Chapter Text
🍄 ☔
Rayne schools his expression at the Bureau of Magic as he speaks with confidence and then gets up from his bent knee. As the latest Divine Visionary, he is probably the person in the room who has stepped foot least into the majestic and history-filled Bureau of Magic. Besides Mash Burnedead. The person of interest at this inquiry. Rayne likes the presence of Easton’s Headmaster beside him, it makes him feel more grounded against the narrowed eyes of the rest of the current Divine Visionaries. He feels like he can read their thoughts, their questions and interest in why Rayne would speak up for someone who has not been blessed with the ability to stream magic through their vessels. He tries to not look at Mash.
It goes along well enough. Mash is given a chance to continue at Easton School of Magic. He’s given the task to become a Divine Visionary and Rayne wills himself to not let his expression change.
Just as things were about to wrap up, Bless who had vouched for Mash after Mash saved him speaks up again, “Though it would be a good idea to have someone watch the non magic user…” Bless looks at Rayne.
Rayne stiffens and his eyes narrow slightly.
“Rayne… you stated that Mash has proven him trustworthy and is thus worthy of this chance.” Bless looks between Mash and Rayne. “If that is the case, please prove it to us, the Bureau of Magic.”
Rayne doesn’t ask how . He has an inkling of a feeling of how the Vice Minister of the Bureau of Magic wants this done. But it might involve magic that hasn’t been used in modern times. And that… Rayne doesn’t think likely. But he has a gut feeling.
“No.” Orter immediately objects. It seems like Orter also knows .
Rayne turns to look at Orter with mild surprise, the surprise disappears as quickly as it came. He finds the other staring back at him. Rayne doesn’t know what to make of the other’s expression. Perhaps he should gently remind the other how to keep his expression mostly expressionless.
“Why don’t we hear of the method first?” Wahlberg suggests.
Bless nods and sends his thanks to Wahlberg with a gesture.
Orter folds his arms unhappily. Raynes doesn’t think that’s a good idea, as it leaves the other seemingly defenceless.
“We will have the Sword Cane monitor Mash Burnedead constantly.” Bless nods his head and strokes his beard, “A constant surveillance.”
Orter grinds his teeth with such intensity, it makes Rayne wonder why the other is so against this. After all, it’s not like Bless is asking Orter to monitor Mash.
“It would be easiest for Rayne to monitor Mash, since they attend the same school.” Wahlberg nods in agreement.
“That is fine. I only want the best for our world.” Rayne agrees easily. He looks over at all the other Divine Visionaries. “Please entrust this task with me.”
“No.” Orter shakes his head. “How can you monitor him when you are both clearly of different classes?”
Rayne thinks he should be flattered, he tilts his head slightly and wonders what is irritating Orter so much. But he has heard of Mash’s achievements, and as impressive as Rayne is, Mash’s achievements without the use of magic has impressed even him. And for Arachnabus to be so surprised the spider puns stopped, Rayne knows that Mash is different. He’s special. And he could be the one to change this world.
“Not to mention, Rayne, you are a couple of years older, are you going to sit in in classes you’ve passed already? Or are you going to have him sit in in your classes? To have him beside you when you go tame wild beasts for the Headmaster?” Orter’s tone becomes increasingly angry.
Rayne continues to look blankly at Orter. He can’t quite put a finger on why Orter is so angry, is it because the majority has decided to not execute Mash on the spot? Surely Orter can’t be that angry over that still. “Do you have another suggestion, Orter-san?” Rayne asks respectfully.
Orter looks taken aback as he studies Rayne’s expressionless face.
“I do.” Wahlberg steps forward.
Rayne glances to the side to look up at the Headmaster. As expected, the Headmaster is much wiser than anyone else in this room. He takes a look at Mash to see if he can decipher how the other is finding all of this talk without considering his input at all. Mash expression reflects Rayne’s, expressionless.
“It is not the right choice,” Wahlberg talks as he gestures to Mash and Rayne, “to ask these two young men to attend the same classes.”
That’s logical, Rayne thinks. He wouldn’t want to attend his classes all over again after all.
“I can most definitely arrange for them to reside in the same dormitory room.” Wahlberg says and then sighs softly.
Rayne supposes he should tell his best friend that this is the end of their roommate life. He wonders if Mash will accept his bunnies. And if he doesn’t, Rayne will have to find a way to make Mash accept them.
Wahlberg’s voice is free of uncertainty. “For Rayne to be able to monitor Mash all the time, I propose a soul bind.”
Rayne’s heart drops. He looks immediately at Orter and this time the fury in the other isn’t even hidden. He then turns to look at Mash who wears the same expressionless face, of course, the other is clueless about what was just proposed. Rayne drops his eyes to his feet and then look back up at the Easton Headmaster. Initially he had felt protected and grounded to stand next to the Headmaster… now… he isn’t so sure.
“No.” Orter says firmly. “Rayne is too young to go into a soul binding contract.”
Rayne tilts his head slightly, that is what Orter is concerned with? Mash is even younger. Is there no one here to say that Mash is even younger ?
Wahlberg catches Rayne’s eyes and there’s twinkles in them. Rayne frowns a little and then looks away.
If… if he goes ahead with the soul bind, then, perhaps he can not just easily monitor the other, he could just as easily protect the other… Rayne looks at Mash, innocent, clueless, and almost executed on the spot because of the wrongs of this world. He had felt a strange connection with Mash when he saw the other, and maybe it’s because Mash reminds Rayne of Finn. Rayne thinks of Finn. Innocent Finn subjected to the orders of this cruel world. Can Rayne take in another unfortunate soul?
“I am not against it, if Mash consents to a soul bind with me.” Rayne says clearly as he cuts through the tense atmosphere in the room.
“Rayne!” Orter yells loudly and very unhappily.
Rayne promptly ignores the other. “Legally, I am of age, and Mash meets the age requirements of a soul bind, and if that does not satisfy you, we can also ask for his guardian’s permission.”
“Rayne!” Orter steps forward with his arms still folded, his brows are furrowed, “Do you not understand that a soul bind is forever?”
“I know.” Rayne wonders if Orter really thinks him an idiot. He’s the top of his class at Easton, of course he knows of this ancient magic that is basically no longer practiced due to the fact that it is forever.
“Then do you not understand what forever entails!?” Orter’s voice rises.
Rayne huffs and wills himself to not cross his arms defensively in front of an increasingly intimidating Orter. “I know, Orter-san.” Rayne trusts Mash that much. He looks at the other Divine Visionaries who look on curiously, “Everyone else appears to accept the situation on hand, is there something specific you’re upset about, Orter-san?”
Orter glares at Rayne who doesn't flinch from such an intense look. But he doesn’t say anything else. He doesn’t understand why Orter is so worked up, after all, it’s not like they’re asking Orter so bind his soul to Mash’s soul for all eternity.
Kaldo steps up with a thin smile, “Rayne, you have immeasurable talent, and most possibly one of the most talented of your generation.” He places a hand on his left cheek and looks at where Rayne’s third line normally runs down his cheek, deliberately, he runs two fingers down his left cheek. “I’m sure Orter is just upset that such talent is going to accept a soul bind to someone without magic - to a criminal.”
Rayne holds his tongue as he looks at Kaldo. He finds it difficult to read what the other person's expression shows. There’s so many things he wants to object to in Kaldo’s words, he wants to start with the fact that he disagrees that those with no magic are automatic criminals… legally speaking, Rayne would be in the wrong. The current legal system depicts just that - that Mash Burnedead is a criminal that should be executed on the spot. But… he can’t help but think that he's missing a piece of information here. He doesn’t think Orter thinks highly enough of him to be upset over a soul bind.
Instead, Rayne turns to Mash who stays quiet and watches the squabble between the Divine Visionaries as though it doesn’t concern him at all. “Mash, do you want to live or die?”
“Live.” Mash replies smoothly. “I’m going to become a Divine Visionary.”
Rayne is unsure of why Mash is so fixated on becoming a Divine Visionary, but for now, that is all the answer he needs. He turns to Bless and requests, “Please draw up the soul binding contract.”
With Mash and Rayne standing in the centre, the rest of the Divine Visionaries stand off to the side to witness an ancient ceremony in progress. Starting with the explanations. Kaldo holds a fuming Orter back.
Wahlberg holds an ancient looking book in his hands, it’s covered in dust, and with each flip of a page, more dust floats into the air. Rayne hopes he doesn’t need to breathe that in for too long.
Rayne listens intently, there could be information in that book he isn’t aware of.
“A soul bind is the binding of two souls.” Wahlberg looks at Mash and then at Rayne. “It’s a sacred union that connects both your souls to each other forever.”
Rayne blinks slowly. And Mash still has a bored expression on his face.
Wahlberg licks the tip of his finger as he flips the page in the book he’s holding. “The union will create an unbreakable and intimate bond between the souls, allowing the vessel to be able to always have a sense of how the other soul it’s connected to is faring.”
Rayne isn’t sure he wants Mash to know how he feels all the time. But… maybe Mash won’t be able to feel the bond since he has no magic.
“There are cases in which bonded souls can feel each other’s pain,” Wahlberg nods and continues reading, “And there are documentations of being able to shift through each other’s thoughts with different methods, colours, images, thoughts - some even described it as though they were reading a report.”
“Would you like to discuss this with your family?” Bless asks Mash.
Mash nods as he thinks of the only family he’s known. The whole reason he’s trying so hard to become a Divine Visionary.
“Are you going to discuss this with your family too, Usagi-san?” Mash looks at Rayne and asks curiously as to why only he was offered to discuss this important matter with his father.
Rayne’s expression doesn’t change, but Mash does notice that his jaw seems tighter. Rayne shakes his head and his voice is quiet when he speaks, “My parents have long passed. I only have a younger brother left. You share a dorm with him.”
“Finn. He’s my friend” Mash answers immediately. “Will you be discussing this with Finn then?”
Rayne shakes his head, his expression still blank. “It doesn’t concern him.”
Regro is summoned immediately and a quiet discussion is held. Rayne turns his back to the Divine Visionaries so he doesn’t have to look at Kaldo’s amused smile or Orter’s intense and intimidating face.
“So… Mash is going to have his soul bound to… Rayne Ames? The Rayne Ames?” Regro stares incredulously at Bless, Wahlberg and Rayne.
Rayne keeps his expression neutral.
Wahlberg nods, “We believe it is the best way to keep Mash safe. After all, as you know very well yourself, it is currently a crime to not be able to use magic.”
Regro blinks rapidly, “ The Rayne Ames? The youngest in history to receive three magic lines?” He can’t think of anyone more different to Mash.
Rayne lowers eyes to look at his feet for a moment before he makes eye contact with Regro. Rayne then places a palm over his chest and bows towards Regro, “It’s lovely to meet you, Regro-san. I’m Rayne Ames.”
Regro is clearly overwhelmed and he looks funny at Mash before he turns his attention back to Rayne. “Nice to meet you too, Rayne.” Regro swallows thickly. “I guess, if you are to bind your soul with Mash, then we’d be family.”
Rayne’s eyebrows lift at the word family . His lips part slightly but nothing comes out.
“Family?” Mash tilts his head to look at the man who raised him in the woods. “Usagi-san is going to become part of our family?”
“Usagi-san?” Regro frowns and then looks between Rayne and Mash, he then leans closer to Mash and scolds him lightly, “Mash, you can’t call other people names like that, Rayne is a very important person in our society.”
Mash nods multiple times. “Ok, Rayne-kun then.” He pauses and then asks Regro, “Are you going to adopt Rayne-kun as a son too?”
Regro’s brows furrow and then he shakes his head furiously, “Mash, no, Rayne has his own parents-”
“They’re gone.” Mash replies bluntly. “Rayne-kun only has a younger brother, we’re in the same dorm room.”
Hesitantly, Regro looks at Rayne whose expression does not change or falter. He quickly turns back to look at Mash, “Mash, a soul bind is a very intimate bond, as it transcends time and space, most people consider it as the stage after marriage.”
“Oh.” Mash hums and then declares, “Then, I should marry Rayne-kun first.”
Before Regro can stop Mash, Mash turns to look at Rayne and asks clearly, “Rayne-kun, will you please marry me?”
Rayne looks blankly at Mash before his eyes slowly drift to look at Regro’s reaction and then back at Mash. “We don’t need to get married to have our souls bound together.”
Mash blinks. “So, will you marry me?”
This time, it’s Rayne’s turn to hum, “Ask me again when you become a Divine Visionary.”
“Rayne! You can not be serious!” Orter says angrily and storms up towards Rayne. But is pulled back by the other Divine Visionaries easily.
“Alright.” Mash agrees with Rayne’s terms easily.
“Mash…” Regro sighs and shakes his head.
“The contracts then.” Bless coughs awkward as he places the contracts before Mash and Rayne. “The only other thing I need is the blood of the current vessel of the soul, willingly given.”
“In the case that you may have had your soul binded in a previous time, and not yet met the soul you were bound to in this time, this bind will fail.” Wahlberg reminds.
Rayne nods. It’s such an ancient magic. Recent documents in the last few generations have not shown anyone with a known soul bind. After all, how easy is it to find the soul you bound your own soul to in a world with so many other souls? And to think not all babies born into this world are all given the chance to live… Rayne’s heart aches at that thought. And all the souls who decide to come to their end on their own terms, with their own hands… remain lost and unable to reincarnate into the world again, Rayne wonders if there’s ever anything he can do for these lost souls.
“The effect of the soul bind should be immediate.” Bless nods
Not once had Rayne ever thought he would be used as surveillance. But here he is, cutting open his own palm to willinging give up his blood so that his soul can be bound to the soul of someone deemed a criminal in the modern world for simply living. For the better good. For a better world. For Finn.
Mash cuts his own palm and lets his blood drip down onto the contract before him.
A chant surrounds them and bright light envelopes both Rayne and Mash. The two pieces of contracts zip towards each other as though pulled together magnetically. The light dies down and the two pieces of contract with blood refuse to fuse.
There are whispers amongst the witnesses of whether the soul binding failed. Rayne looks at his own palm, the cut he made already healing. He hears the other Divine Visionaries theorising that maybe it failed because Mash has no magic, after all, they’ve never tried to bind a non-magical soul before. Rayne looks over at Mash who has a small frown. Their eyes meet and Mash shrugs.
“I don’t feel any different.” Mash rolls his shoulders.
Rayne shakes his head, “Neither do I.” He hums quietly to himself. Perhaps this ancient magic takes a long time to settle in? He can feel the remnants of the magic washing off of him gently, it feels harmless. He looks at their contracts, looks at their blood willingly given and wonders if something else needs to be taken.
“Perhaps one of you have already had your soul bound in another time.” Wahlberg suggests with a deep frown.
“Perhaps.” Rayne repeats quietly as he thinks about what is next. Now that their souls can’t be bound, what is the next step? Is Mash still going to be executed? He can’t help but feel the concern rolling off Regro. Or the relieved sigh Orter had released.
“It matters not.” Mash says as he holds up a fist, he looks at Regro and then at Rayne, “I will live, I will become a Divine Visionary.”
Rayne hears those words loud and clear. It’s Mash’s conviction, but to Rayne it sounds like a promise. He can’t help but wonder if Mash still wants to marry him after their failed soul bind. Rayne holds a palm over his thumping heart.
“I will see you through it, Mash.” Rayne replies with the faintest of smiles.
Mash returns the small smile and sticks out a hand for a handshake. “I look forward to it, Rayne-kun.”
Rayne can feel the heat within him. Perhaps they were all wrong and the soul bind had worked. Perhaps he had calculated wrong, and this magic binding soul link is going to affect him more than he had first assumed. Rayne takes Mash’s hand, grips tightly and the heat surges through him like an erupting volcano, his knees buckle from a sensory overload and his hand falls weakly from Mash’s grip as he crumples onto the cold glaring tiles of the Bureau of Magic in immense pain.