Felix smiled, his handsome features lighting up at the sentiment.
"Thank you for your offer, Haochen, but Kreian, Gaiya and I need to speak to our children for a bit. In the meantime, you should take young master Cloud and go to the healing springs to recuperate. You're going to have to return to your dormitory and make yourself food afterward, so a moment to relax before that would be beneficial to you. You worked hard."
Kol scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Heard that? They think they're so much better than everyone that they don't even need to go to the springs."
Calibri blinked rapidly and shook his head.
"Young Master Kol, that is not our thought process at all." He said.
Kol scoffed. "Who said you could talk to me? Freakshow."
"Excuse me, that is blatantly rude." Alexei said.
"And so?" Kol asked.
"Alexei, remember, we shouldn't engage." Calibri whispered.
"But your majesty-" Alexei started.
Haochen gave Kol a stern look. Kol made a face. "What?"
Felix who had been listening turned to Kol with his arms behind his back.
"And who might you be?" Felix asked him. Kreian sighed and looked at Felix, reaching out to place a hand on his back. He shook his head as if telling Felix not to do something, but Felix didn't look at him. Gaiya pulled out his fan and groaned behind it while the others bowed their heads.
Kol looked at him from the top of his headpiece to the golden tips of his boots, made a disgusted face and turned around to walk away.
Felix smiled and nodded his head to the left. Kol kept walking but suddenly hit his face against something. He took a small step back but his back hit the invisible force. His eyes widened and he lifted his hands up, reaching forward.
He was in some sort of small, invisible bubble. He hit against it hard, but he couldn't get out. Spinning on the spot, he looked at Felix who was smiling politely.
"I asked you a question."
Kreia and Calibri both reached out to hold one of Felix's arms. "Brother, this isn't a good idea." Kreia whispered.
"HEY! HOW DARE YOU?!!"
Calibri winced and tugged on Felix's sleeve. "Brother, you're going to anger him."
Felix laughed lightly and lifted his hands to pat Calibri and Kreia on their heads.
"But isn't he already angry?" He asked.
"HEY! LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!"
Cloud who'd gotten up stood next to Haochen. "Oh damn." He said. Haochen suppressed the urge to snicker. Kol kind of deserved it.
"DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM! I'M PRINCE KOL OF-"
"Yes, yes, you're a prince of somewhere and not part of Verbatium, and you don't understand what it means to be civil and polite, so I will speak to you in a manner that you can understand." Felix said.
"We-" Felix said, gesturing to the other groaning Verbatians. "- do not give a shit-"
Alexei looked like he had an 'whoa' moment. He tugged Calibri's sleeve. "I heard this word twice today. Do you know what it means?" He asked. Calibri shook his head.
"-about who is stronger than who, and we also don't give a damn-"
Kreia tugged at Flora's sleeve. "Why is he mentioning 'dams' now?" Flora shrugged and held her arm.
"-about whether or not you are royalty. And I do not like it when little shitheads like you-"
He dissipated the confinement and grabbed Kol's collar, looking at him very coldly.
"- think it's okay to behave like entitled, rude, tantrum-throwing little boys. Now, did you say that Calibri was a 'freakshow'? Do I need to remind you that he has two older brothers who are grading your progress and can make your academic life a misery?"
Kol stopped wriggling and stared at Felix and then towards Calibri's face. They looked similar, but not enough for him to realize they were actually siblings.
And they were going to be teaching him, damn.
Felix dropped him unceremoniously. "Haochen, you're impressively well-mannered and lovely compared to your colleagues. Please show them what it means to not behave like adolescents during this week before the classes begin. "
"Them? Awwww, but Calibri's brotherrrrrr, I'm nice to Calibri too!" Cloud pouted.
Calibri nodded. "Yes brother, he is quite kind."
"Ha! See, I'm kind. Calibri says I'm kind Haochen, what do you think about that?"
Haochen ignored Cloud, moved towards Kol and pulled him up. "You were asking for it." Haochen told him. Kol looked furious, and his green eyes were seething.
"Whatever, I'm leaving." He said, not making eye contact with Felix and the others. Haochen respectfully bowed to Felix. Cloud looked between the Verbatians and Kol.
"Oh Mister, you showed him real good."
"Mmm. Keep it in mind." Felix said, eyeing him.
Cloud grinned and glanced at Calibri. "What do you wanna eat? I'll go back to the dorm and cook dinner. The cooling unit is fully stocked."
"Ah, Calibri is a vegetarian." Alexei said.
Cloud raised both brows. "Wow… You've never had a leg of lamb?"
Calibri laughed lightly. "Oh, no I haven't."
"Don't you find it hard?"
Calibri shook his head. "I do not. I suppose it's since I don't know what it tastes like that I don't crave it."
"Makes sense, makes sense."
Cloud turned to Kol and Haochen who were still walking away.
"Hey, Haochen. I'm making dinner. Wanna join me?"
"No."
"Ah, guess he won't be there Calibri. "
Haochen paused and glanced back. Calibri smiled at him toothily. "Haochen, I forgot to thank you for the offer. I'm grateful. I'll see you tomorrow."
Haochen smiled at him and turned back around ignoring Cloud's dumbfounded look at the smile.
Cloud looked back at Calibri, "See you in the dorm then, roomie." Then he left with a wink.
Alexei smiled at Calibri. "Your Majesty, what would you like me to cook for you?"
Calibri hummed. "Let's decide after our meeting."
Kreian looked at Felix. "Yes. We need to have a meeting. And was that genuinely necessary?" He asked.
Felix shrugged lightly. "If I did not threaten him, he would have disrespected us for the entire duration of our time together. I used all the profanities I read about, and I believe I've frightened him."
Kreia sighed. "Why do I get the feeling his distaste for us will only escalate henceforth?"
"I have this feeling too." Calibri said.
Felix winked. "Let's go to the courtyard children. It's already been done."
Students were still moving out of the hall and others were walking along the glowing path towards the springs. The group of Verbatians began to move out of the hall and down the staircase.
"What do we need to discuss?"Calibri asked.
"Well, Gaiya, Felix and I are not going to be able to see any of you for the next week. This means that you need to keep yourself out of trouble at all costs. Of course, it's going to be more difficult now that Felix went and aggravated that child, but even still, if you can keep out of trouble and keep your body well then everything will be fine. From our knowledge, next week there is going to be another test."
"A test?" Siegon asked.
Gaiya nodded. "You don't have to do anything. It's an enchanted device that provides you a measure of the strength of your Soul Flare."
"Really? What interesting developments they have here." Rion said.
"Indeed. Additionally, we've heard- And do not share this with anyone- that the sixty of you will be allocated... FAMILIARS!"
"Spiritual companions?" Alexei asked.
"Yes," Gaiya said.
"Is there a set list of creatures that are going to be allocated as familiars?" Flora asked.
"I don't believe so, but what I do know is that the more powerful you are, the more powerful your familiar." Felix said.
Kreia patted Calibri's arm.
"I have no doubt that Calibri will get the strongest."
Calibri made a face. "As long as it breathes and accompanies me, I do not mind if it is not strong."
Alexei laughed. "Of course it will be breathing. Are you saying you'd be fine with any creature as long as it breathes?"
Calibri played with his earring.
"It would be lovely if it were fluffy too."
Felix smiled. "That's why we wanted you all to spend the next week practicing your cultivation and meditating. Just a week could greatly enhance your Soul Flare, even if just enough to beat the other students, and help you get one of the better familiars."
"Spending time alone is very good for the spirit. Starting today, we want all of you to go into seclusion, and self-isolate."