~Again, people, thanks for helping me out by giving me your opinions. Hope you still like the story ^-^

Chapter 7

"Pu pu pu?" Mokona asked, concerned for the Master Mage.

Clef smiled down at the creature. "I'm fine, Mokona. It's not that serious, really."

"Guru," Presea said, coming in to his room, "Your soup. You need as much energy as you can. Look at you, you're getting paler."

The Master Mage gratefully accepted the bowl and placed it next to the bed. Then Presea nodded and left him alone, bringing Mokona with her. As he was left by himself, Clef's eyes suddenly changed. He began to choke and cough convulsively, unable to stop. A dark shadow came before him. "Who…who are you?!"

He heard a menacing cackle and shivered in spite of the immense heat. The shadow reached for the Mage's throat and began to choke him. Clef tried to pry the shadow's fingers away, but he was left with no strength. Closing his eyes, he called on some of his powers and tried to push the shadow away. A blast of energy hit the monstrous entity and it disappeared, shrieking. Clef could then breathe normally. Presea came running back in, hearing the shrieks and laughter of the monster. "Clef! What happened? Is everything okay?"

"N…nothing," Clef said, reclining his head onto the pillow, "I'm okay."

The Master Smith looked on, uncertain. Then she stomped her feet angrily, "How are we supposed to know your condition if you don't tell us? For goodness' sake, you could be getting worse and you're not telling us!"

"I'm still alive, right? That's the main thing."

"Yes, but," Presea's eyes filled with tears, "One of these days, you won't. Clef, you've got to let us help you. Hikaru, Umi, Fuu, and everyone else are doing all they can to cure you. You've got to hang in there. Cephiro still needs you."

Clef looked at Presea and sighed, "You shouldn't be crying for me, Presea. I haven't died yet, and I don't plan to. Now I'm going to rest."

Presea nodded and wiped her tears, then left the room, telling Mokona to stay near Clef at all times. Even Primera, Lantis' little fairy was peeking in, concerned. "Oh dear, at his state, my healing powers won't even do anything to change his condition."

"Pu pu pu…."

"Oh, please, Magic Knights, help Cephiro once again and heal our Master Mage…"

Umi bolted out of her bed, perspiring. What was this dream? Clef…is he okay? Shaking her head, she tried to erase that nightmare. Of course the Master Mage is okay. He gave them his word that he won't die just yet. She walked to the balcony at the back of her room and looked outside. At night, all of Chizeta was in slumber. Umi closed her eyes and whispered her Rune God's name. "Selece…"

A dim blue light started to shine, and a great mashin towered over the Magic Knight. "Thou hast called. What is thy wish?"

"It's good to see you again, Selece," Umi smiled. "Tell me, are dreams a part of an actual reality?"

The mashin was silent for a moment before answering, "In this dimension, most of the people's dreams have already happened. But the dreams can also distort the actual reality and make it either better or worse. Thy dream of Clef is both reality and distortion."

"Is the Master Mage handling himself well?"

"To my knowledge, he hath the power to fend off his enemies."

"Enemies? He's got enemies? But, he's sick! He shouldn't be fighting."

Again, Selece paused before giving her the answer, "His sickness is not what it seems."

Umi sighed, "Thank you, Selece. You've reassured me and told me what I needed to know so far. I have to find Tatra."

"I bade thee good fortune, girl from another world. The problems in this universe links to one being, and that being is not what it seems," Selece said, and disappeared.

Feeling a sense of evil, Hikaru's eyes widened. "Clef! He's in danger!"

Geo, Zazu, and Lantis looked at her. "What do you mean, in danger?"

Shivering, Hikaru shook her head, "No, it's gone now. He's fine. I feel his energy slowly coming back. I'm glad."

Zazu whistled, "Wow, Hikaru. I'm amazed at your powers. Even when you're far away, you feel the pains and sufferings of Cephiro."

"The Magic Knights have extraordinary powers, Zazu," Lantis pointed out, then he changed the subject, "You said Pygmy was a cousin? How come he's never mentioned her?"

Geo shook his head, "Nobody ever asked him to mention her. They were close, but after she began her training, and Eagle was sent over to the capital, they haven't seen each other for years. When you came along, she was still in training, and hardly wrote to Eagle."

"Strange, how she was never mentioned and kept far away…" Lantis muttered, "I thought nothing was kept from me. But he did conceal his sickness, and now, his relative…"

"Why does it matter to you so, Lantis?" Zazu asked, curious, "She's only a cousin."

"Yes, but she's a cousin that looks exactly like him…and she's champion."

Hikaru held the Magic Swordsman's arm. "Lantis, you shouldn't worry yourself about these things. Sure, when I first saw her down the street, I gasped because she reminded me of Eagle. If you do say that Pygmy is similar to Eagle, then she can't be all that bad."

"It's getting late, and we're still standing in the arena," Geo stated, "Come on, we'll bring you two to a hotel or something. It isn't right if you slept in the NSX the whole time in Autozam."

Ferio walked down the halls, seeing Fuu looking out the window. "Fuu? Why aren't you asleep? You're going to need energy."

"I couldn't sleep," Fuu said, "There's been too much trouble happening. First Clef and Cephiro, then Aska. I really do wish to help as much as I can, but I can't think of anything. Then there was this dream about Clef…and…"

The prince raised an eyebrow, "Dream? What was it about?"

"Somehow, Clef was in it, and he seemed to be troubled."

"Maybe it was a sign."

"Oh, Ferio, please don't say such things. Clef did promise not to die, yet. Now, how is Aska-sama?"

Ferio nodded his head. "She's awake. Sang Yung and Chang Ang are with her now. She asked for you, though."

Fuu sighed with relief. Then her eyes became serious. "How sad, that Aska-sama's sisters would do this to her. It isn't right."

"And what's worse," Ferio pointed out, "We can't get to the power source now that they know we're Aska's friends."

The Magic Knight looked down. "Maybe I should go see Aska-sama now."

Ferio nodded and he continued to look out the window. He heard Fuu mutter, "I hope Hikaru and Umi are having better luck than I am." For the 20th time today, Ferio agreed with her.