Aspiration to the Heavens: Becoming the Supreme Mage Vol 2- Descent of Darkness

Episode 110: Alley of Shadows

*Sowk*

"Hey, Aya, what would you like to eat?" I asked as we walked down a wide street. The sound of shuffling footsteps and idle chatter filled the air while tantalizing smells waft the immediate area.

"Not sure," he said, looking around the place.

For some reason parts of this town looked awfully familiar, but I couldn't possibly have been here before.

"Does this place ring a bell to you?" Aya asked as if he had read my mind.

"Y-yeah... you too?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but I'm not sure why. As far as I can recall, I have never left the islands until my voyage to Nine Petal a couple months ago."

"Odd..."

"Aya!" Orion yelled, running with a bundle of cotton candy. "Want some? I bought a ton."

Ayawamat narrowed his eyes at him. "Why did you follow us? Shouldn't you be following Yuzuki?"

His face blushed. "I'm not some love sick puppy..."

Aya scoffed. "Like I would believe that."

I giggled. "Yeah. It's obvious you like Aya!"

Orion blinked. "Huh?"

Ayawamat sighed. "Ignore her, Ori."

I laughed. "So you're calling him 'Ori' now to his face."

He grumbled.

Orion snickered. "It's nice that you're calling me Ori again. Wait, so does this mean we're friends again?" he asked with an upbeat smile.

"No," Aya snapped. He avoided his gaze.

"Don't listen to him, 'Ori'. Aya here cares deeply about you. He even got all worked about Hal's poison."

"Really?" Orion asked, his eyes seeming to twinkle. "I knew you were still the same old Aya!"

"Don't call me that!" he snapped, glaring at his childhood friend.

"Hmm? So does that mean Aya here worried a lot about you?" I asked.

"That applies to you too!"

Orion laughed.

Ayawamat formed a fist. "Stop laughing or I'll beat you up!"

He gradually stopped. "S-sorry, it's just reassuring to see you care."

My sorta-friend grumbled.

"Such a Tsun," I whispered close to his ear.

"Buzz off!" Aya said, glaring at me.

I snickered. "That only makes me want to tease you more!" I said, grinning as I walked ahead of him.

"H-help!" a voice called out.

"That was Rhys!" Orion said, glancing around the crowded street.

"He should be with my cousin," Ayawamat said. He took out a black flip phone and dialed a number. "Tahoma, aren't you with Rhys? What? He wandered off? Well, I think he's nearby us. He shouted for help."

"Rhys, where are you?" I called out. I stared at the crowd which looked around in confusion. We could hear the kid, but he was nowhere in sight...

I gasped as I saw some figures dash into an alley. "Guys, I'm going to go on ahead. You continue to look here," I said before rushing in.