The scene unfolding in front of Emery had indeed given him a little surprise. He knew Julian had always been an affectionate person, but he had never seen the two of them like this before.
On the other hand, the girl seemed to notice Emery's stare at them. She walked toward him with a smile on her face.
"Emery, it's been a while. How is your training? Did you manage to heal her?"
Emery, who was too busy trying to process the two's earlier interaction, was startled by her sudden questions. He just didn't expect her to approach him so calmly after what he had done to her.
"It's... alright... My training has been somehow acceptable… As for Morgana, Unfortunately no. She is still in the same condition."
Klea seemed to nod in understanding when she heard his words.
"Ahhh, that's too bad. Though, don't worry too much Emery." Klea said in a light tone. "I'm sure you will eventually find a way to help her recover."
"What are you two talking about?" asked Julian, interrupting.
Klea quickly turned her body around, facing Julian who was interested in their small talk.
"Nothing!" She cheerfully said. "We're just catching up"
She then put her hand on Julian's shoulder and said, "There's only a few hours left. All those flying make my skin dirty and dry, so let me borrow your renowned Roman bath... please"
Emery's eyebrow subconsciously raised when he saw Klea's action. Usually, such casual action wouldn't warrant any attention from him. But remembering their earlier interaction, he couldn't help but feel something that made things amiss.
"Of course, you're free to do so. My home is your home." A grin was seen on Julian's face as he said that.
Emery was glad Klea didn't seem to change how she acted toward him, despite how he treated her during their last encounter. Even so, the ambiguous situation going on between the two of them certainly made him a little anxious.
However, Emery understood he couldn't confront her about what was going on because of obvious reasons. He could only stare at Klea's back with a complicated gaze, as her alluring figure confidently walked away.
Emery turned his head to the side and saw Julian did the same action as him. The two boys then realized both of them were staring at her. In response, Julian smiled widely.
"What an amazing woman she is. Don't you agree with me, Emery?"
Emery nodded, and Julian went on about how amazing she was and how Klea had been helping him the last few months.
Julian spoke on how Klea and her insight had helped him in the complicated and vicious political sphere of the Roman Republic.
Her council had allowed him to have the position he wanted long ago, a Legatus and consul of Rome.
Once again, he assured Emery that him being the Legatus stationed in Britain was the best solution for both sides. He could be the eyes and ears for Britain, sharing the latter about Rome's intentions and Emery could help him keep the peace with Britain.
In addition, the assignment he was tasked with would give him the perfect alibi and cover to be gone for one year, while keeping those councils who were jealous with him being the youngest to be quiet thinking he was suffering from this exile.
All were Klea brilliant ideas.
Then, the always confident Julian suddenly stopped his chattering. Emery noticed he seemed to be hesitating with what he was about to say.
"What is it?" asked Emery.
Julian's pondering look lasted for a few more seconds, before he finally seemed to make up his mind.
"Alright... I guess as brothers we should always be honest and frank with each other."
"Of course." Emery responded with a nod. "Just tell me about it."
Julian was seen taking a deep breath, as if he was about to ask something monumental.
"It's about Klea." He said in a serious tone. "I heard from her that you are now just friends. Is this true?"
The question Julian threw at him actually doesn't bode well with him, but he still tried to maintain his calm. Instead of winding up the explanation, he decided to answer the question as concisely as possible.
"Yes. It's true."
Julian then stared at him even more seriously as he said, "I'll be honest with you, Emery. I have grown to like her more than a friend and I hope you wouldn't mind me chasing after her."
Emery was silent as he heard Julian's words. He couldn't, or rather, didn't know how to respond. Before he could say anything though, the Roman continued on speaking.
"I need your answer, Emery. Will you give her away to me?"
The word Julian used instantly made Emery give his answer "No!" which evidently startled the Roman.
Naturally, he also noticed the abnormality of his response. Therefore, he quickly tried to fix his mistake. "What I mean is... I can't do that. She's not to be given away as she isn't mine to begin with. She is her own person. If she decides to like you, then I will... support you…"
The answer Emery gave him somehow caused the Roman to feel unsatisfied. He then said.
"May the best man win then… ain't it Brother?"
Emery seemed to have something more to say about this when they were both suddenly distracted by the symbols on their hand that were currently glowing.
[One hour left until recall]
"Alright! This is exciting!" Julian suddenly said, before he excused himself to prepare the stuff he wanted to bring.
Unlike Emery who owned a spatial storage, Julian could only bring whatever was on his body to the academy.
As for their earlier issue, it seemed both individuals had tacitly agreed to talk about it at a later time.
When the Roman left him alone in the balcony, Emery realized his heart was unknowingly beating faster. The question Julian had asked made him reconsider how he felt about Klea. He couldn't help but wonder if he had made the stupidest mistake of his life.
In the end, Emery only exhaled a deep sigh. He came today to help settle the issue between Britain and Rome, only to end up with a more concerning matter of Klea and Julian.
Emery quickly tried to regain his bearings, as he knew this was not the time to dwell on this. He needed to focus himself on the academy and its growth, because he understood the obstacles would only increase from this point on. Otherwise, he and his friends might not return to Earth alive.
At the last few minutes before the recall spell took effect, Emery saw his two friends come to the balcony where he was.
"All ready?!" said Klea, who seemed to be in a better mood.
Emery who saw this couldn't help but be puzzled. But he quickly threw the matter into the back of his mind, guessing her behavior might have been caused by the renowned Roman bath. He as well as Julian who saw her antics revealed a smile, as they nodded their heads readily.
As if that was the cue, the notification they had been waiting for finally appeared, their body slowly turned into light and vanished.
[You have been recalled to the magus academy]
-----------
Unbeknownst to Emery, a situation was happening between Klea and Julian half an hour before they were recalled.
Julian made his way toward the Roman bathing area, where a half naked girl could be seen enjoying herself.
"This bathhouse was probably the greatest invention Romans ever made..." the young girl said. "This pleasant sensation all over my body really makes me happy."
The Roman approached close and sat next to the girl as he said, "I did everything as you asked."
Hearing that, the young girl quickly became elated.
"Already?! That's quick!" Klea commented, amazement was apparent in her voice. "So, how did he react?"
Julian then proceeded to tell Klea everything Emery said, every word and pronunciation down to their last detail, as well as the latter's reaction when he said he wanted to chase her.
"Are you happy now?"
It seemed Julian's question was unnecessary, as he could clearly see Klea was pleased by what he told her.
"Yes... of course I am! He deserved it!" Klea said." That guy needs to learn that he can't keep me hanging!"
After a few small curses, the girl said, "Thank you Julian… as promised to those favors I give you, you will have to keep doing this throughout our year in the academy... Agreed?"
Julian stared at the young girl and stood up. "Yes, as promised…" the Roman nodded his head and walked away with many thoughts in his mind.
-------------
Through the somber veil casted by the night sky, the moon could still be seen to its fullest.
Unknown to Emery and all of his friends, on the dark side of the moon there existed a construct: multiple buildings could be seen around what appeared to be a complex as large as a city. The place, however, was completely sealed in silence without much signs of life being seen within it.
Two unknown figures could be seen inside one of the complex's centermost buildings: a male and female dressed in golden robes with shimmering patterns. They both were looking at a human-sized tube, where a body could be seen floating inside.
[Body reconstruction is completed]
A sound came out from the tube and the female in light brown hair said in response.
"Remove the liquid and open the tube."
Following her instruction, the green fluorescent liquid inside the tube that submerged the body was slowly being drained. Some time later, the tube was void of the liquid and the body of the man inside it opened his eyes.
All of a sudden, seemingly enraged, the man screamed loudly.
"ARRGGHHHH!! THAT BOY!! I-I'LL KILL HIM!!"
Seeing the fiery behavior, the female figure shouted no less loudly than the man in the tube. "Calm down, you fool! Your body is still not completely ready!"
This quickly made the previously screamed man silent.
The male figure who stood next to the female then said, "Welcome back to the land of the living, little brother."
The screaming man relatively calmed down at the male's words. He took several deep breaths, as he tried to pacify the raging emotions within him.
"Brother!! My body!! This is… aarrgghh, so weak!!"
"That is the best quality I could find with such short notice." said the male figure calmly. "You yourself knew this world is simply too far from the others."
The man who was still inside the tube seemed to have finally regained his emotions, as he looked at the female and said, "Thank you Sister Hera. I owe you one this time!"
The female figure who called Hera scoffed at the man's words. "Huh! You owe too much to ever repay me, Hades!"
Hearing such rebuke made Hades irritated again. However, he didn't dare to lash out in fear of damaging his new body.
Hades turned to another figure and spoke in a tone, as if he had suffered a lifetime of injustice, "Brother, why did you let them go?! I discovered a mysterious energy and I'm sure that boy knows exactly what it is!"
"Brother, if only you were not as eccentric, then I might still be able to help you. But no! You just have the need to show off, don't you?! Thousands of undead? Really!? No wonder that sword awoke from its slumber!"
Hades showed an expression of regret upon hearing his brother's reprimand. But then, he still tried to convince his brother. "Brother Zeus, I know I was wrong... But… I'm telling you this mysterious energy… I'm sure it will be worth the trouble!"
"Just forget about it!" Zeus said sharply. "The family head has already sent word not to pursue the matter any longer. If you insist and get caught, then I can't help you anymore!"
Upon hearing that, Hades showed a surprise look. "Huh?! The main branch was also involved?" He then sneered. "Who would have known a boy from a lower realm could have such a high connection!" Hades tries to keep his rage inside.
Seeing this, Zeus lay his hand on his brother's shoulder and said "Don't worry brother, I am telling you that you will have your revenge soon".
Surprise colored Hades' face again. "Is it almost time, brother?" He spoke those words with such joy that one would wonder if he was the same person who acted violently earlier.
Laughter reverberated throughout the building as Hades loudly spoke.
"Finally!! With this over, we can get away from caretaking this boring planet!"
------------
On Earth, just a few days after Emery and the others' were recalled back to the magus academy, in a particular spot inside a forest.
A certain pond within a magical shrine was glowing brighter than usual.
Countless motes of light appeared in front of the pond, forming the figure of a woman. She noticed the changes that had occurred to the body that had been lying in the pond for more than nine months.
The girl in the pond seemed to finally take a deep breath for the first time since all these months and the first thing she did after that was mutter a few words.
"Emery…"
"Emery… I am fine already…"
"Emery… don't go…"
It took around an hour before the girl finally opened her eyes. Realizing where she was, she quickly stood up and got out of the pond. Her attention was immediately drawn to the glowing figure standing at the edge of the pond - someone she was familiar with.
"High Priestess…" said the girl weakly. "W-where is he..?"
…
The girl didn't get the answer she wanted. Hence after giving her gratitude to the lady of the lake and Gaia, she left the shrine.
Exiting the shrine, the girl was immediately welcomed by four individuals - her sisters. The four sisters quickly surrounded her from all sides before giving a heart-warming hug. Then, they told her everything that had happened. Listening to it only added more pain to her already empty heart.
"Where is he?" She asked again, in hope of hearing the answer she wanted.
Unfortunately, nobody seemed to know the answer to this question.
In the end, the girl decided to go to the one place where the boy always went while he was training. When she arrived at the strange stone formation above the hill, she immediately screamed as loud as she could, releasing the pain in her heart.
"Emery!!!..."
Her voice seemingly echoed to the far distance, but there was no reply - nothing of what she wanted.
She shouted once more unwilling to give up until she got an answer.
"I was wrong… please… come back…"
This time however, a different voice answered her. A deep heavy one that was not from a human.
The voice said, "I can sense Khaos Energy within you girl. Come inside."
***
End of Volume 3