Author's Note: Hey, I know. These few parts have been romance. I'm just building up their relation to splice things up later on.

Chapter 2-Enchantment Cascade

Aru was sitting by the dinner table, playing with his spaghetti. The doorbell rang. Aru went over to open it. It was phoenix. They both sat down at the table, Aru continued to play with his spaghetti.

"So…….what's your punishment this time?" Phoenix really meant to say "Why the long face?" but he decided it was too motherly.

"Ugh…..I have to go to Payon and make a 46, 000-word essay about those little blue guys in the cave."

"Bonguns?"

"Whatever."

"Hey, I—"

The doorbell rang again. Aru went over to the door and opened it once more.

"J-Julia!"

"Hi. I just wanted to stop by. Is it okay if I come in?"

"Yeah, sure."

Aru opened the door wider so that Julia could pass.

"Oh, Phoenix is here."

"Hi." Phoenix uttered as he waved his hands.

Julia went over to the table. Aru moved the chair so that she could sit, then sat down himself.

"So…..what did Prof Reisha condemn you to this time?" Julia asked. Phoenix glared at him in a comical way, staring at his now crimson red cheeks.

"I have to do a 46, 000-word essay on those—"

"—Bonguns." Phoenix continued his statement. "They're called Bonguns, got that?"

"Y-Yeah, whatever."

They now had deep red faces, Phoenix found it almost impossible to contain his laughter, so he went up stairs as he said, "I….I'm going up…" He paused as he found it hard to speak and contain his laughter at the same time. "I'm going upstairs."

Phoenix rushed up the stairs, into his room and slammed the door. Moments later, his laughter could be heard throughout the whole house.

"Umm…..Aru?"

"Yes?"

"You sleep down here right? While your brother stays upstairs?"

"Yes. That's right."

"I just love the location of your house, it's so…..peaceful. Um…..would you wanna come with me outside, for a walk?"

"Okay, Lemme just inform that Phoenix." He drew out a clean pad of paper and began scribbling the words, "Went out for a stroll –Aru"

Aru opened the door, letting Julia pass through, then went out himself and closed the door. The cool breeze of the night blowing their hair. Aru couldn't help but stare at Julia's pure blue hair as it swayed in the wind. It reminded him of…..the sea.

"You coming?" Julia asked.

"Oh, right! Yes, of course!"

As they walked, they saw that Geffen's beauty was shown not by the sun, but by the moon. The Arcane tower in the middle was hit by the moonlight. The lights in the turrets opened, giving it an even more mystical feeling.

"I just love Geffen. Ever since I entered this world, I've seen Geffen's beauty. Funny though, I've never once seen it at night like this."

"Al de Baran was nice, but I think Geffen is magnificent. I remember when I first went to Geffen, the first person who welcomed me was you. That was nine years ago."

"Remember when I kept ringing the doorbell, but didn't know what to say so I always ran away and when you opened the door, there was no one there!"

"That was hilarious!"

They both laughed at their childhood memories as they sat down the banks of the river surrounding Geffen. Aru dipped his finger into the cold water.

"It's cold…"

"Hey! Is Julia gone?" Phoenix thought this a stupid question, mainly because if Julia WAS still there, she would've got the impression she was unwanted, but he went through with the question anyway. "Julia? Aru?"

Phoenix's feet landed on the ground and saw a note at the table, reading "Went out for a stroll –Aru"

"Oh he's gonna get it? Doesn't he know there's a bane chick out there somewhere?"

"Hey, umm…I had fun today, but I guess my mom's worried sick."

"Yeah….Phoenix would be too."

As they walked towards Julia's home, Aru never expected his life would change this way.

"Umm…Aru?"

"Yes?"

Julia went closer and closer to him, then passionately kissed him on the lips. Aru never expected this, but just went with the flow, and closed his eyes. The two shared their first kiss on a beautiful night in Geffen.

Aru opened his eyes and looked to his right. Phoenix was just standing there. They were forced to stop the kiss.

"Ph-Phoenix! W-What are you doing here? We didn't do nothing!" Aru said as he scratched the back of his hair, and a large sweat drop trickled down his forehead.

Phoenix was now sprinting towards them.

"Really! We weren't doing anything! We were just—" He was cut. Phoenix just ran past them.

Out of surprise, the two looked at Phoenix. He was now blocking a weird talisman, and behind the talisman, they could see a woman.

"Necromancer." Phoenix uttered under his breath.

The mysterious woman crept closer and closer. Phoenix ripped the talisman to shreds. As the woman came into the light of the light post, Aru saw that she was very elegant indeed. The woman let out a chuckle. Not forced, but not out of humor either.

"You really think you can do anything to me?" She went over to Phoenix and caressed his face gently. "You're a necromancer aren't you?"

Phoenix grabbed the woman's hand and pushed it away from his face. "You're just a bitch!"

At this remark, the woman chuckled again.

"I might actually have some use for you." She said as she threw a talisman at him. Phoenix just grabbed it and tore it to shreds. "You're actually getting better! Keep it up!"

She walked past Phoenix and eyed Aru devilishly.

"And what about these two love birds?" She glared once more at Aru. "Afraid your little girlfriend might get hurt?"

Julia blushed, Aru did what his brother did, but this time, he was attempting to make it rain fire on you?

With one snap of her fingers, the magic Aru felt disappeared, each and every sliver of magic that you feel when casting disappeared from his body.

"Don't you know Midgard's magic isn't working properly?" She chuckled once more.

"Ugh, you bitch, Black Mamba was it?"

"That's only my Alias but you could call me that.

From behind, Aru saw Phoenix was casting a spell at her. He was successful. Demons surrounded Mamba, but as they were about to hit her, she dissolved into a black mist.

"Catch you later!" her fading voice uttered.

Phoenix, as Aru could see, was now full of rage. He walked over to the two and looked at Julia.

"Julia…..y-you have to go home. We need to talk in private."

Julia just bowed and walked over to her home.

"Aren't we going to escort her?" Aru asked. Phoenix didn't reply.

"Going out at night? Didn't you know that bane chick—"

"—chick?" Aru interrupted, which, obviously, irritated Phoenix even more.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT MOM WOULD SAY IF YOU DIED ON MY WATCH?"

"Is that what mom would think or you?"

"I am a highly skilled necromancer. A DRUID PUNK LIKE YOU AND YOUR LITTLE MAGE-GIRLFRIEND WON'T STAND A CHANCE EVEN IF YOU COMBINED YOUR MAGIC!"

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"Whatever! I'm not looking after you anymore!"

"That's just what you think!"

Phoenix stormed up the stairs. If he exerted a little more effort in stomping, he could've destroyed the whole staircase. Aru went over to the bathroom and took a bath.

"The magic can't be controlled anymore. Earlier, a necromancer summoned demons. He didn't notice the side-effects of this: Payon's monsters have started rampaging across town!"

"And who is this necromancer?"

"Phoenix. Phoenix la Croix."

"From what I heard, he, his brother and his friend was attacked by Black Ma—"

"Black Mamba……..We will have to cast an enchantment cascade around Midgard. Gather all the archmagi!"

"Yessir."