10. I am a wizard

"We were locked up in that really cool place before, weren't we?!" He said as if making fun of me who had been locked up there, and it reminded me of our togetherness when we were both prisoners in that place. "He won't dare to approach it because of Falak. You should know that not only can the snake eat a sleeping prisoner while there is still light in the sky, it can actually eat a lot more than that."

"What do you mean?." I stared intently at the man who was still enjoying his chips, I didn't know what variant this time. "Falak will swallow that creature alive and you ask me to get his protection from it?"

Antony nodded. "Just take advantage of Falak's existence, for a while, until we know how to get rid of the creature," He explained, "hide in Azalea's place" Again, he suggested with a serious face.

For a moment I thought, might be a help for me though I was not completely sure. "Are you coming?" Honestly, I wanted him to come with me. Either because I might already know that he was actually nice, or because he was the one who had been pacing for the past few days in front of my house.

"No," he replied, "that barbarian child will drop me again. I'll find ways to get rid of the creature." He opened a few new packs again. "Let's meet the guard first, then I'll take you straight to Azalea. Tell her that you will stay there and take care of all your life here, leave it for the time being."

...

Confused, I didn't know how I would start and what to start first. I couldn't have suddenly resigned from my job, then came to Azalea's place and said that I was being chased by a creature that I didn't even know what it was. I also didn't know how to explain to mom that I wouldn't be enrolling in my master next semester, along with everything else. It was too heavy for me.

I looked outside, hoping to find another better way out. "Isn't there another way but to leave all this behind? I'm not like you who might just walk away. I have a job, I have to get my resignation letter done first, and of course I can't possibly tell them what really happened" The burden felt so unbearably heavy.

"I already told my mother that I would continue my studies next semester, while working. Mother has prepared everything. My supervisor has also already known if I will continue my research. How can I tell my friends; Ery and Emma? I can't leave suddenly like I have nothing here" Really, I was damned confused.

"Think about the good things" Antonie answered lightly, as if he didn't feel the burden I felt. "Regarding what you will choose later, I really hope you hide at Azalea's place first. I'm sure he is like the old time, will suddenly disappear into the blue and will come out of the blue too, out of your awareness," He said.

I turned my attention to Mickey who was sitting in a chair not far from Antonie. The chubby cat just kept quiet, didn't give any advice, and that made me even more dizzy. "I think I should ask my mother first. If I really can't continue next semester, I'll apply for another year. I will also say that to my preceptor."

At this point, I also had to admit who I was. "I am a wizard, although the blood of the wizard is not entirely in my body, I have a responsibility for what I have" I learned from my experience yesterday, while handling the Summer case. I didn't want to be another Summer and make a fuss like her; took many victims and sacrificed manything. I wanted everything here to stay safe. If Falak could save me, it wouldn't be a problem if I got locked up again for the umpteenth time. I'd gotten used to the place, anyway.

"I think I should contact my mother first." Honestly, when I made this decision, I was still confused about how to convince mom and what reason I should make. "I will tell her that I will resign from where I work" I couldn't imagine how my mother would react when hearing my words, even though she had told me that I could work and she would still pay for my studies.

"I also intend to postpone my studies until next year. I really want this to be over and I'm going to start all over again." The plan was, I'd stay at my house in town and go back to Emma's. She'd also agreed to this. But what I could do, I could only plan." I hope your method works, because if it doesn't, I'll beat you to a pulp!" I threatened Antonie.

…

Antonie took Mickey and me to Erick's house. I guessed he should know this time. I'd been hiding a lot of things from him and I didn't want to disappoint him when he found out how much I lied to him. Even all this time, he didn't know that the chubby could talk, unlike Emma. "I can't imagine what the hot mouthed expression would be, if I found out that this cat is as fussy as him, even worse," I said half-jokingly.

Mickey clawed at my shirt, looking annoyed. "I'm not fussy, Tha, just talkative!" I rolled my eyes after hearing his defense, it sounded the same to me.

Erick's mother took me to the kitchen, and there I saw her son washing the dishes. After putting Mickey down, I sat on one of the chairs in the dining room and said, "Ery, I have a lot of dirty dishes in my house too. If you don't mind, can you wash it all down?" I said, meaning to tease him.

Instantly he splashed the water in his hand, it slid down my face. "Eh, I mean it, you have to help me clean the house!" I exclaimed fiercely, bulging my eyes to help my act.

"I'm not a maid, damn it!" He said angrily and even cursed at me, and I knew it was all just a joke. "Why did you come here and carry a lump of fat?" I felt like bursting into laughter out loud hearing the nickname Erick gave to Mickey. However, I tried to hold it back when I saw the angry expression of that puffy.

It felt like I was having the final exams if I had to talk about this with Erick. We sat across from each other, with Antonie beside me. "Candidate?," Said the spicy mouth heartlessly.

I immediately hit his arm really hard. "If you repeat it one more time, I'll make sure your arm will disappear!," I rebuked, to which Erick glared back, while Antonie giggled. "Ery, I want to say something, but please don't be surprised?"

Now, Erick looked at me seriously. "You want to get married?" It wouldn't be wrong if I labeled him hot-mouthed, because besides being such an annoying person to talk with, he also hardly thought first what he would utter.

I took the wooden chopsticks that were on the dining table, broke them right in front of his face while saying, "After this, don't ask me where your fingers are missing!" Then, I put the chopsticks, now broken in two, right in front of him again.

I glanced cynically at Antonie who was now looking at me with an innocent expression. "You better shut up too!" I warned him.

Erick shrugged his shoulders, a sign that he didn't care about my bluff. "Okay, say what you want to talk about."

"Ery, do you remember the person who delivered the knife? A woman and a man you said were dressed strangely?" After a moment of thinking, Erick nodded. Therefore, I again said, "I actually work for that woman" I said honestly.

Erick's expression immediately changed, I couldn't describe it. "What kind of work did you do with that woman? How come you never said it?" I was confused how to explain to him that I was actually Azalea's subordinate. Therefore, I just kept quiet and listened until he finished speaking.

"Are you sure she's a good person? How can you work for someone like that? Can't you pick a completely 'normal' person for you to work with?" Honestly, I couldn't really say anything when he started babbling like this.

Erick's expression immediately changed, I couldn't describe it. "What kind of work did you do with that woman? How come you never said it?" I was confused, how could I explain to him that I was Azalea's subordinate. Therefore, I just kept quiet and listened until he finished speaking.

"Are you sure she's a good person? How can you work for someone like that? Can't you pick a completely 'normal' person for you to work with?" Honestly, I couldn't really say anything when he started babbling like this.

Until finally, Antonnie whispered to me, saying that he could use his magic on Erick, but I forbade him. "Don't worry, it will stop on its own. It's an old disease, so don't be surprised," I said.