Maple High School Academy Year 3
The Fire of Eternity - Remote Area

Remote Area

There was the sound of animals running from the red forest. Cyrus absorbed all the fires he caused, making his body even bigger.

“What do you mean not the place? Then why did we come here? Answer me!” shouted Claryn. However, the man ignored. There was another purpose that made him come to the Crimson Forest, but he did not tell any story. “Leena, how's your shadow?”

The elf beside him was closed, moving the vision on one of the shadows. He saw a guard stop chasing and turned towards the light in the middle of the forest. Just one, he had no idea what was happening on the other side, but one guard was already bad for them. “There are coming.”

Cyrus created five fire apes, then told them to burn down the trees in the Crimson Forest. Claryn cannot remain silent, if the man is deaf, then the only way is through the senses. He created a disc of light and threw it. The object whipped through Cyrus' fire body and left a large hole.

The man with the black sclera turned his head, pointed his hand at the team, then took out a large fireball. “Soaring!”

Claryn turned around, flapping her shield wings to protect herself and her companions. However, Cyrus was not aiming at them, but rather the trees that started to move behind. One of the most dangerous inhabitants of the Crimson Forest was the trees themselves. When the tree moves, the surface of the trunk will form a terrible face and their eyeballs also appear to glow in the dark. The trees would capture the humans and turn them into trees. Aside from being dangerous, there was another reason that made Cyrus want to burn them all.

“It's enough!” Ignis came out of Cyrus' body. The creature flew while stretching out its hands then sucked all the flames around, including the fire ape.

The man was shocked, not believing what he saw. Cyrus could have created living things, but not thoughts and feelings. All this time he thought that Ignis was a clone of himself and would always be in line. But now the creature is trying to stop him.

“What does this mean?”

“Get up, Cyrus! As long as it's inside your body, I can tell what you're thinking. I know why you want to burn this place down. The story that you believe is not true, if true you will not be able to bring it to life again.”

“You know what? Wait, who are you?”

“I'll tell you later. Now, you guys have to get out! You once said your three friends were a burden, but you were actually their burden.”

Cyrus looked towards the three girls who were sheltering behind the shield wings. The reason they didn't want to leave, must be because they were afraid something might happen to him. Either it was in the caring sense or because he was the only person who could destroy the mirror splinters. Eventually, the man returned to his original form.

“They came,” said the Elf girl about the guards. He created three shadows, preparing to flee.

Ignis also grew, making the forest that had dimmed back light. “Quick go! Hand the Warlocks to me!”

Claryn pulled the Wizard's hand without the talent, then ran towards the north, while the three shadows went in opposite directions. Some of the trees that tried to capture them were successfully burned by Ignis. The team is not sure the fire creature can hold the guards, but at least it can reduce suspicion that the fire was caused by humans.

The exit was already right in front of the eyes, but suddenly a tree pulled up Ayaka's robe, making her body come up. The girl held a scream, not wanting them to be caught by the guards.

“Please? Why is there more?” ask Leena.

“All trees here live.” Cyrus took off Claryn's hand. The man does not like magic and does not want to be called a Wizard, but this time he looks like he wants to use his grimoire to save Ayaka.

The Elf girl who saw the face of compulsion was immediately banned. He braced a knife with Vemanor's family's strengthening magic and gave it to Cyrus. “No need magic, use street man!”

“Thank you.” Cyrus received the knife and ran towards the living tree that caught Ayaka, then slashed the twig. Although it was not enough, at least he was responsible for the mistake of having brought the team into the cursed forest.

Ayaka who managed to be free immediately ran to hug Leena. However, this was not over yet, the trees around continued to move closer to them. Cyrus tried to cut the tree branches again, but could not. The strengthening effect on the blade only activated a few seconds after it detached from the Elf's hand.

Claryn flapping her wings. “We don't need to fight, just run!”

“You first!” sahut Cyrus.

The girl smiled, patted her shoulder slowly, then said, “Not to be strong-witted, your talent is off, ‘kan? Mending you first!”

“Serah.” Cyrus returned Leena's knife and ran out of the forest.

 After avoiding the myriad trees, the team finally managed to get out. The three girls ran towards the lake on the edge of the forest, washing their faces for a bit before continuing on. Unlike them, Cyrus actually keeps a distance on the puddle, from a distance alone is nauseous, let alone close. There were leaves from the Crimson Forest as well floating on the edge, making him even more fed up. The white-haired man obviously would not be able to cross the waters anymore. However, it seemed like the team leader did not give any waivers.

Cyrus rode a giant firefly with her eyes closed, not caring if they laughed at her.

The team flew quickly through the lake. Not to be kind to Cyrus, but to stay away from the Crimson Forest and the guards. Although only a glance, it appears that the lake is very deep. Because the land of Fyreville was high, so it was only natural. They arrived on land, greeted by sunlight that began to radiate from the east. The man ran away from the lake, looking for a place to breathe. Until now he did not think too, why there could be a lake on the hills.

Suddenly a girl patted him on the shoulder from behind violently. Of course he will be questioned after the incident. “What did that mean?” ask Chairman.

Cyrus breathed. “I'm sorry.”

“Sorry is not enough. You've made us hangers.” Claryn raised her hand, the man was no stranger to it.

Cyrus put on a flat face while stroking her cheeks. He realized that what was done was outrageous and might make the team's trust in him disappear. Even so, he was still their only hope, no matter how great the mistake made. Finally after a long time, the man felt that his name was needed by people other than his mother. He felt so stupid to disappoint them.

“We'll lan—”

Leena clucked. “Where else?” The Elf girl seemed to have been unable to bear Cyrus' perverted direction.

“Friends, look!” yelled Ayaka, pointing towards the settlement not far from the lake. So small, they do not even realize that there is a settlement there.

“We'll be there for a while, find breakfast.” Claryn flapped her wings and flew away from the team. Because the giant fireflies have not disappeared, they boarded it and chased after the Fallen Angel girl.

The team arrived at a settlement consisting of nine houses. Not only small, the place is also not maintained like an abandoned village. Moreover, as far as they walked there was not a single person who had appeared. Most of the houses there are still made of wood and have not been terraced. Wild vines also decorate the walls of housing that is already fragile. Even so, the residents still stopped by without wanting to clean it up.

The teenagers came to a shop owned by one of the residents. The building is one of the most well-preserved, probably because the owner earns more than the others. In times of no importance like this, of course one of their friends will disappear again to find a quiet place.

Cyrus sat leaning against the wall of the wooden house while ruffling her hair. He was still stressed and curious about Ignis' speech in the Crimson Forest. He did not believe that this creature was his creation. The reason is clear, Ignis was created long before Cyrus was able to control talent, even intelligent beings themselves which is the reason why he can create fire creatures now.

“A long time?” asked Ignis who suddenly appeared before Cyrus.

Cyrus blinked, making sure that what he saw was real. “You remember my previous question? Just answer now!”

“Sorry, am I interrupting?” Ayaka suddenly sat down next to the cold man and gave him a sandwich.

Without further ado, Cyrus accepted and went back to Ignis. “Continue!”

The fire creature glanced towards the girl who was enjoying the food. Because he had already been seen before, so there was no need to hide himself anymore. “I replied. First, I am not your creature. Your level is too low to create a great creature like a—”

“No need to mix innuendo in answer!” cut Cyrus.

“Sorry. I'm actually a fire monster from Fyreville.”

The man was a little surprised, but this was not the answer he wanted. “You said earlier, that I won't be able to bring her back to life. You're talking about my dad, do you know anything?”

“I don't know when, maybe this coincides with my birth. I met a man who fell into the abyss of eternal fire. I don't know exactly what the details are, why the guy got there, but he admits his name is Axel Ferront.”

“You mean, my father died in the ravine, not in Crimson Forest?”

Ignis. “This is really strange, I myself can not believe. Starting from him falling, surviving even for a while, and talking to aliens like me. It's vague, but I remember clearly that the man told me to go to Cryoville and meet his son, you.”

Cyrus was silent with no expression, her eyes started to glaze over and it seemed like they were about to drip out. Ayaka who was aware of it also immediately packed the food and left, giving time to herself.

I can't believe this creature. However, I don't know anything anymore.

“Wah, it looks like I have a guest. We meet again, Cyrus Incense,” said someone who suddenly came. The voice sounded familiar, but who was the man who knew his name in the past?