Chapter 7-6: Shining Stars

"Ren?" Princess Iris insisted. He snapped out of it and shook his head.

"No, everything's fine. Don't get too close to that flower, it hosts wildmagic." He replied.

Princess Iris hesitated, then carefully walked around the flower. With a deep breath, Ren followed her.

"You seem pale." She said after a short moment. "Are you sure you're ok? If you sensed something just now, Aon would want to know about it."

Ren nodded. "Wildmagic is much more different than I expected." He said with a thoughtful expression. "But also, very similar to our own mana." He glanced at the princess' pale blue mana, then at the night sky.

"We don't have much time." Princess Iris said, following his gaze with hers. "We need to be back in the city before dawn."

The rest of their walk passed in silence. The burning pain in his chest was enough to keep Ren preoccupied. He constantly glanced at his own mana, enveloping him. He didn't feel the resistance he usually did. It wasn't trying to consume everything around him.

Soon, the western gate came into view. It was just as large a structure as the northern gate they first passed through. Ren quickly masked his mana. As it seeped back into his body, he didn't feel the usual resistance at all.

As they approached, the layered gates slowly opened, and a group of soldiers and wizards greeted them with sour expressions.

"Your Highness," The commander said with a bow before gesturing them to enter. They were once again stopped in the area between the first and second gates. "Standard protocol." The commander explained as the wizard released his mana. It was a pale green. It had no smell, no warmth, nothing. "He will check your mana pool to see if it has been diluted."

Ren felt his body tense up. These people weren't approved by the council. They couldn't know about the situation with his mana. He watched, nervously, as the wizard's green mana touched the Princess' forehead.

It reminded him of the night he was summoned by the council, though what they did was much, much more invasive than this simple process. A few seconds passed, then the green mana moved away. "You may pass, your highness."

Princess Iris nodded and passed through the partially open gates. "You may also pass." The commander stepped up and stopped the wizard. "Please extend our thanks to the Seventh."

Ren flinched. So, they were notified to treat him as an exception. He was grateful to Battlemage Auria for her consideration, though she likely did it on the council's orders.

"Of course," He replied before following Princess Iris through the second set of gates. As they finally left the structure, they noticed a familiar face waiting for them not too far away.

"Instructor Warthorn," The princess said with a simple bow. Ren immediately placed his hand on his heart and bowed. "My respects to the tenth."

"Good job, to the both of you." Battlemage Warthorn said with an almost proud smile. "You can stand, Ren." He glanced at the gate. "We're going back to the academy."

"Sir," Ren chimed in as they walked back. "I need to contact the Council."

Warthorn flinched and slowed his steps. "Why?" He asked with a harsh tone.

Ren lowered his gaze. "I have something to report." He could feel Battlemage Warthorn's glare on him. He instinctively touched the mark on his chest. The pain was gone, but he still clearly remembered it.

"I see." Warthorn's unsatisfied voice sounded. "Very well, I'll send word." He glanced at the princess. "Unless you wish to contact Prince Aon personally?" He asked.

"No, do as you wish." She said calmly. She glanced at Ren, then looked away. "Shall we?" She asked after a short moment.

They arrived at the academy shortly before dawn. "Go back to your dorms and rest until sundown." Battlemage Warthorn said with a sigh.

"What is it that you need to report?" Princess Iris asked after Battlemage Warthorn left. Ren hesitated, then touched his chest.

"I felt something… unusual." He said quietly. "Prince Aon will wish to know about it, as well as the rest of the council."

"Does it have to do with wildmagic?" She asked before slowly heading to the dormitory. Ren nodded. "I'm assuming so."

As they reached the dormitory, Princess Iris hesitated and glanced at the main building. "I need to take care of something." She said after a short while. "Go ahead without me." She headed to the main building before he could reply. He watched her back for a few seconds, then went inside the dormitory.

The sun hadn't risen yet. Everyone was still asleep. He was thankful for it as it meant he could take a bath properly. He quickly climbed the stairs, got a change of clothes, and headed to the dorm's bath.

After taking off his uniform, stepped into the hot water. He could feel his tense muscles relax as he submerged himself. Only when we closed his eyes and let himself relax a little did he notice how exhausted he was.

Sure, they hadn't really done anything other than walking around, but simply being constantly wary of their surroundings was exhausting enough. He raised his hand and sensed the flow of mana within his body. It was the first time in his life that he had any resemblance of control on it. For the first time, it didn't try to consume him.

"I wonder…" He mumbled before sighing and shaking his head. He submerged his head and just listened to the muffled sound of water. He only pushed his head out of the water after his lungs started to burn. He felt strangely comforted by having all that warm water around him.

He got out of the water after a while had passed and washed himself with soap. Once he was clean, he used a towel to dry his hair a little and changed into more comfortable robes. His mind filled with the night's events, he headed up the stairs to his room.

Before anything, he needed a few hours of sleep. Without bothering with drying his hair, he lay on his bed and closed his eyes. His mind was filled with the vivid memories of the night sky and mana filled flower.