The night arrived without any tricks. Sara, who was sitting on her bed, lost in the thoughts of her wonders.
She was pondering about something she didn't want to think about. Yet here it was..
~ I should talk with him about it.
She was thinking about that day. The day she did the sin.
~ Confessing him early would be better rather than waiting for a perfect moment.
She puffed. Before going outside.
On her way to find where he was, she searched everywhere throughout the house. Before coming to the conclusion he wasn't at the house at this moment.
Brushing hair over her ear, her face was showing signs of concern.
"If not today, then tomorrow I won't get the chance."
She murmured to herself, her mind filled with thought of numerous outcomes which haven't happened yet.
Until she felt a warm feeling on her shoulder.
"You look nervous, what's wrong?"
She glanced behind to see Fiona.
"Going outside for a while, staying here makes me suffocate."
"Uhhh, well take care."
Sara gave a mechanical smile before going to her room, when she came back her house dress had changed to a jacket dress style.
Fiona handed her keys as she opened the main door before shutting it soundly.
Getting outside, she started strolling around the streets randomly, first she checked the close places around, but seeing she couldn't find him, she went to the nearby market.
The one where they had gone once.
After passing some stalls, she was exhausted so going to a random shop she sat on a chair.
Catching her breath, she wipes the streaming sweat off her forehead, after several minutes of sitting nonchalantly, her glaze went on someone she knew, it was a pretty girl.
She gets up, bumping onto her.
"What are you doing here?"
She said in a low voice, though her eyes seemed to be frustrated. Misha sucked some air before replying frankly.
"I had nothing to do, so I was just roaming around."
Sara's eyes brightened.
"Ohh, just you?"
"Y– Yes, only me."
Sara took some steps back, they were a bit close because of the noisy crowd and went in a corner.
"By the way, have you seen Ruis somewhere?"
Sara asked, looking at the stalls around, her expression quite composed.
"He went with Zack somewhere, I don't know where though.. And what the hell are you doing here?"
"I came to see him; I needed to talk to him about something."
Seeing her tone was a little different than usual, Misha swallowed.
"...Well if I see him, I'll send your message to him."
Sara, whose fingers were swirling around her chin, paused as though she had realized something.
"Wait! Can you just uhh..."
She decided not to make it clear because of several self-evident reasons.
Misha stared past the edge of the ongoing crowd, entirely untethered from the present moment.
Sara shook her shoulders for her to come back. She still hesitated before declaring.
"No... Ughh fine, go home and I'll tell him to be there as well, okay?"
"Thanks!"
She hugged her, a bit hard, before departing away while waving her with a lovely smile.
Misha leaned to the wall by her side, watching her go because she was lost in the endless crowd, her face looked like she was wondering about something.
Before a familiar voice snapped her back to reality.
"You didn't need to lie about me."
It was a young man wearing a black coat with white shirt underneath.
He had a familiar book in his hand. Misha glanced behind to see Ender checking the book in his hand, it had a familiar title.
She sighed before mumbling lazily.
"Well... if it's for our betterment, then someone should take steps for it."
[ At Riven ]
"No more.. please..."
"Just one for our future."
On Mr. Sherlock's property. What seemed to be a mansion, in the endless rooms.
Leon was feeding soup to Iris, though the bowl was barely half done. She was already refusing to not take it anymore.
Lying on bed, tirelessly while covering herself in a duvet. She was feeling an intense chill over herself at this moment.
Leon's face was expressing signs of concern far more than before.
Yet suddenly amidst their situation. Out of nowhere..
RING!
RING!
The telephone which was by the cabinet sitting on the side table started ringing.
Leon's attention shifted as he reached for it.
"Hello?"
For 3 seconds no voice came from the other side, Leon pushed the phone closer to his ear.
Until suddenly someone from the other side spoke in a heavy, resolute voice.
"It's me. We have a matter."
Leon recognized who it was, quite instantly. He thrust the phone away before mumbling to Iris behind who was all confused.
"Azon."
Iris's eyes widened as she tilted her head down. While he smacked the phone again to his ear.
"What?"
"One of your students has digested the potion completely and he's persuading me for an advancement."
"He? Ruis?"
"The one with long hair."
The voice from the other side spoke with a blunt tone.
"Just say Ruis f*cking god damnit!"
Leon felt a glare staring at him, he glanced behind to see his wife who had made a small pout.
It made sense since she didn't like swears, at least not from her husband.
He smiled like a fool before speaking up on the phone.
"Ahem... So what have you decided?"
"We'll go to Kelvin Order today, then from there we can proceed with the advancement ritual."
Hearing those words, Leon's eyes didn't faze, instead he replied more frankly.
"Not a bad idea, it seems. Well, do whatever you want but don't forget to contact them first before visiting."
"Ok."
The call ended, Leon sighed as he went back to his wife. But before he can take the bowl of porridge away.
"Come here."
Iris said in a bit of a serious tone. He leaned his head closer to her face.
As she vigorously grabbed his ear, twisting it.
"Ahhh! Promise! Never again!"
"Promise?"
She muttered, her lips curling into a faint smirk.
"Promise..."
She let her fingers slip away. As he scrubs his left ear, which was red as tomato.
Iris leaned herself back to soft pillows.
"Need something? Let me know if you want me to rub your head."
Leon mumbled, taking the bowl of soup.
"I'd be taking a nap so no."
Iris tilted to the other side, Leon clicked his tongue before going out of the room.
***
It was afternoon, at Azon's house.
Ruis was shrugging his brown coat on, he had dressed quietly neatly today, rather than just wearing a loose shirt and trousers.
He had worn a light-blue shirt, a red-yellow tie with brown coat, and brown pants.
Standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his loose ponytail. Even with this, hairs were leaking off to both sides of his ears, some even reaching the sides of his jaw.
"Ahhh shit, I should get a haircut someday."
– You know you can just stop them from growing?
"Ohh, I actually forgot about that."
Finally when he was done, he let out a sigh. At this moment of relief, someone knocked on the door. So he goes to open it.
To witness Lisa standing on sight, her face was surprisingly astonished.
"They're calling, are you done?"
He grabs a pair of brown shoes before stepping on them. Her reaction went blank instantly.
"Done."
"Wash your hands."
Abruptly, water summoned out of nowhere in still air before him. Just small enough to fit in his hands.
He shoved his hands in, barely wetting them before yanking them out, though he made sure neither his coat or his shirt was wet.
Even if some parts got caught, it evaporated instantly like a perfume but in a blink of an eye.
He noticed Lisa had stepped aside, mumbling some things.
He already knew what things she could be whispering so he played along like a fool. Closing the door gracefully before departing.
"You know we're going as well?"
"Wha—"
"Everyone is going."
Ruis went dazed, his lips twitching as trying to say something.
"I– I thought it was only me or some just in case."
"It's technically just in case."
She shrugged her shoulders lightly.
"Then it's bullshit."
Ruis faced toward the end of the corridor. Lisa clenched her fist, she looked like she wanted to smash his head but control herself, exhaling vigorously and vigorously.
When they reached the main door, everyone was there. Their fellows to Azon, they all had gathered around for this moment.
Azon's eyes seemed like they were saying something, regardless he went out without saying anything.
"Let's go! Something new in a while. I was quite bored too."
Zack hugged him as soon as Azon had left, though he was hugging a bit that Ruis felt he would be crushed if he didn't stop him.
"U– Uhhh, alright. That's enough."
"What do you think, will you succeed in your advancement?"
It was Misha who had an unreadable look, her arms crossed, leaning against the wall. Ender was by her side. Staring at the ceiling as if lost.
Ruis paused before making his response.
"I mean... Why not?"
Lisa, who knew Azon better than anyone else, yelled.
"Let's get going already!"
Moments Later...
The carriages stopped by huge walls, concrete walls which were separated from the rest of the ordinary buildings.
On the front wall, in black granite, was arranged to be written as 'Consulate General of Barsciminia'.
Beside that was a huge pitch-black metal door. On the great height of the walls, there were security cameras whose lenses were fixed at them.
Azon grunted, not looking at the camera as his head pointed down, while the others were looking at them.
After some moments. The metal door opened by itself, Azon marched his steps as the kids followed him. When they all entered, the door automatically closed from behind.
Then before them were standing two people, a young man and woman.
"Ohh, look who's it!"
The man exclaimed, clapping his hands. He was wearing a well dressed coat and pants.
"Severin being here is quite an odd play."
The woman brushed her hair over her ear, she seemed young from her appearance. But surprisingly she seemed to be wearing blazers and slacks, though they were elegantly tailored.
"Do you lose your way, Tenebris? I thought you didn't like being here."
"He seemed to be enjoying dominating the little ones around him. As expected from the smoker."
They began giggling at their own words they were murmuring to each other. Despite this, Azon's expression didn't change a bit even though his eyes remained the same.
Though the kids found it amusing seeing the woman's style, not like they haven't seen anything like this before.
The interior was very different, there was a beautiful grassy field with fountains whose water had fishes in it, all around them.
And before the man and woman, there was the consulate.
"Sprouting nonsense as usual, understandable from you two who can't keep their mouths shut."
Azon's words didn't shut their mouths though.
At this moment, they started hearing footsteps approaching towards them. Both the man and woman quickly noticed it and shifted back to their composure.
The kids who were murmuring about this place also kept their expression firm, even Azon himself.
"Welcome Azon, it's been a while seeing you here."
It was a middle aged man, possibly from his appearance, he looked like he was in early 40s. Wearing a hat, gray tailored suit. And a copper cane.
Azon, while standing, did a simple greeting by bowing his head. The kids behind him mirrored his act as well.
"It's been a while, Mr. Aiden."
The man chuckled softly. Perhaps, he found it amusing seeing the act of kids.
"Oooh! No need for this, little ones. I'm glad you chose our place for your growth. At least by that I'll be doing some deeds. Tucker, Callista, guide them in."
The man disappeared to thin air the next second, while Azon walked past the colleagues like he didn't need one.
Nor did they stop him.
Now, only the kids were left.
"We're not gonna treat you like lab rats, so march your steps."
The man turned around, before disappearing as well. The woman who was alone now, sighed.
She softened her expression a little, before waving her hand at the consulate.
"Let's move along."