BEYOND THE BLAZE

The hot spring session was good; no one slept since they were chatting. Akirion was a bit of a chatter for a while, and that made the session good for both of them.

What happened to the movie watchers (followers)?

When the fight was over, they were very sleepy; only relief flowed into them when they saw Akirion and Elina in one piece.

"Phew, thank God," said Anda with her face looking down, her eyes barely open as she looked sleepy.

"Guys, I'm out of here!" Said Liberty, who had his hands in his pockets as he left.

"Wait for me!" Renn said, standing up, following Liberty.

"I guess there's nothing to do here," Erlin said as she widely opened her mouth when she was yawning.

"Yes, sure, let's get out of here. There's nothing to do here anyways; this mission was just a risk, you know, risking our valuable lives." Anda said after she almost got killed by one of the summoned elves.

"Yes, we almost died for nothing." Erlin added as they followed Liberty and Renn, who moved forward.

So, all of them left after they left the two safe.

Before the day ended, Akirion and Elina went back home. Before reaching home, they checked the restaurant for Erlin's food, but it was already closed, so they headed back home.

The two separated with a smile on their faces, all ready to crash for the day.

Akirion went back home using a portal.

He opened a big ring that was a bit whitish but mostly black and went home.

He found Thaneiros sleeping in the living room. He felt Akirion, and he asked,

"Akie, is that you?" His voice was heard but mostly low.

"Yes, it's me." Akirion replied, a smile sprinting on his face.

"Ohh, that's good you are back. I was worried sick about you, even though you'll be going soon, tomorrow or the next day, but I'll care for you." Thaneiros looked happy, but mostly he was filled with disappointment.

"Ohh, thank you very much, and sorry for coming this late; a friend took me for dinner after that win!"

"Congratulations, you did well!" Thaneiros boomed with a congratulations.

"Thank you!"

"And I'm happy that you've got a friend!"

"Yeah, but it's boring; I'll be leaving tomorrow, and that will be the final day." Akirion said with a bit of disappointment in his face, but also happy!

"That's sad!" Thaneiros went with Akirion's point, all of them seeing how boring it was.

"Yeah," Akirion said, his face down, sleepiness flooding both of them.

Akirion continued and said, "By the way, I'm beat; see you tomorrow, Master."

"Okay, Akirion, good night." Akirion went to sleep after a gentle good night from Thaneiros.

Akirion went to his room, and Thaneiros stood up and went to his since Akirion was finally back.

The night went by quickly, everyone with their eyes closed as they rested their bodies.

In the morning, Akirion did his everyday routine for running and more, and then he got ready for school.

"Wait, didn't you say that you are leaving today?" Thaneiros asked, surprised by Akirion, who was getting ready to go to school.

"Yes," Akirion paused a bit, and then he continued, "I'm going to say goodbye, since nobody knows or knew the story about me leaving the school, only two people to less than 10."

"Ohh, so since you are, like, famous, you can't just disappear!"

"Yes!" Akirion said while he nodded, a smile shining on his face, getting ready to go to school.

"That's good!"

Akirion left for school; he used his portal as always, and surprisingly, he met up with Elina right after he started walking on the road to school.

"Hey Akie!" Elina shouted when she was far away, when she just caught a glimpse of Akirion. She sounded energetic and happy.

'Ohh dear, it's her again.' He thought, his neck bent down.

He then looked at her. Then he slowed down, but he acted as if he didn't see her.

"Hey, wait up!" Elina didn't get tired of shouting; her voice was really loud, and she was struggling to run towards Akirion with her body!

Akirion stopped and waited for her just after he saw her struggle.

They did the morning greetings right after she reached Akirion, and they followed the school road just like every day.

"So, are you ready for goodbye?" Elina asked, her face printed with a smile, just looking happy, but in her heart, she wasn't happy to see Akirion leave the school.

Akirion replied, even though he saw her sad eyes, "Mmm, yeah, I guess so!"

"That's good; I'll be rooting for you." She continued, showing happiness.

With a bit of confusion, he hesitated, then he said, "Really, that's good." "What's there to be rooting for?" he thought.

Just from nowhere, she explained her point, starting from Akirion's confusion that wasn't seen in his body expression but was yet there in his head.

She said, "I'm sure you are asking yourself how I am going to root for you." She paused, her eyes on Akirion. Akirion gulped, feeling as if she read his mind. He nodded after he saw her eyes kept on being stuck on him.

"If that's the case, then, I'll tell you this… there's something called stage fright; if you get a bit of support, then you can forget about that, and you'll get more motivated, and you'll be happy to say whatever you want to say." Confidently, she spat out all the words that explained her point.

Akirion held his chin, finalizing her point. "Ohh, right, I guess you are right; that school is big, it has more than a hundred people, so stage fright can knock in." Point.

"Exactly!"

"So what will you do?" Akirion asked out of curiosity.

"Just wait and watch!"

'Sorry, Akirion, I'll just have to be a bit… betraying for me to help myself and Erlin too, since I'm a big sis.' Elina thought, her eyes filled with sadness, as her gaze pointed at the smooth Elysian road.

They continued their walk to school.

Before they reached school, their eyes widened; both of them stopped and glared at the gate of the school that was closed.

"HUH, what's up with that?" Akirion exploded first, asking about the closed gate.

"I don't know, maybe it's… But no, there's no holiday."

"Yes, you are right, but there's no one here and the gate is closed; maybe we are late!" Akirion came up with another idea of why the gate would be closed.

"Yeah. Erlin came early in the morning; maybe we are late." Elina added.

"Or maybe she went out with her friends."

"Ahhh, but that's not like her!"

"Really, that's better; you know and trust her."

"Yes, she's my lovely little sister after all!"

"Let's get closer and check it out then." Akirion suggested.

They got near the gate, and they realized that the gate was open but not wide open. They got in with a bit of astonishment, and before they took a second step inside, Akirion and Elina's hearts dropped for a second as they had a big 'surprise' noise.

Everyone at school was awaiting him; they all wanted to give him gifts since he saved them during the fight the day before.

Akirion and Elina were really surprised that they almost ran away after they heard the noise.

They laughed, but their hearts were racing in an endless race that they couldn't end.

They looked at everyone and realized that everyone had a great smile on their faces.

"What is this all about?" Akirion asked the professor, who got closer to him.

"Everyone in here wants to thank you, Akirion, for saving their lives yesterday."

Akirion panicked for a second; his heart took a second of a break as he gasped, "Huh, I didn't save them; I was only protecting my own skin, that's all!"

The professor said, "That makes it clear that you protected and saved them during your process of saving your own skin!"

Akirion folded his hands and looked away from the crowd. "Mhh, if that's the case then, I agree!"

"So, are you ready to give a speech?"

Akirion gulped, nervousness knocking on his body.

"A speech?"

"Yes, come on, don't be scared, a simple speech, and that's when you'll hear what they'll be telling you, so don't give up your chance to be conquered by your fear and nervousness; move that body."

Akirion glared at everyone; he saw a lot of people that he didn't expect. He told himself that he was going to be fine, but after seeing people like ants, nervousness swirled around him like a tornado.

He froze in fear, and also his knees started to vibrate.

Suddenly, he felt a gentle slap on his back. "Hey Akirion, you've got this. Go up there and show that you are this school's hero." Elina said, a smile shining in her face as she started her motivation process.

«««⟨ TO BE CONTINUED!⟩»»»

_______—Spoiler alert—_______

...…

Dungeon time.