"…The funeral for the deceased will be held tomorrow after classes," The Headmistress was finishing up her speech. "It is truly a pity they didn't get the chance to live longer with Elements' blessing. May God of Repose deliver their souls so they could be reborn into a happier life."
"I don't think the 'God of Repose' is into recycling," a voice beside Maya mumbled, prompting Maya to whip her head toward the person she wished to see for the past couple of days—Anastasia.
Standing next to Maya, Anastasia was blending into students as if it was where she always belonged. It seems she had made a cross comment at Amanda's delivery that differed from the usual 'Eternal rest to their souls'.
Anastasia gave Maya a soft smile as if she knew Maya was desperate for her time and attention. And Maya almost showered her with all the questions then and there, before awareness of her surroundings returned to her. She shouldn't talk to a ghost in front of all these people.
Like she knew exactly what was stirring in Maya's head, Anastasia quietly turned her head and looked at the highest academy tower. Maya nodded and she smiled, once again, before vanishing.
'Gosh, how come she's so pretty?' Maya shook her head. 'What am I thinking about?'
During the after-hours, instead of working, Maya ran to the staff room and grabbed the master key, before setting herself to the main school tower. It turned out she didn't need the key. It was already open. It was, perhaps, always open, so the bell could be rang in the case of emergency.
Before stepping inside, Maya became aware that this would be considered breaking the rules, which was not so becoming of Maya.
'Sorry, Elena. You'll have to forgive me for slacking off today. You do it to me all the time anyway.'
Stone stairs spiralled upwards around heavy ropes hanging to the ground floor, seemingly endless from Maya's perspective. As she climbed, the ground receded and her horizon expanded, glimpsed through small, repeating windows along the tower's structure.
Finally, she got to the last level where it opened up to the spacious wooden-decked room, at least compared to the confined stairway. She realized this also served as a watchtower with big openings on all four sides overlooking, not just the Academy, but the town as well. A massive wooden structure of beams carried the roof and a giant cast-iron bell on a level ahead accessible only by a ladder.
The view was beautiful despite it being a cloudy twilight with clouds prematurely snuffing out the sun. Maya could see the tall mountains in the distance. As the town was already situated on a hill, and the tower was the highest point, it was multiplying the dizzying effect of the height, but Maya found it somewhat pleasant.
This looked like a place where someone would want to hide from the world. It was something new she learned about herself. It seems she was rather fond of heights.
Maya leaned over to the opening to see if she could find anyone down there. It was quiet. Turning back, she noticed Anastasia standing in the middle of the room. Unlike earlier today, she seemed slightly distressed.
Maya took in a deep breath. She didn't know how to conduct herself in front of her. "So, are you the one who created this world?"
Anastasia nodded solemnly. "I am the last prima before—" She twitched and reset her position. "Sorry…"
It seems she was struggling with those involuntary ticks.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I—I… Maya, I still need to tell—"
She twitched again. It was like those times before she went into the death re-enactment. But this time she disappeared completely. Was it because she was trying to be considerate and not let Maya see that horror up close, or was she simply too unstable to hold on to her existence to the extent Leo was? After all, she was a much older soul than Maya had anticipated—centuries old.
"Okay… I'll wait for you some other time," Maya spoke dejectedly into the wind. It seems hundreds of questions she had would have to wait to be answered. It was out of their hands.
Her mind returned to those colossal statues at the entrance into this world. They were Anastasia's acolytes. But why wasn't she with them? Is her statue somewhere else in the world, rising even taller?
It was odd being able to communicate with the spirit of an important and celebrated person; someone who has places and streets named after them; someone who has history books written about them; someone in whose honour was created a holiday.
And she was there to personally help Maya learn magic. Why was someone as unworthy as Maya seemingly the only one who gets the honour of communicating with the most important person in the entire witches' history?
Waiting for a couple of moments more while sitting on the floor facing the scenery, Maya finally accepted Anastasia wasn't going to return and clutched the rose pendant from around her neck.
"Christ! Are you trying to get me killed?! This is so far up!" Leo appeared and was startled by the vast dark horizon opening up in front of them.
Maya chuckled. It seems she had gotten back at him for all the times he made her jump out of her skin.
"Afraid of heights?"
There was absurdity in a ghost fearing death.
"O-of course not! I'm not afraid… Just… uncomfortable…" He looked to the side, squeezing his arm.
"Do you think it was a good decision coming here?" Maya asked.
"Why did you come here? Are you thinking of jumping?" There was worry in his voice.
"No. Not here. Like here in general. To this world."
"I don't know. But you always had a habit of jumping head-first into situations and it would usually work out for you."
"That's a lie."
"I swear. I always admired that about you. Your bravery," he sat beside her.
"Shut up. You're making things up, now," she didn't want to believe he was sincere.
"And never could take a compliment, as well."
She gently hit him in the shoulder with her fist and he pulled her in a bear hug. Just like they did as kids.
"Don't worry, Maya. You got me. I'll warn you in case of any danger," he whispered as he held her tightly.
Maya's face turned into a grimace. He knew her so well.
Last week was incredibly taxing on the anxiety-prone Maya. Perhaps it was strange she struggled with fear of danger and death after spending so much time in Vetus Orbis wishing she did not exist. She knew she was afraid of pain, but now she also knew she truly wanted to live. Making this erratic decision to come here was out of her pure desire to shake herself awake and start clinging to life.
Unable to understand herself at first, she knew now she was just looking for a reason to live. It was a rather strange thing to need. And she still wondered if she had found it.