Maple High School Academy Year 3
The Fire of Eternity - Fire Friend

The Fire Friend

CYRUS STOOD ALONE in front of the gate, not knowing what to do. Claryn and Ayaka have conspired, stealing Leena's jewelry with the help of gas paralysis, then escaping into the crowd. Surprisingly, the girl chased after despite not knowing where her friends were going.

Cyrus leaned against the tree trunk while looking at the soon-to-be dark sky. The man opened his palm upwards, unleashing a blaze that slowly began to form a new form. An unknown creature, just a fireball with a pair of tiny hands and a tail extending downward like a ghost. There was one thing lacking from this creature, his face looked extremely moody.

“Ignis, did you hear me?” call Cyrus. One of the things that sets it apart from other creations, a name.

The fire creature replied, “Yes, I heard.”

“Wait, why do you look sad?”

“A-What do you mean? I'm fine.” Ignis smiled forcefully.

Cyrus narrowed her eyes, slightly suspicious. “This is not the first time, you used to be like this when you came to Fyreville until finally I also felt the same.”

“Sama?”

“Torture screams, screams of someone from within the abyss, and cries. What the fuck? Why is it as if I heard all that when there is nothing?”

Ignis created his own leg and then perched on Cyrus' shoulder. “Do not ask me, I am just a creature whose brain content is not much different from you.”

The man closed his eyes, trying to calm himself for a moment. However, suddenly a bottle of cold water stuck to his cheek, leaving him aghast. This was Claryn again. The team returned with bags of groceries, which meant Leena's jewelry had been sold. The Elf girl looked ordinary, even she ate bread from selling her jewelry casually.

Ayaka reached into the bag and gave Cyrus two oddly shaped loaves of bread. There was not much they bought, only eight pieces of bread that tasted good plus two bottles of pumpkin-shaped drinking water.

“Leena, it's okay, ‘kan?” claryn asked, making sure the girl was completely sincere.

“It's okay. I just remembered that the ring is something I hate.”

“Why is that?”

“I don't want to tell you, it's a matchmaking problem.”

Ayaka chokes, shocked by Leena's words. They were already very familiar, but he did not know that his friend turned out to have a fiancee. “Leena, story—”

“No need! The most important thing is we will continue or rest?” cut Cyrus and eat bread. Ayaka also immediately puffed her cheeks because she was upset.

“Isn't it too risky to travel nights?” ask Claryn. He was worried that the events in the Forest of Echoes would repeat themselves.

The white-haired man nodded. “It is even riskier if we do not immediately destroy this mirror fragment.”

 The sun was setting, the lights from the gate were shining on the four teenagers under the tree. They were still thinking, not even giving an answer to Cyrus' simple question. But he does not want to force, if they do not want it will not be done.

Ayaka walked up to him then said, “We're afraid of the dark, ja—”

“Faster is better, but not in a hurry too. Do you know where the place with the strongest element is?” cut Claryn. Their goals were the same, but he wanted a better reason to rest.

“Strength? Why did you just say?”

“Not yet, huh? We need a region in Fyreville with perfect strength so that the mirror fragments can be destroyed. Your magic alone will not be enough.”

“I know you underestimated me, but it's okay. I know where it is, not too far from here.”

Instantly, the faces of his three comrades limped. No more hours of rest, the journey will continue. Cyrus also created two fire birds as their lighting. The reason he always chose birds was because they could fly so as not to burn the grass that was passed. The man had just wanted to step up, but suddenly Ayaka pulled on his robe. He asked, “About how far?”

Cyrus looked up, thinking of an answer that could make the team agree to move on. Maybe a little lie won't be a problem. “Five kilometers, not too far, ‘kan?”

“We walk?”

“How safe from the guard is indeed bergitu, because all the animals we have are glowing and very conspicuous.”

“Then they?”

Cyrus raised his hand, two fire creatures returned to his body, making the surroundings darker. “Sorry, I guess you guys are afraid of dark.”

“Tu-wait, give them back!”

 The team finally set off, guided by two street-lighting firebirds. The three girls believed in Cyrus's talk about the distance of the mirror destruction location so they were more excited. They wanted to quickly complete the mission and return to the future. Although not yet know whether Well of Time can be used again or not. Aside from being a lighting, the fire bird was actually a way for Cyrus to get away from the team. The man walked in the back while watching his friends. He still felt responsible for their safety even though from the beginning there was no coercion at all to travel the night.

“Hey, how are you?” whispered a small fire creature from within his body.

“Thank you.” Ignis came out, his gaze immediately fixed on the three beautiful girls who were walking in front. He had been curious about them for a long time, but had no chance to ask. “Who are they?”

“You mean those three guys? They're a team at once load my mind.”

“Poor answer. Which one are you close to?”

Cyrus frowned, confused by the question. “I'm close to you.”

“Wow, don't be! I mean, don't you want to find a daughter-in-law for Callista? Remember mom's message!”

The man clucked. “What are you possessed of? No—”

“Cyrus, who are you talking to?” shout Leena. Maybe because Elf ears are wider, so can hear. Ignis clings to Cyrus' hand, disguising himself as a regular fire.

“Other times you have to clean your ears!” elak the man.

There were no longer countless distances they traveled, from straight trips to twisting so many ravines. Only this time it was different, the girl who was usually chatty suddenly became quiet. Leena patted him on the shoulder slowly to make sure that Ayaka was okay. However, her response was so unexpected, the girl suddenly collapsed. It was fortunate that Cyrus was behind so that he could instantly catch her. Knowing the journey could not continue, Cyrus lowered the firebird to the ground, forming a bonfire for the night.

Claryn took off the robe, folded it, then made it a pillow. He lay down and asked, “What is the name of the place?”

“Our destination? Crimson Forest, unpleasant place,” Cyrus replied. As usual, he did not stare at the interlocutor, but rather at the bonfire.

“After we smash that mirror fragment, roughly what will happen?” leena asked as she stroked the hair of the girl sleeping on the lap.

“The world will be safe. At least that's what I believe,” replied the team leader.

“Too suspicious. Why is a mission as important as this left to students who are clearly just entering their first year at the academy?”

The Fallen Angel girl laughed. “You better not doubt Mr.'s decision. Navarre. Never mind, don't stay up! Rest for a while, tomorrow we continue the morning-again.”

 The rooster had not yet crowed, but the four teenagers were already awake. They do not want to waste time, hours of rest must be paid for with hard work. In addition, the team also concluded that dawn is quieter than night, so it will be easier for them to move. Claryn called Mr. CR and Cyrus created fire birds, they were ready to chase time.

Ayaka rubbed her eyes after being woken by Leena. His brain was still slow, he had even forgotten that he had previously traveled at night. “Why is it this hour?”

“Conscious, young man, this is our last day in the past!” said the Fallen Angel girl excitedly.

Not getting up, Leena finally carried him up on a giant firefly. Claryn looked amusedly, this was not the first time she thought that the two of them were in a perverse relationship.

Cyrus created a small fire bird, making the team start having a bad feeling. “Goodbye!” The man darted, leaving behind three friends who were still treading the ground.

Claryn cleared her throat, looking towards the abandoned fire bird. “No problem, later we teach him a lesson.” He also flapped his wings followed by his contract animal, then flew catch up.

The team went through a path a bit away from the settlement so as not to attract attention. Although most people have not woken up at that hour, they do not want to take risks. The sky was still dark, the light only came from the dim rays of the moon as well as the eternal sparkle of fire emanating from the abyss, making them look like shooting stars.

Claryn slightly moved away from the light of the firefly so that her figure was not too clear. On the other hand, Cyrus who was leading had already seen the forest ahead there. A personal destination, the Crimson Forest. As the name suggests, the trees in the forest have dark red stems. However, because it was still dawn so it looked darker.

The man wanted to enter immediately, but because there was a flash of torch from the guards who were going around, he had to wait for his friends. Not long after, they finally arrived at the stop. Not only the team and fireflies, a Fallen Angel slap also landed on Cyrus' cheek.

The man shouted, “What the fuck are you?”

“My hands are itchy.”

“Definitely sick,” added Leena.

“Serah, we will pass the guard and enter the forest. Follow me!” decreed Cyrus. He suddenly ran, making the little girl's mind not stanima tormented.

“Do not worry!” Claryn reached out to Ayaka and took her flying. This time the girl was really like an angel.

The four teenagers ran towards the right side of the forest. Leena created a shadow of a firefly along with herself, then they all flew towards the left. At first he hesitated, but it turned out to be a success to get the guards hooked so the team did not have to spin too far. Finally, they managed to set foot on the red grass.

Claryn took off the softlens, wanted to show you something. “Cyrus, to crush—”

“Go!”

“What do you mean?”

Cyrus' body was replaced by a fire. However, this time it was more scary. He did not seem to want to deactivate his talent or destroy the mirror fragments, so the team began to panic. In the foreshadowing, the light of fire can be seen clearly, even from the outside. That means the guards will catch them.

“Go! This is not the place.”