Calm Before The Storm 3

[12:33 P.M.]

"You're leaving?"

Staring at my sister directly in the eyes, my mouth was opened. Leaving? Why would she leave now? Didn't mom told her that she could stay until the festival that'll be happening in the city is over?

"Yeah... Don't worry, I'll come back after three days."

"Then-"

I was about to ask her more questions when she made a hand gesture to stop me from speaking. It was as if she had read my thoughts. With a small smile, she said to me, "I got a letter that was sent by mom. After reading it, a certain sentence caught my attention."

"And that is...?"

"Hmm... I remember it was, 'Something so great couldn't last forever, am I right? ...I wonder how his story is gonna end?' was what written in the last part of her letter." She said, placing her index finger on her right cheek. It was quite a sight to see, by the way. However, it changed quickly.

Blinking my eyes a couple of times, "Then, why don't you just write back and ask her what was that about about?" I said, slightly confused by the sudden change of expression she was making.

"No... I can't... It's-" I could see her showing an amalgam of emotions; fear, anxiousness, and many more. "... It's nothing. I just want to check on her just to make sure," She made a slight wave in her hands as a gesture to avert the topic into something else.

Although I'm still confused by her response, I decided to let this matter go. Heaving out a sigh, I crossed my arms on my chest and smiled.

"Hmm, I guess I'll let you go back in the mansion. However...." I showed her the most innocent smile I could make, "Can you tell me more about why you're always with Arthur?"

"....Eh?!"

The moment she saw my smile, I could she her flinched and take a step back. She responded with a pout, "That... It's not like I'm doing anything bad, brother. Humph!"

Because of this, my smile became more 'innocent'. "I see..." I chuckled as I spoke though my gritted teeth, "It seems like you're starting to go through in this so-called 'rebellion phase' after hanging out with them many times~"

"Eh, ah...!?" I saw her took a step back once again. Seeing me take a step forward, Chloe tried to look around to find something that could help her escape this situation. It was until she remembers something.

"Er... Ah! I almost forgot to mention that the letter was attached in a bouquet that only had many beautiful kind of flowers!" She used this information to divert my question. I just heaved out a sigh and let it be.

"Ho... What kind of flower?" I furrowed my brows in curiosity.

"Erm.... I can only remember that it contains black and white roses... As for the rest, I forgot about them..." As she speaks, her voice lowered the more she continues.

Seeing her get more and more scared of me, I once again heaved out a sigh and made a hand gesture saying that she can go.

Though I want to ask her more questions, I don't want her to feel uncomfortable when dealing with me in the future. Since I'm her brother, I have the duty to protect her from any 'mosquito' like Arthur. If he ever tries anything funny, I'll cut his 'little willy' off.

.....

Somewhere.

While Arthur was talking to Lumine, he suddenly felt cold chills crawling up his spine.

When Lumine asked about it, "It's nothing... Anyway, where's William by the way?" He averted her question smoothly into a new topic.

"Hmm, he's probably with his girlfriend.... On a date, maybe?" She took a glance at Arthur, and he noticed this. He blinked his eyes couple of times and tilted his head in confusion.

"Is there anything wrong?"

"Nothing."

How big of a dense can you be?

Lumine clicked her tongue out of frustration. Seeing her expression, Arthur became even more confused.

.....

Two hours zipped by.

[2:06 P.M.]

"I'll be going now, brother."

After seeing my sister departed, I went back to the academy to walk around.

There were a lot of new people visiting the academy to watch the finals, so obviously, the whole school will be crowded with people.

As I walked around the school to waste my remaining time, I listened to the parents of some random family, who were buying snacks for their kids.

-Honey, is there anything that you two want to eat?

-I want a chili dog!

-As for me, I only want cold drinks.

As they were having a conversation with each other, I felt that my lips curled up into a smile. Because of them, I began to have a flashback about the time my mother took me out to the city for some 'family bonding'.

Though her energy pretty much drained my mentality, I was still able to hold out until we got home... How I missed those days.

𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥... I shaked my head lightly as I placed my right hand inside my pocket to take out my phone, that had a broken screen because of what I did yesterday.

[ Timer left : 00M : 01D : 14H : 54M : 03S ]

Seeing the remaining time I had, I couldn't help but heave out a deep sigh in contempt... My time is already getting near. Though I don't know what will happen after the time runs out, I just couldn't shake the feeling of my anxiousness whenever I think of it.

𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩... 𝘔𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.... I thought to myself, raising my head to look up the azure sky.

After a few minutes, I was finally able to go back inside the academy.

Without much thoughts in my mind, I walked through the corridors and looked outside the window.

"Arthur's match should be starting now. Soon after his match finishes, Alicia will be fighting Roche in the next match."

Placing my hands inside my pocket, I turned my attention back to the empty corridor.

I was about to step forward when, "I finally found you..." William suddenly crept up behind my back, surprising me.

When I turned around, I saw him looking as if he fought done people. "William, are you okay?" I looked at his body up and down, seeing the slightly torn clothes he was wearing.

"I'm fine, but..." He shakes his head violently as he looked at me straight in the eyes, "I need your help!" William said, staring at me with hopeful eyes.

"My help?" Though confused, I decided to nod my head. Looking around, I said, "What do I need to do?"

He stayed silent for a second before looking at me straight in the eyes, his expression turning cold.

"Follow me~"

***

While this was happening, Arthur's fight had begun.

He was fighting with a strong senior that was almost as strong as Leigh. Though his opponent was strong, Arthur could easily fend off with his attack.

-Clang!

Both of their swords clashed against each other.

"I admit, you are quite strong for a twelve years old," Said the senior. "However, I am your senior. You can't defeat me because of your lack of experience in battle." Saying this, he pushed Arthur back with his force before propelling himself in the air.

-Shang!

While Arthur was blocking his opponent's attack, he smirked.

"Experience?"

His smirk turned into a grin as he thought about every battle he fought while clinging onto his life desperately.

"Sorry to say this, but I have more experience than I look, senior."

"!!?"

The boy saw a sudden purple light gathering into Arthur's palm.

"You see... I knew someone who often fight in an unwinnable battle, but still managed to win."

By gathering a small force within his palm with the help of his gravity magic, he could make a force that is easily controllable and convenient.

"I already made a promise to never lose a fight to someone... Not to mention, go someone who's weaker than me." He aimed his palm towards the waist of the senior.

[Impact]

The moment his hand reached the boy's waist,

-Craaaaash!

His palm created enough force to throw the boy to the air. His body crashed down to the wall, creating a small crater with the same position as his when he fell to the ground.

"I'm not insulting you or anything, but I am merely stating facts."

As the senior tried to stand up, he felt an immense pain from his body.

Arthur walked toward his direction and stopped to look down.

"No human existing in this universe can end my life... except for 'him'."

***

As the fight continues,

"Arthur's fight is about to be done..."

Alicia was watching Arthur's fight silently.

"Just where on earth is Athan?" She asked herself, clutching her hands to her heart as she thought deeply.

"Will he really come...?"

At this moment, Arthur finally finished his match as the referee announced his win.

"The winner is Arthur Ains Delfeld."

...

..

.

"You... Who are you?"