Celes stood above the altar. The four gigantic pillars of fire burning a flame of blue color didn’t help to the ominous atmosphere at all that surrounded the area, though not that it matter to Celes. Neither to the couple of shadows in every corner of the room, perfectly obscured by the darkness that the light of the fire could not reach. They were the respectable instructors of the magic academy of Albright all here to observe Celes and for when things go out of control. Because summoning a servant may appear simple as just a drop of blood and uttering the spell for the scribble to lit in the marble were the only things listed, its level of threat was something cannot be neglected. They were going to summon entities whose origin was unknown and shared a portion of their lives for this being to materialize in the world after all. There’s even cases recorded in the past that summoning a servant cost a student’s life. And if not break their sanity.

        The gazes surrounding her buried Celes in pressure while there was disbelief already thinking that the road awaits ahead was failure. But even were she tremble hysterically or if she were to lose to the fear now how much then to the future not having her dream and desire, so she didn’t have a plan of turning around.

        Well, even the majority of people surrounding her were her enemy, having the presence of those important to her and supported her was plenty enough. Lisa in the corner was praying from the bottom of her heart the word please slowly turned into a chant. Lillia was beside her.

        “now for this privilege we are all here today!” shout of a man among the shadows. Even Celes can’t make out the man concealed in the darkness. She could tell from the voice alone that it was garland, a very uptight person who teaches alchemy. How many students was it again? Who he already fails on his subject. It may be a small mistake or not, but for this man, it only had one path to set through.

        “Celestelia bartfold!… thy may begin.” the words resounded aloud.

        Celes held the small dagger laid before her. She was going to use that to cut herself, commonly in the palm. It didn’t need to be that big, just enough for a blood to flow out. When the said was done, Celes then immediately went to utter the spell without missing a single detail.

        “—!” scribble littered then seemingly carved in the floor lightning the entire room and all that obscure by the darkness came all to view, but that wasn’t important right now. A massive amount of wind circulates around despite the place not having a single window where it source from. At this very moment, decides Celes fate.

        The light grows within a second and grows and grows. 

        “Celes.” the man gently called to the child.

        Celes turn around, a smile then spread on her face upon seeing the man. Her eyes also went wide and sparkle.

        “Big brother van!” she ran and cling to the man affectionately. She hadn’t seen him for edges now. The man returned the embrace as to how much Celes missed him. He also missed the child.

        “How’s you’ve been Celes?” he stroke Celes in the head as he asks the question.

        “Doing well…” her eyes were slightly wet.

        “Is that so? That’s good to hear.” it’s from the bottom of his heart.

        “Why are you here, big brother?” Celes asks the man looking up. Though, not that it wasn’t likely to visit her.

        “Well, I’m just here to bid my farewell.” In this Celes hearts ache.

        “F-farewell…?” tears started to form in the corner of her eyes in a dot.

        “H-hold up! Don’t cry. I might be gone away for a long time but it won’t be forever.” the man was frantic trying his best to stop Celes from crying. “So don’t cry now, don’t cry.” 

        “Okay, here here.” he embraces the sobbing Celes.

        “listen Celes.” he gently told these to the child. “I’m also doing this for your own well being so you don’t need to hide anymore and for us to be together.” Celes listens to the man’s every word.

        “So we can play together for as long as you want.” 

        “Oh, I remember you want to climb a mountain, right?” the man listed things after things. Note: he wasn’t just making excuses at all.

        “So could you just send me off with a smile?” he smiles slightly away from crying.

        While celes may a child but she understood it well that there’s something must be done to have the things they want. So she smile, however, it wasn’t fake nor force.

        “T-then promise that you’ll come back?” 

        “Of course I do. I promise.” their pinky fingers intertwined with each other.

        Celes didn’t know why was she having this dream of the distant past, but one thing was certain to her she didn’t make it through.

———

        The magic academy of Albright, if you seek something interested then you should go there. Embark on a long journey across the river and sea, mountain and forest. If you were from east, go head west and if you were from west go head east and if you were from south go set a journey towards north and if you were from north go set a journey towards south.

        The battle has just begun: the academy’s motto. Weird, right? All students though found it that way, but as they stay in the academy, they later on come to term that it wasn’t at all. Of course, that also includes you. The longer you stay, the more you come to understand that everything has just began.