It was an hour after lunch, the sky is fairly cloudy since the autumn tournament is drawing near. Seiya invited me to train so Blaize left me with her. It seems like she also invited Xenos yet he didn’t bother to come.

“Ugh… that freaking craphead…” Seiya keeps on mumbling her curses.

“Calm down, Seiya,” I told her.

“How can I calm down if he’s being a total blockhead?!” she exclaimed loud enough to be heard by other students.

“Take a deep breath, count one to-” I was cut off.

“I don’t need that!” it seems to me that her inner demon awakens. She started walking away when I stopped her.

“Hey. How about you teach me how to summon creatures?” I tried doing what Blaize advised me to do.

“Why should I?” she calmed a bit down but she’s still raising a brow.

“Because as a team, we should be able to handle each other’s abilities,” I stated with a smile on my face.

“You do know that not all people can use different types of magic…” she said with a confused look.

“Maybe I can try?” I asked shyly.

“Well... okay. It’s not like you’re not allowed to try” she replied reluctantly.

Everyone can be a war mage, agri-mage or a weapon-user; just that not everyone can wield weapons or use a specific type of magic. On the field you’re best at, that’s where you will be grouped- whether you like it or not. However, if your body allows you to use or wield any type of magic, then you’re lucky because it’s a rare case to be able to use more than 2 types- I mean, if you can already use 2, you’re already lucky. I tried other magic types and I can do some basic spells but not the special type… yet.

“You see, everyone can summon creatures. A summoner, however, is favoured by creatures. Those creatures decided to come up with an agreement to be summoned- wherein the summoner use their energy to let them be summoned. If the creature didn’t accept your request for them to be called, a small smoke will appear. Try summoning a Moogle. Just say ‘Creature Summon, Moogle’” Seiya explained.Once she said the chant, a tamed Moogle appeared.

“Wow. Creature Summon, Moogle!” I called upon and what appeared was a smoke. Seiya’s countenance didn’t change, probably because she expected it to happen.

“If you can’t summon a tamed creature, you’re less likely to summon a stronger or a wilder one,” she said. Of course, it’s discouraging. Because I thought maybe I can do it for stronger ones, I called out a Cactuar. The ground trembled quite hard so Seiya and I ran to the nearest strong object we can hold onto. After 5 seconds, a Jumbo Cactuar appeared. Seiya was dumbfounded… so was I. The Cactuar looked at her then at me. When suddenly…

The Cactuar KerPlank’ed (wherein it dropped itself to smash its enemies, making them dead or just low hp) Seiya. What the crap?!?!?!

Eventually, it disappeared. Then, a few moments later, my vision turned black.

I felt suffocated. I’m barely breathing. I gasped for air and light started appearing. The first thing I saw when I regained consciousness and my vision was Blaize. He was healing me with a worried expression on his face. When his eyes met mine, he just glared and then he gave me a stern look.

“How stupid of you to make yourself unconscious!” he yelled at me. I was scared for a moment so I looked away. I was lying on an infirmary bed. I saw on the bed next to mine… an unconscious Seiya.

“Seiya…” I mumbled, worried about the effects of what I did earlier.

“Don’t worry, she’s already revived. She just have to rest.” Blaize assured. I looked at him to see his anger turned into a sigh of relief.

“You… said to try it…” I mumbled.

“As I told you before, you never fail to amuse me. Yet, on the other hand, you’re making me anxious.” he crossed his arms. I sat up.

“I’m sorry… say… how did I get in here? Don't tell me I have a teleport connection with this bed!” I asked him.

“Of course not, stupid! Some students felt the ground shake and saw that Jumbo Cactuar attacked Seiya. Both of you were unconscious and the only students around you are girls. Alfonse was the first guy to come. Since Seiya was much more injured, he brought her in an instant. He said you were also there. I was about to run to heal you but he stopped me, stating Seiya’s on the brink of death. And I was the only one in here at the moment since the healers are currently having a meeting with the Headmaster. I did my best to bring her back while you… you were carried by Voltergaurde. He left once your body touched the bed. That’s when I healed you and you regained consciousness.” He explained.

“Did you summon the Jumbo Cactuar…?” he asked.

“Yes… was it awesome?” I replied with a grin.

“You idiot. Don’t be too happy. Seiya nearly died completely. Yes, that was cool of you, however, if you can’t control it then it’s no use.” he had my hopes down. He’s right though I think he prefers Seiya over me. Maybe he just said he was about to run to me so that I won’t feel bad. After all, lives are important, those who are on the edge should be aided quickly while those currently enduring the pain have to wait. Maybe he was mad and anxious for the trouble I made…for Seiya.

Blaize was sweating, probably a bit tired from reviving the almost-dead girl. He took his glasses off, wiped his sweat then his glasses. There I saw his red eyes more clearly than before- it was beautiful.

“Blaize…” I called out. I wanted to apologize again but my voice won’t come out.

“What is it?” he asked. I couldn’t answer and looked down instead.

“If you’re going to ask me whether you’ll get punished or not, we’ll see. It’s not like the Headmaster or the council members asked you some questions… yet.” he stated and wore back his glasses. I’m nervous… I don’t feel good about this. My palms are sweating… I never had a good relationship with the Headmaster.

“...I don't want to face him...” I mumbled. Blaize left off a huge sigh. He pats his chest with both of his hands twice and then opened it- as if offering a hug. I quickly accepted it.

“You aren’t just a rival, you know?” he mumbled. I can feel the heat cover my whole body. I was happy. He was the first male friend I had for as long as I can remember. After a minute, he let go. The moment I saw his face, he was smiling genuinely.

“Rest well, Nox. I’ll head off to the council and try saving your arse.” He said and left in an instant. How weird of him to call me by my last name. Oh crap! Maybe he demoted the rival to acquaintance! Though he said he’ll try saving my arse. Try. Ugh, I don’t want to expect! Can I even expect such a huge favor from him?

When Blaize closed the door, I heard Alfonse said “Woah Stanford! You’re quite red! Are you sick or something?”. Of course, I was confused. Blaize didn’t enter the room again after that and I started falling asleep.

***

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” a masculine voice asked without showing itself.

“It's just me.” The same feminine voice from my dream before answered briefly.

“Ah, it’s you.” a dark brown-haired man appeared out from the water. His well-maintained body figure can be seen from being half-naked. Some of his skin was covered in scales.

“Who do you think will bother your slumber? Not to mention the distance from town? No one will bo-” the feminine voice tried to explain but was cut off with a kiss.

“Yes, it’s just you.” he chuckled a bit while his left index finger scratched his cheeks lightly. There was silence for minutes when he broke it.

“Don’t you think it’s about time to ask our crystal? Its spirit must meet the one you carry before Wolfbourne could attack again,” he asked.

“Not yet. I still don’t know whether I’ll survive this or she’ll be alive to do my mission. Save it for later.” the voice answered in a serious tone.

“Why not? We’ll just do the thing we did ten years ago,” he replied.

“You fool, I was naive back then. You’re the older one yet you let me do it. How irresponsible of you.” the voice was sort of angry.

“I sent her off to a good place. I’m sure she’ll be fine.” the man said calmly.

“She’s not. She experienced a lot. I can't wait to make the crystals meet. We can't afford to waste time,” the voice exclaimed.

“Why?” the man asked.

“Because the world will be a better place once it happened. I can still recall the ancient lore: the Origin of the Valford Crystals." the voice answered.

"What of it? Everyone knew about it. When a magician die, without having them revived, their bodies turn into little crystals. However, the case for the first four are different. Their crystals are large and grants people magic." the man, eager to end this conversation quickly, stated briefly.

"Yes, the lore had been retold a lot of times but I'll tell you the exact summary of the past. It is when the four magicians-Rosa, Fiollet, Berde and Azure- first coexisted with normal human beings. All of the four nations, hold on to each of them; the nation where they were born. It was common knowledge back then that Rosa and Fiollet were sisters from Eriwald. To bring peace and harmony, Fiollet was sent to Wolfbourne against her will. The four met for the first time after she held her citizenship. Azure was a timid guy who preferred to watch everyone- the opposite of the lively Berde who befriended the ladies. Rosa, being the older sister, has more talents than Fiollet- leading Berde to admire her a lot and made the younger sister jealous. It was clear since then, the two of them are deeply inlove. From afar, Azure noticed Fiollet's sadness. It was then when he tried to make her happy with all the creatures he tamed. It made her so but it wasn't enough. It wasn't long when each of them returned to their nations, leaving the younger girl at Wolfbourne. Azure never missed a day to send his birds on watch on how everyone is doing. He knew how the royal family of Wolfbourne maltreated her yet he didn't take action, being the sort of person he is.  To his surprise, Fiollet died. He sent the birds to Berde and Rosa to deliver the news as he went to her corpse. Before all of them could arrive, Fiollet turned into an enormous lavender crystal. The whole Valford mourned her death. Not that long when Azure died in this very place- having the same fate as the former. Berde and Rosa lived for a long time and watched a century of history. After Fiollet and Azure's death, the two remaining magicians left their posts and lived alone in Esterwell. They had a son but Rosa died giving birth. Having enough power to bring her back to her hometown, Berde made an underground room where he left Rosa's crystal. He lived with sadness yet he managed to take care of his son until his last breath. Rosa and Berde's son, Shiro, continued watching over Valford as his father's last wish. Years after their death, magicians started appearing everywhere and out of ordinary people. It was believed, these crystallized magicians grants their magic to the world. As the acting strongest mage, Shiro set out on a journey to talk to the rulers individually about the crystals. As he was watching over all the nations, he thought that it will probably take a decade or a century until a war will spark on seek of its powers hence the different locations of the crystals. Azure's death was unknown to Bluevale's citizens to begin with so the land's ruler didn't bother to move it and let the crystal rest under its deathbed. Berde lived his life with his son and a pleasant clan. Knowing Shiro's connection, Griffinham's ruler ordered the clan to protect it with their lives. Rosa's underground room was showed only to the ruler alone while Fiollet's crystal was displayed on Wolfbourne's capital. Valford had five peaceful centuries then Fiollet's crystal started turning gray, giving Wolfbourne less supply of the magic. I still have no idea why Wolfbourne attacked Eriwald but in no time, Griffinham will meet its end." 

"That's quite a long summary but then again, let's make haste towards Esterwell."

"Yes, whatever,"

“After this.” the man kissed me again and then took his glasses off. He then turned into a blue serpent-like dragon.