“I’ve never been so grateful for the summer before in my life,” Marianne groaned as she raised her hands over her head, stretching after their test in Wind, the last class before their vacation officially began.
“I’m ready for a break from school work,” Anya agreed as she shook out her hands, tired from the many essay questions they had to answer for the test.
“Don’t forget the homework we’ve been assigned,” Liliana cautioned as she rubbed at her eyes, weary from too little sleep, too many late nights studying and too many small words on paper. The Academy didn’t have midterms, not conventionally, but the tests before the beginning of summer break were about as close as they got.
“Nope. Shush. Don’t talk about school to me until I have a week of lazing around.” Marianne held up a hand, waving off Liliana’s words like she was deflecting an attack.
Liliana chuckled lowly, wincing at the twinge it caused in her head. She’d be happy to lock herself in her room and draw the curtains so she could get some relief from the pain, or perhaps she could stop by the student store and pick up a pain potion, if they even had any left.
“Lili!” a voice called out, announcing the arrival of Alistair, Emyr trailing behind him like a threatening shadow.
“Hey, Ali, Em.” Liliana greeted with a wince as her eyes were assaulted by the harsh rays of the sun. Alistair noticed and pulled out a pain potion, passing it to her.
“Alistair, you’re my favorite brother.” Liliana declared as she cradled the pain potion like a baby before she opened it and downed it, closing her eyes in relief as the potion began working immediately.
“I have more. Who needs them?” Alistair asked to an immediate chorus of agreements.
“You’re such a good mom, Alistair.” Marianne announced as she took the potion in a quick gulp.
“The best mom.” Anya nodded as she took her own potion.
“I’m not a mom,” Alistair said with a huff, resting a fist on his hip as he looked at his friends.
“You came prepared with potions. Don’t lie and say you weren’t about to offer water and some food, too.” Lilian teased, making her brother’s skin darken with a blush as he looked away from them sheepishly.
“Well, I had some cupcakes I made recently that I was saving for after the tests were over for everyone,” Alistair said hesitantly, drawing a small cheer from the group.
“Best mom, Alistair!” Anya cheered as Alistair huffed and lead their group towards a clear spot on the green area between the affinity towers and the training grounds.
Many other students had the same idea, teens from all years sprawling out on the grass in clumps of friends. Uniform blazers were carelessly tossed on the ground as everyone relaxed and reveled in the fact that their first long break had begun, that for the next month they were free of the pressures of the Academy.
When they found a clear area, they all flopped down, moving around until everyone was comfortable. Liliana ended up with her head in Marianne’s lap while the princess braided her hair, her feet in Alistair’s lap. Anya was lying over her legs and Emyr was sitting beside Alistair, leaning slightly into his friend, Anya’s tail flicking lazily against his arm as he made half-hearted attempts to catch it.
“Cupcakes for the brave defeaters of paper and ink,” Alistair proclaimed as he summoned the baked goods from his storage ring.
He had more than enough for the lot of them, filling three plates with the delicious confectionery goods. Soon everyone had one, or two in Anya’s case, in hand and they happily dug into them, praises for Alistair’s culinary skill coming out between bites.
Liliana tilted her head slightly to watch her brother, seeing him smile, first shyly, then with more confidence as the praise continued to pour out. It was like watching the sun finally peek out behind heavy winter clouds, the first heralding of spring, melting the frost holding the land captive.
“Do you have room for one more?” a sweet voice called out to them and the group turned almost as one to see Diana approaching them, her blazer already off in the face of the summer heat as she smiled brightly at them.
“We have cupcakes for all the worthy,” Liliana declared as she held up her half eaten cupcake to motion the girl over. Diana sat down delicately beside Marianne, the two girls crossing their arms as Diana used her free hand to grab a cupcake from the plates.
“We’re celebrating our victory, or defeat, at the hands of the dreaded boss, Academia,” Marianne informed Diana, who grimaced.
“Defeat sounds about right. I thought I might just ignite my Water test in frustration,” Diana muttered before biting into her cupcake, her face immediately relaxing as her eyes widened in the kind of joy only a cupcake could ever elicit.
“Do you have room for more?” another voice called out and Liliana didn’t even look up from where her eyes had drifted shut as Marianne kept tugging gently on her hair.
“There are enough cupcakes for many more,” Alistair said jovially, inviting Zindru, who insisted they all call him by his first name, Basil, now, to join their growing group.
“How went Nature?” Emyr asked their newest addition.
“Don’t talk to me about plants for the next two weeks, please.” Basil begged before his voice became muffled, garbled sounds of approval coming out as he tried to praise Alistair whilst stuffing his face.
Liliana cracked an eye open to look over their group, taking in the sight of some of the most prominent nobles in their country sitting around on the grass, faces smeared with icing as they entirely forgot their table manners. Sunlight painted their smiles, danced within their laughs as they choked them out between bites.
None of them looked like the next big names in their country, not the future queen and dukes of their queendom. They looked like children, enjoying the lifting of the weight of academic expectations and good food. It was a peaceful moment, and yet Liliana felt a sense of melancholy overtake her.
Something made her think this moment of peace, of happiness, of childhood, would be short-lived. A moment soon to be relegated to memories alone. Her heart ached, despite the moment not even ending yet, for the conclusion that was forthcoming. Liliana had learned well that good, happy moments were a rare treasure. Unexpected in their arrival yet fleeting in their lifespan. Flickering flames that filled one with warmth that would hopefully tide you over between all the darkness that came between them.
Liliana closed her eyes tight, trying to imprint the image of her friends, happy, free, innocent, in her mind. To carve the memory of their faces deep in her psyche, where they could never be removed. Never before had she so mourned the lack of technology as she did now, for she so dearly wished she could capture this moment in a picture, to last forever, even after the memories faded with age. Preserved as they were at this moment, forever.
Liliana felt something hit her face and her eyes shot open as she removed a piece of icing coated cupcake from her cheek, eyes seeking out her brother as the likeliest culprit immediately. His smile was teasing, but his eyes held a deep well of understanding that made her throat choke up.
His eyes said he understood what she’d just thought, felt, and he didn’t want her to wallow in her own wistful, depressed thoughts. Liliana rolled her eyes at her brother as she popped the bite in her mouth, wiping the icing off her face.
“Don’t waste good food, Ali,” Liliana chided her brother, even as her eyes communicated her gratitude, knowing he’d understand her though if she didn’t say the words.
“It’s my food. I’ll do what I please with it,” Alistair retorted, picking another piece of cupcake apart to throw at Liliana to make his point. Liliana shot up, catching it with her mouth with a shit-eating grin as she laid back down in Marianne’s lap to eat her stolen treat.
“Now you ruined the braid,” Marianne tutted as she tugged at Liliana’s hair in reproach before she started weaving Liliana’s hair back into some intricate design, weaving in flowers that Basil passed to her. Diana was busy making flower crowns as she chatted with Basil while he kept summoning new flowers for the girls to use. He was intermittently tossing petals at Anya, who was throwing grass back at him without missing a beat.
Liliana tilted her head to the side, looking out at the other students lazing out on the grass, each a candid portrait of teenage moments. Couples were cuddling, holding hands or kissing sweetly. Friends were teasing each other, roughhousing or chasing each other around. An air of relief and happiness hung over the Academy as a whole.
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It made it all the more obvious when someone wasn’t partaking in the general joviality.
Liliana watched, at first with passing curiosity, as Koth’talan stalked past the green area, passing by the affinity towers with a thunderous expression on his face. She wouldn’t have thought more of it than simply a bad test if not for Zir’elon following the same path as Koth’talan had tread moments after the bastard prince disappeared from view.
His own face twisted in anger, a promise of violence in his violet eyes. Liliana felt her stomach twist with dread and unease. She turned her head back to her group of friends, all blissfully unaware of what she’d seen, all playing around, joking and happy. She knew she could ignore it. Koth’talan wasn’t truly a friend. His problems weren’t her own to meddle with.
Her mind replayed the day he’d stepped between her and his brother, fearlessly putting himself between a ready to charge tiger and the brother he so obviously despised. Liliana sighed, letting out a small groan as she knew what she was about to do. She slid her feet out of Alistair’s lap and out from under Anya, sitting up.
“Lili?” Alistair asked, echoed by Anya and Marianne.
“Just realized I have something I need to take care of real quick.” Liliana said with a strained smile as she stood up, grabbing her blazer and throwing it over her shoulder.
She knew she could ask her friends to come with her, but she didn’t want to interrupt their happy moment, to tarnish it with drama none of them needed to be part of. Besides, she knew she could handle Zir’elon on her own easily enough.
“I’ll catch you at the cafeteria, yeah?” Liliana asked as she brushed off the grass and petals on her uniform.
Her friends agreed, sending her off with smiles, even if some of their eyes held suspicion for her sudden departure. She paused a moment to give Alistair a reassuring smile before she turned and followed the path the two dæmon princes, her hand tapping at Nemesis’ summoning stone, grabbing the serpent from the ground in a fluid move as she walked, letting her twine over her shoulders and around her neck.
“Hide in my hair,” Liliana asked Nemesis, and the serpent readily complied, camouflaging amongst the other flowers woven in her hair easily.
Liliana kept a normal pace until she reached the affinity towers and then she broke out in a jog, eyes scanning the grounds and ears straining for familiar voices. There was only one place she could imagine Koth’talan heading to when he was upset and as she passed more dorms with no sign of either dæmon, her pace picked up. When she hit the edge of the forest, she was nearing a full run.
Liliana ducked and moved through the forest with familiarity, her footfalls nearly silent as she moved. She hadn’t even seen the trees surrounding the pond before she heard the raised voices spurring her on to greater speeds.
“Are you coming back to Alfeserin?” Zir’elon’s voice cut through the air, chilling and dangerous.
“What’s it to you, brother?” Koth’talan’s voice barked out.
“I’m telling you, halfbreed, you better not be returning to Alfein.” Zir’elon’s voice cut back, bordering on a yell just as Liliana emerged from the trees, her steps slowing as she crept forward.
“Or what? Tell me what you’ll do, your highness.” Koth’talan sneered out, and Liliana had never seen him so angry, his eyes flashing like forest fires as the infernal marks on his face flared brightly.
“Do you forget so easily what I’m capable of? What my mother is capable of? The Emperor’s favor protects your wanton slut of a mother, but it does not extend to his bastard.” Zir’elon’s voice hissed out, aiming to cut, to wound. To force his brother to bleed from the threat and cruelty lacing his words as surely as he would from a blade.
She paused for a moment to take in the scene, both brothers too taken with their argument to even notice her. Her eyes immediately zeroed in on the blade in Zir’elon’s hands as he stalked towards his brother, intent clear in his eyes. It was the only proof and justification she needed to act.
With a mental command, Nemesis slid out of her hair, slithering into the surrounding grass, disappearing from view. Liliana summoned a dagger and had it under [Threads of Control] in a heartbeat, sending it flying to hit Zir’elon’s sword and force it to veer before he’d taken three steps.
“That’s quite enough.” Liliana called out, projecting her voice to be heard as she prowled forward, calling her dagger back to her to float around her
“This matter isn’t for the likes of you.” Zir’elon growled out as Liliana came to a stop beside and slightly in front of Koth’talan, her arms held loosely at her sides, her legs spread, knees slightly bent. A battle stance, ready to engage at the slightest hint of this coming to blows.
“No, but apparently you need to be reminded that while you’re on Academy soil, in Cista, you still abide by the Academy rules and Cista laws. So let me be that reminder, Prince Zir’elon. Murder and assault are illegal, and attacking another student while not in a duel is grounds for expulsion.” Liliana retorted, a razor sharp grin splitting her lips, little more than a show of teeth disguised thinly under a veil of civility.
“I don’t need to be reminded of the laws and rules by you. Little half-blooded rose.” Zir’elon spat at her, voice dripping in venom.
“So you went from hiding behind your mother’s skirts to hiding behind hers? What, are you two half breeds together? Bonding over how you’ll ruin the lives of those owed their place by right of blood?” Zir’elon didn’t give Liliana a chance to respond, turning to spew his vitriol at his brother.
“Liliana. You don’t have a part in this.” Koth’talan ground out. Liliana didn’t have to look to know his fists were clenched, every muscle tensed in preparation of this argument ending in a bloody brawl.
“I’m not doing it for you, I just don’t like to see assholes win.” Liliana retorted, throwing his words back at him. She heard Koth’talan take in a sharp breath behind her, recognizing the echo of his own statement made months ago.
“And what do you think you can do? You have none of your little friends or your pets around to help you.” Zir’elon taunted, and Liliana’s grin morphed into a sneer as she raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? Is that so?” Liliana asked, voice saccharine sweet.
As her voice faded, Nemesis shifted, her body enlarging until she reached her full length behind them, her head raising above Koth’talan, her mouth opened in a hiss ensuring her fangs, dripping in poison, were on full display.
“Unlike you, Kastrioti, I don’t pick fights I can’t win.” Liliana said, folding her arms as her dagger ceased its circling, coming to rest by her head, pointing directly at Zir’elon. She watched the prince’s eyes flick from her, to Koth’talan, to the giant serpent behind them, his skin blanching as the tip of his sword dipped in a clear showing of fear and uncertainty.
“One day, you’ll be all alone and on that day I’ll remind you why filthy mixed bloods like you are always below those with pure blood running in their veins.” Zir’elon spat at her, but he was backing up a step. He paused, sword lifting to point at Koth’talan behind her.
“And you. Don’t come back to Alfeserin if you know what’s good for you, bastard.” Zir’elon commanded. The effect of his threat was quite ruined by his retreat seconds later. The three of them watched him leave, not moving until they were sure he was truly gone.
“Thanks Nem,” Liliana said, dismissing her weapon and [Threads of Control] as she turned to her snake, patting a hand against her snout when she leaned it towards Liliana.
“I am fearsome. I frightened off the annoying one. He could not stand against my fangs.” Nemesis declared, her hood flaring pridefully.
“Yes, you’re a right terror you are. My lovely girl,” Liliana cooed as she rubbed at Nemesis’ head, pulling away to let the serpent lay out in the sunlight, soaking up as much heat as she could with her larger body.
“You didn’t need to interrupt.” Koth’talan told her and Liliana sighed, running a hand through her hair, flowers and petals drifting around her as she dislodged them.
“Didn’t need to. Wanted to.” Liliana said with a shrug, “Plus I owed you, so I guess we can consider us even now.” she tacked on when Koth’talan looked ready to argue. She smirked, walking towards the rock by the pond to sit on.
“Fine, we’re even.” Koth’talan conceded, looking like the admission was dragged out of him by force. Liliana’s smirk widened as she crossed her legs and set her chin in her hand, resting her elbow on a knee.
“We’re still not friends.” Koth’talan informed her, even as he walked to join her on the rock.
“No, of course not. You don’t have those.” Liliana teased with a roll of her eyes.
She sighed, moving her hands to rub at her eyes tiredly. Zir’elon was always exhausting to deal with. How did one boy fit so much audacity in his body? It was a marvel of physics.
“You need to tell the teachers what happened. He threatened you with a weapon.” Liliana told him, her tone turning weary and serious.
“No.” Koth’talan responded, his voice firm, final. Liliana removed her hands from her eyes to stare at him incredulously.
“Why the fuck not?” Liliana demanded.
“It won’t do any good. He’ll get a slap on the wrist. No one wants to expel the prince of a foreign nation and risk igniting a war over a bastard prince no one wanted in the first place.” Koth’talan said, his words curt but his tone dripping with derision and thinly hidden hurt.
“They won’t expel him for that, but it’ll be detentions, at least, a hit to his ranking, perhaps. If he keeps it up, he will be expelled.” Liliana insisted, insulted at the lack of faith in her own country’s, her own Academy’s, willingness to adhere to their own rules and laws.
“He won’t.” Koth’talan said, with a voice that spoke of many failed attempts to ask others, to ask adults, for aid that was never provided. “Don’t. Just drop it, Liliana.” Koth’talan said when she started to argue again.
Liliana shut her mouth with a frown. She didn’t want to let this drop, but it was obvious Koth’talan wouldn’t appreciate her intervening further than she already had. She’d let it drop for now, but she made a note to keep a better eye on both brothers from now on.
If Zir’elon tried something like this again, she’d say to hell with Koth’talan’s feelings and find a teacher to deal with it, and if that failed, she’d take matters into her own hands. Zir’elon needed to learn his actions had consequences and his position only granted him so much leniency before it ran dry. And Liliana would be more than happy to be the one to give him that particular life lesson.
“You called me Liliana.” She said after several minutes of tense silence.
“What?” Koth’talan asked, obviously not expecting the shift in conversation.
“You called me Liliana, my first name. So we are friends.” Liliana decided, pushing through the unease in her gut to force a smile on her face.
“We are not.”
“We so are.”