Chapter 13: Whispers, Rumors! / Lunch!

“You realize people are whispering about what you just called him, right?” Liz asked

“I’m planning on announcing it, if I need to. If anyone asks me out, I’ll just tell them the truth. I’m dating my brother. It’s pretty simple.” Lime said

“Lime….. We may be, err.. somewhat understanding about you and your brothers relationship, but that doesn’t mean everyone will be.” Liz said

“Yeah, isn’t dating, marrying, or loving a family member illegal and taboo, normally?” Gram asked

“I agree. Publicizing it may not be a very good idea. People will think that you two are weird. And not the good kind of weird.” Suika said

“To be honest, I also still have concerns about what limes going to do, but they’re going to put two and two together eventually. I don’t think it really matters whether we try to hide it or not.” Evan said

“Now that you mention it… yeah, it would be kinda hard to hide you two having feelings for each other, considering the way you act all the time.” Liz said

“How on earth is the fact that you're dating your brother simple?!” Gram yelled, frustrated with having to think

“Gram. Everyone heard that.” Liz said

“Oh. Oops. Should I tell them I was lying or something?” Gram asked

“No! Just… leave it. You might make it worse. It’s going to spread regardless, but I don’t want you to make things worse. I’m just hoping that they don’t ask lime anything. You may not realize it, but this is serious. They’re already whispering about it. Lime, you do realize how big of an issue this is, right? You couldn’t have just done something like wait until you guys were alone?” Liz asked

“Liz, even I gotta say, isn’t something like that virtually impossible for these two? You remember what happened that one time, right?” Gram asked

“I wish I could forget. You have a very good point. Yeah, separating these two could get someone killed, or lime could die. I’ve been through them being separated when it’s next to Evan. I really don’t want to remember that ever again.” Liz said, shuddering visibly

“Again, it wasn’t something I wanted to happen, either. I got sent some bad news, and I’d already been in a bad mood.” Evan said, frowning

“Still, that aura… that feeling. Even the nearby mana turned red, like mist. A bloody mist. You had already been bursting with killing intent before the letter. Even that killing intent alone could traumatize somebody. I’m glad I left the room. My dad still refuses to tell me what happened after I left. Honestly, I don’t think I want to know, either. All I’ve learned is that lime will get hurt if Evan isn’t with her, and well… Evan becomes… Anyways, let’s forget about that. Well, there is one question I don’t think I mind having an answer to. What kind of letter did you get, that it would turn you into such a state?” Liz asked

“Letter? Oh….that…” Evan said

His face twisted into a smile. Despite him smiling, it seemed more like a devil than it did a human.

A huge killing intent filled the room. It was strong enough for the entire school to feel.

It became hard to breathe, and their minds started to go blank from fear.

“It was notice of an engagement. limes engagement.” Evan said, tilting his head sideways in thought.

His words carried a weight that seemed nearly unfathomable.

Then it stopped.

Everything went back to normal.

Liz looked around.

It had only been the people near Evan that had felt the overwhelming effects of his killing intent.

Everyone else just got a little bit startled by it, looking around, confused but unharmed.

“What? What? What? Uh….” Suika tried to speak

Liz wondered why it had suddenly stopped.

She saw lime and Evan together, kissing.

Lime had stopped Evan dead in his tracks.

“Don’t worry. I’m here. As it always has been, I’m here for you again.” She whispered to him

Evan went back to normal

“And as it always shall be, just you and me for eternity.” Evan said, not with the face of a devil, but with the smile of a saint.

“Evan, has anyone told you that your killing intent is a little bit excessive? I knew you loved her, but hot damn that was not just any kinda normal… anything.” Gram said, putting a hand to her head, dizzy from the experience

“Oh. AH! Shit, sorry! I get a little bit protective when it comes to lime.” Evan said

“A...little?” Liz asked

“....believe it or not, for my husband, that was quite tame. Thankfully.” Lime said, worried

“You’re kid...ding rhiiiggt?” Suika asked, way too dizzy from the experience

“Actually, Gram, has anyone told you that you’re amazing?” Liz asked, still a little bit dizzy

“Huh? What do you mean?” Gram asked, no longer dizzy at all

“Other than your normal amazingness, how in the world are you fine after experiencing that?” Liz asked, finally regaining her balance

“Oh, that. Anytime something happens to lime and it’s serious enough, he gets like that. I’ve experienced it a few times before. It still isn’t pleasant, though, Evan.” Gram said, frowning

“Sorry. Seriously. But you all should get used to that feeling. While it is a very extreme example, you will face the stress of another person directing killing intent towards you in battle, during the competition. Gram will have no problems under that kinda pressure, but I’m worried about Suika.” Evan said

“Wait, is she participating?” Liz asked

“Um. Maybe. You remember what I said about her Ark, right?” Evan asked

“Well, my mind is a bit cloudy still, but I think I do.” Liz said

“Yeah, that speed thing may take over a year to work on. It’s a competition that happens every year, so she might be able to join the next one. But she will still likely get dragged into this years one, somehow.” Evan said

“She will? Why?” Liz asked

“Her dad. She’s technically on the list of the competitions combatants, but she will likely forfeit immediately. The reason I say she might get dragged in is because people may look for other combatants and fight them, even before the competition starts, to lessen the amount of competition they will have.” Evan said

“Why did you mention Mr. Wulf?” Liz asked

“Ah. While he conceded to allow me and lime to teach Suika magic, as the only person who is left to inherit the position as head of the family, he’s being a pain trying to get her stronger using dumb, old fashioned methods. He’s doing this to give her the ‘experience’ of a real fight. I’m pretty sure she’s strong enough to easily whoop his ass.” Evan said, using finger quotes

“Why do you say she’s stro-oh! Right, I keep forgetting she’s an ark.” Liz said

“Even as a normal mage she's stronger than him, but...She isn’t really the type of person who would come to mind when you think of an Ark user, is she. I honestly wish she wasn’t. Unlike how I hoped you two would get along, which happened a lot earlier than I thought, I actually wanted to keep Suika and Lay far away from this kind of world. Lay wasn’t even born into a magic family. If he gets hurt, it’s partly my responsibility for telling him about it, and helping him learn.” Evan said

“Ugh. Evan. First, don’t do that again. Second, I feel sick. Third, me and Lay are completely fine with this world. Magic is one of the few things that gets him excited. Same with training. He also probably likes fighting, considering how much he enjoys those sparring matches you two have. It's one of the few things that brighten up his otherwise dreary days. As for me? I don’t really have a reason that I’m fine with all of this, I just am. I will admit that I didn’t really want to be a part of this at first, even just normal magic, but since I met Lay, I’ve actually enjoyed it a lot.” Suika said, shaking off her dizziness and consequently getting a little worse for trying to shake off dizziness.

“Did you just try to get rid of your nausea by shaking your head violently?” Evan asked

“Shut up.” Suika said

The bell rang, and class started

The bell rang again, and it was time for lunch

“As time honored tradition, let’s go eat on the roof!” Evan yelled

“While it isn’t against the rules, the door to the roof is still locked.” Liz said

“Magic.” Evan replied

“Evan… seriously? You’re going to use magic just so you can eat on the roof?” Liz asked

“Yup!” Evan said cheerfully

“Well, I’m gonna go to the cafeteria, I didn't bring food, so you guys want anything?” Gram asked

“I’m good, thank you Gram.” Lime said, smiling

“I’ll go with Gram.” Liz said, clinging to Grams arm.

“I brought food, so I’ll come with you two. You guys going alone will just spread even more rumors.” Suika asked

“Oh, we’re going to see Lay after school today, right?” Evan asked

“I was planning on it. I have some business there, and I'm going to be helping out his mother with a few things. I'll also be watching over him while she's gone.” Suika said

“I was going to do some stuff.” Liz said, thinking

“I’ll go! I wanna meet Lay!” Gram said

“The stuff I wanted to do can wait a while. I’ll come with you to see Lay.” Liz said, smiling

“Cool. Can Lay still transform into an Ark when he’s sick?” Evan asked

“I’m not going to make him do that. Actually, I won’t even let him if he wanted to.” Suika said

“Darn. Oh well.” Evan said, zoning out

He leaned back and started floating

“Stop that.” Liz said, rushing to push him back on the ground

“Ah. Right. Sorry.” Evan said

“Now I think it’s actually a good idea for you to go to the roof to hang out. If you start accidentally floating, that’s going to raise a lot of questions if you’re seen.” Liz said

“Alright. Suika, lets go.” Evan said

Evan, lime, and Suika went to eat on the roof, Gram and Liz went to the cafeteria

“You left Liz and Gram alone on purpose, didn’t you.” Suika said

“Yup!” Lime said

“Obviously!” Evan said

They high fived, grinning

“Jeez. So you’re becoming a matchmaker now? Reminds me of how you ‘accidentally’ pushed me and Lay together whenever there was a chance.... Not that I’m mad..... I don’t get how you knew they’d go to the cafeteria, though.” Suika said

“Gram said something about it this morning.” Evan said

“Oh. Right. I don’t remember.” Suika said

“We’re not surprised.” Evan said

They went to eat on the roof, and came back into the classroom, just as class started.

And then everyone froze, except Evan, lime, Gram, Liz, and Suika.