Ashes and Bones

It was the late hours of the night, five weeks since Yijun had arrived. Xiang found Chen hunched over a number of books, tucked away in the corner of the library. His hair was dishevelled, and the grey outline of rings forming beneath his eyes. He was hastily scrawling down notes, that Xiang registered as illegible.

"Quit staring at me," Chen muttered.

"You seem to be taking this quite seriously," Xiang propped his head into his hands as he sat down across from his roommate. "So, he beat you a couple of times, is it really important to you that you are the best?"

"He hasn't bested me. Besides," he started, gesturing towards the majority of books that had been pushed to the left side, "Those are for my report."

Taking hold of one of the books, Xiang frowned, turning of the pages. His eyes swept across the inscribed words, his sights running across the page until he turned it over to the next. He was confronted by a hand-drawn image of a daemon. Nodding his head once, he set the textbook down and then pointed to the remaining worn books.

"And those?" Chen paused in his writing.

"The final scriptures the library has on mage symbols."

"You've gone through all of them!" Xiang hissed his surprise, to which Chen merely nodded his head and resumed taking notes. "Obviously you're reading too much into this – heh, I made a pun." Chen didn't even bother to hide the fact he was rolling his eyes.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Xiang seemed to ponder this for a moment.

"Probably," he admitted, "But nothing I can't talk myself out of." A sudden, abrupt laugh cracked passed Chen's lips. Clearing himself almost immediately, he quickly composed himself. "That wasn't a joke."

"It's funny that you think it isn't," the boy nodded his head. "When have you ever talked your way out of something?"

"No need to put me on the spot Chen," retorted the boy, giving him a sharp stare. A smirk curled up in the corners of Chen's mouth. His amusement was short-lived as the sound of voices came behind them.

"Yijun, sorry to bother you," he heard someone called out in a whisper. "Do you have a moment?" Against his better judgement, Chen glanced over his shoulder to see the fair-haired male pause in his actions. His slender fingers were wrapped around the spine of a book as he glanced down at the three smaller students; evidently a couple of years below them.

His face held a youthful innocence, his gaze soft as he gently nodded his head. While Chen couldn't see the faces of the students, but he assumed they were smiling. Most seemed to smile when they walked up to Yijun. One nudged the boy in the middle as if he were prompting him to ask the question.

Xiang scoffed quietly to himself, causing Chen to flinch slightly in surprise. He returned his attention to his friend, who was shaking his head.

"Can you believe them?" he asked. "They follow him around like lost puppies."

"You seen them before?" Chen quizzed.

"We're their senior by two years. All of them, class D," he informed, "Remember when class D students would come up to you? You sure scared them away pretty quickly." Chen didn't answer, instead, he flipped the page of his book brusquely.

He was staring coldly at the words inscribed within his book. He huffed, flicking through them before closing the heavy cover. He pushed out his seat, the wood groaning as he rose. He began to stack the books; taking hold of the mage scriptures first.

"Where are you going?" Xiang enquired.

"To study in our dorm," he grumbled. He pivoted on the ball of his shoe, his shoulder colliding with someone. The book on top of his pile slid off and onto the floor. As he looked up, irritation quickly spreading upon his face as his eyes landed on Yijun. Behind the boy stood the three D ranked students, watching intently.

Chen tried to ignore the whispers that the boys exchanged between one another. His heart seized in his chest as Yijun locked his gaze with him. His eyes were as dark as a murky lake covered with algae. Wordlessly the fair-haired boy knelt down and retrieved the fallen books. His eyes flickered to the top of the scriptures. His jaw twitched.

His shoulders were tense. His lips slowly pressed into a thin line. Then gradually he plastered a polite smile on his face and set the book on Chen's pile. He bowed forward then stepped to the side. The D ranked students promptly scampered after him, brushing passed Chen.

Xiang sprang to his feet, skipping towards Chen. He swung his arm over his roommate's shoulders, slumping his weight on him as his eyes focused on the back of Yijun's head.

"Wow, I can totally see what's got you worked up," he drawled. Chen arched an eyebrow. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him. A little quiet, but otherwise he is talented."

"Xiang, are you quite fond of your mouth?"

"My mouth? I suppose it's how I express all my greatest ideas."

"Do yourself a favour and shut up," Chen warned. He shrugged Xiang's arm from around him and continued in his journey to their dorm.

He spent the following two days cooped inside before Xiang forcibly dragged him out. If not to get some fresh air but to take on a task. Both were adorned in their battle gear, weapons strapped to their backs as they walked down the pathway.

The air was pleasantly fresh and washed through Chen's lungs, expelling the musty clutter that he had been breathing in over the past couple of days. Perhaps it wouldn't have killed him to crack open a window every once in a while. The midday sun was high. It was early to be leaving for a mission, but Xiang could hardly contain his excitement after being permitted to leave campus once more. Since Yijun's arrival, the burgundy haired boy had been suspended twice. It was his first day of freedom as he called it.

For the umpteenth time, Chen reminded him that his suspensions from active work were his own fault. He had since given up helping. Xiang was incapable of keeping his opinions to himself. Nor was he able to control his temper once wound up.

The rattling of the gates caused them to look up, half expecting it to be in anticipation for their exit. Chen blinked in surprise as a figure was dragged onto the school grounds with cuffs clinging to his wrists and chains rattling between his legs. He wore inky robes of fine fabric. It shimmered in the light, like dazzling stars.

Half the man's face was bruised and a pendant hung loosely around his throat. Tendrils of black hair hung across his face as he was forced down the stone path. Chen and Xiang had come to a halt as they watched the man being pulled down.

"Is that a Mage?" Xiang whispered.

"I believe so," Chen murmured. The two exchanged a look. "Should we –"

"– find out what's going to happen? Absolutely," Xiang grabbed his wrist firmly.

"That wasn't what…" Chen sighed. He would already lose that battle with his roommate.

They, like several other students, abandoned what they were doing and tailed the older academy protectors. The Mage was dragged along to the Great Hall. A decent crowd had been accumulated, ranging from students of all year and class levels. Most were out of uniform.

The headmaster of the school was already present, a distasteful expression masking his face. He looked passed the man at the students who had gathered. He straightened back his shoulders, a rare smile lifting onto the corner of his mouth. It was unnatural, evidently not something that belonged on his face. Even Xiang shuddered at the sight.

"Those of the lower three grades must leave," he instructed. "The rest may stay." The crowd was sifted through until only the invited guests remained. Among those, Chen noticed that Yijun stood with a frown creasing on his typically soft brow. His hands were curled up by his sides.

"Caught him demonstrating evidence of magic," one of the guards informed. "It took five of us to take him down."

"A prime example of one of the magi," called out the headmaster, addressing the students. "There is only one course of action against someone who exhibits signs of such a dark power. And that is death." The wiry man tilted his head to the side. "Of course, not before you tell us who you are."

The man spat at the headmaster's feet. He snarled, eyes cold and blazing with hatred.

"You don't command me. I answer only to the Han family."

"The Han family?" the headmaster repeated. "You may prove to be of further use that I thought. What do you know about them?" The Mage kept his lips shut. His chest heaved with heavy breaths that sounded like an animalistic growl.

A sharp clap echoed off the walls. The back of the headmaster's hand struck the side of his face, casting the Mage across the ground. It echoed off the walls and penetrated Chen's chest. He felt as if the blow had sunk into his own flesh. The man lay sprawled on the ground, chest rising and falling quickly as he caught his breath.

"He'd be granted a quick death if he provided the information," Xiang muttered. Chen glanced back at him.

"No Mage would want to betray the Han family," he responded. "They're considered royalty amongst them."

"I suppose there's something commendable about showing loyalty," Xiang grumbled. "They only care for themselves though. And together they seek to wreak havoc and destruction. The quicker they deal with him the better." Xiang wasn't the only one with that opinion. It was the same type of chatter that was spreading like wildfire through the students.

Many had lost their family to the magi. Those who practised the dark power were a danger to everyone and needed to be eliminated. Destroying the source meant that each and every piece of magic they had done would be reversed. Every curse. Every summoned creature. Every ailment. One just needed to kill the cause of misfortune.

"You were asked a question," the headmaster snarled. "What do you know about them? Where are they hiding?" There was a choked sound that Chen didn't recognise at first. He soon came to realise the magic-user was laughing. The headmaster's face quickly was growing red with anger. He was seething with fury, cheeks burning crimson and veins bulging from his neck.

"You are a fool hunter," he cackled hysterically. Tears were pooling in the corners of his eyes, slipping down his cheeks as the strained sound continued to burble from his lips.

The headmaster retrieved the blade from its sheath by his side and drew it out. Two hands were curled around the hilt as he raised it high above his head. Chen felt his heart leap in his chest and glanced away. He didn't hear the sound of the blade against flesh. There was a rippled snap, the sound of metal being shattered and sprayed across the floor.

Air curled through the air, throwing people back from their feet. Chen and Xiang slid across the ground, landing on their stomachs. Xiang grunted, his body rolling over the floor while Chen, placed his palms flat upon the marble. His sweaty palms slipped across it and his hair was blown across his face. On the floor like silver marbles rested the shards of the headmaster's broken sword. The man was meters away from the prisoner, only gripping the hilt of the sword.

The earth trembled beneath them, the structure of the building shaking. It was like a monstrous growl was rumbling. From the ceiling a chunk of stone fell, smashing into the marble floor. It cracked the ground, digging out a cracker as it collided with it. Rubble scattered across the floor, dust flying up into the air.

\u003eGo now.\u003c

A voice drifted into Chen's ears.

He twisted his body around to locate the source of the unidentified male.

\u003eWhy would you take such a risk?\u003c

The second voice sounded like the Mage prisoner.

He cast his eyes towards him to see that the magic-user was on his feet. His chains had fallen free from his wrists and ankles. He was standing with his back straight and head held high, amidst the crumbling building. He stared at him, pulling his arms under his body in order to get up. He hissed in pain, an ache pulsating from his ribs.

\u003eLeave this place.\u003c

The stranger's voice spoke with more force. It was airy and soft, but no less held any of the urgency. From above, a broken fragment of one of the pillars rocketed towards the ground. It crumbled into pebbles, spraying over the ground.

\u003eI will never forget this.\u003c

The Mage sauntered forward, his eyes sweeping in front of him and settled on Chen. He paused. His lips didn't move, and yet, his words entered Chen's ears.

\u003eCan you hear me?\u003c

He asked.

Chen could only nod. In a cloud of blue haze, the Mage disappeared, blurring into the air and wafting from sight. Chen almost questioned whether or not he had imagined the whole conversation. His arm trembled as he pushed himself up, ridding his mind of such thoughts and scampered over to Xiang. The other boy was holding the back of his head, gritting his teeth together.

"Could you hear that?" Chen hissed. Xiang frowned, shaking his head. Messy hair fell in front of his eyes and a cough rattled his body, expelling dust.

"Is now really the best time to be asking that?" he questioned. "All for the crazy, but I also like being alive. Let's get out of here first." The two made it up to their feet, dirt coating the floor and puffing up in heavy clouds. The walls shook and to shield his eyes Chen raised his hand.

Xiang was leaning down to help a fallen student to their feet, pushing them to the entrance. A faint redden mark was growing against the side of his head where he had hit it. It was gradually turning a fair shade of purple and he, himself was swaying back and forth on his feet. His eyes were practically rolling into the back of his head as he sauntered forward.

Chen paused where he was, hurriedly making his way over and wrapped Xiang's arm around his shoulders. He looked as the boy's knees buckled, the majority of his weight pressing against his own. He gritted his teeth together, squinting through the particles.

They filed outside the building, figures coughing and spluttering the dust from their lungs. The outside wind broke through their mouths. Chen's head was buzzing and the whispering of voices could still be heard. People were scattering from the broken building, hurrying down the pathway. The headmaster was staggering outside, his weight supported by soldiers. Xiang wiped his hand across his forehead, leaving behind dirt and grim. He then touched the side of his head wincing. Beneath his fingers, the dark purple and red bruise grew in size.

A painful ring echoed in Chen's head. He quickly lifted his hands to cover his ears, but it did nothing to dull the screeching sound. It clawed at his eardrums and reverberated throughout his body. It was like static. Through the midst of it, he heard Xiang faintly calling his name.

From behind Xiang, Yijun's lean figure appeared. His hair was messy and his skin pale. Dark green eyes fell on him. Chen didn't realise he was on his knees until Yijun knelt down in front of him. He didn't move, instead rested his elbows on his knees.

\u003eYou can hear them, can't you?\u003c

Spoke the voice from before; the one who had spoken to the Mage. A slow and steady frown burnt onto Chen's brow.

"I can hear it too," Yijun's lips moved as he spoke. The very same voice was in his head. "Do you know why?"

"You can speak?" Xiang's voice rose from behind Yijun. Both Chen and Yijun weren't paying him any attention though. Their eyes were glued to one another. The fair-haired boy's lips quirked upwards in a soft smile.

\u003eBecause it's something only a Mage can do.\u003c