Before I knew it, three days had passed faster than I expected, and lectures starts tomorrow.
Spent the days finding my way around the school with Zahir. He was chill and fun to be around; he really takes out the loneliness I've been feeling since I barely see Eimira anymore.
"Buah!! That shower feels so nice I could feel my face getting noticeably smoother since I got here." I muttered.
"It's almost time for me to meet up with Zahir." I thought.
Picked up my name tag, and key. Just when I was about to leave, my eyes caught sight of the beautiful portrait of Eimira.
I smiled. "How long has it been since I last saw you? You said you'd visit but you haven't yet."
Moments later, I reached downstairs and found Zahir already waiting for me at the front desk.
"Morning, Zandren. You're looking good today. Keep some girls for us, haha." He joked. "If you find any, interested in this big boy, let me know, hehe."
I chuckled. "Fret not. I already have a girlfriend, so I won't be keeping any girls."
"Well, I'm not surprised. I mean—" he pointed at me. "Look at that face."
A smile tugged at my lips. "What?"
He scooched closer. "So uhh, she in this school?"
I didn't respond, but my eyes gave away the truth.
He winked. "She is...."
He laughed.
We left the dormitories and made our way to the training grounds. It was a long walk, since the Academy itself was really big.
We spent most of the stroll talking, getting to know each other more, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the path that led directly to the grounds.
"I like this place." I said. "It's so… peaceful."
"Not sure if I told you this, but for someone as young as you, you tend to act a lot older." He replied.
I chuckled. "Oh, you think so?"
He nodded.
We began to feel tremors which increased the closer we neared the training grounds.
"Who's training so hard this early in the morning?" Zahir asked.
I shrugged.
Then the heat came. Followed by smoke, and more tremors.
Zahir froze.
"Hold on. I-Is… Is that Emberia?" He pushed his glasses up. "No way. You rarely see Emberia."
He grabbed me.
"Let's go. Let's go."
"Is it her?"
We reached the training ground.
I smiled.
"Of course it's you, haha." I muttered.
"Aurivelle."
She stood in the centre, breathless and furious at herself. The field around her, ruined. There were charred lines and craters everywhere with steam drifting out of them.
She hadn't noticed us yet.
"Isn't that princess Aurivelle?" Zahir asked, whispering.
I nodded.
"But I heard she didn't have a Blessing."
"Well, she awakened recently." I replied.
He faced me. "How would you know that?"
"Uhh… uhh.."
I pointed at her.
"You can see her shooting flames. That's your answer."
He nodded. "Facts, facts."
Suddenly Aurivelle shot upward, flames trailing behind her. She came down with a stomp that split the ground open in a ring. Lava surged from the cracks, then twisted into a sharp arc as she flung it forward with full control. She strained but nothing changed.
She clicked her tongue.
"Why is this so hard? I can't seem to get the last part." She groaned. "I'm tired— whatever. Morning training done, yay!"
She reverted back to her usual cheerful self.
She stomped the ground once more. The ground trembled and slowly regained its original smooth form. Only a few burn marks remained. She picked up her little bag, then turned to leave.
She finally noticed us.
Her face brightened. "Zandren!!!"
She leaped into my arms and I carried her.
"I missed you, hehe." She said.
She turned to Zahir
"New friend?"
"You know the princess?" Zahir whispered.
"He's my new friend. I met him recently."
"That's nice." She said.
"Hi, hi." she waved at Zahir.
Zahir waved back.
"But Aurivelle…" I said.
"Hmm?"
"Didn't you just awaken recently? How have you progressed this far with little time?"
She giggled. "I had guidance from Aethon."
"She just casually mentioned the last King of Ardor." Zahir said, his voice trembling.
"Don't mind him…" I said.
"No problem." She giggled. "I'm hungry, and it's lunch time, so let's go eat."
"Yay! Food." I cheered.
Aurivelle cheered. "Yay!!!!"
Zahir chuckled, nervously. "Yay?"
We made our way to the cafeteria, Aurivelle still in my arms, and Zahir beside.
Aurivelle hummed as we walked.
"What's got you so happy?" I asked.
"I finally got to see you after so looong." She replied.
"But you seemed really annoyed earlier too."
She exhaled. "Ever since I awakened, I've been receiving guidance from both Theron and Aethon in my dreams. They tell me what books I should read and they explain the contents to me."
She giggled. "They are both nice. Just like Zandren."
I smiled."Awwn."
She continued. "But then Aethon and Theron showed me something last night. From Terra, it became Emberia, and from Emberia it became a shining blade that could cut through anything. So I've been trying to figure this out."
Zahir stepped forward. "I can't believe how strong King Zyron's children are, especially prince Yunok. They say he's the fastest, thanks to his Aeris blessing. It's incredible."
Aurivelle laughed. "Big brother doesn't actually have a blessing."
"What!?" Zahir and I said, in perfect sync.
"Heh… heh… nothing." She forced a smile.
She suddenly pointed upward.
"Oh look. A giant lumar cat"
She jumped down and ran.
I looked.
I chuckled.
"No way I actually fell for that, haha." I said.
Zahir dramatically intercepted me
"How the fuck do you know the princess of Terraka? Not just that, you both seemed so close, like you were siblings." He seemed serious.
I just can't take him seriously.
"Uhh... I'm her babysitter?" I lied.
I flicked his glasses and ran.
He gave chase, but soon stopped.
I held in my laughter.
"Bastard." He muttered, then laughed.
"Aurivelle wait for us." I yelled.
------
We stepped into the dining hall. The place looked just like how I imagined. Polished floors. Tall windows. Carved pillars supporting the structure. Long tables set in rows with white linen. The air smelled of warm bread, freshly boiled nym rice, seasoned meat, and simmering broth.
The food stands displayed trays that looked top grade. Steamed nym rice. Thick cuts of roasted season beef. Fresh vegetables. Soup with rich colour. Everything looked prepared with care. The Upper Noble's section stood out even more. Their plates held rare fruits, layered pastries, mouth watering deserts, and cuts of meat glazed with rare spices, some which were originally from Ardor and are now rare.
The requirements? The name card. My mouth watered the closer I got to the stand. The servants walked up to me and asked for me to show them the name card. I presented it to them.
For Aurivelle, it was different, since she was the princess. She asked for two trays of food. One for Zahir and the other for herself.
"That's nice of you, Auri." I said.
She giggled.
After getting my tray of food, I walked to sit with Zahir, since the Upper Noble's section was a bit scanty. A server walked with Aurivelle, Zahir's tray in hand.
I could feel eyes on me. A few female students turned as I passed. Some whispered, while some followed me with their gaze.
"This is so weird…" I whispered.
We got to the table Zahir and picked our and took our seats. Zahir thanked Aurivelle for her kindness. Then shifted closer to me.
"I told you, didn't I?"
"What do you mean?" My eyes narrowed.
"Didn't you notice the gazes?"
I laughed. "I did… but it felt weird being watched."
"That's what you get for being handsome here."
The hall went silent.
Eimira walked in with the other girls. Frost queen and friends.
The shift in the room was instant. Students straightened. Some stopped eating, while some remained composed. She moved with a cold gaze and calm focus. She picked up her tray, and scanned the hall. Our gaze met and her expression softened.
"Zandren. Did captain Eimira just look this way?" He asked.
Eimira began walking towards us, along with the others.
Zahir shook me. "Zandren, she's coming here. Zandren, she's coming here."
"Ow, stop it."
Eimira stopped at our table then took her seat. The others joined.
The stares doubled.
Zahir was no longer in the room with us. He got a little too nervous and passed out.
"But what are these stares though?" I whispered.
Most were confused as to why Eimira, the third captain, would choose to sit with some random nobodies rather than in the Upper Noble's section, or with them.
Zahir woke up, pressing one hand to his chest. "Zandren. I just had a dream that my goddess sat right in front of me."
"Well it's not a dream." Eimira said. "Hi Zandren's new friend."
He fell again.
Eimira giggled.
Then the whispers came.
"Hey did you see that?"
"Yes…"
"The ice queen smiled."
"She even giggled."
"So cute."
"She's sitting with that handsome guy from earlier."
"Are they a thing?"
"No way. Captain Eimira has a partner?"
I sunk in my seat. "Jeez…"
She was in the green coloured uniform, Feona, Tabbi and Chichi also. Ryona's was brown. Eimira had her captain's badge on the left side, along with other medal-like tags. Three golden ropes ran off the shoulder of her jacket, the tips having different coloured crystals. Gold. Blue and Green, which I think represents the blessings she wields.
"Hey. Why aren't you saying anything?" She asked.
I looked at her. "What happened to keeping a safe distance?"
She leaned closer. "Oh come on I missed you. I couldn't visit the hall because some students saw me the last time I came, but thankfully they didn't know why I was there so everything is fine."
"She's been disturbing us like forever too." Ryona added with a sigh.
Chichi mocked. "I wonder what he's doing? I wonder if he's lonely? What if he met another woman?"
Ryona followed. "If he meets another woman, he's so dead. But he's too precious to do that to me."
Feona joined in. "Oh, my sweet Zandren, he's probably so lonely right now. Should I go today? But what if people see?"
Eimira pouted. "I didn't say that..."
Feona grinned. "Oh really. You detailed how much you missed his manly warmth to us."
Smack!
Eimira blushed. "Shut up... I never said that, Zandren."
I laughed silently. "Sure, I believe you."
Ryona gagged, pointing her fork at me. "Urrgh, it feels so weird seeing the Captain like this. Let's kill Zandren and get back our cold queen of doom!"
Tabbi spoke. "But, it's because of Zandren that the Captain has been happy lately."
The table fell silent.
"I knew Tabbi will be on my side." I said.
Ryona sighed. "I guess Tabbi is right."
Zahir woke up, and acted casual at first.
Then.
He shook me.
"Zandren I just had a crazy dream that Captain Eimira sat on ou-"
I cleared my throat, and signalled at her.
Zahir glanced at her.
She waved back.
Then he glanced back at me.
"What is going on?" He whispered.
Ryona chuckled. "He's kinda cute."
The others giggled softly.
Eimira turned to Aurivelle. "So, Auri, how was the training, were you able to understand what the vision meant."
Aurivell sighed, defeated. "I tried but I couldn't, If only they could explain it better to me."
Chichi replied. "It doesn't exactly work that way haha."
"Don't worry you'll get it." Tabbi cheered her up.
"I don't think I will." Aurivelle began to tear up.
Zahir spoke up. "U-uh, I remember you said something about Terra to Emberia to a shining blade.
"Yes." Aurivelle replied.
"Let me ask you. In the vision, did the Terra element feel like a mist?" Zahir asked.
Aurivelle jumped up. "Yes, yes, but I don't know what that was so I thought it was just rocks."
"How does that matter?" Eimira asked.
"I think what the vision is trying to show is how to make Glass." He said.
He pushed his glass up. "That dust is Sand, and sand is primarily made up of silicon dioxide, the main component of glass. And I also noticed that Princess Aurivelle could also turn her Emberia into lava, and lava is around...."
Zahir finally realised no one understood what he was saying.
"S-Sorry…"
Everyone laughed. And Eimira looked at me with a relieved expression.
Just then murmurs began to grow in the hall and then silence.
A sharp voice echoed across the hall.
"All rise and bow to the heir of the Throne of Terraka and our great Nation. His Highness, Prince Yunok."
Everyone rose, including Eimira. I followed.
Yunok stepped through the doorway and everyone bowed. The herald followed behind, closely. He was in his uniform, the same as Eimira. He signaled to the herald to tell everyone to continue what they were doing and the herald did so.
Yunok walked up to the Upper Noble's section and spotted Eimira sitting in the common hall.
"Prepare my table, I'll be right there." He ordered.
Yunok approached us.
"Someone tell me why the third captain is sitting in the common hall." He said, irritated.
Eimira fired back, visibly pissed. "Where I sit is none of your fucking business, Yunok."
Yunok chuckled and glanced at me with a subtle glint in his eyes and said. "Oh oh, I understand why, Carry on."
He then pointed at Aurivelle. "Aurivelle, come along, the royal family can't be seen hanging in the common hall."
"I don't want to." Aurivelle rejected, then she clung to me.
Yunok froze. "What did you just say?"
Ryona interfered. "She said she's not coming, got a problem with that?."
Yunok scoffed. "And why is a peasant getting involved in a conversation between siblings?"
Eimira stood up. "Both Ryona and Aurivelle are under me, and I don't remember giving you the permission to talk to any of them. Got that?"
"Unless you want me to get Zyron involved." Eimira added.
Yunok clicked his tongue, nodded and left, silently.
"What a jerk." Tabbi whispered.
Feona scoffed. "Meh, he's probably just jealous of Zandr—"
She paused, remembering Zahir was still with us.
"Zadred… Yeah. Zadred. Hehe."
I turned to Zahir to check how he was doing, and he was visibly shaken.
"Yo, you good." I asked.
"Uh-huh I-I'm fine..." He stuttered. "Just so much is happening to me all at once."
"I'm sorry for the trouble." Aurivelle apologized.
I pulled her close and patted her. "Hey, it's not your fault your brother is an ass."
She giggled. "Wish you were my big brother instead. You're nice to me."
I smiled. "You can think of me as one."
Her face brightened. "Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Yay, I'm happy now." She said, "I think I'm gonna try what Zahir told me."
"Be Shu go naw." Eimira said, mouth full.
Feona shook her head. "Don't ruin your beautiful image captain."
The stares never left us, but because of that, they got to witness a whole different side of Eimira.
----
It was now noon, and the sun was high in the sky. The Blessing of Emberia was now at its highest point, which gave Aurivelle more power than earlier this morning.
We were in a different training ground this time, one the academy had made empty since Royalty was making use of it.
We watched as Zahir explained how it works to Aurivelle. Eimira asked her Vanguard members to bring in buckets of sand. They poured it around Aurivelle. Afterwards, Eimira asked them to leave.
Feona and the others walked up to Eimira and me.
Feona spoke. "I really hope Aurivelle achieves this."
"Yeah same." Chichi replied.
"The little one has been beating herself over it since we got here." Ryona added.
"I'd always known that there was something special about her." I said, smiling.
"Y'all, shut it." Eimira snapped. "She's starting."
Aurivelle stood, barefooted. She remained silent for a while, then the ground began to tremble.
Her left eye glowed yellow while her right eye glowed a deep orange. Markings appeared on her neck as she began to heat up the sand.
She stomped and lava spilled out of the ground, melting the sand. She guided the lava with her hand, slowly spreading it around the side and guiding it upwards. Then, flung it forward, controlling its movements.
She clenched her fist, and the molten sand instantly became a clear blade that reflected light, which slashed the target dummy before her. Now understanding how it works. She did the whole thing again, but faster this time.
Sometimes the molten sand failed to harden, and other times it became a sharp blade which could cut through flesh easily.
Aurivelle, now exhausted, lost her balance and almost collapsed into the pool of lava.
My eyes widened. "Shi—"
Suddenly.
Eimira dashed forward with Aeris, killing the lava with Aqualis, saving Aurivelle just in time.
"I finally did it..."Aurivelle said. Her voice, weak.
Eimira smiled. "Yes you did, faster than anyone ever could."
Aurivelle passed out smiling.
"After a few days off, I'll start her combat training." Eimira added.
Eimira carried her and then walked up to Zahir.
"Thanks for helping her, I really appreciate it."
Zahir bowed. "T-Than— You are welcome."
They began to leave, not without giving me the
"approval of Zahir" look.
Eimira moved closer. "I'll be coming tonight. Make sure to answer the door quickly.
She left last.
I took one final look at her.
"She really changed since I first met her." I whispered.
"Zandren!!!, is this fortune?" Zahir jumped.
"Don't start telling everyone you know." I said. "Things like this are to be kept secret."
He rolled his eyes. "Come on, what do you take me for. Words I hear never leave my mouth... That's why my stomach is round."
I laughed, hard.
"I became acquainted with the main four of the Third Squad and even with the captain. The second goddess of the school."
"Second goddess? Who's the first?" I asked curious.
He placed his hand on my shoulder. "Bah bah bah. You shouldn't be asking. You have a girlfriend."
I frowned. "You…"
I got back to my room and immediately took off my uniform and crashed on my bed, recalling
the events that happened up till now.
Aurivelle being an awakened genius. Yunok being an ass.
"Yunok..." I muttered. "Why is he so o
bsessed with Mira?"
I sat up. "I just hope he doesn't cause problems for me."*
I yawned.
My eyes closed, slowly, and all I could think of was how this all started and wondered if I'd ever get answers to all the questions this world has thrown at me.