One side of the 10-meter square room was occupied by his cupboard. The other wall with open books, one atop the other in a very disorderly fashion as his quill rested on an open scroll and ink cup open. And his chair facing his bed flooded by the invading sunlight.
The door creaks open as Jestah enters with a thick small cloth hung on his neck on top of which his wet head rested upon.
Putting on his Forgeron's uniform, he pushed his scroll and other books on his reading table into the processed animal skin bag. Taking a look at the ink cup and shaking it, the ink had dried- he left it open as he slept off working on his project.
He pulled his drawer as he sighed, pulling a sealed ink cup and throwing it into his bag before making a knot out of the ropes and wearing the backpack.
Opening his door, he sees two doors next to a flight of stairs. Walking ahead, he knocks on the door but there is no response. He puts his ear against the door but all he hears are more lively sounds coming from the streets. He knocks again as he frowns leaning closer to the door but he hears no response.
Slowly, he gives the door a little push from his left foot and ignores the creaking sound of the door.
"Daram." He weakly calls out as he looks around the room for her. She's sitting on her wooden bed her head resting on her hands on the window sill looking at the people below.
"Daram." He calls out firmly this time as he leans against the door.
"Daram!"
Her eyes widen as she stiffens up.
"What was that for?" She spits as she turns around giving him a look.
"You're late."
"Late? What do you...?" She asks as she notices the sunlight pass her bed unto the legs of her reading table casting its shadow below it.
"I'm fucked!" She cusses as she throws her leg to the flow as closes the windows. "I'm late!" She screams as she takes the stairs.
"We're late!" Jestah adds as he follows her. "Your food is ready."
She stops at the end of the stairs as she looks at the kitchen and the door of the study room.
"He's gone, he's leading the morning service- he came early yesterday," Jestah explains as he double-checks his buttons.
"You've not eaten." Jestah reminds her as he places his hand on her shoulder bringing her back to reality.
"Oh, right." She says with a frown as she bit her lip.
"Daram, what is wrong with you?" He asks as he shakes her once more with his brows furrowed. "Daram!"
"You don't have to go to school if you don't want to," Jestah says as he holds her shoulders. "Yes, you don't."
She swallows a lump but just looks vaguely into space.
"Daram! Just tell me what is wrong! What did you do?" Jestah screams through gritted teeth as he jerks her.
"What did I do?" Daram answers confused.
Jestah gnashes his teeth as he pulls back his hair and lets out a frustrated sigh.
*Thump*
Ayaan let his shoe falls as he stares at the both of them from above the staircase.
"Good morning Brother Jest..." Maya greets. But is met with a closed door.
They are the children of a soldier at the war front and their mom who is also at the war as a nurse. With no one else to take care of them, they came to the priest for help which their dad willingly accepted giving them his room as he spent his nights either at the study room or in the temple- interceding.
...
Jestah held Daram tight as they weaved through the full street into the crowded market.
"What did I do?" Daram asked for the umpteenth time.
"I. Don't. Know." Jestah answered frustrated. "I told you to eat which you didn't. And if you were ready ever since, why didn't you go eat?"
"I can't remember what happened yesterday and you're talking about food?" Daram asks as she struggles to free herself from his grip running into a passerby.
"Sorry." She muffles before throwing Jestah a glare.
"That's what happens when you're low on sugar. Dad told you to eat this morning and you didn't. I wonder how you'll cope on an empty stomach."
"That's no big deal... I do that often," Daram answers back.
"Well then, have a good day," Jestah says as he lets go of her hand.
"You know, I'm not a kid anymore," Daram shouts as she walks into the school compound. "I'm 18!"
Jestah looks blankly as he shakes his head.
...
Walking through the compound on her way to her homeroom.
'Maybe Jestah is right,' She thinks. 'I act funny when I have not eaten for a while.' she pulls her hair backward and weaves it into a knot as she walks through the quiet passageway accompanied by the echo of her wooden soles against the stone floor.
Opening the door to her homeroom, she notices the students sitting oddly arranged in a likable fashion.
'Is an official visiting the school, thought they were at war...' Daram thought as she peaked at the empty teacher's seat. And walks into the room as her brows furrowed to her seat, the third out of five rows at the large window, large enough for her to jump through. The chair squeaks as it carries her weight, breaking the awkward silence.
Just when she was about to make herself at ease, Degratti gets up from her seat and starts to make her way toward her.
'She sure looks like she's up for some drama.' Daram hisses inwardly as she looks at the window, paying attention to the details of the frame. Her exercise is interrupted when Degratti hits her fist on her locker.
"Seriously?" Daram scowls irritated by the outburst.
"Seriously?" Degratti screams back as she flings her hands in the air "Seriously?!"
'Definition of mentally deranged!' Daram thinks to herself with a scoff.
She is quickly brought back to class when a loud slap lands on her cheek resounding in the class full of stunned students lost in the play. Daram pushes her locker and stands, towering a whole thirty centimeters over her.
"Have you lost your FUCKING mind!!" Daram asks irritated more than she is confused as Degratti rambles on.
"Lady Degratti Satiki and Miss Sundaram Tamas are needed in the head teacher's office right now."