Chapter 23: Dorms
Praediti,
Fortem Academy Dorms
"Emery you have to get along with her."
Emery grimaced at Anzai's words. They all gathered around the living room. Eliana, Larsanel and Jettam respectively sat next to each other on the long couch. Emery and Bastion took the two single couches, while the rest- Anzai, Kylon and Zathur stood next to each other.
"It doesn't matter, I still don't like her." Emery spatted.
Eliana was planning to consider her, but she was not the fully martyr type of girl. She only acts nice to those who deserve it. "Can you stop being hostile? You're too judgemental, it's insulting."
The others paid attention after hearing Eliana matching Emery's attitude. Albeit her voice was softer compared to Emery's pitchy voice.
Emery's eyebrow automatically arched, not expecting Eliana's request. "Excuse me? You got yourself into this situation in the first place. Now you're giving all of us a headache, dragging us into this mess." She huffed, crossing her arms.
"I never wanted to be here. Can't you talk normally? I don't recall giving you a favor or something to make you hate me this much." Eliana replied. This girl was starting to frustrate her bit by bit. "The heck." She muttered.
"The fact that you're here, it's already horrible enough for us." Emery barked back.
Eliana frowned. "I'm not sure why you don't like me but will you get off your high horse for a minute and stop acting like a queen. Be civil at least." Despite the heavy frustration, Eliana was still able to talk calmly. Her self control was always strong.
"I am civil. It's just you and your presence. I don't like it." Emery snapped, her golden brown eyes into Eliana's ocean blue ones.
Eliana's frown deepened. She was starting to dislike her now. Eliana's original plan to act nice was slowly tainting red. From the start, she knew she wouldn't be getting along with this girl.
"Wow." Eliana mocked.
"Emery, act accordingly." Kylon joined in, he was used to her attitude but it was always a handful to them.
Both girls ignored him. Anzai who was quiet on the side decided to step in in the situation.
"You two, don't act on your emotions. This mission is important to all of us. Human, if you fail to blend in you will be good as dead the minute you're caught." Anzai reminded her, giving her a look momentarily. He then turned to Emery. "Emery is this how a noble acts? You are taught far better than this, don't drag us down. Apply your training." He scolded.
Anzai was irritated at the whole thing. The mission was already hard enough, and the two were not cooperating well. To him they were being childish. Zathur, who was beside him, was annoyed as well.
The others were quiet as they felt the heavy shift of the atmosphere. No one was wise to dare and make a sound, especially Eliana. She sat with her chest out and her chin up. Just because she was an outsider doesn't mean she would allow herself to be stepped on. Especially not by a bratty Ethereal.
Emery fought stares with Anzai and Zathur who looked at her with challenging eyes. She felt even more irritated, how could they defend the human over her?
"Fine. I'll try, for Praediti's sake." Emery surprisingly agreed, much to her distaste. She wondered why everyone took Eliana's side, but she could care less. If anything, it must be because of the mission.
Anzai nodded in satisfaction. He gave the two ladies a look before nodding to Zathur. It was settled for now, they have more important things to talk about than their trivial discrepancy.
"Keep your words Emery." Zathur reminded her. "Eliana, I think it's rather convenient for you to tag along with these two." He pointed at the cousins.
"Of course, she'll be with us." Larsanel was more than willing with the suggestion.
"I don't mind it." Jett agreed, it would be nice to have a fresh new face to go around with rather than his cousin, who he grew up with for years.
Eliana smiled at the two. They were truly kind compared to the others who were distant and intimidating. Zathur took the lead in the conversation, the others were quiet but they listened well and intently. He asked for Eliana's schedule, but since she wasn't bringing it, she informed them from what she can shortly recall.
"Oh, we have different schedules Eliana." Lars pouted.
"It's okay we at least have a few classes in common." She assured, it was unfortunate but what else can they do about it?
"Power class is the most difficult one to avoid." Bastion pointed out. He had a worried expression plastered on him.
"How do I fake that?" Eliana was confused at this part. "I don't think uncle Wistal thought this through well. I don't have any abilities like you people." She frustratingly said. It was true, maybe sending her to the Academy was a huge mistake.
Anzai frowned at the thought of the situation. "Jury Wistal is wise, but this is questionable. what was he thinking." He said deep in thought.
He heard how Jury Wistal was the next potential Jury to follow Jury Viena's place, but his judgement this time is rather clumsy. Something they cannot trust at the moment.
The others agreed with Eliana and Anzai. They pondered on the thought for a while. Thinking of a way to make Eliana avoid the Power Enhancement Class. It was truly a difficult task for them. The mission was harder than they thought.
Just then Kylon was able to think of a possible way to help the human. He was after all next to the first ranker, his duty as part of the Ethereals must be met.
"Eliana." Kylon called. Everyone was snapped out from their thoughts. "What day is your PEC class again?"
"Every Friday in the afternoon." She answered. "Why?"
"We can ask a special class for you." He suggested. It seems like he came up with something.
"What is it Kylon?" Zathur asked.
Everyone was interested about what he had in mind. They all paid attention.
"Tomorrow, if anyone here has free time during lunch. Let's rendezvous in Principal Rimbrad's office. I want to see if we can request for Eliana to have a special individual training for her PEC class." He suggested.
"That would be complicated. How are we going to come up with an excuse among all the students? Why only her?" Jett pointed out. Albeit it does sounded like it was a decent idea, however, it can also backfire.
"I see." Anzai said. "That could work, but the idea needs to be polished." It seems like he approved.
"Let's discuss it with Principal Rimbrad tomorrow. I'm sure he can do something about it." Anzai said. "For now, you must go back to your dorm. It's almost curfew time." He told Eliana.
"I didn't notice." She said startled.
She felt nervous at the thought of missing curfew. What kind of punishment will wait for her if she breaks the rule? The thought was scary.
The others came to realization. It was already dark outside and they all needed to rest. The Ethereals just then felt the heaviness of their body from yesterday's Ranking Assessment. Tomorrow was back to a normal class day. Rest day was almost over for all of them, that was why they needed rest now as soon as they could.
"I'll bring her back." Kylon presented. He was always a gentleman next to Bastion within the Seven.
"Don't be long." Zathur said.
They all stood up and went on with their individual businesses. The cousins went straight to Eliana to bid her goodnight. Larsanel was disappointed she wasn't able to show Eliana her collection of what she has yet to reveal.
"There's always next time Lars." She assured her.
"Okay, be safe on the way. Kylon you better not do anything funny." Larsanel warned. Eliana was her first friend in Fortem after all.
Kylon just laughed at her childishness. "Of course Lars."
"See you." Eliana bid Jett and Lars goodbye.
A moment later Eliana found herself walking back to the dorms with Kylon on her side. The air around them was quiet. Nothing awkward, it was rather chilly and that was because Eliana found Kylon as intimidating as the rest After a few seconds, Kylon decided to break the silence.
"What do you think of the Ethereal Seven Eliana?" He asked out of nowhere.
"Oh." Eliana wasn't expecting him to start a conversation, but she answered nonetheless. "So far, nothing really dangerous. But I do admit you guys are pretty intimidating." She admitted.
Kylon laughed at her honest opinion. "Don't get used to it, that's just our basic defense mechanism. We are nice people. I personally believe so." He assured her.
"It depends." Eliana didn't bother to hide her skeptical thoughts. "I mean, Emery, she's a bit too much." She was surprisingly not heavily bothered by her.
Kylon nodded, he understood what she meant. "Emery as well Eliana. She does have an attitude there's no doubt to that, but she's just an honest girl. She's not that bad once you get to know her."
"I hope so. With your first ranker too." Eliana admit she finds Anzai too uptight and serious. She wasn't used to people who are like that. "Why is he like that anyways? He looks so stiff, he needs to loosen up a bit." Eliana wasn't even sure why she was thinking about it.
"You mean Anzai. It's in his blood, the Azai's are naturally uptight people, but they are one of the nicest one out there. He'll come loose the more you spend time with him, don't worry." He assured her again.
Kylon was surprisingly a chill guy. He talks in a way as if they were friends for long, having a casual conversation. It made Eliana adjust more comfortably.
"Mmm." Eliana hummed her reply. "I see."
The vicinity was already deserted as the curfew time was fast approaching. Eliana thanked Kylon before going inside the building. She picked out bread from the cafeteria below for dinner and brought it to her room.
"God, I can't believe I survived that building." She muttered, shaking her head.
She ate while studying Demonology and Language for the next day. She was nervous about those two particular subjects, especially Language class. Her knowledge about them was zero.