Mystic Tales: Crimson Mage (Ongoing)

2: Suit

(Isolated Isle, Water Island)
Saturday - September 16, 545
4:03 AM

Aria slowly opened her eyes, her body still weak from days of unconsciousness.

Aria (softly): "W-Where am I...?"

Her voice was faint, and her head throbbed as she tried to piece together what had happened. She blinked several times, adjusting to the dim light around her.

She looked to the side and saw Armon sitting cross-legged, deep in meditation. His posture was steady, but his eyes opened the moment he sensed her stirring.

Aria: "Armon...?"

Armon (relieved): "Aria! You're awake...!"

He stood quickly and made his way to her, concern mixed with a hint of relief in his gaze.

Aria: "My concert... What happened?"

She sat up slowly, the memories of the concert and the chaotic encounter with Adrian Lynch flashing in fragments through her mind.

Armon (with a heavy tone): "Aria... There's something we need to talk about. A lot of things happened, Aria. But... you have to give up your music career."

Aria's heart sank.

Aria (in disbelief): "What...?"

Armon: "When you fought back against Adrian Lynch, your Crimson Chaos Blood Curse activated. We tried everything—recasting the Silver Seal, hoping it would suppress the curse... but it doesn't work on you anymore."

Aria (frantically): "But... there must be other seals! There has to be something else... right?!"

Armon's expression darkened with regret.

Armon: "We looked. We searched everywhere. But... there's nothing else, Aria."

The weight of his words hit her hard. Aria's shoulders slumped as sadness washed over her. Her dream—everything she had worked for—was slipping away.

Aria: "..."

She lowered her gaze, unable to speak. The silence between them grew heavy with the pain of unspoken thoughts.

Armon: "For now, you'll stay with me. I'll help you learn how to manage the magic and keep it from activating. As long as we're far from others, your magic won't harm anyone. And if your Crimson Chaos Magic ever spirals out of control... I'll be here to stop it. "

Aria (whispering): "There must be a way..."

Armon: "There is, but it won't be easy."

He knelt beside her and placed a steady hand on her shoulder.

Armon: "You'll have to learn to control your magic... and train harder than ever. I'll teach you everything I know. It's the only way to prevent your magic from activating again."

Aria gave a faint nod, though the sadness in her heart remained.

Armon reached behind him and pulled out a small, sleek box, offering it to her.

Aria: "This box... Isn't this...?"

Armon: "Yes. It's the one Vianne from the Ylhaya Protocol gave you. It seems like she knew this might happen—and she made sure you'd have it when the time came."

With a mix of curiosity and apprehension, Aria opened the box. Inside, she found a scarlet and maroon-colored suit neatly folded, along with a pair of black gloves. The sight of the outfit stirred memories in Aria's mind, taking her back to the day Vianne had given it to her.

(Flashback)

Aria stood before Vianne, who handed her the sealed box with a serious expression.

Vianne: "This is no ordinary suit, Aria. It's designed to suppress the chaos magic running through your veins. The gloves will help you stabilize the magic you emit and make it easier for you to control."

Cerulean, one of Aria's fellow agents, stood beside them, arms folded. Cerulean is Armon's agent name, while Crimson is Aria's agent name.

Cerulean: "So as long as the seal stays intact, she's safe, right?"

Vianne: "Yes... but only to an extent. If the Silver Seal ever breaks, Aria must wear this suit immediately. According to our findings, her chaos magic could surpass even the power of the gods. But remember, power like that... always comes at a price."

Aria stared at the box, feeling the weight of Vianne's words.

Crimson (quietly): "..."

The air between them was heavy with unspoken concerns, the future uncertain and filled with peril.

(Flashback ends)

Back on the island, Aria ran her fingers along the fabric of the suit. It felt smooth and cool to the touch, almost like it was humming with latent magic. She slipped into the scarlet and maroon outfit, feeling it adjust perfectly to her body.

When she put on the black gloves, a sense of calm washed over her. The chaotic magic that usually pulsed beneath her skin seemed to settle, as if the suit had anchored her powers.

Aria: "This suit... It's surprisingly comfortable. And... my magic feels stable."

Armon (nodding): "The Ylhaya Protocol is good at what they do. They specialize in creating advanced tools like that."

He crossed his arms, a hint of determination in his eyes.

Armon: "Now that you're suited up, let's get started. We'll begin your training immediately."

Aria gave a small, determined nod. Though the sorrow of abandoning her dreams still lingered in her heart, she knew that mastering her magic was the only way forward.

This was her new reality—and she was ready to face it head-on.

***

Author's Note:

These are Aria and Armon's character profiles.

Character Code: 006
Character Name: Aria Corleone
Character Title: The Crimson Mage
Agent Name: Agent Crimson
Birthday: October 10, 527 (17 years old as of September 16, 545)
Hometown: Water Island, New Magistry
Magic Type: Music Wave (formerly), Crimson Chaos (currently)

Character Code: 009
Character Name: Armon Corleone
Character Title: Wind Breeze of the Sea
Agent Name: Agent Cerulean
Birthday: September 29, 525 (19 years old as of September 16, 545)
Hometown: Water Island, New Magistry
Magic Type: Ocean

***