Since the nurse insisted, I stayed the night, at the infirmary.
"Yo, Ed..! How are you doing?" Fiore came in. "It's already night. Yet you're still noisy, Fiore" I stated. "Well" He chuckled.
I spoke, "I'm fine. Well, I was told that I am not allowed to use any magic for two whole months"
"Serves you right for being too reckless" Fiore stated, as he sat down the chair beside my bed.
I giggled. "Hey, Ed. Why did you tell that to the Demon?" He asked. "That..?" I mumbled, as I tried to understand what he was talking about.
"That flute isn't yours!" I remembered my words, out of a sudden.
I gasped. "That, huh? Nothing, I just somehow got the feeling that the ordinary guy wouldn't become someone like him. Just that" I stated, as I looked down.
"Hmm…" Fiore mumbled.
"Fiore, I have something to ask you" I stated, as I looked back at him. "What is it?" He asked, as he formed a small smile.
I started, "The barrier had banned the entry of other inhabitants from other realms, right?" He nodded.
"Then, what would happen to the Demon that was already inside?" I asked. "What do you mean?" Fiore asked back.
I mumbled, "I was thinking, just how did Demons became Demons…"
"If the Demon we saw earlier was the same as the ordinary guy, at the story you told me. Then, he had berserk, with all of his emotions piling over and became a demon, right?" I stated.
I added, "So, why didn't something happen to him, when there is a barrier on this human realm?"
"That is simply because the barrier only affect those from the outside, not the ones inside" Fiore explained. "I see…" I stated.
If my theory was right, then just what made the Demon we saw earlier berserk?
I gasped, once again. "Right, Fiore!" I stated. "What is it?" Fiore asked. "Is there a way to erase marks that has been inflicted by magic?" I asked.
I added, "One that would be quickly!"
"No" Fiore stated. "As far as I know, there is no such thing. After all, it is a mark inflicted by magic. It wouldn't be taken off easily"
I looked down. "I see…" I mumbled. "Was it for Reina-chan? The reason you asked" Fiore stated. I nodded.
"She also asked me about it. I was the one who saved her, in the midst of her berserk, back then. So, she kinda thought I can help her again" He stated.
He added. "But, unfortunately, I don't have the answers you kids need" He looked at me with his usual creepy smirk.
…
The next day, we bid Fiore goodbye. "Where are you going next?" I asked. "Hmm, I think I will try going over the continent on the South" He said.
"I see…" I mumbled, as I looked down. "You are not alone anymore, you have friends to support you" Fiore said, as he patted my head with a grin.
I nodded, "You're right" I loosened my clenched fists, and bid my beloved teacher a goodbye for the second time.
We'll meet again, I'm sure of it.
…
As if nothing in particular happened, the long 2nd tournament had finally come to an end.
And, I wonder if it was fate or coincidence or maybe it was just a miracle, I have won the first and second tournament.
But, due to my stiff muscles and some injuries, I wouldn't be able to move thus I was removed from the third game.
I did want to participate, but it will surely tear off my mana circulation the more I continue to reckless around.
The next game was cavalry.
Three members of the group would act as the horse and carry the remaining one member of their group, who would carry their flag.
The member riding on the top of the three would take the flags of the other group, while protecting their group's flag. The group who gets the most flags wins.
Still, if you got your flag taken, it doesn't mean you're out.
In other words, this game symbolizes defence and vengeance. I really want to participate. I sobbed, as I clenched my crutches.
The following are the favorite to win groups: Russell team, the members are Ana, Russell, Forth and Gino.
Kirt team, which includes Reina in one of the member, and also Joseph team, that includes the 2 other finalist in the chivalry and Frankie.
"It's Ferdinand!!" He grunted.
Looks like the audience had gotten a bit disappointed, by the fact that they won't be seeing me win once again.
By the way, this game's MCs are Akari and Kiiro. I was just about to get tired of Shiro's voice. I haven't heard Aori's voice that much.
"Now let's start the cavalry, everyone let's fight fair and square!" Kiiro shouted, as the game started.
I heard a familiar voice, "Edward-kun!" I looked behind and saw a middle aged man with eye bags.
"Sir Gustav. Whats wrong with those eyes?" I asked, with a worried tone.
He smiled. "Ah, this... Well, since you guys are having fun here, we had lots of works more than ever" He said, with a sigh. "I-I see…" I mumbled.
"Well, more or less my eyes are doing great. How 'bout your body, are you fine after all that thing that happened?" He asked.
I nodded. "It's alright! Though, I can't move for around 2 weeks without these crutches, and I am not allowed to use any magic for two whole months" I chuckled.
"I was really surprised to see Nurse Opra get that angry at a prince" He giggled, as he remembered the scene he had seen out of coincidence.
I shivered. "I was really scared at her" I stated, as I remembered her face when she was scolding me about being reckless.
Now that I think of it, she was the one who scolded Gino, as well. I kinda envy that guy's confidence, sometimes.
"You sure have it hard for a kid" Sir Gustav spoke. I stayed silent, unable of to think anything to say right now.
Have it hard, huh..?
I looked at him with a stern face. "You're wrong sir" I mumbled. "Eh?" He uttered, as he looked at me with a surprised face.
"It's not hard for me" I stated, as I looked at my feet. "After all my wounds will heal…" I looked at him with a smile.
Sir Gustav looked like he had read even between the lines.
He was a bit astonished. "I see" but he then chuckled, before he looked back at the stage. It looked like he mumbled something to himself, but I didn't hear it.
He stood and patted my head.
"You're pretty cool for a kid. Thanks to you I have regained my motivation" He said. "Welcome sir" I smiled.
He walked, before he turned and called me, "Edward-kun!"
"What's wrong, sir?" I asked. "Ah, nothing…" He mumbled, as he looked down. "Get well soon!" He waved with his back facing me, as he walked out of the arena.
What was he about to say?
*
I took a paper out from my pocket. "A student is missing, and is presumed to be dead" was written on the paper.
This was from the Headmaster.
"I can't drag that prince into this world…" I mumbled to myself, as I put the paper back inside my pocket.
After looking back at the arena, I walked away.
*
30 minutes have passed, since the game started. Russell team had gotten almost 40 flags. Kirt team got the half of it. Joseph team got 23.
The remaining teams with flags are about 30. The time was ticking close. "Let's start the countdown, 10" Kiiro said.
"9" The audiences shouted, as the participants desperately tries to win with their all. "8" Akari continued.
"7" Shiro mumbled. Kuro imitated him and mumbled, "6".
"5" Aori mumbled.
"4" I mumbled.
Russell and the other continue to fight, with a ticking time, behind them.
"3" Sir Gustav mumbled, as he looked at the arena.
"2" Reina mumbled. "1" Ana said, with the ticking time everyone halted.
"0!!!!!" The audiences shouted.
"Game End, with 67 flags on their hand Russell team wins!" Kiiro said. I smirked, and left the seats as I drag my feet using my crutches.
…
"Congratulations Russell Team!!" We celebrated. "Thanks everyone" Russell said, as he sobbed.
Gino gasped. "Oh look at you, that's a bit gross" He said, as he made Russell blew his nose, on his handkerchief.
"Congrats Anna" Reina smiled. "Thank you Reina chan!" Anna stated, as they shared a toss.
Kirt hummed. "What's wrong?" Forth asked. "Nothing. I was just thinking that it is really fun, lately" Kirt answered, before he took a sip on his juice.
Forth looked at Kirt, with a confused face.
"With this the Royal Battle has ended" I mumbled as I took a sip from my juice, and smiled. I looked up, and remembered something I had plan on doing.
…
I walked over the first tournament's arena and went over to the third lap, while I struggled with my crutches.
Of course, I went here with permission by Sir Gustav.
If I was asked what left an impact on me, during this Royal Battle. I will answer this place, before anything.
"Third Lap: The Timeless Paradise, Utopia…" I mumbled, as I laid down the grass with my crutches beside me.
I closed my eyes.
"Ed. Ed! Sheesh… Wake up, sleepyhead!" A familiar voice shouted. I opened my eyes. As I saw her, tears overflowed from my eyes. "E-lia…" I mumbled.
After wiping my tears off, I hugged her tight. "EH?! Ed???" She flinched, with her face all red. I got off her and gave her time to compose herself.
I told Elia everything about her disappearance.
"I disappeared?" She mumbled, as I nodded. "Unfortunately, that is reality" She smiled bitterly, as she stood.
I looked down and mumbled, "I know"
"But, you know, it's not like we'll never see each other again. As long as we live, fate and coincidence continue to happen" She stated, with her back against me.
She turned to look at me. "It's not wrong to believe in them for a while, you know" She smiled, with her hands on her back.
Is she just gonna disappear once again?
I still have many things I want to tell her… ask her… But, if she's going to disappear, then I should just thank her.
That is more important than my curiosity, after all.
I spoke, "Elia!"
She looked at me and saw my desperate face. She smiled and turned to look at the sunset, with her back facing me, again.
"More than that, are you sure about your choice?" Elia asked. "Choice?" I mumbled. "Yes, you choose to live…to stay walking forward, instead of running away" She stated.
Ah…
"It will take a lot of time for you to achieve the normal life you wish. Or perhaps you won't grasp it" She stated, with a bit sad tone.
I know that more well than anyone.
She turned to me. "Even so, will you walk upon the path that you took?" Elia stated, as a trail appeared beneath my feet. I stood.
I looked behind me, and then I looked behind Elia. I saw the past behind me, and caught a glimpse of the future waiting me behind Elia.
It was the same as the daydream I saw during the final battle with Earl…
I smiled, and looked at Elia once again. "Yup! I'm fine with that" I said, as she smiled and soon disappeared like a flower petals that was blown by the wind.
I woke up from my slumber. "Well, it was a dream of course…" I mumbled, as I wiped my tears. I stood carrying myself with my crutches, as I went back to the dorm.
Even though yesterday felt like the hottest day of the whole summer. That day seemed to have passed, easily.
Summer break soon ended and autumn greeted us, with a slight gust of wind.
I wore my autumn uniform, as I was ready to depart. My injuries soon healed after the Summer Break, but it will take more time before I can use magic, once again.
Well, it was a nice summer, for better and for worse. Time will slowly take our moments and will advance, as if it was willing to kill the mood.
And soon the fall break will come, which will start the most unforgettable memory in my life.