CHAPTER 23

RIGHT AS RAIN

The next morning, I swing open the door to Inter-Political Relations.

My eyes are immediately drawn to an ivory figure sitting by the window. Sunlight catches and dances off seraphic features. The light flares off the window and alabaster strands of hair, seemingly casting an ethereal halo.

Turning her head, amethyst eyes meet my own and I'm left breathless. Before I can begin breathing again, she's already stepping into my arms.

“!?”

Surprise takes me as her voice warms to a fleeting chirp. “Aeya, You're finally here.”

Huh? That's the nickname Noel calls me by. But, do I even know her…?

I am shocked stock-still. Her eyes are glistening jewels, only inches from my own. But the more I look into them, the more they seem not fully there. Although she's looking directly at me, it's as if she's looking through me into the far distance. Past me into some unknown and unreachable abyss. Her eyes fade further and further out of my reach. Whispering low, her gentle voice becomes vacant.

“Resounding strokes ring high. Low blows stride downward. The weapon lodged between your hand feel steel met upon steel, yet though the ice sings true, emblazoned is their resolve to falsehood.

Glisten the rain pours, washing the moon off your touch. Moon-touched she must be to wreck havoc among the dead. Yet, the ivory shimmer of incantation, nor the ebony fractals of necromancial raise can shudder golden resolve.”

I feel a quiver of magick run through my bones, deep is its primordial quintessence. Like a silver snowfall far, far away. Not here yet also not there; but you can feel the cold coming. Certain and predestined.

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I'm broken out of my reverie when I hear our classmates gasp in exclamation, “She actually spoke to someone…?” Although I've returned to reality, my throat is closed up like a water-well in summer drought.

“Little sister, you've forgotten your textbook-”

It's as if someone thoroughly replicated the girl's voice, only a few octaves lower. Turning my head towards the entrance, I see a young man with the same alabaster-white hair. His amethyst eyes catch the light in a clearer way than the girl in my arms.

“What… Are you doing, little sister?” He tries to pull her off me sounding shocked. But she hangs fast onto my arm, unwilling to let go. Finally, he gives up and faces me in vexation. “I deeply apologize, she has never… Clung to someone like this before.”

Clearing my throat, I find my words come back. “Oh, it's alright. Is she… Fairfolk? In which case, it would make sense since I am a Child of Sunira.”

“Child of Sunira…? Ah, then you must be…” His words trail off as he chuckles and begins another sentence anew. “Haha, she's nothing of the sort. However at birth… She was cursed by The Winter Court, then subsequently blessed by three Fairy Godmothers. But I assure you, she is fully Human.”

Hmn? This story sounds oddly familiar.

“Ah, please excuse me. I've forgotten my manners. My name is Mercurius Frey and this is my little sister, Ceres Frey.”

...A tumbling snowslide flurries through my mind.

T-The Second Prince and Third Princess of Gardein!? I will my shock to not be apparent on my face.

“Pleased to make your acquaintances. My name is Aeriea Newlyn.” I hurriedly curtsy.

I didn't notice from the earlier surprise, but a crowd has gathered around us. It including not just those in the class, but others begin filing in through the hall to catch a glimpse of the commotion.

Er… Instead of you all just staring, can someone please tell me what to do about the girl adamantly holding onto my arm…?

The bell tolls thrice in drawled out reverberations, signalling the start of class.

An older gentleman of a tranquil temperance walks in with the aid of a cane. “My! This class seems to have seen a resurgence in the registration. Let us quickly settle down so we may discuss the many facets and nuances of Inter-Political Relationships between kingdoms and species.”

What an endearing senior, I can’t help but be soothed by his elation at all the students. But, I’m sorry to say, they’re all here because I’ve caused a disturbance… Well, I suppose it wasn't really me who's caused it… Rather, it's the royal family… Still, I mentally give him my sincerest apologies.

Mercurius takes this as cue to leave, smoothly shooing away the onlookers as well. He smiles at me before doing so, but… There's such a complex expression on his face, I can't seem to read it at all.