"And…"
Eimira cheered.
"...We are done."
I did the same.
"Yay!!!"
"How does it taste?" She asked.
"Hmm…"
She fed me a spoon.
I opened my mouth."
"I love it…"
Cough. Cough.
"Though, it's a bit spicy." I said.
She frowned. "That's because you thought there wasn't enough spice. Even after I told you that there was."
"Didn't know that I couldn't handle spice well." I replied.
I took the spoon and fed her.
"It tastes good." She smiled. "I'm proud of you."
I chuckled. "Thanks."
Eimira spoke. "Sadly, I can't eat here since it's getting late. So, I'll have mine to go..."
She scanned around.
"Do you by chance have a container I could use?" She asked.
"Uhh..."
I walked to a cupboard.
"I should..."
I brought one out.
"Here."
I handed over a large container to her.
"Woah… Where'd you get this?" She asked.
I smiled. "Zahir..."
"He told me to keep it till when you cook for me again so he can have some."
Eimira laughed.
"By the way. How's he?" She asked. "I haven't seen him in a while."
"He returned to his village, Mount Bouris. Remember?" I answered.
"Yeah, I do. But haven't you contacted him since then?"
"Hmm."
I stroked my chin.
"Come to think of it... I haven't." I muttered.
My face dropped. "I'm such a bad friend."
Eimira took my hand. "You're not. You just got too busy. Contact him after we leave."
I nodded. "Alright."
She kissed me.
I smiled.
She chuckled softly. "Stop smiling, idiot."
She walked over to the bed where Feona was sleeping.
Then.
A punch straight to her gut.
"Wake. Up."
Feona coughed.
"Hey!" I yelled. "Why wake her up like that?"
Eimira turned to me. "Don't worry. This is how we wake her up."
"This is not how you wake anyone up." Feona coughed. "You'll be the end of me, this lady."
I laughed.
"Whatever." Eimira rolled her eyes. "Get up."
I rushed over and helped Feona up.
"Sorry about that." I said.
"It's fine." She groaned. "Just make sure..."
She leaned closer.
"You make me an aunt—"
Smack.
"Let's go."
Eimira dragged her.
"You know what I was going to say right?" Feona asked.
I didn't respond.
"Right?!!!" She yelled.
I nodded.
She stuck her thumb out.
"Good!!"
The door clicked shut.
I exhaled heavily.
"I'm tired."
Then, sprawled on my bed.
"Let's see if Zahir is still alive..."
I reached over to grab my arcstone.
"Yo, Zahir, Still alive?"
No response.
Then.
"Hey, Zandren. How are you doing?" (Italics)
"I'm good. Sorry I haven't been able to reach out to you."
"It's fine. Heard you were busy."
"How?"
"From Wryo."
"When are you going to be back?"
"When classes resume. Don't worry. I'll come to you."
"Oh. Ok..."
"Goodnight."
"Yeah..."
"He sounds... dry." I whispered. "Is this really Zahir?"
I stood.
"Well, if he says he's fine. I have to believe that." I murmured.
Silence.
"Well, let's eat. I'm hungry."
Moments passed. And I ate my fill. We ended up making too much so I left the pot on the counter so as not to forget to reheat it.
I exhaled.
"Well, that's that." I said. "What to do now?."
"Read?"
"Sleep?"
I pulled out my chair and sat on it.
"I don't know."
Grabbed a book I borrowed from.the library.
"The once Great Kingdom Falls."
"Hmm. What's this one about?" I said, opening it."
"The fall of Ardor."
I immediately closed it.
"I don't want to be sad tonight."
Dropped the book on the table then crashed on my bed. I closed my eyes and waited for sleep.
Moments passed, but sleep never came.
I sat up quickly.
"How am I not tired after training a lot today?" I asked, running my hand through my hair.
I grabbed my jacket and keys.
"Maybe a short stroll would help."
I locked the door and made my way downstairs, stopping by the front desk to see if Yyuita was still around.
"Oi, Yyuita! Are you there?"
Silence.
"I got beef ste—"
Thud!
A plate appeared from under the desk.
Yyuita slowly rose from behind the desk.
"Beef stew you say.."
I laughed. "You didn't even let me finish."
"No need for you to..."
He scanned me.
"Where are you off to?"
I sighed. "Just a stroll around the campus."
"You know it's almost time for curfews right?" He asked.
I leaned close. "That's what the beef stew is for."
His eyes narrowed.
"I just need you to keep the door open for sometime, in case I don't return early." I whispered.
"Two plates."
I held out my hand.
"Deal."
We shook on it.
Left the dorm and walked down the street to the garden Eimira loves sitting at. I've always wondered what it looked like at night.
"But..."
I flashed back to my encounter with Yunok earlier today.
"What was that?" I muttered.
"I don't think Eimira sensed it. If she had, she'd have drawn her sword."
I stopped.
"So, how come I could?"
I heard footsteps approaching, and turned.
"Ryona?"
She stopped.
"Oh, doofus. Was actually on my way to come see you."
I retreated.
"What harm are you planning to do to me?"
She laughed. "What? No. Just a few questions."
"Hmm."
We walked together. No destination in mind. Just a conversation, that's yet to begin.
"So?" I turned to her.
"Hmm?" She blinked.
"What were you gonna ask me?"
"Oh uh..." She fidgeted. "You haven't been walking with Zahir in a while, is there a reason why?"
"No. It's just that he's currently not at the Academy." I replied. "Why do you ask?"
"N-nothing." She said, lowering her head.
Silence.
"Do you know when he'll be back?" She asked.
I thought for a moment.
"Not sure. He said he'd be back soon but he never gave an exact date."
I turned to her.
"Why all these questions about Zahir? Did he by chance eat your food and run?"
She giggled. "No.."
I stopped.
She walked ahead, then stopped.
"Did you just... giggle?" I asked.
She froze.
"What? No..." She yelled. "You're imagining it.
I blinked. "O-Ok."
"What about Wryo?" She asked. "Since Zahir isn't here, shouldn't Wryo be with you?"
"Hmm. Wryo is Zahir's friend. I don't really know him." I replied. "Plus he's busy training for the tournament, since he wants to get into Aurelle's vanguard."
"So basically, you're a loner with nobody but Eimira and us." She teased. "Nice…"
"Hey…" I snapped softly. "I'm not a loner."
She laughed. "Sure."
We walked in silence for a moment.
"You said you spoke to Zahir earlier. How did you do that?" She asked, breaking the silence.
"Uhm."
I rummaged through my pocket.
"My arcstone."
"Oh.." she said. "I only have the Aurastone."
"I'm not rich enough to afford both, haha." She said. "I can request from the academy, but since I have the Aurastone. I doubt they'd approve an arcstone."
"I can lend you mine if you want." I said. "I also have the Aurastone. And like you said, I'm a loner. So I don't have anyone to talk to."
She shook her head. "It's fine. Just don't want you to be alone for too long. Especially in Tarrion."
She exhaled.
"Anyways, that's all. Gotta run now."
"Oh, ok."
She waved.
"Bye..."
I watched her leave, then disappear at the next corner.
"I should head back too. It's getting late." I muttered.
I slowly made my way back to my dorm. Admiring the street lamps placed carefully on each side of the road. Each casting a bright orange light on the road.
Drip.
"Hmm? What was that?"
Sniff. Sniff.
"I smell…"
I stopped.
"...Blood?"
Traced the scent to a corner, and found someone sitting there, head lowered.
"H-Hey..." I called out.
This person slowly raised their head.
"Thank goodness."
He slumped over.
I rushed to him.
"What happened? And how can I help?"
"I'm Nor'ran. Cap— shit that doesn't matter." He said, coughing. "Get me to a Healer Writer as fast as you can."
I panicked. "Uh. Uh. I actually don't know my way around the academy. But we are close to my dorm, is it ok if I get you there first? I know someone who might be of help."
"Whatever…"
He coughed.
"...Just hurry."
I tried lifting him, then I noticed his left palm.
Half of it had been sliced off, and was rotting.
After what seemed to be like an eternity, we finally arrived at my dorm.
"Yyuita! Where are you? It's an emergency." I yelled.
He walked out of the room beside the front desk.
"Where's my beef ste—"
He froze.
"Captain Nor'ran?"
He rushed over.
"Let's set him down on the bench there. I'll request for a Writer now."
"Who did this to you?" Yyuita asked.
"Tsk."
Nor'ran's blood boiled.
"Just get a Writer here. Now!"
Yyuita turned to me. "Watch him closely, I'll be right back."
Yyuita ran out of the dorm.
I was alone with Nor'ran, who was groaning from the pain.
"Mra… te'rha!!!" He yelled, clutching his bleeding hand.
I didn't know what to do.
Suddenly he turned to me.
"You!"
"Y-yes?" I answered.
He groaned.
"Come closer."
I moved closer. "What do you need?"
He lowered his voice. "You are Eimira's lover right?"
I stuttered. "Y-yes."
"Good." He smiled. "I remember you were with her the day she came to the palac—"
"Arrrgh."
He yelled.
"Mra!!!"
He calmed down, and slowed his breathing.
"I'm sure you know of this..." He said. "Yunok's obsession with Eimira."
"Yes, I do." I replied.
"I honestly can't say much, but if you love yourself or Eimira." He sighed. "I'd advise you to leave Eimira for now."
I blinked. "Leave Eimira? Why?"
He said nothing.
Just showed me his bleeding arm that's starting to turn black.
"Don't tell me..."
Nor'ran remained silent.
I collapsed on the seat beside him.
"Ahh..."