Crimson Phoenix Guardian- Aspiration to the Heavens: Becoming the Supreme Mage 4

Episode 31: Missing Him

[Earlier in the Day]

I placed a picture frame on my nightstand, finishing decorating my side of the room. In the picture were all four members of our team. Iah had an arm around my shoulders and Lei's as he grinned at the camera. As the shortest member, Adela stood in front of us. I glared at the prince while Adela and Lei laughed. We had taken the picture at the end of last year, just before we had left for winter vacation. Who would've expected that so much would change at the end?

I laid down on my bed and pulled my legs toward my chin. If only I had paid more attention to Iah. I thought that my words had reached him, but they couldn't reach the depths of his anxiety. They failed to bring lasting light into the darkness he kept falling into.

Hopefully, Iah wouldn't succumb to Ratmir's power again, but who knew how long the seal Kun, Adela, and me made would last. Elliot had told Adela that if not for Yanyu, it would've been broken in Sera. If only we had more energy when making it.

Would being apart from us help? Or would it make things worse?

I slapped myself and got up. The time for moping around was over. The new year was about to begin. I had to give it my all. If fighting Ratmir-Iah taught me anything, it was that my light magic was still too weak to stop those creatures.

Plus, it would help should Iah be possessed again.

I strode over to the door just as someone knocked. Standing outside my room were Vermeil and Sarah.

"Hello," Vermeil said, waving.

"Hey, what brings you two here?" I said, smiling.

"We're about to head to the arena to have the first of the matches. Since Adela, Yen, Hikaru, and Lei aren't here, we won't be able to do them all, but we can at least get a head start on them.

"Who will be the referee?" I asked. Last year it had been Koukyuu.

"Mr. Mizu no Kin. I know, it's kind of odd to have a language teacher do it."

"True," I said, chuckling.

Sarah furrowed her brow at me.

I blinked. "Something wrong?"

She grabbed my hand and pointed toward my face.

"Were you crying?" Vermeil said, inclining her head.

I wiped my face. "I... hadn't noticed." Really, I hadn't.

Vermeil swung her arms behind her back. "You were thinking of that dumb prince again, weren't you?"

"Yeah, but I decided to focus on my studies just before you knocked."

Vermeil smiled. "That's a good idea." She sighed. "It's what kept me sane while An was in his coma." She smiled. "Can't wait to see him."

"You haven't yet?"