If The Villain Catches Me Alive

 

The first thing I noticed upon waking up was how refreshed I felt.

 

I’ve never slept so deeply, never had any dreams, never had anyone disturb me. It was such a calm, peaceful night. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining through the window, and everything was calm. I thought that this must be what it means to feel light.

 

‘Why…. Is it because today is the day I’m finally being recognized as an adult?’

 

Theodor had wanted to be an adult for a very long time. An adult who could be fully responsible for himself. To be recognized as a member of a family, to not need a mentor… An independent adult.

 

However, neither my family nor my master would be there. They were once a burden that strangled me, but both have long since become a distant memory. Which is why, with all this excitement… I cannot wait for my coming of age.

 

“…You seem awfully excited.”

 

Jeffrey said casually as he adjusted his clothes next to me. Maybe I am. If others think I’m excited, then… I guess I am. I decided to acknowledge my feelings. It is a good day.

 

“Is it?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I think so, too.”

 

It’s a little…… nice.

 

Theodore voiced his feelings. Jeffrey gave him the most puzzled look he’d ever seen. Like he hadn’t expected to hear that.

 

“Have you gone crazy? Finally?”

 

“You asked me that question.”

 

“I mean, you weren’t being your usual snarky self… I wondered if you were about to die.” 

 

After hearing that, I laughed a little. Because… I used to feel that way about myself. I wondered why he, Dante, had done such a 180-degree turn, I wondered if he was about to die. It felt like it hadn’t been that long ago.

 

“Have I changed?”

 

“……You’re a little less grumpy than when we first met.”

 

Jeffrey replied. To have that come out of his mouth is proof that I’ve changed a lot. I fantasized a bit about being happy. I imagined that maybe, just maybe, today would change me.

 

I had one of those moments of happiness.

 

***

 

The ceremony was surprisingly uneventful.

 

When I asked where they were taking the people from the tower, they said it was someplace like an annex building next to the tower. It was very tall, with a statue of a saintly figure with a staff in front of it, and an altar with a gray floor.

 

Under the guidance of the tower master, we were led into the ceremony one by one. It was uneventful, too. Just take the offered stones and objects and close your eyes, and then the tower master will clasp his hands together and murmur something. After a few seconds of being still, the ceremony is over.

 

Theodore stood quietly in line, watching the man in front of him carefully. Ah. On the wall……

 

Names were being carved into the wall. The walls around them were being inscribed with names. It was golden, and then he thought to himself,…

 

‘I wonder if Dante’s name is in here somewhere?’

 

That was the first thing he thought.

 

I was curious. I wondered what he was like as a child. He didn’t seem to be very good with magic, so how did he get into the tower? Oh, no, I’m not being sarcastic, just genuinely curious.

 

My turn came fairly quickly, with only three or so people left before me in front of the altar.

 

I stopped in my tracks, sensing something strange.

 

I look back, and Jeffrey gives me a look that seems to ask what’s going on. I’m silent for a moment, and then I start walking.

 

It’s getting worse.

 

Theodore tried to cover up his subtle emotions as he recalled his pleasant morning. He dismissed it as just a complicated feeling, the kind you get before you get what you’ve been hoping for.

 

He didn’t know it then. He hadn’t known that there was one name on the wall that was missing.

 

That there was one name that had disappeared.

 

***

 

The long and tedious ceremony was over. It was late in the evening when everyone had returned to their respective seats.

 

“So? Did you find it?”

 

“Not yet……”

 

Theodore and Jeffrey were sticking stubbornly to the wall, even floating in midair, fingers pointing at each name.

 

“……This is so inefficient.”

 

“Who says it isn’t?”

 

It was all to find their names on the wall.

 

Every single name in tiny print in that large space was the name of every mage in history, and the newly stationed students scrambled to find their own. To have their names inscribed in such a historic space was a thrill for the newly recognized mages.

 

“Hey, are we in the right place?”

 

“Oh, right. Are you sure this is the right spot?”

 

“…Actually, I caught a glimpse of yours when I was coming down from the altar.”

 

“What? Dude!”

 

Jeffrey’s voice sounded angry and demanding that Theodore tell him why he was just now mentioning it, but Theodore shrugged it off.

 

So, Jeffrey and Theodore made a promise before going up. Even if they weren’t entirely sure, they agreed to let each other know the moment their names were engraved, the moment the golden letters were embroidered.

 

And Theodore found his name fairly easily.

 

Theodor Renan

 

When I saw my name written on the wall in golden letters, I got a little emotional. When I received my pin, I was rather emotionless, but when I saw my full name engraved on the wall, I felt a stirring in my chest. I guess I was touched.

 

After that, we looked up Jeffrey’s name together. Jeffrey Ron Idenber… While muttering, Theodore also found the other person’s name. Dante, no last name, just Dante.

 

‘……Does he have a last name?’

 

A commoner… I think I heard someone say something about him being abandoned in an orphanage as a child. if he doesn’t have a last name, then there would be no way to find his name.

 

I stared at the wall, my eyes glued to it. Jeffrey, Jeffrey… Dante, Dante… Ah.

 

Jeffrey Ron Idenber.

 

“Found it.”

 

Theodore said boredly. With that, Jeffrey quickly used a levitation spell to fly near him, but Theodore was a little… displeased. 

 

If only he’d found someone else’s name… It would have been more pleasing.

 

With that in mind, Theodore said flatly.

 

“Your name is too long.”

 

“So what.”

 

“It took me a really long time to find…”

 

“Seriously. Why don’t they just arrange it by name?”

 

“There’s only so much space.”

 

The principle behind the names on the wall was simple. Names are engraved when they got stationed there and disappear the moment they die. As a result, every wall was seldom filled to capacity, with plenty of empty space in between.

 

“Can you look up Master’s name?”

 

Jeffrey asked Theodore. He couldn’t believe he’d thought of it.

 

Theodore was intrigued by that suggestion but glanced down at the watch on his wrist. It was already past eight o’clock.

 

“No.”

 

Theodore was eager to find his name, but he cut him off firmly.

 

“Perhaps we should ask Master where it’s written. How are we going to find it in this big place?”

 

“Hmm. You’re right. Are you going straight to the dorms?”

 

“I have a prior engagement. You go first.”

 

Theodore let Jeffrey go and quickened his steps. His destination was the study. He headed toward where Dante would be waiting.

 

It was past eight o’clock and the Tower of Light was quiet. Only a few orbs glowed, illuminating the way ahead, in the calm darkness that descended upon the space.

 

Theodore walked calmly up the stairs. His study was not far from the lobby. The far end of the second floor, he’d never been a fan of the location of his office, and sometimes he grumbled a little. His reasoning was that the room had small windows, so there was no breeze, so the odors didn’t escape as easily.

 

Although Dante seemed to like a variety of snacks, he was always looking for simple snacks that didn’t contain the smell of sweets or junk food, so his study was always filled with the faint aroma of coffee or the smell of old books. However……

 

The place he came to every day, the place that felt like home, felt strange today. It was quiet as if no one was there. Theodore’s palms were sweating.  He doesn’t want to go near that place, no matter what.

 

‘Why is that in there……?’

 

Why do I smell blood in there?

 

That anxiety materialized and overwhelmed him.

 This chapter is a bit confusing with all those pov changes. Sometimes it's Theodore's pov and sometimes it's in third person's pov. But that's how it is written, I just followed. You will get used to it soon, more chapters are gonna be like this, switching perspectives in the middle. Sighhhhh.