Trace's shiny rings slowly turned dimmer. The blood light subsided and so did the ecstasy of Noelle. But the man sitting on the corner got up from his seat, he was the person who showed that the machine worked earlier.
The lights on the ceiling turned off row by row. Area in which Trace and group was standing turned dim. But the rest of the shop was lit and people were attracted towards the gray area.
A yellow light lit on the MQC (Mana Quality Checker) machine. Slowly it rose upward with changing colors. Yellows turned darker, turning into orange. It had crossed the 50 mark now. But it did not stop.
Leon gasped in surprise, it was as if his face froze while he was laughing. His eyes stopped blinking as he stared at the MQC with fixed gaze. Jae was no better than him, she had a tight frown on her face. As if she couldn't see clearly.
Even the Level 2 employee at the side was looking with a serious expression. Only Noelle had a joyous face, her heart was beating wildly. All hail the fortune teller, she rejoiced. But something felt odd.
The light did not stop around 50, it kept climbing up in front of the onlookers eyes. Even some of the employees and customers were headed this way. It raised a commotion when the light on MQC turned red.
"Has something like this happened before?" one of the employees standing outside the gray zone asked.
"No-"
"Yes," an older employee said. "Something like this happened when Mr. Moriety first set up the MQC."
The employee discussed among themselves. But the group of Noelle, Jae, Leon and the Level 2 Sorcerer employee at the side was quiet. Trace still had his eyes closed and was concentrating on his mana.
Slowly, the light turned blood red on the MQC machine and hit 100! Everyone tried to look at the person standing right in front of the machine. But only a few Level 1 Sentinels were able to see clearly.
"Whoa, I have only seen some oldies hit above 80."
"What the dutches, it hit 100 by a kid, machine broken."
The commotion increases, some of the words even flowed in Leon's ears. Even Jae was now considering the possibility of the machine begin broken. Noelle gave the man towards the side a glance and smiled.
Trace experienced a tap on his shoulder. He saw the row of light stretched from yellow to red. This made his eyes hurt so he stepped back.
The man at the side also stepped forward. Trace turned towards him and his side was facing Leon and Jae. Listening to Leon speak up made Trace turn his head towards the side.
Leon saw the face of Trace lit up in dim light. The face with highlighted curves looked like that of an arrogant man. It felt like the boy was looking down on him but Leon still said.
"Hey, friend-"
"Get lost if you want to stay a boy, you punk!"
Leon was sacred silly, the voice seemed to be of Trace and was very heavy. It was the peak of arrogance that was threatening to his very soul.
Instead of grabbing Jae's hand, Leon used the hands to cover below his belt and jogged away. Jae looked at the MCQ and Trace's face before following suit.
The man in front of Trace was surprised but he only smiled and shook his head. Even if others had their doubts, this person knew what the kid in front of him had done just now.
"Boy, do you know what you did to my machine?"
Trace shook his, he had no idea what happened after he successful channeled his mana into the machine. Is my mana quality this good? He wondered but dismissed the notion because the mana still wouldn't flow inside his own body.
"You binded my machine, it is not mine anymore," the man said.
He could tell that this person lacked experience. Probably his first time going out. The man sighed in his heart. Of course a boy who reached Level 2 at such a young age would have gone through severe training. And missed the golden time of his childhood.
Noelle walked out from behind Trace and patted his back. She recalled the difference between Level 2 Sentinel and Reaper. The later could bind magic treasures but the former could not.
The man did not speak much instead he tired to bind his machine back. Soon, the lights were also back on. It was a warning mechanism if someone secretly binded the machine.
He also asked for Trace's help. If a treasure did not have an owner then it would be easy to bind. Keep channeling mana and it will be yours. However, if the treasure already have an owner then it would be tricky.
Forceful binding was one way. Channel excess mana and try to break or take over the other's user control. Or ask for the owner's help and he will easily let you bind the treasure by taking out his mana.
Noelle eyes were sparkling while looking at Trace. This was what she dreamt of, being a Level 2 Sorcerer at a young age. The great fortune teller has sent the right person, I need to learn his ways quick.
The treasure was successfully returned back to the real owner. Trace and Noelle bid and goodbye and walked out of the store. The man sighed while looking at Trace. But suddenly the girl turned back and gave him a stern look. This made him smile.
"What an interesting couple."
…
"Who I am to Noelle?" Trace wondered.
Rae and Trace were staring into the pond. This was an extremely important question to Noelle. She couldn't wait anymore and gave a light push to Trace.
"We are old friends, but not friends anymore," Trace said regaining his footing.
"Do you love my sister or that red eye girl?" Rae asked in her monotonous voice but concern could be detected from it.
Trace thought of the incident that happened today. In the past he thought that Eimi only touched him by mistake on many occasion. But today was different. Do I love her?
Trace took a quick look towards the seat in which Noelle was sitting. He knew the book that she was reading. It was a love story. Do I love Miss Swirls? Trace questioned to himself again.
Rae saw Trace's face carefully. As if she couldn't wait for him to speak. Instead she wanted to extract answers from his facial expression. Slowly, Trace face turned red. But why? Rae squinted her eyes and looked at the bench.
"Answer me," Rae tried to raise her voice but it didn't work.
"Y-yes," Trace said looking away.
"It is my sister or that-"
"Noelle is a boy," Trace interrupted in between. "And he likes girls."
"What are you talking about," Rae couldn't control her anger anymore.
She kicked Trace's back. Easier than she expected, he fell into the pond. Rae was breathing heavily. What's wrong with this guy, my sister talked with him and…
"My sister is actually a…," Rae took a deep breath before extending monotonously. "GIRLLLLLLL."