Inside the tent at the back of the stage, was where the performers did preparations for their show. Felgard and I followed the mysterious performer as lead us inside his dressing room. As we passed by performers clinking their glasses, they would glance at us yet won't even bother staring for long as they were too focused in their successful night.

There were plenty of colorful objects like huge balloons, balls, some boxes and outfits worn. There were also the animals at the farther part being fed their treats for obedience. The tiger that was used by the mysterious performer was there too, very tame like a dog.

We then entered the mysterious performer's dressing room. It was neatly arranged in perfect order. In fact, it looked more like a noble's dressing room. Upon entering, he pointed at a chair, urging us to sit down through hand gesture as he sat down on a couch himself.

"Then, what business do you have with me?" I immediately asked as I sat down. The airhead though, was looking at everything with wide eyes as he strayed all over the room. "You invited me right? I guess that means you know what I am?"

The mysterious man kept silent for a while. I don't know but for some reason, I do not feel anything negative from him. If I did, I would have dragged the airhead away from this place before the circus began.

"I guess I'm making you uncomfortable," he said, then removed his mask. "I don't really know how to open up a conversation."

"Y-you..." I widened my eyes and mouth as I saw his face, no, more like as the mask pushing his ears back was removed. "A mage..!"

He smiled gently at me before replying, "Indeed I am..."

He looked like a man about twenty five years old. His gray long hair would sway as he flopped his doe-like ears.

"I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused."

"No! Not at all!" I felt very comfortable with him. After a long while, I have finally met another one of my kind. "But how did you know? What gave away my identity?"

"Ahahaha. Well, let's just say I have this weird intuition," he then laughed a little. "Or maybe that mushroom cap."

"I knew it... This thing is not just a disgrace, but of no use as well" I pouted as I took the mushroom cap off. "Does that mean the humans might've doubted me?"

"Probably, especially since the king of Pheremoor commanded the hunt of any living mages," he spoke in a serious tone. "Humans might be on alert, so be careful."

"Oh, I will," I gave him a reassuring grin. "No need to worry about me. I'm strong I'll have you know!"

"That's good to hear. Still, I was very shocked to see you within human premises. Why did you come here in the first place? Interest in human festivities?"

I sighed before answering, "Not the very least. This airhead here begged me to come."

"Airhead?" he looked at Felgard who was busy poking at something.

"Do they know? The other performers, about your identity?" I asked.

"Impossible as it may seem, yes. They know," he answered with a smile.

"Impressive! How?! Aren't they humans?!"

"Don't you have one yourself?" he then looked back at Felgard staring at one clown costume. it made me look at the airhead too.

"Well, yeah..." I stared at him for quite a while. "No denying that..."

"Even I can't believe it at first," he looked nostalgic as he stroked his mask. "It took me a while before I was accepted here. Not all humans liked me. After a few events of being with them, I gained their trust. So, here I am together with them as a part of their group. The Cloud Clown Circus."

"Humans, they're weird creatures aren't they..." without realizing it, I was still staring at Felgard.

"Indeed they are," he then gently placed his mask on a desk next to him. "My, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. My name is Hantel Vourdhon. Yours?.."

"A-ah! Friesha. Friesha Mirraden,"

"Mirraden?" he looked like he just remembered something. "Ah, never mind. I thought the name sounded familiar."

"Are there any others?!" I asked him. "Do you know of any other mages that survived?!"

"Indeed, there are quite the number of us that survived," he looked happy explaining to me.

"Really?!" I felt extreme relief hearing that. "Who?! When?! Where?! What are they up to?"

"Ah, slow down, I can't tell you at once," he chuckled as I felt embarrassed of myself.

"Ah, I'm sorry..." for some reason, talking to him felt so comforting. It was like I felt like I went back in time.

"Don't worry about it," he smiled. "So, you want to know other mages I have encountered?"

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I nodded in excitement.

He then straightened his sitting composure. "A few mages that I met; one is known as the Witch of Hearts."

"Witch of Hearts..?"

"Indeed, a mage that has power to control human feelings and emotions. Well, people doesn't know she's a mage, only that she seduced a Duke that she acquired the said title. People tried accusing her, but of course failed since they are all powerless against her."

"Magic to control feelings and emotions... "

"Another is a farmer and businessman named Warralen. Very widely known for his production of fruits and vegetables. By magic of course..."

"Business?! Amazing!"

"There was also a group of five mage bandits. They were quite troublesome actually..."

"Mischievous ones?! I definitely would love to meet them!"

"Another one is someone I met not too long ago. You could probably say she's the most successful mage I have encountered."

"She? Who is she?"

"Her name is Asclepta, a very powerful wind mage, and a royal in Duderna city. I witnessed her overwhelming powers myself. Just imagine blowing away an entire beach off of water with a swoop of her fan."

"Wow... Incredible!!! I really want to meet her!"

"Surely she'll be happy to meet someone like you," he chuckled after witnessing my excitement. "Lastly, is not famous. A child maybe about your age. He's just living a normal life, away from civilization. He's being taken care of by human parents and their children. He was fully accepted in their family."

He suddenly looked lonely, "He was my little brother..."

"Oh..." I stayed silent as I do not know how to react to such a situation.

"Anyway, those were about the mages I knew that are still alive. Maybe there are still some hidden out there," what he just said gave me motivation. To know that plenty are still alive, it made me feel very relieved.

"There are others which are not really mages but, we can consider them as allies," he looked at me with serious eyes.

"Others? Who are they?.."

"A celestial, by the name of Morning Queen."

"Morning Queen..."

"Indeed, she is a spirit born from a love between a human and a mage. It was said that both died in desperation to protect one another, and their love gave birth to her."

"Wait, that's what Celestials are? Born from emotions?"

"Not all. Some are made from extreme phenomenal encounters of two or more concepts, while some are made through natural occurrences. There are plenty of factors for a Celestial to be created."

"Does it relate to sprites?"

"Kind of, although sprites are creations of us mages. They won't exist without us."

"Really? I didn't know... I thought sprites can exist on their own."

"They're the proof that we mages are the very essence of the Great Astral Mages, the power to give life."

I remembered I tried making a sprite, but the result was a levitating lifeless tadpole-looking thing. It only stayed for two days before no longer existing.

"Shall I continue?" he asked, probably noticing I was lost in thought.

"Ah, do go on," I replied with eagerness.

"One is a human mage. She helped me one time I got captured," he lifted his sleeve to show me his arm, it had a very long scar from his shoulder down his elbow. "See this scar? If it wasn't for her, I would have no arm nor life right now."

"You were captured?" the very idea gave me chills. "What did they do to you?.."

"Experiment," he then covered back his arm. "Extraction of a mage's magical components to control realea. That is why we have human mages today. They torture us to death before they feed us to some kind of book monster which then would give them humans our powers."

"How cruel..." to think humans would go this far. I clenched my fists in anger.

"Still, the fact that I am here right now means not all humans are evil," he then looked behind me. I too looked at the back and saw a picture frame. "Pretty weird huh? This world..."

In the photo was the entire group of circus performers with him smiling at one side.

Looking at the photo, it reminded me of all the humans who were nice to me. I then felt nostalgic as the memories I had with them flashed for a while.

"So, miss Mirraden. To where could you be headed?" he finally asked that question I had anticipated. "And together with this human boy?" That part I did not.

"I'm on my way to find the Tomb of Origin," I stood up and placed my right hand on my chest. "I will become an Astral Mage!"

"Ah, that dream..." his reaction was a little odd.

"Huh? Why? What's wrong with it..?"

"I dreamed about that once, after the incident ten years ago... To protect my younger brother, I vowed in front of our burning village to be an Astral Mage," he clenched his fists tight. "I could still remember it clearly, the smell of smoke, the pile of corpse's, I had to carry my one year old younger brother in my arms..."

So their village was found ten years ago. I cannot help but get mad at the thought of all those lives that died...

"That dream though, vanished the moment I gave my little brother to those kind-hearted humans. Secretly placing him by the door, I saw how they held him with care. As I hid and witnessed him grow up for ten years, so did my dream slowly faded away from my mind..." he looked up above and sighed. "It turned out that dream was only because of the hatred, fear, and responsibility I held all those years. Now that my younger brother is fine, I completely forgot about it..."

Listening to him, I felt something weird inside my chest. Like a realization, or a question instead.

"Well, we are all different," he looked at me with such gentle eyes. "How about you? Why do you want to be one, an Astral Mage..?"

"I..." I looked at my hands. Why do I want to be an Astral Mage? Could it be like him too? Out of hatred, fear, and the responsibility for my kind..? In time, will I also forget about this dream, just as he did..?

"Well, whatever it may be, you'll soon see for yourself," he then stood up. "It's always best to see things for yourself."

Suddenly, another performer still in his costume poked his head inside, "Hey, Hantel. Your missing out on the drinks!!! Oh, a visitor?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. It's just rare to see my kind that I got too carried away," he told him my identity. I got shocked a bit.

"Oh, another mage I see!" this person then came inside. "You're quite small. Still a mage like yourself could surely pull something off. How about joining us then, the Cloud Clown's Circus!"

"Now now, don't just randomly hire a kid," Hantel then went to him. "Is it okay if I have her join us?"

"Of course! We had a blast tonight after all!" he said as he puffed up his chest.

"Ah, thank you," Hantel bowed a bit.

"How about that kid?" he pointed towards Felgard who was busy poking his head inside boxes.

"Dear me, I completely forgot about him," Hantel chuckled to himself.

"Don't worry," I stared at Felgard slyly. "Actually forget that he exists."

"Oi! That's rude!!" and the airhead heard us.

Deep under the darkness of the night, the tent shone up to the stars. While the circus performers clinked their glasses of liquor with Hantel, me and Felgard dug in to the delicious foods they have prepared for us. Laughter filled the atmosphere as they told funny jokes and tales of random events. Seeing Hantel laugh along with them filled me with bliss. It felt like seeing a huge family together in peace. If only mother could've seen this moment... She'll be as happy as I was.

"Oi Friesha? You won't eat that chicken leg?" before I could even reply, Felgard took it and munched like there's no tomorrow.

"AAAHH!!! YOU IDIOTIC FOOLISH MONGREL Of AN EXISTENCE!!!"

And everybody laughed as I desperately took my chicken leg back from this glutton.

Well, I could say. Tonight is one blissful night.