Tale Of The Half-Blood Wizard

Mickey shook his head, his gaze was fixed to my eyes. "There is no point in deceiving you. When my master spent his time with you." My eyes got burnt all of sudden, I got difficulty making my voice heard, even swallowing back my saliva was an effort for me. 

"When your father asked him to kill you, he played two roles with his illusion magic. He was on your side and on your father's side," these words could not hold my tears any longer. "You are very valuable for someone else although your family abandoned you. People around you will provide whatever you need, so give high self esteem to yourself." 

Then, Mickey walked to me, put his both front legs to touch my hands. "I am still here with you to replace my master," He said insincerity. 

I cried out loudly after Mickey finished his words. It was all hard to take. I killed a man who had done so much for my life, did his best for my safety since I was a child, and gave me happiness through small things, trivial things. He even thought it was very valuable when my own family thought the opposite. 

This remorse had no end anytime I recalled my days spent with Antonie in the cage, how he saved me so many times from Falak, his funny smile, his noise, even his love for sweets overpowered my mind. I laughed in between my cries, feeling one part of me was totally devastated when I knew there was nothing I could do to mend all those mistakes. It was too late.

On the other side, Mickey just looked at me in silence. He stared at me deeply as if he wanted to say 'Cry as long as you want if it makes you feel better.

It took some time for me to finally stop my tears, while Mickey kept sitting next to me. We were both in silence. Suddenly I broke it, "I'm hungry. Let's eat!" 

I took the fat cat to the kitchen. I couldn't hide my puffy face, so some people I met all the way to the kitchen looked at me strangely, but they did not dare to ask. On the other hand, I didn't want to bother myself by explaining the reason for my crying.

A maid who saw me prepared a seat at the dining table right away. "I want to eat at my usual place." I said and rejected it politely, directly brisk to the kitchen to the round wooden table by the door. 

I still did not see Hana anywhere, and I didn't want to ask anyone where she was. I did not feel worse and guiltier if I found out something bad had happened to her.

I saw a salmon-colored moon orchid by the window when one of the maids said something that warmed my heart, "Hana asked us not to disturb that flower," She said as she was carrying a bowl of rice and a dish for me.

"She looked after it really well. It is even more fertile than when I took care of it at the shop." The waiter just smiled at me, then she handed me a wooden lunch box with a cherry blossom painting. "What is it for?" I was confused. 

"Hanna said when it was time for you to come out, we have to give this lunch box to you. She did not want you to keep losing weight." I took it quietly, then I continued scooping my meal with. I shared a meal with Mickey, or rather he asked for all the fish, whereas I only ate vegetables and rice. 

…

After eating, Mickey and I went to Kerberos' place. He looked fine except for a scratch near his eye. "I must go home immediately," He said, "I am now at peace because the owner of the immortality spell had died so that no more spirits might take ," I was silent to hear him. I felt so much guilt after the death of Antonie, after all despite his death made another part feel relieved. 

"The only problem remaining is that the marionette,' Kerberos added, "The only way is to wait until the seal on the doll comes off, and the spirit will return," Now he seemed calmer. it might be due to his job being completed. 

Mickey asked to get off my arms. He walked towards Kerberos. "I apologize on behalf of my lord, for the troubles he created, and thanks for taking care of me and Tha." He then bowed as a welcome greeting and farewell. 

Kerberos did not answer. He looked at me, and I smiled back at him. "Thank you very much for taking care of me. I'm so sorry for bothering you a lot," I said sincerely. 

After visiting Kerberos place, we went to visit Naar. On the way to the treatment room, I happened to see Yoru heading to his room. He looked fine and I was relieved to see him alright.

Initially, I was not allowed to go into the room where Naar was being treated. But after I insisted on seeing him and it might be my last chance to see Naar before I returned to my own world, I was finally allowed to see him near the entrance. 

Naar was in that room alone. He seemed to be separated from the others. "I thought he would not be this bad," I said sadly. I did not know what the function of the equipment was in there, there was even a blue fireball floating near his body. 

"I don't think he is doing alright." Mickey said. It made me shocked and confused. 

"The fire creature is in charge of directing the strayed spirits. He will keep watching over the bodies of those whose spirits are between life and death. If the color is red, the chance for the spirits to return is still high. But if it has turned completely blue, it means that his spirit will leave your friend's body and he is no longer to come back." Mickey's explanation made me want to stay by the door as long as possible. 

Seeing Naar lying and the verge of death like that made me miss the sound of the music box played from his room, his constantly noisy and tireless  lips, his smiles reflected calmness when listening to the poetry in the square, and all his silly behavior during my staying in this dimension

I sat hugging my knees in the middle of the entrance, staring at his pale with some scratches. Even though that reassuring smile was not there any longer, and those beautiful emerald-colored eyes were tightly closed, I really wished I could see him again

.

Also, I wanted to see his tall sturdy body wearing his black armor combined with a fur coat and carrying a turtle shell patterned shield, as well as his black sword decorated with snake carvings. 

"now I only have one very precious person. Should I lose him too?" I asked sadly, "Even if I have to make a pact with the devil and sell my soul for his sake, I will do that," I looked at Mickey with a smile. "I'm not going to mess around because he is the only one I have." 

"And how about the struggle of my lord? Did you not appreciate it?" Mickey said. He was looking at me seriously.

"To be honest, I don't want to live in this world anymore." I smiled wryly remembering the past incident. "In the past, I tried to commit suicide once when I failed  in my research for the college final project. At that time, college was my only goal in life, graduating with good grades and on time. Now I have graduated and feel like I have achieved my goal," I told Mickey. 

I sighed for a moment, remembering him who was currently in another dimension. "However, Zie's presence became my second purpose in life. When I found out the truth, and just waited for him to leave, I felt that my purpose disappeared again." 

I saw Naar who was sleeping so peacefully there. "I feel like I don't have a purpose in life anymore, so there is nothing wrong if I choose to leave and give this opportunity to someone else. He is far more worthy than me, to stay here." 

…

Now, Azalea, Mickey, and I were preparing to cross. I suggested she bring two guards only and not go too far from me. 

"I feel like I am going to a new world, and I have to be ready for everything." I took a deep breath before stepping towards the portal. This was very different when compared to my previous arrivals or departures. Things seemed to be about to change.

"Tha, we are going to Between world first to know Zie's condition." Mickey warned me. 

We went further into the forest with Azalea leading the way with her two guards. That woman said that she knew the portal of Between world, and she also had the authority from Master Oka to visit the place—just like Kerberos.. She had already ordered her best soldiers to guard the marionette, but after Antonie's illusion began to fade, she could not predict what might happen now.