"You know this is all your fault, Kaede."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
In front of me was blood so much blood. My parents. Still, lifeless and the red pierced through my eyes.
I stood there trembling. My knees were about to give out. But I just stared. What just happened?
"No... that's not true." My voice was barely a whisper. "It is not my fault."
"Yes, it is. Because you were born this way."
The click of the syringe echoed in my head. Black. Unnatural. In his hand, it shimmered like something alive.
I wanted to scream. Run. Wake up. But I was seven. And the door in front of me was blocked. My body was full of sweat. What should I do? I thought but nothing came into my head. I wasn't able to think clearly why should I. I looked at my hand, still red still full of blood.
Why me, I thought, why did this have to happen to me?
It all began on the day I was supposed to receive my powers…
"Kaede, Kaede, come on, honey, we're late."
"Is it really that late already?"
"Yes, Kaede, come on, Dad's already waiting in the car."
"I'm coming, just need to change quickly." Today's the day. Today I'll finally find out what my powers are. I got changed excitedly and smiled.
"Ah, there you are at last. Come on, hurry up, we're running late. And put on a jacket, it's cold outside."
I grabbed it and threw it on quickly, still smiling.
"Mmm… it won't close."
"Here Kaede, take my umbrella," my mother said, smiling softly. Then she quickly helped me close the zipper and gave me a gentle push on the back.
"Come on, Kaede, let's go. Dad's already waiting in the car."
I nodded with a smile and cheerfully ran to the car. I opened the door and got in. The leather seat smelled brand new, the car was shining. I could feel the seat heating it was a real blessing in this cold. I made myself comfortable and leaned my sleepy head against the window. Just ten more minutes of sleep…
"You're ten minutes late and the first thing you think about is sleeping, Kaede," my father said, disappointed, like I was driving him insane. "Other kids are excited in moments like this and you want to sleep!"
"Sorry, Dad. Next time I'll be on time," I said sadly and looked down at the floor.
"Come on, Kaede, don't look so down. I didn't mean it like that."
"Click," the front right car door opened.
My mother looked at me. Then everything went silent.
"What's wrong, Kaede?"
"Nothing," I said in a tearful voice. My thoughts were torturing me. "The way I'm acting… I'll probably get really bad magical powers…" I sobbed and wiped a wet tear from my cheek.
"No, no, sweetheart, don't think that." My mother hugged me then she looked closely to my father.
"What did you do this time?! Making our son cry on his special day shame on you!" My mother was angry. Again. At my father. Like so often but we all get along. I really love them.
"Hey sweetheart after the magic test, we'll go get ice cream, okay?"
"Yay, ice cream! I love ice cream!" My smile returned, and all the bad thoughts disappeared. Then Dad started the engine.
After we arrived at the magic center for young people, we took place in a Waiting room.
Waiting room:
There were kids everywhere like me. They were smiling. One in a green jacket was playing something on his phone, and then there was that one girl sitting right next to me. She kept looking at her father, then at my parents, back and forth. I wondered what she was doing. Her pink hair was being blown around by the wind coming through the window, and she wore cheesy shoes from a girls' TV show.
Then our parents were sent into the meeting room.
"What's your name?" the girl said.
I was pulled out of my thoughts after I l realized she was talking to me.
Who, me? "Uh… Kaede."
I looked at her, she had a small comb in the hair and pink eyes, she was a bit smaller than me and seemed kind.
"Hi Kaede!"
"Hey, I have to tell you something.She leaned in close. My dad doesn't like it when I talk to strangers so please don't tell him," she whispered.
Where does that came from? I thought.
Then she bombarded me with questions, how old I was and so on.
We laughed.
"Hey, by the way, what's your name?"
She stayed quiet for a bit.
"Huh?" I was confused.
"What's your name?" I asked her again. Then she looked up and smiled.
"Uhm… you can call me Airi."
"Okay, Airi. I'm Kaede." I grinned and held up my hand for a high-five.
She looked at me, confused.
"Kaede… what are you doing?"
"It's a high-five. You don't know what that is?"
She stayed silent.
"It's something friends do they slap their hands together and celebrate."
"Oh," she said with a smile and slapped my hand.
"Was that right?" She scratched her head.
"Yeah, just like that!" I giggled.
"Why are you laughing, Kaede?"
"I just think it's funny that you've never heard of a high-five before."
"Hey, Kaede…" she interrupted me. "What do you want to do with your powers?"
It didn't even take me a minute to answer. "I want to use my powers to help everyone and bring world peace. Everyone should grow up in peace."
Back then, that was easy to say.
"I see," she said and giggled. "You want to be a hero."
"Not want I will be one. And then anyone in need can call for me.
I'll be there." I raised my fist in the air trying to hit a hero pose i have seen in a film
"Even me? Even if I would be the villan? Would you still save me?"
"Of course. We're friends, after all. If you need a hero.call me and your numberine hero will save you"
Airi smiled like something was weighing on her, but I didn't notice it back then.
The other boy in the room gave me a weird look.
Before I could ask Airi anything else, the door opened and she had to go. I said goodbye, but she ignored me. Then she left with her father. Since her father was there she was another person, she didn't even looked me in the eyes anymore.
What was up with her?
Back then, I was really blind… but what else? I was only seven.
Airi:
Airi looked depressed out of the car window.
"How many times have I told you not to talk to strangers, Airi?! And then you talk to him are you insane?!" a harsh voice rang out in the car. But Airi didn't listen.
Then she smiled. "See you soon… my hero." Her Cheeks were red and her head full in thoughts of Kaede
Kaede at home:
"Mom, open the envelope already! Open it!" I rushed in.
"Alright, alright, calm down."
Dad was cooking at the moment.
Mom opened the envelope. She went completely silent. Then she dropped the envelope.
Well, I kinda knew already… I thought.
"Yes! Ahahaha, yes Kaede, I knew it! You're something special, my darling! I just knew it!" She hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek.
"Kaede, promise me one thing – never use your magic to hurt anyone out of selfishness."
I nodded, but I still didn't know what the envelope actually said.
Then my dad, who had just looked at it, started cheering too and lifted me into the air. "Kaede, we're so proud of you!" He spun me around like a sack of potatoes. Then, after they finally put me down, I got to look inside the envelope too. I was excited and peeked in. There were lots of numbers and data I didn't understand – but I think they were important.
Then – bottom left – it said in big letters:
Explosion Magic – A-Rank.
An A-Rank at the age of seven has great potential to become Double-S-Rank later.
I was so happy, jumping around it was the best day of my life. I had never been that cheerful. At dinner, I kept whispering:
"I'll be a hero. A hero. Heroy-hero. Hero. Hero. Hero."
After dinner my Mother allowed me tho stay awake longer today. We were watching a film all together sitting on the couch and eating popcorn. I already was up ten minutes longer I was allowed but my parents yet haven't noticed. Then in the best part an advertisement break came up and my mother realized I was still up.
Gosh look at the time Kaede you go to bed now it is already 10 pm.
No please mum let me stay up a little longer.
No Kaede it is time for you to go to bed right now.
I wanted to convince her but she just pointed at the stairs leading to the second floor.
"Kaede, you have to go to bed now. A new routine starts tomorrow."
"But I don't wanna sleep."
"But you have to, Kaede."
"Alright…"
I brushed my teeth then I went to bed.
Still I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about the girl I have met and asked myself what her powers could be. Most children lern to use their powers with 9 but some children can use it earlier and the higher the rank is at the start the better is your potential to improve this rank. It was silent. Still i couldn't sleep then I heard sounds coming from the kitchen. They were loud and it sounded like a crashing plate. I opened my eyes now I am hungry I thought. So I got up.
It was pitch dark. The cold crept through the window like an invisible hand pulling the blanket off my body.
My bare feet touched the cold floor. It was quiet. Way too quiet were did the sound go. No wind, no creaking, just the ticking clock in the hallway. I crept to the door, opened it slowly. No light. No sound. Did they went to sleep?
I was confused and hungry so I went downstairs.
The steps creaked under my weight. I held my breath tried to be quiet not waking them up.
Downstairs, everything was dark. Only a pale light shone through the living room window. No TV, no flickering lamp, no scent of lavender like Mom usually sprayed at night. Did she forgot?
I padded on. The kitchen was right next to the living room.
"Kaede? What are you doing here?" my mother asked suddenly her voice… didn't sound normal.
I turned around, but saw no one it was to dark. "I'm hungry and wanted to grab something… did you hear me?"
"Yes… I woke up… because of you."
Her voice sounded… strange. Faint. Like through a tunnel.
"But I'm really hungry…" I mumbled. My hand reached for the light switch.
Click.
The light came on.
And I heard my world shatter.
Silence.
shock.
My pupils shrank. My breath stopped. My body no longer obeyed. I stood there frozen while my heart pounded like it wanted to run without me. What was that? what does that mean? Why?
In front of me less than four meters away lay my parents. Their bodies disfigured. Blood everywhere. The couch, the floor, the walls… it wasn't a living room anymore. It was a nightmare. Eyes open. Staring. Empty. I could… I could even see organs. Mom's hand was outstretched, as if she was still trying to protect me. I tried to scream but I was still to shocked. Then my knees gave in. I collapsed onto the floor.
"That's a shame… but oh well. You can't escape me anyway Ka e de."
The voice came from right behind me.
Slowly I turned my head. My body barely moved. He stood there. A man in brown pants, his hair half red, half blue like the smile on his face: half bored, half annoyed.He was smiling.
In his left hand: a syringe. Black. Unnatural. It shimmered like it held something alive.
"I told you to go back upstairs, Kaede."
My stomach twisted. I wanted to scream but no sound came out. I looked to the stairs. Run, said a voice in my head. Run now, or you'll die. I couldn't think my parents still lying dead on the floor but why to many questions no answers. Then I looked at the man again. His smile now brighter than before. That was enough for me to make a decision
I ran.
"Kaede… there's no point. Don't make this hard for me."
I stormed into my room, slammed the door, pressed myself against it, shaking. My chest rose and fell rapidly. I collapsed. Tears flooded my face.
"Why..." I whispered. "Why me... why... Mom... Dad..."
The door opened. I was trying my best to keep it closed but he was.so much stronger
He was back. Why? What dies he want from me? Still the questions where like a storm in my head.
"I told you. It's pointless." His voice pearced through the room.
He came closer. I crawled backwards, away from him, until I hit the wall. I screamed threw toys at him. Everything. Nothing stopped him. Why can't he stop? Why why can't he leave me alone?
"Are you ready?" he asked. He bent down to me. His face so close. I closed my eyes. I prepared for the worst my heart still pounding like crazy. Then again he spoke.
"You know, Kaede, it's all your fault."
"No, it's not true." I responded in disbelief.
"Oh Yes, it is. You know why? Because you were born this way."
Then the sting. Left upper arm. Bevor i could say another word.
Pain.
Cold.
After it it was still and I opened my Eyes nothing just Silence as if all of it was just a bad dream. I cried as the sound of sirens drew closer. It seemed my neighbors had noticed something was wrong and called the police.
The room was empty. The man was gone.
Why… why me… I wanted to die. My face was covered in tears, then I heard the police entering the house.
Later I found out that my mother called the police. They said I had really luck but for me the live was over.
Ten years later:
The legendary magic academy of Velmaria. Glowing towers. Floating platforms. Shimmering barriers. A place for geniuses, nobles, and madmen.
Now you ask yourself definitely why am I here. It is quite simple the academy offered me a free apartment.
Shadow magic. Explosion magic. S-rank. Untouched for ten years well, mostly untouched but I promised to never really use them again. And I intend to keep it that way.
I want peace. To stay invisible. Sleep, read, do nothing.
But the moment I enter the classroom, someone calls out: "I'm looking forward to working with you, Kaede!"
And suddenly I'm in the top group of the year.
How did that happen? I ask myself the same thing.
Either way, this school is full of extroverted weirdos.