Minerva sat there, watching out the window, while behind her, Sanguinex was there lying down, deep in sleep.
Minerva was lost in her thoughts, until the door behind her opened.
Sévir and Percival walked inside, Minerva turned around to their direction. Percival walked behind Sévir slowly, his heart pounding harder, louder every step he took forward. What bit Sanguinex didn't just have paralyzing poison, it has something else.. Something deadlier.
His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Sanguinex, perfectly fine and sleeping comfortably.
"H-How is she.. Fine!?" He exclaimed, but tried to keep it down as much as possible.
Minerva nodded at Sévir and Sévir turned around. "Are you ready to learn the truth?" He asked, his tone was more serious than his usual tone.
"..What truth?" Percival was confused by what Sévir asked.
Sévir walked up to Sanguinex, slowly holding her by her hair. "This."
...
It was still a bright, sunny day, although everyone seemed to be exhausted by the Magiaville Forest, they still had the fight and energy to walk around Magiaville.
To them, Magiaville was something you'd expect out of a rich Dunkron city, its roads covered in cobblestone, small buildings made out of bricks with its tallest one only being a windmill, not far from the horizon.
Be as it may, flowers. Flowers were blooming everywhere, from red to pink, blue to purple, yellow to green, black to white, flora was everywhere.
Minerva and Sévir walked around the astonishing flower fields beside Magiaville, there was no shortage of flowers, every single type of flower was present.
Minerva sniffed around in satisfaction, twirling around as if she were the main character set in Europe running, jumping and twirling around the fields.
"Ahh, the flowers still smell amazing after all these years!" She picked a flower and sniffed it, her satisfaction bar going off the charts.
She turned around to face Sévir, a purple flower in hand. "Are you sure you won't offer a young maiden a flower when you're quite literally in a flower field with her?" She offered the flower to him with a teasing smile.
He rolled his eyes. "Pardon. You're a strong, independent woman. You can pick them by yourself."
Her face turned to one of slight disappointment after hearing that, but it returned to a happy face almost immediately. "How unfortunate. Is it not a Doren tradition to give a girl flowers in their presence? Regardless of what you think of them?" She asked with a sly smile this time.
He let out a defeated sigh. "You got me there." He picked a blue flower off and handed it to her. "Here."
She gladly accepted it. "Aw, it's too bad you didn't give it to me gently like a gentleman"
"God, how demanding can you get!?"
"Oh, I can get.. Very demanding. But in some other things." She winked before she turned around, walking away to look at other flowers.
But in typical Minerva fashion, as she took one step forward, she stopped and turned around. "Would you like to walk to the windmill with me?" She pointed at the windmill on top of the hill.
He shrugged. "Sure, I have nothing much to do right now."
"That's what I like to hear. Follow me then." She turned around and actually walked away this time with Sévir following her.
As they ascended the hill, Minerva dropped to the ground with her arms and legs spread out, she wore yet another satisfied smile as she stared at the purple sky.
Sévir sat down beside her, staring at the purple sky with her. As he tried to observe it more, he got even more confused. "Why's the sky purple?"
"Well.. I don't know the real explanation, but I've heard that when Ananka and Atheleisia were released, they used some sort of magic that made the sky here purple permanently."
The purple sky they talk of was nothing short of a beauty, the sky was purple, the clouds still remained, and it'll blend very well with the sunset to come in a few hours.
He looked at Minerva, the blue hair he was so used to seeing, and the blue eyes, was now blended with the light purple hue the sky was emitting in cooperation with the light of the sun, and her light, white skin blended with light purple hue was a sight to behold.
His face showed nothing, but deep inside, as much as he refused to admit it, he was mesmerized. She was mesmerizing.
"Hm? Sévir?" She noticed him looking at her.
He snapped back out of it, shaking his head as he looked away.
Could it be.. Her eyes widened and her cheeks slightly burned up, but even so, she sat up and leaned towards him. "Oooh? Are you getting captivated by my looks?~"
It was clear she's back at teasing him again, and she was enjoying every second of it.
He cleared her throat. "S-So.. The tournament is tomorrow, huh?"
What he was trying to do was as clear as day, Minerva smiled and decided to play along. "Yeah. You really aren't joining?"
He shrugged. "At the beginning, I was sure I'd not join, but now..?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
"I feel like.. If there's a catalyst, if I have to, then I'll join."
Minerva looked away for a moment, thinking of possible catalysts that would make Sévir join the tournament, only to think of none. "Well then.. You still have some time to think about it.
The tournament doesn't start until after lunch tomorrow. Until then, you can make your choice."
Sévir was dead silent, to Minerva's eyes, he was deep in thought. She slightly sighed and sat right beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Sévir only realized a few moments later that she was resting her head on his shoulder. "Uh..? Why's your head on my shoulder?"
"You were deep in thought, I was expecting a bigger reaction."
"Well sorry to disappoint you, I don't do big reactions."
They both sat there in silence, the birds nearby minding their own business, chirping as they flew around, the windmill's blades spun around slowly and non-stop.
Finally, it broke when Minerva spoke first as she took her head off of Sévir's shoulder.
"Do you think Zephyr will be alright?" She asked.
"Why? Do you not think your student can pull it off?"
She shook her head. "It's not that.. I was just wondering what you thought." Maybe.. I didn't teach her enough? I want to know what he thinks of it, but I really want to see if I really taught her well.
He nodded. "Oh, I see." He stood up before he could say anything. "Well, I've known her for years. She'll probably lose." He said while he stretched his body. "But she'll try her very best, she might win at least 4 matches."
Minerva sat there in silence, hugging her legs.
"But that doesn't mean you didn't do well teaching her." He descended the hill until his face was at her level. "It's up to the student how they will use the knowledge a teacher has provided them."
She looked at him and realized what he had just said. His face was nothing out of the ordinary, it was blank and straight as usual, but she could feel something just very slightly different. He said something reassuring without trying to be reassuring. He said something that was on her mind even without her mentioning it.
"Well then, I want to check on Sanguinex and explore Magiaville."
She nodded.
He raised an eyebrow. "Just a nod? I'd be expecting you to stand up and say; 'Well then, allow me to be your tour guide!'" He tried his best to imitate her voice there.
She couldn't help but chuckle at what he said and his attempt to imitate her voice. "Oh, you really are impatient. I was going to do just that." She slowly stood up, wiping a slight bit of dirt off her skirt.
"Well then, allow me to be your tour guide for today–Sévir van Doren!" One hand was over her chest, the other at her waist, her smile, which she's always flashed, shined brighter at this moment.
"That's more like it. Let's go." Sévir continued descending the hill, followed by his tour guide–Minerva.
...
The door opened, Sévir and Minerva entered the room, only to see a scornful look in Sanguinex's face.
"What happened?" Sévir dragged the nearest chair and sat on it.
"Ms. Ardell scolded me–like real hard." Her arms were crossed, it's evident that she did not like every single bit of it."
"Well, what a way to disrupt the harmony with our adviser." He shrugged.
"Well- I'M SORRY that I did that, okay? If I knew that would've happened, I wouldn't have done that." She looked away with glaring eyes, Sévir just made her more angry.
"Well, we'll let you cool down. Me and Minerva will be going around the town." He stood up and walked to the door.
Sanguinex immediately looked at them, her face no longer showing anger, but shock and worry. "T-T-Together..?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Why?" Minerva couldn't help but facepalm.
"L-Let me come then!" She dragged the sheets off of her. She hates the thought of Sévir and Minerva together, exploring the town alone. She wants to join in too like she's always done.
"Hey, hey! Slow down, jackass! You have to rest." Sévir walked up to her and stopped her from standing up.
"Well then.. Can you at least take me in a weapon form? I'll get to rest and explore the town."
Sévir took a second as he thought of it. "Okay. sure."
As he put his hand over her hair, Sanguinex shot a death glare at Minerva.
"Third Form: Dagger Form." In one fluid motion, she was covered in cherry-colored chains, her body, human at first, changed form to that of a dagger.
"Okay. Let's get going." Sévir tucked her in his pocket.
Magiaville was a small one, but big enough to explore the entirety of it in under a day. Pastry can be smelled from a mile away from the numerous pastries around the town. A flora-filled river, full of floating flowers just under the groups of the grey, cobblestone bridges.
The roads look new, the buildings look new, the foods look new, everything looks new.
Both Sévir and Minerva eyed around their surroundings, Minerva had nothing more than a refreshed look, knowing that the nostalgic town she's visited every year for the tournament has remained the same.
Sévir's is one of curiosity, being the first timer alongside Sanguinex.
Minerva glanced at Sévir, only to see those curious eyes to be one of distraught.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"I don't know.. It's just-.. It feels a little too.. Fine in here." He replied with uncertainty, I don't remember the last time Sévir spoke like this.
She raised an eyebrow to what he said, she did not understand what he meant. LIke–what did he mean by Magiaville is a little too fine? Is this guy stupid? Cracked in the head?
She just ended up looking forward with a slight shrug. I don't know what he's talking about. I don't think I should try finding out.
As Sévir continued eyeing around, he could only see Stepan students in groups, chatting around with curious, excited eyes and wide, happy mouths everywhere. He could only see the people of Magiaville smiling so brightly, offering Magiaville-exclusive foods and items to their once-in-a-year visitors.
This is unsettling.. Are you there, Blue? Sévir really couldn't shake off what he felt.
Mm.. I'm here. At last, Blue replied.
Good.. Do you feel what I also feel about this place?
I do.
Sévir glanced once more at the crowd just across. Look at the locals.. Aren't they.. Too fine?
..I agree with how this place feels a little off, but I don't know where you're getting at now, Sévir. Even Blue couldn't understand what Sévir was thinking about the town and the locals being off.
Dumbass, you're supposed to know what I'm thinking! Aren't you one of many consciousnesses living inside my brain?? Sévir sneered in his thoughts.
Given that I'm awake, then yeah.
And you're awake now.
Your point?
Tsk, forget it. Sévir felt slightly irritated, the click of his tongue in his thoughts escaped to reality, Sévir clicked his tongue, much to Minerva's notice.
After some time, they reached the other side of Magiaville, only to be presented the clear terrain–flatlands and hills, in-between those hills, a wide waterfall continuously splashing down.
Only a few animals were present, eating off the grass from the ground as a means to survive.
"What's that?" Sévir pointed to one animal eating off the grass. It was evident that he had not encountered such a creature before.
The animal was purely white, its head like that of a cow, and its body, tall and slender like that of a horse. It had black spots all around its body, long, white hair just behind its head, and its sounds were like that of a cow.
"That's an Equibov."
"An.. Equibov?" He scratched the back of his head, trying to make sense out of what she said.
She nodded. "Equibovs are a mix of horses and cows. They can both be used for transport and milk production. And their milk.." She pointed at the udder of the mysterious Equibov, pulling out a small bottle of milk from one of her pockets. "They've the best milk ever." She chugged her bottle of milk, emptying it before Sévir could say a word.
Sévir watched her chug it down, disappointed when it became empty. "You should've saved a bit for me so I could've tried."
She flashed a small, teasing smile. "That would be an indirect kiss.. Wouldn't it?" Her eyes turned to the dagger in his sheath. "Little Sévircon here wouldn't like it. She'd eat me for dinner when she gets back to human form."
He nodded. "You have a point."
They walked over the stake fence and walked towards the waterfall.
When they looked down the flowing water, it was clear and it emitted a soft lavender color. Sévir's eyes slightly widened, he had never seen anything like this, he couldn't help but kneel down, staring down the clear water.
"Weird, right?"
Sévir nodded. "Yeah. I've never seen something like this before.."
"You'll get to see more of it. Magiaville isn't the only place like this," she pointed to their right, "at the far east of Stepan territory, there is a region like this too."
His face got as close as it could get before touching the water, seemingly trying to get a better view of the clear water without submerging his head.
"I'd rather you not do that." She pulled him up by his collar.
"Huh? Why?"
"I'm pretty sure they are inhabited by some small, but dangerous water creatures. Just a bit." She let go of his collar as soon as his face was as far away from the water.
Supposedly without any reason, they both looked at the sun, very, very slowly, but surely going down from up in the sky.
"Shouldn't you be training right now?"
She shrugged. "I feel like I don't need training right now. There'll be nobody under me who can beat me anyway."
"Wow, confidence."
"You pick it up as time passes by.
When you're this high in the school's pyramid, you'll feel.. Untouchable." A prideful smile slowly crept up on her face when she said 'untouchable'.
He rolled his eyes. "Come on now. You know it won't be that way forever."
She nodded. "I know. I just don't know when."