It was now 8:54, a few minutes until morning lessons begun, the trio who were supposed to be in class and prepping for lessons had decided to spend their time on one of the academy's many rooftops. With the food they made away with laid out, bowls empty and chicken thighs the size of a human forearm in their hands.
"Mikado ne-san really knows how to make you ask for more." She gnawed away at the oversized chicken thigh, she was almost done clawing her way through it.
"I know right." Khay spoke, with a mouthful of meat.
"Juicy!" Trilith burped.
"Where are your manners you two?" Lilith said licking her fingers tips.
The trio stared at each other and laughed the moment away, of all the activities in their daily lives, it was this part that they looked forward to the most.
Lilith and the duo stared peacefully at the skies, then Khay sighed. "It's unexpectedly peaceful today." Breaking the silence.
"About that, did you guys… hear anything yester-night?" Trilith energetically shot up.
"Don't tell me… You heard it too!"
"You bet I did, I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd practice, get some workouts in and I could swear the sky turned scarlet for a second there, did you see it?"
"Oh I definitely did. I had trouble sleeping for some reasons. Maybe I ate too much." Khay responded.
"Food will definitely be your end one day." Lilith softly laughed. "I won't say I didn't hear…" her tone went down a few notches, she put her knees together and rested her chin on it. Her eyes loosened; "Even before then, I was feeling uneasy, I don't know how to explain it. But something didn't feel right." She added.
"Now that you mention it, you were really kept to yourself all evening, I thought it was just you know… girl sickness?" Trilith argued.
"Or she got rejected by some guy?" the two boys looked at each other and burst out in laughter.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm heartbroken! Hmph" She scoffed. "Laugh all you want."
"Don't worry Lilith; I'm sure you'll be fine." Khay assured her.
She sighed. "I know, but I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling..."
The bell rang at 9:00 am, chiming continuously and interrupting the two.
"It's time already?!" Trilith cried out.
"Well, that's our queue." Khay said.
"It's time for lessons. Come on, let's get going." Lilith commanded.
"Ahh," Khay cried lazily. "But do we really have to?" He stared at the skies and threw his gaze at Lilith, she responded in kind with an unwavering stern look that wasn't ready to give into their bickering. "I thought the two of you were turning over a new leaf."
"Fine." Trilith sighed.
After they had helped gather the left overs and stuffed them back into the sack, Khay pried away a few of the roofing panels and hid the sack under.
Hours had gone by in a flash and the afternoon sun was upon them. It shone hard on Dolrea as the students of the Academy filled the compound on break after 3 full long hours of history lessons in the students' common hall. Some tired and as expected from the known the majority; fascinated. But the mood never really changed for some students, back on the roof they found themselves before lessons; were none other than Khay, Trilith and Lilith.
"Theoretical lessons suck, I need action." Khay sighed heavily and let himself on the roof.
"What are you acting all gloomy for? Today's lesson was awesome, NO!! It was beyond awesome." Trilith replied.
"Oi, what's up with the fired up mood, I almost died in there." Khay rebutted.
"Almost died of pure awesomeness you mean." Trilith excitingly replied.
"Who would have thought you two would actually enjoy a history lesson; you didn't make a scene for once." She said, smiling.
"How could we skip? I mean it was the Principal himself. I don't know why but something tells me not to mess with him. He's so cool!"
"And Khay what's with your complaining?' Lilith questioned. "If I remember correctly, you looked like you were enjoying yourself."
"....."
Lilith was right and Khay knew it to the core of his being, he couldn't even bring up any senseless and tasteless humor to argue his case. Then, he gave in. "Just a little. Maybe I was… just a little." He sighed. "Godly 5 huh, even their life before becoming that was extraordinary, their accomplishments…stopping a war, travelling the world, helping people… creating foundations. I wish I could be like them… I always thought they were a myth you know, but somehow they feel so real and not so out of reach."
He softly said and paused for a while, lifting his head. The twins smiled silently at each other and to Khay.
"You know, I can't help but feel this admiration towards them, deep down, they're what I'd want to be one day, to help the people and do so much more in this gods forsaken era."
"But if the stories really are true and history doesn't lie, then I guess that would prove the existence of gods too." Trilith added.
"Well, no one is saying gods don't exist."
"Well, some do and you'd be surprised" Lilith argued
"There's so many questions concerning that topic, but the fact that they exist is one conclusion to start from." Khay added.
"But then if they exist and they're all powerful, then why all the suffering? I wonder sometimes, really." Lilith added.
"Maybe they're purposefully withdrawn? They do call this the godless era after all." Trilith responded.
"I think the Godly 5 is one solution to that problem. I mean, I'm sure the gods chose them as their representative to help mankind with our troubles. And through their power, look at all the good they did!"
"Yeah, I lean on that too… but when was the last time anyone heard anything from them?" Trilith asked once again. "The godly 5 I mean."
"Boy do you have a lot of questions. Lilith, since when did he make it a habit of being this much of a deep thinker?" Khay teased. "Can't say I don't get your drift, but you should know the things they did has brought us this far. They founded most of the guilds, and many things. Look at all the good they did."
"That's right and if there are any questions that come along the way, we'll unearth them all." Trilith added.
"Yeah, we certainly don't have all the answers now but that doesn't mean we should just sit down with our hands tied behind our backs." Khay assured.
"Well…" Lilith said, surprised at Khay's insight. "I guess… this new leaf really is turning, that works enough for me."
"If it comes to pummeling whatever truth we want out of them, you can count on my fist… for the sake of mankind." Trilith added.
"But it makes you wonder, doesn't it?"
"What?" Lilith heeded.
"What's beyond Dolrea? Haven't you ever thought about it?"
"I have, more times than I can count. The world is so vast, yet all we have is here."
"But is that enough though? We've been here 17 years, close to 18 you know."
"Yeah, Khay is right, makes you really wonder."
"Damn it now I want to really travel and see the world, the kind of people out there, the lives people are living."
"I've always felt the world calling to me, like Dolrea or even Vavel as an empire isn't all there is for me, for us."
"Yeah and how can we help people if we're stuck in one place?" the excitement of the conversation had gotten them on their feet. And yapping on and on.
"Yeah, look at the godly 5, I'm sure they traveled far and wide to help whoever they could.
"But I have to tell you…" the excitement in her eyes waned as her gaze fell. "The world out there can be cruel." Lilith softly let out. Khay and Trilith turned their attention towards her.
"You may not have had the chance to go outside Vavel, but Trilith and I have and I remember it being not so nice out there, there were some really nasty people out there."
"Sis…"
"Still!" Khay exclaimed. "It's even more reason we have to see all of it. Think of all the people we might be able to help!" he insisted.
"Well… alright then, I knew there was no talking you out of this." She chuckled with a faint smile.
"Don't worry." Khay chuckled in response. "I'll always have your back just like I did when we first met!" he said smiling confidently at her. Her face stiffened as her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed red.
"Ehhhh---"Trilith cried out. "You two, what are you not telling me?"
"Nothing you don't know Trilith."
"Really? Well then," Trilith walked over to Khay and put both his hands on his shoulder. "You have my blessings, Khay!" he confidently declared.
"Huh!" Lilith exclaimed.
"Huh!" then Khay followed.
"What, I trust this guy with my life you know and you do too Lili, don't be shy about it." He cheerfully and nonchalantly stated.
"Oh why you!" Lilith groaned and gave chase to her twin on the roof, going about in circles around Khay.
"Stay in one place, so I can give you a good slugging."
"I'm your older brother you know. Where's the respect!"
They argued, going round about Khay, Trilith hiding behind Khay; and Lilith hunting from the front.
And he burst out laughing cheerfully.
"Then I guess it's decided then. Let's do it. Let's see the world beyond and wide." Khay confidently declared.
"I wouldn't do this with anyone in the world but you two."
"The feeling is beyond mutual buddy." Trilith assured.
"Wait if it's possible, we can do this as a group, you know, Han and Lui, even Mira or Amine or anyone that shares the same goals!"
"We haven't even started yet. Calm it down Khay!"
"Really? Well… If you say so." He sighed.
"Don't worry, I think the time will come. If that's what we really want."
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see then!"
"That reminds me, where are Han and Lui when it matters, seriously!" Khay cried out.
"I haven't seen those 2 around in a while." Trilith added.
"Maybe they've been running errands for old man Ying?"
"That's a possibility. In any case, I'm sure they'd want in on this too." Khay said.
"But what if you know… what if… they want to set up shop like Old Man Ying?" Trilith cried out. "Follow the family business?"
"I doubt it." Lilith assured.
"Remember when they also first came to Dolrea?"
"Yeah, some people weren't kind."
"What if they're reluctant to leave because of fear of being treated like that somewhere else?"
"Han and Lui? Khay questioned. "Those two will even if it's the last thing they do."
"Yeah. They definitely would want in on this somehow, knowing them."
"Hmmm… that so?! Then, this calls for a celebration!" Trilith pulled out the sack of meat. "Tonight, the main event at the Aziza tavern to officially celebrate this moment."
"Nice thinking partner." Khay said as Lilith giggled in a delightful response.
While the trio were merry making at the rooftop, Trilith couldn't help but notice the student the gathering at one point.
"What's all that about?" he posed a query to the two that stood beside him.