Chapter 549: Harus demeanor (1/2)
'You must be kidding me with this. She stepped out of the room so casually after asking a hit on royalty. The Librarian of Nexsolium no less. Let me think on this, how can I apprehend her without killing, or if she ends up dead, how will that affect me. Lucifer wants to ally with Alphia based on what the Queen of Hidros wants. There's no way they're pushing to ally with the Wracia Empire. Some demi-humans are slaves and pro-human activities are supreme, there's no way to do so. Alphia's different in its own way, I don't think they'll risk allying with the Wracia Empire. Not on the surface; as for Cimier and the underworld, they might pull something. Hidros's in a bad spot because of internal conflicts. News must have leaked by now…'
”Éclair is it possible to monitor the ins and out of Arda. Who's traveling and who's not?”
”Without problem,” said he proudly, ”-the last visit gave ample time to sneak a few minions. I have control over the whole network. Shouldn't be a problem. What about you, Lady Courtney asked for the death of Eira, did she not?”
”You know full well I'll die if I fight her. The only reason I took on Orenmir and Tharis was in case of a potential war. I'll need to defend myself if that happens.”
*Knock, knock,*
”Who is it?”
”Sir, it's Lady Haru, she asks for you.”
'Returning to the academy…'
It had been a few months, returning felt wrong. The journey there happened in silence. Just the thought had the mind uneasy, After all, Leko was murdered and the whole student body ignored it, said it was nothing more than an accident. A massive cover-up; aside from the working staff, no one really cared about the Trader's Guild and their members. Reason more for pleading ignorance. What could Haru have done, the whole incident regarding Arda, and now this, nothing made sense?
Deep down, after casually watching her sleep, he knew, he knew she was in a bad place. The adorable and harsh, heart stealer, Haru, was in pain. Weighted down by responsibility and the loss of a friend. Her lips tightened, the brows knitted, the breaths prolonged as her body reacted to regain composure. Worry about her couldn't accomplish anything in the greater picture. Hence, slowly tilting against the glass-window, the duo sat until the train station.
There, a transit from Rotherham till Rosespire from where they'd go down to Meke and another to the Adventuring Academy. All and all, it 10-hour journey. The capital came in the early hours of dawn. The sun rose shyly as to not cover the continent. The air was icy-cold, Haru's ears reacted in a way to brace from the breeze.
”Let's grab something to eat,” suggested he stepping off the train.
”Something to eat?” she thought, ”-warm milk. Yes, warm milk and a cookie.”
”Are you sure?”
”Don't make that face,” she pouted, ”-why are you looking at me as if a child. Humph.”
”I apologize for my behavior,” he bowed in jest, ”-shall we get something to eat now?”
”Fine,” lifting her chin, ”-I suppose this little date is on thy tab?”
'-Stingy,' he scoffed,”-m-my pleasure.” Nothing more came of the little conversations. They ate, took the train to Meke, the longest ride yet, and slept. The quiet lounge didn't give much in ways of speaking. Everyone held a dead-eyed expression. Either gobbling a book or perusing the Arcanum. At some point, Haru fell over to Igna's lap and slept. She curled as if a little cat, her expression relaxed. 'So innocent and exposed,' he patted her head instinctively, '-well, guess she really is a feline deep down.'
*Beep… BEEP, BEEP, BEEP*
”Oh shit,” quick to silence the phone, ”-must have dozed off. Still half-way until Meke. She's still asleep.” Notification showed 'Alicia the annoying manager.'
”Where are you.”
”Where did you go?”
”Are you still alive?”
”Hey, hey, Igna, did you abandon us?”
”Dude, reply to my messages already.”
”Annoying!” a return to her spams.
”Finally, where are you?”
”On a train, why, what's the matter?”
”Are you dumb, why did you leave us alone?”
”Julius's there, don't worry about it. I've asked him to take care of you both. Have some urgent business to attend to, see you later.”
”Wait, WAIT!”
”Éclair, mute her until further notice.”
”Understood.”
'Obviously,' he exhaled, '-the urgent business is, a big ol' nap.'
Skipping the arrival at Meke, a town still brimming with adventures and injured folks returning from the Azure Walls, they made for the Academy. 'Here we are,' the train slowly pulled into the vicinity. The station held a few students headed to the Azure Wall as part of training. Most were ignorant of who came and who left.
'Wait,' onto the platform facing the dormitory, '-they've made the short-cut an actual path.' Before long, the popularity of crossing the park's darker reaches became the norm. The amount of time-saving it did, went beyond a little dirt on one's boot. The administration couldn't ignore and so, after a petition by the students, a small stone-path erected as a short-cut.
”I need to check with the office admins,” said Haru, ”-you're ready to graduate. I'll do what is right.”
”Ready to graduate?”
”Yes, can't be tied down by the academy now, can you?” her figure joyfully hopped along the stairs.
'Stop lying. Putting on a front, I know that smile is fake, the whole persona is fake. You're fake, lady Haru, fake. Why don't you accept someone's help, why not reach out to anyone, look for a partner and support. Leko's gone, she'll be left alone. With my going away too, she'll move to Arda and never see the light of day again. There's no reason to tie her here. What a pain…'
Time showed 15:00 – it took longer than expected. Students scurried to the dorms. 'I don't want to go there,' stuck on the third step, '-I don't want to return to Leko's resting place. How weak can I be…' Despite that, he clambered on forward until the summit. A torrent of excited students made for the stairs. Narrowly dodging their march, the backdrop of the academy stood as a sad colorless picture. After the statues, he subconsciously headed for the gymnasium.
”I like you, please go out with me!”
”Not a chance, get a higher tier then we can talk.”
A young lady in uniform escaped out the back of the building. Her face and attitude showed confidence and pride. Her eyes locked onto him for a brief second then left with a tsk. Whimpering also second her walk. 'Rejection,' he cut the corner, ”-pick yourself up, it's not the end yet.”
”Oh,” nervously hiding tears, ”-I didn't get rejected. I just have to get stronger!”
”I never asked that,” he paused at the metal staircase, ”-give it your all.”
”Thanks for that, stranger,” after which, the boy bolted opposite the path she took.
Long fingers wrapped around the doorknob, '-should I or not?'