Beyond the triad

"Do you guys know them?" Selis asked.

"Yes, those three always accompany each other." Skadi was picking at her perfectly done nails.

"They consider themselves as siblings. The oldest one, who was sick, was named Cyress. He used to be in good shape years ago but he started getting thinner and one day he just…fell sick. Nobody knows when. The other two are Quil and Riime. Quil is the older one." Skald said quietly. His eyes were looking up ahead or perhaps he wasn't looking anywhere after all.

Where Skald was in that moment, was in the good bygone times when he was no taller than Cyress’ knees and he looked up to Cyress both actually and emotionally.

Little Skald had held aloft proudly, a stick which he had picked up from the ground after which he had challenged Cyress to a battle. A grin spread across Cyress’ face and he accepted the battle invitation picking up a petite stick from the ground. Occasionally one could find sticks lying about on the plateau, travellers from the forest below. The battle had ended in Skald crying because of an easy defeat in spite of the opponent having a weaker weapon. Little Skald had sworn to defeat him in a stick battle again. Older Skald never got the chance. Cyress was bedridden.

Selis’ unsure expression suggested that she was still wrapping her head around the fact that a cold could kill someone here.

It's like..it's like this place is in the past… either that or there's no resources here…

The latter made more sense as even from up here on the plateau she hadn't seen any part of the forest having been cleared to harvest its resources. Selis looked around, taking in the surroundings of the Dormitory they were in. It suddenly occurred to her that she hadn't come across a single Neophyte who was older than them except Cyress himself.

She found it rather strange.

“Why is no one older than us?” She asked the other two.

Skadi looked at her quietly for a moment. It appeared that she would rather not answer the question. Upon waiting for a while and Skald not taking the lead, she eventually answered.

“Many went missing in the forest and others got killed there. The Spectres bring back the remains of those whom they can find and conduct a Funeral. Others fell ill just like Cyress and died.”

One finds it inappropriate to speak when the topic of death in their lives is brought up. As such there was a moment of silence which followed.

“...Why?” Selis asked after the moment of mourning passed.

“We don't know.” Skald answered.

The three had been sitting in Dormitory 1, which was assigned to Skadi and Skald after they shifted from Newcomer’s dorms. The dormitory was, for the most part, empty simply because it was morning, the prime working hours. The Dormitories were located in the main towers of the building. These were circular rooms divided into four sections. Each section was triangular and had four doors, two leading to the other sections of the dormitory on each side, one leading to the passageway outside. As for the other door, she wasn't so sure as the door had been closed ever since she had stepped into that dormitory. Maybe it was the door to the boy’s dormitory to which Skald was assigned or perhaps simply a restroom. Selis wondered if the architect had been eating a pizza while designing and was inspired by it. Or perhaps a cake.

The one they were sitting in currently was the girls’ dormitory. It wasn't painted in pink as one would expect. It was just a normal room occupied by adorable little girls ranging from toddlers to preschoolers studying, talking or playing with each other.

Skadi and Selis were seated next to each other, facing Skald who was talking.

“Where do we start looking from?” Skald asked.

“You tell us, Mr. Hero. You seem to have great decision-making skills to have decided for all of us.” Skadi sneered as Skald hadn't even asked what the rest thought before agreeing to help Cyress.

“Give me time to think.” Skald said defensively and the expression shifted on his face to one which looked like he was really trying to think.

These two always keep bantering.

A sigh escaped from Skadi, already having expected him to have no plan at all, "I know someone who knows everyone. She has multiple contacts. Looking for the herb would be much easier if we have a lot of Neophytes looking for it.”

“Sounds fine .”

Skald, who looked relieved to be free from the pressure of doing the thinking, agreed. Selis simply nodded, going along. She didn't know about the reason why she was at the Institution and she thought that it was better to be around these two.

"Well then..." Skald said and tapped Selis’

shoulder motioning her to remain seated with a smirk. Confused, she did as was asked of her. Skadi had already headed towards the door and when she realised they hadn't stood up. She stopped and looked back at them with a confused expression, "You guys coming right?”

It was the first time she'd seen Skadi looking confused. Seeing the bewildered expression Selis' couldn't help but chuckle. By now she felt quite comfortable around the two’s antics.

“Do you need us to talk to other Neophytes?” Skald teased with an arched eyebrow and an air of superiority.

“No! I can do it alone!” Skadi barked, walking out and the door was shut.

“Did we offend her?” Selis asked in a guilty tone, worried to have done so.

His smirk grew wider and he shook his head, “I bet she'll be waiting outside.” Just as was predicted by him, she was waiting right outside as she looked out the window. Skald chuckled and pointed at Selis,” She thought we were actually arguing.”

“Really?” Skadi asked with a serious expression before proceeding to cover her mouth, “Pfft…”

It was then that Selis could find a label for their silliness when around each other. It had just appeared to her out of nowhere.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I think I understand now. They're like…siblings.

“Follow me.” The frown on Skadi’s face resumed as they walked up to her. “I shall forgive you this time.” She scoffed, regaining her regal air and leading the way

Selis would have believed they were seriously fighting had Skald not pointed it out.

And that is also why they must really want to help Cyress, Quil and Riime.

Selis couldn't help but imagine a warmly lit room where it could've been that Quil and Rimme were running around. Cyress would call them and surprise them with the silly thumb magic trick. Little Quil and Rimme would be in awe, asking Cyress how he'd managed to separate his thumb into two and join it again.

She felt a pang in her heart and she quickly cleared the scene from her head.

The little group headed off towards Dormitory 3.

All the dormitories sat at the first floors of the three towers of the Institute so they had to use the passageway.

When they had been passing Dormitory 2, Skadi explained, "I was keeping an eye on Sora since she's also going to be a member of our group in the future. Of course only if Peryton thinks there are enough people to make one. She talks a lot…” Skadi trailed away, not seeming much excited about it.

Selis knew not why Skadi hadn't brought her up before as a possible member of the group.

Her mind however turned to something else. “Peryton?” Selis had evidently forgotten.

“The man with the eye patch? The owner of the Institution?” Skald recalled pointing at his eye.

“So the man I met when I came here Peryton…he makes the groups?” Selis asked.

“We don't know.” Skald shrugged.

“He does announce the groups though.” Skadi added and then continued,

“Anyways, Sora seems to be a useful information resource. She knows a lot when it comes to people."

"So practically she loves to gossip?" Selis asked flatly.

There was no negation to that question.

Sora’s name also starts from S. These are a lot of Ss I've met in the past few days. How does one pronounce 'Ss'?

That was pretty much irrelevant. Time is money and henceforth, one must stay on the topic which was why Selis proceeded ahead. She proceeded to think of more relevant topics. Why did Peryton, the head of the Institution, arrange groups according to the letter of the names? For her it was quite silly and childish. There were also many similar names to learn, including her own.

Selis

Skadi

Skald

Sora

They entered Dormitory 3 finally, and the few little girls in the room looked up at them and returned to whatever they were doing. It was structured like the others. Each cabinet was also decorated differently here too.

Perhaps the Neophytes felt that the cabinet was the only thing that they could call their own.

However the dorm was a little different as it had been quite a while since Selis had heard the sound of chatting and giggles. Her eyes turned to a group of girls who looked about the same age, talking amongst themselves.

There was a chubby girl with a mahogany bob who appeared to be older than the rest of the group, talking with sunny laughter and replying to everyone in the group. Her peers were probably Neophytes like them who still didn't have a group.

Skadi was leading them straight to the group.

Oh no.

Selis would have to introduce herself and talk with everyone’s eyes on her which she would definitely struggle with. She still didn't know about the unsaid rules of this place. Just like a while ago, she wouldn't have known talking about colds was such an ominous topic.

The brown-haired girl cheerfully excused herself from the group when she saw Skadi approach. Selis sighed in relief.

The others continued talking in the backdrop.

The girl had a huge smile on her face and she called out energetically, "Hey! Skadi! What are you doing here? And I see you bought two new friends!” She offered a handshake to Skadi and as soon as she raised her hands slightly, Sora shook her hands excitedly. Skadi looked mortified. “I'm Sora.” She said to Skald and shook his hands the same way.

The girl's enthusiasm at the first meeting made Selis feel like an antisocial dark, dark black blob. She plastered a smile on her face like wearing armour to the social battlefield and raised her communication weapon, speaking, "Hello." Sora offered her a handshake too. Sora looked pretty bulky. Selis was sure she'd be shaken like a twig and that came out to be true.

I am going to avoid this girl henceforth.

She understood Skadi’s reluctance to meet Sora more than before now.

"I want your help.” Skadi said, cutting straight to the point with a serious expression. However, she always had a serious expression but somehow Sora sensed the urgency in her tone and the smile on the girl’s face faded

There were a couple of empty beds on which the group of four sat down in different positions.

“What's it?” Sora was the only one sitting upright. She did look like someone who could help with her observant eyes and a confident smile. It was this confidence which seemed to have helped her in being surrounded by people.

Skadi briefed about the situation with Cyress and how his condition seemed to be deteriorating every day.

The sparkle in Sora’s eyes had faded and she looked pensive as Skadi proceeded with the accounts.

“I have heard about the herb too. I think I might know someone who could help.”

"You do?" Skald asked.

“Yes, he seems rather knowledgeable about plants. He is one of the people in charge of the Nursery.”

“Nursery?” Selis asked.

“Plant Nursery of course. Oh right, she hasn't been to the Nursery yet.” Skald realised.

“We'll go there later anyways.” Skadi dismissed and turned back to Sora.

It made Selis feel annoyed that no explanation was offered and she shifted back in the bed and leaned against the headrest of the bed trying to get into a comfortable position.

In any case, Cyress’s life is more important. This is the first lead we've got.

“He spends most of his time in the Nursery itself according to hearsay, so we're more likely to find him there, especially in the evenings. I have heard that he doesn't talk much and is not easy to talk to. I have never talked to him or seen him myself before though.” Sora frowned.

Sora is truly like an information source. She knows the place and the time to find an individual she hasn't even seen before.

Selis looked at the other three, all of them harbouring serious expressions. She still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that someone's life was in danger. Perhaps it was because she didn't know Cyress personally, which was rather cruel. She felt like a cold wasn't dangerous and it felt wrong to see Cyress suffer so much from it. She couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that there was something darker at work here. She had seen him suffer though and she knew whatever it was, it was killing him.

Did they ever take him to a doctor? Are there doctors here? What do Peryton and the Spectres even do?

"Let's go together." Sora suggested. “After all, we are gonna be working together soon.”

Sora is the next member, isn't she?

Her eyes looked up at the watch fixed on the wall,” It's still afternoon though.”

"So we wait." Skadi said.

For a while it was so quiet in the room that one could hear the clock on the wall above the bookshelves, ticking. Unlike the bookshelves from the Newcomer's room, the two bookshelves here were actually full. The door was open and the four were looking outside, waiting.

Don't get your hopes up. This lead may or may not help us at all. For now, all we can do is wait.

Selis now had her back resting against the headrest of the bed and was a few moments away from the land of dreams.

I'm tired.

She yawned.

Just a nap won't hurt, right?

And soon enough her eyes closed the curtain on the world around her and she was asleep.