"Sorry…did you just say Mar'gareth?"
I stuttered.
"A-As in Sir Mar'gareth?"
Aldren blinked. "Yes… You don't know him?"
"Was he the one who fought alongside King Aethon?" I pressed.
Aldren frowned. "Yes? I thought everyone knew that."
"Oh…"
"Mar'gareth shouldn't be alive… So how?"
Aldren studied me, then straightened. "I have to go now. Do you need anything else?"
"N-No… Thank you for today."
He gestured ahead. "Alright then, let's head to your room."
I followed, but my thoughts drifted.
"How is Mar'gareth still alive? I saw how badly he was hurt when he picked up one of the twins. How…?"
"Uhm, Zandren?" Aldren called. "Where are you going?"
I blinked. "Oh uh.."
"Your room is right here."
I chuckled nervously. "Ah, yes. Sorry."
"I underestimated your exhaustion." He said with a small laugh. "Since you have the key, go ahead."
He gestured to the key hole.
The lock clicked.
"Great." Aldren clapped. "I have to go now."
"If you need anything, or a way to reach me or Lady Eimira, go to the front desk." He added.
"Got it."
He left.
I stood alone, staring at the plaque.
Zandren.
Just my name. No family name.
"What was my father's name?" I whispered.
I exhaled, mounted the plaque on the door, then opened it.
"Wow…"
The room exceeded my expectations.
Polished wooden floors. Clean air. A wide bed. A desk by the window with fresh parchment. A little open kitchen. A wardrobe made of dark wood. A rack for weapons and a stand for armour. Glowstones set into the walls cast a soft light.
It felt like I was back in the Palace.
I stepped in and let the door shut.
A piano stood against the dark wall. Black wood finish. Beautiful.
"But… I don't know how to play this." I said, almost laughing. "This is too much for me."
I changed, hung the uniform, and walked to the window.
The sky burned orange. The sun dipped low. From this height, the Academy stretched wide, framed by the distant colossal trees.
I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. Then a relaxed exhale.
I opened them.
"I love it here already, haha." I smiled. "But…"
Students moved below. Laughter carried on the air.
"Would I fit in here?" I said. "Me, a person without a family name."
Knock.
I ignored it.
Knock.
I sighed.
"I'm coming. One moment."
I opened the door.
Eimira.
"Oh uh, Hi…"
"You sure took your time," she frowned. "I was about to leave."
I pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sorry."
She returned it, softer. "What's up with you? Missed me already?"
"Yes." I replied. "You came at the right time."
She giggled. "Let me come in. I don't want us to be seen out here."
She stepped inside and looked around.
"So. Do you like it?"
"What?"
She gestures. "The room, dummy."
I stared at her. "I do. More now that you're here.
Her face flushed. "I'll visit more often then hehe."
She walked around, stopping at my wardrobe. She ran her hand along my uniform.
"Does it fit well?" She asked..
"Yes, it does." I replied.
She handed me one, a slight grin tugging at her lips. "Prove it."
I smiled. "Really?"
She nodded.
I sighed, then put it on.
"Well?" I asked.
She stepped closer, then walked around me, before stopping at my front. She adjusted the collar.
She smiled. "It suits you."
"Eimira.."
"Hmm?"
"Why all this for someone you met recently?"
She held my gaze. No response. Then slowly turned to the piano.
Her fingers moved.
A soft melody filled the room.
I took a seat on the bed, and watched her play.
The melody ended on a high note. One that invokes suspense.
"It's a secret, hehe." She said,
She walked back to me, then pulled me up.
She smiled. "A secret, I already told you. But you seem to have forgotten."
"Could you maybe remi—"
She kissed me.
"Hmm hmm." She shook her head. "You're tired. Let's talk tomorrow."
I took her hands.
"Thank you though. I mean it."
Her cheeks warmed. "Then don't ask questions like that, haha."
"Eimira, one more thing."
"Hmm?"
I pulled her closer. "When do I meet your father? I feel like I need to thank him too."
She hesitated.
"He's away now. I don't know when he'll be back."
"Hey, have you eaten?" She asked.
"No."
"I'll bring some for you."
She moved to leave.
I pulled her back, arms around her waist.
Her cheeks flushed. "Don't do that so suddenly."
"Will I see you often?"
She faced me. "Yes, you will."
She slipped away.
The door closed.
"It's silent again." I said flatly.
"Ahh." I crashed on the bed. "When are classes going to begin?"
I grabbed the schedule Aldren had handed me.
"So in three days." I said, tossing the schedule.
"Shit… Why'd I just do that? I'm going to need it."
I turned to search for the schedule and came across a book on the side table beside the bed.
I grabbed it.
"The Tarrion Academy History." I read the title.
"Hmm. Sounds interesting."
I flipped the pages. Then came across what the colour of each uniform represents. Also found out about another colour besides the other three. Blue.
I stroked my chin. "I don't think I've seen that around."
I tossed the book.
"Arrgh, I'm tired." I said, "but I'm also hungry. I can't sleep without eating."
My stomach rumbled.
"I know. I know."
I reached for the money pouch I brought with me, and poured its content on the bed.
"Hmm. Five gold coins and ten silver coins." I counted, "That should do. Now where's the map."
"Ahh, there it is."
I grabbed the map and unrolled it. A naked woman stared back.
"What the—"
I laughed.
"Wait… is this Hyrar!!?" I laughed more. "No way…"
I rolled it up, and left it on the side table.
"He'll rush back here the moment he realises, haha."
I headed downstairs to ask for a map of the academy, but found it empty.
"I guess I'll ask around."
I stepped outside the dormitory. Night had settled. The glowstones lit the paths and the water from fountains caught the light.
I made my way past the rows of wooden lantern posts and into the main streets. Students moved in groups, chatting, and chilling.
I stopped one. "Excuse me."
He turned. "Yes?"
"Can you point me towards the courtyard?"
"Sure sure." He stepped beside me, then gestured with his hand. "Just go straight down this path and take a left. You'll see it from there."
"Thank you."
"No problem."
He left with his friends.
I followed the direction I was given. The closer I got, the stronger the scent of food grew.
Then.
A thud. Followed by a muddled cry for help. Someone was getting bullied in an alley before the left turn. Other students walked past without checking.
"If other students are minding their business. I should too." I said, walking past the alley, and catching a glimpse of the scene.
"Mind your business. Mind your business."
I turned.
"Ah, crap."
"Fat pig."
"His father probably steals the food he feeds to this shit."
A hit.
The boy groaned, clutching his stomach.
"He's crying."
They laughed.
"Just give us all you got henceforth… Think of it as buying your peace."
Another stepped forward. "I mean, you wouldn't like it if you got tied to the fountain. Naked."
"Well, that's not cool." I cut in.
They turned.
"Another fresh meat just delivered himself to us." One said.
"How'd you know I was "Fresh meat."?" I asked.
"You saw everyone ignore right?" He replied. "Yeah, they know not to mess wi—"
"Wait you guys." The one beside him pointed at me. "Look at his tag."
The one behind them the two spoke. "He's a higher noble."
I looked down to see my name tag. It glowed dull blue with golden edges.
"W-well that means n-nothing." The first stuttered. "More premium stuff for us then."
They laughed.
"Hey, since you're new here, how about some friends to— show you around our beautiful Academy."
They pushed forward, slowly.
"I promise we'll be nice to you, as long as you are generous with everything you have."
"I don't want trouble." I said. "Let's just use our words and go our separate wa—"
I moved first.
A strong hit on the one that talked the most. He slammed into the wall and dropped.
"What the fuck—"
"Screw this. I'm out."
The remaining two ran.
"Weren't you going to take care of me? Come back." I yelled.
Then laughed softly.
"Cowards." I whispered.
"Uhm.. Thank you."
"It's fine, haha." I replied.
"If there's any way I can repay your kindness, please let me know." He said.
"Well you can help me now by... showing me the food court."
He nodded fast.
"That's my favourite place."
I smirked. "Yeah, I can tell…"
"But." I turned. "We can't leave him like that."
"I can heal him." The boy said. "My blessing is of the plants, Verdra."
"So Daeona's blessing is Verdra."
"Alright, do that please."
"Okay."
The boy summoned a plant with a closed bud that slowly opened. He healed himself first, then knelt before his bully and healed him too.
"Done." He said.
"Alright then, let's go."
We walked out of the alley and made our way to the courtyard. I glanced at him.
He looked around my age. Short, round and soft-faced. His shirt squeezed at the sides a bit. His glasses, now cracked, sat low on his nose, and he kept pushing them up anytime they slipped. His hair was now messy, and his eyes moved quickly, as if taking notes in his head.
We walked in silence for a while and he seemed stiff.
"So, what's your name?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I am Zahir Johrn of Mount Borus County." He replied, smiling. "What's yours?"
"I'm Zandren, it's nice to meet you." I smiled.
He geeked. "You must be a fourth year student for you to be that strong."
"Fourth year?" I asked.
"You aren't a fourth year? Maybe a third year then?" He asked again.
"No." I chuckled. "It's my first day in Tarrion."
He froze. "A first year being this strong? That's rare, you must be a Bearer then."
I laughed softly. "Maybe."
He pushed up his glasses. "So there we have three uniforms. The Red. The Brown. The Green. Each represents two years in the academy. After the second year, and with good results, you move on to the Brown uniform."
"So in total. We will spend six years in Tarrion before leaving as a well trained vessel of the Elemental Dragons." He added. "Except you're a Writer."
"What about Writers?" I asked.
"Well, after six years. They do an extra three, which is the Blue uniform. We barely see them since not every one of them is allowed outside at that stage."
"I remember seeing the Blue uniform in the book." I thought.
"I see... Thanks for the information."
He pushed up his glasses. "No problem."
We reached the courtyard, and I was instantly overwhelmed with the amount of food stalls there was.
"Well damn…"
I drooled.
"I see you are hungry." He pushed up his glasses and smirked. "Not to brag but I am an expert in food as you can see by my round appearance."
I laughed softly.
He smirked. "I can help you find the best food stall, you won't regret it."
"Haha. Sure, lead the way."
We went from stalls to stalls eating and stuffing our faces with all types of food. We got to know more about each other as time went on.
By the time we left, curfew approached.
I turned to him. "Thanks for helping me out today, Zahir."
"No, thank you for helping me when others didn't." He smiled softly. "Since you are a first year, we would be seeing each other more often since I'm also a first-year."
"Sweet."
We both walked to the dorms together, though he stayed in a different dorm which was opposite the one I'm in.
"I wonder what it's like inside there." He said.
I chuckled. "Feel free to come over, it gets a bit lonely up there."
I gave him my room number.
"Thanks for helping out once again." He bowed.
I bowed as well. "Thanks for helping with the food. I really enjoyed my time."
With that we both said our goodbyes and went to our separate dorms.
Now that the adrenaline from the food rush had worn off, I was even more tired than I was earlier. I walked up the stairs with the food I bought in one hand while digging through my pocket trying to find the key with my other, hoping I hadn't dropped it.
I got to my floor and saw luggages at the front of my door. Aldren was pacing back and forth, clearly panicking.
"Look who's here, hehe."
"Anything wrong?" I asked.
He turned instantly and ran towards me. "Hey, hey hey... Where have you been?
"I got hungry and went to get food." I replied.
"Yes, yes they are." He moved closer to me, and spoke quietly. "So, uh, the map I gave you earlier. Where is it? That was an outdated map. Where is it!!!"
"Why so pushy. I haven't opened it yet." I lied, then walked over to open my door.
"Good, good, can I have it back? Here's the new one." He handed me the new one.
He then used Aeris to slowly bring in the luggages and set them gently at the corner of the room.
I handed him the rolled up scroll and he snatched it from my hand and rushed out.
I followed closely, stopping at the door.
I smiled. "You should keep images of Hyrar a little more carefully."
He froze.
I closed the door, laughing.
I set the food I got from the courtyard aside and remembered I forgot to get water. So I decided to go through the provisions Eimira sent. I found two packs of packaged water.
"Nice. Good looking ou—"
I noticed one of the luggages had something on it, which caught my attention.
"Hmm? What's that?"
I took it out. A letter.
"I'm not sure when we'll meet. But this should help you not forget me, hehe. There's also something at the bottom."
I opened the luggage and found it filled with paintings of Eimira.
I laughed. "Isn't this too much?"
I dug deeper in the bag and found three pouches at the bottom, and opened them. They were filled with gold coins.
"I'm afraid I'll get spoiled, haha."
Moments later after showering, I had finished mounting the paintings on the wall, and hung the one I loved the most on the wall opposite my bed. So when I wake up.
"The first thing I see is you." I murmured.
I collapsed on the bed.
"Goodnight, Mira."