Late at night, when even the moon seemed to be holding its breath, I was rudely awakened by a creak at my door.
My eyes barely open, I spotted Ayame slipping inside like some stealthy assassin who had clearly lost her sense of subtlety.
Not here to flirt or confess any deep feelings, she assured me with an almost guilty look.
"No romance, Ren. I swear. I need your help… with a spell."
I blinked, rubbing sleep from my eyes. "A spell? At midnight?"
"Yes, especially at midnight. The perfect time for testing combat magic."
Combat magic at midnight? This was either going to be brilliant or a complete disaster. Given the state of our lives lately, my bet was on disaster.
Despite the late hour, I found myself intrigued enough to follow her to the backyard.
The night air was cool and crisp, a gentle breeze playing through the grass and rustling the leaves. Perfect conditions for magic, she said.
Ayame produced a scroll glowing faintly with ancient runes and began the ritual.
