Chapter 66 - Six - I’m in the care of an enemy (1/2)
The name Tor sounded familiar, but it took a while for Leon to place it. Ah, he thought under a sudden eureka moment, that was the name of one of Leo's bullies! He flinched inwardly as he recalled it, but was unable to do much else than swallow that knowledge down. After all, Teacher Sagi had left him in Tor's care.
Being completely without vision, Leon needed a guide to aid him back to his small hut. Teacher Sagi naturally did not think this would be difficult nor burdensome task, all the student accommodation was clustered together in groups separated by small walls. Maimai's cauldron had breeched the wall in flight, so Teacher Sagi would need to supply her with a new one as well as speak to the stonemasons in Julip town to fix the wall. He sighed, Maimai was not really suited for alchemy, the Teachers were well aware, but her father had placed those restrictions, they could only comply for now. The more pressing issue was fixing Leo's glasses.
”Ah, M-Mino at the F-Food Hall,” Leon mentioned, ”p-p-perhaps he c-could sp-speak to B-blacksmith M-Mars apprentice for m-me.”
”A friend of yours?” Teacher Sagi asked and Leon nodded in reply. ”Alright, I will ask young Mino if he can be of assistance. In the meantime, does anyone know the location of Leo's hut?” He was quick enough to notice a few guilty looks upon older students, but none volunteered.
”I do,” said the boy standing beside Leon.
”Fine, guide him back, Tor,” Teacher Sagi instructed. ”I may need you to be his eyes for the next couple of days.”
”Understood,” Tor replied.
”I'll help too!” young Maimai chimed in. Several students glared unhappily in Leon's direction, but he couldn't see a single one! ”It was my fault that the glasses were broken.”
”Agreed,” Teacher Sagi replied, much to the dismay of many male alchemist apprentices. ”I'll leave Leo in your care!” A warm slender arm wrapped about Leon's one and he also felt the session of something soft and plush lean against him, but he couldn't figure out what exactly it was, so he paid it no mind. He barely heard the teacher's soft footsteps fall in a path away from him, but sensed anyway that the man had left.
”This way,” Tor's voice stated beside him.
”Merylin,” Maimai called out to her sister. ”Do you wish to come with us?”
”Unfortunately, I am unable to,” the girl replied in her clear and calm voice, although Leon thought he detected a hint of disappointment in her voice. He figured that he must be mistaken, he very much doubted Miss Merylin really wanted walk to his home with him. She had no reason to, they did not know each other. ”I failed to create the pill I was working on, so I must clean out my cauldron.”
”Failed?” Miss Maimai sounded shocked and then asked pitifully; ”Was it my fault, sister? Did I mess with your creation due to my loss of control again?”
”Do not worry yourself of blames and faults,” the other girl replied. ”Just hurry home soon.”
”Alright!” Leon felt that if he could see more than the shape of her alabaster face, then he would see Maimai with a broad grin upon her sunny face at that moment.
Tor began to guide them carefully to the rear of the compound and beyond. Leon was not daunted by the increasing number of steps taken, after all he was aware how far away he lived, but he felt the grip upon his arm tighten. ”Excuse me,” Maimai squeaked, suddenly, ”but may I ask where we are going? I thought we were guiding Leo, (wasn't it?) back to his hut.”
”We are,” Tor replied shortly, not pausing as he spoke.
”But, we've left the compounds,” Maimai pointed out. She tugged Leon slightly as she manoeuvred him passed a large rock. Leon almost tripped, but Tor caught his other arm and made the boy hold his arm so he could guide him better. Tor hadn't realised just how bad the youth's vision was. He felt a little guilty that he had not talked sense into Caprian and had even had a hand in bullying all that brute's victims.