In CelestiaLand...
"Home sweet home"
"It's good to be back"
*nod* "But it's oddly quite..."
"Now that you mention it, the silence here is heavy"
"... I have a bad feeling about it"
"Why?"
"I don't know, but I think we should go and see Master"
"Where do you think she is?"
"... Aster, you go to the training ground and all the gardens. Hexy, search for her in the office and the academy. I'll go and see if she's home"
"Alright"
*woosh*
Something definitely happened here.
...
In the house...
*sigh* "Little Lioness..." *pats her head*
She's been in this state ever since they left. We bought a serum, but she can't stay like this for too long.
"Truthfully, I feel that there's something off about her not waking up at all-"
*opens her eyes*
*gasp* "Little Lioness!"
"What happened? Where am I?"
"You collapsed four days ago. You're home now"
"... It was because of the spirits' absence- wait, if I woke up now, does this mean-"
*knock knock*
"Come in"
*clack*
"Master!"
"Diane?! You're back-"
*hugs* "I'm so glad to see you again!"
*chuckle* "Same here"
*let go* "What happened?!"
"Nothing-"
"She was unconscious for four days"
"WHAT?! WHY?!"
"Vamp, really?"
"Because you three left. Long story short, she collapsed when you left"
"..." *teary*
"!"
"Look what you've done!"
"I didn't mean to!"
*sigh* *pats her head* "Diane"
"..."
"This is not your fault. I'm the one that told you to go, despite knowing that this will happen"
*crying* "I, I'm sorry"
*hugs*
"!"
"Please, don't cry. If anything, I'm grateful you came back safely"
*sob*
*let go* "Now tell me, where are the other trouble makers?"
"I did call them, but they're late-"
*BAM*
"BLACKIE!"
*run* *hug*
"Wow! What's with this sudden affection?"
"Luka told us what happened"
"We're so sorry!"
"... No need to apologize. What matters now is that you took care of everything, and you're back and safe"
*nod* "Everything's done"
"... You were able to cut the line?"
"Yes"
*smile* "I'm glad"
I knew they were capable of doing it.
"Master"
"?"
"If you collapsed for four days, does this mean..."
*nod* "You've been away for four days"
"But I thought we only left for a few hours!"
"Time dilation"
"... You've got a point"
"By the way"
"?"
"We met the Red Flame's holder"
"What?!"
"Yep"
"She's drop dead gorgeous"
"That's an understatement"
"What about her personality?"
"Well..."
"She's not that friendly"
"More like the chill and indifferent type"
"But the magic radiating from her body is scary"
"It's like with one word she can completely kill you"
"To be honest, I don't think we'll even get along"
"If you get along with Blackie, everything will be fine with her"
"... Her name is Scarlet, right?"
"Yes"
"Wait, how do you know?"
"Aster told me once"
"I did. But it's kinda strange"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, when I was stuck there, I could still hear you all. However, it was obvious that she didn't bother listening to us"
"!"
"What if she wants to be surprised? I didn't listen much either"
"No, that's not it. I got a really weird feeling. As though she doesn't care about us, or about leaving the Realm"
"I highly doubt that"
"I don't"
"Vamp, why are you saying that?"
"Something felt off when you collapsed. Even though the spirits left, you still summoned the Red Flame, so you should've at least woken up a few times. Unfortunately, you didn't, so it looks like she truly is uninterested"
"..."
"This can be a problem"
"Why?"
"When you called upon us, we immediately came because we were concerned and willing to leave. If she doesn't, it will be much harder to bring her"
"Is she for real?!"
"We should've talked to her"
"Don't worry. She will come"
"How can you be so sure?"
"I trust her"
"Little Lioness is right. We cannot judge her yet"
*sigh* "Alright"
"Anyways, Vamp"
"?"
"How's the Academy?"
"We paused all the activities, sent the annoying group to their home and stopped the time in the human world"
"That's good to hear. Thank you"
*nod*
"Eum... one more question"
"... Eluma is nowhere to be found"
"..."
WHERE THE HELL DID HE GO?! IS THIS SOME KIND OF SICK JOKE?!
"I see"
"... Little Lioness"
"?"
"Go"
"!"
*smile* "I know you want to"
"... Thanks" *gets up*
"Take care"
*nod* "See you" *leaves*
*clack*
He's dead once I find him
...
At the entrance of the Academy, half an hour later...
I'm done. I SEARCHED EVERYWHERE! WHERE IN THE WORLD IS HE?! AND HE STILL ISN'T ANSWERING HIS DAMN PHONE!
"Where did you go? Are you okay? You weren't feeling well, yet you disappeared all of a sudden"
I want to ask him all these questions, but before that, I'm gonna beat him up.
"Maybe I'll find him in the human world"
*woosh*
...
At Blackie's house...
"Why does it feel like I haven't been in my room in ages?"
Anyways, let's go.
*clack*
"Oh, Black Akari!"
"You're here-"
*clack*
No time for chit-chat.
Few minutes later, at Eluma's house...
*knock knock*
"Eluma? Are you in here?"
*silence*
"Damn it!"
*leaves*
I'll go to the public garden. He might be there.
Fifteen minutes later, in the public garden...
*huff huff* "Nothing again"
At this pace, I will spend the day searching for him, without any success. I don't know where to go now-
"The earrings!"
How did I forget! I can find him using mine! Alright-
"Black Akari?"
*turns* "... Maria and Sally, what a pleasure to see you two"
I really don't have the energy to deal with them now.
"The feeling is not mutual"
"It was sarcastic"
"..." *grit*
"What are you doing here?"
"We're just taking a walk-"
"But now that you're here, I'd like to have a small conversation with you"
"About?"
"Eluma"
"... Tell me"
"I just wanted to make sure that you two talked"
"... Talked? Why?"
"He didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"I see..."
Perfect.
"Maria, what does Eluma have to tell me?"
"... We previously had a little chat, about you"
"!"
"I asked him if you're hurting him"
"..."
She really asked him that?
"What was his answer?"
"He actually confirmed that!"
"... He did?"
"Yep"
He has been enduring a lot because of me. From making him wait, to lying when he asked me if I like him. He's been going through so much for my sake.
"And after a long talk, we..."
"You what?"
"We kissed"
*freeze*
"What?! How dare you do this!"
"He said that any guy would've left her after everything she's doing, and he found out that I'm the better option, so we kissed. Simple as that"
"..."
I know I shouldn't believe her, but her kissing him isn't something impossible, especially since she 'loves' him...
"What? You're silent now"
"... You-"
*slap*
"?!"
... Eh?
"You bitch! How dare you do this?!"
"... Sally, did you just slap me?"
"Yes, I did! Why would you do this?! You know I also do love him!"
"Well, I'm the better option so-"
"Liar! I'd bet my whole net worth that he never said that!"
"Yes, he did! We also kissed, and he said he's gonna break up so we get together!"
"There's no way in hell I'm letting you take him"
"Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do then-"
*slap* *grabs her hair*
"OUCH!"
"You're not getting him!"
*in a low voice* "Am I supposed to stop them?"
Of course not. I'll just sit here and watch the drama.
"Let me go!"
"Why did you kiss him?!"
"Because I love him!"
"So do I! But I didn't kiss him without his consent!"
"He agreed to it!"
*clench*
"Liar!"
*kick*
"Ouch!"
*huff huff* "You want a fight? You'll have one!"
They are fighting for real? I did say that I want to put them against each other, and that it would be easy, but I didn't think it would be THAT easy.
Few minutes later...
*huff huff* "Now I'm really mad at you"
"So am I!" *glance*
"?"
"What are you looking at?"
*shakes her head* "Nothing"
Seeing these two fighting was so satisfying, that I completely forgot why I was here in the first place.
"I'm leaving"
"To where?"
"None of your business. See you never"
"Wait-!"
*woosh*