Chapter 118: A Deal Noah Will Regret.
’Please, let no one interrupt this time.’
Noah held the golden star extended in front of Aria, who watched it closely, while around them both the auditorium remained in chaos.
Yume maintained an energy barrier in front of a group of students.
Luna protected one of the blocked exits.
Iris was facing two members of the organization near the stage.
Ren stayed next to Noah, constantly looking in every direction while gripping a metal bar she had found on the floor.
Aria looked at the star again.
"What exactly is it?"
Noah clenched his teeth.
"We don’t have time."
"That doesn’t answer anything."
"It’ll give you powers."
Aria stayed silent, incredulous at what she had heard, and Ren looked at her.
"Powers?"
Noah didn’t take his eyes off Aria.
"Yes."
Aria looked again at Yume, then at Luna, and then at Iris.
"Like them?"
"That’s right."
Aria didn’t extend her hand, and Noah frowned.
"Aria."
"No."
Noah opened his eyes.
"What?"
"I’m not going to take an unknown object in the middle of an attack just because you order me to."
Noah looked at her in disbelief.
"Now you’re the one who has problems receiving orders?"
"Yes."
"We’re under attack!"
"Exactly."
An explosion struck one of Luna’s barriers and part of the ceiling structures trembled, making several people scream.
Noah pointed toward the rest of the auditorium.
"Look at what’s happening!"
"I’m looking."
"Then take this."
"No, I..."
Noah closed his eyes for a second.
’This can’t be.’
He had spent days trying to give her that star and, when he had finally managed to get close, Aria was refusing.
One of the enemy agents was sent flying by one of Iris’s attacks and crashed into several chairs, at which Iris turned.
"Noah!"
"I’m fine!"
"Then move!"
"I can’t yet."
Aria looked at Iris.
"It doesn’t seem like she has any problems."
Noah watched her.
"Aria, this isn’t just about you."
She looked at him again.
"There are students trapped."
A dark barrier was still covering one of the doors.
Some teachers were trying to get the students out through a side route, but another unit was blocking the path.
Noah continued.
"Yume, Luna, and Iris can’t be everywhere."
Aria fell silent.
"If you really want to be president..."
That caught her attention, and Noah held the star more firmly.
"Then protect the people who are here."
Aria looked toward the audience.
A student was crying next to a classmate, several people were crouched behind the rows, and a teacher was trying to hold back a group that wanted to run toward a blocked exit.
Aria frowned slightly, and Noah brought the star closer.
"You can help."
She still didn’t touch it, and Noah felt another presence approaching as his detection ability activated.
"Down!"
He grabbed Aria and a blast passed over them.
Ren struck the attacker’s arm with the bar.
"Don’t come near us again!"
The agent shoved her and Ren fell.
"Ren!"
Noah was about to help her, but Iris appeared and with an energy explosion struck the woman.
Iris landed next to Ren.
"Are you okay?"
Ren got up.
"Yes."
Iris looked at Noah.
"Do what you have to do quickly!"
"I’m trying!"
Aria looked at the star again, and Noah decided he no longer had any patience.
"Fine."
Aria looked at him as Noah breathed.
"I’ll do whatever you want."
A small silence settled in, and Aria blinked.
"What?"
Noah immediately regretted choosing those words, but it was already too late.
"Whatever you want."
Aria stayed completely still.
Ren turned toward him, and so did Iris.
Even from a few meters away, Luna seemed to have heard him.
Noah continued before everyone could interpret it worse.
"As long as you take the star now and help."
Aria observed him.
"Whatever I want?"
"Don’t abuse the phrase."
"That wasn’t included."
"Aria."
"I want confirmation."
Noah pointed at the trapped people.
"Yes!"
Aria smiled.
"Good."
Noah immediately felt he had made a mistake.
"But first protect everyone."
Aria finally extended her hand.
"Naturally."
Her fingers touched the star and the reaction was immediate.
The object began to shine, at which Aria opened her eyes and the light ran up her arm, then covered her entire body.
Noah stepped back, the same as Ren.
The star floated in front of Aria’s chest, several golden lines appeared around her, and her clothes began to transform.
The high school uniform disappeared.
In its place appeared an elegant magical outfit, mainly white and gold, with firm and orderly details.
A small crown of energy formed over her head and the star became embedded in the center of her chest.
Aria slowly raised a hand and the glow faded as she looked at her fingers.
"Interesting."
Noah smiled.
"It worked."
Aria looked at him.
"Of course."
"Of course?"
"You gave it to me."
Noah decided not to argue.
An attacker appeared from the side, at which Iris prepared herself, but before she could launch an attack, Aria extended her hand.
"Stop."
The woman froze.
Noah opened his eyes.
The attacker tried to move but couldn’t, and Aria also seemed surprised.
Iris looked at the agent and then at Aria.
"What did you do?"
Aria raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I ordered her to stop."
The woman remained motionless while Noah felt an immediate emotion.
’Command powers.’
That was Aria’s power.
The attacker managed to move after a few seconds and Iris struck her with a blast before she could react.
Aria observed her.
"It only worked for a short time."
Noah spoke.
"It probably depends on the strength of the target."
"Then I’ll have to improve."
Noah pointed toward the fighting.
"First try something else."
Aria looked at a dark barrier blocking an exit, so she extended her hand.
"Disappear."
The barrier began to tremble, but nothing happened, so Aria frowned and tried again.
"Break."
A crack appeared and Luna saw it.
"Again!"
Aria raised her voice.
"Break!"
The barrier exploded and the nearby students screamed, at which Luna reacted immediately.
"Exit open, move in groups!"
The teachers began organizing the evacuation.
Aria looked at her hands and Noah approached.
"The commands seem to affect magical things as well."
"That’ll make things a lot easier."
Yume arrived running.
"Aria?"
She stopped upon seeing her transformed and then looked at Noah.
"Was that it?"
"Yes."
Yume sighed.
"Good."
Luna appeared next to them, looked at Aria’s new outfit and then at Noah.
"What did you promise?"
Noah pretended not to hear.
"We have to finish this."
Luna narrowed her eyes.
"I heard you."
"We’ll talk about it later."
Aria smiled.
"He promised to do whatever I want with him."
Yume opened her eyes along with Luna, while Iris slowly turned and Ren brought a hand to her face.
Noah raised both hands.
"So she would accept the star!"
Yume pointed at Aria.
"Don’t abuse that."
Aria answered calmly.
"I make no promises."
Luna took a step.
"You’d better promise."
Noah placed himself in the middle.
"First the villains!"
A nearby explosion confirmed he was right, as several members of the organization advanced from the lower sector, while another unit tried to block the exit again.
Iris positioned herself at the front.
"More are coming."
It was time to see the four of them in action.