I moved nimbly among the twisted cherry branches. I still held my staff in hand. I wouldn't take a single step without it. I slipped a little on a damp stone and nearly fell into the bushes. As I was brushing twigs off myself, I suddenly heard a crackling in the thicket. I froze and listened. All I could hear was the distant noise from campus and the soft rustling of the summer wind. Suddenly, a feeling washed over me—a certainty that I wasn't supposed to be here, that I needed to get away immediately. My heart started pounding, and I ran toward the wall. I should've gone back, right after meeting Nekenghem, flashed through my mind. But now I was already closer to my goal than to campus. I didn't look back—I didn't have the courage—but it felt like I could hear branches snapping, leaves rustling, and the thud of footsteps behind me. I picked up speed. Finally, the rickety wall came into view. I intended to leap onto it at full speed, but suddenly the ground disappeared from beneath my feet. I hadn't slipped I was sure someone had tripped me.
I hit the ground hard on my back and lost my breath. Gasping for air, I clutched my chest. I writhed like a fish on land. Suddenly, something heavy landed on my chest. A muffled scream escaped me. Someone was pressing the sole of their boot into me, pinning me down. I saw a magical flame light up above me. I only recognized the face when it learned in eagerly. I instantly recognized those crazed black eyes, the twisted tattoos, and that knife-slit smile.
"Finally, we meet again… Esme," rasped Kerluk, shining his staff-light directly at me. He must have seen my trembling, pale face, now streaked with desperate tears of fear. He let out a repulsive laugh. It sounded like a crow cawing.
I wanted to scream for help, but he quickly brought the flame dangerously close to my face.
"No no no, nothing like that. I've waited far too long for this to let you ruin it now. This is just between the two of us, alright? If you scream again, I'll give you the same tattoo I have. Would you like that?"
I whimpered and shook my head. He nodded approvingly. "That's more like it. Now, I think you know who I am and why I'm here. Say it," he hissed.
I kept whimpering and tried to wriggle away. He stared at me for a moment, then repeated the order louder.
"Kerluk Ba… Batui," I stammered.
"Yes, that's right," he nodded. "And why am I here?"
I tried to form a reply again but couldn't get the words out.
"Let me help you, alright? I'm here to take revenge on a little brat who disgraced the Batui name. I don't know if you ever realized it, but with that little knife of yours, you gouged out my father's eye. Then you vanished. Disappeared off the face of the earth, and we didn't have the time or space to track down a little girl, no matter what she did. And now… now we both just happen to end up at a magic school in Ashkantt. Must be fate. I thank the great god Drtarashta for granting me this meeting. Originally, I planned to knock you out and deliver you to father, but that would just cause too many complications. Believe me when I say I'm doing you a favour by killing you right here and now. If father got his hands on you, it would take mere minutes before you were begging for death. So, you should really be grateful for what I'm about to do."
I started whimpering and thrashing again, but Kerluk pressed me to the ground and stuffed a piece of cloth into my mouth.
"I did promise to kill you here and not let father have you, but that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun first."
I trembled uncontrollably as I watched Kerluk's staff, with its small flickering flame, approach my hand. I tried to pull away, but he pinned my arm down too. In the next moment, a searing pain tore through my hand. If I hadn't had the gag in, the entire town would've heard my scream. I wailed like a tortured animal, muffled by the fabric. It felt like a dagger being driven deep into my flesh. Finally, it stopped, and I gasped through my nose, trying to calm myself. But then the flame flickered right in front of my face. My eyes widened in terror, and I began to sob again.
"I just thought—how must father have felt when your stabbed him to the eye? It must've hurt. A lot. Even he screamed in pain, and that was the first time I ever heard him scream like that. Wouldn't it be fair for you to feel the same? Magic would be more elegant, sure, but I think I'll go with the good old-fashioned knife."
I vaguely saw him jab his staff into the ground beside me and start looking for a knife. At that moment, his weight shifted slightly, and I took my chance. I jerked my body and barely slipped out from under his foot. I grabbed my staff, which had been just out of reach, and swung it blindly toward him. I heard a whooshing sound, a muffled curse, and a dull thud. Then silence.
I scrambled to my feet as fast as I could. I swayed slightly but managed to stay upright. I gripped my staff tightly and stood in a defensive stance. My eyes darted around wildly, but it looked like I was completely alone. Had he run? Or was he lurking somewhere, waiting? These thoughts raced through my head when my gaze caught on something. In the dark, it looked like a crumpled pile of clothing. But it was in the colours of our school uniforms. Looking closer, I recognized human features. I knew I should run and find an adult, but I had a dreadful feeling that I'd done something terrible. I lit a small flame and cautiously stepped toward the body. I stepped over his staff and kicked it further away, just in case. I also noticed the curved knife glinting nearby. So, he wasn't armed—unless he'd been faking. I came close enough to poke him with my staff, then pulled back quickly. No reaction. I tried again—three times—before I was sure he must be unconscious.
Then I noticed the back of his head glistening oddly. When I focused on it, I saw his hair was matted. My heart pounded as I realized what I might have done. I stopped caring about safety and knelt beside him. I touched the back of his head, and just as I feared, the fluid was sticky and red. I rolled him over, and his normally dusky face was pale. I checked for a pulse—nothing. I checked his wrist too. Still nothing. Only then did it fully hit me. I had killed him. I had killed Kerluk Batui.
I jumped away in horror. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't have done something like that. No—I wasn't a killer. But I was, I realized after a few stumbling steps. I had killed him. My head spun, and I had to lean against a tree. I could barely stand. My stomach turned.
What do I do? What do I do now? Should I tell someone? Should I hide it? No, they'll find out. Someone saw me! Nekenghem saw me! And even if by some miracle I escaped the courts, the Batuis would find me. They'd get me. They wouldn't let the murderer of their heir roam free. I had to run. But where? I had nowhere to go.
I was so lost in thought; I didn't even notice someone walking toward me until we collided. I staggered, but a strong hand caught me. I had the sudden urge to break free and run, but then a calm, warm voice said:
"Are you alright, Esme?"
I looked up and saw the kind face of professor Axel.
I mumbled something incoherent. The professor looked at me with concern. She brushed hair from my forehead and placed her hand on it to check for fever.
"You look terrible, Esme. You really don't seem well. Come to my office, I'll make you a cup of hot chocolate and you'll feel better."
Hot chocolate, I thought blissfully. I really could use a cup of hot chocolate. With that pleasant thought, my vision blurred, and I collapsed to the ground. From far away, I heard the professor's voice again—but even that faded into the void that enveloped me. I fainted.