I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the familiar white ceiling and a warm thing cupping my left hand. I moved a bit and pushed myself to sit up without waking him. And I succeeded. Confirmed, I am in the Academy hospital.
What happened to me is still vivid in my mind and it still scares me until now, fearing that the same might happen not to me but the others, especially Damaris and her family. However, nothing will happen if I let that nightmare control my mind and go crazy. I have to develop new effective plans and execute actions for the better and to avoid what has to avoid.
But then, as I gazed at Crimson who still sleeps soundly, I forgot about all the fears I have even just for a short span. I miss him. I miss him so much. I know it's hard to believe but he's the one I miss the most. I miss my Crimson.
I no longer restrained myself and faced him to caress his soft, black hair. A few strokes I did, he shook his head and let out a whine. I guess they do Blake it to him. He wouldn't act like this if no one pranked him.
“Do it more and I'll punch you.”
So I did it again. Crimson can't punch nor hurt me physically, I know that. He’s totally whipped up and raised his head with an angry yet sleepy face. But then, as I smiled at him, his eyes widened, now completely frozen. I stroked his hair and squeezed his hand a bit. “I miss you.”
“B-Baby...”
“I said I miss you.” He started trembling and stood up, and began checking on me. “Hey, your face looks messed up. I said I miss you.”
“Baby...” Crimson cupped my cheeks with his trembling hands and his eyes pooled with tears. “B-Baby girl...” I touched his left cheek and nodded, making him burst into tears and hug me tightly. “My baby girl ...”
I don't know if I will laugh at his reaction or cry because I can feel how he feels now. But then, I felt relieved. I'm back here in Demetria, in Schiz Academy, in Crimson's cradle.
I rubbed and patted his back, comforting him. “Shh, stop it. I don't want you to cry anymore. You look so ugly.” He chuckled yet continued crying. “Hey, I said stop crying. I didn't die, so please stop.”
Crimson took a deep inhale and sat beside me. As I turned to him, I laughed at his face. His eyes are swelling, and his ears are both reddish. He looks like a child who cried after seeing his broken toy train. I smiled as I started wiping his tears falling yet I felt guilt, sadness, and pain. “Please stop. I don't want to see you crying.”
He bit his lower lip and hugged me again. “Why do you have to sacrifice yourself to dethrone Hades? Why do you have to act like you betrayed us all? Why did you leave me alone, waiting for you to return here alive and unwounded?”
By that, my tears began streaming down too. Hearing those questions from Crimson, made me feel guilty for all of these sh*ts. It wasn't only my Mom, my friends, and my relatives that I abandoned, but he as well. And yes, I want to blame myself for all of this. But even if I do that, nothing will change. The Enchanted War will still occur.
“I'm sorry.” Crimson faced me and shook his head as he cupped my face. He was about to speak but I went ahead of him. “I-I thought everything's going to be as what I planned. But I was wrong, entirely wrong. I'm sorry, Crimson. Please forgive me. I'm really sorry, baby.”
His eyes widened up again and with arrowed brows, he spoke, “W-What do you mean...”
This is the right time for this. Fully aware of what will happen in the next few days, everything will be under no one's control and we must prepare for the unexpected and worst scenarios. During my stay in Dreich as well, I thought of Crimson — well, I always think about him. And yes, I think this is now my time to return all the love he gave to me. By giving him yes.
“Let us be together forever?” Though sounds like my answer, I still want to hear his response. “Can we?”
“D-Does that mean—“
“Yes, baby. Let's be official, for eternity.” His charming smile plastered on his face as he burst into tears again and hugged me. “You're crying again. Honestly, I don't know if you're mad at me, sad, or happy.”
Crimson faced me again and caressed my cheeks. “Why would I get mad at you?”
“Because...uh...I got into this situation? Or maybe because I made you feel like I betrayed you?”
“No, baby, I won't get mad. I understand. Yes, I'm disgusted because what you did was so reckless but it's already a past, we can't change it,” he said, staring into my eyes. “If there is one person that I should be mad at, it is Headmaster Hades. He made you suffer like this because of his selfish actions. Okay?”
I nodded. He has a point, nothing can be changed no matter what we do because that is the past. I only have the ability to change the future, not the past. “Okay.”
“And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saying yes.” I smiled at him. “Starting today, we will be together for eternity, no matter what will happen. Pinky promise?” I laughed as he showed his pinky finger and smiled like a child. “What?”
I intertwined my pinky to him and spoke. “You know, whoever breaks the promise must cut his pinky finger as a consequence.” As I glanced at him, he is completely frozen again. “Hey!”
His brows furrowed. “Are you serious about that?”
“Yup! Even if you ask Mommy.” Then I stared intently at him. “Wait. Don't tell me—“
“Breaking promises isn’t my surname.” Oh, thank you. “Do you want to eat something for breakfast?”
“Anything as long as there's a steak.”
Crimson chuckled and nodded. “Sure. I'll get some food in the dining hall first.”
“Thank you. Get your breakfast too.”
“Yes,” he responded and patted my head before leaving.
Of course. what? I have never been asked how long I have slept. I don't have any more sores so clear skin that I'm back from the face to feet so maybe I've been here for a long time. There is also the possibility that I self-healed or someone healed me.
The door opened and it wasn't Crimson who entered but Lia. But she's wearing a maroon cloak with gold appliques. “Lia...” I don't know why but I suddenly felt strange at her.
She smiled and sat in front of me. “Just as I thought. You’re already awake.” How? “Do you have any idea how long you've been asleep?”
“Before that, I want to ask you something.”
Lia removed her cloak and held my hands. “Remember when you asked me what do I know way back before in Training Chamber?” I nodded. “You were right. What you suspected is exactly correct.”
Flashback...
“What is it?”
“How old are you?”
“It isn't my birthday yet so I'm seventeen.”
“Really? If you are already seventeen, then how come you were the one that saved Mom, Tita Calla, and Tito Carob from inside the South Woods? Can't believe it? Now tell me, Lia, what do you know?”
End of the flashback...
So that's what she is talking about. “Then who are you? If my suspicion way back before was right, then who really are you?”
“Dametreil Schiz.” My eyes widened as I heard her name. “I am Dametreil Schiz, mother of Geminid Schiz, founder of the Empire of Demetria, and the caretaker of the younger generation of the Schiz family.”
Is she serious? She's a Schiz? And what's more surprising is, she's my great-grandmother!
“It was true that I left my position as the Director-General of the Union five years before the first Enchanted War happened. To avoid the war, I went to Enchantrie and used a spell that only the Schiz family can learn about. I lived there as Medea, the only winged witch living in Enchantrie. I worked there and studied at the University of Enchantrie to pretend I could master my witchcraft skills. After I studied, I went here to Demetria and lived alone outside Thalia.
“One day, on my way home from Central Market, I heard the cries of Calla, Carob, and Amber. I knew what was going on in South Woods so I immediately took care of them and raised them as my children. When he became vice governess Amber, headmistress Calla, and vice-principal Carob, I decided to leave and change my appearance again. Because Lilly Edwards was pregnant at the time, I joined the child in her womb and there I lived as Lia Edwards.”
“But why?”
“Because I am the caretaker of the younger generation of the Schiz family,” she repeated. “It's my job.”
This woman in front of me…is really Dametreil Schiz.
I bowed my head to her and heard her chuckle. “Raise your head.” So, I did and she cupped my left cheek. “I don't want you to bow at me. I want people to bow at you.”
I was about to speak but the door opened, and Crimson went here...unbothered. Lia—Dametreil informed him or maybe them so it's not surprising. “I didn't know that you were here.”
“It's okay. I already ate breakfast.” Crimson only nodded and sat on his chair. “Ahrina, I'm sorry for hiding this from you and I hope you'll forgive me. I'll leave now, I still have things to do. Of course, after 5 PM, there will be a General Assembly at the Grand Event Academy Hall and you're required to come.”
I nodded at her and smiled. “I'll attend. And yeah, I forgave you already.”
“Thank you. Please still call me Lia. Drop any formalities and let's still treat each other as friends.”
“Sure, Lia.”
She bid goodbye to us and left the room. Crimson put a bed table in front of me and put all the food on it. I was about to take the spoon but he took it first and scooped up some rice. “I can feed myself.”
“I know.” But he will still insist to feed me.
After I chewed on what was in my mouth, that's when I asked him. “How long have I been sleeping?”
“A month.” I almost vomited so Crimson immediately gave me water. “You okay?”
I nodded and placed the glass on the table. “I'm okay. I was just surprised.” I've been sleeping here for a month. Goodness. “Did anything happen while I was asleep?”
He paused for a very long time, probably thinking too deep. Crimson answered, “Yes, there were.”
“But you don't want me to know about some of those for a reason?” Crimson eyed me. “I based on your reaction, baby. But please, I want to know everything that happened.”
“Why do you always want to know everything?” he asked, smiling a bit.
I shrugged. “Curiosity? My natural thirst for knowledge and awareness? Don't know why exactly. I just...want to know everything.”
Crimson paused a bit and smiled. He shot me first and then spoke. “An issue happened to Lia, but I won't tell you because it wasn't my story to tell, and I don't know all the details. Sadly, the same happened to you while you were asleep.”
An issue happened involving me? “You were being called as a traitor to the people and to Demetria about joining forces with the Dreich for the Enchanted War. By that, a mass filing happened three days after we all saw you. Rebellion, treachery, and dismissal of public trust are the cases filed against you, and all have the same penalty.”
“Death.” He nodded.
So, people really thought that I betrayed them. Demetrians thought I betrayed Demetria. They really thought that I will join Dreich and not my land. And those thoughts of them about me made them file a case against me. Dimwits.
“And what happened to my cases?”
“Upon hearing Dametreil Schiz's and Sorceress Halina's statements, Royal Family of Demetria announced those cases null and void. You were not guilty and fortunately, as well, you weren't sentenced to three counts of the death penalty.”
That's really good. Are three counts of the death penalty the punishment in those three laws?
I smiled at him. “I am really fortunate.” After he kissed me, he stared at me and smiled. "What?”
"You're fortunate?"
“Hmm,” I responded, nodding. “Am I not lucky? I have all the useful connections in this world and probably in the whole universe. I have my friends who are all dorks but loving and trustworthy. I have my family who keeps supporting me. I have my relatives who guide me as well. And I have...you who promised to love me forever.” A smile grew on his lips and averted his gaze as soon as I saw his reddish cheeks. I burst into laughter, mocking his reaction.
He cleared his throat and finally faced me. “Don't make me kiss you on those soft, pink lips.”
“What the h*ll?” I immediately covered my lips. “Even if you kiss me, I'll have my first kiss.” Crimson glared at me, making me smirk. “You want to know who?”
After glaring, he scooped a bit of rice and shook his head. “No. I may wreck that guy's face.”
After we ate breakfast—yes, the two of us because he shared my food, he came out again to return to the dining hall what we ate. And after a while, the door opened. I would have shouted to make Crimson even angrier but it was Thoreau who went here. “Thoreau baby!”
He burst into laughter and closed the door. “If Freesia hears that, I'm afraid that you might be in a coma again.”
“Matter of course! It’s already expected that you two are together now.” Thoreau chuckled as he sat in front of me. “Have you already kissed her on the lips?” Her eyes widened and she shook a few times. “You three are really cousins. You're too lazy to make moves. Kiss Freesia on the lips right away without grabbing her.”
He smiled. “I'll reserve kissing a diamond for our wedding.”
“Gosh! It's not you anymore. Alas, I'll still tell you to go and reproduce.” I laughed even harder when he blushed suddenly. “You really are cousins.”
“Anyways, are you feeling okay now?”
“Yes, Thoreau baby. I'm fine now.”
Thoreau frowned a bit. “What's wrong with you, Tantan? You called me that twice.”
I smirked as he got the point. “It's like that, Thoreau baby. Since Crimson was annoyed this morning and was a little jealous, I decided to annoy him even more and—“
He cut my statement. “I'm out of that. Bye.”
“All right, I'll tell Freesia that you laughed at the group of girls today.”
I prevented my laughter to burst out as I saw him gulp in fear. “What are you going to do?” Obviously, he is scared of Freesia.
“Pretend that you’re my first kiss.”
“What!”
“Pretend that you’re my first kiss.”
He took a deep inhale and shook his head. “Look, Tantan. I can do you any favor—“
“—That's why I'm asking you—“
“—But not this. We all know what Crimson can do especially when he is burning in rage. He can destroy a country.”
“Then let's make him angry on the day of the Enchanted War so he can—“
“You're absolutely insane, Tantan. Just go and sleep again. You might be conscious.” I rolled my eyes at him. “I'm serious about that 'sleep again', Tantan. I'm afraid to tell you this but you have to act like the Mystic Princess for tonight and give the Schizians a blessing.”
My brows furrowed, confused about what he said. “Blessing? What blessing?”
But he only shrugged. “I don’t know the details.” So, I stared into his eyes, attempting to force him to spit out every information he knows. “I'm really serious, Tantan. That's all I know.”
“You’re useless.”
“Wow. Thank you for the compliment.”
“Welcome.” I laughed as he took a deep breath. “Thank you for visiting me, Thoreau baby—“
“Stop calling me that.”
“Okay. What about Thoreau honey—“
“Stop your endearments.”
“All right, Thoreau dude.” He glared at me. “It’s perfectly okay! Or you prefer sweetheart, darling, honeybunch, babe—“
“Do you have a crush on me?”
“Yuck!” I immediately reacted. “So gross! Excuse me, I’m already in a relationship with your cousin. And I'm not a two-timer like you!”
“I'm not a two-timer either.”
“Oh, really? As far as I know, you were my first suitor, the first to crush, the first to like, then my first kiss—“
The door suddenly opened, and it revealed Crimson who looks bored. Thoreau coughed out loud and threw me a sideway glare. He stood up and cleared his throat as he faced Crimson. “Bro, good thing you're there. Tantan keeps bugging me so I can't leave—“
“What's with the explanation?” I burst into laughter and covered my mouth as Thoreau glared at me again. “I'm not asking for an explanation, and I don't need one either.”
Thoreau, who didn't consent to my nonsense, looks stupid now in front of Crimson. Hey, I thought you were sane. You are also hiding your stupidity.
“Nothing. All right I'm leaving.”
After Thoreau left, Crimson approached me and threw a glance at the door. “What happened to that guy?” I only shrugged, making him glare at me. “I will really kiss you.”
“Then kiss me. I'll hide what happened even more in exchange for your passionate kiss which is a bit meaningless because you're not my first kiss.”
“Ahrina.” I just shrugged and grinned.
As afternoon approached, I changed my clothes and prepared for what I was going to do tonight. I only wore a purple double-breasted blazer dress and black platform boots. He said it's just casual but those with formality look so this is what I'm wearing.
The door opened and Lia went here, holding the crown that was given to me when I was announced as the successor of Dreich. “Schiz and your friends are waiting at the Grand Event Hall.” I took the crown from her and put it on. When I looked in the mirror, she smiled and adjusted it. “Maybe you’re probably feeling awkward towards me now because I'm older than you yet I still want you to call me Lia.”
“Because our age gap is too wide and I'm not used to casually calling someone three or more years older than me.”
She just smiled and patted my shoulder. “Just call me Lia. I'm leaving, by the way.” I faced her with confusion layered on my face. “I was guilty of negligence of duty as the Director-General of Union of Magic. The court proceedings happened two weeks ago. They gave me consideration for me to partake in this Enchanted War for the last time before my resignation takes effect.”
I don't know if I'll be surprised or sad. She deserves that position. But...I do not know. “Then what will you do after this war?”
Lia shook her head. “My body will die 48 hours after the spell is extracted from my veins. And I want you to do that.” Now, I am literally in shock. “The spell will be transferred to you as you remove it from me. Amber has enough spell in her, so it is you who needs the spell in order for you to fulfill your duties.”
“W-Who will be the next Director-General then?”
“Amberleigh.” I smiled. “I will announce Amberleigh as my inheritor of the throne. The board and executives all agreed so it is already final. Also, Amber will have the Schiz as her surname, and you…will become Torren.” I don't know why but my cheeks burned. “I am giving my blessing to both of you. I hope you both will live an everlasting life and strengthen your love for each other as you both get older.”
“It's like you're saying goodbye, Lia.” She chuckled and hugged me. “You're annoying. Why are you being so dramatic?”
“Nothing. You're cute when you cry.” Lia laughed as I slapped her back jokingly. Then she faced me and laid the pendant on my cloth softly. “Let’s go? Everybody's waiting for us.”
As we arrived at the Grand Event Hall, the two butlers bowed and opened the door. All the people inside looked at us, some are shocked as they saw me back and alive. I'm even wearing the crown of the country's foe in this war.
I smiled at Lia as she faced me. We both sat at the row of thrones placed on the stage, with Mom sitting on my right side. The MC spoke, “All rise and bow for the Schiz family.” Everyone rose from their seats and bowed formally. Lia glanced at the MC and nodded. “On this day, a General Assembly will happen in talks about the upcoming Enchanted War along with the renowned Schiz family, the Mystic Princess, and the Headmistress and Headmaster of Schiz Academy. As a start, may we call on Headmistress Calla Mildred for the starting deliberation?”
I think it was already night when I was called for final deliberation. “Ahrina Tantiana Schiz, the successor of Aurora, crowned heiress of Dreich, the second divine type mage, next caretaker of Sacred Gem, and the Mystic Princess.” Students looked at each other and hesitantly applauded.
I only smiled and stood in front of the mic. “Good evening to the Schizian community. I will make my final deliberation short for us all to save time. I didn't betray my own country, Demetria. From my partaking in Wielders of Charms to being the crowned inheritor, all part of my plan was to attack the Dreich from inside.
“However, I underestimated Headmaster Hades and the Societas de Malae Tenebrae, so the incident happened to me that almost caused me to die. But then, what matters the most is I already know their plans and possible revisions to those. Another General Assembly for tomorrow will happen so I will disclose everything tomorrow about the Schiz Academy joining in the Enchanted War.”
I faced Mom and Lia and they both nodded. “Again, I am Ahrina Tantiana Schiz. I would like to thank all of you for listening and I hope you will cooperate with us as well as the front liners tomorrow.” I bowed to them and they all applauded.
After the deliberation, Mom, Lia, and I stood up again to give blessings to everyone in the Grand Event Hall. Lia went first, giving everyone the Compass of Geminid. It tells us the location of our enemies. Then I gave them all the Dametreil's Shield for their additional physical and magic defense.
I faced Mom and gave her the ability to levitate. The dome roof of the Grand Event Hall opened for us to go above and create a protective dome for all of the infrastructures and another larger one that extends to the borders to prevent any casualties in the neighboring countries.
We stayed here in the air and faced the bright moon. “This mess will finally be over,” Lia stated.
“Congratulations, my daughter and thank you, Grandma Dametreil.”
I laughed, mocking Lia. “Grandma Dametreil.” She hit my nape, causing us three to laugh.
Yeah, this mess will finally end. The game will be over. And I will be the one to kill Headmaster Hades, the mastermind of this useless game, using my very own hands.