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As Celia and Carla stepped into class on the first day of their sixth and final year, a familiar aura caught Celia off guard, and her eyes lifted to find Taze seated in his usual corner.
She froze in her tracks as he beamed at her, and her heart skipped a full beat.
'Taze!' She thought, her breath escaping in a soft whisper.
She had tried to erase Taze from her mind over the years, convincing herself that worrying about him was futile.
'There's nothing I can do!' She always reminded herself, whenever thoughts of him crept in.
But now, as their eyes locked, a lump formed in her throat, and her heart swelled to twice its size!
Taze's smile faltered for a moment, and he looked almost... watery-eyed?
~"Are you going to keep standing and looking at me?"~ Taze asked through telepathy.
His voice was now low and deep, sending shivers down her spine, and her cheeks flushed as she remembered to move, hurrying to her seat.
Carla was quick to notice, and she didn't hesitate! ~"Okayyy, this is new!"~ She telepathically teased, settling somewhere close to the front. ~"I'll admit he's extremely easy on the eyes, but there's a gentleman in Luxia who can make you freeze?!!!"~
Celia shot her a warning look, her face burning. ~"Shut it!"~ She replied, hastily settling at her own obscure seat and trying to compose herself.
Her mind whirled with unanswered questions, and the unsettling realization that 'Out-of-Sight' hadn't meant 'Out-of-Mind' when it came to Taze...
Despite his long absence, that pleasant, fluttery feeling around him had only intensified!
And worse, now that she was older, she could identify the feeling...
'I'm attracted to him!' This was the same way she had felt around Vitav, but a hundred times more potent!
What she felt around Vitav was a mere trickle compared to the tidal wave of emotions rushing through her!
'Wasn't Vitav the "Lead" in my life's story?!' But no, she couldn't even picture Vitav in that light anymore.
In fact, if Vitav tried to kiss her now, she might try killing him! Whereas with Taze...
She blushed a deep crimson and slapped her hands to her cheeks, as if to scold herself for such improper thoughts!
'Wake up! He's a member of the Royal family!' She reminded herself.
She was supposed to avoid Vitav, but getting involved with Taze would put her right in Vitav's line of sight, so she needed to avoid Taze as well!
However, after a few more days, Celia realized ignoring a sixteen-year-old Taze was like climbing a ladder made of shadows!
Taze had grown several inches taller, his physique now a perfect blend of lean and well-built, making him a magnet for the ladies.
Those piercing green eyes, framed by luscious dark lashes, and his curly black hair cascading down his shoulders, attracted most of the Academy's females, and pink-scented letters constantly dusted his desk, with declarations of undying love and marriage proposals!
"Which family is the Nowen family?" Wondered one Lady.
"I've never heard of them, but I'm marrying Taze, even if they're paupers!" Another piped in.
"In your dreams!" Protested yet another. "Your father is a Palace Mage! He'd never let you marry a low-born!" She folded her arms. "I on the other hand..."
"Not if I can help it!!"
And on it went...
Celia would shake her head at the absurdity of it all, but then catch herself stealing glances at Taze or imagining what it would be like to run her fingers through his hair...
'This woman! Get a grip!' She scolded herself.
She tried to shake off the thoughts, but they lingered, teasing her like a playful breeze...
Taze's presence was a constant reminder of the danger that lurked if she got too close, and even his ill fate was looming over him like a dark cloud.
And yet her eyes wandered to him, drawn like a moth to a flame... And unfortunately, he noticed!
Most times, he would simply flush and smile knowingly, but as she exited class one day, he suddenly blocked her path and boldly grasped her hand, pulling her away.
"Let me go!" She protested, once the surprise wore off, but he only tightened his grip, as a few boys in their class oohed and aahed.
"Oooooh! A new class couple!" One boy teased.
"Heh! At least he's selected one! Would we have any brides if all the ladies keep following him?!" Another joked, but while the boys were playful about it, most of the girls shot Celia daggers with their eyes!
Celia barely noticed though, as she eyed Taze's hand which held hers, and she flushed furiously.
Taze stopped in an empty classroom, and Celia yanked her hand free, rubbing it vigorously.
"H- how improper!" She scolded, but her words lacked any real strength.
If he hadn't stopped on his own, she might have let him drag her round the Academy, and perhaps even round Blixia! (The Capital)
"You're one to talk." Taze retorted. "It's your fault for constantly looking at me like that!" He backed her against a wall, stepping closer and closing her in.
"W- what are you trying to do?" She asked lowering her gaze, her face feeling hot enough to fry an egg.
Taze lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I can sense what you're feeling! It's distracting! Am I that attractive? Little Missy, didn't I warn you to keep your distance, all those years ago?"
His words startled Celia for a brief second, and then she quickly shoved him away.
"It's you!" She exclaimed, recognizing the strange 'Taze' she'd encountered on her second day at the Academy - the Taze who'd been so angry, and who seemed to know she was avoiding Vitav!
"Who are you?!" She demanded, eyes wide, and she gasped as he appeared right before her, grabbing her chin again.
"I'm Taze. Now, if you don't want me to personally kill you and send us all into the next life, then stay away from-!"
But he never finished. Quicker than a blink, his free hand grabbed his own wrist, and he punched himself in the face! He began falling backward, but despite her fear, Celia rushed to catch him, gently lowering him to the floor.
'Seems like the real Taze is trying to wake up!' She thought, tenderly brushing hair off his forehead. She caught herself and drew her hand away!
"Celia..." Taze whispered, opening his eyes, and Celia was instantly assailed by those fluttery feelings.
'It's indeed the real Taze!' She drew a sharp breath and attempted to rise and step away, but he caught her arm. "Wait! Will you keep avoiding me?"
She stared at him incredulously. "Is that what you want to ask? Aren't you even curious about how you got here?!"
But he dismissed her words. "I've grown accustomed to awakening in strange places through the years. I noticed 'that fellow' long ago, and though we swap places from time to time, he's getting weaker as I grow older.
"We tolerate each other because he can predict the future, and we need to find somethi-." He stopped himself. "Ehehe, anyways, he doesn't like you for some reason..."
He suddenly yanked her closer, so their faces were mere inches apart. "Whereas I feel the opposite. Let's not veer too far off topic. Seven years of unrequited love... When will you take responsibility?"
'Seven years?!' Didn't they meet just five years ago?!
"W-what seven years?" Celia stuttered, her face turning hot. She yanked her hand away. "L-Love? Y- you don't even know me! Aren't you suspicious of why your Alter ego hates me?! Or how come I know so much about your family?!"
Taze scoffed. "Tch! I already forgot about that, and I don't care about my so-called alter ego."
"Little Fool! What if I'm a spy intent on harming the Royal family?!" Celia asked incredulously, but Taze simply grinned.
"A true spy would be trying to get even closer to me! Since you're avoiding me, I'll take my chances!" he replied, eyes sparkling with amusement, and he moved closer. "And besides, if you keep staring at me like this, I'll forgive anything..."
It was a magical moment, their lips separated by only a breath, but Celia caught herself again. "Little Fool!" She punched him in the stomach, stood up and stormed off with a scowl.
'Love? Nonsense!' Love had made her self-destruct twenty-five times! Only to discover it wasn't worth much...
Not only that. It had blinded her completely!
She could not afford Love! Not when her life wasn't the only one at stake.
But...
A sorrowful sigh escaped her lips as she remembered what year they were in.
A sad fate awaited Taze, looming like a dark cloud... This was the year he would be deposed as Crown Prince, and then he would succumb to his illness the next year...
Celia wasn't sure what type of illness Taze had, but Vitav had once mentioned that the Grand Mages hadn't been able to do anything about it.
The best mages from the Fairy and Mer race had failed as well.
Celia was a genius, but she doubted she could outdo those people.
If she couldn't save him, then she might as well avoid him... It would be less complications in both their lives.
But could she just leave Taze to die?
With how heavy her heart felt, she suspected it was already too late to back away from him...
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