Eli frowned, "Master Lorelai, what are you doing?" she put her hands on her hips.
Lorelai snapped back to reality as her brows raised. She let go of her grip and stood up. She faced Eli, her figure towering over the latter. "Eli, give me the keys, I'll be escorting him."
"Wh-what?" Eli was taken aback. She was not ready to hear Lorelai say those words, not even if she was high and dreaming.
Arakh rolled over and stood on all fours with repeated coughs. Damn! In this position, I feel like a dog!
Lorelai's gaze sharpened, "Don't make me ask twice."
"Sure?" Eli dropped the keys in Lorelai's hand. "But whatever happens, you need to answer to the principal yourself. I don't want to have to do with any of this."
"Don't worry," Lorelai turned around, his cloak fluttered. "I'm not like the others."
SO COOL! Eli screamed inwardly.
"Come with me," Lorelai said, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him up. She didn't bother to put her face on him as she walked away, leading the way.
Arakh fixed his collar before sighing, "I never thought that she would grow up like this."
"Whatever you're cooking right now, Arakh," Eli stepped forward and stood beside him, watching Lorelai walk away. She put her thumb's up, in front of Arakh's face, "It's working, Arakh! Keep it up, boy."
"En!" Arakh gently pushed her hand away and followed Lorelai. But still... his face blushed, She had become a renown somebody, huh?
Lorelai walked briskly ahead, her cloak flowing behind her as she led Arakh through the Academy's winding corridors. The clicking of her boots echoed sharply against the stone floors, contrasting with Arakh's quieter, hesitant steps.
"Keep up," she said without turning back, her tone clipped and businesslike.
"Right," Arakh muttered, quickening his pace. His eyes darted around, taking in the grand architecture of the hallways, the intricate carvings on the walls, and the faint hum of magical energy that seemed to pulse through the building.
They passed the dormitory wing, where students loitered in small groups. Many paused their conversations to glance at the duo. Whispers followed in their wake.
"That's Master Lorelai!"
"Who's the kid?"
"Is he her apprentice or something?"
Arakh tried not to let their murmurs get to him, but the weight of their gazes was impossible to ignore.
Eventually, Lorelai stopped in front of a modest wooden door at the end of a quieter hallway. She turned the handle and pushed it open, revealing a neat, sparsely furnished room.
"This is your room," she said flatly, stepping aside to let him in. "Don't expect luxury. You'll earn that if you prove yourself worthy."
Arakh stepped inside, surveying the space. A single bed, a desk, a chair, and a small wardrobe—it was simple but functional.
"It's fine," he said, dropping his satchel onto the bed.
Lorelai stepped outside the room, her sharp eyes immediately locking onto the small cluster of students lingering a few paces away, their curious whispers buzzing in the air.
"Is he her apprentice?"
"Why did Master Lorelai bring him here herself?"
"He looks so young..."
The students' chatter halted the moment Lorelai's piercing gaze swept over them. She crossed her arms, her stance radiating authority.
"Don't you all have something better to do?" she snapped, her voice cold and unyielding.
The students stiffened, exchanging nervous glances. One brave soul tried to stammer out a weak excuse, "W-We were just—"
"Just loitering and wasting time, I see," Lorelai cut in, her tone icy. She stepped forward, her boots striking the stone floor with an intimidating echo. "If I catch any of you standing around here again, I'll have you all scrubbing the training grounds until they shine like mirrors. Do I make myself clear?"
"Y-Yes, Master Lorelai!" the group chorused hastily, their faces pale.
"Good. Now get out of my sight," she commanded, gesturing sharply with her hand.
The students scattered like leaves in the wind, darting down the hallways in every direction. Lorelai watched them go, her expression unreadable, before letting out a quiet sigh. She turned back toward the room, her hand lingering on the doorframe for a moment before she shut the door.
Arakh's shoulder jerked up from the loud bang, but his saliva was swimming down his throat when he heard the door lock. He turned around and saw Lorelai crossing her arm.
"Are you really, Arakh?" asked Lorelai.
"Y-You know, makeup stories are going to circle about, something about us being together, teacher and student and all..." Arakh raised his brows, "Won't this tarnish your reputation?"
"Hmph, my reputation is too good to be tarnished in this academy," said Lorelai before her eyes sharpened, "but the matter at hand, answer my question."
Arakh sighed, "Yes, yes, I'm Arakh, Arakh Xei, one and the same."
"Hmm, is that so? Then prove it," Lorelai raised her chin. The challenge clearly an insurmountable one.
"Eh?" Arakh raised his brows. This is bad, I never thought about proving myself, how would I do that?"
"So you are an imposter then? What's your game?" Lorelai's aura burst forward as the blanket on the bed hovered.
"W-w-w-wait, no, no, I'm the real, Arakh, Lorelai!" Arakh had his forehead drenching already. She could do that without moving her arm, this last ten years must have been pretty fruitful for her.
"Then prove it," said Lorelai.
Arakh sloped his shoulders down with a sigh, "I can't really directly prove myself to you since," he pointed to Lorelai and then himself, "We were not really that close ten years ago."
Lorelai nodded, "That's true, but ten years later from ten years ago would mean that you are an adult, not a kid."
"Ah that's, that's true, but trust me, we are at the same age," said Arakh with his face leaning forward, before leaning back, "Well, at least, mentally... I guess?"
"Wrong," said Lorelai, "and also, Arakh Xei didn't have golden eyes."
"Oh well about that, I was surprised too when I looked at my reflection in the river," said Arakh before his eyes filled with sorrow, "And shocked as well, when I learned that my grandma died."
Lorelai slightly twitched her brows. "And your parents?"
"The village head that my father went missing and my mother went outside of the Kingdom of Pasrih's region," Arakh sighed before scratching the back of his head, "Think about it, Lorelai, why would someone want to be me..."
"I wouldn't want to be me..." Arakh continued, "If I got a chance, I might as well pretend to be a son of a wealthy and happy family. It just simply doesn't make sense to be me... it's a bad deal all around."
Lorelai's lips parted. Her chest sunk a bit as she looked away to claim her composure back. "Alright, enough with the sob stories."
"So you believe me?" Arakh's shift of tone was so sudden it belied the sad atmosphere he just exuded.
"N-No, not completely yet, but you get the history right," said Lorelai. "Though, the crucial one, you look like an eleven-year-old, and you are supposed to be missing."
"I can tell you the truth," Arakh said, his voice steady now, meeting her eyes. "But the question is... will you believe me? Even if it sounds impossible?