ELEMENT

Chapter Eighteen: Harry's Secret

The wind whipped high above the clouds, the altitude of the tower to Meridian's office higher than the entire castle. The woman, albeit deceased, always liked a secluded place to work. Which was a setback for Sage, Ethan, and Robin, because it was the only place they could get in undetected.

Sage and Ethan were standing together on a line of brick that looped around the tower, and nothing stopped them from simply falling from the ledge into the town below, that seemed emptier as they looked.

Sage had her eyes clenched shut, not daring to look down. Their arms and legs were sprawled onto the wall like a starfish. "Robin?!" Her voice was shaky, hesitant.

"Calm down, Sage, you're fine." Robin's voice was in a small blue bird. "If you fall, I'll catch you."

Sage nodded sarcastically in response. "Oh, thanks." Their eyes still didn't open.

Ethan was perfectly fine where he was, despite being a little nervous. The wind whistled loud against his ears, and the cold felt enough to knock him off the ledge. No matter how dizzy he got from looking down, he stayed right there, planted on the stone.

But other than the wind, he could hear Sage's heavy breathing, and quickly took her hand. It was crisp and cold, but his grip was warm.

Her breathing didn't calm, but she did open her eyes to look at him.

"You're fine, okay?" Ethan let her hand fall a bit with his. "Don't worry about it."

Robin smashed the window in with their bird head, and looped back around to Sage and Ethan. "Guys, if you're careful around the glass, we can—"

Ethan had his arms wrapped around Sage, who had their arms wrapped around him. She wasn't scared anymore, and both weren't trying to keep themselves planted.

"...we can go through. What is up with you two?"

"What do you mean, what's up with us?" Ethan let go, leading Sage around slowly while still holding on to her hand.

"You two are pining for each other like penguins. I can see it from miles away."

"Oh, please." Sage rolled their eyes, but didn't say much else, because she knew it was true too.

"Seriously!" Robin flapped their wings up. "Look at you! You look like you've been married for years!"

Coming around to the window, Ethan stepped through, and took both of Sage's hands as he did. "Come on, Robin, you're being ridiculous."

"You're holding their hands like they're your bride."

And he was. So he let go in a flustered manner, stammering. "Quit it!"

"You know I saw you two, right? At the camp?" Robin transformed back into their blue-haired self, crossing their arms.

Sage's mouth hung open. "Eavesdropper!" Robin flapped their hand, walking to the door.

Ethan sighed, nearly deflating. "I'm never standing on a fucking ledge ever again."

"Shhhh!" Robin perked their ears as they peeked around the corner of the doorframe.

A pair of footsteps echoed, and Robin's eye caught something as they whipped back around the corner. "Oh my god." They were whispering quieter, in a small panic. "We can't waste any more time. If we're going to do this, we have to do it now."

"We can't just jump in!" Ethan proclaimed.

"We won't." Sage replied, taking the Light Emblem from Robin. Closing her eyes, the Light Emblem's gem glowed black, and Ethan and Robin crowded around her.