"What, are you serious!?" Alarmed by the unsettling news, Logan jumped up from where he was sitting, slamming his head into the table and unnecessarily attracting the attention of those around him. "Damn, that hurt..."
Not laughing even at Logan's comedic show, Pixel could only nod. "Yes, I'm telling the truth." Sitting down to mimic Logan, she lifted her hand in front of her, clenching it. "If you know anything about spiritually binding contracts, then you know the reprimand of not fulfilling their conditions."
Nodding, Logan gripped his chest. "Yes, if you don't complete a contract, then your heart stops—Ohhh!"
"So you've caught on."
"I see, so you're saying that if I don't complete my end of the deal and restore your body, then my heart will stop—as per the contract."
"Correct."
"But I don't see the issue?" Tilting his head, Logan tapped Pixel's little form, much to her very cute dismay. "I mean, the contract runs as long as both parties are alive and well, and you seem to be running along just fine."
"That's what one would think, right?" Using the same hand that she clenched, she raised the palm in Logan's direction, showing tiny portions of her hand glitching in realtime. "But right now, I can't accumulate any mana at all due to my damaged mana circuits. I'm using up quite a bit of my reserves just to exist, imagine how things will go over time."
"You'll die from mana exhaustion, and once you do, I will as well..." Looking inward to the many thoughts floating about in his head, Logan ruminated for any obvious solutions. "Wait! But what if I just supply enough mana for you to maintain your form until I'm strong enough to reform it? Wouldn't that work?"
"No." Pixel scoffed at the prospect, almost condescending. "As you stand now, you don't have nearly the mana to support my form. All you would do now is give me an extra minute or so—hardly enough to keep things going."
Annoyed, Logan bit back the urge to spite her. "Okay... but what happened to all your mana from before? I mean, you were able to use that space warping magic that healed my sister. Holding your form can't possibly use as much energy as magic like that."
Shaking her head, Pixel sighed at the floor. "Man, you really are oblivious."
"What was that...!"
Ignoring Logan's provocation, she shot her wings out in the air, slowly flapping them to allow her body to rise. "Look, I'll explain things simply so that you understand. When I came into your room to drain you, I wanted to take your life energy and use it to support me, but in doing so, you took away a majority of my mana. In that moment, you would've been as endowed with mana as I was, which gave you strength you wouldn't normally possess. However, after we made the contract, I put it in the terms that I could use your mana to achieve your ends—something that was necessary to save your sister. So, with your own mana core, I powered the necessary magic to save her. Got it? All of that mana is now gone—from both me and you."
Logan smacked one of his fists into his open palm. "Ah, I get it! Then that explains why I felt so much stronger last night than I do now! Though, I can't use any of my current mana at all."
"You can't what?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.
Logan shook his head. "It doesn't matter. So, then, what should we do?"
"Well, to begin with, we need to figure out the exact mechanics of your power and also need to work on your mana stores. Judging by how much energy I've expended so far, I'd say we only have about thirty days to do it before I run out." Solemnly, she felt between her chest. "Though, if I'm forced to use magic in this state, then I'd say that our time may get cut down to just a couple days."
"That's the way it is, huh?" Considerate of how she must've been feeling, Logan grabbed his backpack without diverting eye contact with Pixel. "Based on how you've been talking, you must've been by my side since class started, right? Then you heard the lesson on increasing mana stores."
"Yes, about how there's a three-step process: destabilization where you crack open your mana core; integration where you force ambient mana into its reservoir; and fortification, where you fortify the newly vitalized core. While I'm not all that well-versed in the human anatomy, I could understand that much."
"Great, then I don't need to explain things." Giving an affirmative 'hmph,' Logan grabbed her from the sky, prompting a quieted gasp to escape her lungs. "I've thought of a great method that you and I could try. Might speed up my progress tenfold. Now, if you would enter my shirt again, I need to go see Sabrina..."
Pixel fought back against his grip, twisting her body so vigorously that Logan had to resort to hiring his second hand to hold her down. "Chill out, would you, Pixel? I just need to hide you until the day's over!"
"No!" she yelled, bitting into his finger.
"Yowch! Dammit, Pixel!"
"No, unhand me! I'm not hiding in your shirt again! Let me fly by your side!"
"Absolutely not! I can't have you be seen!"
"Why not!? It makes no difference if I'm seen by your classmates!"
"It totally does! I could be executed for being accompanied by a spiritual creature illegally!"
"Well, then make up an excuse! You're smart!"
Suddenly, someone tugged on the sheet concealing the two. They both went silent as they looked to see the old lady standing before them, peering with her eyes half-open.
Hastily, Logan shoved Pixel into his back pocket.
"Are you... the troublemaker... who keeps making noise... under this table...?" she asked, pulling up a pair of old, beaten glasses. "Could you please... get seated... at one of the tables...?"
Ashamed, Logan dug himself out from under the table, looking in Sabrina's direction. Luckily, she didn't seem to catch on to all the commotion. "I apologize. I'll get seated at once, ma'am."
Stepping past her, he watched as everyone looked at him most peculiarly like he was some exotic beast to be marveled at.
'Embarrassing.'
There were some at his sides who would make random remarks such as, "look at the F-rank being a loser," and, "watch how the monkey steps," but he didn't acknowledge them. Smiling at the thought of sitting next to the person who greeted him into the cafeteria.
"Sorry I took so long," he said, standing before Sabrina. "Got held up by an... acquaintance of mine."
"Thought you ditched me for a second there, Logan, but you're all good," she replied, raising her hands to her sides. "Say, how do you feel about meeting some of my friends?"