FanFic

FanFic | Submit FanFic | Updated FanFics | Latest Comments

Viewing as Guest

Chapter Five : Revelations Before Sunrise

"Mur-murdered?" Rex asked to confirm what he had heard was not a fragment of his imagination.

"Murdered, assassinated, slayed, executed unlawfully. Yes, to all of those. Bottom line is, Rex, my brother is no longer walking among the living." Touma spat out.

"I see." Rex muttered softly, walking for Touma's explanation. But when he failed to do so, Rex prompted, "What happened?"

"A couple of weeks ago, when I failed to call you," Touma stopped for a brief second and then continued, "Or pick up your call, I found my brother dead beside his fiancé lying on a bed."

Touma inhaled a sharp breath before continuing, "No, she didn't kill him, at least not technically. Though at first I thought she did. But the signs of a third person being present were all there. Aura and mana were there like poisonous gas suffocating the people inside."

Rex listened carefully, but when Touma didn't elaborate on the fiancé's participation, Rex inquired, "What do you mean 'not technically'?"

Touma suddenly looked up, meeting Rex's gaze. With a serious glint in his eyes, he answered, "She was holding on the dagger that killed by brother. We have also established that she did, indeed, stabbed him to his death, but..."

"She was being controlled by someone and was unconscious the whole time?" Rex finished for him.

"Yes." Touma confirmed.

"Where is she now?"

"She's being detained and protected by my family. They know she didn't do it, but someone needs to answer to the crime."

"So she's being detained but not charged. So how much time do we have to find the real murderer?"

"Less than two weeks, I'm afraid. The other members of the Clan are putting a lot of pressure on my father. They won't stay quiet until someone has been charged for the murder. The whole fiasco has gotten everyone on pins and needles, and my father said he could only hold them back for that long."

"I can imagine." Rex started to formulate inquiries in his mind and the first question to appear was, "Why Sachael Academy?"

Touma immediately answered the question without a single doubt in his mind. "Because he's here."

"Here?" Rex asked very slowly, "It can't be... a young or teenage child?"

Touma shook his head to deny, "Well, he is a student, but not in our course. He's in the Advance Course Year 3, and he's only 20."

Sachael Academy is divided into four different courses:

However, if one fails the end of the year examination, they will have to retain a year. Likewise, it a student does better than expected, he or she would be given a chance to take the exam for the next grade, and if they do well, they are allowed to skip a grade.

"Heh, he must be smart then. Since you already know who he is after being given a short time, I'm assuming he left trails on purpose. I'm guessing we're either looking for evidence of his criminal act or his motive." Rex deduced.

"Both actually." Touma corrected.

"Or both." Rex agreed. After a while, he looked at Touma's uncertain expression and asked, "Why are you hesitating? Who is he?"

"Fabian Sinclair." Touma admitted.

"Fabian... Fabian... Fabian..." Rex recited the name, trying to recall a face. "Viscount Sinclair's eldest son?"

"Was. His father died of an unknown cause about a year ago." Touma explained, "As you know, although the Kiyoshi Clan is held in high regard, it is still beyond our means to go directly up against a noble, especially a powerful one. My father does not want to risk our reputation our forefathers have worked so hard to build. As a result, I need to find solid evidence."

"Your father is right. From what I've heard, the Sinclairs have been rising in ranks. Just last year, before the previous Viscount died, there were various news reports of his new and upcoming inventions. Although it was far from being complete, the papers have rated it very promising. He was also dubbed "Sage"clair."

"That's not all. Apparently his eldest son inherited his brain." Touma added.

"Is the Kiyoshi Clan affiliated with any powerful nobles? I'm sure you guys have undertaken plenty of their quests."

Touma sighed, "Nobles are afraid of more powerful nobles. Apart from the Ludwig family, there are no other powerful nobles we can count on. Yet, even the head of the Ludwig family do not want to anger the Sinclair because they are also hoping to reap profit from their invention. As you know, the land managed by the Ludwigs and the Kiyoshis are near each other. We could see the family and their lands are in dire straits."

"And yet they are living quite lavishly." Rex stated.

"You know nobles, they are all about appearances." Touma shrugged his shoulders.

"Where does this leave me?" Rex asked.

Touma looked at Rex and said with a serious but genuine expression, "You're the only one I could trust outside of my own family. I know it seems crazy since we don't know much about each other beyond the stories of our travelling adventures, but I trust you. I don't know why, I can't place my finger on it, but I do."

Rex understood the sentiment all too well and was surprised that he felt the same way. If he was in Touma's shoes, he could see himself asking Touma for help.

Rex pronounced with determination, "I will help you find what you need to bring that person to justice."

"Thank you, Rex. You are the definition of a friend." There was a slight blush of embarrassment on Touma's cheeks but vanished a second later, "And as your friend, I should warn you, you'll have a lot of haters when school starts."

Puzzled, Rex inquired, "Why?"

"There's a picture of you on a Sachael Times, published yesterday. You were dining with the Merrick family, and quite frankly, you looked like you were enjoying yourself."

Rex was still confused. "So...?"

Touma sighed exaggeratedly, "I understand. President is very pretty, intelligent, excellent Magician, and has exceptional family background."

Rex had an inkling that something — a disaster — was about to unfold. His expression turned harsh, "Huh?"

Without giving Rex a single glance, Touma continued, "There are rumours going around that the Duke and Duchess of Merrick have approved your suit and, the president is very happy with the outcome. The papers have also written that the president might not continue with her education to the Advance Course because of her impending marriage to you."

Rex was shell-shocked, "WHAT?!"

"My thoughts exactly. You don't strike me as the kind of guy who would hate to have an educated lady as his wife. That rumour is preposterous."

'The whole thing is preposterous!' Rex wanted to yell out to all and asunder but couldn't form the words, "..."

'How on earth did things get so blown out of proportion?'

Touma took Rex's silence as permission to continue, "But there's one puzzle I can't solve. How did you meet the president? Well, I guess it could be during the Magic Competition... But when? All of president's battles were filmed meticulously and not once have I seen you go up against her."

"..."

"Then again, you have always disappeared after we talk. If I didn't meet you while I was doing my quest, I would continue thinking you were one of the Magicians from the Tower, in-charge of supervising the competition."

"Touma," Rex called out so quietly that Touma almost missed it.

"Yeah?" Touma finally saw Rex's white-as-snow face, "What's wrong?"

Rex braced himself, "What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room, okay?"

"Gotcha." Touma wrinkled his brow, waiting for Rex to continue, "What is it? You got me all curious."

"I am Phantom." Rex repeated the confession he made the day before.

Touma said nothing at first and then, "Hmm... I had a feeling you might be."

Compared to the shock he experience when his sister told him she already knew, he was calmer this time around, "How?"

"Like I said, you always disappeared after our conversation. From what I've seen your aura, it doesn't seem like you'll place below the top fifty. I mean, even I, have made it to the top ten and you're stronger than me. It also didn't seem like it was in your nature to lose to someone on purpose. Hence, there was only two possibilities I've thought of: one, you're a Magician supervising. And two, someone who doesn't want to reveal their real identity, Phantom."

Rex listened to Touma's explanation while thinking, 'It makes sense.'

"I guess I should prepare myself, should the whole world already know of my identity." Rex uttered.

"Hahaha. Nah, they won't. Unless they know you well enough." Touma reassured him. "So I guess that's it then?"

"Huh?" Rex made an expression that says 'what are you talking about?'

"The president, after her battles with you, moved by your fluid and graceful attack, followed you each year during the competition. Until finally, both of your started to have feelings for each other."

Rex was once again speechless, 'I guess there's no helping it.' "Touma, really, I bow down to your imagination."

"Eh? It wasn't like that?"
"No, it wasn't"

"Wait, don't tell me yet. Let me guess! I'm really good at guessing games."

Rex shook his head and let out a tired laugh, "No Touma, I insist, before you guess that the president fell in love at first sight with my mask."

"Actually, that was my second guess. Was I wrong?"

Rex wanted to smack his head against the coffee table. He didn't know if Touma was being serious or joking around, however, it had to stop. His battle with his uncle, arranging the furnitures in his room, cleaning Ares' room, and talking to Touma — especially talking to Touma — had taken a toll on him. Not to mention it was still before sunrise.

"Yes, you're wrong." Before Touma could make another ridiculous guess, Rex said similar to an incantation, "My real name is Rex Gabriel Verne Merrick, Marquis of Avery. Rex Avery for short."

Touma repeated slowly after him, "Rex... Gab... Ver... Merrick... Marquis... Avery... Rex Avery... Rex Merrick..." Finally, Touma snapped out of it, "REX MERRICK?!"

"Yes." Rex confirmed.
"Then the president is...?"

"My older sister."
"You're not illegitimate are you?"

Rex felt a vein popping out of his right temple, "I did say 'Marquis of Avery'."

"Right, sorry." Touma scratched his head, "Then you're the eldest son? The heir? Not the young boy entering Year 1 Beginners' Course?"

"Yes to all of those." Rex copied Touma's former answer.

"Hah~ You do know that everyone thinks Adrian Merrick is the heir?"

"I've been gone for a long time and not many people know of me, so I had a feeling that might be the case."

"Are you planning to correct it anytime soon?"

"Truthfully, I don't care much about being heir. However, my sister insisted that I correct the misconception post-haste." Rex explained.

"I can see where she's coming from. If you don't amend the misapprehension soon, your brother will be subjected to all kinds of flattery, jealousy, and all other kinds of ill-intent."

Rex, who still had no notion of how powerful his family really is, was at loss on how to answer. Touma took one look at his expression and saw honest confusion. He asked, "Say Rex, what do you know of your family history?"

Unsure of the sudden inquiry, answered nonchalantly, "Everything—from the first Duke to the current Duke, my father, and the things my family has done for generations." Before he was allowed to set off on his journey, his parent made sure he knew his family and their duty.

"How do you view your family?"
"A normal family?"

'There's no way your family is normal!' Touma stayed quiet before asking, "Have you formally met any nobles?"

"No. As tradition would have it, I was to be introduced at the age of 10, the enrolment age of the Academy's Beginner's Course, but I left when I was 9 years old, so I missed my chance."

"I see, so that's why." Touma nodded in consideration. "Since you weren't formally introduced, when your brother's enrolment to the academy was announced as the first male child to attend, everyone jumped to the conclusion that he was the heir. Now I understand." Touma muttered to himself and continued, "Rex, you have to understand that the Merrick family stands at the summit of all nobles. Their existence imposes fear in almost everyone, including the King. There are many who dislike them but no one dares to aggravate them, however, there are also many who wants to get on their positive side. Your brother is young, so he'll most likely give into pressure and get hurt."

"I understand. I'll try to figure something out."

"For starters, why don't you be his buddy?"
"Buddy?"

"Every year, Year 1 students of Intermediate Course has to guide a Year 1 student in the Beginner's Course, and be responsible for their growth for a year. It's called the 'Buddy System'." Touma explained.

"What are the chances of me getting my brother as my buddy?"

"Quite high if you tell him to choose you." Touma said as he studied the clock on the wall before saying, "Well, I should get back to my room and get some shuteye. You should also get some rest. Tomorrow is, after all, the first day of school."

'I was sleeping until you came along!' But before Rex could protest, Touma had already disappeared.

* * *

The following day, Rex had successfully convinced Ares to stay inside its dimensional room filled with its favourite food such as chocolate cake, barbecue chicken, ribs, and various other meat courses and desserts.

Wearing his new and uncomfortable uniform — white long sleeves, taupe sweater vest, blue striped tie, black pants, grey socks, black dressing shoes, and black overcoat with grey linings — Rex met up with Touma.

When Touma spotted him, he waved and smiled, "Let's hurry. breakfast is served only from 7 to 8 am. There's an assembly today at 8:30am so classes starts at noon for only 1 hour. It's just an orientation today."

"I see." Rex picked up his pace, matching Touma's, as it was already 7:30am. Once at the cafeteria, Rex grabbed a tray of chicken soup, 2 dinner rolls, a banana, and a carton of milk. When they sat down on an empty table, Rex asked, "Why are there so many people wearing sports attire?"

"Hmmm? AHH! I forgot all about it! Eat faster, we should also change." Touma quicken the speed he was devouring his meal. "It's tradition to run a lap around the Course's building and the Student Placement of all Year 1 students of any Course, will be decided on how well they do on the marathon."

"What do you mean?"

"School duties, practise rooms available to you, library, etcetera, are all decided by our marathon placement. But in Year 2, it changes to our end of the year ranking in Year 1 and quarterly ranking matches." Touma explained nervously and nodded his head towards Rex's tray, "Eat faster, Rex. Unless you want to be picking up trash around the Course's campus for a full year, you need to place in the top 10-15 students."

"Were you last during your first year in Basic Course?" Rex asked after he looked at Touma's forlorn expression.

"Of course not! I was doing quests with my sister and our ship was delayed. I was late by 2 days..." Touma lowered his head in dismay, "By then, all other duties had been filled."

'If he's this depressed, it must have been a horrific duty.' Rex thought. "How far do we have to run?"

"1km from Basic Course's building and another 10km around the Intermediate Course's building." Touma said straightforwardly. But when he saw Rex's expression of dread, he asked, "How's your running abilities?"

"I'm a fast runner!... When it comes to short distances. 1km is probably my limit, but even that is a little pushing it." Rex admitted.

"I'll tell you this beforehand: everyone here is treated equally. It doesn't matter who you are or who your family is. If you come in last, you will receive duties no one wants. Also, to keep things fair, the useage of magic is forbidden. There professors, Year 2 and 3 students are stationed across the grounds to make sure no one is cheating. This marathon is solely an endurance test." After a while, Touma added, "It's what I like about our school."

"..." Rex couldn't express what he was feeling in words.

Touma sent him a teasing smile and said, "Welcome to Sachael Academy, Rex."

* * *

After eating breakfast, Rex agreed to meeting once more at the same place when they're done changing into their sports attire. Together, they walked to the Basic Course's building. Once they arrived, they saw about 75 other Year 1 Intermediate Course students wearing sports attire.

A few minutes passed when the Student Council President appeared, standing on top of a temporary stage, "Fellow students, We are gathered here today to witness another history in the making! Our juniors will put forth their best effort to weave a path for their future."

'Isn't she exaggerating this a little too much?' Rex thought. However, when he looked around, everyone else were either nodding their heads in agreement or, had a determined expression on their faces.

Yvonne continued, "I know many of you have been practising hard, preparing for this event. So everyone, please do you best. I will be waiting for you at the finish line. Make sure you have the duties you want in mind when you come and report to me."

"The pistol fires marks the start of the marathon." Vice President, Peter Elley, announced, "Then everyone, on your mark!"

*BOOM*

Rex, Touma, and other Year 1 students started running towards the Intermediate Course's building.

When Touma found Rex, he called out to him, "Rex, how is it? Do you think you can make it?"

"It's not a question of whether or not I'll make it, but the time it takes me to get to the finish line." Rex retorted. "Touma, you should go ahead. I don't want you to lose the duty you want because you're running alongside me."

Touma merely shrugged, "It'll be better if we can do our duties together... As long as it's not picking up trash around the campus."

And so, Rex and Touma ran together for the timespan of 55 minutes, until they reached a tent where Yvonne was decreasing the line of people choosing their duties. When it was their turn, Yvonne welcomed them with a smile, "You guys are number 35 and 36. Have you guys decided on the duties you want?"

Rex eyed the board behind Yvonne:

Rex looks at Touma and asked, "Which one Touma? Minus the Beautification Club, there's 57 spots total. I'm sure there's plenty where both of us can join."

Touma answered without missing a beat, "Let's join the..."

* * *

From the Author

I had a hard time trying to look for the uniform I had envisioned. But after over a week of looking, I found it! The design is drawn by IvyLiau at DeviantArt. Thank you so much~

PS: You can also view the chapter here: Fable Wind: Whispers of the Immortal - Chapter 5

<< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>

1. AnmesicCat

   July 13th, 2014 at 07:15:23 PM

   @BBeLin: #1 Fragment is the right word. Figment means illusion, while fragment means a part of.

   #4 He was referring to Rex’s brother.

   Thanks as always for pointing things I’ve missed xD.

Reset