"Sure, you're okay with my master holding your hand." Breeze grumbled sarcastically under his breath and Ariana flushed a crimson red. She pulled back her hand and hugged herself as she silently followed behind the guide and Rain. The sounds of their footsteps echoed in the empty halls as they made their way further into the building.
Ariana lifted her gaze up a little and tried to look at her surroundings as the passed by. Everywhere she looked walls, pillars and the floors were done with white marble stone. It had veins of grey, blue and silver running through out the stone, making Ariana take sharp breath in. She tried her best to stop her mind from going to that person who completely forgot about her.
She lifted up her head and looked up at the ceiling, to stop her tears from welling. Beautiful crystal chandeliers where hanging from the ceiling, all strategically place so to optimize the lighting in the building. Suddenly she felt her hat slip off her head and land on the floor. She stopped and bent down to pick it up. No one else noticed that she stopped and the moved on ahead without her.
Ariana sighed as she picked up her hat and dusted it off. She looked at her hat a little bit longer and decided that she wasn't going to put it on right away. She gingerly held it and started to walk in the direction the others went as she took a good look of the lay out. She noticed that there was actually another floor above her. In rich, black stained wood there was a giant balcony that hugged the walls.
Some people in deep brown robes and cream coloured bowties were running around with documents in their arms. She slowed down her pace and watched as people scurried around like busy bees and she couldn't help but laugh. She heard something fall onto the floor and looked to the left. Her eyes strained to see what was hidden within the shadows underneath the balcony and behind the pillars. "Hello?" She called out but no one answered.
She decided to walk towards the shadows, as her heart thumped against her chest. "Hello?" She called again. She stretched out her hand to try and touch what was hidden. Suddenly a pair of almost silver coloured eyes stared at her from within the darkness. Her breath was taken away. The pair of eyes before her were so beautiful and comforting. A rich grey with subtle blue undertones almost making them look silver in the right lighting.
Her slightly plump, alluring lips parted as she mouthed out a name. The eyes widened in disbelief then disappeared, Ariana wanted to run into the darkness but was stopped by a firm hand landing on her shoulder.
"You should never separate from me when we are here." Rain said in a cold tone that caused Ariana to feel waves of guilt. "I'm sorry." She mumbled as she played with the rim of her hat. Rain sighed and grabbed her hat from her hands. He then place it on top of her head. "Let's go." He said as he held out his hand.
Ariana groaned she knew she was being treated like a child because of actions but she didn't want to hold Rain's hand. Rain taunted her with his fingers and Ariana reluctantly placed her hand into his. Rain's dark green eyes started to shine with laughter. "Is my kindness started to move your heart?"
Ariana twisted her face in disgust. "Ew, using those cheesy lines will only turn off a woman. Trust me the only reason I am even tolerating this much skin ship is because your eyes are shinning.... When I'm at the Academy I'm going to ask Ms. Hadley what her preferences are in facial hair."
Rain looked shocked, squeezed her hand and started pulling her along. "Why?" Ariana squeezed his hand back harder. "Your stubble is gross, it looks like you wanted to look like a grown man but you couldn't grow out a proper beard." Ariana said with a small laugh.
Rain quickly brought his free hand and stroked his chin. "I think it's fine." He mumbled but Ariana started to smirk evilly. "My aren't you started to get cheeky? You think it's fine but Ms. Hadley might think you're lazy. Honestly hygiene is a necessity, especially if you want to kiss her."
Rain turned a deep red and it looked like smoke was coming out off his ears. "Where did all that sexy confidence go? Don't tell me a little girl's words toppled you down? How lame." Ariana scoffed. Rain stopped walking abruptly and stared her down. "I am doing my best."
He growled between gritted teeth. "And how do you think the Grand Council will speak to you? It's not all sunshine and rainbows! They'll say far worse things and degrade you, I've met people like them! The moment they see a chink in your armor it's game over. So start reciting equations or formulas in your head to keep your cool." Ariana hissed.
She then pulled Rain along side her and proceeded to walk down the hall. "Why do you care what people think of me?" Rain asked in a small voice but Ariana kept up her pace. "You remind me of someone special and I don't want you to run into the same problems." Ariana admitted.
Rain brought up his free hand and clutched the area where his heart would be. Though he had no romantic feelings for the girl he couldn't help but feel his heart ache in pain. He figured it must have been the tone of her voice and silently followed beside her.
Just a little further ahead they noticed the guide was waiting beside a bigger set of doors, bigger then the main entrance. However these double doors were ridiculously gauche. Though the items used to make and decorate the door were beautiful and high in quality, the assembly of the design made it awkward and tacky. The guide noticed the group staring at the door and she puffed up her very round chest.
"This door was commissioned by the original Grand Council almost 20 years ago." She started to say, Rain and Breeze turned to look at the guide but Ariana refused to let her gaze move anywhere else. "The doors are mainly made of rainbow moonstone, they say the reason moonstone was used is because they wanted the Queen of Creation herself, the light that gave birth to us all, to be called forth so she can always guide the Council's judgment in every decision they make!"
Ariana gulped back saliva as she tried her best to steady her trembling body. "And the rest of the doors?" She asked as her face paled.
"Ah yes! As you can see the trim around the door is made up of lapis blue to represent the flow of water, just like the mind when calm and steady it flows easily. The beautiful vines that spread across the door is made up of jade. While the blossomed flowers are made of rose quartz and zoisite, this is to represent earth. Something we must all cherish as we depend on it to live. At the top center is a diamond shaped ornament with flying bird silhouette, this is made of jasper to represent fire and stability for the future."
Ariana nodded at the guides explanation but she couldn't stop herself from breaking out into a cold sweat, her eyes started to tremble the longer she looked at the doors but something inside her forced her to keep looking.
"If you look really closely you will see very fine waves running through the door. These are tiny ruby fuchsite. This is to represent the ever changing winds. No matter what comes our way we will stand strong! Oh and finally the handles! The handles are made of labradorite to represent the darkness, something we must have a firm grasp on and when lost we must trust the Grand Council to be able 'handle' the situation." The guide finished explaining with a laugh.
Breeze rolled his eyes and looked at his master. His eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw the state Ariana was in. He quickly sent a warning to his master telepathically and Rain turned around. Ariana looked like she was ready to vomit and pass out at the same time.
He quickly grabbed her shoulders and gave her a good shake. "Hey! You okay?!" He asked but Ariana could barely say a word. Rain looked at the guide and apologized. "I'm sorry but it looks like my student is feeling horribly sick."
The guide gave him a cheery smile and turned to knock on the door. She looked back at them and her facial expression changed. Her eyes were sharp, her smile was now a sneer and her cheery tone was replaced with something demonic.
"The Grand Council will never wait." The guide said as the doors swung open. Breeze stepped beside Ariana and tried to offer support. "The... I... wrong.... my theory..." She chanted under her breath as she finally dropped her gaze.
Breeze looked at his master and sent him another message. Rain moved a single finger and created a small, amplifying wind to allow him to hear what she was saying. His eyes grew wide as he heard her chilling voice. "The door, the door is made of blood. I was wrong, my theory was wrong they use their whole body. So much blood, so much blood!"
Breeze sensed the dismay and heard from his master what Ariana said. "Please walk in." The guide said with her demonic voice that both men had to drag Ariana into the Grand Council's chambers.
The guide's smile changed from a sneer to a wicked slit, she licked the lower half of her lip and scurried in front of them. "Lords and ladies." She said in her chipper voice again causing both men to wonder if they had hallucinated the change in the guide. "May I present, Ariana Drake and her entourage."
She then turned around and her sweet face turned into something akin to disgust, ridicule and disdain as her eyes cast judgment on them. "The accused of harming Lord Romanoff."
Rain could feel regret wash over him as he questioned his own sanity for volunteering for such a mission while Breeze regretted his evolution, how he wished he could fly away and disappear. "Thank you Matilda, you may leave now." A base like voice said making Matilda turn back into her chipper self. She gave a small "tehe" laugh before bowing and returning back to her post.
When the doors slammed shut the base like voice started to speak again. "Now Ms. Drake, do you know why you have been summoned to see us today?"
Ariana found what little strength she had left and looked up. She could barely focus her vision as a giant glass window was sitting right behind the Grand Council. The sun was shining in, the room looked ten times brighter then what it should have been.
"Well do you Ms. Drake or are you unaccustomed to being called by a name you were so recently given?" The voice said, Ariana batted her eyelashes a few more times and successfully focused her vision.
Before her in an oval like room was a pretentious redwood desk that arched along with the room. There sitting at the massive desk were seven men and women, all looking high and mighty as they stared down at Ariana.
Each one had a name plate where they sat and each person looked more disdainful then the last. Starting from the left a fair looking woman, with a pointed nose, hazel eyes, platinum blonde hair and a dark brown streak through her hair was Yakira Gold. "Honestly this is way I hate the youth! They don't do anything but leech off of our hard earned taxes!"
Next to her was Benjamin Wright, a stocky looking man that nodded his head with sharp facial features in agreement. His tabby coloured toupee would bounce along with the nodding of his head.
Next to him was Fabiola Maze, who clapped her plump hands in joy as her slit like eyes showed her disdainful disposition towards them. Her skin was milky white but her face was heavily made up with make up. Her lips were a neon pink and her blonde ringlet hair sat snug around her ears.
Right in the middle was the base voice man that spoke to Ariana. His name was William Atlar, he had a strong nose and jaw line, his eyes were sunken and a deep brown colour. His hair was almost completely grey except for the three streaks of caramel brown colour that went down his medium fringe.
He had an average build but the pressure his aura was giving off made him seem more powerful. "Lidia, is your adopted grandchild daft? How can you allow your estranged daughter tarnish your family registry even further by bringing in an unwanted piece of sh*t from the streets?"
Beside William was Earl Dagwood, a rat looking man with tuffs of chocolate brown hair pointing upwards sat. He had an elongated nose and round face, his eyes were beady and black while his eyebrows were overly bushy. He openly snickered at William's remark as he peaked over towards the last member.
Lidia Drake, who sat at the very right looked positively disgusted as she looked down at Ariana. "Honestly I allowed it to appease my daughter. I can not have the heir to my estate stay away and the only way he would come back was if my youngest daughter and I reconciled."
Ariana could feel the hate emanating from her. Ariana could feel the stinging in her eyes as she tried her best to hold her tears at bay. "Maybe if you call her by her birth name she will answer." Earl said as he rubbed his hands together.
"Mmmm you might be right Dagwood... what was it again?" Fabiola said with her ridiculously high pitched voice. "I believe it was Ariana Ivy Thistle." Benjamin answered as he patted his toupee flat on to his head.
"No I think you're wrong... wasn't her birth name something else... Let me think I believe it was..." William said as he started to tap the desk with his index finger. Ariana stepped forward, hung her head and did a deep courtesy.
"I apologize for my lack of words. My breath was taken away because of the overpowering presence of each and everyone of you. It is not every day that one is able to step in front of so many important people." She said flawlessly. Yakira looked absolutely pleased with herself and shot a mocking look at Lidia.
"It seems that someone was taught mannerisms, despite the Countess's complaints of keeping a street wh*re's adoptive child on her estate." Yakira said as she watched Lidia's face carefully.
"Of course this thing has mannerisms. She needed to address me with respect or else I would beat her senseless. The same goes for education! How else can I show my face in public when I had to absolutely take her out! Don't be ridiculously." Lidia retorted.
Yakira raised a doubtful eyebrow but Fabiola was already cheering her praise. "Yes beat them into submission! No wonder this child was silent in the beginning! At her age who could say they stood in the presence of glory, power and great beauty?"
William ignored Fabiola's ramblings and leaned forward as he watched Ariana. "Stand child and face us." He said. Ariana slowly started to raise herself from her curtsy and raised her face to meet William's. His mask momentarily cracked as he looked at her face. "Intriguing." He said as he sat back into his chair.
"Now tell me child why do you think we called you here?" He said as he brought his hands into a steeple position. "I apologize Sir Atlar, but I only know that I was called because of a Mr. Romanoff statement. He said that we met and I offended him." Ariana explained calmly, as if it was nothing to do with her.
Atlar hummed his disbelief as he raised both eyebrows. "Are you saying you haven't met?" He asked. Ariana shook her head. "No sir, on the contrary. I met Mr. Romanoff on the day of the examination. He claimed we had met before, unfortunately I have no recollection of this event." Ariana replied apologetically.
William looked at his fellow members waiting to hear an explanation. "I do not know if this is true as no one at the examination hall witnessed Lord Romanoff's entrance or exit." Lidia said as she stared at William.
"Are you saying this child is lying?" He asked with a smile while the Countess returned it with an icy smile. "All I am reporting is what I gathered from eye witness accounts, just like the night in question. No witnesses, no testimonies and no paper trail." She replied.
William dropped his smile and curled his fingers into one another, clenching his hands into one giant fist. "Excuse me, my I speak?" Rain asked as he stepped forward. "Who are you to speak up?!" William spat as venom shot from his glare. Rain looked calm and collected as he looked up at William. "My name is Rain Yakov, a formal representative from the Academy."
"Rain Yakov.... Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain Yakov... where have I heard that name before?" Benjamin asked as he stroked his wide forehead. William looked completely annoyed as he looked at Rain then Benjamin. With a heavy, long sigh he turned to Rain and opened his mouth when suddenly Earl Dagwood shrieked in utter fear.
"The youngest man to ever master formulation magic!" He continued to shriek as he pointed a long, pencil like finger towards Rain. "What are you babbling about Dagwood?" William asked with a frustrated look.
"Rain Yakov, sought after by the royal mages! He is a legend among legends! This man at the age of 16 was able to dominate his field of magic, cast complex incantations without breathing a single word and is a member of the board of directors for the Academy! He is a man we can not take lightly! My G*dddes! William this man is considered the Midus of magic!"