I might have gone overboard with what I said to Zenith. I deserved being frozen in ice. It was bad on my side that's for sure. But putting that aside, something else was happening after that. What's in front of me was probably the most influential student in my batch. The Cardinal of Magic Administration, Sam Maximus.

"Fancy meeting you here, White...It's so nice of you to join us." She gave me a smile that made me uncomfortable.

"Sam...Can you uh...move please?" I was about to get out of the pool but Sam was blocking the ladder.

The red haired girl was wearing golden bikini and a gold framed sunglass along with what looks to be an expensive looking sandal. Her voluptuous body really compliments well with what she was wearing. But at the same time, I'm not in the mood to entertain her because my body was still shaking frozen thanks to a certain little bird.

"Move? How about no?" Sam delightfully declined. "How about you help me rub some oil tan on me?"

"As much as I'm like any other man, I can't say I'm going to do that because right now..." Both of my hands were on my shoulder, "I'm freezing! I need to lie down somewhere first and besides...why not try Sun Tanning?"

"Sun Tanning? That might be a good idea...Why don't you join me?"

"What are you just trying to screw me over or something? I'm not falling for any of your trickery. I'm already used to this stuff anyway. I can tell from miles away."

"And this is probably coming from hanging out with that blondie, is it?"

I reluctantly said, "Yes..." and continued with, "But the other matter is that I don't like sun tanning."

"And why is that?" Sam wondered.

I told her off as best as I could, "Tanning is simply a process to darken or 'tan' your skin colour. Most often a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. People deliberately do this because they wanted to engage in a passive recreational activity. I say they are just lazy people who should do better things like...reading a book."

"And you are saying that sun tanning is a bad thing? I think it's a good thing. It can make me more popular among the boys."

"Don't you have enough popularity already?"

"I'm not finished yet, White. How dare you interrupt me..." Sam moved around and continues, "Sun tanning contributes to the production of melanin and vitamin D by the body. Isn't that nice?"

I brought her down by countering her with another fact, "That's true but overexposure to ultraviolet rays has negative health effects. Sunburn, risk of skin cancer, depressed immune system, as well as accelerated aging of the skin."

"Ah, but that depends on the person, right? Some people tan or sunburn more easily than others. Do you know why?"

"It might be the result of different skin types and natural skin colour, and these may be a result of genetics."

"True...But why did you even suggest it to me when it's a bad thing?"

"I don't know...Probably trying to pull a prank on you or something? I guess you're not doing it now that I told you all of that information."

"Useless information..." Sam walked away, "I'm done bothering you for today..." She then stops for a second and told me, "I'm still wondering how on earth you can still not get attracted to me in some form or shape."

"If that's what you want from me than all you have to do is work for it differently. Not like this..." I said that as I was still feeling the coldness of my body.

"...then..." Sam turned to me and said, "How about...this?"

Sam gazed at me deep into my eyes as I looked back at her as well when suddenly my body stopped moving as it should be. I tried to make some movement to see whether I actually hurt myself from the fall or something but apparently this can only be caused by one thing and that's coming from that red haired Cardinal.

I tried to make a movement as I slowly said, "Absolute..."

"...Order." Sam finishes it for me. "If all I have to do is work for it differently, then...you wouldn't mind this, right?"

"This is even worse than what you already done. I don't like this side of you, Sam. You keep relying on that magic of yours instead of your own heart."

"Can you please stop talking about reliance? What do you know about relying?"

Even though I was struggling, I still tried to speak up to her, "What do I know? Well, from my perspective, relying isn't using them like a tool."

Sam was taken aback by my words.

I continued, "Relying is not using them for your own benefit. Relying is something we need whenever we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Relying is beneficial for both parties. Relying is more in line with the idiom, 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'. In case you don't understand that, it's used to tell someone that if they help you, you will help them back. Have you ever helped back anyone that helped you?"

"Keep it down...White..."

I continued, "Oh wait...They never helped you. You forced them, with your ability."

"Enough!" Sam became furious and immediately made me jump back into the pool.

I was forced to jump back in and it doesn't sound really bad until she was actually planning to drown me under the waters as she forced me to stick to the floor of the pool. I tried my best to get out of the situation but I weren't capable enough to stand against her Absolute Order. It was just too...absolute.

I feel the waves lapping over and over my frantically waving arms. It tires and helplessly drops under, next to my still freezing body. It feels as though my lungs were forcibly filled with poisonous gas. The worse thing was that every time I thought that it was my limit, I continued to hold on a bit longer. I pushed one more time, trying to reach whatever I'm supposed to. Nothing happened. I tried to relax as my tired body stopped working. I gulp as much as I can, hoping that this will be over sooner than I expected it to be. Water fills my mouth, looking for a way to finish me up...

Until I felt a strong tremor, it made my heart pumping back mysteriously. No, it wasn't coming from me. It was someone else. My eyes were a bit blurry as I was beginning to be swallowed by the water. But I felt warm hand, grabbing me. Grabbing me up and saying 'no, this is not the end'. The hand of fate pulls me back to my world and just like that, I closed my eyes.

-

Just about probably half a minute later, my vision suddenly starts to fade in back. It was blurry yes, but it was enough for me to realize that I was still alive. I saw red. Not blood, hair. I thought it was Sam but the more I look at it, the shade of red was different. Sam was definitely red as in the colour red. Not a bright red of course. That's too much attention. This red was more...natural...ginger perhaps? No, it's not dark enough for deep red. It's the classic redhead that I always imagined. A mixed of brownish colour. It was definitely a different person. The hair was long and wavy.

There were two flowers on her head. A white and a red flower. But that's probably just for this weather...the thing that strikes me off was she was wearing a pretty big brown hair bow. The moment I saw that, I got the feeling I know who it might be. I said might be because I don't know her really well but she's pretty much someone that I should know about.

I mean...she's my Cardinal. Yes. The Cardinal of Magic Studies just saved me. Lala saved me.

"La...la..." I wasn't able to say that as my mouth was being covered by something warm.

It was then I realized what kind of situation I got myself in especially with the way Ziggs, who was standing in my vision, gave me a weird look. Yes, she was performing a CPR on me and not just pressing my heart, she was also giving me the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

With how things were happening, I quickly pushed her and said, "I'm fine! I'm fine!"

Lala seems to be relieved as she said, "Thank goodness you are alright." She took a breather and said, "I saw what happened and I think you're not in the wrong here..."

Really? I thought it was my fault that I got myself in this mess. Then who was it?

"Sam...what you did was a little bit too far." Lala talked to Sam.

Sam was on the other side of my vision as I heard her reply, "Too far? A stupid idiot like that deserved that after mocking me."

"You're not supposed to call my classmates a stupid idiot..."

"And what is that supposed to mean, Lala?"

"It means exactly as I said...Sam..."

I seemed to be out of this situation as I couldn't see what was happening as I was still lying down but I definitely can tell from what they were talking about. It sounded like the sunny weather is about to make this more heated up...

TO BE CONTINUED