DISCLAIMER: I do not own Magic Knights Rayearth nor do I claim to. I just like the show and wanted to write a little something for it.

Sestercentennial - Means 250 years

Squall - Is another term for a storm.

_[ STORY ]_

Lantis, Lafarga, and Ferio stood waiting for the ship that would bring their friends home, but what was supposed to be a joyous event was full of sorrow, Eagle was able to contact Lantis and inform him and the others about the Master Mages condition.

Once the jumper landed Persea was the first to exit followed by a modestly dressed Clef; he looked around the balcony, the sky, the land and the castle itself all with shock evident in his eyes, his mouth agape.

"This can't be...but it feels like…" Clef muttered kneeling, he placed a hand on the stonework and closed his eyes.

Wisps of white light flared below his palm and wrapped itself around him, the others called out concerned and surprised at the display of power. The magic faded away as soon as it sprang to life tears streaked down Clef's face.

"Cephiro...it's like you said," he said rising to his feet and looking at Persea, "the pillar is gone, but how…"

"Master Clef," Lantis called.

"DON'T…" Clef bellowed the ground under his feet fractured from some unseen force, "don't call me that…" he rushed past the gathered group into the castle.

Flashes of thing and people and events sat at the back of Clef's mind taunting him, he flew down the halls, his legs knowing where he was going despite his foggy brain not remembering. He needed a place to think without interruption.

Hikaru skipped down the long road, leading to Tokyo Tower a large bag secured to her back, with midterms over she was off school for a full week, so her and the other girls were going to spend it in Cephiro.

"Hikaru!" Umi called waving the redhead over.

"Hey Umi," she greeted, "where's Fuu?"

"She called me this morning and let me know she was going to be about an hour late give or take, something family related," Umi explained.

"Okay, should we grab something to eat well we wait?"

Umi turned green, "last time I ate before going over I nearly lost my lunch mid-air, I have snacks for afterward, " she told Hikaru.

"Well I still want to eat, do you mind sitting with me?"

"Of course you goof, let's go."

They soon found themselves in the small cafe under the tower, choosing to set outside as their bags took a lot of space.

"I love these chick pastures, " Hikaru beamed munching away.

"They are pretty good," Umi agreed, nibbling on a few crackers.

"Umi, are you okay?" Hikaru asked.

"Ya, why?"

"Your crying."

"Not again," Umi said reaching for a napkin, "you are as well," she added handing her a second napkin.

"What!?" Hikaru touched her face, and there was indeed a stream of tears flowing, "what is going on? That's the fourth time this month," she took the offered napkin and dried her face and eyes.

"Me too!" Umi cried, "you don't even notice them until someone points it out, then you feel a tight knot in your chest?"

"Yes, it so weird."

"You don't think it's connected to Cephiro, do you?"

"I...I feel like it is."

Lantis scoured the palace grounds long after the other had given up; he looked for his mentor though as the moon rose higher in the sky, he too felt he was not going to find the man. So he decided since sleep was the furthest thing from his mind he would escape to the garden and the large tree he often sat in to think.

When he arrived, he was surprised in finding his master fast asleep among the foliage, his small frame, and green Autozam clothing making him almost invisible, if it wasn't for Clef's ring giving off a soft glow, Lantis could have hurt him.

"Mast...Mage Clef," Lantis called, "Mage Clef!"

"Five more minutes Master Maroff…"

"MAGE CLEF!" Lantis shouted.

The older man started awake; Clef slipped from the branch he was on before Lantis could make to soften the fall Clef's ring weaved a white light around its owner lowering him to the ground safely.

"Do you often go around scaring people?" Clef asked between his panting breaths.

"It was not intentional," Lantis said, "we have been looking for you all day and myself most of the night. We were worried about you."

"I...I don't understand why?" Clef questioned, "I'm not someone to be concerned with, I was told I'm the Master Mage, but I'm so weak in magic, yet ever since I arrived...home...this is Cephiro, but at the same time it's not...I'm so confused…" Clef spouted off half sentences as his mind raced, "what happened to Master Maroff and...

Lantis gripped his mentor's shoulder drawing the mage's attention and stemming the flow of words, "it may not make sense in your mind right now, but your heart and soul know the truth, " he started. "If you truly believe what you say you would not have allowed yourself to be brought back here, nor would have even listened to anything we told you. Cephiro itself is trying to remind you of yourself."

"But all I was shown was how the pillar is gone...and I did nothing to stop it, " Clef cried he collapsed to his knees, and clasped at his heart it aching with emotion.

Lantis knelt before the man he respected with every fiber of his being, he took the hands that shook with anger and pain, "YOU are Guru Clef! YOU are the Master Mage of Cephiro! YOU are the one who has helped so many at such a high cost to yourself! YOU are my mentor! YOU are someone I look up to and have great respect for! YOU are someone who is loved by many people including three young women who have worried themselves sick over your wellbeing…

"But I can't be someone like that, " Clef protested, "I was never meant to be the Master Mage…

"Master please…"

"No, if I am the Master Mage then what happened to Master Maroff and his appointed successor...what happened to my sister?"

_[ TO BE CONTINUED ]_

Note: I know Clef is OOC in this chapter, it is on purpose go with me on this.