Date: Four Days After the Festival Incident
Location: Healing Wing, Room 7 – Late Night
---
I remember the light.
Silver, sharp. Like a star falling too close.
Then the pain.
Not the kind that steals breath —
The kind that makes time slow.
I remember his eyes. The traitor.
Mirror Holder, twisted by shards of stolen soul.
Once human — maybe once a student, even.
Now nothing but a vessel for madness.
He wore a smile as he lunged for me.
David struck first.
---
It wasn't a spell. Not at first.
Just raw movement.
A blur of coat and steel.
His blade sang like judgment.
I've never seen magic used like that.
Not cast — woven.
Like every thread of mana had a place, a purpose.
Like the world itself bent to his command.
> "You shouldn't have touched my students," David said.
"You don't even remember what it means to protect."
And then he ended it.
The Mirror Holder fell. But not before launching one last curse.
A blade of pure hatred, laced with soul poison —
Aimed at me.
But I moved.
Reflex.
Just… moved.
And then, black.
---
I woke up later.
Bandaged. Scarred. Magic-scorched again.
Lily had my journal.
She read the last entry.
The one I wrote in case I died.
> "If you find this, destroy it."
"I don't want them to remember me like that."
But she didn't.
And I saw it in her eyes.
---
There is no hiding anymore.
They've all seen me fall. Again.
I don't know what I regret more —
The fact that I couldn't protect myself...
Or that David had to see me collapse after trusting me.
He saved us all.
I only bought time.
---
> "I thought I was prepared."
"Planned for everything. Drew the maps. Read the wind."
"But watching David fight — truly fight — reminded me."
> "Some battles aren't won with plans."
"They're won by resolve."
> "And I still have a long way to go."
---
David never spoke about it afterward.
He left the cracked artifact on my table.
Mana bracelet — drained dry.
And the chain of the resurrection charm, split clean in two.
Maybe he knew I'd use them.
Maybe he planned for it.
But when I thanked him?
He just said:
> "Don't make me bury a student, Nitsuo. Especially you."
Then walked out.
---
So I write this now, late at night.
My team sleeps beside me. One bed all lined in quiet rows.
I should feel ashamed.
And maybe I do.
But more than that…
I feel alive.
I get another day.