Chapter 3 - Magic Energy

"Do we have to stay in the Hospital Rooms until our houses are assigned? Isn't there a guest room in Hogwarts?" Aerith pouted, rolling on the bed.

"It's good to stay here, and I assume we are under observation. After all, we have lost much of our memories?" Tifa sat on the chair in front of Aerith, near the table. The back support was facing Aerith, and Tifa was sitting sideways, one leg on top of the other, looking nothing like a little girl from her demeanor.

As for Cloud, he leaned against his bed, watching Tifa and Aerith. The three of them had decided that when they spoke aloud, they would talk with the new reality in mind and talk about essential things through the party chat.

He told Tifa about the voices he had been hearing, but she asked a question that made him wonder.

'Why did you tell Aerith that…? What made you believe that you can't rely on me?'

At first, he thought that Tifa was hurt that he didn't tell her first, but it was nothing like that. The look on her face was thoughtful and profound.

'If Aerith seems to know something about the voices, then it's not a stretch to say that the voices might know about Aerith. So, Cloud, think back carefully; what made you think that Aerith might be able to help you?'

When he thought back to the situation, he realized that it was instinct. But unlike the usual battle instinct, this might come from the voices. He might be more affected by the voices than he thought he was, and they might be affecting his thoughts. That scared him.

Aerith sulked, "I want to go outside. I want a room of my own, and I want to plant a few herbs and trees."

"Were you always like that?" Cloud confusedly looked at Aerith. He felt that something had changed.

Aerith puffed her cheek, "What is that supposed to mean? That is so rude."

She rested her chin on the palm on her head, looking away, "I…am happy that I don't have to worry about so many things anymore. Now…I can live freely. Although, it might be a bit selfish."

"No, I understand," Tifa didn't look at her but gazed in the distance, "It feels nice, being free…being able to have dreams and hopes."

Aerith gently smiled, watching Tifa, who looked back at her as the two shared a smile.

Cloud stood with his hands crossed, gripping his upper arm, "Hopes and Dreams…?"

He pulled forward, turning around to leave, "I am going to Hagrid's."

"I'll come with you," Tifa stood up, but Cloud rejected right away, "No."

Tifa pressed her lips, sitting back down with a hint of worry in her eyes, watching him leave the room.

"You don't have to worry about him so much," Aerith rested her chin on the pillow, watching Tifa with a smile on her lips.

Tifa sat down, sighing, "I had known Cloud from the time before he became a Soldier…but it seems there are …."

"Some gaps in his memories?" Aerith turned around, hanging her head off the bed, her hair touching the ground.

Tifa watched her closely, "You seem to know much about him and what happened to him."

"Yes, I know everything," Aerith closed her eyes, "But it's better if he doesn't know it so soon."

"Why?" Tifa tilted her head towards Aerith, asking without any anger or emotion, just pure confusion, trying to understand Aerith's reasoning.

"Because it's painful," Aerith raised her hand, looking at the back of her palm, "We are kids again, and the magic course is for seven years. It's fair to assume that it wants us to attend the Magic School, so we have time to grow peacefully. How about this? Once we graduate, I will tell you two everything."

Tifa stood up, walking up to Aerith, crouching down in front of her, cupping her cheeks even though she was upside down, peering into her eyes, talking through the party chat, 'Aerith…I am not Cloud. I don't know what he went through or what messed him up so bad that he doesn't even remember how many years had passed. I am not a little girl too. I am an adult in a little girl's body, so you don't have to hold it in. You don't have to worry about me and carry the weight on your shoulders. If possible, I would like you to share everything you know with me.'

Aerith widened her eyes, feeling her eyes watery, and she raised her hand, putting her palm on Tifa's cheek, 'You are still the same….'

'Still?'

'It's a long story?'

'We have seven years…although I'd like you to be done with it in one,' Tifa smiled.

"Hehe," Aerith sat up, "I'll think about it."

Tifa placed her hands on the edge of the bed, puffing her cheek, "I told you. It's not about you thinking about it. I want to know, and you are telling me."

Aerith looked over her shoulder, chuckling, "You are always so pushy."

"So what?"

Aerith turned around, jumping on Tifa, hugging her tightly, "Nothing! It makes me want to hug you because you are so cute!"

Tifa tried to pull away, looking at her from the corner of her eyes, letting go of any resistance.

Aerith's eyes turned down, "Just like I want to hug Cloud… every time I see him struggling."

Tifa placed her hands on Aerith's waist, hugging her softly, "If you ever want a hug, don't hesitate."

"Gee, no wonder Cloud is head over heels for you," Aerith chuckled softly, hugging her tightly.

Near Merlin's Gate,

Cloud walked out of the gate with his hands inside the pants pockets. Even as he walked towards Hagrid's Cottage, his thoughts were fixed on the Virtual Screen.

He wondered if the voices could hear him if he called out to them. He wanted to hear their thoughts about this System thing. From what he could tell, other than giving them the mission and allowing them to secretly communicate, the System didn't do anything else. It did show them their stats and allowed them to view each other's conditions.

He was expecting to hear a description, but there was only one, one that he could never forget. He could feel that man's presence right behind him, floating atop him, "Cloud, don't be stupid. There can only be two reasons why that thing hasn't reacted. Either it has decided that you do not need any help at this stage, or you haven't shown enough value for it to react."

"You," Cloud hastily turned around to see if he was there, but there wasn't anyone. He gasped for breath, resting his hands on his knees, feeling his body covered in sweat, "No…he's here too?!"

Cloud gripped his knees, tightening his aw, shaking his head, "No…they are just voices."

He looked around, noticing a tree nearby, and went into its shade, sitting down, "I need help…I need money. Haven't shown value…? Then it wouldn't have chosen us."

Cloud felt the color from the world drain, and the presence appeared beside him, leaning against the tree, watching him with interest.

"Then? What do you think is the reason?"

Cloud clenched his fist, remembering that they were just voices. He had prepared himself to not talk to them but use their intelligence before.

"Energy…what if it doesn't have enough energy? It managed to bring us to this world, but that must have taken a lot of energy. What if it's drained?" Cloud thought out loud, and the world regained its color as the voice left behind a chuckle.

Cloud looked away, narrowing his eyes, "Now that I think about it…the magical energy is mostly internal, which comes from blood. But there is one on the outside too, but if the System needed energy, shouldn't it make it?"

'Not if it's outside of the equation.'

"What?" Cloud raised his head since this was the first time he heard the woman's voice.

'Right now, the System is outside of the Equation of this Universe. There is a possibility if it takes in the energy from this Universe, then it would be connected to it, and hence the Fate of this World. It exists, but by being outside the Equation, it doesn't exist. Hence it can't be sensed, perceived, or detected by anyone. But once it becomes the part of the equation, the veil will be lifted.'

Cloud leaned against the tree, turning his sight towards the sky, saying, "Then it's a waste of time? It wouldn't be helpful from now on?"

'On the contrary. The System is outside the Equation, but you three are inside the Equation, yet the System is connected to you three. To put it simply, it's somewhere between being completely outside and completely inside. So to maintain its position, there is only one way.'

Cloud turned his sight to the virtual screen, "So to say…we have to feed it magic energy, and only we can feed it?"

The voice didn't reply, nor did the others, leaving Cloud with his thoughts. He stood up, walking towards Hagrid's Cottage, with a few questions in his mind. He was sure that Hagrid could tell him more about the magical energy.

He knocked on the door, lightly saying, "Hagrid, it's Cloud."

It was only a knock and a light introduction, but it was followed by the sound of items falling here and there before the door opened. Hagrid rubbed his beard, looking out of the door, nervously rubbing his beard, "Cloud, what brings you here?"

"There is something I wanted to ask you," Cloud entered the house without being invited, opening the party chat and inviting Aerith and Tifa in.

'There is something I want you to hear,' While Hagrid was busy inviting him home, Cloud told Aerith and Tifa what the voice said.

"Hagrid…where does Magic Energy inside us come from?" Cloud sat down, coming to the point.

If they had to think about feeding the system through their magic power, they needed to know where Magic Energy came from, how to increase it, and how to replenish it.

He was in a hurry to get stronger, and other than attending classes, the System was the path he planned to walk.

"Magic energy? Why would you ask about that?"

"I want to know…where does Magic Energy come from?"

"Well," Hagrid sat down before him, "It could be said that it comes from blood. That is why some Pure Bloods only allow marriage with other Pure Bloods…."

Hagrid sighed, scratching his cheek with his fingers, looking away in annoyance, "But it's not true. They disown, banish or lie about Muggles or Muggle-born on their family tree. It's all hypocrisy."

"I don't care about that," Cloud looked at Hagrid's cottage, "So you need to be connected to these Pure Bloods or Wizards by Family Tree to have magic power?"

"Huh…uh…not really. Some Muggles are born with Magic Power and Talent, while there are also squibs."

Hagrid leaned forward, whispering, looking around as if he didn't want someone to hear this, "Squibs are born to Wizard parents but don't have magic themselves; they are the most pitiful ones if you ask me."

'If it's in the blood, it must be related to a Gene. These people here have some gene mutation that grants them access to magic power. It could be this Gene gives humans access to the energy of lifestream, allowing them to do magic. You'd have to research magic and see if it follows any laws, much like the Materia's.'

Cloud felt a sense of irritation when the only female voice in his head spoke to him.

It only calmed down when he

'Cloud, it's magic, it doesn't have to follow the rules, and there might not even be a reasonable explanation for why it is there. Just accept the magic, and it will accept you.'

Cloud exhaled, 'It's not that I am rejecting it…or trying to control it. I just want to know if draining magical power could hurt you two. I have an enhanced body, so I should be ok.'

'Cloud, we are big girls, don't worry about it so much. Whatever happens…we are going to face it together.'

Cloud leaned back, feeling a sense of relief wash over him, and he stopped up, walking out of the cottage.

"Wait, Cloud, aren't you going to stay for the tea?"

"No, not really," Cloud stepped out without looking back at Hagrid, who had already poured the tree, and his sad eyes.

"But…I am already poured it…." Hagrid watched the cup that was too small to be picked up by him.

Cloud stopped, leaning back a little, looking inside the house, scratching his cheek as he awkwardly looked away, "Maybe next time."

A wide, joyful grin appeared on Hagrid's face; he laughed, "Haha, yes. I will prepare a bigger cup next time!"

"That's not the problem," Cloud glanced towards the cup, which was the size of a kettle, walking away.

The grounds of Hogwarts were empty since the term had come to an end, and the chance of meeting a few teachers on such a big campus was slight. He made his way to the Hospital Wing, entering to see Tifa and Aerith standing near each other, talking. Both of them went mute the moment they saw him.

He looked towards the beds, knowing he was being left out of something.

"Cloud, we were just talking about the subjects and houses. Which one do you think will you get?" Tifa gently smiled, asking.

Cloud stepped closer to them, thinking, looking at Tifa, when he suddenly put his hands around her waist, hugging her.

"Wah! Cloud?!"

Cloud placed his palm on her head, hugging her closely, "Your voice…it always pulls me back."

Tifa's surprised expression disappeared, and she hugged him back, with a smile in her eyes, "I'll always be here, Cloud. So stay Cloud?"

"Hm," Cloud pulled back a little, gazing into her eyes. There was something about this moment; it seemed perfect, making him want to kiss her lips. He parted his lips, and he could tell Tifa knew what he was going to do, and she inched closer as well.

He could hear her breathing and feel it brush against his skin; his breath matched hers. He tilted his head when two palms appeared before their mouth, pushing them back, "What are you doing! You are still children; it's too early!"

Tifa and Cloud snapped out of the daze, watching each other, looking away in embarrassment. Aerith enjoyed every moment of their embarrassment, watching them with a grin, covering her mouth, and laughing silently.

"The courses…for the first year…? What are they again?"

"Right…the courses," Aerith stretched her words, teasingly speaking, watching Cloud's face turn even redder.

"Shut up…"

"Awww, you are just so cute!"