The Mysterious Black Magician

"Crimson?" Cinde who was currently sitting on the sofa together with Rea had muttered his name with a tinge of worry. And Rea was speechless from the shift of emotion he was showing at the moment. They were staring at him with identical expressions on their faces. 

It was new to both of them to see such a face from him. They were wondering why he suddenly mentioned healing a broken Magician's Seed.

And whose Magician's Seed is broken? It's impossible that Crimson's Seed is broken.

Before they could voice out what on their minds,

"Uh, ahem!" He cleared his throat and force a smile. "Sorry I just remembered something..." he said and thought: 'Looks like only that medicine could help Yana.. But it only has 40% of effectiveness that makes me skeptical to use it…'

Yman was not able to ponder longer when the little Miss in front of him called out.

"Uhm, Mister Crimson, do you have a broken Magician's Seed?" Airi asked in wonder.

Upon hearing her, "No, I don't have. But the person close to me is," he said without a second thought. His voice was normal but they could feel a slight sadness from it.

This made Cinde and Rea suspicious of the person close to him. "Could it be his relative? A friend? Or….." they don't want to think further about it but it made their heart pound a bit faster.

"UHm…" suddenly, they heard Airi being skeptical with her word. Then she saw their gazes were on her. "Uhm, although it can't directly heal a broken Magician's Seed, it can indirectly help her or him…"

"Indirectly? What do you me--" 

Crimson was not able to finish his words when Airi followed up in haste: "Because it can reform a person's body and it can make him or her healthy in the process! Isn't a magician who has a broken Magician's Seed commonly has a weak body? And even most lost their ability to walk? 

He was listening to her every word with great interest while nodding his head in every question she fired.

"In the empire, there's a medicine called Heaven Defying. This medicine can heal a broken Magician's Seed, but even with this medicine the percentage of recovery is very low…" she stopped and glanced at Crimson who fell silent.

Yman knew about it, it was also the reason why he came to the empire as the ingredients needed to craft the medicine could only be found there.

Looks like it was the only choice he had to heal his sister.

"...but you know, there's a high chance that the percentage will increase…" Airi added.

"Eh? Really?" He asked with wide eyes.

"Yes! If the person who has a broken Magician's Seed is having a healthy body when he/she is going to use the Heaven Defying medicine," Airi explained.

For a couple of seconds, he stared at her with his eyes shifted from left to right.

Rea and Cinde were looking at him with tight lips and were holding their breaths -- thrilled by his reaction. Then a moment later, both of them sighed in relief when a smile appeared on his mouth and the vibrant in his eyes came back.

"That Body Tampering drinks of yours, how many percent that it could make a cripple walked again?" He asked.

"As long as it can be perfected, I believed it's higher than 90 percent, Mr. Crimson!" she replied while puffing her unnoticeable chest.

"I see," he said and smiled further. "Senior Airi, please let me help you in completing it!" Airi was taken aback when he suddenly changed the way of calling her.

Even Rea and Cinde were stunned also. 

"In any case, I can't let you help if you're not even a member of this department," she said.

Right at this moment, "ufufu, so you two already knew each other.'

They heard someone laugh and chime into their conversation. 

They simultaneously looked at the door to where the voice came from.

"Professor Ronnie! Welcome back!" Airi greeted immediately.

"Good day professor!" Crimson followed after.

The professor stared at him for a few seconds. He already knew this disguise of him. That time in his Herbs and Flower shop, Miss Ella explained to him about Crimson's coming of the Academy and that he would be disguising himself.

"Good day, Prof. Ronnie!" Rea greeted as well. And Cinde followed after her, but she suddenly felt nervous because of the test.

"So are you ready?" Professor Ronnie asked him.

Before he could reply, "Professor, I will take the test as well!" Cinde shouted but her shoulders were shaking. She was nervous!

"Oh, another student who wishes to become an Alchemist, fufu. Do you have experience in alchemy?" Prof. Ronnie asked her. 

"N-no professor," she replied honestly.

"Do you know if what is alchemy about?" He asked again.

"No professor!" She replied again in honesty.

Rea tapped her forehead.

Professor Ronnie fell silent and wonder if this lass truly wants to join the Alchemy Department.

Then he noticed her shifting towards the young man named Crimson. Looks like she just wanted to join because her crush was here!

"Sorry lass we can't bring someone who doesn't have the love with Alchemy!" The professor beamed and thought: 'what this lass thought of my department, a dating site?'

A tear was forming from both sides of Cinde's eyes.

Rea was tapping her head while shaking it.

"Uhm, Prof. Ronnie, can you let her in the test? Maybe she has a hidden talent with it," Rea suggested. It's as far she could help her. From here onward, it's up to her luck. But Rea knew that it would be an impossible path for Cinde.

"Hmm, I see, you have a point. Okay, you and the young man will take the test together," Ronnie agreed to Ella and beckoned to the two to follow him outside.

"Good luck, Mr. Crimson, and you too Miss Cinde!" Airi cheered the two of them.