Infinite Mage — Chapter 106: Vajra Ascent (5)

Chapter 106: Vajra Ascent (5)

For‍‌ the first time,‌ Amyra’s eyes, which‍‍⁠ had been firmly‍⁠ set, wavered. Even⁠‌ her steel-like determination‌ melted away upon⁠ seeing Alpheas Myrhe’s‍ face.

Why⁠‍ wouldn’t it? He‌⁠ had been with‌ her since the‍⁠ days when she‍ wet the bed.‍

“I’m‍‍‍ sorry. I didn’t‌ mean to burden‍‌⁠ you with this.”⁠

Amyra⁠‍‍ bowed her head, struggling to hold⁠‌ back the tears‍⁠ that threatened to‌‍‍ fall.

“I⁠ don’t mean to⁠⁠ cause pain to‌ the Headmaster. Those‍‍ who are respected‍⁠ by the world‍ should not cover‌ up their wrongdoings.⁠ Otherwise, the school‍⁠ might even…”

“I understand. None of‌‍ you here are‌⁠‍ hated by me.⁠ You are the‍ future of the‍ school.”

Alpheas‌‍ looked at Amyra‍⁠ with a sympathetic‍⁠ gaze. All the‌ students gathered here‍⁠ were like his‍‌ own children that‍‌‍ he had nurtured.‍‌‍ He felt nothing‍‌ but regret for having caused them⁠‌ any hurt.

Lifting‌‌ her head again,‍ Amyra looked at Alpheas with moist eyes. He was smiling kindly, just‍‌ like she remembered‍ from her childhood.⁠⁠

“Will‌ you trust me‍⁠ just this once?‌‍ Once Shirone’s matter‌ is settled, I will handle everything‌⁠ transparently. Even if⁠ I am to⁠⁠ be punished, I will stand proudly‍‌‍ before my beloved⁠ students. There will‍‌‍ be no running⁠‌ away.”

Hot‌ tears streamed down‍ Amyra’s cheeks.

“Will⁠ you really return?‍‍ The one I admire…”

“Of‍ course. There will⁠ be no deceit‌⁠ in my punishment.‌ I promise you,‌ with my life’s⁠‍ honor.”

Amyra⁠⁠ wiped her tears with the back‌ of her hand.⁠ She could never⁠‍ cry in front‌⁠ of Alpheas. She‍‌⁠ wanted to show⁠ him how much⁠‍ more mature she‍ had become since‌⁠ childhood.

“Understood.⁠ Since you have‍⁠ spoken thus, the‌⁠⁠ student council will⁠⁠‌ reconsider the matter.‍ I hope you⁠ will not do‌‍ anything to tarnish‌ your honor.”

Alpheas⁠ smiled contentedly. She had grown into a smart and‌⁠ mature student. The‍‌ child who used to run to‍ him calling, ‘Headmaster‍‍ Dun-Dang!’ had grown‌ up so much.‍

‘Erina,‌ perhaps my life hasn’t been in⁠‍ vain after all.’‌‌

With the student council‍‍ president’s decision, the‌ protestors immediately disbanded.‍ The conservative faction‌ that had occupied‌ the entrance scattered,⁠‍‌ and the front‌⁠‌ of the building⁠ quickly became desolate.⁠⁠

Fermi Ardino, the only⁠ one left, scratched⁠ his head awkwardly.⁠

“Ah,‌ it was going so well, but‌‌ it got messed‌ up at the end.”

Alpheas‌‌‌ burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha! It seems things‍⁠ didn’t go as‌ planned this time,‍ Fermi.”

“It‌ can’t be helped.‌⁠ Honestly, I think‍‍ it’s cheating for the Headmaster to⁠⁠ step in.”

“You‍⁠⁠ should be graduating‌‌ soon, right? You’ll‍ be twenty-two next‌ year.”

“Maybe.‌ Maybe not. There’s⁠ no better money-making⁠ place than here,‍ after all.”

“Is‍⁠ that so?”

Alpheas‌⁠ was aware that⁠ Fermi was a key figure in⁠⁠ orchestrating this situation.‌⁠ But to him,‍ Fermi was just‌‍ a student who⁠ had grown up⁠‍ too fast.

“Besides,⁠‍ this place is still fun for‍ me. I’ll be‍‍ taking my leave now.”

Without‍⁠‌ any further pleasantries, Fermi bowed and‍ walked away. He‍‌‌ probably wouldn’t set‍‍ foot in the‌‍‍ student council again⁠ after today. After⁠ all, peaceful places‌‍ don’t make money.‍

Heading‌ towards the infirmary,‍‌ Yiruki and Nade‌‌ were silent. It⁠‌ was their first‌⁠ serious argument in‌‍ five years, and⁠‌⁠ the awkwardness lingered.⁠‌ But Nade couldn’t‍‌⁠ stand the atmosphere.⁠‌

“Hey!⁠ How can you‌ not say a word? You don’t‌ need to fool‌ me, too. You’re just trying to‍⁠ look cool, right?”‍‍

“That’s ridiculous. What’s the‍‍‍ point of discussing strategies with someone⁠ swimming in a sea of sorrow?‌ Besides, if information⁠ leaks, they’ll take measures, too. Why‍ can’t you think‌‍ straight?”

“Fine,‌⁠ I’m an idiot!⁠‍‍ Why are you⁠⁠⁠ always thinking you’re‌ so great!?”

Whether⁠‌ it was anger⁠‌ or insults, the‌⁠⁠ conversation broke the‍‍ ice. The awkwardness‌ vanished in an‍ instant. Yiruki asked‍‍ with a worried‍⁠ expression.

“But⁠⁠‍ what about you?‍ It’s not good⁠ to revert to your old temperament,‍ no matter how‌ angry you are.”⁠

Nade‌ wrapped his head‌‍ in regret.

“Ah,‍ I don’t know.⁠‌ I didn’t have time to think⁠ about anything else‌‍ at that moment.⁠ Anyway, we didn’t‍ fight, so it’s‌⁠‌ fine.”

“Yeah,⁠ I was pretty⁠⁠ cool, wasn’t I?⁠ You’ve probably already⁠ forgotten.”

“You’re‌ joking. You had‌‍ it all calculated,⁠⁠ didn’t you?”

“Hahaha,‌ what does it⁠ matter? You should‍‍‌ bow down to‍ me.”

The⁠⁠‍ conversation between the‌‌ two ended as the door to⁠‌⁠ the infirmary opened.‌‌ Amy was waiting⁠ to meet them.⁠⁠ Yiruki scratched his‍‍‍ head awkwardly. It was still difficult⁠⁠ for him to⁠ be comfortable around⁠‍ Amy, unlike with‍‌ Nade.

“Well, it turned out⁠ like this. Anyway,⁠⁠ we protected Shirone…”‌

Just‌ as he tried‍ to brush it⁠‌ off, tears streamed‌ down Amy’s eyes.‍‍

“Thank you. Thank you,‍‍‌ Yiruki…”

Yiruki‌‍ looked terrified.

“Ugh,‍ enough.”

Uncomfortable with emotions, he‌ quickly escaped into‍‍ the infirmary. However,⁠⁠ there awaited Sharelle, another bundle of⁠ emotions, with open‌‌ arms.

Yiruki‍⁠ dodged Sharelle’s embrace‍‌ with a weaving technique from boxing‌ and took refuge⁠ beside Shirone.

‘Ugh,⁠‍ this is why‍ I can’t stand‌‌ women.’

At‌ the door, Sharelle‍‌ and Amy hugged‌⁠‌ each other and‍‌ started jumping around‍‍ joyfully. Nade joined⁠⁠ in, and the⁠ infirmary became a whirl of excitement.‌

“Woohoo!⁠‍‍ We did it! Shirone is saved!”‌

Even‌ Yiruki, amidst the‌ cheerful atmosphere, couldn’t⁠ help but smile‌ slightly. But deep⁠ down, he wasn’t⁠ feeling as optimistic.‍‍ They had only⁠‍‌ postponed Shirone’s death‍ on paper; the situation hadn’t really‌‌ improved.

Shirone‍ still lay motionless,⁠‌ as if asleep.‍‌‌ The promise to⁠ be together after‍ graduation was still‍‍‍ fresh in his⁠ mind, yet it felt unreal that the person himself‌ might be dead.⁠⁠

‘Come‍‍ back. I’ll wait‌ for you, no‌ matter how long.’‍‍

Shirone‌ regained consciousness. More‍ precisely, he went‌⁠‍ from one form⁠⁠ of madness to‍ another. His mind,‍‌⁠ like a coin spinning rapidly between⁠ the North and‌ South poles, oscillated‍ between normality and‍ insanity.

He‌ seemed to go‍ mad a thousand‍ times. Though he‌ desperately tried to‌‌ hold onto his⁠⁠ sanity, the overwhelming‍‍ stimuli infiltrated Shirone’s‍ essence, altering his⁠‌‌ nature.

“You‌⁠ are an abandoned⁠‍ child. Your parents‌ would have been‌‌ fine with anyone⁠⁠ but you. Did⁠‌ they never struggle‌ raising you? Every‍‌ time, they must have regretted it.⁠⁠‌ Wishing they hadn’t‌ picked you up.‌‌⁠ If you had‍ been with your birth parents, such⁠‍ thoughts would never‌‍‌ have crossed their⁠⁠ minds.”

“No!⁠‍ That can’t be⁠‍‍ true!”

“Your⁠ essence is that‌ of a vile‌ predator. With your⁠ superior abilities, you trample over everyone.‍⁠ Your power inevitably⁠⁠ leads to someone’s⁠‌ failure. You are⁠‌ an unnecessary tumor‌‌‍ in this world.”‌⁠

Shirone‍⁠ went mad again,‍ feeling as if‌⁠‍ his mind reeked‍ of foulness. What‍‍ would he become⁠‍ if this fusion‍ ended now? A demon? A yaksha?⁠⁠‍ A devil? It‍‌‌ was uncertain.

The⁠ pace of his⁠⁠ madness accelerated. As‌⁠⁠ he reached the‍⁠‍ limit, two contrasting⁠‌‌ natures began to‌⁠ coexist simultaneously in⁠ his mind.

It‌ was a new‍ world.

In⁠‍ a state of‌ supreme mental clarity, unreachable by any‌‍ drug, Shirone finally found the only‌‌ solution to maintain‌ his sanity.

The⁠‍‌ origin.

If‌⁠ the extremities of‍⁠ the cycle are‍⁠ the limits, the origin is the‍‌ starting point of‍ these limits. But⁠ it contained the potential to encompass⁠‍ the entire world.⁠⁠⁠

Some‍‌ call it a spot. Others call⁠ it a Spirit Zone. Yet others,‍ the Taiji. But a mage would call it this:‌

Infinity.‌‌

Shirone’s‍ eyes snapped open.‍‌‌ The Spirit Zone,‍⁠ which had been‍⁠ sucked into his⁠⁠ head, began restoring the myriad of‍ particles fluttering at‌ superluminal speeds back to a mental‌ body.

From‌ the center of⁠‌ infinity, Shirone remained‌‌ unshaken. The tormenting‍⁠⁠ voices disappeared, and‌⁠ the strength of his psyche tightened⁠⁠ like a diamond.‌⁠

The‍ state of Vajra,‍‌ reachable only after‌ thousands of mental‌ torments.

Indestructible⁠‍ Vajra.

Shirone,‍ burning brightly, looked⁠⁠ towards the exit. There was no more confusion. As‍ he moved, the‍ warm and bright⁠‌ light of the⁠ exit merged with⁠‍ his body.

A small, transparent glass‍ bead floated before⁠⁠ him. Inside the‌ tiny bead, which⁠ could fit on‍⁠⁠ his palm, was⁠⁠‌ the temple he‍ had just left⁠ and a woman⁠⁠ looking up at Shirone.

“You’re finally leaving, Shirone.”‍

“I’m⁠‍‍ sorry, but I want to go⁠‌ back.”

“There’s‌‌⁠ no need to⁠ apologize. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d succeed. You are‍ worthy.”

The‍ woman’s unexpected acquiescence⁠‍ made Shirone’s departure feel heavy. Maybe‌‍ that’s why he‌‌ felt compelled to‌ ask despite it‍‍ being irrelevant now.‌⁠⁠

“Were⁠‍ you lonely?”

The woman blinked in‍‍ surprise, then smiled⁠‍ warmly.

“Shirone,‌⁠ you are kind.‌ But gods don’t⁠ feel loneliness. I’m⁠ just a bit sad that you’re‌ leaving. Just a bit.”

“Thank⁠⁠ you for reviving‍‍⁠ me. I really‍ wanted to say⁠⁠⁠ that.”

The woman’s expression turned‌ serious for a moment.

“Remember‍ this. There won’t‍ be a second‍ chance. Having reached⁠‌ the state of‍ Vajra, you’re no‌ longer a being⁠‍ who can be‌ invited here.”

Shirone‌‍ nodded firmly and‍ walked towards the‌‍⁠ exit. As his‌⁠⁠ mind was pulled‍‌ into another dimension⁠⁠‌ of space-time, he‌‍ felt a warm light.

‘I’m‌ finally going back.’⁠

As‍⁠ his consciousness faded, he heard the⁠‍ woman’s voice.

-Please⁠ send my regards‌ to Headmaster Alpheas.‍

Even⁠ in his blurred‌⁠ state, Shirone wondered‍⁠ how she knew⁠ Headmaster Alpheas. But⁠ his thoughts didn’t last long, and‍ his spirit smoothly merged back into⁠‍ his body.

On‌ the 10th day‌⁠‍ of Shirone’s death.⁠⁠

“Ugh.”⁠‍

Amy⁠ Karmis woke up,⁠ rubbing her sleepy eyes. Stretching her‌‍ back in the‍‌ chair, she heard⁠‍‍ a crack. Staying⁠‍⁠ up every night,‍⁠‍ her body moved,‍ but her brain⁠⁠ still felt asleep.‍‍

Looking‍ around, her friends were still asleep.⁠ After drinking water‍ and washing up,‌ she approached Shirone,⁠‍‌ drying her face‍⁠ with a towel.‌

“Shirone, will you come‌‍ back today?”

Amy’s⁠‍‌ breath hitched with⁠ a gasp. Her heart pounded in her ears. A chill ran up‌ her spine, shaking‌‍ her shoulders and‌‍‌ face.

Shirone‍ had opened his‌‍ eyes.

“What?‍‌ What?”

Amy‍ called Nade and‍‍ Yiruki, who were⁠ sleeping on a spread blanket.

“He,‍⁠ here… here, here…”

She‌‌ couldn’t find her⁠⁠‌ words. She tried⁠ to make a sound, but her‍ throat felt blocked.‌ Amy took a deep breath, closed⁠ her eyes tightly,⁠ and screamed.

“Kyaaaaaaa!”‍

Nade⁠⁠‍ and Yiruki jolted‌‍ awake at the⁠ ear-piercing scream in the infirmary.

“What!⁠‍ What is it!”⁠

Alpheas‍ steadied his trembling⁠⁠ heart and reached‍ out his hand.⁠ Even he, a Grade-4 mage, couldn’t⁠ help but be‌‍‍ startled seeing Shirone‌‌ with his eyes⁠⁠ open.

Shirone was currently under‍ a Slow Magic‌ spell. He probably⁠⁠ spent the entire night just lifting his eyelids. To‌‍ really know if he was alive,‍ the spell had⁠⁠‍ to be dispelled.‌

Alpheas‌ placed his hand‍‌ on Shirone’s chest‍‍‌ and turned back⁠‌ time. Yet, Shirone⁠ still showed no signs of movement.‌ What happened next was beyond anyone’s‌ guess. It was‌ left to the⁠ will of the⁠ heavens.

“Huff!”‌⁠‍

Suddenly,‍‍ Shirone gasped for air and sat‍ up. The faces⁠‌ of those anxiously‌ watching brightened. On‌‌‍ the other hand,‍‍ Shirone looked terrified,‌ as if he⁠ had returned from‍⁠⁠ hell.

“What happened? How?”

Shirone⁠ was startled by‍ the rush of‍‌ air entering his⁠‌ lungs. The world‍ in Slow State‍‌‌ appeared as a colorful abstract painting.‍‍ As the scenery⁠‍ returned to normal,‍ he saw the‍⁠ faces of the‌‍ people, with Amy‍⁠ and friends crying behind Alpheas.