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

Episode 78: Warrior of the Sun

*Ayawamat*

"You think Adela's alright?" Vermeil asked, furrowing her brows.

"I hope so," Nyima said, frowning. "Hopefully, it's just tears of joy. Or perhaps, exhaustion."

"Too bad Yen's not here to have caught the conversation," Wanikiya said.

Zelde sighed. "Perhaps it's better she's not. Everyone deserves some privacy, even the leader of a nation."

"Ling has good hearing! Don't you, Ling?" Cart asked, turning to look at Adela's fellow countrywomen.

Ling sighed and turned away. "I heard nothing."

Was she protecting her liege's reputation? Or did she mean it? Aria had taken her away fairly quickly, but Ling had watched the match intensely during its entire duration. She only diverted her attention shortly after the High Priestess had begun crying.

Nate smiled slightly.

Ling scrunched her nose and narrowed her eyes at him. "What?" she asked, her voice like that of an angry cat.

Nate turned away. "It's nothing."

She grumbled. "That smirk doesn't seem like nothing."

"Come on, Ling. Don't start a fight," Renshu said, sighing.

Ling crossed her arms and watched as the ring was restored.

"Do you know where Aria took her?" Xue asked, glancing at Kun.

Ling turned to look at the middle Lan triplet.

"Hmm, my guess is one of the nurse's offices within the stadium. Adela did get pretty messed up," Kun said.

Ling stood up and ran off.

Xue smiled and followed after her.

"Hey, not staying to watch my match?" I called out to her.

Last year's opponent looked over her shoulder. "I'll watch it on the television. But I'm sure it'll be a tense match."

I put my hands on my hips. "Of course, it will be. I don't expect anything less from Nyima."

Sowk poked me with her elbow and gave me a weird look.

"What?"

"You're a player, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

She crossed her arms. "Come on. You wanted Xue to watch your match, then you went ahead and complimented Nyima. The Aya I know wouldn't do that unless he had some sort of ulterior motive." She shook her head. "And to think you were finally becoming a good boy."

I scoffed. Good thing Nyima gave her words no heed while Xue just ran off to catch up to Ling. It would've sucked if they thought I liked them.

"You're imagining things again," I said, poking her forehead.

She chuckled.

I poked her harder. "Don't laugh. Your jokes aren't funny."

"Maybe not to you, but I find them hilarious!" she said, putting a hand on her chest and grinning.

Could she get any more annoying? Hopefully, Alban got chosen to be the one to join us. As having her around would only serve to increase the number of migraines. Having that blond wannabe Magus Maximus was bad enough. Well, at least if she joined, she would be the girls' problem.

"The restoration and barrier safety checks are done! Let's go, match two! Come on down, Lady of the Waves and Sun, Nyima Taiyang! And you two, Master of creepy crawlies!" Marina said, using her microphone this time. Her voice had to be getting sore after all the yelling she's done.