Today's morning felt warm after a good nights sleep with the Cloud Clown's Circus performers. Well, it was more like sleep after having fun. So far, it was the most fun I had ever since I went out of my hiding spot.

As I watched them pack their things to leave, I somehow felt quite heavy in my chest.

"Hey, that doesn't go there!!"

"This one should be..."

"Pack this one up here."

One by one, they packed their things in bags, boxes, and barrels on different carriages. The animals too were loaded in different large carriages powered by machine. It turned out humans have made innovations throughout their lives. It felt somewhat amazing to know they could do such things. If they already did before, would they still have to annihilate our kind?

"Hey, don't look so gloomy now," Hantel came to me and suddenly pulled a lily flower from his sleeve. "Us mages are strong. Goodbyes don't keep us from moving on. We make it into strength, to see each other again."

"No, it's not that I'm sad," I then took the flower and held on to it with both hands. "I'm just wondering... You finally found a reason to live, as for me... My reason to live..."

Hantel blinked three times before chuckling before he held my chin up, "It's okay. Doubts exist as we travel our paths."

"Doubt?" I thought to myself.

"Even so, as you doubt, do not stop walking. Doubt and doubt as you may, but keep on walking. Until your doubt be answered," he smiled so reassuringly.

As he let go of my chin, I asked, "That large tent, are you not going to bring it with you?"

I pointed to the humongous tent where they all performed.

"Oh, that. Its not really ours. It's owned by the town itself," he looked at the direction I was pointing.

"Oh, then why is it still there?" I asked out of curiosity.

"I hear another circus will be performing tonight," Hantel looked at the tent with the look of satisfaction in his eyes. "May they provide a marvelous performance for the people as well."

"Another performer huh?" I looked at him as I asked.

"Mmh. So be sure to watch and compare us. It's not like we're in a competition and all," he winked as if indicating a lie. "In everything, there is always a better one after all."

"Ahahaha, okay," I couldn't help but fake a laugh.

"Anyway, where is that boy with you?" Hantel looked around. "Felgard was it? What's his last name anyway?"

"Hmm.. What was it..?" how could I forget his last name? It's not like it's important though. "I think it was Ballthorns or something..? I forgot, I'll just ask him. I think he went back to the games already."

"Ballthorns? That sounds funny! So you're not sure huh?" he just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it doesn't really matter."

"Hantel!! Where is your luggage?!" his co-performer called out to him.

"Magic!!! Hahahahahaha!!" and he just walked towards him while laughing.

"Hey, I'm seriously gonna kill if it's another prank!" his co-performer just smirked.

"Ahahaha, my bad, Oh!" just then he suddenly turned back at me. "Friesha! Wait there."

"Eh?!" I watched as he went inside one of the carriages and heard rumbling sounds of things. Suddenly he came out with a long object.

"Here it is!" to my surprise, he extended to me a long staff. "I'll give this to you..."

"A staff?! Could this be, your staff?! Why?" it came to me as a shock. "Aren't mages unable to use the staff of others?"

"They can't if it's still owned and is being used," he just flashed me a smile.

"Wait, don't tell me..." I gasped as I noticed the truth. "You need no staff in casting magic?!"

"Ahahaha!! Nope, that's not it..." he then showed me his knuckle. "In truth..." he opened it and the flower he gave me was there.

"Whaa?!" that was when I remembered. During his performance, I could've sensed realea movement. But in truth, I haven't. "You weren't using magic the entire time?!?!"

"Hahaha! You're right!" he held his head high then took out his mask. "I gave up using magic the moment I worked at this circus. Although the rest would convince me to, still... I'm a new person now..."

"I see," looking at how proud he was, I felt relieved, no, enlightened.

I took the staff from him and held it close to me. I just acquired another memento.

He smiled, wore his mask before saying, "Then, fare thee well miss Mirraden! And good luck!! May you have a safe journey."

"You too," I then felt he urge and hugged him. "Take care..."

He gave me a pat on the head (more like on the mushroom cap) as I let go.

By the time he rode the carriage, I felt something on my shoulder. It was the lily flower he gave me. I took it and held it close before I placed it on the tip of the staff he gave me with magic.

Looking at it, the length was quite longer than the one I once had. Although mine was wobbly, this one was more refined and straight. It looked more like a wooden pole than a staff. The problem now is how to hide this from people. Surely, I'll be more obvious with this attracting people's eyes. Just as I was wondering on what to do, a mother and a child passed by me from a distance.

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"Mama look! A staff!" the little girl pointed at me.

"Ahahaha, yes I know," the mother replied.

"I wanna buy one too!" she then was about to run when she was held tight.

"No, we promised to meet Papa so no delays," the mother told her child.

"No way..." both of them then went father ahead.

As they were no longer seen, I smiled to myself and left. Seems like the existence of human-mages made the people less cautious.

* * * *

Here I am, looking for that stupid foolish mongrel to wherever he might've gone. Hantel was kind enough to give us coins to enjoy the stalls, but only Felgard took it and left. People would sometimes giggle s they pass by me. A teenage girl even asked me where I got my staff where I answered, "I won it from a stall."

As I passed by a certain alley, I noticed some people with colorful outfits. I stopped to look and saw that man with a whip from the forest. He looked like he's in rage as he screamed and pointed at his companions. For some reason, I remembered the wolf boy from before and what he said, "I'm never going back..." I remembered the look in his sparkling sad eyes... Now why am I thinking of another boy? I still am searching for one now. I then left to continue looking for the fool.

"Friiiiiiiiiieeeeshaaaaa!!!!" was the annoying sound which served like a magnet attracting people's attention around the entire carnival as people looked at the fool running towards me with a teary face.

"What is it now..? You spent all your coins on one stall and got nothing?" by the looks of his face, I'm pretty much right.

"Mmmmhh!! Mmmmhh!!" and I was right as he nodded while sparkling those eyes at me.

"Well, I'll have to tell you that we have to leave or else we might be in danger," I then turned my back from him. "So no!"

Just then, I felt that strong gaze again. It's the same feeling I had when I was at the tent as the circus ended. I looked around to sense from where it might be when Felgard poked my sides.

"Frieeeshaaa..." looked like a puppy begging to be carried. "Can I have a coin for at least one game. I already got the hang of it so this time -"

"No," and I turned my back and walked away.

"Wait, Friesha!!!" and he has no choice but to follow me.

* * * * *

The sun was about to set when Felgard and I got out of the town. I shouldn't have trusted the airhead in asking questions, but since I was too cautious to talk to people, I had to have him do it.

"Here," Felgard piled a lot of wood, bark, and twigs for the campfire. "Sure this is okay?"

"Definitely," I said, holding the staff Hantel gave me. "This will be my first time using this, so stay back."

"Okay..." and he walked back a few steps.

I focused my mind unto the staff. I could still feel traces of Hantel's realea on it. If I were to mix mine, will it not produce any errors? Well, this was the way to find out.

"Flames!" I commanded. There was a spark from the staff to the pile of wood, but no further result. "I knew it."

"So no good?" Felgard asked as he sat down on the ground.

"I just need to meditate my realea towards this staff for it to work," I said, caressing the staff. "It won't take long though. Just one night might be enough..."

After igniting the wood with my usual fire, which hurt a bit on the finger, Felgard and I stared at the flames cooking the food we got. The cracking sounds it produced were the only music we had to pass the time. Well, that was until the airhead asked me.

"So, what now?" he asked.

"...Well," I replied. "I already have a staff, so it's off to the Tomb of Origin for me."

"I meant the mushroom cap..."

"Curses!!" and I immediately took it off and threw it away.

"Hahahahahahaha!" this airheaded fool dared mock me. Rolling on the ground, I was starting to get the impression that he chose that thing on purpose.

"Humph! I'm not taking you to any more carnivals!" I huffed.

"No," the airhead begged.

While gazing at the fire, I remembered the mages Hantel told me last night. It really felt relieving knowing my fellow mages are thriving somewhere. Amongst them all, there was one mage that truly piqued my interest. That woman named Asclepta. Although I was already proud of my capabilities as a mage, I cannot truly believe one swoop of a fan is enough to blow off an entire beach. Could it mean I still have far more to learn from magic? What if I end up not becoming an Astral Mage because my magic is not enough?

"...riesha?..." the airhead whispered near me.

"H-Hahh! Y-you better stop that!" I backed away from him.

"Because you weren't listening..." he began to sulk.

"What is it? Hurry and speak out," I sighed.

"...It's just that," he looked quite serious. "You already have a staff so..."

"Hurry up and out with it," I said.

"...Does this mean our adventure is almost over?" he asked, in a somewhat lonely tone.

"...What are you saying?" I scoffed at him. "It'll be if you could defeat me in my powered up form. Which I am a hundred, no, five hundred percent sure you cannot!"

"Oi! I sure can!" he stood up.

"Hoho! Surely you cannot once I master my magic and learn more! You cannot even get close to me!" I stood up as well.

"Oh yeah? If you're going to get stronger, then I will too! And we'll see who's stronger!"

"Fine by me! I'll learn strong magic from Duderna city! And-" I felt like I spouted too much.

"Oh? You're going somewhere else?" the airhead tilted his head.

"I-its uhh... It's on the way to the Tomb of Origin, maybe. I-I'll be passing by it anyway so, might as well make a stop... What I'm trying to say is I'm meeting someone there!"

"Hooo!" the airhead now made a sneaky face. "I see. So you were devastated after I defeated you that you want to learn more..."

"N-no I wasn't!! I was even unstable when you defeated me..."

"So you admit that you lost!!" this fool began jumping in delight. "So I did defeat you!!"

"Grrr..." I hate to admit it, but I was defeated. "Okay okay, you just got me one time. It won't happen again."

"Right right!" he sneered as he sat back down. "Well, good luck."

"I don't need luck, nor your concern," I sat back down as well.

Perhaps the airhead is rumbling the wind inside his head that he fell silent with a lonely look to the fire. Whatever it was, I couldn't really care less. I just did the same, thinking the possibilities that might occur on our way. Duderna City is quite far. Thankfully Hantel showed me a map that night. Seems like there are quite the human settlements on the way there. I could just-

"Friesha," the airhead suddenly called.

"W-what's with you-"

"Shh!" he just shushed me while keeping an eye on his surroundings. "Someone's coming..."

I ended up staring at the forest as well. A figure began to appear from a distance. It looked to be a human, only that it was quite tall. It walked closer and closer to us. Eventually, it came out of the darkness and revealed itself.

"...Uhhh..." the very tall human said. It was a man who looked like his girlfriend just dumped him. He had long hair up to his back, a magician's hat, while wearing a long-sleeved red and black striped shirt and long pants. His shoes was that of a royal clown or something. "Excuse me... I would just like to ask you travelers about something..."

"...What?" I ended up asking. I could see that Felgard was as cautious as I was.

"...Uhhh..." he stared directly at me. "Have you seen a wolf kid around here somewhere?..."

"Wolf kid?" I remembered the wolf boy from before.

"No," to my surprise, the airhead immediately answered.

"...Uhhh..." the tall man shifted his stare at Felgard. "I see..."

Th tall man turned around and went back into the darkness of the forest.

"What was that?" I asked.

"A human of course," the airhead looked at me like I'm a fool.

"I know that!" I shouted. "I meant everything about him, doesn't he look weird?"

"Not really. I've seen tall people like him before."

"Look here..."

Immediately, Felgard looked shocked and looked around him again. He sttod up and held the tip of his wooden sword.

"W-what now?" I asked as I stood up.

Just then, multiple people came out of the darkness of the forest. They were wearing weird clothing identical to the tall man before. Overall, there were six of them, and they were surrounding us.

"What do you want?" Felgard asked.

"..." the six did not utter even a word. Truthfully, they were all too creepy.