"That's the perfect attitude to possess ladies." A voice called to them from behind.
Deltune looked up and frowned at the woman in front of her. "Hello, Saphira." Deltune turned her attention back to the sleeping boy in the vampire's lap. 'I always get so on edge when she's around Sona. Is it jealousy...?'
"Ah, Miss Saphira! Sona's Master and..." Ellie looked around to make sure nobody was listening. "...future lover." She whispered and giggled innocently. "Did you have a chance to see what my darling accomplished?" She turned her attention up towards the short instructor.
"I did. That's why I rushed over. I thought maybe he had..." She shook her head. "Doesn't matter now. Everything's okay and he managed to accomplish a Level 10 Spell as a first year student. Quite an undertaking." Saphira sat down beside Del and Ellie to watch the other students try their hand at an incantation. "You all certainly have a unique and diverse class." Saphira commented as she watched the other students line up for their test. "Ayame sure shot up quickly. I knew kids grew up quick, but damn that was almost to quick."
"Yeah. That's so like Sona to push himself above and beyond what's expected of him." Deltune sighed and looked at Saphira. "They expect to much of him, Saphira. What if it wears him down? What if he can't take that kind of pressure?"
"Deltune..." Ellie whispered and looked to Saphira for her answer.
"Hm." Saphira closed her eyes and mulled things over for a moment. "We each must walk our own path, young one. Nobody can walk it for us and nobody can control our fate except us. Others may walk with us but in the end we must walk to the end ourselves. Sona made his choice. From the first moment he encountered Eslios, Sona knew the path he had to follow." Saphira opened her eyes which had turned to a dark blue. "If you fear for Sona, if you love him, if you want him safe and happy, then you must make your choice now. Will you walk that path with him? Will you stay by his side, no matter what may come? Or, will you stop him from walking his own path and belittle the choices he's made up to this point? These are questions you must answer for yourself. All of you."
"Saphira... " Deltune understood what she meant. 'Despite my jealousy, she's got a point.' She sighed helplessly and looked up at Sona's Master with newfound respect. "You're right, Saphira. It would be selfish of me to stand in his way. I'll walk beside him, no matter what the future may hold, I will be by his side every step of the way." Deltune looked to Elandeli. "I assume you feel the same way, Ellie. Will you do this with me? I know I'm not strong enough to support him on my own. Will you help me?"
"As if you needed to ask, silly." Ellie reached out and flicked Deltune's forehead. "You haven't been alone in awhile girl. We've got this. With all of us here and his powers, not even a God could stand a chance." She giggled innocently and looked up at Saphira. "Thank you, Instructor. I guess even you can give some good advice when you need to."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Saphira snapped and locked eyes with the vampire. Ellie just shrugged and stuck her tongue out at Saphira. "Why...you..." Saphira raised her fist and smacked the top of Elandeli's head.
"Owow! Instructor!" Ellie placed both hands on the bump that appeared on the top of her head.
Deltune burst out in laughter and covered her mouth to muffle the sound. She didn't want to wake Sona. "Oh, wow." Deltune exhaled and shook her head. "Just wow." She giggled softly.
"I'm glad to see my pain amuses you, Deltune." Ellie pouted and buried her face in Sona's hair.
"Flames that scorch the Earth and turn green to ash, hasten to my side and burn my enemies to cinders. Blacken their bones and evaporate their blood. Flames like waves of ocean blue, wash over the unclean and drown them in a sea of burning agony. What I seek is the primal fire! Flame Wave!" Ayame's voice carried to the four people over by the building.
Sona's snoring came to a stop and he opened his eyes slowly. "A-Ayame..?" He felt somebody's face in his hair but he couldn't see because a mess of pink covered his own face. "Well, there's only one beautiful woman I know with pink hair as soft as this." He smiled and reached his hand back, petting the top of Ellie's head.
"Sona. You're awake?" Ellie giggled when he rubbed the top of her head. She lifted her face as Sona sat up and looked towards the field.
"Yeah. Sorry for worrying everyone." Sona stood up slowly and made his back to the group in time to hear Ayame's voice once more.
"Burn!" Ayame's voice echoed and a massive wave of flames shot forward from her body. She fueled the spell for several seconds before the fire slowly disappeared. "Whew." Ayame exhaled and looked back to the group.
"Very well done, Miss Harata." Valindra marked Ayame down and looked back up. "Okay. We have one person left today. Sulris."
Ayame ran to Sona and jumped in his arms giggling happily. "I did it, Master!"
"Yes, you did." Sona laughed and stroked the top of her head. "Alright, Sulris. Show us what you can do, love." He looked up and watched Sulris.
'My...turn...' Sulris stepped backwards, moving slowly away from the group. 'I-I can't. My magic...' She looked to Sona and bit her bottom lip. 'I don't want him to...see...'
'Somethings wrong...' Sona left Ayame's side and made his way closer to Sulris.
"Master...?" Ayame watched in confusion as Sona came to a halt in front of the dark elf beauty.
"Sulris." Sona reached his hand out and placed it on top of her head. "Sulris, it's me. You don't have to hide who you are to me. Just be yourself."
"So...na...?" Her eyes teared up as she buried her face into his chest. The class went silent as Sulris sobbed loudly into Sona's chest. "I-I don't...want you...to-to hate me...."
"How could I possibly hate you, silly girl?" Sona rubbed the top of her head with one hand and his other hand was placed on the middle of her back. "It's going to be okay, Sulris. Shh. I won't hate you, I promise." Sona cooed. 'What's going through her mind right now?'
"Because I... I can use death magic..." She whispered softly, still sobbing quietly into his chest.
"That's why most dark elves are feared and hated due to their connection with death." Valindra explained and eyed the red haired youth. 'How are you going to handle this, Sona?' She watched curiously from the side lines.
"You...you hate me now...don't you?" Sulris backed away from his embrace and turned around to run. "I-I'm sorry!" She tried to leave but a hand quickly shot towards her and latched onto her wrist. "!" Sulris turned around, eyes strained from her tears. "Sona..." His gaze was turned to the ground, his red locks hiding his face.
'She always acts so tough. This must have been eating at her for awhile. How could I not see that? Sulris...what should I say? What can I say? Will my words even reach her? Actions would speak louder than words. Actions...that's it!' Sona looked up and locked his red and green eyes on Sulris and met her gaze. "Sulris." He pulled her gently into his arms. With one hand, he grabbed hold of her chin gently and lifted her lips towards him. "This is my answer." He closed his eyes and planted a kiss on the dark elf's lips.
"What...?" Valindra was shocked. 'It isn't a normal response, but...' Valindra chuckled and let this go on for a moment. 'I know I should stop this PDA.'
"Sona..." Deltune watched the scene unfold and smiled happily. "He convinced her. Sulris' aura is changing. He succeeded." Deltune whispered to the others.
"Why won't Master kiss me like that??" Ayame pouted and folded her arms across her chest. The other girls laughed at her comment.
Sona pulled away and opened his eyes slowly. "Does that answer your question and ease your fears?" Sona caressed her cheek gently with the back of his hand.
"Yes. I'm sorry..." She grabbed his hand and held it to her cheek. "I knew you were different. I should have trusted you from the beginning. Please forgive me." She whispered softly.
"There is nothing to forgive, sweetheart. Just remember that you can always trust me. I will always have your back." Sona looked at all his classmates. "That goes for all of you. We only just met, but I consider all of you to be my precious friends. You can always come to me for anything. Okay?" Sona smiled sweetly and chuckled.
"That's such a sweet thing to say. I'm truly touched, Sona." Artemisia wiped away a tear from her eyes. "You're gonna make me cry now."
"You truly are something else, Sona. I'd be happy to call you my brother." Toshiyuki grinned wide, his three tails swaying in the wind.
"Okay class. We got off topic a little bit here. Back to your lessons. Sulris. It's still your turn sweetie. Are you okay or do you wanna take a make up later?" Valindra clapped her hands together and looked at Sulris.
"No, let's go Instructor. I'm ready." Sulris stepped away from Sona and made her way forward. 'I can do this! I will grow stronger so I can protect him. I will protect him!' Sulris took up her stance. As she brought her hands together in front of her she began her chant. "Death is an icy grip that none can escape. Cold that chills the bones and darkness that silences all. Hasten to my sight and bind your spirit to my will. The dark that devours light and erases all hope. With my hand I shape your form and bind your will with mine. Rip from them their life! Dark Abyssal Blade!"
In her hands appeared a massive blade made of pure darkness and death. Sulris held the blade tightly in her hands, shaking in fear. 'What will he think..?'
Sona started clapping his hands loudly. He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. "Great, Sulris! Amazing! I'm proud of you girl!"
"Sona..." She smiled happily and turned back around to focus her attention on the blade. "Extend!" She shouted as she sliced the blade horizontally. The blade grew twice it's length and the air around the blade grew chilly.
"Nice job Big Sis Sulris!" Ayame screamed along with her Master.
"That's the way, girl!" Deltune chimed in and eventually the whole class was cheering together for Sulris.
"Nice job, Miss Sulris. Very well done. That's a Level 5 Incantation. Aside from Sona, you've been able to cast the highest level among our first years in well over 1,000 years. Mr. Harata is a miracle student so please don't try to compare yourself to him. Now let's keep moving on shall we?"
The remainder of class went smoothly and just like that, the students found themselves back in the classroom, exhausted from the days training.
"Okay, before I dismiss you, I just want to say how proud I am of all of you students. You did an amazing job. Keep up the good work and your midterms in three months should be a breeze. I want every one to strive to cast at least a single level higher incantation than you did today. Sona, since that's impossible for you, I want you to start researching how to create one. I'm not expecting you to have one ready by then, but I want to see some progress. Every one understand their assignments?" Valindra looked around at the students.
"Yes, Instructor." The class answered in unison.
"Good. Mr. Harata, if you would." Valindra looked to Sona.
"Yes, Instructor." Sona rose to his feet. "All rise! Bow!" Sona boomed and the class all rose and bowed as Valindra left the classroom. "Whew. Another day finished! What shall we do with the rest of the day?" Sona stretched his arms above his head and yawned.
"Well, I think we should go out tonight." Subaru chimed in and walked up behind Sona. She wrapped her arms around his left arm, her breasts pushing into him. "What do you think, Master?"
"Oh um..." Sona scratched his cheek shyly. 'Her breasts are pushing against my arm. My heart won't stop racing.' He looked to the side at Subaru. "That sounds good to me. Where did you have in mind?'
"There's a little place inside the Mall that is very underrated. Great food and amazing coffee. Konotsune and I go there all the time. What do you ladies think?" Ellie looked around at the classroom. "Oh, Aki, Toshi and Artemisia, you guys are all welcome to join us, of course!"
"Are you sure?" Artemisia looked up from her papers.
"I would like to keep hanging out with Sona. This man's a beast. A level 10 Incantation as a 1st year? You've gotta tell me how you did that, man." Toshiyuki was bursting with curiosity.
"Haha. I don't know if I can. Junichi are you coming?" Sona looked back at the man who was his shield.
"Of course, Master. I will always be your side, even when you can't see me." Junichi folded one arm across his chest and bowed.
'So handsome.' Aki blushed and giggled innocently. "I-I'll go, too! Someone needs to keep Toshi from corrupting Sona."
"Okay then. Every one get ready. We can meet outside the Mall in two hours. Does that work for everyone?" Deltune looked around and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Okay. Let's go get ready. I need a nice, hot bath after this." Sona stuck two fingers into his shirt collar and undid the top button. "Now I can breathe. Subaru, are you going to make me walk back home like this?"
"Why? Am I being a burden? I just wanna be close to you, Master." Subaru started to pout in an overly dramatic fashion.
"Fine." Sona sighed and acquiesced. "Let's go home everyone."
The students said their goodbyes and parted ways for now. True to his word, Sona walked side by side with Subaru, her breasts pressed firmly against his arm the whole way. 'Man. How lucky can a guy like me get? Arzotz is this your doing? My overpowered and over leveled charismatic nature?'
'Actually, I don't think that he has anything to do with the ladies attraction to you.' Junichi looked at Sona and communicated to him telepathically.
'Shit. You scared me, Junichi. You can read my mind?' Sona nearly jumped out of his skin when his familiar's voice spoke in his mind.
'Not at all, Master. Even if I did, I wouldn't deign use it on you without your permission. You must have subconsciously transferred your thoughts to me. Either way, I assure you that it isn't Arzotz doing. There is something about you, Master. Something that gives people hope. That helps them see light even in the darkest of nights. You have a gift and a compassionate heart. You are an amazing human. Truly. I've never met another like you. Stay true to yourself and to these girls and they will stay true to you. I promise.' Junichi did his best to quell the storm raging in Sona's heart.
'You..mean that, Junichi?' Sona felt like he was going to cry. 'Thank you for saying so. Truly. You are an amazing man, yourself, Junichi. I'll do my best to stay the way I am. For myself and...' Sona looked at the group of girls walking and gossiping in front of him. 'And for them.' He smiled as the three of them picked up their pace, racing back to the dorms.
All the girls plus Sona and Junichi took a bath together in the open air hot springs. They were all just gossiping and having a good time, discussing the days event. When everyone was adequately satisfied with their soaking, they all left to change for their lunch plans at the mall.
After about an hour had passed, Sona was dressed and groomed in his best casual clothes. Ayame stood by his side in a cute, frilly pink dress Sona had bought for her recently. The clothes he had picked out at Drasphia no longer fit her. For very obvious reasons. Not only had she grown up, but she had grown outward, too. Her body had developed obvious womanly curves. 'I need to find out more about her change, but she grew up quick and came out beautiful.'
"Master? What's wrong? If you keep on staring, I'm going to start blushing." Ayame said innocently.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I was just admiring how beautiful you are." Sona scratched his cheek shyly. "And, you don't have to call me, Master anymore. Why don't you call me Sona? That would make me happy."
"It would make you...happy?" Ayame pondered and mouthed his name a few times. "Okay, Sona. Sona. Hehe." She giggled cutely and Sona couldn't help but smile.
"Good girl, Ayame." He walked over and rubbed the top of her head affectionately.
"Hehe. Sona, Sona, Sona!" She sung his name happily.
"I'm glad to see things are starting to change, Sona." A voice called out to them from the left hallway.