Well, here we are with the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy it.
Three
Hartia looked out of the tall window as the sun rose.
Once again he had not been able to sleep, but for an entirely different reason than the disturbing dreams plaguing him. Lai had come to see him last night with such a dreadful look on his face. Hartia though someone had died.
The news was just as bad as that.
Today was the day when Majic would leave them. Lai had seen it and seeing the sun rising, Hartia knew it also in his heart. He could feel Krylancelo's call on the wind for his apprentice. Majic would sense it, without a doubt and he would leave. Hartia sighed. He had known that it was only a temporary arrangement, but it was still difficult for him to grasp Majic leaving.
He heard a tentative knock at the door and turned, calling out for the person to enter. He smiled warmly as he saw Eris.
"Eris, is something wrong?" the smile turned to a worried frown when he saw the tears standing in Eris' eyes.
"I'm sorry Master Hartia, I know I should not pry, or even think so high as to ask, but I'm worried about Majic."
Hartia moved over to her and, to her enormous surprise, placed a friendly comforting arm about her shoulder. "I know you are and with good reason. You think he will be leaving."
She nodded and suddenly couldn't stop herself from bursting into tears. She clung to his robe and buried her head in it. Hartia smiled warmly and placed his arms around her, pulling her close in a comforting hug. He drew her into the room a bit further and over to a small couch where he sat them both down.
"He … he told me he was … going to leave," she hiccuped, regaining her composure somewhat. "But he said it wouldn't be until he was sure it was the right time." She huddled closer to Hartia. "I saw him just before and I knew."
"His master has called him back," Hartia told her. Eris pulled back and stared up at him. Hartia was smiling sadly. "Where Orphen goes, Majic will follow. I have known of this, but it still saddens me greatly to see him leave."
"You won't stop him?'
Hartia shook his head. "No more than I would try to stop the sun from rising. Majic will go to Orphen and fulfil his destiny with him as he was supposed to."
"He always said he didn't belong here." Eris sighed and suddenly blushed as she realised she was practically sitting on Hartia's lap. "I'm sorry," she said, jumping up. "I didn't mean to …" she trailed off as she heard Hartia's gentle laughter.
"Eris, please, what sort of master would I be if I did not comfort my students in times of need?" He smiled at her. "You need not apologise."
She nodded, still blushing. "Thank you though, Master Hartia. Your council has helped me greatly."
"I am pleased." Hartia got up and offered her his arm. "Now I do believe you have class with young Majic. Go and enjoy your time with him, for I am sure that is how he wishes to spend his last day here, being in the presence of his closest friend."
Eris smiled and nodded and left the room with a bow in his direction. Once the door closed, Hartia returned to his contemplation of the sky out the window, now a clear blue where before it had been a bloody red with the rising sun.
The days will clear again, all I have to do is wait and ride it out. Things will be better.
***
Majic fidgeted nervously as he sat in class. His mind was elsewhere. He had his magic exams coming up, but he couldn't focus. There was something else that occupied his attention.
Orphen. It was finally time, he had returned and Majic knew he would follow. Tonight.
He glanced sideways at Eris who was looking at their teacher in earnest, taking note of everything he said. Majic felt a small pang of regret looking over at her. He would miss her, she was a good friend, but Orphen was his master, they'd been through so much, he couldn't just ignore his call. Besides, Cleao would be there, and Leki. It would be the whole gang again.
Majic looked up suddenly as the teacher approached him. He gulped, knowing that he had not heard a single word. Eris looked at him nervously and he grinned at her.
"Majic, could you tell me what is so fascinating about the sky?" The teacher demanded with crossed arms.
"Nothing really."
"Good, then you can answer me this question. If I was to throw a fire-needle spell towards you, what counter-measure would you take?"
Majic paled slightly. This wasn't a question he had to know anything about and the rest of the class knew it too. Their instructor was just picking on him, but they knew better than to argue against the unfair treatment.
"Uh, well," Majic thought very hard, trying to remember what spell that was. Then it clicked. "There are no set counter measures against it, it depends on the sorcerers and their abilities. However I have seen it effectively blocked with a sword of light technique."
The teacher scoffed. "Where could you have possibly seen such a weak technique used against a spell like that?"
"During some of Master Hartia's battles with Orphen last year," Majic replied with a slight smirk. He knew he should be more respectful, but it was his last day (not that anyone else knew that) and he really couldn't care.
There were whispers started at this statement. The teacher looked annoyed at this and glared disdainfully at Majic before returning to the front of the class to resume teaching.
"Majic, are you sure you should have been that disrespectful to a teacher?" Eris whispered nervously.
Majic shrugged. "Why shouldn't I act how I feel? The only people here I respect are Hartia and Lai." He sighed. "It'll be a shame to leave them, and you, behind."
Eris nodded sadly and Majic gave her a quick hug and she smiled. "I'll miss you Majic."
"I know."
Soon the lesson ended and it was time for Hartia's lesson. The class waited, chatting quietly before he came down to the gardens to meet with them. Unsurprisingly, Lai was with him. What was a surprise was that he joined them with Hartia. Speculative glances between the students occurred, much to Hartia and Lai's amusement until Hartia called for silence.
"I thought that in the midst of all your studying, I'd give you a bit of a break." There was a cheer at this, but Hartia managed to calm everyone down. "By a break, I mean I will let you do whatever you want in any area of study. So long as it is some form of study." He suddenly grinned. "I would advise section 24 of the library would hold the most importance for you."
Many of the students grinned. Section 24 was the section with the comic books.
"Perhaps some of you would be interested in meditation?" Lai suggested quietly. A few more grinned at this.
"Then of course you could always discuss whatever magic studies you are undertaking with other students in the class," Hartia completed
Basically, Hartia and Lai were giving them their permission to read comics, go to sleep or talk during class time. It was perfect.
Majic grinned. His last day here would be fantastic. But he stilled suddenly thinking upon that. Why would Hartia want this day to be different? He moved away from Eris and walked over to where Hartia and Lai sat on the grass, talking quietly.
Hartia looked up seeing a shadow cross over him and Majic said softly, "You know." Hartia nodded and Majic looked confused. "You're not going to try and stop me?"
"I wouldn't be able to. Besides, I know how persuasive Krylancelo can be. I would not keep you from your master.'
Majic smiled gratefully. "Thank you." He looked at both of them as he said this. "You know, I only really enjoyed your classes. I'll miss you both."
"I know, but you'll see us again," Lai told him with a smile.
Majic grinned, knowing it for the truth if the psychic said so. "Great." He started to walk off, but Hartia called out to him again and he turned back.
Hartia held out something for him. "So you and Krylancelo never forget," he said quietly. Majic nodded and took the object then walked away, staring at it with a smile.
Four young hopeful faces smiled back up at him from a glossy page.
***
Lai opened his door after the first knock. He had been awake, expecting such an arrival.
Hartia smiled weakly. "Sorry."
"Quite understandable," Lai said with a smile, stepping back so Hartia could enter.
"You're not working tonight?"
Lai shook his head. "It's going to storm. I thought it rather pointless." He walked back and poured a drink for himself and Hartia. Hartia smiled gratefully and took the wine.
He sighed after a while. "How do you put up with me Lai? I must be the most annoyingly self-centred sorcerer there is."
"True, but I like you."
Hartia laughed. "And you are one of the best friends I could have."
"You're troubled." Hartia nodded and Lai gestured that he should sit down on the bed. Hartia finished his wine and did so, placing the glass on the bedside table. Lai sat down beside him. "Why?"
Hartia shook his head. "I know not, I just have an empty feeling inside me. I have since your telling me of Majic's leaving."
Lai nodded. "You're afraid again, that you'll be left alone."
Hartia stilled and looked away, tears coming to his eyes. "Would you not be afraid also? Azalie first, then I lost Krylancelo, two people closer to me than family, Krylancelo especially. Now Childman, a man I loved with all my heart is gone and Majic too touched me, an innocent who reminded me so much of my childhood." Hartia smiled. "He is like Krylancelo was when he was young."
Lai nodded again and put an arm around Hartia. Hartia leaned his head on Lai's shoulder.
"You're all I have left Lai," Hartia whispered. "I think that's what I fear most of all, that you will leave me."
"You need not fear such a thing," Lai reassured him. He placed a gentle kiss on Hartia's forehead. "I'll never leave you." He looked down, thinking to himself, How could I leave you? I love you too much.
Hartia smiled. "Thank you Lai. You always were the one I could count on."
"Any time," Lai whispered.
AN: As promised, a Hartia/Lai scene. Now we get into the deeper relationship stuff between the two of them, which means … more kawaii shounen-ai scenes! Yay!
Of course that means the next chapter is packed full of scenes like the last one.
Well, until next time,
Laters.
