They spent some time at the beautiful place. Sometimes, they would laugh and crack jokes, other times, they would just lay on the ground and enjoys the sweet breeze. Every moment spent was beautiful.
At this time, the sun was high up in the sky and it was scorching. Titan assumed that Zagan was not good with hot things considering the fact that he was an iceman. So she asked that they return to the Academy with the excuse that others would be looking for them. Although Zagan was reluctant, he agreed and followed her.
Soon, they got to the Academy, and both their features seemed to have increased in magnificence. Zagan looked more lively than usual and Titan had a shine in her eyes.
Everyone had been waiting for them but when they finally got to see them, they were struck dumb. Looking at the duo together was like paring two ancient immortal gods together. Their aura was powerful and the way they moved was like taking majestic steps and each step felt like it should cost a fortune.
How could God create such exceptionally majestic beings and forget about some other people?
Titan and Zagan didn't realize that people were staring at them. Titan had her hand over Zagan's shoulder and even though Zagan was slightly taller, Titan wasn't classified as short.
They were conversing and sometimes, Titan would stop and laugh inwardly at Zagan's funny jokes.
As they drew nearer, Zagan noticing the crowd, he was a little taken aback but decided to take advantage of the situation then asked 'What if the whole academy saw us this way?'
Titan who had her gaze fixed on Zagan and emersed in his funny jokes almost couldn't control the laughter that wanted to crawl out her throat. 'So what? We are both boys after all. Who would care?'
When she said this, she said it nonchalantly. To her, the rest of the school didn't matter. Only her new friend mattered.
Zagan signaled her with his eyes towards the direction of the students who were literally ogling at them. When Titan turned her head to look, the first face she saw was Master A's alongside other pupils and masters from her academy and the other academies that came to participate in the domanial competition, she immediately retracted her hand from his shoulder and smile awkwardly.
'Why didn't you tell me before now?' Titan asked with a stern look.
'But I did.' Zagan looked innocent as if he knew nothing about it but deep down, he was screaming with laughter.
Titan thought for a second. It's no wonder he asked me what my reaction would be if the whole academy saw us in that state. Ha! What a sly fellow.
'It's not the same.' She retorted. With their position, no one knew that they were conversing instead, they thought they had realized that the whole school had been waiting for them and wanted to apologize for being late. Indeed, no one found it awkward that Titan had her hand over Zagan's shoulder instead, they found the scene tantalizing. 'Two exceptionally gorgeous male gods.' Well, of everyone here except master A, none knew that Titan was a girl.
Titan dusted her cloth and looked at the people in front of her with an expressionless face. Although master A had no expression on her face, Titan knew that she wouldn't let this slide easily.
The headmaster had been away for a few days and master Eunice her assistant was in charge.
"Where did the both of you wander off to? Do you have any idea that the entire academy went upside-down looking for you? The other Academies have also been waiting for you." she had a stern expression on her face.
Master Eunice exaggerated her point. Zagan and Titan couldn't understand why they were all looking for them. Couldn't they just carry on with today's activity and not bother with where they had gone to? Why did they need both of them to be present?
They both exchanged glances apparently ignorant of why they were all waiting for them. But they just bowed anyway to show a sign of apology.
"It's time for the students to return to their various academies. And protocol requires that everyone be present before any school can leave. Besides, each school will award both of you for winning the tournament."
Master Eunice's word came to Titan like a thunderbolt. Does that mean Zagan was leaving? Already? She was so happy and comfortable with him around that she forgot that he would have to leave sooner or later. The news of him leaving struck her hard but she struggled to maintain an unaffected expression.
She turned to Zagan who also had an expressionless face and stretched out her hand for a shake which he hesitantly accepted. They shook for a while without breaking the bond on their hands. Everyone stared at them without saying a word. It was obvious that they had grown fond of each other.
Master Eunice was getting impatient and decided to whisper to master A.
"Are you not going to talk to your student? Or are we going to sleep here waiting for his majesty to be done with saying goodbye?"
Master A didn't say anything. She simply cleared her throat and called out to Titan.
"You should let your...his hand go now. He still needs to pack some stuff and you wouldn't want him to be late now would you?"
Titan stared at Zagan and after a while, she tried to released her hand but master A realized he was the one who was holding on and not Titan. Just as she was about to tell him that his master was waiting for him, her eyebrow twitched and everyone's jaw dropped.
Zagan drew Titan into his embrace and hugged her dearly. Even Titan was surprised by this unexpected hug of his.
'What? We are both boys after all. Who would care?' Zagan told her, stealing her words from earlier.
'I'll be done with my training in a few months and you'll be done with you're training before this year runs out. We'll definitely meet again.' He paused for a while before continuing.
'We'll meet where the sun rises.'
Titan was surprised by his hug at first but as he said these words, she didn't want to break free. Her newly found friend was leaving so soon and she wasn't even sure she would get to meet him again. Why did he have to leave so soon?
She returned his hug. Her mind was in turmoil. She didn't understand what his last statement meant but the fact that he was leaving didn't allow her to think of anything else.
After a while, she drew back and bite her lower lips to prevent her emotions from showing. How could she get so connected to someone she just met?
Although they had broken free from the hug, Zagan stared at Titan for a few seconds before going towards master Wen Xu. All his items had already been packed so all he had to do was walk out of the gate.
All the schools handed over their gifts to both Zagan and Titan then began to leave one after the other and when Zagan walked past the gate, he reached out to her.
'I'm not going to turn back because I'm certain we will meet again.'
When Titan heard this, a teardrop fell from her eyes and she walked out from the scene to her room.