Chapter 48: Run, Leah, Run!

(tln : forrest gump references)

The longer Leah waited in the dark backstage, the more restless she became.

Alone in the shadows, she counted her heartbeats, which were racing faster than usual. Mary’s whispered words from earlier kept echoing in her ears.

“Number 10, Warmth Amidst the Elements—”

Even as she stepped onto the stage for the research competition, she couldn’t shake her unease.

She looked out.

In the distance, the sky was beginning to lighten. Closer, a sea of unfamiliar faces filled the audience.

The people seated here were strangers, perhaps one or two were teachers she’d passed by at school.

Some were watching her intently, others were dozing off from the early hour, and some were scribbling notes with their heads down.

There were plenty of eyes on her, and in a research competition, garnering this much attention was already impressive.

But for some reason, Leah felt a hollow emptiness inside.

He’s not here. He’s not here. He’s not here. He’s not here. He’s not here. He’s not here—

“My research project is called Warmth Amidst the Elements. It originates from Chapter Five of the ancient magic book The Founding Candle. According to the original text, it was designed to create the environment needed to produce materials for the Founding Candle.”

He’s not watching me. He’s not watching me. He’s not watching me. He’s not watching me. He’s not watching me. He’s not watching me—

“As an ancient magic, some of its materials are difficult to replicate. Through research into ancient magical texts, we’ve identified modern substitutes to recreate the spell.”

Leah lifted her head. Despite the Blood-Red Mint making her heart pound and her magical circuits spin wildly, she felt no joy.

He’s not looking at me. He’s not looking at me. He’s not looking at me. He’s not looking at me. He’s not looking at me. He’s not looking at me—

“The steps are as follows…”

Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he—

“After processing this material, we then…”

Please come. Please come. Please come. Please come. Please come. Please come. Please come—

“Finally, when we achieve the deep blue base solution, the goal is to ignite it for sustained high temperatures…”

I want to see him. I want to see him. I want to see him. I want to see him. I want to see him. I want to see him—

Leah felt like she was being dragged forward by the inertia of “having to complete the competition.”

A spell she had tested countless times.

A spell that couldn’t possibly fail.

A spell she executed perfectly.

She turned around and dropped the witch’s coin into the solvent.

The coin…

The coin that had connected her fate with Will’s.

Then, she began to chant the ancient magic incantation, words that had survived over 500 years—

“The gentle breeze once carried the warmth of the earth.”

“The snow once blanketed the brightness of the sky.”

“The ice once sealed the ocean’s embrace.”

“Here, with this mortal vessel, I return warmth to life, heat to nature, and vitality to the soul.”

“This is Warmth Amidst the Elements—”

As if competing with the rising sunlight outside, the deep blue solution on the stage ignited, producing a rare and beautiful flame.

The temperature readings confirmed it: the spell had achieved an exceptionally high heat output.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

But for some reason, despite the bright success of the competition, Leah felt as though a dark magic had enveloped her.

It was as if a thin layer of black mist clouded the gazes directed at her.

As if a thin veil muffled the applause that echoed around her.

Because the eyes watching her weren’t his.

Because the applause celebrating her wasn’t his.

…

The segment where judges and participants exchanged pleasantries.

…

The Q&A session with guests and students.

…

The judges’ evaluations and mutual praise.

…

One round after another passed, and Leah felt like a performer trapped inside a giant costume, listening to her own racing heartbeat, feeling her surging magical circuits, speaking perfunctory words, all while peering out at the world through the hollowed eyes of the costume.

I want, I want, I want his gaze.

I want, I want, I want his praise.

I want, I want, I want his…

…His…

His what?

“Congratulations! Leah Ferramore Element!!”

“Her Warmth Amidst the Elements is a groundbreaking achievement in fire and fire-adjacent magic in recent years. This spell bridges the gap between ancient and modern magic, making it an exceptionally successful piece of research. It has applications in forging and fluid-based offensive techniques. For the first time in eight years, the grand prize has been awarded! Let’s congratulate her and present her with the winner’s ceremonial mage robe—”

Leah donned the robe.

The robe, specially made for the competition, had red trim to signify fire magic. The back bore the crest of Entark First Academy—a distinction only awarded to winners of major competitions. Recipients often displayed these robes proudly in glass cases.

“Congratulations!”

“Yes, congratulations!”

“Please, share a few words as your acceptance speech—”

…

Surrounded by well-wishers, Leah stepped up to the podium. The Frozen Ice Array, the book she had longed for, was now in her hands.

This was the book she had wanted so badly.

It felt heavy in her hands.

But now that she had it, Leah felt that just holding this book wasn’t enough.

At the podium, the Warmth Amidst the Elements spell she had ignited continued to burn. The spell was designed for long-lasting combustion, after all.

“I…”

Looking at the results she had finally achieved, Leah couldn’t stop thinking about the story behind them.

Why had she felt so hollow this entire time?

Was it because Will might become someone else’s student today?

She had told herself… he would find better opportunities…

But…

—”Look at this flame—it’s so beautiful, so dazzling, so powerful. It seems capable of melting any ice, thawing any snow, and lighting the final candle in the coldest wind.”

—”It’s yours now. While I may have helped a little, this is something you earned through your own efforts.”

—”You need to be like this flame—burning brightly, with the passion to claim everything you desire. Hold it tightly, and with your light, dominate his every gaze.”

“I… I want to be like this flame, burning brightly, with the passion to… to claim… claim what I desire…”

For some reason, Leah found herself repeating those words.

They replaced the long, formal acceptance speech she had prepared. Instead, she spoke from her heart—

“That’s… that’s all! I… I have something very important to do—”

With that, Leah bolted from the venue.

“W-Wait… is that it for her acceptance speech? She’s the first winner of the grand prize in years!”

The Blood-Red Mint Essential Oil had long since worn off, but the closer Leah got to the field, the more she felt her heart pounding.

Almost there…

She was almost there…

She could already see the shadow of the field.

Huff… huff…

She ran as fast as she could toward the commotion on the field.

Her clenched fists felt as though they were holding onto him, afraid he might slip away.