University of Euradai | Isles of Athera | Interlude

Lucille slams the newspaper down with a piercing look in her sky-blue eyes. "So help me divine spirits, I am going to murder that idiot!"

Aria gives her best friend a wry smile. On Lucille's behalf she sends an apologetic smile to the chancellor on the dais. It was not often that her golden haired friend broke from her sweet disposition, so when she did, it always created a stir.

Lucille always had been abnormally tall for a hume, let alone for a lady, and she'd always been ostracized by her peer group for it. However, when she met the fair-complected alvarrian with flaming red hair for the first time, the two immediately bonded in shared experience. She hands the newspaper to Aria and points out the article responsible for her sudden outburst.

Aria reads the title; Serpent Attack in Borintass. She scans the article, eyes widening in disbelief. "There's no way!"

Lucille glares at the article as if it outright did everything to offend her. "There's no doubt about it."

"Lucille..."

"I am going to murder that twit," Lucille crushes the bagel in her hand.

"Who are you going to murder?" At that moment their freckled, dark haired dalkarian friend, Emmett, sits beside Aria. "Violence is never the answer."

Lucille laughs. "In some cases it is."

"It's her lover," Aria murmurs, slipping the newspaper under Emmett's nose.

"He's not my lover," Lucille flushes.

Emmett reads the article a few times, his eyes also gradually widening in disbelief. "There's no way," he reads it over a few more times. "Yeah, there's no way. It's not like him."

Lucille shakes her head. She desperately wanted to believe it was her James, but there was just no denying it. She knew of no one else in her homeland who was capable of orchestrating a serpent attack. Her eyes unconsciously veer toward the exit as if she might take off any second and it shows in her expression.

Aria squeezes her hands. "I know that look."

"What?" Lucille tries to look innocent. Judging from Emmett's snort, it wasn't working.

"That's the look of 'I'm looking for trouble.'"

Lucille returns the comforting gesture. "I just want to make sure he's alright."

"He'll be alright," Emmett adds reassuringly. "No matter what situation he lands himself in, he'll always be that handsome, somehow irresistible knave."

The three breakout in laughter. Lucille has to agree, the serious, bored disposition of James never changes. "You're right, still it worries me."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"He must've had a good reason," Aria scans the article again. "There weren't any casualties, the Vitae and Veranandi handled everything."

Lucille nods silently. She mostly worried how her stringent father would react to this news. Sending the thoughts to the back of her mind, she refocuses on her breakfast but decides against it. She doubts she could stomach anything with the growing anxiety in the pit of her stomach.

Emmett squeezes her shoulders, though he appears like he feels awkward doing so.

Aria laughs. "So do we have anything planned after lessons?"

"Oh I don't know," Emmett smiles mischievously. "I was thinking maybe we all sign up for the study session in the library with Vannither."

Lucille coughs up a bit of her pomegranate juice.

Aria punches Emmett in the arm. "Not so loud, he might actually hear you."

As if on cue, Aria's slender older brother makes an appearance. He sits next to Lucille and begins the meticulous preparations for breakfast. "Sorry I'm late, I had to iron out a few wrinkles in my uniform."

Aria rolls her eyes. "We could do without your gaudiness Vannither."

"Now, now, Aria, is that any way to speak to your superior?" Vannither rebukes in a chiding tone. He spreads a judicious amount of red bean paste onto a thick slice of toast. "By the way," Vannither leans into Lucille, " I read the morning paper, sorry to hear about James."

"Geeze Vannither, you have such a big mouth!" Aria rips a piece of toast and flings it at his head.

Vannither deftly dodges the projectile and unconcernedly resumes his breakfast. "Careful now, you don't want to risk a disciplinary citation."

"So what are we going to do after lessons?" Lucille changes the topic of conversation.

"There's a sollikhetsu match in the evening," Vannither suggests. "I've been considering attending myself."

Emmett, Lucille, and Aria exchange surprised expressions.

"I'm half expecting tomorrow's news headlining: The Stars Have Fallen." Emmett prods his grits.

"Well, technically they are falling. Surriyohl is also falling, even the moons are falling." Vannither wipes crumbs from the corners of his mouth.

"Are they really?" Lucille asks curiously.

"It hasn't been proven yet, but there is evidence to suggest it."

"Can we save that stuff for lessons?" Aria interjects. "So are we all agreed on seeing this sollikhetsu match? What teams are playing?"

Vannither pauses for a moment, recalling something. "It's in the papers." He continues breakfasting.

Emmett flips through the paper, dexterously scanning the pages. "Found it." His eyes widen, "I have to see this!"

"Oh for Eldaeon's sake!" Aria snatches the paper from his grasp. "Eujhe-Hanim's Zephyrs versus Cyclaria's Talarians." She looks up from the paper. "So, how about it?"

Everyone looks at Lucille as if waiting on her verdict. She lilts a laugh. "Why are you guys waiting on me? Of course, anything to keep my mind off of-" she stops herself. "Well, this match does sound exciting. It's not everyday the best teams are matched against each other."

"Agreed," Vannither finishes his breakfast. "At any rate, I had better get going. I'll meet you at the leviastation after lessons?"

"Now that's something," Emmett comments. "You're going to travel with us?"

Vannither rises from his seat. "If that's alright with you three."

Lucille shares a knowing glance with Aria. "Of course it is," she rises from her seat, immediately followed by Aria and Emmett. The three exit the dining hall and proceed down the corridor to their respective lecture halls.