#Clara Aether#
Isla and I were just minding our business. Had I known Isla gave them a scroll, I would've stopped this from happening. But we shalln't keep our minds on trivial details. There were more urgent matters at hand.
Though we knew the boys had gone to sneak in like idiots, we were surprised that Marcus came back with a cut on his throat. Just what did they do?
Wallace, explained the details.
"I see," I was still confused, but what made it more weird was… "why was there another person in there?"
Wallace shakes his head, "Marcus knows the details, he was eavesdropping. I was busy storing the other books I found in the bag."
We both stare at Wallace. What an idiot.
"If anything, we nearly got killed. If you hadn't gave that scroll Isla, we would've died," Wallace admits and then proceeds to lay his head on the floor, "I am indebted to you."
Isla, who was immediately flustered, began stuttering, "Idiot, it's alright."
Wallace looks up.
"Just forget what you saw before okay?"
Isla that girl. She's blushing. She runs out and Wallace follows.
Marcus' voice emerges from idleness.
"What happened?" Marcus weakly lets the wards fall out.
I go to his side and wipe the blood from his neck.
"Clara?"
I continue without answering. I gather some light energy and fuse them with his body. The energy, after doing its job, ejects pure energy out.
If light energy is processed into pure energy. There must've been dark energy inside him.
"This must be heaven. I'm dead," Marcus, who I could respect the most out of the boys, was letting tears fall from the edges of his eyes, "I'm sorry mother, father. I should've saved you back then." His hands trembling as he reached toward the ceiling.
I hadn't known Marcus for long, this was the first boy I've been friends with. I was curious. About his past. His friends. His thoughts. But what he needs now is rest, not an interrogation.
I notice in his other hand was a book. It was old and crumbled, its pages barely having any life left from when it was first created. I take it gently from Marcus' hand. He clutches it tight and mutters something inaudible then lets go and falls asleep.
History of Lia.
Wasn't that the country that went to ruin? Why does Marcus have this?
Could it be that Marcus has some connection to this?
I looked inside the book. Nothing but old text. I could not read the language of Lia, but why would he bring it if he couldn't read it?
There's not enough information anyways, I shouldn't pry either.
I put his book beside him and I join the other two in our living space.
"How's Marcus?" Wallace asks while skimming thoroughly through pages. I see six other books stacked beside him.
"He's fine, I've healed him. It seems he was petrified," I respond.
"Yeah, that was one hell of a creepy guy."
"There aren't many people who manipulate dark energy. We'll have to wait for Marcus to wake up. Have you made progress?"
"I've found some interesting information. It says here the oil that slimes secrete scarcely can be made using these ingredients. It'd still be hard to look for, but we can produce much more lubricant than hunting slimes or waiting for them to secrete."
"Dinner's ready!" Isla's voice rings between our conversation.
"Man, I'm hungry."
We make our way to the dining table. The smell of Isla's cooking was better than any of the cooks at the Aether Duchy.
Wallace plumps himself on his seat.
"Thank you for the meal!" He shouts as he claps his hand.
"Shhhh," Isla tells the idiot, "We're in a girl's dorm. What would you do if they found out?"
Wallace's face drops.
He forgot.
But what was this culture? Do all boys clap their hands and shout before eating?
Before I could ask, Wallace digs in without warning.
"mmhmmm"
I continue to eat.
"This is delicious."
"I know," Isla responded with pride.
I look at Wallace's dish and see it empty. Empty. How do you finish food in that amount of time?
"The taste of this chicken is amazing." Wallace compliments.
Isla nods.
"This aroma, this flavour, this texture. It's--"
"Shut up idiot!" Isla remarks.
Wallace shuts up and continues to eat.
Are all boys like this? Even Marcus?
⁜⁜⁜
I get out my sleeping bag while Marcus stays on my bed, in a coma. He lay there like a king in his coffin. Not moving, not responding.
Just a few days ago, I had treated this boy – man as an enemy. Marcus had been nothing but kind since the start of our project. For me to suspect him too much… I am ashamed to call myself an Aether. The boys I knew were stingy, incompetent, narcissistic, cocky. He was none of that. Rather, he was the first boy whom I respected regardless of rank.
Was it he who was different, or the others?
I turn off the light and tuck the corners of the bed. This way, he wouldn't catch a cold.
I watched him under the moonlight. He was imposing even when he is asleep, yet so vulnerable. Someone who presents himself as a leader, sleeping as if at any moment he would perish.
I'm thinking too much.
But this was the first time since I've been so close to a boy. I part his hair, revealing his forehead.
Control yourself Clara! This is indecent!
I was curious about his hand though…
This is just a check. I need to make sure he's fine.
I lift the sides of his bedsheets. His hands lay limp beside him. I open his palm. I touch it. It's rough.
Stop Clara!
I snap myself out of a trance and rush to my sleeping bag.
I must look away to preserve my dignity.[TD1] [EY2]
⁜⁜⁜
#Marcus Laurier#
My eyes. They stay shut no matter what strength I use. My arms too do not move as if they had a will of their own. This body, I felt, was in tatters. I had a dream, though I don't remember much, that Clara came to take me to heaven. How fitting for the saint of Light to guide me to the end of my journey. To face my mother. My father.
I was so close to discovering about my past, most of which were only fragments of a whole. Yet I had failed.
How do I face my family like this?
"Marcus"
An ethereal voice projected all around me.
"Marcus"
I look around to face a woman. Not any women. My mother.
I turn around in disbelief, the words that come out my mouth came the truth.
"Mother I am sorry…"
"For what?"
I gulp down my emotions.
"I have failed, as a man and as a son. I am not fit to be a part of our lineage!" I shout without expecting an answer.
"Marcus."
I…
"Marcus!"
Am….
"Marcus!"
Sorry…
"Marcus!"
I snap back to reality. Reality where Clara's face is hovering above me. For some reason, my heart was racing, my head was sweating, Clara was taking a towel.
My strength returns and I pull myself out of my bed.
My bed?
I look at the colour of the place I slept in. This was not my bed.
"C-Clara?" I look at her and she looks back, "Did I-?"
"Yes, you did! Now get back on the bed before I push you down." Clara swings the towel with menace. I gently lay back down.
"How long was I out for?"
"Two days."
Two days? I left Clara without a bed for two days.
"I am sorry you have to take care of me, but what happened?"
Clara, who was usually responsive, did not reply as she rubs the warm towel on my forehead.
"Could you fill me in?" I ask as Clara begins to rub harder and harder.
"I thought we were really going to die." I said as I give up trying to ask her.
"Wallace said the same thing," she adds.
"Is he alright?" I asked, "he's not hurt is he?"
"No, he came back fine," Clara replied, "he found a more efficient way to make the lubricant. Also…" Clara glares at me intensely, "What did you do to come back like that? When you came to our room, you had a cut near your throat. If anything, you should be the one filling me in, got it?"
I reluctantly agreed and I fill her in. On the library, the librarian and their plan.
"The bombing incident," Clara says anxiously, "was caused by them?"
I nod.
Clara starts gathering mana particles in the air. It seems she was quite ticked to hear the perpetrators of the incident. If anything, we had found something big. If we don't report it, then Argos will be in danger.
"Did they see your faces?" Clara asks.
"I don't think so, it must've been too dark for them to see our faces."
I get out the bed and stretch.
"You shouldn't be out, get some rest—"
"I'm fine, thanks for worrying Clara. But I'm not that weak!" I say as finish stretch my sore muscles.
I spotted the book History of Lia on the bedside table. I grab it and follow Clara outside where the two were waiting.
"See I told ya. He'd get up even if u told him not to," Wallace snickers, "glad to see you're not dead! Though, first night in a girl's dorm was better than expected."
"Idiot you're making it sound weird. Don't tell anyone about this or there'll be trouble!" Isla reasons.
"What'd you say?"
"You will swear, won't you?"
Isla and Wallace start their daily debate.
I whisper to Clara, "Is it me or are they more friendly?"
She nods, "you should have breakfast first. We've already finished ours, so go ahead."
⁜⁜⁜