Chapter 12:
big dark cloud
Graduation, I barely remember how was mine back on earth, It was boring for sure, as I left as soon I got the diploma, but this one, it feels weird, I have a bad feeling about this.
The ceremony was in the center of the School, everyone had tuxedo suits, For the ones who couldn't afford to buy a suit, the School gifted them one, and as for now, I'm with the boys, Sieg and Pax, Sariel is getting a little overrun by people trying to talk with her a bit away from us, but Aubrey and the girls are doing their job on letting her breathe a bit.
"It sure is crowded right?"
"Yes, but we have it easier than Sariel…"
"By this time I guess we are all accustomed to that" I chuckle a bit, as we actually have our own chat with more students.
and we spent a few minutes there until some popular faces appeared.
Ariel Anemoi Asura, along with a guardian, Isolte Cruel, I know her from the speaks back at home with Kristopher…hell if it is long ago, and also a man, black hair and no particularly fancy clothes, I can't have clear who he is, as this is from afar, there are also high rank nobles, along with other celebrities onf the kingdom.
Ignoring that, someone else is also here, Rudeus Greyrat himself, the most powerful magician in the world, and also happens to be more popular than Ariel, and as such, Sariel had much more time to breathe, as she approached us, she seemed tired.
"Had fun princess?"
"Shut up Sara… you wouldn't understand"
"Yeah, I wouldn't, but is funny anyway" she pouts, I chuckle again
"And how have you guys been?"
"Way better honestly, is…kinda surprising how far we have come, I never expected to be so praised by other students" Sieg's right, two years ago he was an outcast, but we helped him and Pax, so now we are a team
"...actually, Sieg isn't he your m-" Pax is interrupted by someone that comes near us
"...Sara" it's Michael, I haven't seen him since that time, and now…
"...Brother?" Even Sariel is taken by surprise by this
"...yes, back to what I was saying, Sara…can we talk in private for a moment?" what…really?
"uhh…I see no problem with that so…I'll be back in a minute, See you later" I step forward, ready to follow Michael to wherever he considers private
and that way, we walk away from the party, ending up down on that tree, where Sieg initially stayed two years ago
"...so, what do you want?"
"...I'm sorry….for what happened two years ago…" Oh that..
"..."
"I…let my emotions take control and…almost took advantage of you, and I know you may hate me for that…I'm sorry I didn't dare to apologize before…"
"hey hey…look,I never hated you, nor..saw it as such a big of a deal I just thought that…you just moved on…" he seemed surprised…
"So you..forgive me?"
"..I do, You still are a nice guy…that doesn't change" he's blinking a bit
"Sara…."
"...if…that's all, I'll be going back with"
"...before you go…what you'll do…after this, the graduation..."
"...wandering around the world, I have to find someone I care about"
"All alone?" I stay silent for a few seconds
"...I'm not letting you go with me…, even if…you think it would be for the better…"
"Why is that?..."
"Because I don't want to drag anyone along with me…, it may be a waste of time, and is my life the one I'm spending on this.."
"If it just that you'll find a lot of people that will go and help you out, even if you think you shouldn't, sometimes one needs the drive to move forward, that drive comes from looking at someone else, and doing their best to help them"
"Michael, don't…, I'm not dragging you along to a possible death, or on a pointless quest. you have potential, but you are not doing the right thing by going with me" honestly, I just don't want company on this…I prefer to not get attached wandering around
"And who says it won't be my destiny? What if you can't achieve that without help?...without me.." Michael…so stubborn
"...fine, If you want to be close to me so much…, find me after 5 years…If I haven't finished my quest ... .is your job to stop me from going…" I probably would just give up after that time, by now my mind is already starting to forget how my father looks, I already accepted living in this world.
but Michael looked at the sky, It was midday and it was like the ambiance started to darken rapidly
so I looked at the sky with him
"...no….."
Sieg
I saw a guy…supposed Sariel's brother take Sara out of our view as we were starting to get comfortable in the ceremony.
"You were going to say something right Pax?".
"Oh…yes, Sieg, isn't he, your master? The guy that is with the queen?" I look at the direction.
"...he is" customized gloves, light yet practical clothes with a gun resting on his hip, black short hair, and a few scars on his face, along with pure green eyes.
"Is he as good as they say?".
"He and Kalman III are on the same level currently, so at the level of the current north god? Yes".
"No wonder Ariel wants him close…" Sariel looks at Pax.
"Well..he also taught me a few stuff when I was young…mostly advice on life and such," says Sariel.
We look at Sariel's "since…when?".
"Oh you know…childhood, he's been with mom since they were at the Ranoa Academy…".
That left me intrigued, as my master never told me about him being this related to the Asura kingdom…actually, he never told me about his personal life.
"Speaking of the queen….." she is walking towards us.
Sariel is a beautiful girl, and she took that from her mother, even reaching her 40s Ariel is still having such a perfect appearance.
Noticing she was approaching us I tried to kneel, Sariel slightly pulled my back, stopping me from doing so.
"Oh my, you graduates, are the ones in the spotlight today".
"Mother" Sariel did a signature female noble greeting, Pax put his hand on his chest and bowed.
"Pax Shirone, a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty" Looking at that I did the same.
"Sieghart Saladin Greyrat, a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty" and I bowed like Pax.
It wasn't the first time I saw the queen, it was just that this being such a formal reunion, it wasn't possible to act casual.
"Congratulations to both of you, From what I heard your first year was rough, and I'm glad that my daughter was kind, Now that you have successfully graduated, have you learned anything in these 3 years?".
"Indeed, economy, territory management, Populus and subordinate management, all those valuable lessons are of great importance to me".
I just nodded.
Ariel ignored her daughter for a moment, but then she approached both of me and Sariel, her voice filled with magical power.
Yet what she said, almost sent me back to reality.
"You two seem to get along very well, I'm glad so..maybe we should formalize your marriage agreement".
"Ah, oh, Miss Ariel…".
"And I know her, those eyes show it, as she's fallen for you" saying those words out while looking at Sariel, who had to hide her shaking hand.
"uh…" I truly was left speechless, I didn't even know what to say.
I knew from before, Sariel started to talk with me because of her mother's orders, yet, I never knew her true feelings, Is she really in love with me? why the fear then?
"Don't worry, I don't mind what is your decision, but I'm looking forward to next year".
"..."
She then put her attention on Pax.
And in a matter of seconds, I was pulled away from the conversation by Sariel, dragging me to a corner of the ceremony.
It was obvious, she wasn't calm, but I don't know if nervous, upset, or afraid, her face screamed all of those things, and at the same none.
"...Sariel?..." she's breathing heavily.
"...s-sorry, it…was to much for me…"
"It's ok…" We stood in silence for a few seconds.
"...what is…. your decision".
"I….I'm not sure how to answer that…".
"That's…because of Sara?".
"N-no…no is not….., and even if it was because of her…I still would treat you the same".
"..Sieg, I…" another second of silence, the reason this time, was that the sky darkened, and a big cloud suddenly appeared, taking a dark brown color.
"What is..that….".
"...I don't know..".
It seems everyone looked at the sky too, and my master and father were on high alert.
"Everyone!, Hold onto a knight or someone with power, and don't let go!" my master's words, as he quickly went and grabbed Ariel's wrist.
"B-but what is happening?" Sariel, scared grabbed my suit, looking at the sky, That big dark cloud was changing colors, purple, green, red.
Looking around, Pax went and held onto Isolte, Aubrey reunited her friends, everyone grabbing onto each other.
Almost as if it were a protocol by the guards and high ranks, but, where is Sara?
The sky kept changing for almost 30 seconds until a bright light emerged from it, reaching the ground and then expanding rapidly.
"Sieghart…I count on you" were the only words to come out from my master, before being engulfed by the light, as it rapidly consumed me too.
Sara
It can't be….no no I don't believe it…
One of the things I remember clearly from the novel is the idea of a "metastasis event", or a mana disaster, To put it simply, the big multicolor cloud can create a mass teleportation from every living being in the vicinity, me included.
What…struck me is that it is supposedly not even possible, and shouldn't happen twice for that matter, and it already happened one time in the past, so…why the hell is…
The color of the sky changes in a matter of seconds.
"...Sara!, We need to move!"
"W-wa?...ahh…y-yes…." I'm still trying to process the situation, I look back at the sky while walking towards Michael, and suddenly, the light ray thing starts to appear.
"...S-sieg…" I can't reach him now….maybe I never will.
I tremble with the thought.
"Sara!" back into my senses by Michael holding my wrist, forcing me to move….
Too late, I fall unconscious.
When I open my eyes I see the sky, clear as always, just…the day is a bit windy, and there is no floor under me…I'm falling.
"w-what the fuck!?"
As I'm falling I look around, seeing a barely awake Michael, shit shit, alright, try to move towards him…Maybe I can slow down the fall with wind magic.
What else can I do?...nothing! I can't fly, maybe look if I see something to cushion the fall?
No, I can't, the scenery is orange-dry, like a desert, Back to plan A, grab him, and use all your mana to slow down the fall.
And I try that, I grab him by the shoulder and bring him to me, hugging him.
"S-Sara!?".
"Yes!".
"What is…!?".
"Don't worry, I have an Idea, hold tight!".
He does as I say, and I point my arm downwards, using all the mana that I can in using wind magic, is working, but not much.
The ground is getting closer by the second, and I keep using mana until I notice it won't do much more.
"Fuuuck!"
I use mana to enhance my Touki, wishing I don't die by the fall, using all I can to protect us both, I close my eyes.
I couldn't open them anymore after a few seconds, I didn't feel like breathing even, did I?...
Creator's notes: sorry for the delay, some health problems that I'm dealing with, luckily i'm back, just to drop this and dissapear again xd
if you liked this chapter, there is a new adventure, witn mike and sara as the protagonists, guess who never saw someone die