The Phantom’s Gambit

[I am not sneaking into Wysteria as a cat on your behalf, Ovavius.] Void voice raised in protest as he trailed behind Octavius.

Octavius rolled his eyes at the nickname. "That's not what we're doing."

[We?] He scoffed. [Until you have a concrete plan, I'm not going to be a part of anything you want to theorize.]

Octavius turned to Void, his stride unwavering. "Fine. Do something about it, then."

[What?]

"You don't want to help me out? Then don't. I'm not holding you, am I?"

With that, Octavius turned and continued walking towards the exit. Void, preparing to return to his reserved room, spun on his heels. But his movement was abruptly halted when fragments of his spectral body began to fade away rapidly.

It dawned on Void that his connection to Octavius was the source of his stability. Without the anchor of Octavius' physical body, Void's essence was dispersing into nothingness.

Groaning in frustration, Void hastened to catch up with Octavius, his ethereal form fluttering back into cohesion as he drew closer to his reluctant host.

Octavius halted at the spot where Void had parked the carriage, only to find it gone.

 [Where are you going?] Void asked, as soon as he approached him.

Octavius turned to face him. "I thought you didn't want to come."

[Well, I can't have you running around in a dangerous field when you're yet to consent to me taking ownership of your body once you die.]

Octavius' gaze swept the empty space where the carriage had been. "Where did the carriage go?"

[Alaric must have dealt with it. Probably for the best, so no one can trace the dead man to his house. Again, where are you going?]

"Who's Alaric to you?"

[Is it just me, or are you avoiding the question of 'where you're going?]

Octavius continued still ignoring, Void question. "Because you two seemed awfully close. And for someone who had just sprung out from the world of the unknown, he seemed to be very receptive in hosting you. Who is he?"

[A vampire. One I saved when he was just twelve years old. His parents had made a pact with malevolent forces, practicing blood magic that ultimately led to their downfall. Demons came for them, slaughtering his family... and I inadvertently granted him a twisted gift. Now, he's repaying the debt.]

"Practiced blood magic? Wow. But according to the adage, vampires don't age. But Alaric—"

[Let me guess, your adage also claims that crucifixes burn Vampires and sunlight turns them to dust?] Void asked Octavius, cutting him short. [Well, sorry to shatter your illusions, but crucifixes don't do them shit, unless they're, of course, scorching hot. Why do you people always assume dark magic is the most perilous of all? What do you even think dark magic entails?]

 "Well, magic... that is dark?" Octavius stuttered out.

Void scoffed [You think it's that simple? You believe dark magic is merely a matter of tapping into 'vile powers'?]

Octavius nodded. "Well, either way, I know it's bad and dangerous."

[That's a naive perspective. The truth is, people who practice dark magic aren't inherently evil or dangerous. They're desperate beings, driven by circumstance. And dark magic itself? It's not as formidable as you think. Any low-ranking demon can grant people powers in exchange for a price. The real power lies not in practicing or wielding magic, but in being born with it.]

Void closed the distance between them. [Now, tell me where you were headed.]

"To test out a theory. And I needed you outside because you wouldn't agree if I had asked."

[What theory?] Void asked suspiciously.

Octavius pointed to an eagle perched nearby, its talons grasping a struggling worm. "Enter the bird's body."

Without warning, Void's essence dissipated, and he possessed the eagle's body. The bird's beak froze, its gaze snapping towards Octavius as if suddenly aware of its new, unwelcome passenger.

[What did you do? Get me out of here!] The bird squeaked out but only Octavius could understand his words. Octavius smiled delightedly. He might not have magic, but this is something that can surely get him into the Academy for sure.

Just as Octavius was about to expel Void from the bird's body, a feminine voice interrupted him. "Who are you?"

Octavius turned to face the speaker, his eyes locking onto the girl from earlier. She stood before him, her expression puzzled, still wearing the same attire.

Octavius' nervousness got the better of him, and he instinctively scratched his head. His eyes darted downward, ensuring he wasn't experiencing another embarrassing situation.

Reassured, he turned back to the girl, his words tumbling out in a stutter. "We met earlier... sorry about... earlier."

[Do you not hear me? Let me out!] Void's squeaks of protest came from behind, but Octavius ignored him.

The girl's gaze roamed over Octavius' face, her eyes narrowed. "You look different."

Octavius' brow furrowed, unsure what she meant. Then, he recalled the makeover Void had performed on his body. A faint flush rose to his cheeks.

"Are you over eighteen?" she inquired.

Octavius hesitated, unsure how to respond. Before he could answer, the girl added, "I'm asking because of the passage rites, happening in a week's time."

At the mention of passage rites, Octavius' gaze snapped away from the bird—still possessed by Void—and locked onto the girl.

"I'm over eighteen," Octavius said, "but do you think I can get in with a talent I've mastered over the past months?"

When Octavius father was Headmaster of Wysteria academy, he allowed people with exterodianly Talent who couldn't wield magic to attend. He wasn't sure things would still be the same since his father had been replaced.

The girl's expression turned thoughtful. "I'm not certain. Unless... it's something truly appealing. Can I see what that talent is?"

Octavius turned to the bird, which was still giving him a withering stare. "Hop on one foot, birdie," Octavius ordered.

The bird, however, refused to budge. 

[Are you mad?] Void asked Octavius after a minute and nothing happened.

Octavius chuckled, turning back to the girl. 

"So, you talk to birds?" she asked, with an unimpressed tone.

"No, but I can tame any creature."

[You can?]

"You can?" The girl asked too, her voice overlapping with Void's.

Her eyes sparkled with interest. "That's impressive. I think the Academy makes allowances for exceptional talents. So, maybe you should apply... after the Passage rites, if... you really can tame creatures."

She smiled, extending her hand. "I'm Amy, by the way. Nice meeting you."

Octavius took it, but before he could introduce himself too, she withdrew her hand and turned to leave. 

"I've got to go. I'm looking for my cat. I don't shower without him."

With a wave, she disappeared into the house. Octavius watched her go, realizing he didn't introduce himself.

But he felt a wave of relief that she hadn't expected him to. He was still yet to think of a name.

[Put me back in the cat!] Void's squeaks, still emanating from the bird, jolted Octavius out of his thoughts.

"Why?" Octavius asked, genuinely curious.

[I need a good bath too.]

Octavius' rolled his eyes, and he began to walk back towards the house. 

[What? You didn't seem to mind putting me in the cat's body before!] Void indignantly, yelled after Octavius.