Chapter 5 ~ Unfamiliar Feeling

~ Third Person ~

"The time zones are different.." Lily said "What??" Cade said gazing on the clock "How long has she been missing?" Hayden asked standing up. "Almost a day.. but inside that portal-" Lily went silent for a minute "SHE'S BEEN GONE FOR 4,320 MINUTES!" She exclaimed worriedly "THAT'S 72 HOURS THERE!" Cade said in disbelief "Hey hey! Keep it down. And I didn't get a single thing you've said. Math isn't my strong suit! How'd you even come up with that so fast??" Hayden whisper-yelled "Ah right, sorry." Cade said.

"A minute here is 20 minutes there, so 3 minutes in our world is an hour inside that portal. Phoebe's been missing for, let's say a day. There's 1,440 minutes a day, we multiply it by 3 and that's 4,320 minutes divide it by 60 and that's 72 hours divide it again by 24 and that's 3 days." Lily explained "Did you catch all that?" Cade asked "Y'know you could've just told me a day here's 3 days there right?" Hayden replied while Lily just rolls her eyes. "Let's review the footage." Lily said pressing the botton on the recorder.

It's cut.

"YOU'RE ACTUALLY..- kidding me right now." Lily said annoyed "Did it break?" Cade asked "No, it recorded the portal when we were entering and exiting. It just didn't record inside the portal, it followed our world's timezone, that's why the recording's cut." Hayden explained.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. "Lily~?" a familiar voice said. "Hide your presence. Thoroughly." Lily said in a whisper. Opening the door, she saw Aella "Do you need anything?" Lily asked "Do you mind if I come in?" Aella ignored her question "I actually do." Lily firmly replied. Aella got close to her ear and whispered "I know they're in there.. I also know Phoebe isn't with you~" Lily pushed her away, as Aella just grins at her and exclaims "Sharing is caring~" Lily grunts "I'm too tired for this, get in." she said, there was no point in hiding it when Aella's the one who caught you. If you push her away then she'll twist the stories she knows to unrealistic ones, if you include her she'll happily play along as long as she's entertained.

"Thank you~" Aella said going in, Lily explained the situation and there was a short silence before Aella said "Then why don't you try making a memory spell? You know, the one that you drink and you can take a piece of your memory from?" "We'll need Rose's expertise to do that." Hayden replied "No we don't. Is Melanie really the only red coat you could think of??" Aella said, annoyed by the fact that Hayden mentioned Melanie. Cade noticed the zoned out Lily and said "Hayden, isn't your roomate an advanced mage??" Cade said "Yeah." Hayden replied almost immediately "Oh, c'mon! Phoebe's at sake- Wait what?" Cade said confused "Hmm.. Y'know.. you'd look good as a couple." Aella said looking at Lily then at Cade.

Cade blushed a little and Lily blinked, getting back to her senses and said "That came out of nowhere." "Now that Hayden agreed, The fun's just about to start~" Aella said clinging on to Hayden, completely ignoring what Lily said "We don't really talk much but I'm sure he'll understand." Hayden said gently pushing Aella away "I'm tired so I'll be going now." Hayden exclaimed before steping on the teleportation device "You coming?" Hayden asked Cade "In a bit." Cade's reply "ok" Hayden said before turning on the device and leaving "Ah, then I'll be heading back as well. Bye peasant, hope you get nightmares about Phoebe~" Aella said walking off with a mischievous laugh.

Lily grunts and Cade asked "You ok?" "Yep. Thanks." Lily replied with a smile, but her eyes were saying otherwise. Cade pats her head "You don't have to act so tough." Cade said and Lily's tears started to fall, Cade gets closer and wraps his arms around her "Shh it's ok.. and Phoebe's not that easy to take down, y'know?". She cried and cried. She's blaming herself. If she forced Phoebe to answer her questions before they fell asleep, would things have been different? Would Phoebe have told her? Would she have asked for help? Was she waiting for someone to ask?

After a while, Lily finally calmed down. She didn't even realized that they were already sitting on the floor. Cade was silently embracing her and the silence was comforting. "Are you feeling a bit better?" Cade worriedly asked breaking the silence. Lily nodded and chuckled "I'm sorry for making you deal with me in this pathetic state." she said as she lets go of Cade and straightening her posture, still a bit embarrassed "I don't know if this'll sound insulting but just know I don't mean anything bad.." Cade said looking at Lily waiting for her to allow him to continue, Lily nods and Cade exclaimed "I'm very happy you were honest with your feelings with me." Lily just blushes says "Thank you.. for staying with me." They stood up and, their goodbyes and Cade used the teleportation device to get back to his dorm. Lily cleaned the room and got ready for bed.

She's been in bed for hours but she still couldn't sleep.

Thump.

Thump thump.

"What is this feeling..?" Lily said holding her chest.

Time skip

7am

The next day Lily was awoken by someone banging on the door.

"Ugh. I barely got any sleep." Lily thought as she got up and went to open the door. The banging didn't stop until she opened it.

"Oh. My. Gosh. Do you know how long I've been standing here peasant?? Did you just wake up?? Look at your hair! It looks like a bird nest! You don't look like someone desperately looking for her friend!" Aella said incredibly annoyed. "Stop being so noisy." Lily said. Aella went to the bathroom with Lily, waiting for her to get ready. After that they went to the cafeteria for food. "I can't believe I'm eating with you." Aella said "Did I asked you to eat with me? If it's so embarrassing you're free to get a separate table. You're ruining breakfast for both of us." Lily said annoyed with all of Aella's blabbering "Do you think I'd do this 'cause I like you? I need to get on Hayden's good side. That's why I'm doing this." Aella replied.

A few moments later, the boys appeared and sat beside Lily. Aella said "Hello? Are you three really gonna make me sit alone??" "Yes." said the tall boy with white hair and red eyes, he wasn't in his uniform since school hasn't started yet, in fact, all of them are wearing casual clothes. "Ouch~" Aella dramatically said placing her hand on her chest.

~ Beto Huck ~

Hey, sorry for the late introduction. The name's Beto Huck Fukushima. A second year college student of "The United University of Magic".

~ Third Person ~

"Let's head to the library after eating." Cade said and everyone just nods. Suddenly, little fairies went in flying towards them with their colorful wings. They put down a note on their table and left. Aella opens it "What's it say?" Lily asked and Aella gave them the letter "It says it's for Phoebe's friends." was her reply. Beto stood up and went to the other side to sit beside Aella. "Why'd you leave?" Aella asked "I'm only helping 'cause I'm close to Rose's brother, I'm not really friends with Phoebe." Beto replied "Oh." was Aella's reaction, looking at her nails, obviously not interested.

"Good morning, this letter is for Phoebe's friends, we have been informed about Phoebe's absence and decided to review the school's footage, she was last found going inside her dorm room and didn't have any footage of her leaving, even her presence suddenly disappeared. We will ask a few questions to find out her whereabouts, so we ask for your full cooperation, it is expected that you will answer truthfully. Because of the Mistress' absence, your presence is requested by our school's Head Mage. Thank you, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Please know that this is for Phoebe's safety.

- The United University of Magic"

"Why is it made so formally?" Cade asked and Lily shrugs. "I guess we'll go to the library after this." Hayden said standing up "Ok, me and Aella's gonna wait at the library and start searching for the book." Beto said. Everyone agreed and went their way.

~ Melanie Rose ~

"Ah, so~ boring." I thought as she was reviewing the staff's report. I looked at the door and saw a woman standing there and smiled at her "Good morning Auntie." "I heard someone went missing in your university." Auntie worriedly said, she had curly red hair and green eyes wearing a light green long sleeve dress with flowery patterns. "Really..?" I said feeling a bit uneasy. "I think.. you should head there. I'll try to persuade your Uncle." Auntie said "Ah! I would love to help you with those papers, but I'll be meeting Countess Gavi." Auntie exclaimed, she's just too sweet. "It's alright Auntie, thank you." I smiled at her again and she left to get ready. I get back to the papers I was reviewing.. but I couldn't focus.

"Something.. is definitely wrong." I thought.

~ Third Person ~

"Did you find it?" Beto asked "I.." Aella hesitated. "What's wrong?" Beto asked a bit confused. "I can't.. reach... it." Aella mumbled. "Huh..? I didn't quite catch that." Beto said still confused, he bent down and closer to her face. Aella blushed embarrassed "I can't reach it.." There was silence for a moment. Beto laughed and said "I thought it was something serious, you scared me." Aella still embarrassed said "Are you gonna help or not??" Beto smiled "Sorry about that, you're all cute when your shy. Where is it?" Aella quietly lead him to where the book was. He reached for the book and asked "Should we wait for them?" "Well, yeah." Aella replied. They sat down and Beto started reading the book. "Thanks." Aella suddenly said Beto looked at her and asked "For what?" "For getting the book for me and.. the complement." Aella replied smiling a little "No problem" Beto replied smiling back.

At the office.

"Are you telling the truth?" A man sitting across them asked, the man had long black hair and pitch black eyes wearing a golden coat. "Yes." the three of them replied. "We've told you everything we know. Will you help us find her?" Hayden asked "I would love to, truly. But as a representative of the Mages' Tower I can't use any sort of magic without permission. I will tell them what you've told me and... I will allow you to explore the portal. But, wear these." The Head Mage replied. He gave them a small bag. "Be careful. You are dismissed." the Head Mage said. "Sir. Is this a trick? A test maybe?" Cade asked in suspicion the Head Mage smiled and said "Even if I tell you not to go through that portal, I know you will. Because she's your friend. That's why I gave you protective crystals for your safety and to warn me when things get rough, it's the only way I can help at the moment." They were a bit surprised. "Thank you, sir." Lily said with a smile. They left the office and headed straight to the library.

"Let's get this party started." Aella said with a smile.

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To be continued..

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