Rise of the Strongest Soul Mage

Chapter 8 Meeting

Sora and Ryo sat at the table and ate in silence. Ryo must have been really hungry. Sora watched him gobble down good like he was being rushed but in between his eating and breathing, Sora could see him scrunching his palm once in a while. It had to hurt. He had punched Konan without his mage energy and busted his lip.

Konan and his friends had left shortly afterward because their once-occupied seats were now empty.

It wasn't the first time Ryo defended him. Although it had never gotten as intense as it did today, Sora knew Ryo would always defend him.

Ryo was more handsome than he was—if he was at all. He had the fit Sora had only ever dreamed about and he had developed a few muscles since training with the Hunters. He stood an inch shorter than Sora, but his body made him seem taller.

Ryo always had a buzzed cut that gave a full view of his oval face that ended with a stubble beard.

Ryo has a face you could describe as happy and approachable, and whenever he smiled or laughed, his eyes formed crescents.

When he was not in his Hunter uniform, he had a simple shirt on with black pants like he did now. Ryo always had the attention of the females in the Academy. They would stare at him for minutes, gossip, and point fingers, but he either did not notice them or he simply did not care because he never paid them any attention.

They walked back to Sora's room, and Ryo headed for the bathroom. He came back to find Sora searching through his things with noticeable enthusiasm.

"What are you doing?"

"Sit and give me your hand." Sora pointed to the chair in the room.

"Why?"

"I have to rub ointment on it, or else it would get swollen and hurt more."

Sora went ahead to grab ointment from his drawer. Layla has been considerate enough to send one up with his meal the last time. Although it was made for treating the humans, it had worked well in healing his cuts fast. It would do the same for Ryo.

Ryo stared at Sora, searching his drawer. He didn't need the ointment, he would get completely healed in no time, but he knew Sora must have had to use ointments most times on his wounds to heal. He knew it was his way of helping, so instead of explaining why he wouldn't need the ointment, he sat in the chair and stretched his hand out to Sora.

Sora got to work on his palm and wrist with the ointment. He massaged gently, easing the tight muscles in his hand. "You know you didn't have to attack him, right?"

"He asked for it." His tone was very unapologetic, letting Sora know he didn't regret attacking Konan.

"I know I can't defend myself, but I don't want you getting into trouble on my account."

"I won't get into trouble." Ryo shrugged.

"Why do you think so? Because you're a hunter now?"

"Because I won't get caught and stop scolding me like it will work on me. I would gladly punch him in the face again." He spoke as a matter of fact.

Sora stopped in the middle of massaging his wrist to look at him. "You never listen, do you?"

Ryo made to pinch Sora's cheek with his good hand whilst smiling widely, "No, obviously." And ended up laughing.

Sora squeezed tightly on Ryo's hurt wrist, and Ryo immediately yanked it out of his grasp.

"Bloody bastard! You know that hurt, right?"

"You're welcome. Don't get into trouble"

"Give me your hand."

"I think not sir. We're done here. You're not touching me again." Ryo got up from the chair and flexed his wrist, it felt better now. He nodded at Sora in approval. "You should take up a job healing Hunters. Your hands work wonders."

"No, thank you."

"Think about it. It would keep you in the Hunters' area for as long as we want and that way I can keep my eyes on you. You won't get into as much trouble as you do when I'm not around."

"Still no." Sora got up and moved past Ryo to return the ointment, then he sat on his bed.

Ryo turned to face him. "Now that I think about it, I'm not sure it would help. Trouble follows you everywhere, and you'd probably stress me out too. Stay here okay?" Ryo laughed and immediately dodged the pillow Sora there at his head.

"Sure thing." Sora replied

Ryo moved closer to him. "Good. Now get away, I want to sleep."

"Ohhh… okay, goodbye."

"Goodbye for what?" Ryo asked genuinely puzzled, which left Sora looking equally confused.

"Aren't you leaving? I thought you wanted to sleep."

"Why would I have to leave? You have a really nice bed here. Nice beds are meant to be slept in."

"It's a regular bed."

"Anything is better than the bed in the Hunters' dorm. Now, if you could be so kind, please move."

"This has to be harassment. You've got your own bed."

"This is closer." Ryo pulled Sora off the bed and got in before closing his eyes to sleep.

Sora knew that fighting it would get him nowhere, instead, he grabbed his cloak and headed out the door to visit the library.

...

Sora gently tapped Ryo, who reluctantly opened his eyes;

"I hope there's a good reason for this disturbance Sora, or you are dead meat."

"There has been a call for a meeting. I heard everyone is supposed to attend."

"Ohh."

Sora noticed Ryo didn't seem surprised. He knew something, but Sora knew he wouldn't speak. There was that Hunter secrecy. Again.

"What's going on? We haven't had a meeting like that in a very long time."

"I'm sure they'll tell us at the meeting. When's the meeting?"

"In a few minutes."

"Why? Don't we usually have meetings in the evening? Why did they move it to early noon?"

"Early noon?" Sora had a puzzled look on his face. "Ryo, it's late already."

"Wait, how long was I out for?"

"Six hours"

"What!"

"I honestly thought you were dead when I got back. I had to do a breathing check on you with my finger. Did training wear you out that much?"

"I guess so."

"We have to go now, though. Freshen up."

"Sure."