Chapter II: Murder (II)
"Excuse me," Rezard asked cautiously, "what is this about?"
"Stand there quietly. You'll understand soon enough," Ando replied. "This concerns you greatly."
Ando smiled inwardly.
After all, it would be the last matter of Rezard's life.
Suspicious.
Rezard felt it clearly. Nothing about this situation matched his understanding of Ando. Every instinct told him something was wrong.
He planted his feet firmly. His muscles tightened without him realizing it. He didn't know what was coming, but he knew he had to be ready.
He glanced toward the laboratory door.
At some point, it had already closed.
It was an alchemically sealed magic door. Once shut, it locked automatically and could only be opened with the owner's key.
If this was a trap, there would be no easy escape.
At that moment, Ando seemed prepared. He turned around abruptly, eyes cold. A rapid incantation spilled from his lips. Before Rezard could react, a green sphere of light shot toward him.
The spell struck.
Rezard vanished instantly.
Dissolution Spell.
A high-level, extremely dangerous spell. Anyone hit by it would be decomposed completely, leaving nothing behind.
"Hmph. Serves you right," Ando muttered. The burden that had weighed on him for days seemed to disappear so easily that he felt a flicker of satisfaction.
Suddenly—
Three magic projectiles slammed into his chest.
Ando spun around.
Rezard stood off to the side, completely unharmed.
Damn it. Mirror Shadow.
Ando remembered at once. Rezard excelled at illusion magic that could create lifelike projections. He hadn't expected the boy to cast it so silently.
Fortunately, the projectiles caused no real harm. Ando had come prepared. Beneath his robe he wore reinforced battle gear, and he had already cast Iron Armor on himself.
He retaliated instantly. Several projectiles flew back.
Rezard rolled sideways, diving behind a row of bookshelves. The magic blasts shredded wood and paper. Splinters and torn pages filled the air.
"Have you lost your mind?!" Rezard shouted. "You're a professor! Trying to murder a student? Do you think the academy will spare you? The Queen? My family?"
"That's why you can't live!" Ando roared, firing again. "Do you know I'm your professor? When have you ever shown me respect? You insolent brat! I'm more than three times your age!"
"Don't joke around!" Rezard rolled again as the bookshelf collapsed under the assault. He slid beneath a heavy worktable stacked with experimental equipment. "What do you gain by killing me? You'll get nothing!"
"Oh, I'll gain more than you imagine." Ando sneered and continued firing without restraint.
Glass shattered.
Bottles exploded. One released a mass of twisting vines. Another burst into flame. Two unknown substances spilled onto the floor, reacting violently and spewing acrid white smoke.
The laboratory descended into chaos.
"Damn it!" Ando cursed. Many of the damaged items were rare and expensive. If not for concern over destroying his own property, he would have used far more destructive spells than simple projectiles.
The cluttered laboratory now worked against him. He had chosen it for privacy, to avoid interruption. But the obstacles also made it difficult to track Rezard's position.
Even so, the advantage remained overwhelmingly in Ando's favor.
He was fully prepared—battle robe equipped, protective spells active.
Rezard, on the other hand, had come unprepared. No advanced spells ready. No magical items. Not even a wand. He couldn't display even half his usual strength.
Preparation made all the difference for a mage.
"You coward, come out!" Ando shouted. "The result won't change. What's the point of hiding? I'll make it quick!"
"How considerate," Rezard replied.
He suddenly grabbed a nearby mirror and hurled it toward Ando.
Startled, Ando ducked clumsily to avoid the heavy object.
In that split second, Rezard rose and unleashed a rapid barrage of magic projectiles.
They struck.
White light flashed across Ando's body as Iron Armor absorbed the impact. Still, the final projectile made his chest ache.
The protective spell was nearing its limit.
At the same time, Ando had pinpointed Rezard's position.
He fired back.
Rezard dodged, but one projectile clipped his shoulder. Blood immediately soaked through his sleeve.
"You're finished, boy," Ando said coldly.
For safety, he reinforced himself with a Shield Spell. A faint yellow barrier shimmered around him. Holding his staff before his chest, he advanced carefully toward where Rezard had taken cover.
"Alright… alright… I'm hurt," Rezard's voice came, strained and breathless. "Can I surrender?"
"Yes." Ando smiled viciously. "Come out obediently. I won't harm you."
"Then… don't come closer. I'll come out."
"Fine. Come out."
Ando stopped advancing. It would be safest to finish him once he emerged.
Rezard did come out.
But not the way Ando expected.
Instead of standing, he suddenly crawled from beneath the table and fired three more projectiles with his uninjured right hand.
Ando immediately raised his shield.
The three projectiles missed, whistling past him.
"Haha! What kind of aim is that?" Ando laughed, preparing his final spell.
Bang.
A sudden, sharp pain exploded at the back of his head.
"…Why… from behind…"
His vision blurred.
As he collapsed forward onto the ground, he barely managed to glance back.
Behind him lay a large shard of mirror—
The fragment Rezard had thrown earlier.