_Crystal Chelsea Lim's Point of View_
It was kind of weird when Lavalee didn't call us, I guess she forgot to call us even though that's unlikely of her.
If I didn't set up an alarm, I might have woken up late, good thing I did.
I went out of my room and saw that Jess and Irene are still not up yet so I knocked on their doors.
"Good morning, I think Lavalee's still not up yet," I said the moment they opened their doors.
"Huh? Isn't she always the first one to wake up?" Jess asked confused
We looked at where the growl came from and we saw Mnemosyne seated near the stairs.
"Morning then," Jace said and carried Mnemosyne
He walked downstairs which made us confused.
He won't wake Lavalee? Or is Lavalee already awake?
Mnemosyne never leaves Lavalee's room unless Lavalee's already awake.
"Let's get ready," I said and went back to my room to get ready for school
After dressing up, I met with Jess and Irene in the hallway, and then we went downstairs to the dining room.
When we sat down, I noticed that Lavalee is still not there but Jace is helping Manang prepare the table.
"Eat now, you might be late for class," Manang said
"Don't wait for Lavalee," Jace said
Maybe Lavalee's not here but where could she be at this early?
It's just 5:40 AM.
After eating, I went back to my room to brush my teeth and then took my bag before going downstairs.
I rode the car and Ethan drove to the Academy.
We only have four more school days left before Christmas break and it's sad to know that the guys won't be able to enjoy and celebrate Christmas with their families because they need to guard us.
"What are your plans for Christmas?" I asked him while he's driving
"Nothing yet, you're going to your family reunion, aren't you?" he replied
"Maybe I'll just visit my Mom," he said
"Oh? They are also here in Lagresch?" I asked
"They're in Chaquez." He replied
When we arrived at Red Fire Academy, he parked between Jace and Elijah's car. We went straight to our classroom and Lavalee was not there either.
"Good morning, Warriors!" Our professor greeted us
"Good morning, Sensei!" Looks like the students are in a good mood since they greeted the professor back.
"Are you excited for the Christmas Break?" The professor asked and everyone cheered.
She smiled at us and then pulled the rope to close the curtains.
"But sad to say we have to give you the assignment to be passed at the resumption of classes." Our professor said and the screen opened.
Of course, the students groaned and complained, it's called Christmas Break and yet we're being tasked to do an assignment.
"I think you'll enjoy this." She said and four words appeared on the screen.
THIS IS MY CHRISTMAS
"What can you see?" She asked us which made us confused
"This is my Christmas, Prof," the one seated at the front row replied
"That is your assignment. I want you to make a compilation may it pictures or videos of your Christmas, the maximum time would be five minutes and the minimum time would be three minutes. What game? Or do you want another assignment?" our professor asked and it caused an uproar in the classroom
"Good, we will watch it on our College night, " she said after everyone settled down
"Exciting isn't it?" Prof. Antonio asked and we all nodded
"For our lesson for today in Arts, we will study Digital Arts," she said
Various pictures were flashing on the screen.
Digital works.
"Since we are slowly going up to the millennium where everything is done digitally, we are being advanced taught with Digital Arts but of course, we won't be able to use it to its maximum, perhaps just the tip of the iceberg but that's better than nothing, right? " she said and began to discuss
She began discussing the difference between Portrait and Landscape and what it meant.
She also discussed the different kinds of brushes, their effect, use, and the output they'll give. She reviewed the color wheel to find the correct blending colors.
"Professor, what is the difference between them? " asked the student in the background when Prof Antonio flashed two rectangles with different shades of black
"What is their difference? Look closely, and you'll notice it. " Prof Antonio said but the student shook his head.
"Yes, Jang?" Prof Antonio called Irene who raised her hand
"Eigengrau and Licorice, Eigengrau is on the left, and Licorice is on the right." She answered and sat down
"Eigengrau? Licorice? "
"What's that?"
"I do not understand."
"Very good, Ms. Jang. These are different shades of black. Eigengrau and Licorice. Can anyone say how many shades of black there are?" she asked so I raised my hand
"Go,"
"20 shades," I answered after standing up
"Very good, now, why do you think I am showing these confusing colors to you?" she asked and I saw Jess raise her hand
"Han,"
"Because we'll use them in digital arts." She replied after standing up
"Exactly." Prof Antonio said and sat back down
"Will you believe me if I say that this black night sky is composed of different shades?" Professor Antonio asked after showing a simple picture of the night with the moon.
"How's that?"
"I only see black."
She suddenly zoomed the picture in until we can see the color of the pixels and there are at least three groups of different shades of black
"It seems like it's hard to do!"
"There are so many colors?"
"Now, class, I don't want you to stress yet because with the resumption of class we will study it. I just want to give you a clue what our lesson will be." Professor Antonio said
We spent the whole morning in classes and we didn't even meet each other since our seating arrangements were changed.
We met in the cafeteria and ordered food before we sat at our usual table after our classes.
"Lav's absent?" Icarus asked as he and Jaxith sat here with Hendrix
"You see her?" Irene asked
"Where's Lav?" Jaxith asked
"Fortazea, Lebraz," Jace replied
"What's she doing there?" Irene asked
"You don't know either?" Icarus asked us
"Would we ask if we know?" Jess asked back
"Business conference," Jace replied
"When is she coming back?" I asked
"Tomorrow," he answered and ate
"When did she leave?" Icarus asked
Suddenly, his phone rang.
"Business conference," he said
"It's fine, Frost."
We were taken aback when we heard his reply.
"I will," Jace said and looked at us when he saw us looking at him
"How long have you been close to Frost?" Icarus asked and put his arm around Jace
"We're not. He's checking on Lav." Jace said and continued eating
"Wow, those two love pushing and pulling things," Jaxith said meaningfully, which made us smile
Lavalee pushed Frost into his love life and now Frost is pushing Lavalee to Jace, those two are unbelievable, and they manipulated each other's love life.
"When did Lav leave?" Icarus asked again
"Last night," Jace replied
"How's that tiger?" Jaxith asked
"Take care of Mnemosyne. I'm going to strangle you if you don't. "
"That's what she said." He said and hid the phone where he played the recording
"Same old Lav with her threats," Jaxith and Icarus shook their heads
"What are your plans for Christmas Break?" Elijah asked
"Alisha and I will go out," Jaxith replied
"Jaxith is taking your sister away, Hendrix," Irene told Hendrix
"I was informed," Hendrix said as if compelled
"Just a bit of hanging out," Icarus answered
"With Alkia?" I asked and he nodded
"You, Hendrix?" Ethan asked
"Home, with our stepmom," he replied
"You?" Jaxith asked
"I'll visit Mom after my siblings," Irene replied
"I'll go to New Yastrid to do some shopping," Jess replied
"Reunion with the Lims," I answered
"Then Ethan and Elijah watch over you, Ire, Tal?" Icarus asked us
"Maybe not," I said
"Why don't you introduce him? You two are dating," Jess said, which made me blush
"Ayiee! Crystal Chelsea has grown up!"
They teased, not caring that others would hear what they called me.
"He's going home to his family," I said
"You, Irene? Elijah? " Icarus asked those two
"Probably," Irene said nonchalantly which triggered the group's teasing
"Bryle's in New Yastrid," Jace said suddenly while holding his phone
"She texted me to tell you," Jace said so we looked at Jess
"So what? He is not the reason why I am going to New Yastrid so I won't be affected." Jess said and frowned
After eating our lunch, we went back to our classes.
I suddenly miss doing missions. These few weeks we haven't received any mission, perhaps our mission, for now, is to find the necklace that belongs to aunt Lyrae.
After classes, we headed home.
"HI!" Lavalee's face flashed on the screen when we arrived
"Good afternoon, I forgot to inform you and I hope you didn't get late because I forgot to call your phones," Lavalee said
"How's the business conference?" Jace asked
"Seriously, Dreice? You and Nii-sama asked the damn same thing. Ugh!" Lavalee said and rolled her eyes
"The business conference was boring, I knew most of the delegates so they kept on talking to me, trying to win me to invest in their company or to arrange my future child with theirs. Can't they see I'm still too young to think about having kids?" she continued to rant so we shook our heads and sat on the couch
"We have an assignment. Are you aware of it?" I told her and she looked up like she's thinking if she know about it
"The 'this is my Christmas' assignment, right?" she asked we nodded
"Yep, I got it in my notification, wait," she said and her eyes diverted to Jace
"Dreice, Did you use my iPad?"
"Yeah, I added it," He said and Lavalee nodded
"That's why. Anyways, I won't ask how school was since I know it's just like usual, I also watched some footage earlier since it was boring. Oh, I have to go now," she said and the screen turned off
We went to our respective rooms to change our clothes.
After changing my clothes, I went downstairs and saw them already seated on the couch. I sat beside Jess and looked at what they're doing.
"Come here, Mnemosyne," I called Mnemosyne who jumped down from Jace's lap and jumped onto mine
I played with Mnemosyne until she jumped out of my lap and back to Jace.
"That tiger grew fond of you," Jess commented
"Because they are often together with Lav," Caspian said
"How's the assignment?" Ethan asked and we realized how can they make the assignment if they're going to guard us.
"Tomorrow's our last day," Jace informed
"Last day?" Elijah asked
"Last day of guarding them," Jace answered while caressing Mnemosyne's fur
"Lavalee said she'll be taken hostage tomorrow at the airport and because of that we will be able to catch members of the big syndicate that resides here," Jace explained
"How can she be taken hostage, doesn't she have guards?" Caspian asked
"Lavalee won't have bodyguards on her arrival tomorrow," Jess said and Jace nodded
"Oh, then we'll be dropping out," Ethan said while scratching the back of his head
"I'll continue. I already passed my leave, I have to continue studying for our business." Jace said
"You'll be staying here," Irene asked him and Jace shook his head
"But I'll pick Lavalee up," he said
"That's what we'll do, we'll just pick you up," Ethan told us
"You can have time for your girlfriend now," Jess told Caspian
"Be careful, you are still women," Caspian told us
"We'll start packing," Elijah said and the guys stood up and went to their rooms
Mnemosyne stayed with us, she jumped to my lap and I caressed her fur.
I wonder how Lavalee's going to cope with the sudden change.
"Do you think Lavalee will feel odd?" Irene asked while leaning
"Possibly, she's used to Jace waking her up, and now that they're leaving, she'll have to adjust again," I said
"Or maybe not," Jess said while chuckling
"What do you mean? It's not like Jace will go here as early as he wakes Lavalee before." I told her
"But he can call her, you know Lavalee can't ignore a phone call's ringtone, no matter what the circumstances are," Jess said with a smile but it faded when she realized what she had said
True enough, Lavalee can never ignore a phone call's ringtone, it may sound like a good thing but to us, it isn't.
"We just need to hope she'll be fine," Irene said and we nodded
We just need to hope.