of your business why I'm out in this weather. "
I calmed down a bit. I regretted what I had said.
'These were not the things I wanted to tell her.'"Arina... I-"
I was pushed back. I couldn't keep my balance. My ankle twisted, and I leaned backward. I was about to fall when someone caught me from behind.
"What in the devil are you doing, Arina?"
It was Aldous. His chest pressed against my back, rising and falling with anger.
'Damn it, what kind of situation is this?'
Arina, who was in shock from what had happened, was just staring at us in disbelief.
"I think you really lost your mind. With this state, you won't even pass the first stage of the test—"
"Aldous!"
I freed myself from his grip and turned toward him. This made him completely furious. His eyes were wide open, glaring at me in anger.
"Why... (exhale) are you standing in my way?"
"..."
"You're still defending Arina? While all she does is hurting you?"
"Shut up!"
Memories of my past life flashed before my eyes with every word that came out of Aldous's mouth.
"I... didn't want to do this."
I turned to Arina. She was crossing her hands tightly. Her gaze was blankly on the ground as she muttered to herself.
"I didn't mean to. I'm... I'm sorry."
"Arina..."
I wanted to go toward her, but Aldous firmly grabbed my wrist. I glared at him with frustration.
"What are you doing?"
"It's better if you don't go near her."
"What?"
He started to move and pulled me along with him.
"She's really lost it. If you go near her, who knows what she might do to you?"
"But we can't leave her like that. Didn't you see how scared she was?"
"The one who should be scared right now is you. We go and tell Mom, she'll come to her."
I couldn't hold it in anymore. I turned back to Arina. We had distanced ourselves, but I could still see her sitting on the ground, her head was on her knees.
'Yeah...'
Step...
'Maybe this is for the best...'
Step...
'Maybe I should leave her alone for now.'
Step...
'Maybe...'
With a quick movement, I freed my wrist from Aldous and, ignoring his warning, I ran.
'Maybe if this damn feeling would just let go of me, I could leave her to herself.'
She lifted her head. I could even see her tears through the rain. She had spread her arms apart. I jumped into her embrace. She held me tightly, and the sound of her cries filled my ears.
"Azima, forgive me. I... I don't know what's wrong with me. Please forgive me, my dear sister."
I rubbed her waist with my hand. I too couldn't understand what had happened to her. What was bothering her so much? I was sure that an exam couldn't shatter Arina's strong spirit like this. In my past life, Arina had often not been able to pass the university exam due to her commitments. But she had never broken down. She always smiled. She was always hopeful.
'Maybe her attitude is changing, just like her aversion to rain. Maybe all of this... is my fault.'