As Seda and Amelie were making their way back, Ikhan and Mellick were just finishing their own shopping trip. Theirs had been much easier, on account of Ikhan already knowing a bit of men’s fashion. Though the store didn’t have much in the way that matched Ishmael’s Southlander clothing, they still managed to find a wardrobe that suited Ikhan’s taste.
So why, then, was there so much awkward tension in the air?
The answer was obvious, thought Ikhan as he slung a bag of shirts over his shoulder. Despite supposedly being on good terms, he and Mellick had barely exchanged a word since they’d left Terry’s. Not for Mellick’s lack of trying; he’d brought up several innocuous topics since the start of the trip, all of which Ikhan had rebuffed with either curt responses or silence.
Yes, the issue lay completely at Ikhan’s feet, something he was keenly aware of. But every time he tried to reply earnestly, the words died on his tongue. He wasn’t always like this, he knew, so full of consternation and second-guesses. He’d never been as gregarious as his younger brother, certainly, but he’d had his own circle of friends. When did it all go wrong? Was it the curse’s fault?
Those were the thoughts that consumed Ikhan’s mind as they made their way through the streets. Idly, he wondered if Seda was having any better luck with her adventure. He could feel her presence, buzzing slightly in the back of his mind, though he was having trouble actually discerning anything from the link. Doubtless she was experiencing the same.
“Ikhan.”
Were there any other things off about his mind? Not particularly, as far as he could tell. Being separated from Seda was definitely clearing his thoughts, but it hadn’t done anything to stop the miasma of anxiety. Was it the curse? Or just-
“Ikhan!”
Ikhan jumped and whirled around as Mellick prodded his shoulder. “W-what?”
“You look exhausted all of a sudden,” Mellick said, concern written plainly on his features. “Are you okay?”
“I’m…fine.” Ikhan started to turn back around, but Mellick grabbed his shoulder.
“That’s a lie, and we both know it. You’ve been in your own head this entire time, right?”
Ikhan blinked. He shouldn’t be surprised he was that easy to read, he guessed. “So?”
“So, if you don’t say anything, how are we supposed to help you?”
There was a moment of silence, Ikhan’s unwavering golden eyes meeting Mellick’s pleading ones as the crowd surged around them. He breathed in, and breathed out, shakier than he would have liked. “...Fine.”
Mellick smiled, his hand falling from Ikhan’s shoulder. “Good! No use staying in your own brain. Know that one from experience. So, what’s up?”
Ikhan sighed. “A lot. It’s…”
But just like before, the words started dying on his tongue. What should he say? How would he describe the feelings bubbling up within him? He was a history student, not a writer, language wasn’t his strong suit. Dammit. He’d have to try again later. “...Nevermind-”
“Ikhan, look me in the eyes.”
Ikhan blinked. Wasn’t he already? “What?”
“Can you answer a question for me? An easy one.”
“I’ll…try.”
“When was the last time you had an actual conversation with somebody? Beyond just small talk.”
“I-” Ikhan paused. Blinked a few times. A moment of thought stretched into several moments of searching, and then to a full minute of wracking his brain.
When was the last time he’d talked to somebody earnestly? Even as Ishmael. He’d had idle conversation with the nurses, the librarians, brought up coursework to his classmates once or twice, exchanged pleasantries with Mellick…none of those were his deeper thoughts though, were they?
What about even earlier? Back before he started traveling. Back in the Southlands, with his brother and sister, they’d…grown apart a bit, hadn’t they? Wasn’t that part of the reason he decided to leave in the first place? So he hadn’t had any heart-to-hearts with them in a while. He wasn’t close to his classmates back then, either…
Had it been over ten years since he’d bared his worries to anybody?
Gods damn him.
Ikhan felt himself grow a bit lightheaded in the face of this knowledge. No wonder words kept dying in his throat, the thing was rusting from disuse! It was no better than a fruit sundried overly-long in the Southland sun!
Almost instinctively, a hand released the bags he was clutching and went to feel his throat. It felt fine, but he knew better. In lack of use, it had turned nearly treacherous.
His expression must have reflected the sudden turmoil in his mind, because Mellick gave him a sympathetic nod. Or maybe it was the throat grab. “That long, huh?”
Ikhan barely managed a nod in response.
“...I’m sorry,” Mellick muttered. “I should have helped Ishmael more.”
Ikhan shook his head. “You…are not our keeper,” he replied with difficulty. “The failure is…ours.” Ours, meaning him and Seda both. He idly wondered if Seda was finding the same difficulties expressing herself.
“That…I’m the East Tower’s prefect,” Mellick said sourly. “I’m the keeper of everybody who lives there. Or at least, I should be.”
So dutiful. So nosy. It was both Mellick’s best point and his worst, at least as far as Ikhan had seen. He shook his head again. “No. You did…what you could.”
Mellick sighed. “And here I’m supposed to be helping you.” He shook his own head rapidly, a motion that reminded Ikhan of a dog trying to dry itself off. “Well, we can only take things one step at a time. Let’s get back.”
Ikhan nodded mutely, picking up his bags once again. His mind was still a mess, and his throat still felt like it was liable to stab him, but that could be a problem for another day. Even just identifying a rusted part was an accomplishment on a day like today.
Though, a thought occurred to him. Even if he could talk about his issues freely…what would he want to talk about? Had he spent so long in his own world that he’d lost the words even in his own mind? Maybe Seda had an answer, or maybe she had her own issues to deal with.
What was the pall that hung over him, really?
--
By the time Ikhan and Mellick made it back to the medical ward, Seda and Amelie were already waiting in the seats. This wasn’t a surprise; they’d already seen the copious bags of clothing laid out around the floor of Ishmael’s room. Still, Amelie waved them over with a bored air. Once they were within reasonable conversation distance, she spoke up. “You took a while.”
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“It’s almost like you left before we did,” Mellick replied, eyebrow arched. “You could’ve at least let Seda finish her meal.”
“Oh, no need to worry about that,” Amelie said. “We got crepes on the way back.”
“Crepes…” Ikhan could practically taste them as she said the word. An echo of Seda, maybe? The twins exchanged a look of understanding, though neither of them really thought they needed to. Being back together, they could hear each other’s minds buzzing loud and clear even without seeing one another.
Though, now that they’d experienced being apart, it was also getting easier to separate themselves. Case in point, Seda spoke up without any feedback from her twin. “They were…good.”
“Well, that’s good, at least,” Mellick said with a sigh. “Waste of food, though. Didn’t Amelie say she wanted everybody to experience Terry’s food?”
“There’ll be plenty of chances later,” Amelie shot back. “How about the clothes? Find enough outfits?”
“Plenty,” Ikhan responded. “The trip back…was harder than the search.”
“Ah, I getcha.” Amelie nodded sagely. “Carrying the bags is no fun, right?”
“...Right,” Ikhan answered.
“Well, we’ve made it, at least,” Mellick said. “And these two seem a lot more individual than they did this morning. Does that mean separating them worked?”
“Seems like it,” Amelie said. “Ms. Vellicent will be happy to hear the progress.”
The twins nodded in response, though it was suspiciously synced. “Where is…Dr. Vellicent?” Ikhan asked.
“The receptionist told us she was negotiating with Admissions,” Amelie answered. “She should be due back soon, though. Take a seat for now, why don’t you?”
Ikhan nodded, taking the seat across from his twin. Mellick shrugged, taking a seat beside him. Silence reigned in the medical ward, at least outwardly, but each of the students’ minds were abuzz with thought.
Amelie’s thoughts were of Ms. Vellicent, and the report she had to give. A lot had happened in a short trip, and the curse already seemed to have progressed. What was she going to tell her mentor? Not to mention that the way things were going, she would have to talk to the others about her secret sooner rather than later.
Mellick’s thoughts were of the trip, of Ishmael’s silence and Amelie’s impulsiveness. He’d already resolved to submerge himself in the world of the Accursed, and if anything, today’s events had only solidified that resolve. Amelie may have more experience, but leaving the twins to just her and her self-centeredness left a sour taste in his mouth.
Seda’s thoughts were of the voice she’d heard. Now that she had heard Ikhan again, the resemblance between the two was closer than she had expected, but still not perfect. She was also somewhat concerned about her twin. Ever since he’d arrived, the roil of his thoughts was clear to her, even if she couldn’t discern the content. Was he wrestling with the curse, as she was? Did the voice speak to him as well?
Ikhan’s thoughts were of his silence, and the way his throat had constricted speaking to Mellick. It was frustrating, to say the least, the way that his mind and body refused to sync up. Even if he found the words he wanted, put a face to his anxieties, the chance he could actually share them was low. The fact that Seda’s mind didn’t seem to be abuzz like his only added to his frustration. Even split in two, was he truly alone?
With so much worry in the air, the medical ward’s atmosphere felt heavy. But Dr. Vellicent’s appearance sheared straight through the oppressive air, as though she refused to acknowledge it was even there. Looking even sharper than she had this morning, she stepped forward, gaze crossing over all four of the students.
“Ah, you’re all here,” she declared. “Excellent. How was the trip?”
“Oh, it went well!” Amelie was the first to respond, snapping out of her thoughts with practiced ease. “Both of them should have everything they need.”
“Wonderful,” Dr. Vellicent continued. “Though I’d like to hear it from the afflicted themselves. How do you two feel?”
“Tired,” Seda replied.
“Been…better,” Ikhan answered.
“Ah.” Dr. Vellicent looked between the two. “You’ve been diverging already, I see.”
“Splitting them up helped,” Amelie explained. “We went our separate ways for the shopping.”
“I see, I see.” Vellicent flipped open her notebook, scrawling in the pages as she spoke. “If that’s the case, then this makes things easier.”
“Easier how?” Mellick asked.
Vellicent was silent for a moment, then shut the notebook closed. “I bring tidings. Are you aware of where I just was?”
“Admissions?” Ikhan said.
“Just so. I’ve been advocating on your behalf, you see. I believe a decision has been reached.”
“And? What did they say?” Mellick couldn’t help the creeping concern in his voice.
“As of right now, both Ikhan and Seda Rabin will be allowed to continue their residence and studies at St. Myriak’s from where Ishmael left off.”
The twins let out a sigh of relief. Making the trip back to the Southlands sounded like the least pleasant thing possible at this moment.
“However, there were a few stipulations.”
“First, regular checkups with both the medical ward and Dr. Vellicent must be instated, to ensure the health of both students and to minimize the risk of danger.”
“Second, for the sake of peace of mind among the general student body, they must make as much effort as possible to conceal their Accursed status.”
“And third, as St. Myriak’s has a strict policy against co-ed cohabitation in the towers, one of the two must find a new living accommodation.”
There was a moment of silence as all four of them let the rules sink in. Ikhan and Seda could feel the agreement in each other’s sentiments. The first rule was perfectly acceptable, and the second made sense. But the third…neither was willing to give up their knowledge-laden room that easily.
Amelie chose this moment to speak up. “Well, the first two are standard procedure.” No doubt she had to follow the same. “But the third…well, it sounds like one of us will have to take one in, Mel.”
“Mel?” Mellick arched an eyebrow. Did she think they were close enough for nicknames? Whatever. He’d deal with it later. He turned his look over to the twins. “I’m fine with that. I don’t suppose either of you wants to move out?”
Both of them shook their heads. Though they hadn’t spoken, they were already coming to an agreement.
“Amelie,” from Seda.
“Mellick,” from Ikhan.
“Yeah?”
“Play…Rock, Paper, Scissors.”
“Play…Rock, Paper, Scissors.”
Mellick and Amelie blinked, then turned to face each other. “Sounds like they have a plan,” Mellick muttered.
“If it’s what they want, I have no objections,” Amelie declared. “Shall we?”
“Sure.”
The two stood up and took a step towards each other.
“Rock…”
“Paper…”
“Scissors…”
“Shoot!”
In a blur of motion, the two moved like they were quick-drawing weapons. But the result was clear. Amelie’s paper, shorn in two by Mellick’s scissors. Amelie sighed. “Sorry.”
Seda sighed. “I lose…”
Ikhan gave her a sympathetic look. “You can visit.”
“So that’s that, huh.” Mellick glanced at the pair. “You should try to be less incomprehensible. Otherwise, we’re going to break the second condition.”
“You’re…right,” Ikhan replied. “We’ll…try harder.” Seda nodded in agreement.
“Well, if that’s all, I’d be happy to perform another checkup,” Dr. Vellicent interjected. “Just to ensure that nothing is deteriorating rapidly. If you two would? I’ll be there shortly.”
The twins exchanged a look, then stood up. A moment later, they were gone, back into the same room they’d used this morning. Dr. Vellicent watched them go before turning her attention to the other two students. “Amelie, was there anything amiss about their state?”
“Aside from their divergence, no,” Amelie answered evenly. “If anything, they’re adjusting much better than expected.”
“I see. I would like a full report from you later.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“As for you, boy.”
“Mellick.”
“Yes, Mellick.” Vellicent turned to the prefect, her piercing gaze meeting his. “You’ve now had a day to think it over. The life of the Accursed is a difficult one, and the world of supporting one is almost as hard. Nobody would blame you for stepping down. Are you certain you would like to continue?”
To his credit, Mellick’s gaze was almost as steely as the Doctor’s in this moment. “I’m certain,” he declared. “I believe these two need me, and as prefect, I can’t simply abandon them. Even if one of them won’t be under my jurisdiction much longer.”
Dr. Vellicent smiled, just for a moment. “That is good to hear. No doubt those two will need help in the days to come. You’re free to ask any question you’d like in the future, though I can’t guarantee I will have a satisfactory answer.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
And with that, she was gone, into the examination room. Amelie had already pulled out a notebook of her own, no doubt to begin the report that the Doctor had asked her for.
Mellick took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair. This was it, huh? He was committed now. Though, he was feeling less trepidation about it than before. Even if he had to scale a mountain just to stand at the same level as their other supports, he was resolved to do it.
At least those two wouldn’t be alone anymore.