Volume 4 - CH 1.3

“What kind of story?”

“First of all, this is a historical fact. Around twenty or thirty years ago, there was a very famous magician, or alchemist, or whatever you want to call him, in Sauville. He wore a mask, a robe, and thick gloves. The queen took a great liking to him, to the point that he eventually became involved in politics.”

“I see.” Kazuya nodded with great interest.

Avril’s face lit up. “The alchemist built a workshop in the academy’s clock tower, holed himself up there, and continued using his terrifying power. Soon, no one could oppose him, but he also gained a lot of political enemies.”

“I didn’t know that. So this used to be his workshop?”

“Probably. And this is where the story begins. One day, the king, fearing the alchemist’s power, dispatched the Royal Knights to this academy to assassinate him. But despite being riddled with poisoned arrows, the alchemist just wouldn’t die. And then he disappeared. The knights searched frantically, but they couldn’t find him. Rumors said that he was immortal. That’s why he hid his never-aging body behind a mask and robe.”

“I see…”

“Ever since then, it’s said that a monster lurks in the clock tower, prowling… Kyaaaaah!”

“Can you please keep it down?” Kazuya said with a straight face. “Anyway, I think the explanation is simple.”

Avril pouted. “What do you mean?”

“If it’s based on a true story, it would explain why this clock tower looks so much like the one in the movie.”

“Wha—”

“To summarize, there used to be a weirdo living in this clock tower, giving birth to the story that a monster lurks inside. The movie was made by someone who knew the story. That’s why the design of the building, the workshop, and the story are very similar. Now, let’s get out of here.”

“Hmm…” Avril scowled. “That’s just boring.”

“Yes, the truth is often boring.”

“Tsk. You’re such a jerk.”

“What? Wh-Why?”

“…You just are!” Avril looked away.

“Okay. Anyway, I gotta go to the library, so…” Sighing, Kazuya was about to leave the workshop when he heard a strange noise behind him and turned around.

Avril was opening the package she got from the post office—a mail order from a store in Saubreme—right here and now.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I thought I’d ask about the monster in this tower.”

“Ask who?”

“This thing right here!” With a smug look, Avril showed Kazuya what was in the package.

It was a square wooden board with the letters of the alphabet marked on its surface. It came with a heart-shaped black stone.

Kazuya studied it for a while. “What is it?”

“It’s called a Ouija board. It’s used with a planchette. Wanna try it?”

“What’s a planchette?”

“It’s a tool to talk to spirits. You place the stone here and touch it with your index finger. Then you ask a question.”

“What? That sounds dumb. I’m leaving.”

“Wait.” Avril quickly stopped him. “Please stay for a bit. At least two people are required for this.”

“I really gotta go, though.” Kazuya hesitated for a moment, before giving up and sitting down next to Avril. He did as she said, placing his index finger on the stone.

Avril stroked her chest in relief, then closed her eyes. “O’ spirit, if you’re here, I have a question,” she muttered.

Kazuya snickered, and Avril pinched his cheek.

“O’ spirit, did an alchemist live here?” Avril opened her eyes.

The black stone moved slowly, to the letters O, U, and I—meaning yes.

Kazuya frowned. “Pfft. You’re moving it yourself.”

“Quiet!”

“…Sorry.”

Avril closed her eyes again. “O’ spirit, is the alchemist here right now?”

“Of course not. Let’s just go already. I gotta go to the library.”

“Shh!”

“Sorry… Man, there’s you, Victorique, and Ms. Cecile. I’ve done nothing but apologize to women. I think I’ve said a lifetime’s worth of apology since coming to Sauville. That’s it. I will never again apologize for the rest of my life.”

“I said be quiet.”

“Sorry…” Kazuya looked at the Ouija board.

Avril’s fingers were shaking. Surprised, he glanced at her face. She was looking pale, and there were beads of sweat on her forehead.

“What’s wrong?” Kazuya asked.

“Kujou… It’s not me that’s moving the stone…” Avril slowly pulled her hand away.

The stone was at the letter U now. Confused, Kazuya removed his finger too. Then the stone moved, despite no one touching it, and abruptly stopped at the letter I.

“OUI. That’s a yes. The alchemist’s soul is still in this tower.” When Avril realized that they had both removed their fingers, she let out a yelp. “Oh, no! The manual says we can’t stop halfway, or something evil will show up. What do we do?!”

The Ouija board slid across the floor, as if someone was dragging it. It moved about two meters, before slowly coming to a stop.

They looked at each other. There was a faint noise from somewhere. The floor creaked as though someone invisible was passing right in front of them.

The door opened silently. Avril shrieked and clung to Kazuya.

A set of footsteps faded, and another set was coming closer. Soft, surreptitious footsteps, climbing up the stairs, in front of the workshop, and then stepped through the open door.

Avril screamed again.

The person who entered shrieked in response and jumped.

It was a petite woman wearing a simple beige dress. She had shoulder-length, fluffy brown hair and large round glasses. She jumped, quite literally, then removed her glasses, and put them back on again.

Her big, droopy brown eyes widened. “Oh, it’s just you two.”

It was Ms. Cecile.

Kazuya and Avril relaxed. They stared at the teacher for a while with their mouths hanging open.

Ms. Cecile looked unusually stern. “What on earth are you two doing here? This place is off-limits to students. I saw signs of someone kicking down the door, so I came in. Now, tell me the truth. Which one of you did it? Kujou? Or Avril?”

Avril awkwardly cast her eyes down, and Kazuya shifted uncomfortably.

“Whoever did it is grounded for a month,” Ms. Cecile said with amusement.

Avril looked dejected, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. When Kazuya noticed her expression, he thought about his options.

“Close your eyes,” Ms. Cecile said, and they did as told. “Raise your hand if you did it.”

Neither of them moved. After a while, Kazuya raised his hand reluctantly, a glum look on his face, but with back straight regardless.

Avril also raised her hand, slowly, not to admit that she did it, but to point at Kazuya, putting the blame on him.

Ms. Cecile chuckled. “You can put your hands back down and open your eyes. Avril, next time make sure you open the door with your hands, not your feet. And Kujou…” She shooed them out. “Let’s see… I think you have trouble with women. I’m getting a little worried.”

As soon as they stepped outside, Kazuya and Avril breathed sighs of relief. The dizziness they felt while inside also vanished. They took several deep breaths.

“Don’t ever come near this place again. Do you understand?” Ms. Cecile warned. “Just because there’s only three days left until summer break doesn’t mean you can just let loose. I will change the lock by the end of the day. Anyway, stay away from the tower. Got it?” she repeated. She looked more serious than usual.

“Why?” Kazuya asked.

Ms. Cecile just shook her head over and over. “You just can’t come here. Ever.”

The sky around the tower was dark and cloudy, as though a thick gray sheet had been plastered above it. Insects chirped in the garden.

Ms. Cecile hastened away, leaving Kazuya and Avril in the corner of a verdant green lawn a short distance away from the tower.

“Did you sense something off with her?” Avril said, looking thoughtful. “Maybe there’s something about the clock tower. What do you think, Kujou?”

There was no reply. She looked around and spotted Kazuya already far in the distance.

She scowled. “Argh, I let him get away! I thought for sure I could stop him from going to the library today.” She let out a sigh and started walking.

The wind blew. A drop of water fell from a leaf onto Avril’s nape, trickling down her neck.

“Darn it,” she mumbled. “This was supposed to be a date. I mean, I invited him to the movies, so it could only mean a date. I was so looking forward to it, got dressed in my cutest outfit, but he was sleeping soundly next to me!” She scowled. “I know you’ve never failed any exams.”

She heaved a deep sigh and looked up. Small white birds streaked across the clear, blue sky. The fountain, the flowers in the flower beds, and everything else was glistening.

Avril sat down on a bench along the path and massaged her feet. “Kujou, you jerk!” she huffed.

A strong gust tousled Avril’s hair. She closed her eyes, then slowly opened it. There was confusion and fear in them.

She looked back at the clock tower. Two small square windows, like the eyes of some monster, were looking at her. She sensed a gaze, as if someone was watching her. She studied the tower once more with a frown.

“Oh, right. We stopped halfway with the Ouija board. If I recall correctly, the manual said that if we did that, an evil spirit would haunt you.” Her blue eyes widened. “That won’t happen, right?”

The wind blew.

Shadows fell on the gray clock tower, painting it even darker, and blacker.