Oz Bezarius just wanted a normal first day of the new term at Latwidge Academy. Instead, he overslept, nearly tripped over a parade of black cats, and arrived at his desk to find a fluffy black rabbit plushie with a name tag reading "Alice" and a serious attitude problem.
The plushie talks. It demands. And according to it, Oz is now its property.
As a member of a family of Storytellers—those who wield Echo Magic to breathe life into objects—Oz knows the strange rules of his world better than m
Pandora Academy: After-School Aviss - The sun can't shine alone—once more, together with companions.
The light of shattered window glass still lingered behind his eyelids.
The night's chill clung to his skin. Shards of glass scattered across the floor. The wounds on his fists. Alice's name tag. Whether he'd cried himself to sleep or not, even with his eyes open, it took him a moment to recognize that this was his own room.
Oz Bezarius slowly pushed himself upright.
He was still wearing yesterday's clothes. Wrinkled, smelling of blood. Outside the window, the morning light shone white. The birdsong sounded strangely distant.
(Alice...)
He called her name in his mind. No answer. Of course not. She wasn't here.
Oz sat on the edge of the bed, unable to move for a while. His head was a mess. The Mad Hatter's words echoed over and over in the back of his ears.
—Do you have the right to protect her?
"...Shut up."
Saying it out loud made him feel a little better. But soon enough, he was dragged back down to the bottom again.
Because he was weak. Because he was powerless. Alice had been taken away.
Oz opened and closed his battered fist. It hurt. But even this pain felt like punishment for himself.
Then he noticed something white lying under the bed.
(...What's that?)
Oz slowly bent down. He reached out. His fingertips touched soft cloth.
It was Alice's name tag.
A small piece of cloth with "Alice" written on it. The one that was always pinned to her chest.
Oz picked up the name tag.
The cloth was a little dirty. But the letters were clearly legible.
"Alice."
He clutched the name tag tight.
And in that moment—
—Oz, you're a child like the sun.
His mother's voice echoed in his head.
—But you know, even the sun can't shine alone.
It was something he'd heard as a small child—his mother's final words.
—It only shines when someone lights it up.
Oz held his breath.
He could barely remember his mother's face anymore. But her voice—that he remembered clearly.
A child like the sun.
Oz had clung to those words all this time.
If he smiled brightly, someone would turn to look at him. If he helped people in trouble, someone would need him. That was how he'd built his place in the world.
But the truth was—
(I was just scared of being alone.)
Oz tightened his grip on the name tag.
Acting cheerful wasn't about keeping his mother's words alive. It was because he wanted someone to need him.
When Alice said, "You're my property," some part of him had been happy.
Those words were a plea for a place to belong—for both of them.
"...I see."
Oz let out a small breath.
And then he remembered another set of words.
—It's not your fault.
Gilbert's voice.
At the time, he couldn't believe it. Because he'd been so sure it was his fault.
But it wasn't.
Bottling it all up alone, blaming himself without cause—what did that accomplish?
Nothing.
Oz lifted his head.
"...I'm done trying to do everything by myself."
He said it out loud, making it a vow.
"I'm going to ask for help."
Oz stood up.
His legs wobbled. But he wasn't going to hesitate anymore.
He would save Alice. And to do that, he'd rely on his comrades.
That was the first step he could take, right here and now.
Oz knocked on the door to Gilbert's room.
"Gil, you in there?"
No answer.
He knocked again, harder.
"...Gil."
He heard movement on the other side of the door. The tap of a crutch against the floor.
The door slowly opened.
Gilbert stood there.
His black hair was disheveled, his face pale. His right arm was in a sling, a crutch tucked under his arm. His golden eyes widened slightly when he saw Oz.
" Oz... your face."
" Gil."
Oz stood before Gilbert.
And then he bowed deeply.
" I'm sorry, Gil. I was carrying everything alone. I couldn't hear what you were trying to tell me. ...I need your help."
Silence.
Gilbert said nothing.
Oz kept his head bowed and continued.
" I want to save Alice. But I can't do anything alone. So—I need your strength."
Silence again.
Oz couldn't bring himself to look at Gilbert's face.
He might get yelled at. He might get called an idiot. But even so, he had no choice but to ask.
"...Finally, you idiot."
Gilbert's voice was shaking.
Oz timidly raised his head.
Gilbert was fighting back tears. The corner of his mouth was trembling.
" ...How many years has it been since you honestly asked for help?"
" Gil..."
" Of course I'd say that. If you hadn't come to me, what was I supposed to do?"
Gilbert threw aside his crutch.
It clattered to the floor.
Then he grabbed Oz's shoulder with his one good hand, gripping hard.
" A servant who can't be of use to you is worthless."
" Gil...!"
Oz pressed his forehead against Gilbert's chest.
" Thank you, Gil. ...Thank you."
" ...Idiot. Save the thanks for after we rescue Alice."
Gilbert's hand came to rest on Oz's head.
The wall between master and servant was gone now.
It was an hour later that they visited Sharon's estate.
Oz and Gilbert passed through the gates of the Rainsworth mansion.
The roses in the garden looked a little wilted. Perhaps it was the lingering effect of yesterday's black mist.
Break was waiting at the entrance.
His silver hair was tied back, and bandages wrapped around his left eye. Even so, he was chewing on a candy as usual.
" Oh my, young master. And Gilbert too. The two of you together—how rare."
" Break, where's Sharon?"
" The young lady is resting in her room. She's had a high fever since last night, you see."
" Even so, I need to see her. There's something I have to discuss."
Break smiled brightly.
" Of course, that's fine. I'm sure the young lady will perk up a bit with you here, young master."
Oz looked at Break's left eye.
" ...Break, your eye."
" Ah, this? I let the shadows get the better of me a bit. My vision hasn't returned yet, but well—it's nothing life-threatening."
" ...I'm sorry."
" That's nothing for you to apologize for, young master. Now then, do go see the young lady. I'm sure she's been waiting impatiently."
Guided by Break, Oz headed for Sharon's room.
Gilbert stayed behind to wait in the drawing room on the first floor.
Sharon's room was dim.
The curtains were drawn, and Sharon lay on the bed.
Her chestnut hair clung to her forehead with sweat, and her pale violet eyes were glazed with fever. Her face was terribly pale.
" ...Oh, Lord Oz. I'm sorry you have to see me like this."
" Sharon, don't push yourself. You can stay in bed."
Oz sat down in the chair beside the bed.
" Lord Oz, is Alice...?"
" We still haven't found her. But I will save her. That's why I need your help, Sharon."
Oz looked at Sharon directly.
" I can't do this alone. So please—lend me your strength."
Sharon gazed at Oz for a moment.
Then she smiled softly.
" ...I'm worried about Alice too. I won't let you go alone."
" Sharon, but your body—"
" I'm fine. This much is nothing."
Sharon slowly sat up.
She braced her unsteady body against the edge of the bed.
" Young lady, you mustn't overdo it."
Break was standing in the doorway before anyone noticed.
" Break, you'll come too, won't you?"
" Yes, of course. If the young lady is going, I'll accompany you."
Break pulled a candy from his pocket and tossed it into his mouth.
" My left eye still hasn't recovered, but well—I can fight well enough with one. Besides—"
Break grinned.
" So the young master has finally decided to get serious. I couldn't possibly miss this."
" Break... you too?"
" Oh my, was I being a nuisance?"
" ...No. I'm grateful. Thank you."
Oz thanked him honestly.
Then Sharon pulled a harisen fan from beside the bed.
" ...Lord Oz, take this."
" Huh, why me?"
" No, that's not it. This is my keepsake. I just want you to carry it."
" Keepsake...? Are you sure you're okay? That fever hasn't fried your brain?"
" Fufu, how rude. Even like this, I can stand perfectly well."
Sharon rose from the bed, harisen in hand.
Her body swayed.
" Young lady!"
Break caught her immediately.
" ...Thank you, Break."
" Young lady, this really is too much. Please rest."
" No, I'm going. I can't lie here alone while everyone goes to save Alice."
Sharon's eyes, though glazed with fever, held a strong will.
" Besides, Break—you've been chewing that candy far too loudly this whole time. It's annoying."
" Oh my, my apologies. I'll be more careful."
" Fufu, I'm joking. ...Hearing the sound of your candy calms me down."
With that, Sharon brought the harisen down lightly on Break's head.
A crisp smack rang out.
" Ouch. Young lady, you're sick and yet your strength is the same as ever."
" Yes—that's the one thing that won't heal even if I die."
Their usual back-and-forth.
Watching them, Oz felt his heart lighten, just a little.
When they returned to the Bezarius estate, Ada was waiting at the entrance.
" Big Brother! And Gil too! Thank goodness, you're both safe!"
Ada threw her arms around Oz.
" Ada, sorry for worrying you. ...Huh, where's Uncle?"
" Uncle's in the backyard getting the barbecue ready. He said, 'So the moment Alice comes home, I can grill the meat!'"
" Uncle never changes."
Oz smiled wryly.
" Ada, there's something I need to tell you. I'm going to save Alice. I'm going to storm the shadows' stronghold."
" ...Big Brother, are you serious?"
" Yeah, I'm serious. That's why I need your help, Ada."
" My help...?"
" Your occult collection. Do you have any charms or talismans that could work against the shadows?"
Ada's eyes lit up.
" Of course I do! Just wait here!"
With that, Ada dashed up to the second floor.
A short while later, she came back carrying an old box.
" Here! There's an incredibly powerful charm in here!"
Ada opened the box.
It was packed full of all sorts of suspicious-looking implements.
" When did you even collect all this...?"
" I've been collecting ever since you fell into the Abyss, Big Brother. To save you!"
" ...Ada."
Learning of his little sister's devotion, Oz's chest grew warm.
Ada pulled an old charm from the box.
" Big Brother, you should use this. It weakens the power of the shadows. It should help."
" Thank you, Ada. I'll take good care of it."
Oz accepted the charm.
Just then, a hearty laugh came from the backyard.
"All right, I've got plenty of meat ready! We can grill anytime!"
Oscar was laughing as he prepared the charcoal.
" Uncle, I'm back."
" Oh, Oz! You came at just the right time! Eat some meat and get your energy up!"
" Uncle, there's something I need to tell you. I'm going to save Alice now."
Oscar stopped what he was doing and looked at Oz.
" ...I see. You're going."
" Yeah. So I need your help too, Uncle."
" My help? You mean my meat-grilling skills?"
" No. The power of the Bezarius Door's key."
Oscar laughed heartily.
" I see! For my nephew, I'd lend it gladly!"
Oscar removed his ring.
" This is the key to the Bezarius Door. It should open the path to where Alice is."
" Thank you, Uncle."
Oz took the ring.
" ...Oz."
Oscar's expression suddenly turned serious.
" Don't do anything reckless. You're my precious son, you hear me?"
" ...Uncle."
Oz felt a sting behind his nose at Oscar's words.
" ...Yeah, I know. I'll come back properly."
Oz showed him a smile.
At dusk, Oz and the others headed for the Grimheart Forest.
Oz, Gilbert, Sharon, and Break—four of them.
Sharon walked on her own two feet, though Break supported her.
Gilbert walked beside Oz, leaning on his crutch.
" Gil, don't push yourself. You're injured."
" You're one to talk. Don't do anything reckless. I'm your guard, after all."
" What kind of guard uses a crutch?"
" Shut up. Even like this, I can protect you."
The two of them traded jabs as they made their way through the forest.
The sky was stained red.
The shadows of the trees stretched long.
" ...From here on, we stay sharp."
Break crunched down on his candy.
A dry crack echoed.
That was when it happened.
"Oh my, what a large group."
The voice came from above.
Oz's he
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