Chapter 34

He giggled at my greeting, his cute smile making his freckles more prominant. I realized that he was indeed the red light I had seen during the ceremony. One of the lights that had disappeared.

"How...are...you...here?" I asked in confusion.

"You got stronger then I got stronger, so I'm here" he replied with a confused look on his face.

What did he mean? I knew I was missing something, but didn't know what it was.

"You...disappeared" I tried again. "How...are you...here...when you...disappeared? Where...did you... go?"

"I went with you. In there" he said as he pointed to me". It all of a sudden hit me. The thing I had been missing and I suddenly felt so stupid. I should have realized it long ago.

I stopped talking and listening and instead closed my eyes and looked inside myself; into the chambers that had turned colors. I realized that the green cave and the red cave were both much brighter, while the other caves barely contained any of their colored lights.

I turned my focus back on the little red boy and asked "What...is...your...name?"

"Don't have one" he said with a sad smile.

"Hmm" I thought about what would be the best name for him. Flame? Red? Sunny? I wasn't happy with any of those names. Well to be honest the name Red did seem to fit him pretty well, but it seemed like kind of a cop-out name. I suddenly remembered reading about someone named Akai from one of the Japanese manga. His name meant red in Japanese.

"How...about...Akai?" I asked hesitantly, hoping he would like his new name. 'If he doesn't, he'll just get stuck with red' I couldn't help but think.

My fear that he might not like it was unfounded. He looked at first astonished, then ecstatic. As I looked at him more closely, I realized that he had in fact slimmed down some since the last time I had seen him.

"You...loose...weight?" I could help but ask.

"I grew a little. I told you. As you get stronger, I get stronger. We help each other. As you cultivate my element, you will get stronger, but I will also grow stronger and will appear older at the same time."

"Why...have you...appeared...only...now?"

"I had to be at a certain strength before I can materialize in front of you. This room is very nice. The warmer it is, the higher the amount of fire element is available. Your teacher is amazing and has been slowly increasing the temperature to help you become accustomed to the change, but to also increase the saturation in the room." He said, his red eyes twinkling. They didn't appear scary at all and instead I felt a warmth from them that I had never felt.

A sudden thought came to my mind and I couldn't help but ask Asai "do you...know...Jade?"

"Of course! We go way back! I thought he was super nice, but then he rubbed the fact he was the first to be able to materialize before you, so right now none of us are speaking to him."

He said that, but it looked like it wasn't really malicious. Like they were teasing each other like siblings so I didn't ask anymore and just let it go. I thought I would probably get to speak to Jade in the garden after breakfast and might get more information then. I didn't want to take one side over another, but I also didn't want pride, ego, or maliciousness running rampant within my own body. I detested confrontation and meanness, wanting everyone to get along, but I also was aware that that wasn't real life and that it wasn't always possible. My thoughts were cut short as Lady Emmi had arrived to get me for breakfast.

Once again I asked Lady Emmi if she saw him, then time I was pointing to Akai, but she didn't seem to see him either. I thought back to her saying they didn't know why they were referred to ask sprites. 'Maybe I'm the only one who can actually see them?'

I ate another delicious breakfast and then moved to the garden to hopefully once again see Jade.