My Necromancer Wife

Karim

Interesting concept - gravity. Useful, but limited. If she can manipulate the gravity of more than one object at a time, it would be a lot more impactful.

"Just to make sure, I'm part of the Resistance, right?" Angela asks, leaning in close.

Too close.

Furuno shrugs in response.

She folds her arms across her chest, reddening with indignation.

"What do you mean by that? I was the very first volunteer. You accepted grudgingly, but it still counts!"

Furuno leans forward to look past me, staring at the girl at my side.

Morrow watches intently, fingers crossed. Even Safari seems to be holding her breath.

"You offered to be our inside man, not a member of the Resistance. Being able to use a cloaking spell is useless to our mission - in my point of view. I don't see why you girls are willing to jump into a battlefield with zero experience. This is not a fantasy story where nothing bad ever really happens to the heroes - people actually die. So, before you jump headlessly into your own grave, think about that. That goes for the rest of you as well".

Tears pool in Angela's eyes.

"Furuno! Watch what you say to them!"

Angela disappears. I can hear footsteps running away, down the aisle and out of the cafeteria.

I turn to him. His eyes are glassy and... distant.

None of what he said sounded like him - he's usually kind and soft-spoken with ladies.

I look across the table.

Safari's eyes are wide, Morrow's face is pale.

"I know exactly what joining entails. I'm willing to risk my life out there for the chance to save any life. If that reason is not good enough for you, then, I don't know what you're fighting for!" Safari says and leaves the table in one rushed movement.

Morrow follows quietly.

I swat my forehead with my palm in frustration.

"What were you thinking, Furuno? What were you hoping to achieve? It was totally uncalled for. You should apologize".

He smirks.

"What I said wasn't a mistake. I meant every single word. We're all going to die out there, so what's the point".

I arch an eyebrow.

Something is very wrong.

"Have you forgotten why we're here in the first place? Let me refresh your memory, we came to seek help from powerful sorcerers. The staff here are adamant about their views, so we have to work around with the students. Calling one of them useless is the worst thing you could do. You're killing our chances of working with the higher-ups. If you're no longer interested, quit - don't kill anyone's hope".

His shoulder's slump.

"Then, I quit. I might not even be able to make it out of here".

He leaves the table, abandoning his food... and me.

I blink, watching as he exits the room in quick yet measured strides.

"Not what you were hoping for, was it?" A familiar voices whispers in my head.

Ace.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find him staring back at me.

"I always told you from the beginning. You're unorganized and confused. All you'll succeed in doing is confusing any unfortunate soul that makes the mistake of joining your sham of a Resistance. But, if you need guidance, I suggest you talk to Cormag or Praisch - they lead effortlessly", he says without moving his lips.

Guidance?

I admit I might need guidance, but not from people younger than me. My pride is big enough to swallow this maze of a school.

Working alongside others is just something I find very hard to do. I've always worked alone.

My first partner had been... Arya. Then, Furuno. Now, I have to force myself to learn how to work with a bigger group.

---

Praisch is seated on a sofa in the library, feet dangling over the arm of the chair casually.

His shoes are impeccable... and his watch? A fucking masterpiece.

He is reading a novel with a provocative cover. The library is scantily-filled with only a few clusters of students pouring over bulky textbooks and manuals.

An old lady dressed entirely in grey mans the librarian's desk, peering down at a book with loosely hanging spectacles.

The windows are large and arch-shaped, just like the one at the Ethics office had been. There are four windows in total, each with the drapes drawn at precise angles.

The ceiling is vaulted and painted with images depicting historical events unknown to me.

The desks are set up in several rows with a computer system mounted on each desk. Polished wood gleams in the sunlight, betraying no speck of dust.

Ace is standing behind me, his hands shoved into his pockets and his headphones blocking out the existence of all else.

The guy called Praisch gives me a side glance, raises an eyebrow and returns to his book.

"If you've got something to say, just say it. My ears aren't blocked."

My mouth parts to deliver a cold retort, but Ace is already ahead of me.

"You better mind how you talk to him".

Praisch sits erect, his expression ghastly as Ace moves to stand beside me.

"What... do you want?" He asks me, but his eyes hover on Ace - avoiding his eyes but looking nonetheless.

"My friend here needs your help - and by help, I mean your dedicated and unsarcastic guidance. So, you are going to join his little group. More people will flock in if Almighty Praisch is a devoted member".

Friend? The word surprised me.

Praisch's only response is a gulp. His hands are gripping the novel so tight that his knuckles are white.

The fear, I could almost touch it if I wanted to.

"What can he even do?" I ask, still wondering why Ace insists I need guidance from this guy. He had bugged me until I had finally agreed to give it a chance.

His eyes flare up.

"What can I do? You mean that you haven't heard about me?"

Suddenly, I can't breathe. I feel like all the air is being sucked out of my body, crushing me from within.

Buckling, I collapse to my knees, clutching the floor to stop myself from going any lower.

"That's enough". I hear Ace say in a calm voice, as if I'm not being killed with just a gaze.

Then, it's as if a huge pressure is lifted from my chest.

I claw greedily for air, pulling it in between raspy breaths to fill my lungs that were near-collapsing.

What kind of power was that?