The Oracle

Chapter 27: I Promise

SORA

Once we get back to Aria the next day, Gambit goes to Carmin with Sekai to enroll him in the academy as an instructor in any role he may fit, given his experience. Kit, Sander, and Shae also go to Carmin to hand him the stones and report on the mission. Meanwhile, Isabella, Akari, and I go to the dining hall to grab a lunch together before we report to our classes.

"I'm so happy our missions have been so successful recently," Isabella smiles before she picks up her rainbow bagel as she sits across from Akari and me.

"They aren't always," Akari says quietly and looks at her spaghetti.

"I know," Isabella's smile falls. "I just hope it never has to come to that."

"Hey!" Clea grins as she walks over to us, her one hand holding her tray and her other waving to us. "Did you guys hear?"

"Hear what?" I frown.

"Carmin's going to participate in the next tournament!" Clea says excitedly as she sits down.

"What?" Akari's eyes widen. "He hardly ever competes. What type of tournament is it?"

"One versus one," Clea says and Akari frowns.

"Do they have the listings posted yet?" Akari asks.

"That's the craziest part," Clea starts, her eyes locking onto me. "He requested to fight Sora."

"What?!" Akari exclaims. "No way. Not happening."

"Why would Carmin want to fight me?" I ask.

"I don't know," Clea frowns, exchanging a knowing look with both Akari and me. "But it does make me wonder..."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. Right?" Isabella suggests hopefully. "Right? Guys..."

"Yeah," I force a smile. "Of course. I can handle it."

"Wait a minute," Akari frowns. "You're not seriously considering accepting, are you?"

"I kind of have to, don't I?" I ask, my eyes searching hers as if to say it'll be suspicious if I don't. "I mean, I can't turn down a challenge from Carmin."

"Just...don't get hurt," Akari sighs.

"Yeah! Kick his ass!" Clea cheers, making a few other tables look over at us quizzically, which in return makes Clea smile sheepishly and sink down into her seat.

"Sora will do great. I know it," Isabella smiles as she begins to slice up her peach that she grabbed with her bagel.

"It's not Sora's abilities that I'm worried about," Akari mutters, which makes me somewhat anxious.

The four of us continue to eat lunch together for about a half hour, laughing and joking most of the rest of the time with Clea asking us some questions about our most recent mission.

Right when I'm about to leave the dining hall, Merrick appears in the doorway wearing his usual scarlet robe over top of black slacks and a maroon v-neck, his red hair ruffled in a messy but cute way.

"Hey—" I start, but I get cut off whenever Merrick grabs ahold of my wrist and drags me out of the dining hall and towards his room.

Once we reach the hallway for the dorms, Merrick glances around before he whirls around and pins me to the wall as he puts my arms above my head and kisses me deeply.

"I missed you," he breathes out whenever he pulls away, his brown eyes slightly darker than usual as he scans my surprised expression.

"I missed you too," I muse before my smile falls and I take on a more serious tone. "Hey, Merrick—"

"I know," Merrick sighs and drops my arms. "We need to talk. Come on."

Merrick leads me over to his room before he opens the door and I walk inside to sit on his fluffy bed. Merrick sits beside me before he takes a somewhat shaky breath and runs a hand through his hair.

"So, I kinda gathered that you were really shocked when you first kissed me," Merrick starts. "Which, didn't come as a surprise to me, actually. I'm able to read people's desires, so...I kind of knew you were into guys before you knew you were into guys? And I know you have a thing for Akari—"

"Wait, am I really that easy to read or did you just use your abilities about the Akari thing?" I ask.

"Abilities," Merrick laughs sheepishly. "Although, it's blatantly obvious to everyone, really."

"Great," I groan and place my face in my hands.

"So, I guess my question is— do you think you're bisexual? I may be able to read what you're into and who you're into, but that doesn't mean I'm going to assume anything. That would just be ignorant of me," Merrick says.

"I mean," I blush faintly. "I think so...I know I definitely like both you and Akari, that's for sure. I just...I don't know what to do about it or who I want to be with. Wait a minute— have you also known this entire time that I liked you, then?"

"I try not to read people's desires unless they're quite literally forced in my face from being so strong that I can't ignore them. I only read yours after you kissed me because I was hella confused," Merrick explains. "I don't like infringing on the privacy of others."

"Oh..." I rub the back of my neck. "Wait, what about you and Reverence? I know you aren't dating again but..."

"Sora," Merrick sighs and runs a hand through his hair once again. "I love Reverence. I'll always love Reverence, but...things are different now. We're different people now. Our relationship was wonderful, but...I don't think we could make a new one without missing the old one too much. You know? As for you..."

I squeak whenever Merrick grins and leans in closer to me, his nose brushing against mine.

"You're a rather different story, Aisawa," Merrick hums. "But, for now..."

Merrick leans away only to reach under his bed and pull out a black box with gold trim and a neat red ribbon.

"What's that?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"A birthday present," Merrick shrugs. "You turned eighteen not too long ago, right?"

"How did you—"

"Evory had it on your medical record," Merrick shrugs before he hands me the box. "Here."

I gently take the box from him and open it to see that inside is a silver arm band with mint green trim and black diamonds that goes around my bicep, which makes me gasp.

"Thank you," I breathe out and pull Merrick into a hug as I throw my arms around his neck, the gift box sitting in my lap.

"Of course," Merrick breathes out and hugs me back.

Whenever he pulls back, I notice that the sleeve of his robe has ridden up and I can see clear wrap around his wrist, which makes me furrow my eyebrows.

"What's this?" I ask and push his sleeve up the rest of the way, my breath hitching whenever I see a black and white tattoo on his wrist that reads 'perseverance' in script, a heartbeat line connecting the 'e' to an angel feather. "It's beautiful..."

I trace my fingers over the wrap and he shivers slightly before he smiles.

"I got perseverance for being able to survive all I've been through and keep going, the heartbeat line to show that I'm still alive and I love with all my heart, and the feather to resemble the ones who I love and the ones who I've lost that I know are still looking over me from the heavens," Merrick says.

"I love it," I smile and Merrick smiles in return.

"Hey..." Merrick's smile falls and he looks at me worriedly. "Be careful when dealing with Carmin tomorrow, alright?"

"I promise," I reach out to squeeze his hand gently and he squeezes back in return.

"Good," Merrick breathes out and looks down at our hands. "I couldn't lose you too."

"You won't," I breathe out in return. "I promise you won't."

"Good," Merrick smiles sadly and meets my eyes. "I'll hold you to that."