Beginnings of the Modern Mage - Chapter 19A: Meltdown (Nao's PV)

…Where…am I?

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Arc: “Ah, you’re finally awake.”

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What’s happening? Did the spells stay active? Why am I tied up on this super uncomfortable chair?

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Arc: “Yes the spell is still active. We’re currently at some kind of warehouse.”

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Hopefully, it’s not too far from home.

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*Door Open*

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Arc: “Keep appearance. Don’t let them know you’re awake yet.”

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I do what Arc says and keep my head down. I can’t see anything but I can hear it.

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Sever: “That’s what he said. Maybe you’re just incompetent. I knew keeping alive for something like this would come in handy. If we did what you suggested we would have no leads.”

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I can feel it too. There’s a movement in the edges of my vision, the shadows shift and squirm in the background.

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They’re speaking but I can’t understand a word they’re saying. I try to block it out but every time I try, I feel blood flowing out my ears. As if they want me to listen.

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Fear begins to build inside my throat. The nightmares, the all-consuming void, and burning skin.

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~~Breathe.~~405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe7SpJkESi

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I steady my breath and push the instinctual fear deep inside.

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Sever: “I guess we can bring his family here. I’ll put a bullet in his mother first if he lied about the book.”

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Arc: “Hold it, you can’t take them all at once.”

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What should I do then!? Wait until they bring my family back? I’ll take the shadows and Sever on!

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Arc: “With what?”

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Invisibility [Active]405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpizz2KOc5y

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Arc: “You have nothing to kill an invader and no time to swap spells.”

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…Fine, I’ll wait for the right moment.

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Sever: “You can go back to my employer. I can deal with this alone. I’ll contact you when we have the real book.”

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The shadows continue to squirm in the background but eventually, the oppressive atmosphere fades. Light returns to the room and I take a chance.

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I break and reform my hands into something small enough to escape the ropes. I bite my lips to hold back my grunts of pain. But it’s worth it, now…

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Sever: “Now lets start with basic torture first. Wouldn’t want to have to explain a family disappearing if I don’t have to.”

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Illusions of the shadows begin to appear around the room.

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Sever: “Why are you bac-”

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*punch*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttjkBBsE4k

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Sever: “Guh. What the hell, where did you go? Invisibility?”

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Nao: “Where are your men Sever?”

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Sever: “So you had it on you all along. Boy, I hope you still have that killing instinct because your family is a target if you don’t give up.”

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Nao: “…I’ll do what I have to do.”

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Swap minor illusion for paralysis.

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Sever: “Good, let’s see what magic can do in a real fig-.”

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Paralysis.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vQAOEqWB1

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Sever: “GAAAH!!”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfPLA7dJco

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Light fills the room as sever falls and convulses out of control. I turn off invisibility and stand over him.

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Nao: “As you said, I can kill you all if I wanted to. My family isn’t here so you have nothing to hold over me. What made you think you could fight me 1v1?”

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He says nothing. I guess paralysis affects vocal cords.

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Arc: “Let’s go before the invaders come back.”

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As I look down at Sever, I can’t help but think about what he threatened to do to my mom and sister.

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Arc: “Let’s go Nao.”

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…405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt0Nt9ElK8

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Arc: “Nao?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfJYsFDMfy

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Nao: “No, I’m going to have my fun with this piece of trash. Clearly, he thought I would fight him like how I did with the bullies. I did that because I wanted to make them suffer. Well, I don’t want to disappoint.”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBJgC0KJhF

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I get on top of him and begin changing my arms into a gorilla’s. The pain is far less due to their similarity to humans. But the power…is so much more.

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Nao: “Unlike the bullies though, I can take my time. I’m sure you can take it.”

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One by one, I break every bone in his body. That feeling of pleasure inches its way back…and I let it.

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*Punch*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhmN6Pulvz

*Crack*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJQml82D3j

*Break*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04h1k4xPQS

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Nao: “Threaten my family?!”

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*Crack*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlIDjsILMc

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Nao: “No, you don’t get to die that easy. Not after everything you’ve done.”

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I smash his face into an indescribable mess, worse than what the bullies went through. After every bloody knuckle I sink into his skull, I can feel his life fade. He’s…dying. That realization snaps me out of it a bit.

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A part of me what’s to keep going. To keep feeling the pleasure that comes from beating monsters like this to death. That part of me wants a release after being denied last time.

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But I can still remember mom’s shock after I told her what I did. And here I am, about to relapse. But didn’t mom say there are times when it’s okay to kill? Is this one of those times.

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Kill Him (+20 Points)405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvsWVXfxLK

Let Him Live (+10 Points)

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You’re right, it’s time to choose my path.

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*Sigh*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMh7RGo4ce

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I get off of him and decide to let him live.

*Ding*

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Nao: “I would like to see the world mom described, one where people don’t have to kill other people. I can’t do that if I’m tainted like this scum. That being said-”

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*Break*405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWksaXIY8FS

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Nao: “Crippling should be fine. Broken arms and legs are the least you deserve.”

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I activate invisibility and sneak out of the warehouse. Thankfully, no one knows what happened so I left this place without much trouble.

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Even better, I know this area. It’s not too far from my home but this…sky is weird. I shake it out of my mind, I need to get home.

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All of that running to school and increased agility helped a lot. It didn’t take me long to push open my door to see…

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Nao: “Mom? Alyson?”

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There’s no one here…

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“This just in, purple lightning is preventing officers from entering Hillview high school.”

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I look at the still running TV. On the screen is that same purple sky but now there’s purple lightning flashing in and outside the school.

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Nao: “Mom, Alyson…”

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I take off and run to school at top speed. I’m even tempted to pump all points into speed but I suppress the urge. Whatever this is, it’s more dangerous than anything I encountered so far. I might need the extra points for a new spell or some sudden stat increase.

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Better swap out spells too. I hover over magic missile but decide against it. I can’t surrender my new principles just because it gets hard. I decide to swap invisibility for magic shield instead.

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I got to the school to see some type of lightning cage over the school. Police surround the building but can’t get through. But that’s not what I care about the most. I see mom sitting next to the outer walls, head on her knees bawling her eyes out.

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I rush over and hug her hard. At first, she was confused but relief fills her when she realizes who I am.

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Nell: “N-Nao!?”

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Nao: “Hi mom, I’m glad you’re alright.”

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She returns my hug with twice the passion.

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Nell: “That’s what I should be saying, I’m so….so happy to see you alive. I thought I lost all my children.”

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Nao: “Not yet, you won’t lose either of us.”

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I look to the thunder cage with determination to stop the cause and save Alyson. I let go of mom and prepare to enter the fray. But as I’m about to I feel a tug on my arm.

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Nell: “Please…be safe and…save your sister. I want you to know that I’m sorry for withdrawing from you after learning the truth. But seeing you now, I know you’re no monster. You made a mistake but I know you’ll make things right.”

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I nod my head which causes mom to let go. I ignore the police’s warnings and activate my magic shield. I pass through the lightning beating over my shield and rush into the school.

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