~Caelum's Pov~
It was a mixed weather as usual, here in the capital. I woke up from my king size bed. Got up, arranged it in the proper way for the next use. It's so big that it would normally take three people to arrange it, but I have to do with what I have.
Honestly, I don't know why they give us such an extravagant size, when there are some people sleeping on the streets.
It was my first day as the deputy vice captain mage of the Nastra squad. As any other day, I start off by practicing a bit of my magic control, which I'm not very good at controlling. My mana always disrupts, which makes my spell go berserk.
But no one knows of this flaw. I try as much as possible to hide. To be the bright and shining mage they all want me to be. But that is not what I want. I am not interested in such fame.
I just want to live a normal life. Get married at the right age, have two kids, a girl first and a boy. Probably retire after she gets married. Die before my wife, in a peaceful and painless way, when both of my kids are set for their futures.
"Sigh~"
As I walked to the room where I normally do my morning training, I heard a bang on my door.
Knock Knock Knock.
I thought to myself. 'Who could it be at this time? It is way too early for any duty to begin.' So I decided to leave it.
But that didn't cut it.
Knock Knock Knock!!
The sound came again. This time it was louder than the previous. I pretend to not hear, they should not that I am still asleep.
In this part of the capital I am currently living in, is the Nastra Squad Castle, a place for only high ranking mages, but there are also two other castles which are home to the other two Squads.
There are three Mage Knights Squad in the capital, which are The Nastra Squad. Where I am stationed. The Lumi Squad, and the Squad of Justice.
Knock Knock Knock!!!
It still hasn't stopped?
"Open up Caelum. It's me, Julius!"
Oh Julius. My second in command. If it's just him then it's alright.
I walked up to the door, my hand almost at the handle when a thought came to me. I quickly rushed to my bed, made a mess of what I had arranged, and afterwards scattered my hair so it would seem like I was just waking up.
"What is with the noise this morning?" I said, my voice sounded as though it had woken me from sleep.
I opened the door, and there stood a six foot young man, two feet less than me. He had brown hair and blue eyes. Eyes like a dead fish. He was already in our squad vests.
Already?
"What took you so long?" Julius asked casually as he let himself inside my room. I turned, and stared at him with a confused expression.
"Is there a problem? Why are you already in your mage vest this early?"
At this moment, Julius had already made his way to sit at the edge of my bed. Just looking at his butt making contact with it, made me so furious, even though it was not arranged. However, I had to keep it cool, as the about to be, vice captain.
He eyes then fixed at me, carrying with them an expression looking unreal, as though I was supposed to have grabbed the situation, then he began.
"Didn't you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"Gosh, you are naive. You are supposed to be our next vice captain and you haven't been heard."
I rolled my eyes as the words left his lips.
Not this again.
"Would you tell me what it is, or do I have to blast you away with a spell?"
As the words left my lips. Julius raised his hands in surrender. He knew how tough I could get when I am upset. So he had to behave.
"Alright, alright. I will talk."
"Good."
"Well the thing is, I overheard that there would be a big catch today."
"Big catch?" I asked, curious.
"Yes. And I don't just mean big alone, also rare and special."
If I was living a normal life as a random citizen, and someone comes and tells me something like this. I would think they were referring to hunting an animal, or fishing. But that's not the case here. I knew it was neither of them. It was…
"Are you even listening to me?" His words cut through my thoughts.
"Y…Yes I am." I replied, trying to act as though I wasn't taken by the thoughts of my dream life as a normal citizen.
"So? How did you come about this information?" I asked. My tone, a mix of curiosity, and suspicion.
"Um… well… you see…" Julius mumbled, as he rubbed his temples with a cunny smile.
I knew it.
There's no way he could say it. He's always snooping around and getting information that even I couldn't get even though I wanted to.
But that's one thing I liked about him. He's always reliable. He's might now be as famous as I am, but I am sure his skills are just as exquisite as mine. There's no doubt that when I become the captain, he could become the vice captain. But I don't think he'd want that.
"So? Where is it gonna be?"
"Right!... it would be at the center of the city, The source said they had already planned the bait?"
"The bait?"
"Yes. It would seem that the source is somehow related to the target."
"And you sure it is correct?"
"Yes."
"How sure are you that the source is not particularly the same as the target."
"They aren't. This is surely legit."
I nodded as I knew that he was sure of the information. I mean, when has he ever been wrong? He had always had his reliable sources, since back in the academy days.
"So when are we to be dispatched?"
"Well that's the reason why I came to get you."
"Reason?"
"Yes."
At this moment, Julius stood up from my bed with a straight expression, and began walking towards me. But wait. What's with that face? Why did he have that face?
Oh no, this isn't good.
Tap'
His hands landed on my shoulder, his head down., staring at the ground. I could feel an intense energy swirling from his body. Hot, daunting, whatever he was about to say wasn't going to be good.
I gulped.
Then he raised his head, as a smile played on his face. Followed by a chuckle, as though laughing at whatever he was about to say.
"Say it already."
Chuckles'
"They want you to be the one to lead the mission."
They?
My eyes widened, as the words left his lips. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it was something I never ever wanted to hear.
"Wait. What? What do you mean?"
Julius pulled away from me and went straight for the door.
"I guess, it's time to prove to them how you are fit to be the next vice captain." he said before leaving my room.
-
After what Julius had just said, I closed my door and sat at the edge of my bed. Both hands on my head.
This was the worst case scenario. I knew it was to come at some point. When they would want to test my real capability. But I never thought it would be this soon.
Damn… I never thought the day would come when I would have to do what I am not comfortable with.
"To haunt a witch."