Chapter Text
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Areve Latelier.”
It had been days since you heard that. A solemn, quick announcement of your world shattering. Just a fleeting, flitting crush, it could make you laugh. Except the last time you did that, you were sent to the guidance counselor. But whatever, you have Combat & Defense in the morning so you trudge your way to the arena.
As you sit down in the bleachers, you couldn’t help but remember one of your last meetings with Areve.
“Malediction is… sad,” She said, face downcast. “The people who use it are desperate…”
Malediction. A dark power that could grant any wish at the cost of losing your humanity. A disgusting, immoral, barbaric power. A pitiful one too.
Malediction is hope for the hopeless. It is for the lost and the grieving. Because those that have nothing are the ones that desire the most.
Slowly, the realization dawns on you. What you want– what you have to do. You also realize that you have Study of Malediction later and the person who can help you is there.
Immediately as Combat & Defense ends, you race to the next classroom. You see Luca sitting in the far corner of the room, looking as mysterious and brooding as usual. But as you get closer you notice another emotion on his face. Something knowing and understanding.
“Whatever you’re planning, don’t do it.” He says as you approach.
“What?” You reply, dumbfounded. You haven’t even uttered anything. He continues,
“Whatever your plan is, it will get you nowhere. It will make everything worse actually.”
“You don’t know—”
“I do know malediction very well actually. It’s the whole reason I’m here.”
Ugh, you know he’s right and you can’t say anything back. Luca resumes,
“I know just how much of a curse malediction is. So I’m telling you right now, don’t do it.”
Then, he walks away to get the handouts for class. So much for being time anomaly friends.
But whatever, what he just said would never stop you. You’d rather die than live in a world without her. As the class ends, you corner the best student in class. Despite their usual irritable mood, they willingly follow you to a more private space so you can talk.
“[Y/N], what business do you have with me?” Scylla questions, green scales shining even in the dark space.
“I need your help. It’s something only you can do.” You answer.
“What is it then? I don’t have much time to waste.” She rolls her eyes. For a moment, you hesitate. You wonder if she’s really your next best option. At your silence, Scylla stands up and makes to walk away.
“Wait!” You call out, “I… I’m going to use malediction to bring someone back from the dead.”
Scylla perks up at that. “Necromancy. I’m not unfamiliar. But you do know that there are risks.”
“If there’s even a tiny chance…” You answer, voice small but full of conviction. “I’d do anything.”
Scylla stares at you as if studying a rare kind of sea creature. It sends shivers up your spine. Eventually, she says,
“Good. I’ll need some time to prepare the materials, so we’ll meet again on the weekend. Obviously, don’t let anyone else know.”
“And make sure to bring something that reminds you of her.” She adds and leaves.
And at that, you are left in the room.
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The week doesn’t pass by fast enough. Anxiety eats you up the entire time. You couldn’t help but think of all the ways this could go terribly. When you finally get a letter from Scylla telling you to go to Lab 04 at 12:00 PM, you waste no time. You know what you need, or rather, what you have to do.
As you walk through the empty halls, you couldn't help but feel a dark pit pool inside your stomach. As if you were plunging into the dark, one you couldn't even hope to fathom.
The lab was already prepared. A giant purple magic circle spread across the whole room, coating it in a soft glow. Candles lit all around, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The stench of blood permeated throughout the whole room but you couldn’t spot a single drop of it anywhere. Scylla stood by the table with a tome and vial in her hands. As soon as she spots you, she points towards the middle of the circle.
“Put the memory in there. Then step back and don’t interfere.” She instructs and you quickly comply.
You place a brown leatherbound journal down in the circle. It was one of Areve’s many notebooks that she used to keep notes and schedules inside of. You remember the time that you accidentally peeked inside and saw a whole section for you, full of your likes and dislikes. Afterwards, you quickly back away from the circle.
Scylla reads the incantation on the tome’s open page. Then, she throws the vial onto the journal. In a blink, mist and smoke emerge and encircle the room, fogging up your view. When it finally clears, you see Areve, beautiful and white as ever, sleeping peacefully on the ground.
You rush to her side and take her into your arms. You can feel her chest rise up and down, ever so slightly, her heart beating to a steady rhythm.
“A little warning. Malediction is not easy to work with. Although it may look like her, that could very well be an evil spirit faking it. If you harbor any suspicions, a quick stab with a holy dagger should do the trick. Then a symbol of hell should appear on her neck.” Scylla says.
“And if I don’t?” You inquire.
Scylla just rolls her eyes again. “Evil spirits feed on the souls of the dead and living. If you don’t stop it, then both you and your darling there will die. That’s all you’ll get from me.” Thus, the leviathan leaves the room.
The dark pit in your stomach pools again.
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A few days have passed since. Many people had questioned her reappearance. But she responded to it all with a simple,
“My death was greatly exaggerated.”
And everyone had readily accepted it. Seems like you weren’t the only person who had missed her presence. Life had gone back to normal and you were happy as could be.
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It was a completely normal day. You and Areve were walking together to your next class, chatting along about all sorts of things.
“I heard that the cafe in town is selling a new limited-time only drink. Apparently, it's absolutely to die for.” Areve chuckles. The joke is grim but you don’t say anything.
“Too bad it’s only available when we have classes.” You reply. You thought she’d be sad but to the contrary, Areve’s face was twisted into a rather mischievous look.
“Well, we could always skip class for today. We already studied the lesson in advance so it wouldn't be a problem.” She suggests.
“Skipping class? But I thought you love hearing about the professor’s boring and unrelated college stories?” You ask.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! It would be such a shame if we missed out,” Areve pouts. “Pretty please [Y/N]! With a cherry on top!”
Puppy eyes on full display. You really can’t deny her. You nod and she smiles like the brightest sun. Both of your hands intertwine as you stroll to the cafe. You can’t help but notice how cold her hands are, however.
The cafe is packed upon arrival. It takes a while before you’re able to order and sit down. Areve gets the Special Double Lighting Frappuccino, a coffee drink with a blue-purple-pink color. Meanwhile, you get a simple latte.
You stare as Areve put the straw to her lips and sipped from it. Grace and elegance in her every movement, almost too perfect.
“If you wanted to try it, you could have just asked.”
You’re snapped out of the trance as Areve’s sweet voice fills your ears. She slightly holds out the drink for you. You delicately place your hands over hers and sip the drink yourself. It’s a fruity mixture of blue, rasp, and strawberry.
“You should get a hot drink next time. Your hands are absolutely freezing.” You remark humorously. You try to ignore the dark pit slowly simmering inside you.
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Another lovely day is spent with the two of you wandering around the garden. Both of you were minding your own business when you see a random student running towards you.
“That’s the Arithmancy TA, he’s very smart.” Areve whispers into your ear as he approaches.
“Yo Areve! I need your help with arranging the files for class. There’s a lot of uh… tests we need to sort through,” He explains. “We could do it over the weekend, go to a cafe maybe?”
Areve frowns. “I’m really sorry but I already have plans for the weekend, so I can’t help you.”
“Oh… You’re completely sure? Like, absolutely no way? The teacher might get mad if it’s not finished in time.”
“Yes, I’m fully booked. But there’s some other students you can ask, like–”
“No! It has to be you!” He interrupts. “You’re like the only efficient person here!”
Areve’s brow creases. The dark pit wells up again.
“You must not know a lot of people then, which seems to check out.”
“EXCUSE ME–?!”
“Ahem! Uh Areve, it’s alright with me if we hang out at another time instead.” You try to give her a sheepish smile but your cheeks feel strained. She doesn't respond. The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.
“I’m sorry but a promise is a promise. I’ll help out at another time instead.” She finally reiterates.
The guy glares at you before scowling. “Fine. See what happens to those credits of yours then.”
As he retreats, Areve blows a raspberry at his back. She loops her arm around yours but all you can feel is the cold of her hands.
“I said it was ok. You didn’t have to refuse.” You murmur. Perhaps, that was the wrong answer for she only sends you an unreadable look. The rest of the garden walk was silent.
The dark pit continues to churn inside your stomach.
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The sun dips down low in the sky. Classes are done for the day and it’s just you and Areve working in the Student Council Room. Suddenly, the door swings open to show a tall stack of papers. The both of you stare at the mysterious stack until a face peeks out from behind. It’s one of the Student Council assistants.
“Excuse me, is Miss Latelier here?” They squeak out.
The both of you groan. “Surely that’s not for us…”
The assistant nods his head and inadvertently the stack as well. “The treasurer said that you should be able to take care of these records. Uh, they need to be finished by the end of the day, so yeah.” They explained. You heave a sigh and prepare yourself, knowing you’d only be getting home by dawn.
“No.”
You and the assistant whirl your heads to where Areve is sitting. The assistant’s mouth gapes open and your eyes are wide as saucers.
“I have my own business that I need to handle today. I can’t take all that work, especially on such short notice,” She continues. “I can take a small part of it but give the rest to the other officers or assistants.”
The little assistant is at a loss for words. Areve stands up and grabs a few files and shoos them away. A moment or two passes before you speak.
“Well… that was weird.” You start. The dark pit bubbles up once again in your stomach.
“Ugh, I know. I don’t know why they always have to dump their work on me.” Areve laments.
“No, no. It’s just… unlike you to refuse work like that.” You respond. You want so badly to ignore the pit but it is gradually spreading its dark grasp throughout your whole body.
“Things have changed a lot.” Areve ends the conversation there. You were about to ask again when,
RING!!!
The school bell echoes throughout the building. Areve goes to pick up her things and leave.
“I actually still have an assignment I need to do with Claire after this so I’ll be going first,” Areve says. And with a flourish, she’s gone.
You stay there for a bit longer. Finish up the last bits of work you have left. Go back to your dorm. Lay in bed. Think. Reminisce.
Her eyes that shone like stars, her blinding bright smile, and her gentle hands that held you as if you were the most important thing in the world. Her warmth that was like the sun’s embrace. You miss the days when she was still alive.
But she is alive isn’t she? You were there with her just a minute ago. She had all the exact same features. The same white eyes and mouth and hands.
And yet… her skin was frigid cold. You get the chills when she smiles at you.
Luca’s warning and Scylla’s advice float back to your mind. But you can’t really remember what they mean. Everything came back and yet nothing has.
What is it that you have to do…?
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It’s a beautiful day. The sky is blue and free of clouds while the grasses dance freely in the wind. Areve has prepared a picnic for the day. A soft red blanket spread out on the green, tons of foodstuffs scattered on top. You brought your own basket of food as well, filled some homemade sandwiches and a very special present.
“This weather is just splendid for a picnic, don’t you think?” Areve beams. She’s wearing the same white sundress as before. The same white sun hat and fabric and design. You only give a small mumble of agreement. The thought of saying any more makes you sick. Suddenly, a spoonful of cake is shoved into your face. “Say aah!” She giggles. You swallow the food but you can barely taste it. Maybe it’s sweet or bitter? You can’t tell.
The rest of the date goes as usual. The two of you exchange stories and jokes, though Areve does most of the talking this time admittedly. You gorge yourselves on biscuits and cakes. Watch the clouds and guess their shapes. Pick out flowers and weave them into crowns and bracelets. The day is warm and full of bliss. It’s a reminder of what you have to do.
“Hey Areve.”
“Yes, [Y/N]?” She blinks at you, startled seemingly at you suddenly starting the conversation.
“What happened? Why did you change?”
She sighs and for a moment, you wonder if this was all a bad dream.
“... Death has its effects,” She answers. “I realized I wanted to make better use of my life.”
“Better use? But your life is plenty great already! You’ve done a lot of things and helped so many people.”
“And despite that, I wasn’t actually happy,” A somber expression came over her face. “When I was faced with death, I welcomed it with open arms. I was so tired of living a life for other people.”
Her fists clenched tighter, “Maybe at first, I did it to better the world but it’s spiralled too much now. I don’t want to keep living a life that isn’t mine. Then, you resurrected me and I decided then and there to fix every mistake I made in my past life.”
Areve looks at you, blue eyes sunken and steeped in melancholy. The dark pit comes back in full force, threatening to drown you in its molten flow.
“[Y/N], please help me figure out who I truly am.” She pleads, hand stretched out towards you.
The small smile she gives you is warm and inviting. The blade in your hold is cold and lifeless.
You think to yourself, which you should take: her hand or your dagger?
Which choice should you make? To save or to kill her?