220 Grown up? (2/2)

”He is the one I told you about,” Raven didn't hide anything and told her. Looking up at Ozul, she awkwardly introduced Alda as well, ”She is Alda...”

Ozul casually nodded his head which didn't sit right with little Alda. In her mind, only her Big sister had the right to act important before others. Even if he looked more handsome than Blaze, Alda felt threatened by him.

Before she could say anything, Ozul spoke, ”Let's go. It's time.”

Hearing his words, both Blaze and Raven had their eyes lit up in excitement. This was the day they were waiting for years! On the other hand, Alda had a bad feeling forming inside of her.

”Where? Where are we going, big sister?” she tugged on Raven's sleeve anxiously.

Only then did Raven realize that after she left, Alda would be alone here in the Sect. Her face formed difficult expressions as she contemplated what to do. She didn't want to leave her there on her own, but it was also true that she was too weak to tag along.

After a while, as if she had steeled her heart, Raven spoke, ”Only I will be leaving, Alda. You will stay here.”

She hadn't even completed her words when tears started to form around Alda's eyes as she started sniffling. Before she started crying, Raven put her hand on her head and gently patted her before saying, ”You are still weak Alda. When you grow up and become strong, come find me, okay?”

Even after her consoling, Alda didn't give up. She looked down on the floor and tears couldn't help but drop on the dry ground.

At the same time, Ozul was looking at this scene, amazed that it was Raven who was consoling another person. He looked at Blaze for questions who could only shrug his shoulders.

'She really grew up...' Ozul mused while looking at Raven getting anxious to stop Alda from crying.

Just this much was enough for him to conclude that it was worth sending Raven and Blaze away for so long. Not to mention, he was also satisfied with their progress as Mages.

'Both are Rank-8 and at the middle stage. And it seems that Blaze is also close to another breakthrough. But it wouldn't be so easy now since the Elemental Seeds are probably all used up,' Ozul examined the duo's bodies.

”Alright. It's getting late,” Ozul spoke, getting Raven's attention who looked at Alda before helplessly nodding.

Just as they were about to fly off, a crispy yet feminine voice rang out from above.

”Halt your steps!”

Ozul paused in his steps as he thought, 'She is fast...' He had scanned the area before and knew that she wasn't here before. So it could only mean that she had just arrived.

Unlike the disciples hiding in the distance, the Elders quickly realized who the voice belonged to and widened their eyes in astonishment.

”Sect Leader!”

Before they could even blink, a woman appeareed just a few meters away from Ozul. The onlookers only felt as if she was invisible before and had been standing there all along!

All the members of the Nine Petals Sect bowed their heads to her one by one with an exception of Raven and Blaze.

”Where do you think you are taking the disciples of my Sect?” the Sect Leader ignored everyone else and questioned Ozul.

The Sect Leader was a Rank-9 Mage with Ice as her Element. In all of her life, she hadn't seen so compatible with any other Element as Blaze was with Ice. And even though Raven didn't have a natural talent, she made up for it with hard work and smart work. Both of them were geniuses in their own way. If it was someone else, maybe she wouldn't have intervened personally. However, she couldn't just sit back and watch in the matter of these two.

”I had allowed your Elders to take them for only for a period of time. And now I am here to take them back,” Ozul didn't mind explaining to a Rank-9 Mage. He continued after her eyes narrowed, ”It's up to them to decide anyway.”

Following his words, the Sect Leader squinted her eyes at Raven and Blaze, questioning if they agreed to leave with him or not.

The duo didn't feel anything from the intense stare and casually nodded their heads. Having Ozul at their side gave them enough courage even if they weren't sure if he was strong enough to defeat her.

The Sect Leader's eyes darkened after their answer. She asked, ”Why?... Did the Nine Petals Sect ever mistreat you?” Though her words weren't harsh, her icy tone was enough to send chills down everyone's spine.

Ozul realized that she must have misunderstood and thought that they were disrespecting the Sect. He motioned towards the duo. Raven stepped forward and answered, ”It's not that you ever mistreated us. It's just that we had only joined temporarily”

”... I see, so you never planned to stay,” although the Sect Leader's expressions remained the same, her tone noticeably improved. Raven's answer might have not satisfied her, but now she didn't think that they were blatantly ridiculing the Sect either.

”Since that's your decision, we have no right to stop you,” the Sect Leader said before turning towards the Elders, she ordered, ”Return back to whatever you were doing.”

Some Elders wanted her to stop the duo, but her icy glare caused them to close their mouths before any words could get out.