The morning light beam through the window and shone on Amethia's face. She then turned her body towards the right to avoid it. The light shone wider, forcing her to wake up. She went to the bathroom to change and there was a man washing his face. At that time, Amethia's mind was hazy. Still sleepy, she went forward with her arm facing up front and pat the back of the man. Suddenly, the man turned his head to reveal a ghost with his hair covered all over his face. Amethia was so shocked she yelped and went a few feet back, towards the door. The man then pushes his hair back up, revealing his face to her.
"Huh? Oh, It's you ,Miss Amethia,"
The man was none other than Will Beuratt. He has a long bushy hair that reaches till his neck.
"W-wha-You scared me! Geez! You really need a haircut,"
"My apology, I do not plan to have a hair cut,"
Will then soaked his hair in the sink again and use a towel to dry it up.
"Good grief,"
Amethia turned back and bumped into another person. She fell down onto the ground and rubbed her forehead.
"Geez! Watch where you're going!"
Amethia tilt her head up to find herself face to face against Raye Winston. He wore a black long sleeve turtleneck which kind of reveal his muscles.
"I'm sorry, Miss Amethia, here,"
Raye reaches out his hand. Amethia's eyes gaze look sideways and reaches to grab his hand. Will finished drying his hair as he rest the towel around his neck to see Amethia still on the ground looking sideways.
"Oh?"
Will snickered at Amethia which made her beet red. Raye was puzzled on why Amethia still hasn't grab onto his hand. Amethia quickly got up and pushes Will and Raye out of the bathroom and shut the door.
"Get out!"
Raye still is puzzled as Will snickered and walked off. After a while, Amethia went down as she tied her hair up. The Everlight and her family was already waiting for her.
"Good morning Miss Amethia, I'm sorry that I shock you earlier,"
"I-it's alright, I'm fine,"
She sat down and had bread for breakfast.
"Let's visit the city square after this,"
"Fine by me, I need to get a gem anyway,"
Al sighed about the gem he failed to steal back in the mine.
"Do you want to come, Miss Amethia?"
Amethia choked on her bread and drank a cup of water. She then agreed to go with them.
"Sorry Tara, this time you will have to stay back and take care of ma again,"
"Alright,"
Tara seems unusually happy today. On usual day, she would be mad at her sister for going out and leaving the work to her. While her mother is sick, she would read the same book over and over to entertain herself. But today, she got plan with the shadow sage himself.
"I will be staying too, wouldn't be safe if no one got to protect them,"
"Tara's fine by herself, she done this many times,"
"It's more safer if I stay,"
Raye and Al look surprised for Will would stroll around the city multiple times to cure his boredom.
"Fine then, take care,"
Raye, Al and Amethia left the house, leaving Will, Tara and the sick mother at home.
"Big bro, let's start now!"
Will looked out the window, making sure that they are far away only to start teaching Tara magic. Will turned his back and noticed Tara holding a book.
"What's that book about?"
"Magic, Big sis gave it to me since she isn't using it anymore,"
Tara passed the book to Will and he flipped a few page. He then closed the book and asked Tara a question.
"Tara, how much do you know about magic?"
"Not much, I know big sis is able to cast it out of a staff, I guess we would need one to learn,"
Will formed shadow on his hand and it turned into his staff.
"Here, you can borrow mine,"
Tara grabbed Will's staff and spun around in glee.
"Alright, let's do something basic, try casting a fire spell,"
Will showed the page to Tara and she held the staff tightly.
"El Flamme!"
Nothing happened. She tried a few times but failed.
"Maybe the staff isn't what you need right now, you still can cast without a staff, try focussing by channeling your mana to your palm, a spark of flame means you successfully did it,"
Tara in full of hope place her hand together and closed her eyes. She focus hard and but there were no result.
"You need to imagine it appearing, try imagining the flame,"
Tara tried again. Silence filled the room at that moment. Will looked at her, hoping that she is able to do so. Suddenly, a tiny spark of fire burst above Tara's hand. She has a big grin on her face as Will cheered for her.
"Congrats, now try making a bigger flame, same thing, imagine the spell you want to cast and focus on channeling your mana to your hand,"
Meanwhile, Raye, Al and Amethia arrived at the city square. Bird chirping can be heard up high. It is 10 in the morning and it is already bustling in the city square. Chatters can be heard all around as Al left the others to enters a shop full of gems. Raye and Amethia continued walking down the streets. Back in the gem shop, Al look around and was fascinated at one of a gem. It is a large amethyst and it glows brightly by absorbing light and keeping it inside and glow in dark. Al requested that the amethyst to be taken out so he could have a closer look.
"Sorry, may I have a closer look at this?"
A woman working there took it out and placed it on a tray with a soft surface. Al took a closer look to be interrupted by a man standing beside him.
"Quite the good eyes you have,"
Al looks toward his right and saw a man crossing his arms, also looking at the gem. He is dressed in dark blue robe with a brooch of Hiden's signature crested onto the side at the chest, same as Aether Lupen, the Perfect Mage. He has a dark blonde hair and beard. His body size is builded but not to jacked.
"Pardon my sudden speech, that gem yer lookin is real good, ya know, May I pick this up and look?"
The man took the gem and used a scope for gems that he took out from his pocket. He then showed an amazed expression as he placed the gem onto the tray.
"My my, this gem is truly extraordinary, one of a kind I say, the mana innate this gem is powerful, must've been that it doesn't release mana regularly and over time, the mana grew more and more and it stored up in this gem,"
He then let out a hearty laugh which revealed a golden tooth at the lower teeth located at where his latter right incisor would be.* Al was in surprised and took another look at that gem.
"I haven't give ya my name have I? The name is Folio Ike Zortberg, or ya may know I as the Gem Mage, an Esperia from Hiden,"
Al stared at that man for a while just to take a few feet back.
"Don't be shy, ya making me shy too!"
Al looked at that man from toe to head. His eyes widen and never thought the Gem Mage to be this kind of man.
"Is this guy really the Gem Mage?"
As thought flooded into Al's mind, that man, or Folio, snapped his fingers at Al to bring him back to reality.
"Hello? Hellooo?"
"Wha-uh nice to meet you, I'm Al Sevis,"
"Al Sevis...ain't that the name of the priest in that party that took down the warlock Enceladus Lauren?"
"That's me,"
"Gee, Never thought that I meet you!"
"Same goes to you, Crazy that I met two Esperia in a month..."
"Two Esperia? I supposed ya met the Perfect Mage Aether Lupen ain't it?"
He let out another hearty laugh which made Al let out an awkward laugh.
"Are ya gon buy it?"
Folio's sudden question made Al startled which he agreed instantly.
"Oh ye,"
"The price is a bit costly,"
"Don't worry, I got enough cash,"
Al paid for the gem and he attached it onto his mini staff. Al exited the shop to found an injured man lying on the ground. A crowd gathered around him as Al and the Gem Mage take a look.
"What happened?"
"A thief stabbed him multiple times on the side and now he's bleeding real bad,"
Al asked a man among the crowd.
"Well, I supposed tis time for ya to put that gem to the test, don't ya think?"
Al looked at the Gem Mage and stepped forward. he raised his mini staff and casted a healing spell on the injured man.
"In the name of the Goddess of remedy and mercy that I shall be blessed upon your power to heal this man, Heal!"
The gem glowed in radiant purple as the injured man started healing. Instead of taking time like usual, the injury was healed in an instance. The man stood up and moved around. He then was shocked and hugged Al and thanked him. Everyone started cheering as Al awkwardly patted the man's back.
"Seems like that gem sure is well, now then, I will take my leave, see yer,"
The Gem Mage left the crowd as Al watches him leaves.
On the other side, Raye and Amethia were walking down the streets. Amethia then stopped to look at a jewelry store. A pendant of emerald gleamed beautifully which attracts the attention of Amethia.
"Let's go in to take a look shall we?"
Amethia and Raye entered the store and looked around. There were many pendant and hand accessories inside the store. But the one that Amethia admired the most was this pendant of sapphire that was kept inside a glass jar.
"You liked that don't you?"
Raye stood beside Amethia, also admiring that pendant.
"Ye, it look great,"
Raye looked at Amethia's face and saw a beautiful side of hers. Her face was gleaming as the gem that surround the store.
Raye walked to the counter and bought the pendant for Amethia.
"Wait, you don't have to do this,"
"But I want to, here,"
Raye helped Amethia wore the pendant. He then took a few step back to admire her.
"That pendant really look like your eyes,"
Amethia turn beet red upon hearing Raye's words. Her eyes then also glimmer, shining as if they were like a sapphire. Raye's eyes widened but he hid it with a smile. All of a sudden, a person holding a bag dashed through the street from a distance. Scream could be heard from afar which leads Raye to walked up front in the middle of the streets and rest his hand on the handle of the sword.
"Move aside bastard!"
As the thief took out a dagger, dashing at Raye. By the time he reach, Raye dodge the dagger and uses the pommel of his sword to hit the thief by drawing out half of his sword from its sheath. The thief dropped down on the ground and yelped in pain. People quickly folded him down as Raye kicked that thief's dagger away. Raye held Amethia's hand and ran towards where the scream was first heard. When they arrived, the victim was already fully recovered and Al walked forward to Raye and Amethia.
"I noticed that you got yourself a new gem,"
"Ye, some guy recommended me this,"
Al decided not to tell that he had met the Gem Mage earlier. Al looked behind Raye to see Amethia looking down. Her right hand grabbed onto her chest as she was holding onto something.
"Let's call it a day shall we?"
Raye suggested to everyone and they agreed.
*latter right incisor of Folio perspective