Chapter 6-8: The Howling Winds

Yu visibly flinched. He quickly regained his composure, but Ren had already seen it. It struck fear into his heart. What had that man done that could cause Yu to react like this?

"Yu?" He insisted. He needed those answers.

"He ruined a life," The battlemage softly spoke. He turned to face Ren and gently pushed the strands of hair obscuring his face aside. "There are some things that are forbidden for a reason. Please don't ask me more about this." His expression showed sadness and even some pain.

Ren hesitated. He didn't want to let go of the subject. "Why not?"

Yu sighed. "Ren, please." He shook his head. "It not a subject to be taken lightly."

Ren clenched his fists. "Nothing in my life is something I can take lightly. Yu, does what happened have anything to do with me?"

A smile flashed across Yu's face. "I will tell you, but only if you learn to use your mana, properly."

"What?" Ren flinched. "But you know I can't!"

"If you want to learn what happened five years ago, prove to me that you can overcome the challenges you face." Yu's cold, harsh expression sent shivers down Ren's spine. He hesitated.

"I don't even know where to begin." He said with a deep breath. "Yu, I don't even know if it's possible."

The First smiled and shuffled the young man's hair. "Of course it is."

Ren hesitated, then suddenly turned back, and glanced at the academy. He could sense mana. Some people were approaching the courtyard. He immediately recognised Serana's mana, as well as Lena's.

"Looks like it's time for me to go." Yu's soft words sounded.

"No, Yu, wait." He grabbed Yu's arm. "I still have things I need to ask." The battlemage smiled and hugged him. "Focus on yourself, Ren. Focus on becoming who you want to become. Don't let anything hold you back." He shuffled his hair and stepped back. "I won't be around for a while; an expedition will take place in a few days. We'll talk again when I'm back."

"What?" Ren whispered. "An expedition to where?"

Yu smiled. "I'll tell you all about it when I come back. Take care of yourself, Ren."

Ren took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll hold you to that promise." He said with a forced smile. Yu chuckled and nodded. "Of course you will." He glanced towards the academy. "I'll be off."

He disappeared in a cloud of mist. Ren smiled; Yu was as powerful as always. He hadn't even gotten the chance to see the battlemage's mana before he cast the teleportation spell.

He would have liked some time alone, so he could think and sort out his thoughts, but he could sense Serana and Lena's mana approaching. When he glanced at the woods between the courtyard and the academy, he saw the red hue of Serana's mana as the group stepped out of the woods.

Serana and Lena were, of course, there. And with them walked Alicia. Ren flinched, what was she doing with them?

As soon as they stepped onto the weathered stones, Ren felt Serana's hostile gaze. Alicia didn't seem to notice anything as she was having a conversation with a confused and blushing Lena.

Serana left the two at the centre of the courtyard and approached Ren. "What are you doing here?" Her words were cold as ice as her mana flared up. Ren stepped back to stay away from the heat her mana emitted.

"Nothing," He coldly replied and glanced at Alicia. What was she doing with Serena and Lena? And why was her quarterstaff with her? With a low sigh, he brushed past Serana and approached Alicia and Lena. As he did that, he could feel the young noble's hateful glare on his back. He couldn't ask her what he wanted to, with Lena and the annoying Tesfel here, but he had to at least greet Alicia.

As he approached them, Lena suddenly turned towards him. "Oh, Ren." She mumbled. "Let me introduce you," She scrambled. "This-"

"No need," Ren cut her off, then placed his hand on his heart. "My respects to The Fourth." He said with a deep bow. It felt weird to talk to her like this, after being such good friends for years. Still, she was here in her capacity as the Fourth, not as his friend who loved to mess with him.

"Oh, so you do know her." Serana's voice sounded as she also approached them. "Alicia, this is-"

"Get up you idiot." Alicia said as she grabbed Ren's shoulders and forced him to stand straight. "Since when do you bow to me?" She said with a grin. She was the same girl who'd fight him in the inner keep and lose because she'd refuse to use her mana.

Ren's lips formed a genuine smile as he replied. "Since you came here as the Fourth. How do you expect me to know how to act?"

"Wait, what?" Serana's confused voice sounded. "Alicia, do you know him?" Her cold and composed demeanour had disappeared.

"Of course," Alicia said with a grin. "Oh, Ren. Serana is my little sister. I didn't think you guys would know each other, since you're in different classes."

Ren flinched. "Your sister?" He hadn't known Alicia was a Tesfel since she'd always refused to reveal her last name. "I see, you do look alike." He forced a smile. Hesitant, he decided to say no more. He didn't want to cause Alicia any trouble, forcing her to pick a side right now would be nothing but cruel and utterly meaningless.

"Hey, Ren." She suddenly said as she grasped the shaft of her quarterstaff. "How 'bout a duel?" Her eyes shone with excitement as the words left her mouth. Ren flinched. "What, now?"

"Alicia, you don't have to-" Serana started to speak, but Alicia interrupted her. "I was so bored these last few weeks because everyone else in the inner keep is so busy. Come on, Ren. Just a single fight, no magic, winner buys everyone cake." She grinned and spun her quarterstaff around her wrist.

"I don't know if he can afford that, sis." Serana said as a wicked grin started to form on her face. Ren clenched his fist, hidden beneath the cloth of his cloak. She had started to get on his nerves.

"Sure, let's do it."