The journey through the hidden passage was absolutely uncomfortable. Not a word was said between the three after their separation from Fredrick and Akira. In fact, the only sound being made so far was from the slow trotting of their horses. Kazu and Celine were riding up front, holding in the guilt of what had occurred earlier. Neither witch nor Kagemusha had the courage to check on the sorcerer following behind.

“Celine,” Kazu whispered. “Hey, Celine!”

She ignored him and kept her focus on riding down the passage. But Kazu called on her again and again, annoying the witch to get her attention. Celine’s resistance to the Kagemusha’s pestering was wearing thin very quick, then finally…

“WHAT?!” She gritted angrily, looking at him.

“U-Um…,” stuttered Kazu, then asked, “Do you know how Leo’s doing?”

Celine’s anger subsided as she looked back to the sorcerer. Leo was too deep in thought to even notice one of his friends checking on him. All that time not sharing his true feelings about his birthday just seemed so ridiculous. But he couldn’t help wondering what would’ve happened if he’d done so sooner. Especially if the topic involved distant relatives living in either Aviner or Thanatos.

“I think he’s still overwhelmed what happened earlier,” Celine stated to Kazu.

“Hm, I’m not surprised,” he confirmed. “Considering how Uncle Fredrick blamed himself like that.”

The two weren’t being very quiet talking amongst themselves. Leo was able to hear everything his friends were saying, but he wasn’t at all angry about it. If anything, he felt rather content in their growing concern over his feelings. It actually caused a small smile to form on the sorcerer’s sad face.

“I hope this trip cheers him up,” Kazu wished sadly.

“Me too,” desired Celine as well.

“I can hear you guys talking about me.”

The two nearly fell off their saddles when Leo startled them. He trotted up between his friends, joining in on their private conversation. But Kazu and Celine found themselves in an awkward position as they were riding on.

“Wait Leo, we—”

“Don’t worry so much about it, Celine,” the sorcerer interrupted. “I’m not going to let what happened ruin our day.”

“I-If you say so,” respected Kazu, before abruptly adding, “But you know, there’s really no shame in needing time to—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Leo hastily covered his cousin’s mouth. Kept it there for only a second more until the Kagemusha understood what it meant. The last thing the sorcerer desired was to be showered with undesired sympathy.

“There’s no time for that,” Leo stated, taking off his hand. “I want to get to Stone Cross and have the birthday I dreamed of.”

With that being said, he kicked at Ariel’s side, and picked up the speed. Kazu and Celine did the same as they followed close behind their now cheered up friend. Riding through the forest brought on a sense of solitude for the three magic wielders. Each of them had a smile across their faces, taking in all the excitement with ease. Up ahead, Leo spotted a large, triangular rock in front of what appeared to be a dead end. He pulled at the reins, along with Kazu and Celine, causing them all to come to a halt.

“We’re here!” Leo announced, climbing off Ariel.

“What’s that rock doing there?” Questioned Akira, joining his cousin. “It seems to be in the way.”

“Forget the rock, Kazu,” directed Celine. “We need to focus on finding the exit.”

Kazu gave Celine a disgruntled look as she climbed off her horse. Leo chuckled at his friend’s bickering, then went off to find the exit from the passage. He walked over to the very end, holding up both hands at the foliage facing him. But unfortunately, the wall of magical energy didn’t seem to appear for him.

“What’s wrong, Leo?” Celine asked.

“The exit’s not showing,” he stated. “Shouldn’t it be right here?”

“You’d think Uncle Fredrick would tell us before we’d left,” plainly complained Kazu. “Here. Let’s all try and find it.”

Kazu searched one side of the passage as Celine did so for the other. All three released their magic as they searched through every tree and bush before them. So far, there was no change in result, leaving Leo to get a bit frustrated on the matter. He moved to the side his cousin had searched, not seeing the rock from earlier in the way. It caused the sorcerer to hit his foot against the stone and feel pain to rush from his toes.

“Ow!”

“What is it?” Asked Kazu in concern.

“I hit my foot on this stupid rock!” painfully groaned Leo.

His friends snickered at the sight of him hoping around on one leg. When the pain subsided, Leo looked angrily at the rock, then he noticed something about it. It was shaped in a triangle with one of its corners pointing directly toward his direction. The sorcerer found it suspicious, then motioned behind to what the flat stone aimed at.

“Why did Mr. Cayden send us here without saying anything about the exit?” Questioned Celine, still searching.

“Who knows with that man?” he questioned back. “Hey, Leo! Any luck on your end?”

Leo didn’t pay his cousin any attention as he was onto something. He walked over toward the area of foliage the rock was apparently pointing at. Feeling rather skeptical, the sorcerer raised his hands up, calling forth his magic. It took just a few seconds for a barrier of white energy to coat the selected trees and bushes. Kazu and Celine caught sight of it happening and stood both absolutely astonished. Leo felt the same way, but he managed to keep hold of his concentration and shouted…

“Unveil!”

The barrier –along with all plant life– disappeared in a bright light. It’d been replaced by a short, dirt road showing before the sorcerer’s very eyes. Kazu rushed over beside his cousin, along with Celine doing the same without hesitation. But what Leo saw beyond that was a large city built within a big body of water. The sorcerer was astonished by the sight that he didn’t notice his cousin grabbing his shoulders. 

To be continued...