Mahoutokoro
[May 1, 2004]
Light found it ironic that the same station and line that he killed Penber at was also the one where he was supposed to be picked up at for transport to a magical school. Light was dressed in the same suit he wore for his freshman address at To-Oh. He figured that if it was good for the top university of the country, and if his main credentials for this new job were to be his admission to the same, then the suit would work just fine. Maybe he should have brought the one with To-Oh's insignia embroidered at the breast?
"Yagami Light?" A voice asked. Light looked up from his mobile to see a dark skinned girl dressed in gold robes. She looked to be about the same age as him and strangely out of place in a metropolitan area. There was just something about that didn't fit in. Curiously, no one other than Light seemed to notice it. Magic, Light concluded.
"Yes." Light answered. The newly risen questions were noted down and tucked in a corner now. He would come back to them later when he had the resources he needed. "Are you the representative from Mahoutokoro?" The witch nodded.
"Sato Noriko," she introduced herself and gave a polite bow. Light bowed back. "Usually, we use giant storm petrels for the travel of day students. But you're a bit older and it wouldn't be comfortable." She put one hand into her pocket and pulled out a glowing scarf. "Portkey travel is safe but uncomfortable for first time users. Our apologies for the inconvenience." She smiled apologetically.
"My apologies for your inconvenience," Light replied politely and grabbed a hold of the scarf. A scarf that was implied to be able to teleport people. Light discreetly rubbed the pads on his thumb against the material. It was a normal, woolen scarf except for the fact that it was glowing neon. Fascinating. "Thank you for making the arrangement in the first place. I understand this must be rather irregular."
"It is," she agreed. "It is also not every day that one comes across a possessed human. There are not many of you around who haven't gone insane or killed themselves before we can get to them. If I may ask, what being are you possessed by? Is it a Yokai? A benevolent spirit? A kami?" She paused, looking at her watch. "I understand my question is rather invasive. You are not obligated to answer." That was good to know. Light now knew he had some rights in the magical community. "I would like to know all the same. As I said, we don't come across a sane possessed human often. They are all rather eccentric and off the rails in some way or another. You are-" she peers up at him, "-rather unique."
These people only knew he was a possessed human. Not that he was haunted by a Shinigami or that he had a Death Note. Neither could she see the Shinigami floating besides her, looking at the stick of wood attached to her hip curiously. Her words also didn't bode well for his future. Light remembered Ryuk saying how humans possessing a Death Note often went insane and killed themselves. Could it be because of an actual corrupting effect and not because they didn't have the mental strength necessary to live after having murder on their conscience?
"I would rather not say," was all Light said, mind already going over the changes in his psyche pre and post Death Note ownership. There was something there. Light had thought perhaps it was the mindset needed to use the Death Note for good. But what if he was wrong? What if-? No. Light only had only reference right now and that was Sato. He needed more information, more data points. Was there anyone else with a death note he could compare with? The second Kira? Other possessed humans? Was possession by Shinigami different as compared to possession by some other Being?
This was not a good time to think about this. He had an interview to get to, a magical school to tour and a Shinigami to avoid death by.
"Very well," Sato accepted his refusal placidly. Light gave him an apologetic smile. "Regardless, Mahoutokoro is willing to offer you the education and courses required for being part of this Magical World. We will even waive the fees as long as certain conditions are met. Not unlike your own scholarship at To-Oh." She paused before adding, "Portkey travel will be easier if you hold your breath." Light held his breath.
The sensation was like a hook pulling at him from behind his navel. Light closed his eyes as the world dissolved into spirals and nausea churned in his stomach. His feet hit the ground with a click. Light opened his eyes tentatively and was greeted by a bright white light. He squinted and blinked back tears as the light dimmed and their surroundings came into focus.
"We're here," Sato tugged the scarf out of Light's grip and tucked it back insider he pocket. "Welcome to Mahoutokoro."
*****
Light looked around the courtyard he had found himself in with barely suppressed awe. Mahoutokoro was a palace. A white palace made entirely of jade. This was like something right outside a story book. Who even made buildings out of jade? Wizards and witches, apparently. Given that teleportation was possible, was alchemy real as well? Turning things to precious metals like gold, or minerals like jade? Did they make the building out of normal stone and then transform it into jade? Or did they find a natural deposit and mined it to build a school? Light looked up, trying to gauge the height of the building, thinking about it's structural integrity and noticed black clouds over the top of one.
"Is there a volcano nearby?" Light asked absent-mindedly. His brain was working overtime to take in everything this new world opened up for him. Distantly, he heard the sonic sound of airplanes. "And an airport?"
"Yes," Sato said, surprised. "Mahoutokoro is one of the eleven great magic schools of the world and is located at the topmost point of Minami Iwo Jima. We have an active volcano. Great for geothermal magics and keeping away from muggle eyes. There is an airbase nearby and they get a bit too close for even the wards sometimes. You are very observant." Thus, Light concluded the jade was probably mined. Sato started walking, gesturing for Light to do the same. Light followed and their conversation resumed.
"Thank you," Light replied, a bit belatedly to Sato's complement. He was determined to know more about the magical world and Ryuk was a veritable font of random information. Keyword: random. Light really didn't need to know how the Shinigami game of 'Strangest way to kill someone' had resulted in Atlantis sinking. That information was a millennium too late to be made use of. Fascinating, but useless. "Speaking of observant," Light said lightly, sweetly, the friendly mask slipping back on firmly. "Your robes are gold. A few others we've seen all have different robes. Is there a meaning?"
"Our robes change color based on our achievements. Pink robes are for beginners," Sato explained. "As we gain experience and knowledge, the colors change and darken. Gold is the highest you can go." She said, her posture straight and chin upturned. "Gold means scoring highest in all the subjects we take."
"Congratulations," Light proceeded to praise the proud woman. He had another Takada in his hands and Light knew exactly how over-achieving, ambitious, proud women worked. They were always great to befriend and have for future contact. Easy to charm too. "Always nice to meet another person who knows the importance of hard work. It must have been difficult. It was for me-" Not. It was utterly boring and Light could have done the same three years ago. "-Are magical subjects different from muggle ones? What subjects do you take? What about career prospects? Do magical lives differ too much from muggle live style to have completely different jobs? Or are there overlaps?" Light paused, looked down, forced a few blinks and then added an inquiring question with bright eyes. "What do you plan to do in the future?"
"I plan to go for a double Masters in Defense and Charms," Sato said, pride in her voice. She glanced at Light with amusement in her eyes but didn't answer any more of his questions. That didn't matter for the purpose of the questions was to portray a certain character to Sato. Light smiled gently, curious and encouraging in his expression, turning the full focus on his attention on Sato. Her ears pinked. "Then- my brother is on the Japanese National Quidditch team this year. Sato Noriyuki. Chaser. I was thinking of joining after getting my Masters. I play as Seeker."
A name drop and a game. Quidditch. Light remembered that one. The Shinigami were all ardent fans of the sport. Ryuk went on and on about all the injuries and deaths that occurred during game play. Modern gameplay had reduced the fatality rate but the number of crippling injuries remained the same. Light could appreciate a game that got his adrenalin pumping and was a challenge. The risk of falling and being splattered on the ground as a bloody stain put a damper on it. Flying was a nice idea, but having only a piece of wood between himself and the ground 50 feet below was not. Why couldn't they just play on something safer like magic carpets? Levitating boots?
In conclusion, Quidditch was for idiots, those lacking common sense and self preservation. Light's estimations about Sato's usefulness and life expectancy decreased.
"The Japanese National Team is favorite for this year's Quidditch World Cup and the Toyohashi Tengu have held the Champions League Cup for four years running now," Sato bragged. Light thought that just meant they were talented idiots. "My brother is the star Chaser on both." If Quidditch mania was a family thing, then that meant Sato would likely meet the blunt end of a Bludger sooner than most. A shame. He would need to look into cultivating another contact just in case.
"That sounds wonderful," Light replied, sounding as impressed as he could. "Seems like talent runs in the family." Sato grinned at him, happy at the praise.
"It does," she said, not at all humble in front of what she considered well deserved praise. "We all work hard, of course, but talent does give us a head start on our competitors." Sato stopped in front of an ornately carved door. Light stopped and turned towards her. "Say, Yagami-san. Why Hogwarts?" Sato asked curiously. "Hogwarts might be the premier school of magic in Central Europe, but Mahoutokoro is just as old. We're ranked higher for our Academic prowess and sports as well. Mahoutokoro is the dream of every professional Quidditch aspirant."
Now, that was news to Light. He turned to look at Sato, taking her in more thoroughly. Being a top ranked student at Mahoutokoro, then, was equivalent to being a law student at Harvard. Sato was more talented than he had thought. Light had to make sure to get her number before leaving today. If she had a mobile phone. Did wizards and witches have phones? Light has not seen a single telephone line or cell tower since he had arrived at the island.
"Because," Light replied with half a truth and omitting the very important detail of his life being on the line. "The Being possessing me wanted to see the Tri-Wizard Tournament." Sato's eyes widened.
"He what-?! They did what?! Tri-wizard Tournament?!" Sato's said furiously. "If you get this job, Yagami-san, then we will need to have words."
"Why?" Light held onto the handle of the door, asking curiously. This sounded like something he could exploit to his advantage.
"Because if you get employed as the Muggle Studies Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, then you will be unofficially representing Japanese Wizards in a school hosting an international tournament with two other premiere school's of magic attending, along with their Ministries." Sato hissed. "Mahoutokoro is the only school of magic in Japan. And so help me, Kami, you will not shame our name in front of half the world!"
This.... seemed like politics was involved. Right. No pressure. First Ryuk, then Sato and then international diplomatic relations. Light almost wanted to give up. Throw the notebook at Ryuk and tell him to find entertainment in someone else. Almost. But he was Yagami Light, savior and fledging God of the New World. He could do this. He had to. No one else could.
Wait. Sato mentioned 'kami' twice in their conversation. Magic exists. Ryuk exists. So, Light asked with existential crisis creeping over him, could he even really be God of the new World. Logic aside, were there magical reasons for and against the idea? Were there restrictions and rules? Ryuk said there was no after life, so Light had assumed there was no God too. And with magic in the mix... And what does this mean for religion? What is the difference between magic and miracle? Was Light really doing justice or was he simply a human with a magic notebook? Where was the line in the sand?
Overhead, Ryuk's laughter echoed from the sky, his shadow stark on the ground. Sato looked up, trying to see the source of the shade. Light closed his eyes, took in a deep breath and pushed down the existential crisis and hysteria back into the depths of his mind. Light had an interview to ace. He opened his eyes, let go of his breath and pushed open the door.