The Mysterious Black Magician

Rea led Crimson and Cinder to the Alchemy facility.

Crimson and Rea were so surprised when Cinder announced that she would join the Alchemy Department.

He wanted to ask if she would like to learn alchemy as well. But he decided not as everyone was free to choose their preferred departments.

They walked around the main building and headed towards the back. Then they entered the woods that could be seen out there. They traveled about 100 meters away towards the northern part until they arrived at the clearing where a lone building was standing.

When they arrived, both of them gawked at how rundown it looked. It was comparable to an exhausted old man. If Yman made an estimation, it has a total size of 50 square meters by looking at it from the outside.

The door was made of wood. Some cracks and track of bugs were even visible from it. And the word Alchemy Little Garden was barely readable on top of the door.

Smokes were oozing from the blackened chimney that could be seen on the roof, signifying that someone might be inside.

The small glass windows were close, loosely. Perhaps they were broken already.

Flashes of different colors of light illuminated from the inside to the windows. Probably, someone was doing some work inside.

Nevertheless, it looks like a haunted house for some reason.

A trembling tug from his left-sleeve took his attention but he chose to disregard it. Looked like Cinder was not resistant to ghosts.

They also noticed a worn-out brown wool cloth hanging from the roof near the window. It must be placed out there to get rid of the sunray and rain from directly entering.

The whole building was made of bricks. For all the buildings he saw after entering this town-like campus only this building that looks so-so.

A bead of sweat was visible on his face. He remembered someone's words the other day. He stared at the girl on his right. "Rea, are you sure many experts from great families and royalties failed the test?" He was doubting it after seeing the situation of the building. Looking at it, he could say for certain that no one wanted to work in such a place, especially the royalties.

"A-A test?" Cinder repeated when she heard it. She didn't expect that there would be a test coming.

Rea suspiciously rolled her eyes away from them and fell silent.

A second later,

'.....Waaaah!" He gaped with razor-sharp teeth. He wanted to bite her for fooling him. His eyes turned devilish while giving her a sharp gaze. He was even disregarding Cinder who was bothered by the test.

'Pufft…!" Out of a sudden, they heard Rea's chuckle.

Yman and Cinder stared at her with suspicion.

Noticing their eyes on her, "Ahem!" She cleared her throat and turned back her eyes on them. "It's true that many experts from the great families and royalties failed the test. But….. it was when the Alchemy Department was still new. Now no one bothers to take the-- uhm sorry I mean….. there was once a person who tried to take the test, and now she's the sole member of it except the professor."

"Sole member…" he repeated.

Right after saying it, the door of the room made a creaking ghostly noise which made Cinder to hug and press her tempting smooth parts to his arm.

Yman immediately kicked the nasty thought that tried to sneak into his mind. He must focus his mind, he thought. 

Then a small white hand reach-out the door frame.

"Hiiii!" Cinder squealed and further pressed herself to him.

Well, it looked creepy but he wasn't bothered by it. He even had a demon inside him. And he could perceive the human presence from behind the half-opened worn-out door.

In the next second, a pair of big eyes peeked from it. It looks creepy as black circles were visible below those eyes. Cinder finally shrieked with her ears and tail standing upright. Then she leaped behind him.

Beads of sweats multiplied in Yman's face.

He thought, 'A wolf is supposed to be a fierce animal, but why is this girl so scared?'

The eyes blinked several times, "Miss Ella…" she said in a cute voice before the door was fully opened.

Ella smiled and nodded. "Good day, Airi," Rea greeted.

Yman and Cinder were surprised to see the person. She was so short -- like a kid. Only as tall as their waist. She was wearing a long white coat over her academy uniform. And two raccoon ears were noticeable on her head. She has brown airy bangs and an elegant bob at the back.

"A kid?" He mumbled.

"Excuse me! I'm not a kid!" She protested in a little voice. 

"Eh?" Yman stared at her with a face that could not believe her claim.

"Miss Ella, who are these people?" She asked Ella who was standing quietly while wearing a gentle smile on her face.

"A friend and my c-cousin," she replied. "Is the professor inside, Airi?" Ella asked while peeking inside the room.

"Oh, ah, he's not here yet. He went to the backyard to gather an herb."

Yman and Cinder were staring at her with curious faces. Cinder was currently peeking from his back.

Airi blinked her round big eyes towards them. She was wary of their stares.

"S-So cute…" Cinder muttered.

"Eh!" Airi was taken aback.

'"Hey! You two stop scaring her!" Rea roared at them.

"But we are not," Cinder protested. And Yman on the other hand scratched his face.

"B-By the way, Miss Ella, why are you looking for the professor?" Airi asked while shifting her gaze to each of them.

"We want to take the test, Miss Airi, oh, by the way, my name is Yma--" Yman stopped when he realized he was about to tell his real name. "Ahem, sorry," he cleared his throat. 'Crimson, My name is Crimson Agila," he said. "Rea's cousin," he added and reached out his hand.

Rea and Cinde glanced at him. The slight mistake didn't escape from their ears.

'Ema?' Cinde repeated in her mind. They already knew that Crimson was using a disguise. As he was human.

'So that's the first syllable of his real name,' Rea thought. 'Eyma…' she repeated.

Yman was unaware of their thoughts.