Larrith looked back and found Flynn.
Flynn advanced towards Larrith.
Larrith blinked a few times to show that he wasn't crying.
He asked Flynn, "Didn't you go to the hall?"
Flynn replied, "No.. I was finding you. I was eager to know about an answer of a question that has been haunting me for many days."
Larrith said, "Ok, Let's take the flight of stairs first.. I will try to answer while going."
They went and started taking the stairs.
Flynn asked, "What do the different coloured flags of the towers of the castle represent?"
Larrith replied, "Oh, such a great question.
Well, I am telling this very fast. Otherwise we will be late for the hall meeting.
The red flag represents bravery, the purple represents energy, the golden represents Holiness, the blue represents power of the knights, the green represents the power of the sorcerers and the flag with no flag represents sacrifice.."
Flynn's eyes widened and he stared at Larrith.
They finally reached fourth floor.
They opened the hall for the door.
It was long and wide and a white coloured hall.
There were tow benches on both the sides.
Larrith felt the silence. He understood that they were waiting for them.
Flynn went inside and sat beside Scott.
Rafael sat on one of the two thrones.
Larrith sat on the other throne.
Rafael said, "Today.. I meditated. I tried to go deeper in the sound that we all heard in the battlefield. It was produced by the dark. I hope you all know about Elise.
She came in my meditation and tried to connect to me..
I asked her about Tirian."
Elaris's fist tightened. She felt a burden in her heart.
Her voice cracked. She said, "What did she say?"
Rafael looked down. His voice also cracked. "She said he is most probably dead.. His fate is vague.. She didn't say anything more about him"
Elaris's ears became red.
All noticed it.
Rafael continued, "she also said that she would give me a gift which I might not take as a gift. Someone I would never expect. She also stated that it all began as a revenge but it would end as a fury of her. So, she can do anything now. We have to be cautious.
Larrith and others found out that she stole a book about a talisman which can control the planets.. Larrith, you continue.."
Larrith said, "Even though, it can control the planets.. Only a person who has a balance of darkness and holiness can use it.
Now there's no way that she has the balance.. The only way to achieve it is to absorb a strong sorcerer's magic. And not only that, she also stole the records of the selected student of this year."
Chlin asked, "This year's? This year's means Flynn's and his other classmates' records were stolen? Then how do we know that he's the selected?"
Everyone looked at Flynn. Flynn looked down in embarrassment.
Larrith continued, " the great sorcerer has sharp memory. He remembered everything.. That's why he's here today."
Everyone nodded.
Rafael remembered something.
Rafael asked, "Scott, Tomorrow is the ceremony right in your kingdom?"
Scott replied, "Yes"
Rafael said, "Those who want to go there.. Please inform me now. We have the connection of portal to that kingdom.. So you don't have to walk to there"
Larrith and Scott together said, "I would go."
William, Irene, Chlin, Tory told that they would also go.
Larrith looked at Elaris.
Rafael said, "Alright.. The ceremony will begin from ten in the morning.
It takes about five minutes to reach over there from the portal."
Elaris finally said, "I will also go."
Rafael said, "Alright.. Then.. The meeting ends here."
Chlin asked, "So, Now that you have seen Elise.. Does that mean she is coming to our kingdom very soon?"
Rafael's voice softened. "No.. I can't sense any danger in our kingdom yet.."
The members started leaving the hall.
Larrith and Rafael stayed back till everyone went out.
Irene, William, Scott waited back in the fourth floor for Larrith.
Larrith then finally came back on the hallway of the fourth floor.
He asked them, "You all didn't go back?"
William said, "No.. We are waiting for you.. So, did it mitigate the distance between you and her?"
Larrith said with a broken voice, "I would rather not talk about that."
Scott said, "Actually, we were thinking about practicing today at night.. If you would join too. Then it would be good."
Larrith replied, "Oh, that's a great idea.. Yes, I would join.. I didn't practice for a long time, at midnight, right?"
Irene said, "Yes. Midnight."
They then went back to their rooms.
Larrith laid on his bed thinking about Elaris's behaviour towards him.
He recalled her soft smile in the morning which mitigated his pain.
He said, "Why does she seem so distant?
Her cold behaviour Shatters my heart in every way possible..
She knows this but still she proceeds to shatter it.
I did spot her eyes to be watery.
Was she regretting her behaviour or she was just thinking about Tirian?
No.. She wasn't thinking about me..
She even behaved harsher to me.
She is behaving as if I am a stranger.. As if I am invisible as if.. As if she's new to me."
He cried and released the burden that he had been bearing since that morning.
He slept while weeping.
Afternoon passed on to night.
He woke up and found that it was eleven at night.
He realised that he didn't have anything.
He took an apple, a guava and grapes from the basket of his room and had them.
After resting a bit after having the fruits. He looked at the clock and it was twelve.
He left his room and went to the third floor's hallway.
He went at the left side of the hallway and unlocked the door of a room besides one member's room by his magic.
He went inside the room.
The practice room was a room built with strong bricks and floor.
It was long and wider than it's length. There was no roof of that room.
The sky was visible from the room.
He found Scott and Irene talking with each other while sitting on a bench by the side of the room.
They looked at Larrith.
Larrith advanced towards them and said, "Where's William?"
Scott said, "He's having his food. He will come very soon."
Larrith said, "Oh!"
Larrith also sat on the bench that the were sitting on.
Irene said, "Did you talk to Elaris after that?"
Larrith said, "No"
Irene said, "It will worsen the condition.. You think she doesn't love you.. But she does. She is just hurt by Tirian's loss."
Larrith said, "Maybe.. But I ain't thinking about her.."
Scott said, "Don't lie. I can see your drooping eyes. You definitely have cried for a long time."
Larrith looked down.
William entered the room by opening the door with his hands.
William said, "So are you all ready?"
Scott said, "We were ready.. It's just you weren't.."
William replied, "Ok.. It's just. Now I am back."
They all stood up.
William said, "So, should I fight with Irene?"
Scott replied, "Not at all.. You two better don't fight with each other again..
If you two both fight.. It will be the softest battle ever..".
William said, "Yes.. After all, I am a gentleman.. I would not hurt her.."
Irene said, "huh.. You are afraid of me.. I am more powerful than you.."
William said, "You think so."
Larrith and Scott laughed.
Larrith said while laughing, "Ok, end this argument."
William said, "I will fight Scott.. I have always wanted to defeat him."
Scott said, "Then let the fun begin.
I and William will fight and Irene and Larrith."
Everyone nodded.
Irene exclaimed with excitement, "So, Let's start this!"
William and Scott went to the right side of the room and Irene and Larrith went to the left side.
Larrith said, "Start!"
Irene raised her both hands.
Blue sparks were visible near her eyes again.
Two blue lightning strikes went towards Larrith. The two lightning strikes merge together before hitting Larrith. The width increased as they both merged.
Larrith crossed his both hands and an orange light blocked the lightning strike.
Irene said, "This won't work."
She withdrew her right hand while her left hand continued that lightning.
The width of the lightning decreased.
She created a lightning sphere with her right hand in a moment.
She released it towards Larrith.
Larrith saw it. The sphere hit Larrith.
Larrith withdrew his hands due to the attack and got pushed.
The lightning from her left hand also struck him.
His back hit the wall.
Meanwhile, Scott hit the ground with his right hand.
William leaped in air.
A white light came from the ground and pushed William in mid air and dragged him down to the ground.
Scott stood straight again.
The white light vanished.
William also stood again.
A magical white light bounded Scott's body, hands and legs and his neck.
A magical white armour appeared in Scott's body.
Scott smirked.
William raised his sword.
Scott created an unstable blue sphere in his right hand and ran towards William.
William couldn't spot him while Scott ran forward.
William looked around.
Scott suddenly appeared in front of him.
William raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
Scott was about to strike William with the sphere.
William raised his left hand protecting his body from the sphere.
William got pushed back.
He felt the pain in his left hand.
He swivelled his sword by his right hand and struck the sphere of Scott.
Scott used his left hand and the sphere widened into a light.
Scott moved back protecting him from William's sword by the light.
William struck continuously with his sword on the white light.
William reached near Scott.
He kicked Scott by his boots and Scott got pushed back.
William swung his sword and a powerful shockwave pushed back Scott to the wall.
Irene said, "Sorry, but I have to use this on you, Larrith.."
The sky got covered by dark clouds.
Irene levitated and green sparks of lightning could be seen around her eyes.
She raised her both eyes.
William and Scott paused for a moment.
William said, "There's no way.. She's using it on Larrith."
William shouted, "Are you kidding me, Irene? Why are you using it on Larrith.."
A powerful blue lightning fell on Larrith from the clouds in the sky for two seconds creating a huge sound.
William and Scott covered their eyes due to the brightness of the lightning.
A green barrier covered Larrith in a moment.
It absorbed all the shock.
Larrith in this moment drew the fierce red light around his waist.
The brightness decreased.
William and Scott opened their eyes..
They both shouted, "Larrith, are you all right?"
Irene felt dizzy. She came down a bit.
The brightness vanished.
A bright beam of red light came towards Irene.
Irene quickly raised both of her hands to create a sphere.
The violent red light pushed her to the wall.
The green barrier around Larrith faded.
William and Scott smiled in disbelief.
Larrith withdrew his hands.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Irene opened her eyes and looked at Larrith.
The red circular line broke itself into three pieces and started revolving around Larrith.
Larrith then swung his hands continuously towards Irene.
Continuous sparks of Red energy rushed towards her.
Irene quickly created a blue sphere that absorbed the effect of those sparks for a moment.
The blue sphere disappeared.
The continuous red sparks started attacking Irene from different directions.
She hit her head on the wall.
Larrith paused.
The red circular line vanished.
He took a deep breath.
Irene stood up and said, "Amazing strength.. I never thought.."
She stood further in pain. Her voice trembled like her hands. "I never thought that you would absorb the lightning strike.. There's no way.. You absorbed it completely without struggling. How did you do it?"
She couldn't stand properly.
William rushed towards Irene.
Scott and Larrith also went towards her.
William said, "Why did you use that lightning spell.. Did you forget about its power. It could even kill someone and did you also forget that what happened to you after using it in the old school?"
Irene replied with trembled voice, "I had to improve.. So that you don't have to catch me again in the battlefield."
Irene smiled and sat down.
William also sat down and said, "You did a great job, Larrith.. She deserves this.."
Meanwhile, Elaris on the first floor came out of her room.
She knocked on the door of Larrith. But no response came.
She said, "Is he angry on me?"
After a few seconds, the door gave out a white light.
"He isn't in his room?" said Elaris.
She then knocked on Scott's room.
The door again gave out a white light.
"Where did they go?
Whatever, They went without me.. They didn't even ask me..
It was my fault.. I.. I behaved harshly.."
"Aren't you Elaris?" said Flynn from her back.
Elaris's hands trembled.
She shook in fear.
She turned back and said, "Yes.. Why haven't you slept yet?"
Flynn said, "I was reading the book of rules.. And I heard someone knocking..
Whom are you finding?"
Elaris said, "None." And turned and went towards her room.
Flynn said, "If you are finding Scott and Irene, then.. They were talking about the practice room."
Elaris turned back.
Elaris said, "Practice room? Is Larrith also there?"
Flynn said, "Probably.. Can you show me the practice room?"
Elaris said, "Follow me."
They went upstairs.
Meanwhile, Irene stood up again and sat on the bench.
Irene said, "you have to teach me, Larrith.. How did you do that?"
Larrith said, "Protector spell that I got from a purple book from the library.."
Scott said, "You fully absorbed Irene's lightning.. That was unexpected..
We will also have to learn it.."
William said, "Now, look at your condition, Irene. Hopefully, this time you didn't faint."
Elaris opened the door.
They all looked at her.
She came inside.
Flynn also entered the room.
They stared at Elaris in disbelief.
Flynn closed the door.
Elaris shouted, "You all are practicing here at night?"
Flynn said, "According to the book of rules, one can practice at any time.."
They laughed a bit.
Elaris felt embarrassed.
Irene said, "Flynn is more intelligent than you.."
Elaris fumed and exclaimed, "Intelligence? How can you compare our intelligences?
I was the smartest in our batch in school..
Even Larrith used to be second in written exams."
Flynn stared at Larrith, "I thought you were the best, Larrith."
Elaris's voice softened. "He's the best.. But not in terms of intelligence.. In magic."
Scott, William and Irene raised their eyebrows.
Larrith's eyes widened.
Scott asked Elaris, "Wait, did you come here to insult Larrith or defend him?"
Elaris responded, "Neither.. I want to talk to him alone. Could you please come with me Larrith?"
Irene said, "Not needed. We are going outside.. You both talk."
Irene stood up. William held her hands to support her.
William, Scott, Irene and Flynn then went outside the room.
Flynn then went back to his room in the first floor.
Larrith's face turned red. He was looking around pretending that she wasn't there.
Meanwhile, outside Irene said, "We can't hear them. So unfortunate!"
Scott said, "There is a way but that would break their privacy."
Irene said, "To be honest.. I don't care about their privacy anymore.. I want to know of she finally accepts him.. And I know that eve if she accepts him. Neither of them will tell us.. Just use your magic, Scott. What do you think, William?"
William said, "I can't agree with you.. I think we should respect their space.. But yes.. You are correct that they won't tell us.. Come one.. Use your magic, Scott. It's their fault that that they won't reveal their words. It's not our fault that we are seeing. It's their fault that just because the won't reveal, we have to hear them"
Irene said, "Wow, what a terrible excuse to justify this sin!"
Scott created a magical yellow sphere and struck the door with the sphere.
The sphere widened and faded as if the door absorbed the light.
They could hear them talking after this magical spell.
Elaris's voice softened. "I.. I am sorry.. I didn't mean to behave like that.. It's like.. You know.. How much I loved Tirian.. I was struck by his death."
She began crying. She sat on the bench.
Larrith got confused. He hesitated and finally sat on the same bench.
He looked around and touched her hands.
His voice cracked. "Don't worry. Don't cry Elaris.."
Elaris brushed her tears with her hand.
She looked at Larrith with drooping eyes. "I realised that have been ignoring you a lot today. I didn't mean to do it.. I just wasn't it a good mood. I am sorry for my cold behaviour."
She gently kept her head on Larrith's shoulders. "Now, I only want to focus on Elise. I want to avenge her.."
She held Larrith's hands and said, "Why aren't you talking? Are you upset?"
Larrith said, "I am sorry but you shattered my heart into infinite pieces.. I ain't in a mood to talk to you.. And yes.. I will definitely help you to avenge Elise.. She's our enemy."
Elaris said, "Please forgive me.."
Larrith brushed her untied black hair from her face.
He looked at her eyes and she looked back.
The softness of her eyes soothed his broken heart.
She said, "Please apologise me.. I just wanted you to forgive my harsh behaviour.
I want to maintain our sweet friendship till Elise's defeat"
Outside, Irene said, "Friendship? Is she joking right now?"
William and Scott stayed silent.
Elaris stood up and went towards the exit door.
Larrith asked, "And after her defeat?"
Elaris said while walking, "Let's see where it goes" in a neutral tone.
Scott said, "She's coming."
Scott raised his hand and touched the door.
The light came back to his hand.
Scott, William and Irene then stepper aside and pretended to be talking.
Elaris opened the door and went back to her room.
They entered the practice room again and found Larrith sitting on the bench silently.