Saying Zain's head was on fire was a bit of an overstatement, but seeing as a pillar of flames danced on top of his head, it wasn't far-fetched to believe so. The students nearest to Zain in the courtyard reeled back in surprise after seeing the strange happening.
"What the hell…?"
His confusion continued as other pillars of flames arose through the grounds, floating above the heads of other students.
"There's more of them!" As James panicked at his side Zain kept his eyes locked on Suzaku. Their deity continued flapping his wings as small embers began flowing through the entire school grounds.
"Young mages. I have descended upon you all once more, to choose a vessel to contain my power." Suzaku gathered the attention of everyone present as its mighty wings stopped flapping.
"Those of you who have my feathers rising above thine heads, rejoice. You have the potential to receive my strength, and become a guardian for thine kingdom."
Zain's heart sank to the floor at those words. He was a candidate?
"What kind of joke is this…" Zain's mind raced a hundred miles an hour as he tried to grasp the situation before him.
"Why the hell would you choose me?!" He knew Suzaku would choose multiple students here as possible candidates to be his vessel, and one of them would win against all odds and gain Suzaku's flames. While he didn't know who it was, he knew for a fact that whoever became Suzaku's vessel in this time, would at some point meet with Scarlet during a life or death moment and pass the power on. But if Zain became a candidate to receive this power, it would destroy what little memory of the past he had left.
Before he could even finish thinking of what to do next, Suzuki burst into flames once more before rushing across school grounds. Zain's body moved next, and his legs carried him after the living fire. Bodies of students barred his pathway, causing him to shove them out of his path before continuing after Suzaku.
"Don't you fuck with me, you over sized chicken!" His anger led to swearing as he found where Suzaku had disappeared to and began climbing the building. Every corner he turned, flames lapped at the nearby walls and students, growing further in intensity as he ran down the halls. The highest point of the building only had one room, and one person within it. The principal's office. Zain shoved the door open without warning as he stormed into the room.
"What's the meaning of this?!" As Zain expected, a bundle of flames sat on top of the desk of Zephyr, and said man was seated on the other end of the desk. What he wasn't expecting however, was Cassius to be in the room as well.
He was startled by Zain's sudden appearance as a number of papers he held in his hands were thrown to the ground.
"What in the world has gotten into you?!"
"I could ask the same thing! You damn bird, what the hell are you getting at?!" Zain ignored Cassius as he walked further into the room while making sure to point at the flames continuing to sprout from the top of his head.
"Wha-, How dare you speak to our deity as such! This truly goes to show how low class you really are, you disgraceful brat!" Cassius started to show his own feelings on the matter as Zain showed no respect to Suzakku.
"And what are you even complaining about- '' Cassius was so absorbed in his anger at Zain that he hadn't realized the fire that crackled atop Zain's head.
"Impossible…."
"Mr. Zain…do you mind explaining what has made you so irritated? We can't exactly solve your issue if you don't say what it is." Zephyr, as calm as ever, decided to progress the situation.
"I'll tell you what the damn issue is. Why the hell, out of all the students here, would you choose me to be one of your vessel candidates?!"
Responding to Zain's question, the embers grew in size as a pair of eyes peered through the crimson curtain. They stared daggers at Zain, who only reciprocated the action.
"You are the first human to ever be angered at being chosen as my vessel…"
"Yeah, and I never asked to be one in the first place! If you had any amount of intelligence you can see why this is a stupid idea. I have an affinity for lightning magic, not fire!"
This was illogical. First off, if Suzaku was going to choose anyone as a vessel, it should be someone who wields a fire attribute. Their flames would become even more powerful once they merged, and they could utilize all of Suzaku's power. Handing that ability over to someone who doesn't use fire would be a waste.
"Lord Suzaku, I would advise you reconsider having this student as your vessel! This is madness!" Cassius joined in with Zain in confronting their deity about the idea of having Zain become his vessel.
"For once, I have to agree with you." Zain uttered those words with disdain dripping from his mouth. "I don't know how this whole thing works, but you're better off-"
"Silence." Instantly the quiet flames exploded into a violent eruption. Half the room was covered by the blazing entity as those same orange eyes peered into Zain.
"I have chosen you based on my own judgment. I have deemed you worthy, yet you spit in my face and ridicule my decision?!" Suzaku's true form began to expand in the large office.
Taking a step back, Zain reeled from the lames that only grew further in intensity.
"Do not be conceited human, for you are merely one of many I have chosen! You act sa if you have already won, without even facing the rest of your combatants."
"What, you want me to fight them?"
"Exactly…a number of days from now, I shall hold a tournament between those I have deemed worthy to receive my flames. And of course, you will partake in such an honor. I will make sure of it."
The rage in Suzaku's voice slowly began to disappear as the fire that was his body shrank to its size from earlier. Zain continued his stare down with the divine being before him.
"Those eyes of yours…they hold an intense desire. Rarely have I ever taken an interest in a particular human, but you have something within your eyes that has me rather intrigued. I look forward to your performance."
"Hey, wait!" Zain's plea fell on deaf ears as the flames completely snuffed out, leaving only smoke in its wake. The room fell silent as Zain was left with his own thoughts
'No, this is wrong. If I do fight in this, Scarlet won't have a chance to obtain Suzaku. She's one of the greatest fire mages from my time, and she only excelled more after gaining her contract with him.. If I somehow beat the one who's supposed to obtain Suzaku's powers… ' He lamented in his mind at this sudden turn of events. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine being chosen by a divine beast. If he did one thing wrong, the entire timeline could be thrown off it's tracks.
"Why not give it a shot, Mr. Zain? It's not every day one is chosen by a divine beast. This could be one of the greatest opportunities of your life." Zephyr was the first to break the silence after witnessing Zain's hesitance.
"This isn't an opportunity, it's just a nuisance." Zain's plan, if you could even call it one, was to train by himself as best as possible and await the day that the Masked Mage and his organization would one day make their appearance. Their first move was a bold one, destroying Ashiya and flattening it to the ground. On what exact day, he forgot after the long battles, but that day would come soon enough. Suzaku's old vessel fought to defend this area and put themselves on the line to save as many people as possible, so if he somehow robbed them of the power they needed to protect everyone, this would only hurt himself in the long run. With a click of his tongue, Zain simply turned around and exited the office.
"A nuisance?! Honestly that student drives me mad! Who in their right mind would turn down such an offer?!" Cassius's voice rang out in anger towards Zain as he stormed off.
"A divine beast…a nuisance?" Zephyr could only chuckle after hearing Zain's response. "What a strange lad…"