My mind is cloudy, blankly staring at the water web I created. A face of the mortal was engraved in the middle. Looking for it for an hour made me think that he is somehow familiar.
"Possible Fire Bearer"
I bit my lips, still hesitant to accept it. How can I accept that Valen… is not the fire bearer?
It's been days since I found out. It's been days since my heart ached because of this revelation. I cannot imagine the pain Valen would feel. A pain from knowing that after all of the years of training… he isn't the one who bears the fire stone.
I secretly observe Blake, nothing unusual. He is surrounded by an unstable energy, just like other students. I still cannot believe that the possible fire bearer will be Blake. How can a mortal human being handle that powerful stone? Our body is trained to handle it when the time comes then here is Blake—a mortal human, bearing the fire stone like nothing.
In the past days, I just casually acted and did not do anything. I cannot just say "Hey, Blake! You are the fire bearer, come with me in the Aetheria." That will be weird, he might call me crazy for saying that.
I never contacted Alpha about what I just discovered. I'll wait for the full moon where I can be sure about it… which will be on Saturday night.
"Hi. Where are you?" I messaged Blake as I entered the mall. I was looking around while waiting for his reply. This world is really different, it is so advanced.
There are no trees… only stores about technologies, clothes, and their unhealthy foods.
A gentleman assisting his girlfriend to step on the automatic ladder called an escalator. People nonchalantly walk through doors who would open up automatically. A group of teens laughing and touching the huge televisions that showed a map.
My phone vibrated, a message from Blake.
Blake Serrano: Turn around.
I turned around just like what he said. A man wearing an all black outfit appeared before me. He has this aura that I cannot explain or it is just because he was my possible lead of being the fire bearer.
"Amore…" he whispered, snapping his finger in front of my face.
I came to my senses. He's in front with those emotionless eyes.
"Hey. Hi." I greeted him. "Where should we…"—I glanced around—"go…" I was taken aback when he leaned slightly forward and stared directly into my eyes. Unable to move, I swallowed hard. He is too close.
In a few seconds, his eyes widened, blinking repeatedly. He awkwardly coughed, unnaturally. He fixed his posture while looking away. He murmured something that I didn't hear and then walked away.
I asked myself what just happened? My eyes blinked repeatedly and despite the confusion, I quickly ran to follow him.
"Uhmm… where are we going?"
"Supermarket," he said while his eyes darted in the hallway. I didn't respond and quietly walked beside him.
After less than 10 minutes, I saw the huge sign of the supermarket. We started to find the materials that we can find here. After 30 minutes of searching, most of the materials are checklisted. Only sand and pebbles are not yet on the checklist.
"Where can we find sand and pebbles?" I asked him, checking the things we got.
"Let's pay it. I will take care of the rest."
"638 pesos po."
I took out my wallet to get my card. But, Blake gave his card. I looked at him with questioning eyes.
Without glancing at me, he casually said "It's on me."
"Thank you."
Then, the silence ruled the surroundings again. I remained quiet, as much as I wanted to ask. I need to respect his silence.
What would happen if he is truly the fire bearer? Would those cold eyes turn into fiery? He is cold as ice, the ice stone is much better for him.
But, Valen is also cold… but not at this level.
"Do you want to eat?"
I blinked twice when I heard him. I cannot find words to say. My eyes remained fixated on him, as if he just did something.
Well… his features are beautifully made. I wonder what blood and genes he had?
"Hey. I am asking you," he calmly added. He is not annoyed nor pissed.
I blinked again. "Sorry, what?"
"Do you want to eat?"
"Sure…" I hesitated. I don't know how to react.
His brow formed lines. Without saying anything, he started walking, then I just followed him without asking another question.
He firstly entered a steakhouse, holding the door for me.
A soft, elegant melody from the piano echoed in the place. It screams elegance and beauty, the walls are painted with black with gold grain, every corner has golden lights and the ceiling per table has a small chandelier that looks like circling golden plates.
A waiter approached us and Blake said, "Table for two." The waiter gestured for us to follow him.
But… I remembered that I am a vegan. May veggies ba dito?
"They have a menu of vegetable salads."
He knew? Did he read my mind? Is it the mind link?
I looked at the prices, it never bothered me though. Money is not a problem for me. The Equilibrium gave me so many cards, I told them I do not need that much but they insisted. He ordered the bestsellers which cost around Php 1,300.00 and I ordered a Za'atar cottage cheese salad worth around Php 800.00.
"Where should we do our project?"
He glanced at me, "Where do you want?"
How about we do it on Saturday afternoon?
"We can do it in my house. Are you available on Saturday?" I suggested.
He shrugged. "Okay then we can do it by Saturday."
Silence filled our table. Only the pianist playing a piece and little noises from the other people are all that I can hear.
As the order arrived, we started eating without talking to each other. What if I asked him a personal thing, would he be angry or was it not that nice to ask him about his life since we aren't close?
I drank, clearing my mouth and throat. "Can I ask personal questions?"
He looked at me with a questioning look, he slightly tilted his head. "I don't have a girlfriend."
"Pardon?"
"Is that what you want to ask?" He casually put the steak in his mouth.
I smiled awkwardly, "Oh… that is not my question. Lumaki ka ba dito sa Pilipinas?"
I want to know if he was raised here in the Philippines or if he was raised in another country.
"Yes… but I was born in Austria."
Austria… a neighboring country of Switzerland—the country where the equilibrium country was stationed.
"How old were you when you started living here?"
"Months old. We migrated after I was born."
"So, you are not a pure blood Filipino? Or… you don't have Filipino blood?"
He stared at me, narrowing his eyes. "Is this an interview?"
I was taken aback, but smiled genuinely. "It's okay if you don't want to answer."
"My mother is a Filipina, I don't know anything about my father. Didn't meet him at all," he answered as if it was nothing to him. There's no emotion in his eyes, just plain blank emotion.
"I am sorry…" My mouth slightly opened, trying to burst another personal question. I restricted myself to ask about her mother.
I saw a little smile forming on his lips. "You want to know about my mother?" he paused. "She's dead."
My eyes widened. Then, who is his guardian taking care of him? A relative?
I was stunned. No words came out in my mouth.
"I grew up alone." For the first time, I saw a flicker of emotions in his eyes, longing.
"I am sorry for bringing it up. I should not have opened that."
He smiled slightly, a smile that I can rarely see. A smile contains a lot of pain.
Silenced filled out table. I tried to keep myself from asking.
"How about you?"
I looked up to him and stared at him. Is he asking about my parents? Well, my parents are both alive and sitting on the throne of Aquaria Palace … but of course I would not say that.
Should I answer my made up parent story which is I only have my mother or my true parents? Ohh… how I hate lying.
"My parents are both alive…" I answered the safest answer. I never mentioned having a single mom but I did mention that we are here because of my mom's business. I will just say that my father is in another country if he asks.
Without looking at me, he murmured, "That is not… what I am asking about."
I tilt my head with confusion. What is he asking? We don't have any topic aside from opening his family life.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
It takes me around 2 minutes to answer. "I beg your pardon?"
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
I squint my eyes and he is just looking at me seriously as if he really wanted to know if I had a boyfriend. I can easily answer it… but it just… caught me off guard.
Come on, Aella. This is so easy to answer, what's wrong?
"I don't have a boyfriend…. why?"
He shrugged. "Just asking."
I blink repeatedly in disbelief, he just wants to ask? This guy is unbelievable. I looked at his face and stared at it. He is really familiar and that face really looks familiar. I just don't remember.
"Stop staring."
I removed my eyes on him. "Sorry." I felt sweat building up in my forehead. My cheeks felt hot.
This guy is the possible fire bearer. A mortal human being. How does his body manage to bear it? The energy of the elemental stones are too powerful to handle unless the person holding undergoes extensive training… or had a blessing from the Alpha.
"Shit."
I was shocked when Blaze sideswiped the water glass and the water poured on him.
"Are you okay?" I instantly gave him tissues. He looked so calm despite his shirt being wet.
"Thanks."
I looked at him and noticed how the water slightly became dry on his hand. It is not too noticeable for most people but I studied the different intervals of water being dried.
Above anyone, I mastered the art of water.
How the wetness of his hand dried is not common for someone who is a human being and without any blood of an Ignisian. The only possible explanation is that the fire stone is in his hand.
Blake, you really might be the fire bearer….