[TTH] 34 – This person is my fiancé? My heart can't handle all of this. And, I have a bad feeling about this. What should I do? (3)

//Actual last update of the year, hope you had a great 2024 and happy new year!

Luciano has been quietly observing us from the back since earlier. 

The role of a healer is to heal those intoxicated or affected by the magical energy replenishment. As the amount of magical energy replenishment increases, it seems that healers from Class B or Class A will come.

"Alright, we've observed enough, haven't we? I hate to interrupt while everyone's feeling romantic, but let's move on to the practical exercise. I'll teach you the control method, so let's all try it now."

"Okay!"

"Richeli, Karina, Sonia, are you feeling okay after the magic replenishment?"

"Ah, yes." We respond, exchanging glances.

"Any feelings of floating?"

"Ah, maybe there's a slight sensation of floating." I also think I might feel a bit floaty at Sonia's words.

Suddenly, I feel a gaze on me and look up to find Luna Maria. Her mint-green eyes narrow slightly as she smiles at me. Was it just my imagination that her eyes seemed stern for a split second...?

***

The morning practice is over. As I head alone to the private room prepared for Zinon and me to have lunch, I pass by the large training field. A large cheer surprises me, and I turn around.

(Ah... It's Zinon.) In the centre of the training field, surrounded by a large crowd, two enormous magical beasts are growling. Zinon and Patrick are holding large swords, discussing something. A blue flame-like light surrounds the sword Zinon is holding.

Patrick also makes silver light surge from his sword as he quickly circles the beast's rear. As soon as I heard a sound like fireworks exploding, a large blue sphere of light burst from the tip of Zinon's sword at an angry speed, hitting the magical beast. The beast stumbles and Patrick swings his sword down from behind, a silver flash enveloping its large body before it explodes.

An intense flash later, one of the two magical beasts there just a moment ago disappeared. Immediately, another large cheer rises.

"...Did they defeat it?"

"Yes, those two are impressive." A voice responds to my muttering, and I look up in surprise to see Luciano standing right next to me, squinting at the training field. Next to him is Luna Maria.

(…!) Luna Maria is watching the training field with a very pained expression.

(Is she watching Zinon... or Patrick?) Luna Maria's expression causes a stir in my chest. A bad feeling smoulders deep in my heart, making me uncomfortable. That's when it happens.

For some reason, my feet become floaty.

"Huh?" I wonder if it's just my imagination, but then my feet wobble.

"Wha-?" The moment I furrow my brows, my body feels like it's being pulled up. The next instant, I'm airborne.

"Kyaaaaa!!!" I scream, hearing Zinon's voice in my ear saying, "Oh, this is bad."

(Huh? What?) I'm tossed into the air, my lavender dress fluttering. As I hurriedly hold it down with both hands, I suddenly start falling headfirst. I know I'm above the training field and Zinon is looking up at me, and I panic.

Suddenly, a rainbow wall appears in front of me, like a soap bubble. Looking around, I see I'm inside a large bubble-like structure floating in the air.

Looking down at the ground, I meet eyes with Zinon.

Zinon has his palm facing upwards, controlling me. Is this magic?

Patrick is sheathing his sword. The other magical beast that should have been left has disappeared.

With a snap, the bubble-like membrane that had been surrounding me disappeared.

"Huh? What?" 

Though I was floating in the air like a balloon, I suddenly lost to gravity and fell straight down.

"!"

But I'm falling gently, slowly, and Zinon catches me.

I don't understand what's happening, being held in Zinon's arms like a princess.

"My apologies."

"Huh?"

"I saw you and I couldn't help but pull you towards me."

"Wha-?"

"Right now, you're connected to my magic," Zinon murmurs with a mischievous expression.

"Pulled? Even though we were apart, you can do that?"

Zinon looks into my face while still holding me. He could put me down now.

"You were standing next to a man I don't know."

"A man you don't know..." Could he mean Luciano? I turn my face towards where I was standing earlier.

Across the noisy crowd, I can see Luciano and Luna Maria watching from afar.

(Ah...) I can't shake off this bad feeling. Luna Maria seems to be watching Zinon and me, her expression pained.

"Were you coming to meet me?" Zinon's words snap me back to reality.

"Yes. I saw you fighting a terrifying magical beast... It surprised me."

"That was just an illusion created by illusion magic."

"But you looked impressive."

When I say this, Zinon looks up at me and smiles, lifting only the corners of his lips.

"Did you just realise?"

Not only me but maybe Luna Maria thought so too. If Luna Maria is targeting Zinon, what should I do?