The black shell of the domain dissipated.
In the deep pit, Geto Suguru lay sprawled on the ground, disheveled, staring absently at the starry night sky.
Gojo Shion stepped forward, lying down beside him and propping his head on his hands. Neither spoke. The cool evening breeze ruffled their hair and slipped into their sleeves, bringing a faint chill.
"Shion, what do you think is the purpose of a sorcerer's existence?" Geto asked suddenly.
Shion smirked. "Purpose? There isn't one. It's just a profession, like being a driver or a doctor. The meaning comes from the sorcerer themselves. Each one finds it differently."
"Is that so…" Geto exhaled, a faint smile of disappointment tugging at his lips. "I've always had 'protect the weak' drilled into me, but it seems I've never found the real purpose of my life. I just… cursed myself."
Shion waved a hand. "Don't be ridiculous. You've got decades ahead of you. If you feel lost, drift along a bit. It's not the end yet."
Geto scratched his head, then asked, "Something else has been bothering me. Back then, when you faced the Star Plasma Cult, you killed them all without hesitation. So why protect these villagers now? By your logic, scum goes to hell. Do these people count?"
Shion rolled his eyes. "Sometimes I really can't stand you and Satoru. You two overthink everything."
He looked around, voice calm but firm. "Put yourself in the villagers' shoes. They cannot see cursed spirits. Strange things start happening, people go mad or die, panic spreads. You worry for your family, friends, or yourself. At every incident, you notice two little girls at the scene, acting oddly. How would you react?"
Geto stroked his chin, dazed. "Well… I'd probably suspect them."
Shion shrugged. "Exactly. Even you feel that way. Now imagine villagers from a remote mountain area, uneducated, fearful. That fear fuels their suspicion."
"Does that justify abusing those two sisters?" Geto asked, voice sharp.
"That's human nature. Fear of the unknown makes people lash out. Ignorance is dangerous."
Shion's gaze softened slightly, sweeping over the returning villagers who had gathered courage to peek from the shadows. "I admit their behavior was terrible, but it came from fear and ignorance—they're idiots at most. Contrast that with the Cult. They understood magic and incantations, yet still killed an innocent girl. That's scum. A fool is pitiable, sometimes hateful, but scum is irredeemable."
Geto fell silent, letting out a long, helpless sigh. "You think farther and deeper than I do, Shion."
Shion stood, brushing himself off. "Our fight was done openly. I'll write a self-criticism report when we return. And you, Suguru, threatening villagers like that? You owe me an apology."
Geto's eye twitched. "Hi… hi…"
Snap!
A rock flew from the shadows, bouncing off Shion's Mugen.
"You monsters! Get out of our village!" The village chief bellowed, leaning on his cane.
Shion's expression darkened. "Suguru, no apology necessary, but let me add—idiots may not deserve to die, but they do deserve a lesson."
"Spell Sequence: Azure!"
The villagers' feet lifted off the ground, rising rapidly. Houses shrank to pinpoints below. Panic erupted in screams as they free-fell, the cycle repeating until the lift returned them gently each time.
Shion laughed softly, enjoying the spectacle, while Geto covered his face. "You're worse than me."
A soft voice came from beside Geto. He turned to see Nanako and Mimiko Kasaba, timid and huddled together. One of the brown-haired girls dabbed a tattered handkerchief on Geto's face.
"Uh… thank you," he said.
"No… you're welcome."
"Are you guys… monsters too?" Nanako asked, eyes wide.
Shion chuckled, kneeling to ruffle their hair as the reversal spell activated. Their wounds vanished instantly.
"We're not monsters. We're sorcerers," he said.
Nanako and Mimiko gaped. "Wow… that's amazing! Can we do that too?"
"Sure," Geto said softly, feeling a weight lift from his chest, rediscovering purpose. "From now on, I'll teach you."
Suddenly:
"Shion!"
Shion raised his hand guiltily. "Mori! I know I was wrong!"
Masamichi Nocturne delivered a swift punch to Shion's head, leaving a smoking red bump.
"You threw over a hundred villagers into the air like a bungee ride, causing chaos for half an hour! Over fifty fainted, more than thirty developed acrophobia, some wet themselves, and over a dozen elders had heart attacks!"
"I healed them with a reversal technique…" Shion mumbled.
"You brat!" Masamichi twitched. "Do you realize the logistics department came to my office over the resettlement and confidentiality issues?"
Shion grinned cheekily. "No problem, Mori-sai. The Gojo family will cover the expenses."
Masamichi rubbed his temples. "Forget it for now."
Shion exhaled, relieved, but Masamichi's gaze lingered. "By the way, Shion, according to eyewitnesses, you and Suguru seemed to have fought. What happened? What did Suguru do?"
Shion shrugged lazily, flashing a cheeky grin. "I don't know!"
Geto sighed quietly, shaking his head.
---