After the encounter with Via, Luca decided to go to the hideout…for…reasons even unknown to us. 

[Hope Marie doesn't notice I was lying] 

Flash back to this morning…

“Luca, are you available afterclass?”

“Umm…maybe tomorrow Marie, I…Have something to do”

“I…see”

[Huh, that was easy] 

Now…

As he walked towards the hideout, he looked at the darkening sky. 

[To be honest, It’s nice that Marie is teaching me, but…sometimes I can’t keep up]

“But…it’s not really her fault, she’s already using her time to teach me”, he said out loud as he scratched the back of his head. 

As he reached the hideout, suddenly…screames rather girlish screams? could be heard from inside the hideout. 

[Oh no, what’s this time]

Suddenly the hideout’s door burst open and the three of them lunged towards him.

“BRO HELP”, Bon said as he was slowly crushing Luca’s ribs

“OW HEY-”

“PLEASE SAVE US”, Butterouse screamed as he hugged Luca’s legs.

“GUYS STOP-”

“BROO, PLEASE”, Light said. 

“GUYS FOR GOD SAKE GET OFF OF ME!”, Luca said as he smacked their heads one by one. 

“Sorry”, they all said.

“Okay, what’s wrong, why did you scream like that?”

They were shaking, especially Bon. 

[Sheesh, even Bon was scared? I thought nothing could scare a guy like him]

“Guys, cmon, tell me-”

“Hey Luca”,  Suddenly a voice said.

“Hey Marie”, he replied. 

[Wait…Marie?]

He then looked at where the door was.

She was there.

Standing there…menancingly.

[Wh…WHY IS SHE HERE?] 

His body started shaking and he fell to the ground.

“Hey…Marie…Why are you here?”

“You said you had something to do”, she said as she started approaching him. 

[OH NO SHE KNOWS]

[Obviously]

[SHUT UP] 

“Umm, yeah, I…I-”

“So, I decided to just invite myself here, and wait for you”, she said as she looked down on him.

“I…see, but Marie…how did you even find this place?”, he said.

She then pointed at the air? 

[Huh? what is it?]

“Traces of your mana is here, so I just followed it and it lead me here” 

[Wait, you can do that?]

[Yes]

[WHY DIDN’T-]

[...]

[Okay fine, I should have asked] 

Bon, Light, and Butterouse then hugged Luca from behind. 

“Please bro…she’s scary…”

“We tried to say you were away, but she won’t…leave”

“Please just…listen to her bro” 

“Why are you guys scared of her?” 

[She’s not so scary, sure I am scared, but that’s because I lied…and got caught] 

Luca then stood up. 

“Well, Marie, this is not the library, I don’t think we even do any studyi-”

She then showed her palm.

“I want you to show me”

“Huh?”

“Let’s practice…together”, she said.

“Oh…umm…okay?”,  he said.

[Huh…never thought she would study like this, but…sure I guess] 

She then extended her arm and opened her hand. A red complex looking magic circle appeared on her palm, facing the sky. 

“Inferno”, she said as a wave of fire was shot out of it. 

Luca’s eyes widened with awe.

His jaw slightly dropped.

The delinquents were still shaking and hugging each other in fear.  

[Honestly…I shouldn’t be surprised at this point]

As the spell dissipated, she closed her palm

“I want you to learn that spell”

“Huh? but that’s a mastery magic spell, I barely can do advanc-”

She put her finger on her lip, shutting him up. 

“Try” 

Luca sighed. 

[Well, it doesn't hurt to have it, We did discuss it yesterday] 

He extended his arm. His palm facing the sky. 

He closed his eyes.

[Okay…so…it’s just making flames…then…spread it right?]

A magic circle was forming.

As it formed, it gained complexity slowly.

[Okay…spread…then…wave-NGHH]

The magic circle was fading.

Luca felt a slight pain in his right arm.

[My…mana…I-]

His breathing hastened.

His heart was racing.

[Calm…down…concentrate-]

“Calm down Luca”, Marie said as she touched his hand

“Marie…”

“Concentrate…just keep going”

He closed his eyes again, concentrating again, forming the circle again. 

[Wave…flame…spread…]

As it reached complexity, an uncontrollable wave of flames spouted out from the circle.

His eyes widened.

Even with the pain, he smiled.

[That’s…cool] 

The fire had brightened up the night sky.

Even when chaotic, he couldn’t help but be happy. 

[I…did it] 

As the spell subsided, Luca fell to the ground.

He held his right hand, feeling the pain again. 

“Good job, Luca”, Marie said. 

“Thank you”

He pant slightly, trying to catch his breath.

He saw the starry night.

[Hope…I can do it again-]

‘Now, do it again”

“...what?”

“You forgot to stabilize the flame and you need to adjust the flow better”

[...she…she’s not serious right?]

“Also, You almost burn your own hideout and the forest around us, I helped adjusted it so you won’t hit our surroundings” 

“Marie…I-”

“Don’t worry about the pain, I can heal you”, She said with a small smile on her face.

He gulped.

“Okay”