Like everyone, Odeti's attention was focused not just on the ruin on Videre's forehead, but also on the half-Wraith, half-Satori boy's appearance. It was their first time to see such facial features. It made even old Ruzha question why he thought such an innocent-looking child was suspicious before.
But unlike everyone, Odeti's eyes portrayed that was she looking without really seeing.
For a group of people used to seeing a variation of dark hair and brown eyes, the Batrani were not excluded from being stunned at the sight of soft white locks of hair. What had stunned them more was the blue rune that shone on his forehead, faintly pulsing in front of everyone's eyes. It was unlike any rune of blessing any one of them has seen, and they have done this ceremony countless of times for countless of people, seeing countless similar runes flashing and disappearing on their foreheads.
This time was the only exemption. Was it because he was a previous surface-dweller?
After having been marked for more than a minute, longer than the usual, the rune slowly vanished. Not a sound was spoken, nor a person moved. It was like everyone was afraid of breaking the trance they were in. Nobody knew what anybody was thinking.
Feeling like he can't take it anymore, Videre snatched the mask from Obrecht's hands and placed it back on his face, the fur hiding his unique hair color to blend back in the sea of dark-haired Lumeans. He had never ever felt so out of place, being stared at like some sort of exotic out-of-this-world object that no one can comprehend. He felt like a sore thumb sticking out.
Out of nowhere, Obrecht yelped as his mother had punched him hard on the head.
"I clearly remember you telling everyone that Videre can't remove his mask before marriage. Why are you the one removing it now", Odeti berated her son in front of everyone.
She was the first to have woken up from the trance, a gleam of understanding flashing once in her eyes before timely disappearing. Her scolding had effectively pulled everyone out of their reverie.
"That was…I just…", Obrecht didn't know how to defend wanting to see the rune of blessing on Videre. One can't see the rune on his own forehead, okay? If only he was allowed to bring a mirror during his ceremony, he would have done so.
Obrecht glanced at Videre. "In any case, I've already seen Videre before. I've already decided that I'm taking responsibility for him."
Dumbfounded, Videre didn't know how to deny because he knew it was partly true. He has indeed seen him before, and he has said that before. But why did he have to say it in such a vague manner!
Halvalt coughed on his hand, a bit embarrassed for his unscrupulous child.
"Oh?" Odeti raised an eyebrow. "And why are you deciding things for Videre?" She turned to Videre and said, "Videre, you can just ignore this fool who doesn't even know how to properly court someone. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought swinging his sword to look good is enough."
"Pfft—", Videre finally laughed which eased the atmosphere in the hall. The discomfort in his heart had been elevated by the familiar banter he saw at home. He flashed a thankful nod at Odeti and Odeti smiled kindly at him, if not a bit guiltily.
Videre felt that her smile reminded him of that blue-haired lady. It can't be, right? He laughed at his ridiculous thought, not knowing that Odeti wasn't guilty about what her son did, but guilty for knowing what is to happen to Videre, yet unable to stop it, now that he has been marked.
She now had the answers to a vast number of 'why's that she had growing up.
When everyone left the hall to start preparing for the annual tournament and the periodical battle examinations, nobody noticed the solemn profound look Odeti had as she stayed behind to watch everybody else. Only when Halvalt noticed her silence, did she return to her usual self, hand gripping her husband's as they walked away.
Nehal excused herself earlier. She wanted to consult Lumea's Hidden Library for the meaning of the rune on her best friend's—ehem—Videre's forehead. There was a nagging feeling she had that said she had seen it before in one of the books. That same feeling of knowing the melody of the song and a few words of the lyrics, and the song title was just at the tip of her tongue, but she just can't remember it. She clearly knew it but can't recall. It was a sort of annoying feeling she disliked.
Because of the tournaments, everybody had been busy, especially the Batrani, burying the incident to the back of their minds for them to think about after the important events in Lumea had passed.
Kali had been the busiest among everyone, that even her shadow didn't stay put for more than five minutes. She even stole away Amos to help her with the preparations for the annual tournament, knowing that the latter wasn't as busy preventing bratts from wandering into Inferis' forests since they were too excited in joining the tournaments.
If ever they needed security, it would be to prevent the naught bratts from entering the tournaments when they clearly were still underage.
On the next day was the first day of the year's periodical battle. Every young Lumean had this spirited aura of anticipation, ready to display how much they have grown for the past few months.
As the whole Inferis was underground, they only had one to two types of season: spring and fall; and yet those could only even be distinguished in the way several trees' crown grew bald every half of the year, only to grow back again in a few months' time. Videre missed the sight of seeing the vast beauty of snow, engulfing and painting everything into a white silent realm. He wanted to show it to Obrecht, and it wouldn't be the first time he told Obrecht about the seasons on the surface, but you can't exactly miss or anticipate something you haven't and might not see.
They sat side by side on one of the outdoor benches as the other students were fiercely battling all around, with Rohati, Otis, and a handful of graduating students stood as referee in each fight.
Videre had finished his exam against a person who used a pair of swords like him. It ended up as a win for himself, even though it wasn't allowed to use any magic or his powers during the battle. If you spar with the first ranker, you'd get used to heavy blows and agile counters. He was suddenly thankful that Obrecht didn't take it easy on him whenever they sparred.
Having placed first on the previous periodical rankings, Obrecht's battles were scheduled on the second day of the exams, when more than half of the competitors have been eliminated.
One can imagine the envy in Vera and Krael's eyes when they gazed at Videre. Who told him to be able to remember everything Obrecht taught him?! It was so unfair! He was in the same class as them just a few months ago! They wanted to participate in the battles already too! What two years?! They wanted to participate now!
Videre, who had Spartan education courtesy of his mother who memorized everything in a split-second glance, sat there oblivious of the other two's envious faces. His mind was currently preoccupied. He wasn't able to sleep last night, with his thoughts consuming the majority of the time that should have been spent on resting.
The first day of periodicals ended up with Videre gaining one win, and one loss to a graduating student, who had a flexible wrist that made it hard to tell where his blade was going to aim next. Bidding farewell to two bitter-faced friends, Obrecht and Videre arrived home. Covered by the mask, it wasn't much obvious that Videre had something other than the periodicals circulating his mind. After cleaning up after dinner, Videre closed the door to his room, his back leaning on it.
His had reached up and slowly, removed the mask, using his other hand to lightly touch his fingertips on his own forehead. His troubled eyes were dull.
Although it wasn't warm anymore, he was unable to forget the feeling. Try as he may, he just couldn't ignore or forget what he saw during the ceremony. He couldn't even tell anyone about it, not even Obrecht. He knew that if he told Obrecht, he would have to burden the other person to not tell the Batrani, which was part of the rules they had grew up with.
Videre didn't want to make it hard for him. He was used to keeping things to himself anyways.
He walked over to a table in his room, grabbing a few pieces of parchment and placing them side by side. Using his memory, he tried to redraw the view of the lake that he saw when he was held up high during the dream, moments before getting submerged.
Instinctively, he shivered at the memory.
Hidden in one of the shelves, he pulled a copy he had made of Lumea, and then a bigger drawing of the entirety of Lumea. He had copied this from the book Nehal had lent him. Comparing them, Videre didn't really keep his hopes high. For all he knew, it could really just have been a dream. He wouldn't even be surprised if it was a memory. What confused him, is why was he the one chosen for it?
Pressing the parchment flat on the table in an attempt to smoothen out the creases, Videre's hand suddenly pauses. Slowly, his palms go clammy, and his breath was unconsciously held.
Was he seeing it right?