"Mr. Houston!" a gritty voice sounded throughout the classroom. The teacher slammed her hand on his desk pushing her face close to his. "I don't know how you got in, but here you do as I say," she said her eyes turning golden, hair raising. He can feel her aether focusing on her hands.
"I-I don't have aether Ma'am, I-I can't make it," he said staring back. Though stuttering, he stood his ground never looking away at the teacher. Squinting her eyes she shattered his desk, leaving dust all around. "Well, you're now a chosen. And in this school, you need to wield magic. So do something about this condition of yours," she said, dusting off her hand.
Aloisius looked down at his feet and nodded. He already knows that. All of his teachers gave him that exact advice. He's getting tired of this constant advice. He is already working hard on it. Researching about ways to control the Aether on one's body or the Aether around him. But he has none.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
"Class dismissed. You, Houston. Come with me," the teacher said collecting the papers on her desk.
"Yes, Ms. Alcala," he responded following the woman.
"We have heard all about your background and situation. Such an anomaly for the school to pick an Aetherless Aetherian," she said strutting down the hall.
"This school is a living being you know? filled with Aether from the Goddes of Light. It's a crime to reject her little -- chosen," she said side eyeing him. He gulped knowing the implication. They did not want him there. He was but a thorn in their side.
"I would like to believe you're here for a reason. And so, you will be having extra-curricular lessons with Llouie," opening a door on the side of a massive hallway, they entered a cozy office.
Books around were stacked like towers. cups of coffee were everywhere. Messily cozy, I guess is what it is. "Llouie!" Ms. Alcala shouted.
"Chill woman," the man appeared hugging her from behind. Alicia rolled her eyes and pushed the man away. Llouie foolishly smiled and cupped her emotionless face. "Here is your student. Take care of him and DON'T harass him, you get me?" Alicia said her words a little mumbled because of his hands. "Yes ma'am" he replied, letting go of her and saluting.
She nodded indifferently and cruised out of the room.
Llouie glanced at his new student. He assessed Aloisius Houston's look from his neat, combed-back midnight hair, to his bushy brows. This kid has bored eyes, colored grey. His back was hunched, looking uninterested like a doormat waiting to be stepped on. His nose is defined and lips thin. His new uniform was neatly worn.
Llouie nodded. Using a long stick he gave a strong tap on Aloisius's back.
"Back straight, head up," he said, raising the kid's head to face him.
Aloisuis struggled, feeling forced but faced his new mentor anyway. After Llouie took off the stick he immediately returned to his original posture and Llouie shook his head.
"If you were to learn from me, you would need to look proud, or err not like that," he said tapping the stick on the ground.
"After all, Me the Great and Handsome Llouie is your mentor, so pucker up buttercup," he added looking pleased with himself.
Aloisuis nodded and stood straight looking at his mentor in the eye. Llouie grinned not backing down. He can see this kid's potential. Such aura. Too bad he's a son of a human.
"Oh well, how do you propose you get aether?" the man asked leaning on his desk.
"From my surroundings," he replied. Maybe Sir Llouie will listen to his theory. He can feel the potential of his research. A chance for human-descendants to live in this Aether-filled world.
"Like collection magic?" Llouie asked looking up.
"Us half-humans can feel Aether much more sensitively than Aethians, and well, If I can harness the Aether around me. Perhaps it can be a sufficient replacement for my lack of natural Aether," he mumbled, looking down habitually. In an instant, a stick came to raise his head.
"So I have heard, how do you plan to do that?" Llouie asked looking intently at his student's eyes.
"Magic paper," he said short and straight.
"Pfft, What?" Llouie asked bursting into laughter.
"Blessed paper from the temple, they can gather aether like collection magic," he said eyes looking down not his head.
Llouie ceased his laughing. "Well, enlighten me. How do you think the temple makes this magic paper?"
"By putting their aether?" he asked unsure. He tried to look for the same answer, thinking perhaps it was made from something holy.
"From the Wisteria tree. So what you're proposing is taking Aether around your own and what? Take it inside you or what I think could be better is, make it into a spell," Llouie said cleaning up his desk.
"Well, spells are verbal sir. I don't think that wild aether will just follow my will. I can't even connect myself to the aether on Wisteria paper 'cause there is no Aether inside of me."
"You do know, that they have a reason for making me your mentor right?" Llouie asked looking bewildered that this young man doesn't know his schtick. "I specialize in magic devices, how to use the Aether of the world. Though this is a new thing to me too. Having someone Aetherless try to use Aether. Tomorrow, come with me to the School's tower." he said sipping a random coffee on one of the stack of books.
"Uh, sure sir. Thank You," Aloisuis bowed and left the room. Once he opened the door, he saw a glimpse of pink fluffy hair passing by him and entering the room. He glanced at the professor and...
Honey.
That's her name right? He stared at the two until the door closed fully. He shook his head.
"Hello," a voice exclaimed behind him. He looked behind him and saw a noblewoman. One of Yandel's friends. The Honorable Rechelle Hallowedmore (daughter of a high-ranking Baron). A small petite woman.
"Yes, Miss?" he slightly bowed and raised his head high after. Rechelle squinted her eyes at this new behavior of this man. She shrugged walking past him. Aloisius looked confused and followed hesitantly.
"Yandel is looking for you, he asked you to come hang out," she said looking straight.
"Oh, ok"
"How do you fare in your classes?"
"Fine, except for the applied portions. I'm doing well Miss," he said looking at his friend's friend.
"That's good. You do know, among our friends you were the one I least expected to get chosen. Well because you're a..." she trailed looking at her friend. He can get triggered by these words and she almost said it. Unlike her expectation, Aloisius had a small smile.
She looked at him for a second bewildered before continuing on the way.
"You think I'm your friend?" Aloisuis asked Rechelle before they could go out of the crystal gate.
"Not all of us, but I do," Rechelle said turning around to face him.
"I do hope you don't think everyone is like Kurei. You do understand the outlook of society to your people. You can't change that, but you can change yours. After all, you're half of us." she said eyes soft and understanding.
Aloisuis felt complex emotions. Again with the separation. The us and the thems. Will he be satisfied with only this? With him differentiated from his people. Aloisuis looked up to the ceiling and closed his eyes. Why can't the world just be unified?
He followed his friend out. To the shopping district of the school. Where the school sells its merchandise and school supplies for the students. Some students also sell food and clothes they designed themselves.
Looking around he spotted his best friend Yandel with their other friends. Lady Varana Wareyes and Viscount Rolvenik Minzyegadi. He bowed to the three of them. His position being the lowest.
"Aloi! My brother, what do you think suits Rechelle more? Her Gothic era or this now softie fashion?" Rolvenik asked slapping him in the back. A habit of both Yandel and Rolvenik.
"I think she suits whatever fashion The Honourable chooses, Vicount" he replied. Among the friends, he looked like a butler following the group. He didn't mind tho. The jabs the two men say to piss each other off and the elegance and secret crushing of the two ladies to the handsome seniors. With them, Aloisuis felt peace.
"Having fun?" Kurei asked, making Aloisius freeze up. He felt the air being stolen from his lungs. Lady Varana smiled widely and welcomed Kurei.
"Oh Lord Kurei, such a pleasure to have you here," she said, her voice as sweet as chocolates.
"I wouldn't miss an invite from such a beautiful Lady after all," Kurei responded kissing Varana's hand. Yandel's face twitched, Rolvenik's face froze and Rechelle rolled her eyes. They know that their friend has fallen in love with this two-faced Lord.
They tried to open her eyes before but only to have her running off crying. Foolishly denying the man's devilish action. Oh, whatever, she'll just get heartbroken once then they can be over this obsession of hers.
"Why, why? Seems like Lord Houston is also here?" Aloisius flinched, scared for his life. Though they have the same title, Kurei was a son of a high-ranking duke. While he is nothing but a son of a banished Baron.
"Nice to see you around Lord Kurei," he replied forcing a smile with an instinctual glare like a cat being intimidated. Varana frowned. "Well, well Lord Kurei, why don't I show you around?" she asked stepping in between their gazes.
Kurei looked down at this woman. Averagely tall with average green eyes and average brown hair. He forced himself not to roll his eyes. Flashing a killer smile, he extended his arm for The Lady to grab on. It's a pity he can't find Aloisius around on his own like he used to in his castle. Well, there really isn't anyone in his.
Aloisius looked around, not straying too far away from his friends. In the corner of a street he spotted a shop selling special paper. Maybe there's magic paper there err I mean Wisteria Paper.
"Viscount, do you want to check out that shop?" he asked feeling afraid of being alone.
"Sure"
They entered the shop. A cute cat bell rung after they opened the door. The walls painted light pink and black.
"Do you like girly things, Aloi?" Rolvenik asked picking up special paper printed with bows and rainbows.
"Err no, Viscount. I just thought there would be a Wisteria paper here," he replied scanning the rows of paper. There were only a few people in the shop and most of them were women who were looking in their direction.
"I do have Wisteria paper," said a soft voice. Aloisius looked up to meet a pair of golden eyes. It's Honey. Such an interesting name. Like a pet name. So sweet. Very fitting for her face.
"Ah-oh yes," he stammered after he caught himself staring. Rolvenik's eye darted back and forth to the two of them, smiling teasingly.
Honey smiled tucking hair in the back of her ear.
"Well sir, it's in that aisle. Follow me" Thus they followed.
She opened a drawer at the bottom of the shelves that held various kinds of paper.
"Here, I tucked them away since they kept absorbing Aether. It makes my customer feel uncomfortable. It costs .15 quids. I'm planning to get rid of them anyways." she said walking to the cashier.
"Your total is 100 quids" she said smilingly.
"Here"
"Thank You and come again!!!" she said squeaking and energetically waving them goodbye before talking to the next in line.
"Well Honey, Ain't that man your type?" snickered the woman next in line.
"Hoho, Celestel. He is," she said jokingly, "But you do know you are more my type," she said winking to her customer.
"Oh stop it," Celestel laughed.
"That girl took your fancy, my dear friend?" Rolvenik asked grinning like a cat.
"No viscount," he replied caressing the paper.