Shortly they arrived in the living room at Artie’s manor. Many young women at her age were there, each of them held a cup in their hand and the saucer on the other hand. Some of them occupied the large couch, some were standing while talking and some sat on the comfortable wooden stool. Around them were tables with fruits and cakes. They turned silent when Nora shows before them followed by Irina. They turned their head looking at each other.
“Nora… Finally, you arrive!” Said one of them. She stood to greet Nora and Irina. “Irina thank you for coming.”
“I didn’t tell your father, you know.” Diaz said.Irina and Diaz were at Scholar-Dome. Her father took her there first thing in the morning, they left right after breakfast. And here Irina walking with Diaz on white sand, they headed to the lines of trees in the Scholar-Dome area.“I know it wasn’t you.” Said Irina, she covered a yawn with her hand. “It was Nieal.” She added.“How?”“I was in Lord Arthur’s manor and Nieal happens to be there. So—”“You interfere with his politics—” Diaz said accusingly.“I’m not interfering anything.” Retorting sharply, Irina glared at Diaz. “And Nieal was fine with me going there. He knew I can’t be easily manipulated. My father on the other hand, I never seen him mad at me like that before.”The memory after she left Arthur’s manor started, she was sitting i
Roman ‘s hand was holding the knob when he opened Irina’s bedroom door. It was breakfast time, but she was fast asleep. He closed the door then walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Her lack of sleep was because of his tight and hard training, hence he let her sleep longer.Entering the kitchen, Nieal was listening to Marthe’s talking. His look of question made Roman shrugged. Nieal understood that Roman didn’t want to wake Irina up. Then Roman took a seat and started to eat, while Nieal and Marthe were still talking.The Elder’s house was far from town’s crowdedness. Perfect place for arranging plans and having secret meeting. This morning, there were Roman, Nieal, and Elder Mory himself as the master of the house.They were sitting around a table in his secret library. Piles of parchments were on the other side of the table. Lying in front of them was the new map of Poor Land. The map was from Scholar Benjamin whom assigned
Knock… knock…“It’s open.” Said Irina.Nieal came bringing a neat paper wrap. Irina sat on the only chair in the room.“I just made the—”Nieal sat and wore his innocent look.“—bed. Don’t mind it.” Irina gave him the look.Grinning, Nieal put the wrap next to him. He said. “For you.” Pushing it a little, he added. “Congratulation on becoming who you are supposed to be”Smiling brilliantly, Irina pulled the chair closer to the bed.“I heard your eyes didn’t even blink when you saw it.”CRAAACKKFrowning, she saw a folded dress. The dress was gray, short sleeves, embroidered with pale red rose in the waist line.“Thank you Nieal, it’s beautiful.” She said while holding the dress, fitting it in front of the mirror. “But I don’t remember seeing this dress before.&rdq
The trip to the Common-House Village was through the downtown. Irina noticed that the town had more crowded than it used to be. New faces added more color to the boring town, thought Irina. Irina was looking out the carriage glass window, her smile showed. She was thinking, with the increasing number of people in town, Nieal also built new school building, there should be more students in town then library would have an elevated activity. Maybe they need more employee, maybe her dream job could come true.Construction of Common-House completed. People that supposed to be moved to town were there, most of them were at the village, attending the gathering while the other part were wandering in town.The gathering was hosted by Nieal on purpose. He provided everything, various foods and drinks were served. Cheerful music played as an entertaining. And to end the event, he had prepared fireworks to add more light in the summer night sky.Irina set her foot on the vi
Lucas walked in to the village. He was half wishing to see Irina there, also wishing to see the elder too. These past few days, he was running around between library and scholar-dome hoping he could see the elder, and yet the elder was like I’m going to see you when I want to. Although he knew the chance of meeting the elder in the gathering like this was very thin, he still wanted to go. He felt the need to witness a history.The town now was colorful. But not the same colorful as the time when he came from. He knew this was a beginning.A servant came with tray of flute of white wine. Lucas took one. He was standing alone watching people dancing, he noticed some teenagers near him steal a glance at him whenever they talked to each other. He didn’t feel want to be nice today.Sipping the wine, his mind suddenly flew to the moment when Irina mixed her drink, the thought made him smile a little. He walked again, wandering around with no particular dir
“Are you sure it was pleasant to hear?” Asked the blonde.Irina recognized her from the previous occasion in Artie’s manor. She couldn’t remember her name though. From the moment they started to gather together as a group and listened to Timothy telling his tale, Irina’s attention divided. She kept following Lucas and Dee with her eyes every few minutes.“Yes.” Said Timothy. “What do you think, Irina?”“Eh?” Irina startled when the question came, she was watching Lucas, he was moving and standing behind Dee.“Are you even listening?” Snapped the blonde.Now Irina staring straight to her. “Yes, crystal.” She said. Then she turned her attention to Timothy. “Pleasant voice of little girl speaking rubbish.”Timothy nodded confirming it.“I think you have to be patient and do what you have to do while in there.” Advised Irina.
It was still dark outside, with a blurry tinge of a moon light. Lucas was looking up to Irina’s bedroom window. He threw a pebble that coming back to him in an instant before it reached the window. Then he sensed the house was protected by some powerful spell that could detect evil soul, even an evil thing could also be detected.Frowning, Lucas wondered why this kind of spell could be here, in this particular time? Who casted it? Roman? Hard to think it’s him. Maybe the Elder, yes it must’ve been him!Stepping back, Lucas jumped up. Thankfully the window sill was large enough to sit on. So, when his hands held the sill, he pulled his body and managed to sit in front of the glass window.First, Irina saw his hand, then the swing of his body appeared until he sits securely on the window sill. Shaking her head lightly, she held a piece of paper up. Lucas grinned when he saw Irina write ‘don’t talk nor whisper’ in the paper that
Dawn had nearly touch when Roman suddenly awake. He felt like part of him gone. Worry started to fill his heart. He jumped out from the bed, almost run, straight to his daughter’s bedroom.Knocking softly on the door. Nothing. He pushed open the door. As expected, his daughter wasn’t in her room. Standing at the door, his eyes roamed all over the room, looking for signs if she went against her will. He found nothing. Striding straight to the window, he pulled it open.A piece of paper appeared into his eyesight when he wanted to look down over the window. He read it and frowned then hurriedly to continue his previous intention. He casted a spell, lumiere, then set of shining mists formed into a little ball, it made the area around the window seen like in a daylight. He saw traces of shoes, a man’s shoes.Judging from the depth of the first traces that heading outside the house than the other end that heading towards the house, he could