“[Fireball]”

The moment those words were uttered, the cracklings in the air turned into loud gusts. In almost an instant, a large ball of fire converged in front of the robed man’s stretched hand. I instinctively took a step back as I watched it light up everything around it.

It was the first time in my lives, all three of them, that I saw magic being performed in front of me. It was as mesmerizing as it was… unnerving.

Almost as quick as it had appeared, the fireball shot forward.

Straight forward at… me.

I was still in the party venue as Carine when the ball of fire appeared. In a panic, I stood up from my seat abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor and halting Munith mid-conversation.

“Lady Carine?” she asked.

I turned toward the First Prince, who stood by the window, engrossed in conversation with his guests. The windows they were standing by… no, the windows the fireball was headed straight toward gleamed ominously, catching the fireball’s glow.

“Get away from the windows!” I yelled at them.

The crowd froze. Confused faces turned toward me. The faint orange light grew brighter. It was too late. The fireball was going to hit.

And it struck.

The impact was both blinding and deafening. I was thrown back from the sheer force of the impact and my back struck against a wall, pushing out the air out of my lungs. I felt my vision blur as I slid down to the floor, before finally succumbing to unconsciousness.

…

As Feyt, I watched as chaos erupted around me. The distant castle was shrouded in thick, almost opaque dark smoke. People screamed. Knights from all corners of the street rushed forward. The streets were filled with people running about in search of shelter, knocking over stalls and others alike.

My body, meanwhile, couldn’t move a budge.

“S-Sir Feyt! Are you alright?!” Eliza shouted, her voice nearly being drowned out by the constant screams. Her hand gripped my shoulder, trying to ground me.

I couldn’t answer her. I tried to, but couldn’t. My eyes were glued to the dark smoke ahead, and I feared the worst.

I–I didn’t die, did I?

I wanted to rush forward and head into the castle. I needed to make sure I was safe. But would I even make it in time? Would the knights even let me in? Or would I just get trampled by the crowd running around in terror?

Those questions kept popping up in my head, preventing me from moving.

“Sir Feyt!” Eliza shook me, her fingers digging into my shoulder now. “We need to move! We have to get back to the mansion, now!”

Although I heard her clearly, my mind wasn’t in the right space to properly respond. Was I in shock? Or was I just that worried for my own self?

Either way, what in the world could I do? I couldn’t head over to the castle as I was. But I needed to make sure I was okay!

I… I had to know. If I couldn’t reach the castle as Feyt, maybe… maybe I could wake myself up?  I knew that I was never able to do it before, but I also never tried to force it before. So, if there was ever a time to figure it out, it was now.

I closed my eyes, trying to shut out all the people around me. Their screams were still as sharp as crystal grinding on my ears, but I needed to focus!

Wake up.

I called out to myself.

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up!

Again and again, I shouted my own thoughts into myself. But still no response.

Come on! Wake up, me!!!

Wake up!!!

…

I gasped for air as my eyes flew open. My lungs dragged in the smoky air like I had been drowning for the last minute. Then I realized.

I woke up.

Which meant I, Carine, was alive.

I would have breathed a sigh of relief, but my chest and back were in pain. I scrambled to stand up, using the wall as a support. My heels wobbling weren’t helping the process at all.

My vision wasn’t as blurred as I thought it would be, but I hoped that it was, as the scene before me was devastating. The elegant warm room from before was unrecognizable.

Debris were scattered across the room, smoke enveloped everyone, fire covered some parts of the carpeted floors, and the elegant chandeliers that were once swaying gracefully above us had fallen to the ground, shattered.

The guests who once wore luxurious suits and dresses now had them tattered as they lay on the ground, screaming for help, and/or crying in pain. Their servants were in similar situations, with some of them who were physically able, trying to help their masters.

The First Prince, despite taking the full force of the impact by the window, was somehow still standing, though visibly wounded. The Third Prince supported him up by the shoulder.

“All this… from a simple fireball?”

I was in utter disbelief. How could such a simple spell like a fireball cause this much damage? Was that why mages are rare and sought after in this world?

While I was asking myself those questions, I felt like something was missing… No, someone.

Then, the realization hit me like a hammer.

“Leila!”

I frantically looked around. I was able to see clearly through the thick smoke, but my body was in so much pain I couldn’t move faster than limping. 

“Leila! Where are you?!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, trying my best not to inhale any more of the smoke.

Then, amidst all the chaos, I spotted her. Leila. She was lying unconscious in between the broken tables, likely thrown away by the explosion as well.

I limped forward and dropped to my knees by her side. I shook her shoulders hoping to wake her up. “Leila! Leila! Are you alright?!”

No matter how hard I shook her, she wasn’t waking up. I was about to panic until I noticed that her chest was still heaving gently. Her injuries didn’t seem major as well. I had a feeling that she would be okay.

I was relieved… At least, I should be.

Instead, my hands gripped my gown tightly. My teeth ground together in frustration.

That robed man…

That terrorist…

Unforgivable.

Ignoring the stinging pain all over my body, I forced myself to my feet, ditching the heels. I staggered to the shattered wall. The clear blue skies coupled with the panicked people down on the streets contrasted with each other, but that wasn’t my main focus.

Over there down on the streets, I noticed me and Eliza. I scanned the street up and down with my eyes. With how chaotic things were down there, he wouldn’t have gone far.

I looked for anyone with a robe. From the castle gate until the edge of the street in the distance. Then, I spotted it. A robed man who was moving differently compared to everyone. Less shocked or panicked, more calm.

That was him!

As Feyt, I sprang into action. My legs finally obeyed as I turned and bolted toward the end of the street, leaving Eliza behind.

“Sir Feyt?! What are you—?!”

Her voice faded as I pushed forward. Only one thing was in my mind, that robed man.

I’ll find you!

I’ll make you pay!!!

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