The sunset was witnessed as the sky meets the solar winds of the outer space. The citizen of Iga almost finished their preparation for their annual summer festival; stalls and booths are all set and lively decorations were seen in every corner. The village was lit by bright fiery colors of the lanterns that can be likened to the sky. People from here to there are chattering with excitement which invigorates the atmosphere.
In contradictory to these vivid colors and upbeat vibes, Hayabusa was restless and uneasy. He's dull and hesitant to celebrate, unable to tell whether they are going to find the centaur or not. It has been three days since their battle with the Akakage and ever since that day they found no trace of Hylos. Kagura summoned a shikigami that night, binding the village with spells that casts out evil forces which eventually succeeded.
"Still worried? How are you going to compliment your maiden in that look Haya?" Chou said, appearing out of nowhere. "In case you're going to ask why I'm here it's because Hanabi told me to come."
"Man! Even if we told you not to, you'll come to see her for sure."
"How come you knew?"
"You're too easy to read."
"An expectation from a shadow ninja, anyway are you going to be melancholic at all times? Look at your village. It's lively and full of charm and---"
"Oh what happened? Cat got your tongue?" Hayabusa whispered.
'This ninja is getting into my nerves. I never knew someone will not be in the mood to celebrate but in the mood to ruin my day' Chou thought. He was unable to finish his sentence the moment Hanabi showed up, dressed in ruby red yukata, accented with black color. It was designed with metallic scarlet flower, adored with orange dots.
"It's unusual to see you in that get up Hanabi."
"Why? It doesn't suit me right?" she said in voice tainted with shyness.
"No, I don't mean. Hmmm. It surprisingly fits you."
"I am not offended Chou. But this gentleman right here should at least pick up Kagura and enjoy this celebration for her sake."
"Hanabi…" Hayabusa tries to explain himself but Hanabi prevents him with worried eyes and stated…
"Don't let the centaur bug you. I discarded that thought, thinking he took advantage of our fight to escape on his own instead."
"Hanabi's right. That shouldn't bug your system." The two keeps on persuading him to discard his thoughts about Freya and her concerns. As well as his promise to her so they can be relieved of endless feuds that circles the land of dawn. Hayabusa was able to absorb their words, taking them as an advice.
Finally, things knocked to his senses the moment he saw the children play with the fishes that swim in the inflatable pool. He remembered Kagura and how much she likes playing with those, trying to catch the cutest fish in her eyes. It has been roughly three days since they got a proper conversation with each other. He shook off the thought that bothers him thinking he already neglected other things because of those, knowing he's not alone in his battles at all.
For sure, Kagura and Hanabi are worried sick.
"Thank you." He mouthed and vaulted over the rocks where he's sitting. Hayabusa rushed in his fastest speed to find himself a suit and reach Kagura immediately. Chou and Hanabi watch him bumped with stalls, posts, and even with people until he fades into their view.
"I don't want to ruin Hayabusa's day but how will Kagura surprise him with her looks since she wear yukata all along."
"Love cannot be impressed by looks alone. Just look at them later, you'll see."
"Hanabi, it's too rare to see you wear your mask down."
"Should I put it back then?"
"No, y-you need to ahm… w-well, breathing some fresh air is needed especially you're not in a mission."
The skies lose its orange hue and gave emphasis to the bright moon as the night falls. The decorations in the festival seemed to be livelier than it was during the sunset. People are hyped by enjoying things and they are more excited for the fireworks show.
"How lame." Hanabi giggled.
"And I guess it's my first time seeing that."
"What?"
"Nevermind. Shall we check out the candied apples? I want one so bad."
"Nothing special. It's just that it's cute."
"Female ninja, I want to try one. I've never been in this kind of celebration"
"I see, so that's ---"
Chou summoned enough courage to speak up. Hanabi's too intimidating, one you'll be afraid of to deal with. Her strong personality along with her stares that feels like a thousand daggers shredding up your flesh will away your courage. And now, to his surprise, that Hanabi is gone and the one he's with at this time is a completely different person, or more like the real Hanabi that she suppressed to not be labeled as a weak, incompetent person.
"What's with the stares, Chou?"
He bit his lips before speaking up...
One, Two...
"Chou, you're scaring me."
Three
"Can you go out with me?" The moment Chou let those words out, the music played was accidentally raised in deafening volume that can make your heart thump. Hanabi's attention was automatically shifted to the direction where the music came from, about to check it out but it stopped. An apology was heard through the satellite speaker, and afterwards, everything returned to their normal state.
"Hanabi?"
"What are you saying earlier? I failed to hear it, the music was surprisingly loud and my heart almost dug out of my chest---"
Chou's lips formed into a bitter smile.
After all the courage he summoned, and the waited timing, everything was wasted.
Or maybe not?
Did she just explain?
He can repeat it but he already lost the momentum and somehow he thought that it may not be the right timing.
"Can you… hmmm"
"What?"
"Tour me around."
"You should've told me earlier, we're missing out too much."
"Hayabusa and Kagura's over there." Hanabi added and points her finger to the last stalls to the left.
"Hanabi?" Kagura said., trying to confirm if she's referring to the right person. She's wearing a flowy yukata in vibrant orange, with length ranging up to 8 inches above her knee. Her hair tied in a neat bun. While Hayabusa is wearing a dull blue kimono top tucked in with a rope-like belt, partnered with a long short that extends just above his knees. A mask in his face which he refused to remove makes Kagura a little bit upset.
"Chou? Why are you here?" Kagura uttered the moment the two reached them. Hayabusa leaned closer near her ears and whispered something and gave Chou a look that says 'you-should-not-be-calm'.
Hanabi is now puzzled. Chou became uneasy as Kagura stared at him, directly in his eyes.
'Damn you Hayabusa, what you have told her?'
"What's going on?"
"Nothing" Kagura said with a smile.
"Oh, spill it out."
"What do I need to spill out?"
"What he just said." Chou answered.
"I think you shouldn't be curious Chou. What he told me is just---"
"To stay beside me so other people won't look at her. Especially being dressed in such skimpy outfit, right Kag?"
"Skimpy?" Kagura asked. "Tss. insane"
"Hmm. it's okay though. You look good."
"Stop the sweetness. You'll surpass the sugar content of candied apples. Chou wants to try one, let's hang out altogether?" Hanabi offered. "Well if it's okay maybe you two are dating and---"
"Dating?" Kagura startled.
"Aren't we?" Hayabusa asked.
"Hmm no, I-i mean... well let's hang out--"
"No Kag. We'll hang out together then the two of them will hang out on their own."
"Haya...." she attempted to complain. She never wants to exclude Hanabi out of their circle and she's thinking to befriend and know more about Chou. If it weren't for him, they already turned into nutritious delicacy that will relieve the famished Akakage's demon.
"Kagura, don't look at me like that, I know what you're trying to say with that stares." Hanabi said.
"But..." Hayabusa gently pressed his right index finger to Kagura's lips, keeping it together to avoid hearing her complaints.
"No buts, you'll come with me. Let's just see them at the top of the temple, before the fireworks show begin" He said with a smile and signal to Chou implying 'thank me bro, she's yours'
"Remember what I just told you." He whispered again to Kagura.
"Oh I get it." Hayabusa covered Kagura's mouth the moment she accidentally raised the volume of her voice.
"Something's off"
"See you." Hayabusa said pulling Kagura's arm with a gentle force.
"Remove your mask first. You're not on a mission"
"This mask?"
"Yes, it makes your words indistinct and all. It restrains you from speaking and---"
"Then I'll let it go."
Along with the swift, eastern winds, Hayabusa took off his mask and it dramatically flew into the air. It stumbled up and away, revealing his mesmerizing face. A romantic atmosphere was created and it produced an invisible wall that excludes everyone to their world for a short duration.
"Odd."
"He's thinking that he's handsome, creepy." Chou whispered to Hanabi.
To avoid any more questions from Hanabi, Hayabusa dashed and grabbed Kagura's shoulder to bring her to the farthest inflatable pool with little fishes.
"That was close."
"Chou's really into Hanabi?"
"Yes. Pretty surprising, isn't it?"
"I guess so, but who wouldn't love that lady? Who wouldn't fall for her?"
"Well, I didn't."
Yes, he did not. But he's treasuring her as a friend, a trustworthy one.
Kagura seemed to not hear Hayabusa's answer. Her eyes are now fixated on the fishes, thinking which one she'll target.
"You're enjoying?" Hayabusa sits beside her and look at her expression as she observes the fishes. Kagura answered him with a nod.
"You should enjoy too. Freya and Tigreal will be fine. We did our best to help. It's just... well let's hope Hylos is safe."
His thoughts were right. Kagura is worked up too about the same problem. And it seems like his behavior these past days bugs her peace.
"Will you help me send a letter to them?"
"Of course, I'd love to"
"We'll address another to the Northern Kingdom too. Oh sit down, catch your fish first." His lips curled into a smile and Kagura giggled.
"We're not rushing things here Kag, enjoy for tonight."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Magic Academy was known for its excellence in teaching mages to be efficient in knowing, using, and controlling their magic. Many people, some are even from the noble families of the land studies in this grandiose place to enhance themselves in order to become a great mage. And in this afternoon, as the harmful rays of the sun seared in the surface of their skin, the two finally approached the main gate with high hopes that the citizen of this academy could help them.
The pixies welcomed Freya and Tigreal. They managed to enter the place, like they are well-known people here. Countless students were seen getting ready to leave their classrooms. Some are still worked up, training to use their magic very well.
"Quite enthusiastic"
They continued following the pixies. Until it leads them to a quiet place, full of gigantic blue ice shards that creates a clear blue glow.
"What place is this?" asked Tigreal. "Are we still in magic academy?"
"Mystic magic?" Freya said as she gently touches one of the shards.
"I thought were looking for a professor who's---"
"Maybe you're looking for me." A shadow of the man was reflected in the shards.
"Who are you?" Tigreal asked.
"I should be the one asking. Who are you?"
"A man named Dryce sent us here. He told us that this academe could help."
"Help you to what?" The man revealed himself. His hair looks like a turquoise flame. There's a crystal shards embedded in different parts of his body with metals that act as support. Body colored in blue and red, a real mystery. He carefully walked towards them. Freya's gaze assesses the man's body. She can sense a diverse magic, somehow unusual but it was less suspicious since the place serves as home to all kinds of magic.
It was well-balanced, yet a dangerous mixture.
A curse, a mistake.
"I'm a professor here and Gord is the name given to me"
"What have you done to the arcane and the mystics?" Freya bravely asked.
"You must not be sticking your nose to things out of your concern"
"But I need help for this." Freya showed the soul scroll to him. "And I wonder if this prelude object is connected to the dangerous compound that your body possesses"
"Can you translate the meaning of moon runes?"
"Analysis is the right term Tiger Warrior." Gord moved to his left, closer to Freya. "And there, young lady, don't remind me of my mistake."
Freya prevents herself to let out more words. She needs to seek help as much as possible. That's her major priority, not to insist on waiting Gord to explain what happened to his body.
Well, no one would be comfortable to discuss things with a stranger. Also, Freya already find the explanation as he remembered when the great sorcerer Elward excused himself out of the assembly to help the boy who got overwhelmed by mystic magic.
It was the consequences of what has been done as he neglect the warnings given to him beforehand; turbulence occurred making it unable to be controlled. His body weakens as it absorbs two different energies. The mystic and the arcane combined with effects that cannot be undone. Leaving both kind of magic to not be used in their purest state.
"This soul scroll is losing its luster. It may not be effective anymore"
"Why?" Freya asked.
"If you arrived 6 hours late, all your efforts will be nothing but a waste."
"What do we need to do?" Gord asked for the scroll and Tigreal immediately hands it to him.
"Are you trying to resurrect someone?"
"What did you say?" Freya said
"We were just seeking for answers" Tigreal said
"Yes, but if there is a possibility, no one will let such opportunity pass. It's a complex incantation"
"Professor, sorry for such unwise intrusion but how'd you know about that case?"
"The lining of this scroll tells it all, the color of oxygenated blood, but somewhat stale and displeasing." He explained while tracing the lines and the runes encrypted. "Follow me." he instructed.
As the follow Gord, they became drawn inside the realm of crystal shards that possess a pure mystic energy.
"Have a seat, I'll tell you what I must"
Gord offered a wide bench for the two. He unfolds the scroll and dipped a sharp object, needle-like in appearance in a potion tube that has lesser water volume content.
"This potion's pretty thick isn't it?" They observe what he's doing, not wanting to miss a thing.
"Prick your index finger with this then you'll extract a drop of your blood and let it mixed with the potion"
"Why my blood is needed?"
"We can't translate the phrase without a token from the seeker"
Freya slowly pinned her left index finger on the other side of the sharp object. Gord re-centered her hand to the embedded symbol to assure the first attempt will success.
The thick drop of blood slowly runs down from the metal body of the sharp-edged object it mixes well with the potion as it brushes off all the way down to the other end, making a drop that has more volume to flow slowly.
"Now tell me what it says when you raised it to the light"
"The solstice ending will be triggered by the beginning"
Freya finishes her sentence. At the same time, the drop of blood mixed with the potion finally descends on the midst of the symbol. A faint light scattered through the whole scroll: runes turned into letters, forming new phrases. But Tigreal was unable to read it, the same with Gord but thanks to his ability in magic, he'll be able to do so.
The light slowly fades and ceased, completing the two sets of paragraphs written down, waiting for it to be chanted.
Finally, the ritual has started.
- E N D O F C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N -