It was called Sunny Island which was apt somewhat given the variety of beaches and coconut trees that attracted tourists to it. The island spanned over 313, 940 square meters, and though the summers and springs were always pleasant and warm, the winter and fall were on the negative end of pleasant. It was a much-developed city known most especially for its diamond mines. After all, it was the land formed on the remnants of one of the ancient great kingdoms after the fall of the old world. Most of its history was lost, and only a few were concerned with retrieving and preserving the cultures of these ancient kingdoms.
Sarah Dragenar was one of them.
Bent toward against the cold wind billowing through the trees, howling in her ears, she waved goodbye to her father's driver, who also served as her babysitter since her father Edgar Dragenar didn't think she would survive a day on her own without being constantly watched.
A student of Archeology, she was one of the few concerned about the lost worlds. Edgar didn't like the idea of studying Archeology but then her older sister Samantha, an adoptive sister, put her foot down on the matter. Sarah could study whatever she wanted.
She was the last of 7, all her 6 older siblings were adopted by her parents, she, on the other hand, was the only real child of Edgar and a mother she never knew because her mom died during childbirth. Maybe that was why her father couldn't look into her eyes when he spoke to her. She hated it. Hated that he controlled her life so much yet couldn't be the father she wanted. He was overprotective of her but only through his workers who fawned over her and watched her every move, no doubt reporting everything to her father in his office.
She sighed deeply both in frustration and relief as she walked into the warm lecture hall. The lights were on and so were the heaters. The room was warm and cozy and Sarah had fallen in love with this one the moment she set foot in it. There were several students in the room drinking coffee and talking, some catching a few more minutes of sleep. She was painfully shy so she walked with as little noise as possible, making her way to her favorite spot, right-wing, three four rows forward.
At exactly 10 am the lecture started.
"We are yet to have permission to unearth our latest discovery on the lost city of Eyrotia and its connection with the dragons but that is exactly what we would be talking about today."
Sarah took notes. The hall was beginning to fill up.
"In the past, we have debated extensively over the first fall of Eyrotia and whether or not the dragons were involved and if the dragons actually existed…"
"They did," came a disgruntled interruption from the crowd rapidly filling the hall.
Sarah turned her head to look, as did more than half the population of students in the room. The lecture was only just beginning and there was already an interruption. Granted, Archeology was a subject that welcomed debate and shared knowledge but that interruption was rude. The person who had spoken was barely even seated yet he was already drawing attention to himself. Above the huge crowd of people, Sarah could barely see him.
"There is no argument about that, Mr. Ace."
"Oh really, but debates are arguments are they not? Any statement questioning the existence of dragons is automatic unbelief and but there are artefacts to prove their existence."
"I agree with you once again, Ace but as Archeologists, it is important to seek facts before…"
"As Archeologists debates weaken our profession. Artefacts are enough evidence."
"Debates and artefacts work in tandem to make our profession valid, without those people will never believe in our field of study."
The hall went quiet, even the professor, a wispy young woman with wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose was quiet with a look of astonishment on her face.
Sarah frowned. Why was the hall quiet and why was everyone staring at her?
Her eyes suddenly widened in horror when she realized she was standing. She had just spoken in a clear firm voice. Her professor was watching her with a surprised raise of her brow.
Sarah trembled. "Uh…uh…"
"Seems the lovely Miss knows even more than you do, Mrs. Klavan. I'm sure she would love to tell us more."
"Sit down Ace," Mrs. Klavan chided. "Although I must commend your efforts in getting Miss Dragenar to talk. That was unexpected."
"I'm sure Miss Dragenar is thankful for the effort."
Sarah wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She could still feel the eyes on her back as she mumbled a "sorry" and took her seat. Worst of all she could feel Ace's eyes on her. She didn't know him, well she didn't know everyone in her Archeology class by name but his face was new, still, Mrs. Klavan seemed to know him well enough.
She wanted to disappear into her chair and for the next hour and a half, she hid under the comfort of her sweater.
As soon as the class was over she gladly walked out of the room praying Klavan would not call her to discuss her sudden outburst. Luckily, she was able to join the throng of students leaving the lecture room and immediately located Eric, her driver. As far as she was concerned school was over.
"Anthropology?" Eric asked.
Sarah pulled out her phone and dialed her best friend's number. She knew Jack and his twin would be asleep, hungover from the party she politely declined yesterday. Yet she sat in the back of the car and listened to the phone ring.
Jack picked on the third ring. His voice was groggy with sleep.
"Hey, virgin."
Sarah rolled her eyes at the barb. "Hey are you up?"
"I am now. You want to come over?"
"Yeah. I'm on my way."
Eric was watching her through the rearview mirror. He waited until she was done with her call before turning slightly in the driver's seat.
"Sarah?"
He was one of the few people she could trust. "To Jack's please."
He nodded.
Sarah fell back on the seat. God, I thought I was going to die back there, she thought to herself. I spoke in front of the whole class!
She barely heard what Mrs. Klavan said after the incident, she just wanted to hide away. But the history of Eyrotia was her favorite fantasy. It was the one thing that interested her the most. She had discovered her passion for it when her father shipped her off to Notre Dame, a boarding Catholic school where she spent six years of her life. Since Eyrotia was not part of the popular kingdoms with great pantheons like Greece and Egypt, there were controversies and debates surrounding its existence. It was one of the reasons debates were welcome in topics relating to Eyrotia and other barely known great kingdoms. Excavation exercises were always ongoing in Sunny Island and surrounding islands because these were suspected sites of the lost kingdom.
Defending the kingdom she barely knew was foremost in her mind when she stood up to oppose Ace whatever-his-name-is.
"We are here."
Eric was parked behind Jack and Brent's apartment. As always the shady neighborhood was littered with beer bottles and cans. Delinquent teenagers hung around the back of the apartment building.
"Thanks, Eric. You can go back to the office, I'll take a cab home."
"Sure."
But she knew he wouldn't go back to the office, he would park across the street, follow the cab she enters and make sure she was safe.
Jack and Brent lived on the fifth floor. Sarah knocked on the door.
The door swung open. Jack stood on the other side dressed in last night's pajamas, clearly hungover.
"Come in, come in. Brent look what Santa brought."