Chapter Four

The Painful Truth about Lantis and the Girl Desma

"Fuu hasn't come back." Umi said after they were left alone in Hikaru's room.

"Don't worry Umi, Ferio's with her. Nothing bad will happen to her." Hikaru said with a sigh. The sad, painful expression on her face never left her after Presea told her the truth.

"Hey, are you okay?" Umi asked sensing Hikaru's sadness.

"Yeah… I'm just tired…." Hikaru answered and lay down on her bed without changing her clothes.

"I don't believe you… was it what Presea told you that made you upset?" Umi asked and sat beside Hikaru's bed. "You can tell me if you want…"

"Presea told me that Lantis had an accident two months ago and that his memory was lost…" Hikaru said with a trembling voice. "And she said that a certain girl named Desma saved him and recently they… she said they just noticed that they're like a couple."

"Presea shouldn't have told you that…" Umi commented.

"It wasn't her fault… I asked who saved him and the moment I heard her name… I felt it… Umi, maybe Lantis didn't loved me in the first place, you know… maybe he just said that because he wanted me to be happy, because I'm a Magic Knight who was trying to save Cephiro and he wanted to pay me back for what I was doing for Cephiro…" Hikaru said trying to look calm.

"I don't think Lantis is that kind of person… why don't you go talk to him? Tell him about you and him…" Umi suggested.

"He won't believe me… and even if he did, it will be of no use…he can't remember me anymore…and we weren't able to start anything before, except, saying "I love you" to each other…"

"But why?"

"I don't know Umi…"

"Oh… Hikaru… how can we help you?" Umi said sympathetically.

"It's okay Umi… you have done so much for me… I don't even know how to repay you… and also Fuu…" Hikaru said as she smiled reassuringly to her friend.

"Umi, about that time when we were still outside the room… uh… I felt there's something bothering you… can you at least tell me what it is?" Hikaru asked after

"Hikaru… you're right but I don't think I can talk about it for now… I'm sorry… I want to tell you but I'm still confused…"

"It's okay… but if you think you can't handle it and you want someone to cry on… you can always count on me, okay?" Umi nodded and smiled at this.

oOo

"LANTIS!!! LANTIS!!!" shouted Primera who have been looking for Lantis for at least an hour. "Oh, there he is!!!" She found Lantis sitting on the branch of the tree at the garden outside the castle.

"Lantis, I heard the Magic Knights arrived. Have you seen them already?" Primera asked.

"Yes" was Lantis' answer.

"Did you remember them?"

"No… but… they are familiar to me especially the redheaded one…"

"Lantis… I have to tell you something about Hikaru…" Primera was saying this with a sad look in her face. "It will hurt me but it's better for him… he should know about Hikaru before he falls in love to that girl…"

"What is it?"

"Uh… Hikaru is-"But before she could start someone called out on Lantis, - it was Desma. "Oh here she is again! Hmp!!"

"Oh there you are…Lantis!" Desma went near them and smiled at Primera's sullen face.

"What do you want? Are you blind not to seeing us busy having a conversation?" Primera asked impolitely.

"I am sorry Primera… I just came here to see and talk with Lantis…" Desma was saying this with a forced smile and looked at Primera sharply.

"Lantis, about Hikaru…" Primera said trying to divert Lantis' attention to her.

"Primera, you can tell me about it later…" Lantis said and Primera already know what he meant by this. Primera left without saying anything.

"Lantis!" Desma suddenly threw her arms to Lantis after Primera left.

"Why?" Lantis asked her, sensing that she has a problem.

"I was just worried. I'm afraid. Tell me you love me, please…" Desma said who was now hugging him.

"What is it Desma? I don't understand what you're saying…" Lantis asked again returning her warm embrace. "Why can't I feel the same feeling she has for me? I don't feel any warmth each time we are this close…" Lantis thought.

"Never mind… Just hug me tightly…" Desma whispered.

Lantis did as she asked. He took Desma's other hand and enclosed it to his hand. "There's still nothing… I shouldn't be feeling this way…" he thought but continued holding her hands.

oOo

Inca looked at her friend who was sulking around the corner of her room. "What is your problem, Desma? You didn't move from there ever since you arrived after going to Lantis…"

She sat near Desma. "Is it Primera again? I told you don't mind her, she's just an insect who was trying her best to make Lantis love her!" she laughed sarcastically. "Which will never happen! A bug can't beat you!"

"No, it's not her this time… it's the magic knights, I found out that they arrived just this morning…"

"Yeah, I already knew it… everybody was talking about it outside. But why are you angry with them?"

"I'm afraid that everything I've done to go this far will go to nothing… Inca, I-"

"I know you already love him but Desma, you must not forget your mission! The Master already predicted all the possible things that may happen! I know it's hard for you to do this job but remember your promise to the Master!"

"Primera once told me that Lantis will never love me because of one girl… that girl was one of the magic knights, the magic knight of fire, the one they call 'Hikaru'…" Desma ignored Inca and continued talking. "I already saw her, you know? We have the same color f hair… but what I'm curious about is what's special about her that made Lantis love her? There's nothing special about her except her being a magic knight! Huh! As far as I remember, she could not even be called beautiful!"

"She won't listen to me now! I should just talk to her later…" "Are you sure? Every one was saying how beautiful the magic knights are! Everybody knows how good her heart was, remember she was the chosen Pillar of Cephiro… and that means she's special!" Inca said with envy.

"I don't care about her being the pillar! She gave it up four years ago! So now she's just simply but a magic knight! I don't care if she saved Cephiro! And besides there mission's already been finished. Why do they have to come back? I just hate her! And if I have to compete with her, I will, if it means that I can have Lantis! And I'll make sure I will win!"

"Then, do it! Come, I'll make you beautiful tonight so that everyone will look only at you!" Inca smiled evilly at this…

oOo

"Do I have to come along with you guys? Can't I just stay here and sleep? I'm tired…" Hikaru was saying this while Umi and Fuu are helping her to get ready at the party of the mayor of Sefir, one of the town's of Cephiro.

"Hikaru, all of the people here are dying to see us, especially you, the pillar of Cephiro." Umi put her hand on her waist as she was saying this. She looked at Hikaru's beautiful dress to make sure it was okay. Fuu is already finished styling Hikaru's hair.

"Oh, Hikaru you're even more beautiful wearing your hair down like that! I already saw you in a beautiful party dress before at my birthday, but today is different!" Umi said admiring her friend.

"Really? Umi, you don't have to act like that just to encourage me… I know I'm not really beautiful…" Hikaru said blushing.

"Hikaru, Umi's right you're beautiful! You have grown taller too, you're almost as tall as I am and it emphasized you're gown more!" Fuu opposed what Hikaru said. "You're a natural beauty!"

"Wow! What a sight… I'm sure all eyes will be on you three tonight!" Ferio who was on the door said suddenly. Behind him were Caldina and Presea who were also dressed beautifully and Lafarga who was wearing his usual armor.

"Ferio!" all three girls called out.

"Hey, Hikaru here sure looks different! You should always do that often. It's beautiful…" Presea praised.

"See, what we told you? Maybe we should be going… it's not good for us to be late. People might get the wrong impression to us!" Fuu said. Everyone agreed and left for the party.

oOo

"I'm very excited to see the magic knights… I just hope they arrive soon!" one of the Cephirian attending the party voiced out his feelings.

"Yeah! My brother who works in the palace said they transformed into a beautiful ladies that he didn't even recognized them!" a fat woman replied. Everyone who heard it felt more excited to see the magic knights.

"Hmp! Everyone here is talking about those magic knights! Beautiful ladies?! Huh! Well let's see once they arrive!" Desma who was there behind the group was listening and cursing each time she hears every admiration the folks give to the magic knights.

"Oh, Desma! There you are!" A woman older than her approached.

"Oh Madame Milia, good evening! I thought you don't feel good that you decided to stay in your room?" Desma asked the woman who was still younger looking despite her age.

"I heard the magic knights would arrive tonight. As the town mayor's wife and woman of the house, I shouldn't be absent to greet them." The woman explained. "Child, you look wonderful tonight… is it for someone else?"

Desma blushed. "It's for Lantis. Did he arrive already? I want to go talk to him…"

"He's there. He's just arrived." Madame Milia answered.

Desma smiled evilly. "I'll make sure to tear her heart out! After all, she's my mission…"

"So you're here? I never thought you'd come but I'm glad that you did…" Desma said who took her seat beside Lantis.

"I promised the mayor that I would come this time." Lantis said smiling a little to the girl who looked stunning on her beautiful dress.

"I don't see Primera anywhere, where is she?" she asked trying not to bore Lantis.

"I don't know. She did not show up since yesterday." Lantis said.

Desma was somehow felt hurt at his short reply. Ever since the magic knights' arrival, everything became worse. She could feel his confusion. She could feel him becoming more distant and cold…

After a few minutes, the atmosphere inside the party changed. It was because the Magic Knights have arrived.

Desma looked at Lantis who was looking at the door where three beautiful girls were entering. They were behind Lafarga and Caldina. "Are they…?" Desma was about to ask Lantis when suddenly it became noisy there. Every one were either clapping or praising the magic knights.

"Oh my… they are so gorgeous! They were so different now!" A man on his late fifties exclaimed.

"I never thought I could still see them after all this years! I've been wanting to thank them!" a woman who obviously his wife added.

Desma darted her eyes to Lantis and realized Lantis was staring intently to one of the magic knights, the redheaded one, Hikaru. "So she is Hikaru…" Desma eyed Hikaru from foot to head then smirked. She saw the mayor and his wife approached the magic knights and gladly shakes hands with them. She looked at Lantis but he was not in his chair anymore. Desma felt more anger to the magic knights, especially the one who was obviously the reason Lantis left.

oOo

The party was being held lively. But none of them knows what the future holds… no one knows of something evil approaching them… evil that is coming…back… strong…full of vengeance…

"Power… I need more power!!! Soon…soon… all will be mine… again!!!!"

Master Clef woke up from his sleep. He was sweating heavily and felt sicker after he felt the presence. He was not able to attend the party because he felt tired of many tasks that he had to rest.

"What was it? Someone is giving off a source of negative energy… it is strong enough that I was able to feel it! But who was it and why? Is Cephiro in danger again? Where is it coming from?"

Master Clef raised his staff. The staff gave off a bright light and this light formed into a small oblong shape and an image was forming from it. It was an image of Cephiro…

"Where is it coming from?" The image changed into another. It showed a place with many people… "It was Mayor Remo's house where a party is being held… but why?" Master Clef looked who was the source of the negative energy but before he could find it, it suddenly vanished and could not be felt anymore no matter how he tries. "It was gone… whoever it was felt that I'm looking for it!"

"He is indeed the strongest mage in Cephiro that he even felt that "small" form of energy…" the owner of the "presence" laughed evilly. "But he won't be able to find me until I'm strong enough to destroy the magic knights and all of Cephiro!!!"