When Raghnall and his team began to move, Inna's team moved along with them. But for some reason, along the way, it seems that Rira used her influence as a Watcher to get two teams to come in between Inna and Raghnall's team. In fact, she even placed Raghnall in the forefront as she kept a keen eye on him.
Inna was truly disgusted by the clingy attitude of Rira. Back in her world, that kind of clingy-ness would only be justified if they were actually together. But if they're not, that's just plain desperate.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team proceeded in silence all throughout the trip. They simply followed Favian as he walked along the line in silence as well. No one seemed to be brave enough to break the peace so everyone was forced to endure the deathly quiet air.
Minutes passed and Inna began to feel uncomfortable with the silence. The whole walk was actually the longest time she spent not talking. In fact, even she was surprised that she could handle minutes of being silent without being pissed at someone.
But as those minutes increased, her discomfort increased as well. Until finally, she was now unable to endure it. So she tugged lightly at Favian's gray sleeve in front of her.
"Hey."
Favian ignored her as he kept walking.
She tugged again twice.
"Hey. Hey."
Favian stopped slightly and looked back at her with an eyebrow raised.
"What do you want?"
"Hi. So, I'm bored."
"Well, good for you. Why don't you focus on walking?"
"But I want to talk! It's so weird not to talk for twenty min--moments!"
Favian expression darkened as he sighed in annoyance.
"Once we enter the sacred grounds, talking is strictly forbidden. We are to offer prayers and wishes as we walk towards the sacred temples. Only an insensitive idiot would talk during that time. And you'll be heavily punished by the Grand Elder. Do you really want that?"
Inna absorbed this new bit of information.
Hmmm, seeing that he is still talking, we probably didn't arrive in that 'sacred grounds' yet.
With that in mind, she grinned broadly.
"Well, we're obviously not there yet."
"But we will be in a few moments."
"Well, we can waste those 'moments' by talking."
"Don't you have anything better to do than talk?"
"Nope."
Favian sighed again as he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Fine, let's talk. What do you want?"
"What's 'Mirzo'?"
"Mirzo? You don't know what that means?"
He was slightly surprised and suspicious as well. After all, everyone in Anemoly knows that word!
It was either she was stupid, or she never lived in Anemoly.
Well, it's not his fault she didn't understand it. She wasn't supposed to hear it in the first place.
Inna narrowed her eyes when she heard his tone.
"Well, seeing your confidence, do you actually know what that means?"
"A-ah? Mirzo? I don't know as well. T-that's why I was asking you!"
Favian feigned ignorance as his walking pace slightly hastened.
"Your stupid self called Raghnall 'Mirzo' so I thought you also knew. After all, you share the same bodies."
"But we don't share everything we know."
He replied flatly as he tried to make his expression look blank.
"Well, if it helps, I don't think it's a name. It sounds too bizarre to be one. So, it must be like a nickname of some sort."
Favian nervously gulped but since his back was to Inna, she wasn't able to see his nervousness.
"Well, don't believe the ramblings of my stupid self. Even I couldn't figure out the meaning behind some of his words. It seems that it's just something between him and Raghnall."
"Really? Why don't we ask your--"
"We're entering the Sacred Grounds. Shut up."
Favian said quickly as he gestured at the huge arched open gate in front of them.
Inna pouted in annoyance.
Ugh, just as she was about to figure it out!
Fuck, why is the timing so bloody awful?!
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All throughout the journey within the Sacred Grounds, the students kept to themselves and were obedient towards the traditions. It was slightly unnerving how the place was so silent that the students' breathing can be easily heard from afar.
As they walk, the students placed both their hands on their chest and bowed their heads as they began to pray for their well-being and future in the academy. Some prayed for strength and many wished for guidance.
But one student was simply sight-seeing.
Inna was the only student who held her head up high and had her hands to the side.
The rest of the team behind her were startled to see her not following the tradition, but they were too scared to call her out for it. So, instead, they bowed their heads deeply and simply prayed that they would no longer be together with such a freak.
On the other hand, Inna was enjoying looking around as she saw the people in front looking all solemn and such to pray for their 'god.'
Since she was atheistic, she normally wouldn't really care less about their made-up 'gods.'
But now, after all the shit that's been happening to her, she's willing to keep an open mind. Although, not fully trusting the fact that there is a real god.
Because she's the type of person that if she sees it, she would only 'half' believe it. She wouldn't 'fully' believe it until she is given a proper explanation.
Well, the only exception were ghosts.
Fuck seeing it. Fuck the explanation.
Real or not, it doesn't matter. She'd rather believe and not see it than not believe and end up seeing it.
Her fear was actually due to a line in a book she read when she was a kid.
It read, "If you still do not believe in them, then they would find a way to make you believe. Because the more you don't believe they exist, the more they would want to show themselves to you."
So, fuck no, not taking any chances.
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After a few seconds of walking, the annoying feeling of boredom began creeping up in her mind again. So, looking for a way to ease it, she decided to play a little game of 'I Spy'. Eager to get it started, she looked closely around the area to find her targets. But as she looked, she realized that it was quite alarming to see that it actually resemble a lavish garden. It had multiple plants like roses, lilies, lavenders, and many more.
In fact, it looked like a pretty grave for the rich dead people.
The place had a vast amount of space and was mostly filled with numerous plants and vines. But despite its size, the pathway can easily be seen and followed because of the presence of the red tiled path. It gave a huge contrast on the soil and plants surrounding it that it can easily get a lost person's attention.
As Inna and the rest walked, there were pillars and marble sculptures that flanked them on both sides. Passing by multiple ones, each statue had sorts of different iconic poses and they all had varying expressions.
One of Inna's favorites was a statue of a man clad in full armor with his shield on his side and a sword held up high. His eyes held a strong sense of determination and wrath while his mouth was opened as though he was letting out a battle cry. Across that statue was another statue she liked, but it had the opposite feel. If the former statue had a feeling of war and blood, the latter had the feel of tranquility and power. The said statue was of a beautiful man who had a book opened in one hand, and a staff on the other. He stood in a tall and proud manner, his robe and hair sculpted to make it as though it is still swaying with the wind. It looked eerie yet enchanting at the same time.
Inna gazed with awe as she absorbed the beauty of the place with her eyes. It looked like that place she once read about in stories.
AH, OLYMPUS!
If it were to have a passageway, it would totally be like this, surrounded with marble statues and pillars flanked on each side. It would have various kind of plants and vines that would creep upon the statues to give it a more 'ancient feel' towards it. And possibly a fountain in the middle. It would look regal, solemn, and totally greek-like.
It would look even more fitting if this pathway was actually towards the top of a tall mountain!
Her fascination with the statues occupied her mind for a while. But after a few minutes of walking, she began to get bored again. So, she finally started her game of 'I Spy.'
I spy with my big cute eyes, something… beautiful.
She looked at a puddle that showed her reflection and she patted herself as a reward for successfully finding it.
She kept the game rolling as they walked for a few more minute, unknowingly insulting almost every person she can see. Suddenly, the line stopped moving, making Inna and the rest of her team stop as well. Curious with the sudden stop, she went on the tip of her toes as she tried to see what's happening.