Ascension Of The Failed Mage

Ciara's mind was going blank while thinking about various possibilities and trying to explain what she was hearing but there was no other explanation.

"... You know, I think she even has a crush on me. Well, not 'me' exactly, but... you know what I mean, don't you-?" The second man said.

Ciara paid close attention to his voice. Though the echoes made it somewhat distorted, she recognized it very well.

"R-Richard...?!" A whisper escaped her lips.

Slowly, the uneasy feeling she had been getting began to make sense.

How he was able to take care of the rumors, the strangeness of his return, and how his personality seemed to have changed.

'He wasn't in his office, because he teleported here... and his books were dusty as though they hadn't been used at all...'

Ciara realized that the man who was speaking was definitely Richard, or someone posing to be him.

"You may think whatever you want to. As long as you fulfill the mission, that's all that matters."

The dark-robed man sounded impatient, as though he had more important things to do.

"We shall end this discourse today. Contact me once you're ready to secure the package."

As soon as she heard this, Ciara's heart jumped. The two men were already done with their conversation.

>BZZZZTTTZZZZ<

A buzzing sound echoed across the dark place and an orange light radiated around the dark-robed stranger.

Instantly, he vanished, teleporting away from wherever they were. Ciara fixated her eyes on the other man, whose face was temporarily illuminated by the orange light, allowing her to see him better.

Her fears were true... It really was Richard!.

The bright light ceased, leaving Richard alone in the dark expanse. He shrugged a little and turned, preparing to exit the dark space.

Ciara's eyes bulged, suddenly realizing that he would be coming toward her direction in order to return to the school office.

'Shit! Shit!!!' Her mind raced.

She was in serious trouble. Within some moments, he would arrive at her location and discover her presence. Once that happened, she was done for.

'I need to leave... I need to run!'

Her frantic thoughts caused her to search around for any sign of escape. Of course, she saw none. Quickly casting a magnification and sight-enabling spell, her eyes became much more accustomed to the darkness.

She searched her area to find a way out similar to how she got transported in the first place.

'Found it!' She desperately beamed to herself upon seeing a magic circle that resembled the one in Richard's office.

Ciara didn't even consider the risk. She instinctively forgot about the bright light that would shine if she was to activate the circle and return.

No, her mind was more occupied with fear and anxiety.

She had just heard that mysterious individuals were after her, one of which was already approaching. If she dawdled or waited to consider the outcome of her action, she would be dead... or worse.

Unlike the last time, Noir wasn't around to protect her!

"I have to... I have to leave this place!"

Sending a jolt of magic to the circle, it glowed a crimson light, once again sending the same sensation through Ciara's body as she warped away from the dark area.

"Whoah... Who's there?!" Richard exclaimed from a distance as he noticed the red sparks caused by magic.

Ciara gulped in fear as she heard those last words before finally appearing in Richard's office.

"I-I'm back!" She said with relief.

Sweat was all over her, even though she was coming from a very cold place. Her body trembled and her mind became unstable.

Many thoughts and doubts appeared at the same time, however, the one thing she instantly grasped that caused her to take action was the fact that she wasn't safe in the office.

Instantly, Ciara's body glowed and she dashed away from Richard's office.

Refusing to look back, she closed the door and took to her heels. At the moment, she wasn't even certain where to go, or whether to meet up with Serah and Sam.

No, her instincts drove her to the dorms instantly.

"Haaa... Haaa..." She breathed heavily as she dashed without taking a single break.

Though magic aided her, and she had lots of it, her physical limits were also to be considered.

But, Ciara forgot all about that until she reached her room and collapsed on her bed.

"No... no... that was all real...?!"

As her body grew numb on her bed, Ciara's eyes suddenly brought out tears, and began to sob to herself.

"Hicc... Hicc..."

She was scared, disappointed, angry, worried, anxious...

How long had the man assumed Richard's Identity? Was it before the break or after? Though it was more likely that Richard stopped being himself after the last time she saw him, Ciara wasn't so sure anymore.

Besides, if he wasn't Richard, then where was the real one?

"Don't tell me... h-he's dead...?!" Ciara mumbled in despair.

If this was true, that one of the closest people to her had just died for an unknown group to get her, did that mean that more would follow?

"Serah... Sam... or will it be me next...?"

Ciara's mind was a mess. She didn't feel safe, and the fact that her friends were most likely still in school made her shiver in worry.

"I-I have to go get them..." She struggled to speak.

However, as soon as her mind recollected the overwhelming aura of the dark-robed man, her body froze up once again.

Her mind went further back and remembered the taste of despondency she had after she was abducted and nearly violated by Bandits on her way to the Magic Institute.

"I thought... I thought I had gotten stronger..." She sobbed.

Still, even though she had come this far, when compared to the terror of losing her life and being left alone, she could do nothing but crumble in fear.

'Even if I go to save them, what can I do? At least this way, if I'm not seen with them, they will probably be safe...'

Ciara made excuses for her cowardice in her head, but despite everything, she knew all she did was to somehow soothe her guilt and pangs of pain.

"They'll be okay. Serah... Sam... please be okay!"

**************

>SHUUUUUUUU<

Richard, or whoever the man was, materialized from nowhere and appeared in the abandoned office.

His eyes darted around, seeing no one.

"Ah, someone has definitely been here..." He grinned, tapping his fingers on his desk.

The chair he had kept in a neat position had been shifted, and some of the dust on the table had vanished. He could smell a different presence, and from its scent, it hadn't been very long since whoever came in had left.

A wide smile was plastered on his face, as his bloodshot eyes seemed to gleam in excitement.

Suddenly, an object caught his eyes and he turned his head in its direction.

A well-wrapped package stood on Richard's somewhat dusty desk. It was well decorated, having a sweet scent attached to it, the same scent that wafted through the air.

"Interesting..." Richard's lookalike grinned, drawing his hands closer to the package.

He grabbed it and brought it closer to himself, tearing off the package in an instant. Suddenly, his eyes beamed as he noticed what was inside the package.

"Oh? So that's it, uh? Hohoho..."

The man's body trembled in delight as a wider smile formed on his face, nearly stretched out to each ear.

"Kekekekekekekeke..."

Oh, this was too amusing to him. The object he held in his hands was too pure and innocent, too skilled and dazzling.

"...Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!" He kept laughing.

They could only have been from someone, and he knew her quite well.

"So she saw everything, uh? Oh... how hilarious!"

"Well then, I suppose there's no use hiding it anymore. I might as well just do it..." He mumbled, instantly letting go of the object in his hand, not giving it another look.

>CLANGANGANAG<

The glass-like structure hit the ground, bouncing off it in a seemingly choreographed fashion while making noises.

"Too loud!" The man snapped, glaring at the bouncing object.

Instantly, his eyes turned red and the contraption burst into crimson flames.

"Much better..."

Things were moving faster than he had expected. Who would have thought Ciara would be able to dodge all those tasks he had intentionally orchestrated for the sake of not meeting her at the time. Yet, she came to see him too early and had managed to see his conversation with 'that' man.

There was only one choice left... he had to harvest her soon!