"I know." Ariana said with a smile as she hugged her Lumas tightly. Rahul struggled to break free as he stared Edlyn down. "W-w-w-w." Edlyn stuttered and gave up. She brought her hands up and started to sign.
"Why would you do that? Being able to speak is one thing but hearing magical creatures is another!" Rahul finally broke free and leaped through the air towards Edlyn. His eyes were sparking until he landed on top of Edlyn's head. "Oh! Purr... this is softer then it looks!" He purred as he wrapped himself up.
Ariana released the rest of her Lumas and watched as they rushed over. "Edlyn, I know I didn't give you the ability to speak perfectly. You'll have to work hard to build up your vocals but I won't apologize. I think if you work hard and find your voice, through effort you'll appreciate it more." Edlyn's eyes started to water as she looked at Ariana. A huge wave of emotions was washing over.
"Besides... I didn't have enough power to do it anyways so-o with the left over power I had why not let you hear the voices of every magical creature and the rest could go to helping the weak and drained." She said with a shrug.
"Wait what do you mean the drained?" Rain asked as he walked up and grabbed Ariana's arm. Ariana raised her gaze and locked eyes with Rain. "The light from before, it let me resonate with the magical creatures here. They all know who I am and in return I felt their power. There are some who are so drained of magic that they were on their last breath."
Rain released her arm and looked at Ms. Hadley. "There is no one on this campus that could drain a creature of it's magic! This is unheard-of, practically insane!" She shouted but Peppa placed the tip of her face to Ms. Hadley's forehead. "It's the truth." A sweet, whimsical voice said as Peppa moved back from her master. ""Peppa you didn't... you didn't see who did it, did you?" She asked nervously. "No." Peppa replied.
Cayden stormed up to Ariana and grabbed her hand. He looked at the teachers and gave a swift bow. "I apologize for the damage to the door and for my rudeness but I must speak with Ariana privately." He said before he turned and started to drag Ariana off.
"Mr. Remo stop where you are!" Ms. Hadley said as she moved away from Edlyn. Cayden stopped and started to squeeze Ariana's hand. Ariana flinched and let out a sharp breath but he refused to release the pressure.
"I think Miss Drake owes us an explanation of what just happened." She said in a stern voice. Cayden turned back and glared disdainfully at Ms. Hadley. "She can explain herself after she has spoken to me in private... I also must remind you that you must never call me by that name again." He commanded.
"Cayden?" Ariana called out but Cayden ignored her. He looked around and sighed, he eased up on the pressure and pointed towards the female dorms. "We'll talk in there, she'll be out once we're done. Is this alright with you?" Cayden asked.
"A young man and young woman should not be alone together, especially in said young woman's room." Ms. Hadley said promptly causing Cayden to clench his jaw. "Cayden, they know already." Ariana said quietly.
Cayden spun quickly to face her, he released her hand and grabbed her shoulders. "What do you mean they know?!" He shouted as he gave her a small shake. "I told the board who I am and Edlyn knows too." She replied with shamelessly innocent eyes.
"He knows...." Cayden said blankly as he slowly dropped to his knees, his hands slowly slid down her arms as he moved downwards. "Who knows?" She asked but Cayden pursed his lips. "You're not safe anymore... you need to leave. Go back to the cafe, stay away from me and everyone here." He said as he raised his wide, shaking eyes to meet hers.
"Why wouldn't she be safe here?" Ms. Hadley said with a humpf then quickly looked away. Edlyn could see her embarrassment from her own words and looked away. "Cayden... I can't go back. Everything has been compromised... I... I... I thought you knew." Ariana said pitifully as she looked at him.
"I..." He started to say but dropped his gaze. "Is that why you stopped writing? Why did you say you were imprisoned? Why was there such a large wound on your back?" He asked quietly enough that only Ariana could hear.
Ariana panicked, she tried to step away from him but he held his grip on her. "W-w-why do you care? You never wrote back or came back to visit!" She shouted a little too loudly.
Cayden released Ariana and slowly got back up. "You're right." He said, he raised his head and gave her a pathetic smile. His eyes still trembling from sadness and hurt. Ariana stopped breathing, her heart hammered against her chest.
Every fiber in her being screamed to run into his arms but he moved before she could react. "We are nothing to each other... I must take my leave, excuse me." He said as the top half of his face became dark and unreadable. He turned to his teachers and gave them a swift bow before starting to walk away.
"Uhhh!" Edlyn shouted as she rushed up to Ariana. Her face had paled and eyes were already starting to pool with tears. "That's not fair Cayden! That's not fair! You can't walk away from me as if you're the victim! You can't push me away again?! How can you even say we're nothing?! This is some sick joke right?!"
"We aren't nothing to each other Cayden! You will never be nothing to me and I will make sure you remember!" She started to shout, small amounts of tears started to escape and roll down her face. Cayden stopped walking, he turned back, his face colder then a block of ice. "We are nothing." He replied then continued walking.
Ariana looked to Edlyn, she scrunched up her face and tried to smile. "I'm okay." Ariana said weakly but Edlyn shook her head. "N-n-not." She managed to say. Ariana wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly. "I just need to rest.... Alone. I need to rest and be alone."
....
Ariana opened her eyes. She spent the rest of the afternoon in her bed curled up with the plush comforter. She tilted her upwards, she could see tiny sparrowmen, fairies and pixies of all colours cautiously approaching her window.
She slowly got up from bed and walked over to the window with the giant comforter wrapped around her body. The tiny magically creatures panicked and dropped whatever they were carrying before flying away. 'Cowards.' Rahul said in a disgusted tone as he landed on Ariana's head. "Didn't I say I wanted to be alone? Why didn't you go explore the grounds with the others?"
Rahul turned his plump, chibi body around and started to sway his tail in Ariana's face. 'He didn't leave so why should I?' He replied in an arrogant tone. Ariana turned around and saw Vasu laying in the bed she had set up earlier for the Lumas.
"And why are you here?" Ariana asked exhaustedly. Vasu opened up his eyes and looked at her. 'Lazy.' He replied as he closed his eyes and snuggled into the bed. "Why not just hang out with Edlyn?"
Rahul jumped off Ariana's head and flicked his tail upwards. 'My Master is you, not her. I'm not obliged to listen to anyone's orders... not even my Master's, so if I want to stay then I will stay.' He said with his head held him.
Ariana started to giggle as she dropped her comforter onto the floor. She jumped onto her bed and caught Rahul within her arms. "Strong words for a warrior who was openly purring earlier today." She said as she scratched under his chin. Rahul's red hair stood on end as he hissed. 'Who says?!'
Ariana continued to stroke his chin as she watched his reaction change from anger to joy. "Why did you say they were cowards?" Arian asked. Rahul opened one eye and looked at Ariana. "You heard them don't pretend."
Ariana shook her head. "No, they're to small and weak. I can't hear their voices. Edlyn will be able too but I can't." Ariana admitted. Rahul swatted away Ariana's hand and jumped up next to Vasu. "You lie. I know you can, you just never bothered listening. Wanting to wallow in self pity like a regular human! Why not embrace your powers and get on with your life." He said before he curled up into a ball.
"What did they want?" Ariana asked trying to change the topic. Vasu propped up his head and looked her square in the eyes. "Welcome gifts." He replied nonchalantly. "Why would you ruin a perfectly good training opportunity?" Rahul hissed as his tail shot upwards and flared out into a giant bottle brush.
"Get over it." Vasu replied as he got up. He jumped out of bed and gently leaped towards Ariana's arms. "Get over! Get over it! Get over he says and you say nothing! All my underlings would have destroyed villages to just get me to utter golden words like the ones I have just spoken but your idea is to get over it! Master you have let this lazy veal act too freely and he must be rein in and punished for his rude behavior!"
"Now Rahul, I think you're overreacting just a-?!" Ariana started to say but Rahul arched his back in a defensive stance and was already bearing his fangs. "Now I'm overreacting! Overreacting! Fine! Just Fine! I'll prove that my method of teaching our Master is far superior then a piece of veal's." He said before he raced out of the room.
"Rahul! Wait!" Ariana called out as she chased after him. "Waste of time." Vasu said as he snuggled himself more into Ariana's loving arms. "But I'm worried..." Vasu looked up into Ariana face and sighed. "Be right back." He said as he silently left her arms and chased after Rahul.
Ariana watched him leave before turning back to the window. She placed a gentle hand on the glass and searched for a latch. Her eyes spotted a small silver handle down at each corner of the base of the window. She start to crank one handle and half the window opened outwards.
She could feel the clean, magical air left behind by the creatures in the surrounding area. She looked down and saw a small pile of flowers, nuts and fruits on the ground. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, she quickly retracted the window. She turned around and quickly dashed out the room and ran down the stairs.
She ran out the front door and raced around the building. She finally made it to the area infront of her window, she knelt down and started to collect the gifts. The flowers and nuts seemed fine but some of the fruit ruined after it hit the ground. She got what she could and carefully carried everything back inside. She didn't head towards the stairs, instead she started walking towards Ms. Hadley's room.
She started kicking the door until someone opened it. "Hi, was wondering if I could use your kitchen?" She said cheerfully. Ms. Hadley looked at Ariana dumbfounded. "Are you feeling alright?" She asked as she moved aside. "Yes, thank you for asking. Just here to share some food and hear about Edlyn's progress."
...
It was getting dark when Edlyn and Ariana left Ms. Hadley's room. "Are you s-sure you are f-fine?" Edlyn asked a little bit more clearly making Ariana smile as she opened their room door. "Yes, I feel a lot better." She answered but knew it was only half the truth.
'About time you came back!' Rahul hissed as something went flying through the air and smacked against Ariana's face. 'Rahul! How can you do that to our Master!' Aroha chirped. Edlyn snuck around Ariana and looked at the tiny golden orange figure on Ariana's face.
The tiny figure started to slowly peel off Ariana's face and Edlyn caught it just as it fell off. 'Ouch.' A tiny semi-rough, female sounding voice said. Ariana blinked a few times and looked around. "He-re." Edlyn said as she brought the tiny creature into Ariana's eyesight. A tiny fairy, dressed in dark brown spanks, a dark, marigold halter top blouse made up of a few sunflower petals flowed down her waist and around her neck.
The tiny fairy trembled inside Edlyn's hands, too afraid to stay and too afraid to fly away. She had beautifully tanned skin that looked like it was kissed by the sun. Golden orange, butterfly like wings that sparkled under florescent lighting.
So delicate and transparent looking it was hard to believe it could hold her weight in mid air. Her rich golden brown hair was elegantly tied into tiny buns that went down from the top of her head down to the base of her neck while the front had a cute hair poof. Her eyes were a gorgeous orange colour that Ariana could have swore that glittered like quartz crystals.
"Hello." Ariana whispered and the tiny fairy's wings trembled violently as if they were about to fall off. "H-ey, no n-ee-d t-o be s-o sc-ared." Edlyn enunciated slowly. The fairy had no clue what to do. She looked at Edlyn and relaxed considerably, practically blushing as she swooned but when she turned back to Ariana she paled and practicality fainted from fright. Ariana sighed and decided to step away from the fairy. "Rahul what have you done?"
Rahul watched the interaction and effortlessly moved his tail behind him. "Training." He said before bringing his front paw up and giving it a few licks. "Rahul I don't need training." Ariana said as she shook her head no. 'You need it, she needs it, everyone needs it.' Rahul said gently placing the paw across the side of his face and began grooming himself. "I don't understand." Ariana replied. Rahul stopped grooming and stared down Ariana.
'No one is this room will deny that we have not been pushing you to be like your mother. We have not offered our advice, our guidance or interfered with your life... with the exception of Vasu.' Rahul said as he shot him a sharp glare.
Vasu ignored his glare and kept on sleeping. Rahul hissed then brought back his gaze. 'That ends here. I will not allow someone who has awoken like the priestess and have her ignore her duties because of some personal problems. You will start your training and you will listen to the magical creatures. So I brought you back a prisoner of war! Go on get your information out of her and conquer those cowards first.' Rahul said passionately.
Ariana sighed and turned back to the tiny fairy. "I'm sorry. Rahul means well and I hope you can forgive him" Ariana said sweetly but the fairy clutched to Edlyn's thumb. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she nodded her head yes. 'What're you doing?! You need to interrogate her! Learn and establish your dominance!' Rahul hissed.
'Enough Rahul.' Duko said as he jumped from the cubby and landed beside him, onto the bed. 'No, this child needs to learn!' He shouted at Duko. 'So do you Rahul! You ran off and abducted a child of the forest for Master! What will the others think?!' Loralei shouted as she flapped her fins. 'That she is not a force to anger!' Rahul replied.
'Rahul you went too far.' Davita said gently. Rahul stood his ground and looked at his fellow Lumas, he puffed out his flabby chest and held his head high. As he was about to say something Ariana cut in. "Enough all of you. What is done, is done. No one can change Rahul's deeds but we can't let this hostage situation continue... it's not fair." Ariana replied.
The Lumas settled down and moved their gazes to the ground. Ariana straightened up her back and gently escorted Edlyn to the window, carefully avoiding her hands.
She opened one side of the window and then took a few steps back. "I'm sorry for what my little kitty did to you. I hope you can forgive him and me." She said as she bent her body by the waist. She refused to lift her head and stayed in that position.
"You're free to go, please be safe on your way back." Ariana continued. Suddenly Ariana felt a gentle hand on her head. She lifted her gaze and saw Edlyn's face and a very frightened fairy, trying her best to stand up tall and proud as she faced Ariana.
Her knees were wobbling, her tiny dark pink lips trembled, her eyes were watering but she was trying her best. "I-I-I w-w-w-wanted to t-t-t-thank you-u-u." She said as her teeth chattered uncontrollably. Ariana gently smiled.
"You're so brave for talking to me, no need for thanks. Please just go home and live peacefully." Ariana said gently. The tiny fairy took a big gulp of air then shook her head no vigorously. "No! I must thank you for saving my life! Without your help I would have died!" She shouted as she shut her eyes tightly. "How did you almost loose your life?" Ariana asked in a serious tone.
"I can not say! All I can do is thank you for your help and hope to one day pay you back with my life! Just like the others did for your mother." She shouted before she started to flap her wings. With her eyes shut tight her body started to rise into the air.
"Wait for me to get stronger and I'll return the favour!" She yelled then flew out the window. "Wait! Please tell me your name!" Ariana shouted as she raced towards the window. The tiny fairy stopped, she was only a glowing, golden orange light but her voice was loud enough for Ariana to hear. "My name is Mirela your majesty!" Then flew off.
Ariana looked back at Edlyn with round, astonished eyes. "Which one was she shouting that too?"