Aether looked for Claire everywhere but never found her, as he taught, this thing bothers her a lot more than Aether. "Arghh! Where could she have gone?" Suddenly Aether remembered a conversation with Claire back at home once. "Aether you know something, there is a place in the academy where I will go whenever I feel lonely or empty. That place helps to calm me down, it's not a place that has something special. It's just a place where I can be." Aether realized and "I know now, I know now, she must be there, she must have gone to that place, I am sure. The only place she could go to is the hidden pond which is located behind our academy. Many people don't know that place since all the bushes and trees hide the pond, but if you go through them you will see a beautiful pond with a bench to sit on...That place is also covered with beautiful flowers, it's been taken care of by those who pass there. I went to that place once after I came to this academy, it was really hard to find that place at first, but once I reach that place, it was relaxing and I am pretty sure she must have gone there too,"
Relying on his institutions he went to the pond, after arriving at the secret pond, Aether began walking, those steps were heavy for him. As he was walking he saw a person sitting on the bench with their head down, that person has white hair, Aether knew who it was and slowly walked towards that individual. As he reach that individual he quietly sat next to her. That individual lifts their head with tears rolling down and voices "I am sorry Aether, it's all because of me this happens. This wouldn't have happened if I was more careful towards my surroundings." After seeing that Aether inhales and replied, "Is that why you're being sad like this, lift your head and see me." As soon as Claire lift her head and saw Aether, he voiced "You're my sister and I am your brother, we don't need permission from others, at least not anymore." The words were simple, but he was serious. Aether pulls Claire's cheeks, "Come on smile now, isn't this what you always wanted, to everyone know who am I to you, hehe."
"After what has happened, how can I-." She was interrupted by Aether "I will show them," Claire's eyes widened "Ehh." Aether turned his gaze towards the sky and with a calm voice. "I will show everyone in this academy, that I am worthy to be called your brother, so stop crying or you don't believe me?." The whole surrounding was silent making Aether's words as sharp as possible. Soon after hearing that, Claire wipes her tears and replies "No! I believe in you, you can do it.". Aether smiles and voiced "Now this is the sister that I always wanted to see, not the gloomy one haha."
"Anyway, what's with you pulling my cheeks ahh," pulls Aether's cheeks back "Take that." and Aether cries in pain "Ahhwwy! Sowwyyy! Anyway, Claire, this place is peaceful and relaxing as you say. It's like you can forget yourself and your problems if you stay here. Who knows, maybe this might become one of my favorite spot too, hehe." With a happy smiling face, Claire pats Aether's head and replies "Yeah, go ahead and make it, I am sure you will love it." Both of them were smiling and enjoying the scenery while in Aether's head "Hmm, that's right, a secret cant be a secret for long, since they got me this time. I will pay them back tenfold, I am going to show this academy what a non-mage like me could do. So, how to make it happen now,"
A few weeks passed and all the gossip started to slow down but everyone started changing. Then soon after that, Akabane Teach announced an announcement about a friendly tournament with the first-year mages in our school to see how far they have improved. "I heard from a senior that our creations are only going to be trash since they're using magic and we are not. The gap is too big between us," said one of them in the class, Even though for others this might be a nightmare but for Aether, this is a good opportunity to show this academy what he can do and they also said that all the upperclassmen until year three are going to witness this tournament since this is the first year's first friendly tournament. "It's over we are finished," said one of the classmates as one by one losing the will to fight.
"Did you hear that Claire, the first-year tournament is going to start? Aren't you worried about Aether?" Lena asks and with a smiling and calm face, she replied "I don't, I know he can do it. He promised me after all." Lena tilted her head and realized "Ahh! What promise?" Lena asks as she was curious. "Haha, you will see that in the tournament." Claire smirked and mounted in her heart "Do your best Aether, I will be watching you too."
[To Be Continued] (Jojo'z Theme)