Chapter Text
Clef set his quill down in frustration. It was too bloody noisy in the hall. He could barely control his urge to burst into the hall and yell at them to keep it down. He settled for a loud frustrated growl.
He knew that his anger was irrational. His tower was in fact the furthest tower from the grand hall. It had been his request for his tower to be as isolated as possible. The entrance had once been hard to find but he had to magic it into view after Emeraude’s…departure because everyone seemed to have some damned disaster they couldn’t solve by themselves. No one seemed to care that he as the Grand Mage had tons of work to do and it wrecked havoc on his work schedule.
The reason why he could detect the ruckus was because of their excited auras coupled with the earlier disturbance in the portal. It didn’t take a genius to know that the knights were back. What truly agitated him was that he couldn’t sense her amongst the crowd. Amidst the red, green, yellow, pink and other colours, there was absolutely no hint of blue. Rubbing his temples in annoyance, he casted out his magic to look for Umi.
Why? She knows the land well enough by now.
A little voice sang in his head that he quickly quashed while continuing his search.
She was by the sea again.
So what now that he had found her? Should he leave her to be or should he not? Why had she fallen into this odd habit anyway? It would have been easier for her to teleport into the castle with Fuu and Hikaru.
Clef frowned as he used his magic to probe at the portal. It was working normally, albeit less stable than it used to be. But it wasn’t surprising given the recent upheaval Cephiro had gone through: upkeep of the portal certainly wasn’t anyone’s priority right now. He cast his magic out for Umi again.
She was still at the beach, her aura a dark midnight blue like a starless night: The sort of nights that stranded sailors with no directions and no wind to fill their sails. Clef’s brows furrowed deeper as he recalled the various auras she had projected.
The frazzled light blue aura that seemed to be tinged with his own element of lightning when she had first arrived in Cephiro.
The cobalt blue laced with streaks of stormy grey when she struggled to accept her reality and her magic.
A shimmery turquoise when she first woke Ceres.
An inky blue so dark it was almost black when Emeraude died. It was one that continued to taint her aura when she had returned again.
Azure blue decorated with glittery diamonds much like a glittering sea under the summer sun when she was happy.
Never once had he seen the current aura and it pained him to see her so despondent. Her tumultuous emotions were beginning to reflect in Cephiro’s waters and weather: heavier storms and stronger tides. He fell back into his chair and sighed heavily. He had just proven to himself that his feelings for Umi went beyond what a teacher should have for his student and beyond that of a friend.
As if changing form wasn’t proof?
The sly little voice that sounded suspiciously like Umi’s began taunting him in his mind again.
Indeed Clef had grown but he had reasoned that as Cephiro’s representative, required a more suitable form: One that would command authority and inspire trust. At 745 years old, he couldn’t jolly well attend meetings with foreign dignitaries looking like a child especially when with Ferio who looked way too young for his age as well. Not to mention that his previous form was of the same height as Princess Aska and as young as her that had led to way too many pranks featuring him as the victim. He had therefore decided to age into a man.
Caldina had been awestruck by the transformation and had teased him mercilessly till now. She would say things such as “OHO~! What a treat for Umi when she returns! Ascot’s gotta look out now ay~~?” in that flirtatious manner of her with a couple of winks thrown in for good measure. It was embarrassing really.
But Caldina hadn’t been far off the mark. His first thought after the transformation was indeed centered on Umi. Would she like this? Appearances shouldn’t matter that much in love but well, he still wanted to look good in her eyes anyways. He was vaguely worried that she might overlook his presence if he continued to look like a child. Moreover, Ascot was charming in his own right, if the trail of blushing palace maids he left behind was any sign. Or Eagle, who looked like a courtly gentleman and had recently, been spending more time with Umi. At the thought of his competition, he felt spikes of jealousy rise again.
Oh for Pillar’s sake, Ascot was just a boy compared to him! But here he was, getting jealous. It was ridiculous really.
At this point, Ferio waltzed into his study after a quick knock.
“What?” he snarled, glaring at Ferio.
“Antsy now aren’t we?” Ferio grinned roguishly. Clef’s anger sliding off him as easily as water slid off a duck.
But his face quickly turned serious as he settled into a chair that faced Clef.
“No beating around the bush for me. Fuu has told me that Umi is beginning to entertain thoughts of never returning to Cephiro.” Ferio stated bluntly while looking sharply at Clef.
Clef paled, this wasn’t what he had been expecting. He had come to take her visits for granted.
“Umi hasn’t actually said but Fuu and Hikaru have gotten these premonitions. They think it’s because of you. All the late night visits to your study and the half uttered confession during the duel… They haven’t missed much.” Ferio continued.
"Plus with the increasingly freakish weather, it's really quite obvious that something is weighing down on Umi's mind. You." Ferio gestured at the skies while never breaking eye contact with Clef.
Clef just stared at Ferio, stunned and speechless.
Ferio pressed on, “It’s really time to fess up, y’know. To quote Caldina: Ain’t no gurl going to be waiting forever! If you let her slip by, you won’t get another chance.”
There was a heavy moment of silence. Clef couldn’t bring himself to laugh at Ferio’s clumsy impersonation of Caldina who would no doubt be furious to hear it.
Clef gave a nod that Ferio took as his cue of dismissal and rose.
“Nobody wants to see you moping for another couple of centuries or so, old man!” Ferio laughed as he left, confident that he had given Clef enough reason to act.
Clef sank deeper into his chair. At least he hadn’t been delusional, reading imaginary signs from Umi. Ferio’s caution weighed heavily in his mind and he fell deeper into his thoughts.
When had it begun anyway? When had Umi made a home for herself in his heart?