Chapter 3: The Ring
„I found it!" Michiru cried out after two more hours of searching, holding up a silver ring with a blood red ruby. "Yes!" Harukas voice came from the left, causing the aqua haired girl to flinch. "Now we just have to find out how you can get me out." The blonde continued, but suddenly, there was a mischief glint in Michirus eyes. "First, I want to try out something else…" the aqua haired girl mumbled – before she put the ring on. "Hey!" Haruka cried out, her voice sounding quite irritated. "What are you doing?" "Just testing if the rumours I heard are true." Michiru replied, smirking. "And what rumours would that be?" Haruka asked back, and Michiru could swear that if she would be able to see the Magician, she would be frowning. "That you have to fulfil all of my wishes as long as I'm wearing the ring." The aqua haired girl informed the wizard, her proud clearly shining through her voice. "I swear, I'll toast that chatty woman!" Haruka cursed, causing Michiru to raise her eyebrows in surprise. "It was Roberta who told you that, right?" Michiru nodded, giggling. "Well, she was right…well not totally. I have to fulfil you three wishes." The magician informed the aqua haired girl, who immediately started to beam. "Well, three is better than none, right? Let's start, my first wish is…umm…" she trailed off and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. Haruka chuckled and spoke into the young woman's ear: "You don't have to make them immediately. I was locked up in that ring for such a long time now, it won't kill me if I have to wait a little longer to be free." "Okay." Michiru replied happily, before she awed at the ring. "It's beautiful…will it be destroyed when you're freed?" "Nah, I don't think so." Haruka replied, her voice sounding lightly amused. "You can keep it if you want after I got out of it." "Aw thanks!" the aqua haired girl cried out, right now wanting nothing more than to hug the magician. But since she couldn't do that, she just decided to tell her about it. "You know, if I would be able to see you, I would hug you now." For a while, it was quiet in the room, and Michiru already started to wonder if she had said the wrong thing, when Haruka finally spoke up. "Wait a moment." The air around Michiru suddenly seemed to be full of lightning bolts, and an odd humming sound filled the room. And then, all of a sudden, the aqua haired girl could feel how two surprisingly strong arms wrapped themselves around her. Smiling, Michiru returned the embrace, and though she felt a little stupid since she still couldn't see the person she was hugging, it felt more than good. "Like that?" Harukas voice came, and Michiru nodded. "Exactly…" She closed her eyes, just enjoying the feeling of being held. Then, she could feel how the air around her became thinner, and the feeling of being held vanished. "Sorry." Harukas exhausted sounding voice came. "I couldn't keep it up as long as I wanted to…" "It's okay." Michiru quickly replied, giving a reassuring smile. "As soon as you are free again, you can hug me as often as you want to." "Why young Lady, was that an offer?" Haruka shot back, her voice full of mischief. Michiru fluttered her eyelashes and replied: "If you want to…" Haruka coughed, then stayed silent again. "Well…", the blonde finally spoke, "I need to rest a little now…this powered me out." "Okay." Michiru agreed, looking at the chaos Valieri had left behind with a sigh. "I'll clean this in the meantime…" she then spoke, her voice full of self pity. Haruka chuckled once more, then the room stayed silent.
Two hours later, Michiru had finished cleaning and let out a loud yawn, rubbing her eyes. She dust herself off, small splinters of pots falling to the ground, and walked into the bedroom, hoping that Haruka would let her find some sleep this time. Slowly, the aqua haired girl crawled into the bed and covered herself with the fluffy blanket, already waiting for the magician to throw her out again. Nothing happened, and soon, the aqua haired girl had drifted off into sleep.
The next morning, Michiru awoke to the sun shining into her face. She groaned, rolled over and tried to sleep on, with no succeed though. "Good morning." Harukas voice came from somewhere near the door. Michiru smiled and replied: "Good morning to you too. Umm…I don't know if I should ask you if you slept well now." Haruka chuckled. "I did. Well…let's say I rested well." Michiru smiled before she asked the question that had been on her mind ever since the fight with Valieri: "Haruka? Could you teach me that spell you used? The one you protected me with." Haruka stayed silent for a few moments, then replied: "Yes…should be possible. Come on, get out of bed." Michiru climbed out of the bed, rubbing her eyes. "So what do I have to do?" she asked as soon as she was fully awake. "Concentrate." Haruka replied, her invisible smirk clearly shining through her voice. "Concentrate until you feel the energy inside you…" Michiru closed her eyes, concentrating as hard as possible. She felt how a wave of energy built itself up inside her, and the air around her started to produce an odd deep humming sound. "And now", Haruka whispered into her ear, "say the word I said. As strong as you can, with all your heart!" "Protectus!" Michiru cried out, and in the next second, a magic barrier formed itself in front of her. "Well done." Haruka spoke, her voice full of pride. "You have talent…as soon as I'm free, I would like to teach you." "Oh yes please!" Michiru cried out, happily. Haruka just chuckled, then the barrier vanished again, leaving Michiru pouting and Haruka chuckling even more.
