Chapter 23
1236 Words
Ray Flaming’s POV
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
She startled.
“Reading,” she said flatly. “That’s what people do in libraries. I thought I already explained that to you yesterday.”
“I know what people do in libraries,” he replied. “The question is what are you doing here? I was waiting for you in the Astronomical Tower.”
“I never said I would come.”
“You still owe me gratitude for not letting you starve yesterday.”
“Yes. You are right. Thank you,” she said with a small smile.
“That’s it?”
“What else do you want?”
A pause.
“Your kiss, for example.”
He leaned in.
But she only raised an eyebrow.
“You kiss everyone who brings you food?”
“No.”
“Then why should I kiss you?”
“Does that mean you don’t want me to kiss you?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it,” Ariel said.
And her answer was…
Her answer was intriguing. It was neither a yes nor a no, which meant he still had space to play with her. But how was he supposed to handle the fact that this burning desire to fuse their lips into a passionate kiss was consuming him?
“Then think about it,” he said, leaning closer, already anticipating the moment their lips would meet. “I wouldn’t advise refusing something when you don’t even know what you might lose.”
But she stopped him halfway.
“No. That’s not a good idea, R.F.”
For the first time, he was rejected. And not just rejected, but by the one he desired more than anyone else he had ever met.
“What?” he asked, genuinely surprised.
“Don’t waste your time on me, Ray Flaming. I am not one of the girls you are used to. You don’t interest me. I have priorities far more important than your passionate kisses. And you should have better priorities too, if you truly want to become the Supreme Dragon. Don’t underestimate your rival. Go read something instead, while you came to the library.”
She smiled at him and immediately turned back to her book.
A strange feeling settled inside him.
On one hand, he had just been rejected for the first time in his life. On the other… she was right again.
He had forgotten why he had come to the library.
And forgetting his goal was not like him.
He took several books about the House of Air from Sector Three and sat in a chair opposite her in Sector Six. He watched her intently until she finally lifted her beautiful blue eyes to him.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Reading. Isn’t that what you told me to do?”
“Why here? Isn’t there another free place in the library?”
“There is. But I like it here.”
“If you like it, then fine,” she replied calmly, and returned to her book.
For nearly an hour, they read in silence.
Then she stood up and walked deeper into Sector Six, muttering something under her breath.
Ray couldn’t stay still. He followed her.
Ariel had hidden herself between the bookshelves. He watched from a distance.
And what he saw almost amused him.
She was trying to use magic, but clearly failing.
“Damn it,” she muttered after several attempts. “No way this is possible. Everyone can do it… but not me?”
“They have amplifiers,” Ray said.
She almost jumped in surprise.
“What are you doing here? Are you following me? Go read!”
“Yes,” he replied calmly. “I am following you. And I must admit it’s quite entertaining.”
“You were trying to recreate an element physically, weren’t you? Without success. Why don’t you use an amplifier?”
“An amplifier?” she repeated uncertainly.
He smiled.
“What, the niece of Triton doesn’t have one? Magicians give them to their children in the cradle.”
“I have one or I don’t, it’s none of your business.”
“Relax. Some magicians don’t need amplifiers at all. They can control magical and energetic flows without them. Watch.”
He stepped closer and raised his hand.
Flames appeared out of nowhere.
Inside the fire, a silhouette of a girl danced, performing elegant, impossible movements as if the flame itself had turned into music.
Ariel watched, captivated.
Then the fire vanished.
“You see? It’s all about thought. You must feel the flow. You have to be in it,” he said with a confident smile.
“You don’t use an amplifier either?” she asked skeptically.
“No. I have one, but I don’t need it anymore. If you want, I’ll give it to you.”
“Give it to me?” she frowned. “Why would you give me something like that?”
“Because I don’t need it. And you might.”
“No strings attached?”
“Take it or not, it's up to you.”
She studied him for a moment.
“Fine. If there’s really no catch, I’ll accept. But only if you truly don’t need it.”
Ray smiled. He felt like a winner.
“I’ll give it to you at the party, darling.”
“At the party?” she repeated. “There was one two days ago!”
“There are parties every day. Didn’t you know?”
“No. Is this an academy or an entertainment center?” she muttered.
“It’s exhausting, I agree,” he said, stepping closer. “But that’s how it works here. The priority of the academy is to build alliances between the Houses of Fire, Water, and Earth. Close alliances.”
He leaned in slightly.
“Not surprising that Professor Willard has to repeat exams so many times. It’s a waste of time. What’s even the point of studying here?”
“Because the weak and uneducated are easier to control, Ariel.”
“That’s something only a weak person would say,” she shot back. “Strength lies in unity. You can only share happiness with those who understand you. And you can only grow among the best.”
She looked at him sharply.
“Not surprising that reaching the mental plane is so difficult with thinking like yours.”
“Oh, so you’re actually smart and brave,” he murmured. “And yet they call you the pathetic niece of Aquaris.”
“For the pathetic, everyone else is pathetic,” she snapped. “And I don’t care what anyone says.”
Her stomach growled loudly.
Ray smiled.
“If you don’t eat properly, you won’t have enough energy for magic. Don’t underestimate nutrition. Dinner is in half an hour. Go eat. I would love to join you, but I still have things to do. See you at nine at the party. I’ll bring your amplifier, darling.”
“Thank you. I’ll definitely come. I really appreciate your help,” Ariel replied.
They left the library together, but went in different directions.
Ray stopped for a moment and watched her leave.
He had never felt anything like this before.
He wanted her.
But even more than that…
He wanted her to want him too.
- Writer
