A: Magic Forest

(9)

One day before the red moon race, Lila was still struggling with her quest for natural magic. Day and night he has been trying hard, but there is no sign that he will find his natural magic in the near future. When complaining to Cia, his best friend could not give meaningful advice. Cia told him to wait until the magic itself came to him.

Because there's nothing else to do - there's actually still a lot to learn, but Lila chooses to pretend not to know-, Lila invites Cia to meet with Aliga in the back garden of the academy. In any case, they will work in a team and it could be chaotic if one of them does not leave tomorrow.

"You seen Aliga?"

Cia shakes. Her braids sway left and right because of it. Lila pouted. It's almost night but Aliga hasn't shown her nose yet.

Many times Lila checked her watch but Aliga never came. The twilight wind was getting louder and the air snails had entered their homes. Nightfall began to appear, but Aliga never came. Where exactly did that man go? inner Lila.

"Lila, are you sure you brought her here this afternoon?" Cia asked Lila who was turning her back to make sure. Lila nodded quickly. "Yes" he answered briefly.

Silence enveloped them both. There was only the sound of friction of the leaves blowing in the wind and the sounds of albino crows in the sky there. Really lonely. Cia even had time to think that only they were both students who were still in this academy right now.

"Lila, looks like Aliga's not coming. We'd better just go home," Cia suggested.

"No, I want to wait here."

Cia stared softly at the long haired girl. "It's going to be night, and you haven't even prepared everything you need to go to Azvara Forest tomorrow" Cia said, "And again, the air here is getting colder. You'll get sick if you stay here too long."

Lila shook her head quickly. He remained steadfast with his stance. "You go home first, Ci. I'm gonna wait for Aliga here first. It's okay, I can prepare my needs in quick time so don't worry. I've brought the witch academy alma mater in my bag, so I won't be cold. I won't be long, huh, hehe."

Worries are becoming more. Everything Lila said was a lie. Lila was slow to pack. He who is careless and clumsy it will certainly go back and forth to check the closet to pick up items that he forgot to bring. The alma mater of her magic academy did not exist either. That thing Lila was lending to another classmate. So, if he kept waiting here, it was certain that the girl would get a fever the next day.

Because of the current state of Lila, Cia again invited the girl home. "Let's go home!"

"No ...," Lila replied. "I'll wait for Aliga here. I don't want to disappoint him. Could be right after we got home, he just came, right?"

"Don't you hate him, Lil?"

The blue-faced girl turned around and stared fixedly at the two Netra Cia. "I hate him, but what for? What he said the other day was true. I can't do the things he says, can I? So, why did I drag on putting hate on him."

Cia touched. He never thought that the childish Lila could say that. "Well, I'll wait just like you."

Instead of retreating, Cia instead advanced towards Lila. "No, I'll keep you company waiting here!"

"Why?"

"Because I'm a-"

Cia had not yet finished her sentence, she had already disappeared from Lila's sight. Lila was grateful that yesterday she had learned the teleportation technique with Cia. That way, he can easily return his friend to his home. Good though. With this, Cia did not need to be as cold as she was.

Lila also chose to take a seat on an empty bench in this park. His legs felt quite tired after standing for quite a long time. Shortly after, the sun sank and darkness fell. The air grew colder and made the blonde girl sneeze. He pulled his magician's hat tightly, intending to keep his head warm. However, it is useless. The situation is still the same as before.

An hour, two hours, three hours passed. Aliga hasn't come yet but Lila hasn't given up. He was sure, Aliga would come soon. However, drowsiness began to attack him Be, he laid himself on a park bench while staring at the collection of stars above him.

"Bhhh ... Aliga hasn't come yet. But it's okay, Lila, she'll be here any minute. All you have to do is be patient waiting for him. Yeah, you have to be patient. Come on Lila spirit!" Lila cheered herself up. The cold night air further pierced his facial skin. He lay in a shivering state while hugging his own body.

Unable to win against her drowsiness, Lila fell asleep. He sleeps under the roof of the stars, his blanket of the night breeze, and his lullaby is a chant of crickets.

He fell asleep peacefully.

•••••

"Who?" Cia rushed towards the door of her room after hearing a knock on the doorway. His forehead is wrinkled because of guessing who wants to visit his house these nights.

"There's ap-Aliga?!"

In the doorway, Aliga is seen holding Lila like a married couple. With a lazy face, the man went straight into Cia's room and immediately laid the girl he was carrying on Cia's mattress.

"Here, I give your friend back to you. He fell asleep on a park bench. Because I don't know where the dorm room is, so I'll just give it to you. Oh, yes, my jacket don't forget to return tomorrow. I'm in a hurry, so I'll see you tomorrow."

Cia had not been able to reply to the man's words until she met him, but Aliga had already left. Cia looked at Lila with a smile.

"Ah, you are stubborn apparently. But, you were right, he kept his word, Lil. For this time, your guess is more precise than mine."