"The Ethereal Seven usually have noble members due to their exceptional talents-
But it doesn't mean a regular blood is not welcome to earn a rank,"
Chapter 10: Capital
Eliana made herself comfortable under the thick bed sheets. Sleep was nowhere near her consciousness. She shifted into random positions hoping to calm her bothered mind. Deciding she wasn't getting anywhere with her frenzy state she sat up, her feet found its way to the ground.
She raked a hand through her hair and softly sighed.
Eliana was offered a room to stay in. Lord Wistal took her in his home. The room was simple, nothing out of the ordinary, it was enough for a single person to snuggle in. The walls were painted pale white, a single bed at the corner, a bathroom across the room entrance, a mini fireplace and a small study space overlooking the window.
Eliana found herself peeking outside the blinds. It was midnight, the atmosphere serene and melancholic. The events and newly found information kept Eliana's mind busy. Her brain just wouldn't comply with calmness, she had a lot of questions and answers left unvoiced.
Unconsciously, she clutched the necklace circling around her neck, the silver amulet cold to her palm. It was a habit she had in a state of uneasiness.
"This is all too unreal." She whispered as she slowly found peace among the dancing branches just outside her window. The night was enveloped by silence, except for the singing crickets and the soft rustling of leaves brushing against one another.
Eliana thought about what the Jury had said. Fortem Academy? Who would've thought this place would have a school. She was too convinced they were all but bothered about education. Then she remembered Jacer.
"Oh my god." Her palms cover her mouth in realization. "My brother! Mom! Oh no." She felt like she wanted to rip her hair out.
How could she forget? She was far too occupied about everything, the unknown world- Praediti, the knights and carriages not to forget getting imprisoned. Now that she was alone, she was able to step back from everything that happened and see the whole thing from afar.
The Jury mentioned she couldn't go home. And that was even more big of a problem. She suddenly felt special- in the most ridiculous way.
She wants to run away. But where? It was a stupid idea, unnerving not to mention dangerous. She thought things through and through before finally deciding to sleep. Thinking too much wouldn't get her anywhere near peace.
She went back to her bed and forced herself to sleep. Not knowing tomorrow it will be a long day.
In the morning.
Lord Wistal ordered his housekeepers to prepare a light breakfast for two. He woke up early as usual. But today was different than other days, a human will be with him until the official opening of Fortem Academy.
He was dressed in his knight attire, a blue outer suit reaching right above his thighs, navy blue polo on the inside. He pulled the cloak made especially for the members of the Jurist Court from the coat stand behind his bedroom door. He swung the coat around his back and tied the laces around his neck.
The Lord wasted no time and immediately exited his bedroom. He made his way across the hall. After passing by quite a number of rooms, he arrived in front of Eliana's doorstep.
He knocked three times, no reaction. His brows knitted, "Eliana may I come in?" He made his voice loud and clear enough to be heard over the door. Still there was no sound.
He sighed weakly deciding to invite himself in.
The door swung open. Eliana was still sleeping peacefully on her bed, too peaceful the Lord might consider letting her sleep in the day. But today was Eliana's schedule for an important agenda. The Lord gently tapped Eliana's shoulder. "Dear, wake up."
Eliana didn't move, she slept like a dead log. The Lord shook her with force. The girl swatted his hands away. "Don't bother me Jace, it's still too early." She mumbled and faced the other side, away from the confused Lord.
The Lord tilted his head towards the window and saw the sun peaking beyond the mountains. He muttered a defeated dismay. And left the room.
Eliana shifted in her sleep scratching her head and mumbled incoherent words. It was not long until her body was shaken violently with strength that it made her eyes wide open in panic from the sudden motion.
She sat up quickly, "W-what?" Her eyes looked everywhere.
"Good morning young lady, the Lord has requested for your presence in the dining room." Eliana's eyes darted on the slightly aged woman standing beside her bed. She was wearing a black and white dress. Her outfit was clear to what status she held in the household.
Eliana calmed down but was slightly irritated. She washed her right palms over her chin to her bed hair slicking them back to her head. "What time is it?" She asked.
The old lady smiled sweetly at the girl. "It is 5 o'clock sharp my lady. You may now take a full body bath. I will deliver the clean clothes in your room."
"Thank you. You can leave it on the bed." The old lady nodded and left the room for Eliana to prepare.
Eliana ran her fingers through her messy hair untangling the knots as she sat up and stood beside her bed. She fixed the futon nicely before going to the bathroom.
The bathroom was simple. A toilet, a faucet, a bucket, a bathtub, a mini trash can and a mirror with a sink below having hygiene necessities neatly placed on top. There was a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo etc. The white towel hung over the edge of the bathtub.
Eliana washed herself thoroughly but it didn't take too long. She wrapped herself with the towel and went out to grab the clothes from her bed before going back in. It was a pastel blue dress, the sleeves reaching her elbows and the hem stopping just above her ankles. White laces added elegance to the simple dress. She thought the dress was beautiful and aesthetic.
She wore the undergarments, surprisingly similar to the ones humans have. There was a shelf behind the mirror where basic make ups and shaving creams were found. She grabbed the red tint, unused, and lightly dabbed the colour on her lips. She also applied powder on her face. She placed them back to the shelf and closed the mirror. She quickly brushed her ash grey silver hair with the hair brush.
Now she looked decent.
Eliana went out of the bathroom, the sunrise colour washing over her room piercing through the window. The sun was slowly climbing up looking beautifully in the red sky. It looked like a painting.
Eliana left the room and easily found her way downstairs since the second floor was just a straight hallway intersecting towards the staircase. The old lady greeted her by the end of the stairs and led her to the dining room.
Lord Wistal was already waiting, sitting comfortably at the table. Eliana entered the dining room. "Good morning Eliana." Lord Wistal greeted.
Eliana noticed the Lord, sending him a small nod. "Morning." She replied. The Lord gestured to the seat across from him.
Eliana sat properly down, suddenly feeling conscious. The old lady stood behind her near the wall, waiting for an order.
"Venite Manducare."
The Lord clapped his hands and started eating. Eliana did not understand but decided to ignore it. She ate as well. It was a simple meal, corn soup, sunny side up egg and bread.
"Eliana."
"Mmm?"
"We will be going to the capital to register you your name and other necessary information." The Lord informed.
Eliana wiped her mouth with the table napkin before replying. "Can I really not go home?" She asked, her voice hinting desperation.
The Lord sighed expecting the request. "I am sorry." He looked at the girl eye to eye. "There might be conditions in the future to grant that request. However, returning permanently is a breach of agreement. I will not give you hope." He spoke with brutal honesty.
Eliana slumped on her chair. Her appetite vanished along with her thread of hope. She wanted to cry and she did, but it wasn't long. Just a trail of tears sliding down her cheeks quietly. She wiped them and composed herself.
The Lord felt sympathy but it was for the best. He cleared his throat. "Eat, we leave in ten minutes. The carriage will be arriving two minutes earlier." He was answered by silence but he understood why.
Later on they took off after everything was settled.
The travel to the capital was engulfed by silence the whole time. But the Lord didn't mind, he knew Eliana needed time.
The capital was an area in the city where major economy businesses and significant institutions were located. They went to The Great Hall, where all the information of the citizens in Praediti are recorded.
Eliana couldn't help but get amazed and surprised by the environment, especially the culture of this undiscovered world. As she thought, they were closely similar to medieval times. Women wore dresses reaching their ankles and the hems were nowhere near as short above the knees, at least that's what she has noticed so far.
They were all elegant in their own twisted ways. Men wore thick layers of clothes the lightest she'd seen was a long sleeve polo paired with a vest. The transportations were far from technology based rigs. They rode horses, carriages if not a bike.
Eliana felt like she was being pulled back in those historical times.
The Great Hall was big and pale. The building stretched across the land, she found it very similar to the White House back on earth. Eliana stared at the girl behind the desk entertaining their questions.
"Good morning Lord Wistal. My name is Selina, may I help you with anything?" Selina smiled professionally.
"I am here to register someone. I believe the heads will be having a meeting with me in a few minutes." The Lord replied.
Selina nodded. "For a while, I will scan through the records and schedules. It will take five minutes. You may take a seat over the benches." She motioned for the chairs slightly a couple of meters across the front desk.
Eliana and Lord Wistal complied. Eliana is still quiet.
"Your registration..." Eliana turned to meet the Lord Wistal's eyes as he trailed off through his words. "We will be keeping your name. Your last name will be recorded to mine, making you my relative."
"We will fake my identity." She stated.
"No. Yes. Not quite." The Lord stumbled in words, he sighed. "Listen, you are under investigation. It's been hundreds of years since the last interaction of humans and Praeditians. Your being here is already like walking in a tight rope, revealing it will make you a dead man." He explained.
Eliana wasn't even surprised but she did get scared by the idea of getting killed. "Alright, this is getting more and more real to me. I agree, for my safety." She responded.
The Jury felt relieved expecting it would be hard to convince her, but again she was surprisingly giving a different reaction. "That is good."
"Lord Wistal, the higher ups are expecting you." Selina called from the desk.
"Stay here, I'll be organizing everything. It will take long, but I'll be back an hour before lunch." The Lord left to head over the desk. Selina motioned for the Lord towards the staircase, probably where the higher ups were staying.
Once they were out of sight Eliana instantly got bored. She tried to busy herself by observing her surroundings but there wasn't much to see unlike outside. And it wasn't like she'll wait for eternity for the Jury to come back.
She left The Great Hall.