The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light cutting through the darkness. The three cloaked figures huddled just outside the ramshackle hut, whispering amongst themselves.
"To think they'd send three of us to deal with a squib," one muttered, his voice laced with disdain.
"After You-Know-Who's colossal screw-up, the higher-ups are jumpy when it comes to people mentioned in the prophecy," the second replied with a shrug. "Even over a kid."
"But this is just a squib alone, you know?" the first pressed.
"Shut up and let's get this over with," the third snapped, clearly their superior. The other two exchanged a glance but fell silent, following him toward the hut.
The group moved with practiced caution, their wands at the ready. The door creaked as they slipped inside, their footsteps muffled against the old wooden floor. Each step brought them closer to the worn mattress where their target supposedly lay.
The leader raised his wand, pointing it at the sleeping form beneath the thin blanket. "Avada Kedavra," he hissed, the green light illuminating the room for a brief moment before fading.
"See? Told you it was an easy—"
Before he could finish, a flash of light cut through the darkness, and a bloodcurdling scream filled the air. The man stumbled back, clutching his arm as blood dripped to the floor. His wand clattered uselessly to the ground.
"What the hell?!" the second wizard yelled, raising his wand. But he didn't get the chance to cast a spell before another flash of light zipped past him.
The third wizard barely had time to react before the same fate befell him. The snap of broken wood echoed in the room.
A single, deliberate footstep broke the chaos as the bare bulb in the corner of the room flickered on.
"Oh, shit," Toji muttered, staring at one of the hooded figures, who was now hunched over, cradling his bleeding arm. "I really messed up your hand, huh? My bad. You should've knocked first."
The other two wizards stared in horror at the boy standing before them, a sheathed katana casually slung over his shoulder.
"Where the hell was he hiding that?" one of them whispered, his voice trembling.
Toji smirked, lazily spinning the katana in his hand. "You wizards really rely on those sticks, don't you? Guess that's why they call you wand wavers and not fighters."
The leader growled through gritted teeth. "You little—"
Before he could finish, Toji was on him. With a swift movement, he swept the man's legs out from under him using the blunt side of the sheathed blade. The wizard hit the ground with a thud, his cry of pain muffled as Toji's foot pressed down on his chest.
"Did my brother send you?" Toji asked, his voice low, almost conversational.
The leader didn't respond, glaring up at him instead.
"Fine. Be all mysterious and broody," Toji said with a shrug. "But you're not getting any sympathy just because you brought three guys to kill one kid."
The second wizard lunged at him, desperation etched into his face. Toji sidestepped effortlessly, his katana sweeping out to strike the man's ribs. The wizard crumpled, gasping for air.
"Whoops. That's gotta hurt," Toji remarked, stepping over him to face the third wizard, who was trembling but still clutching the broken remains of his wand.
"You… you're just a squib!" the man stammered.
Toji's grin widened. "Yeah, yeah, squib this, squib that. I heard you guys outside, by the way. Real professionals, huh? 'Oh, it's just a squib!' What was that about again?"
He closed the distance in two quick steps, raising the sheathed katana high. The man flinched, bracing for impact, but instead, Toji swung low, smashing the wizard's shins. The man collapsed, howling in pain as Toji stepped back, spinning the katana like a baton.
"See? Much easier without the fancy lights and death spells. You guys are useless without those wands." He knelt beside the leader, who was still writhing on the ground.
"You're going to tell me who sent you," Toji said, his voice cold and devoid of humor. "And if you don't, I'll start using the sharp side of this thing. It's not just for show, you know."
The leader spat at him, his defiance earning a sharp jab to the ribs with the katana's hilt.
"Wrong answer," Toji said, standing up and dusting himself off. "Guess I'll just have to beat it out of you guys."
He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, the grin returning to his face. "Ready for round two?"
Toji crouched over the three figures sprawled on the floor, their faces now bare after a round of vicious beatings. His fingers brushed against his sheathed katana, and his sharp green eyes scanned their features. Strangers—utter strangers. No one he'd seen or heard of before.
"Seeing you throw the Unforgivables around like cheap party tricks," Toji sneered, "I'm guessing you're the dark wizards my brother's been cozying up with."
The two conscious wizards didn't respond, groaning in pain instead. Toji clicked his tongue in irritation, but deep down, a wave of unease began to creep in.
Shit, I nearly fucking died…
The thought lingered, forcing him to shove it down with a shaky breath. For the first time, he silently thanked the heavens for his skill. If he hadn't been this fast, this sharp—if anything had gone wrong—he'd be the one lying dead on the floor.
Maintaining his composure, Toji stood and grabbed the old leather bag stashed under the mattress. Slinging it over his shoulder, he cast one last glance at the wizards. "Stay down if you know what's good for you," he muttered, though a part of him doubted they could even get up if they tried.
Leaving wasn't just the smart move; it was the only move. Staying here, exposed and alone, was asking to be cornered. But returning to the clan wasn't an option either.
The elders had seen to that. Kicked out, banished, and marked with a rune that wouldn't even let him set foot past the clan gates. And even if he could? Storming in to confront his brother without knowing how many allies he had or how deep this rabbit hole went was just plain stupid.
Lucky this time, he thought grimly. Luck runs out faster than anything else.
Adjusting the strap of his bag, Toji turned and stepped toward the door, but a sudden sharp whisper froze him in place.
"Avada—"
Time slowed as his instincts kicked in. Toji didn't think—he reacted. His hand flew to his belt, pulling a dagger free and sending it hurtling toward the source of the voice.
The blade found its mark, sinking into the man's chest with a sickening thud. The unfinished curse fizzled out as the wizard's eyes widened, and he crumpled to the floor.
Toji stood there, chest heaving, cold sweat running down his back. His fingers trembled, gripping the strap of his bag tightly.
I just killed a man. Why did he have another wand with him? What's going on...
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut. His vision blurred as he stared at his hands, shaking slightly. The weight of what he'd done threatened to crush him, but then—
SLAP!
Toji smacked himself across the face, hard enough to sting. "Whine later, you idiot!" he growled through gritted teeth. "I need to run first!"
His legs moved before his mind could catch up. He bolted out of the hut, his feet pounding against the earth as he sprinted through the darkness. The cool night air hit his face, snapping him out of his daze.
Only after escaping the rune formation surrounding the area did he finally stop. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the soft grass of a sakura field. The faint scent of blossoms filled the air as he lay there, staring at the night sky.
His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. The adrenaline began to wear off, leaving him with the raw weight of his actions. Toji swallowed hard, his hands still trembling slightly.
I killed someone.
The thought echoed in his mind, threatening to pull him into a spiral. But Toji gritted his teeth, forcing himself to sit up. "Focus," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "You're not safe yet. Cry about it later, idiot."
The distant sound of rustling leaves snapped him back to reality. Toji glanced around the field, his hand instinctively reaching for his katana.
He wasn't out of the woods yet.