See prev posts for the full context, and can’t get “Cyrus covers for a murder” out of my headddd (short blurb below the cut)
“S-Sir,” a familiar voice, hiccuping and sobbing. “Sir!”
Cyrus rolls his eyes, uncrossing his legs and shutting his book as he glances up at the bumbling idiot in front of him.
The fairy cuts himself off at the scene in front of him. The typically put-together (if not chronically anxious) wizard was hunched over what looked to be a cardboard box, one hand visibly bloodied, all as his face contorts into what could only be described as deep, deep anguish.
“What on earth?” He murmurs to himself.
“S-Sir, I-I-I-“ Viktor stumbles over his words, chest heaving as spit pooled and dribbled out of his mouth, coating his face alongside an ocean of tears. Gross. “I got sent to Nevada by Mr. Durm b-because- he- he told me there were a bunch of dangerous mages but when I got there- I-“
The words all fall out of Viktor’s mouth at once as he, as gently as he can in his current state, places the box onto Cyrus’ desk. Suddenly straight-faced, the fairy prince leers over the edge.
Humans. Smaller than even Cyrus himself, stood wide-eyed in the cardboard container, seemingly less concerned than the man in front of him despite a similar air of terror wafting from them.
“What happened.” It was more of a statement than a question, Cyrus’ eyes locking onto Viktor’s trembling palm, caked in semi-dried gore.
“They’re college kids!” Viktor continues his spiel, anxiously pacing the room now that his hands were empty. “O-On the drive home, one of them told me he still lives with his parents! With his parents! A-And Durm wanted to-“
Cyrus blinks. Suddenly, it all fell into place.
He’d tried to warn idiots like him before- the underbelly of this company was, more than anything else, a hit organization. Break too many rules as a magic-user, be it in this world or any side dimension Glasson also tended to rule with an iron fist, and you were guaranteed to go conveniently missing.
“And you came to visit me right after dropping them off.” Cyrus states, boots clicking on the tabletop of his desk as he approached and rang a charmed bell near the edge.
“W-What?” Viktor sniffles, briefly caught off guard by his higher-up’s reaction. Truthfully, he didn’t know what he expected. Reprimanding? Execution? Something worse?
His intern, a lanky, quiet, and freshly-graduated Rani opens the door. They steal one glance at Viktor before turning towards their boss.
“You came to me right after dropping these people off to Durm.” He nods at Rani, who picks up the box and leaves the room without saying a word.
“W-wait, where are they-“
“Because I had asked you for tea and you were already running late, you passed them off to Durm and made your way up here where you’ve spent the last-“ Cyrus squints at Viktor’s hand, calculating a vague timeframe. “Thirty minutes or so, let’s say, sitting in here and drinking tea with me.”
The door opens again. Rani, back without the box, now with a package of wet wipes, starts to clean off Viktor’s stained palm.
“The three of us had a pleasant discussion before I left for a moment to go get a forum I needed from Durm’s office.” Cyrus sits back into his custom-made chair atop his desk. “When I turned the corner, I spotted him manhandling what I could only infer were shrunken innocents, and released my magic before thinking. He was reduced to ash instantaneously.” There’s a brief silence. Rani leaves the room. “…unfortunately, in my commotion, I was unable to realize that the band of hooligans he was set to torture had vanished.”
“Y-You…” Viktor’s sniffles finally slow as he listens on with increasing horror as well as impression.
Cyrus stands and stretches, his wings fluttering.
“W-wait!” Viktor yelps out. Cyrus sighs, visibly annoyed.
“W-Where are you going? What’s going to happen to-“
“For someone getting a sound alibi you sure ask a lot of questions.” The fairy grumbles, flittering over and hovering in front of the wizard’s face. “From what little actual remains were in your hand, I’m assuming most of his body is still down in his office, correct?”
Viktor nods with a whimper.
“I’m going to go down there and vaporize what little’s left of the idiot before filing my report. Just a bit of ash will do, that’s proof enough for-“
“W-What about the students?!”
Cyrus clicks his tongue. He hated being interrupted almost as much as he enjoyed interrupting those around him.
“It’s unlikely they’ll be able to be restored to size.”
“You reverse that miniature-detainment and their mana signal will be bright red on the map as enemy number one once I give my statement.” Cyrus waves his hand with annoyance. “Between dying and living an inch tall, I think they’d much prefer the second option.”
Viktor stares on, blinking as his breathing finally started to normalize itself.
“W-Why are you doing this?”
“Why did you ask me for help?”
“Yes,” Cyrus rolls his eyes. “Your boyfriend’s mind-reading specialty is a bit scarier when it comes to covering up a murder, isn’t it?”
“W-won’t they just read your mind to check your story?”
“No.” Cyrus snaps back. “Your spells for mind-magic aren’t impressive enough to penetrate a creature of my size. I’ve been in my position long enough, anyways, that my story will more than likely be taken as fact regardless.” He shrugs. “Easier to tie up loose ends neatly, after all.”
Finally, Cyrus claps his hands together.
“Now, if you’ll allow me- I have a corpse to vaporize and some paperwork to file.”
The fairy prince flutters out the door.