"You can't…"
I was stunned by what Nine said. I should be happy to find a limit of NUMBERS' power and the reason to decrease his score, but I forgot all of these.
Which point he can't do?
"Which point is the problem? It was a magic that mixing magic, it didn't' difference much from Tower of Water. If it isn't an important point, I can change it."
I still had around 2 days left. I could do it.
[…It has many spots.]
[You don't need to change. I'm the one who's not ready.]
"Not ready?"
[Cloud you give me a time?]
I was squint eye to the air, "Is this some of buying time plan?"
[It's not, this time was serious. I'll stop your countdown. When I'm back it'll count again.]
I felt this situation was hard for Nine who had a snake-style speech, maybe he couldn't do it for real.
"How long will you take? I have only 2 days left."
[Around 1 day if you please.]
"It's too much!"
[It's the Worst Case, it can finish before the time.]
"Worst…" He used a term I couldn't understand again but I got its meaning by the second sentence.
[Thank you, High Sage.]
[I'll turn off the connection. If you want something, you could call me. If I don't respond, you have to use the card to contact me.]
"The card uses for an emergency, right?"
[Correct. Please don't worry so much when I'm back I'll prove to you that I get the Number Nine from my ability.]
Huh!
"Speaking Ability?"
Nine laughed a big shot.
[You answer correctly even this thing! You're very clever! Haha. …Ok, I'll stop the countdown. Please enjoy your night.]
The time stopped at 13:16:11 left.
[Good night, High Sage.]
"Good night."
Nine was giggle. My bad to respond to him, I didn't pay attention.
"Don't count it. I didn't…"
[Have a good dream~.]
After his happy voice, he didn't respond to me no matter how I missed him.
Both anxiety and confusion. This work belongs to me, but I didn't know the problem at all. I was mad at myself that I was no use in the important time. Anyway, I had to rest.
…I couldn't sleep.
He made me hard to sleep.
It was a hard sleep night but in the last, I fell asleep while hugging the black dog doll.
…
"Nine. How are you?"
"…"
Alright. I had to give him more time. I woke up late, but I wished I could still be on the time.
"Let's go to mom."
I put Magic Bracelet from mom on the desk. I couldn't use it, no needed to hold on. I locked my room with the steel lock and quickly walked away.
MP was like the breath of a magician. No magic was like losing legs and arms.
Magic Tools were common and found everywhere to make life convenient, in Tower too. I used the downstair instead of using the up and down platform, the tool that could take us from the first floor to the highest floor.
Even I went down from the 17th floor, it was so tired. The nearest cafeteria was on the 14th floor. That was my luck.
The stair was rarely used, and I didn't want anyone to see me, so I covered myself with a hood from my cloak. It was near the time of the conference, that's why Tower's atmosphere became excited. Many Sages gathered more than usual.
I went out from the Tower's gate and stopped at the road. One woman with long blonde hair ran toward me.
"El!"
My mom. She ran like a teenager.
"I'm going to visit you. What's happen?"
She shook her head, "I just worry about you. I think you can't use a bracelet. How about the testing? Did he request anything?"
"No. It's looking good just… he found some problems. But first, let's get out of here. This… very risk."
Talked about Eccentric in front of Tower was stupid action.
"Do you want to eat breakfast together? I don't eat outside with you for a long time."
"El…" She covered her mouth and suddenly jumped to me, "Did you forgive me? I'm so happy!"
"It's a price for apples."
I touched her back to make her unhug.
I didn't know my feeling about my parents' actions. Did I forgive them? I couldn't tell. It was a past. I liked this peaceful world, so I had to be happy with it.
"Where do you want to go? Do you have one?"
"As you wish."
"T… Then go to your mom's favorite restaurant! I used to eat there with your dad. We don't visit it so long."
Dad always went out for materials I barely stayed with him too.
Mom guided me to the mid-grade restaurant that was decorated with many beautiful flowers. It was in the peaceful site of the town, but it had some customers.
"Miss Reeta, who is he?"
"Your new man~?"
Two housewives came to greet us at our table. From their question style, I thought mom knew them a bit.
"No!~ What's new! I haven't someone like that. He is my son. High Sage Elliot."
Why you used a high tone.
Mom wasn't an arrogant person. When she was with the opposite sex, many talks appeared. Sure, Holy Maiden in the legend who was be left alone… It had many guys who wanted to steal her from dad. But unfortunately, they loved each other so much. About the little house, it had to wait until the world end.
I bowed my head a little for greeting back. They were stunned a bit before told,
"You… You're an adult now."
"How are you? We didn't see you for so long."
"I'm fine. Thank."
I answered regular questions for a while. Questions by manners. When they were gone, mom called her Heaven Guidance Staff.
"Double Dome of Safety!"
The double golden dome covered us again. Waiters and customers suddenly looked at us.
The Heros family started the new gossip again.
"Alright, let's tell me. I want to know what you do with him." Mom excited to listen.
She used to saw only Twist Magic. The weird food and Creating Object were new to make her interested. When she knew they had a limit, she clapped her hand so hard.
"You're the best! Eccentric couldn't defeat you. My boy was so cool! But... at this rate, can he really do your work?"
"I'm waiting for that."
"Umm…" She used her brain, "That's right! I'll use Illusion Magic and use your work magic instead of you. Is this a good idea?"
"It's not working. You can't understand my old work, right? This work is complex more than that."
"N… No way…" Her body became weak.
"You… told me you finish it quickly I think it'll be easy. Since Great Sage… no, Sage states, you always do a hard thing. Who you are similar to? It's not dad so it's me. Maybe… I have some genius ability like you! It might be like that!"
I laughed, "Your genius in Light Magic."
"That's it! Um… Let's me recall… The wise person who can understand your work… Oh! What's about Artina. She's very clever!"
"That's right but… Aunt Artina is the best at Dark Magic. It's not the main element in my work. The important is we should keep this situation between us. More people will get more risk."
I should keep Nine's exist as the great secret. I put my hands together and strong grabbed.
"This is a chance to prove their power. No matter what I'll wait."
At that time, mom looked at something behind me and smiled.
"Your teacher is here."
She removed the double dome. When I turned back, I got a greet from one familiar woman.
"Hi, Reeta. Hi Elliot. Good morning."
"Good morning teacher Freya," I answered her.
Freya Craftga, a magic researcher at High Sage position. She was my adviser since I was Sage.
She aged around my mom. A small woman with long brown hair and golden sharp eyes. Her glasses made her strict, but she had a kind face and voice. Except for her class, she would be cruel. She helped me with many things when I chose the topic of work. I respect her to be my teacher.
"Please take a seat, Freya." Mom pulled her side chair. Freya lowed her head a little before sat on it.
"Excuse us. How are you, Elliot? The day after tomorrow is the conference day. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready."
"That's great! 5 years… I already told you, right? You don't need to do complex things. High Sage doesn't need to do research alone. You can be an advisor for others' work or research with a group. It's not hard to finish 1 work per 5 years."
I got hurt by her word. Mostly High Sage did that way, her too. She became an advisor and submitted her work last year.
"It's the power of teenager, Freya. It takes a long time, but it finishes. Right El~."
I nodded. Freya smile and told,
"I believe you can do it. You never make me worry about your work just once, but you show it to me only in the beginning. I don't know about your progress. Do you have a lot of problems? Is it alright?"
"Yes, it's alright."
"I'll look forward to seeing it! Everyone waits for your work every year. Would you mind if I use some Record Magic? Reeta, I'd like permission from you too. Do you see his work?"
"Yes sure. I saw it! It's very great!~ Hohoho. In the day please take good care of my son, Freya."
"That's no problem! Elliot was a good kid. Oh, right. Besides him, it has…"
I smiled while we had a conversation. The lie was like a sword that stabs on me. The more I saw mom talked with Freya was the more I didn't want to listen. I wanted to get out of here, I wanted to go to my room.
Frustrated and pressed.
I was weak for another's expectation.
I couldn't be a savior like my parents. I couldn't hold heavily responsible. I wasn't strong like that. This was my last chance, but I still couldn't get any progress. I should do something, but it hadn't a thing I could do.
Like a weight dragged me down to the water and I hadn't the strength to resist.
It was hurt.
It was hard to breathe.
…
I lied down on a sofa in my office. I couldn't remember what I talked to Freya, but I felt we say goodbye normally. Mom sent me to this room with the up and down platform. I didn't lose energy, I lost inner strength.
The trust that I couldn't be High Sage came close. I thought about my non-magic life. I might become familiar with it. I might do something simple day by day with my parents. I might happy, smile, and forgot about magic someday.
I wasn't sure what organ, but it was pressed so much. Like it didn't want to leave me.
"Nine…"
"Nine, are you finished?"
Come back now.
You want to be my God, right? If you want to be my magic, you must come quickly.
I want to use magic.
"I don't want to be anything else except High Sage!!"
[I won't let you become anything else except High Sage.]
The black dog doll was shinning. It jumped to me and bowed like a knight.
[I'm back, my High Sage.]
He…
Such a right timing. It must be his plan, this tricky guy.
The laughed was back.
[You call me, isn't it?]
[I'm your magic, High Sage.]
I…
I felt it was easy to breathe again.