by Immer C. H
Being with the fellows to me is like being with family. With so many days spending time together, life becomes expectant. I have to admit Ramuso is definitely my closest friend. I don’t know if it’s because he’s my brother’s age, or because he’s sociable, but he constantly sticks with me. Alright, he gets me into trouble maybe every single day, but I no longer mind his trouble-making behavior. As for Osys, most of the time we drag him with us to our square of troubles, but the good yolk would cry his life out because of the terror of getting into danger, his fear of everything makes me wonder, how the bloody hell has he survive the warfare all these years?
Onnet is the grumbler of the group, and the one who’s bothered by everything. At first, he was annoyed by my appearance, and scolded me a few times for leaving my clothing around, for he’s a neat freak, but as I helped him organized the room we conversed girly stuff, and soon he began teaching me how to knit. His obsession over knitting is not weird at all, as it’s something he observed his mother do when she was alive. A giant killed her, since then, he hasn’t stopped knitting—the eye coloring… still so weird.
My relationship with Ikumus it’s wholly impossible to achieve. The man still doesn’t have a relationship with the others, except for Corr, so, the new kid can never be included. Especially now that Ramuso played a prank on him including me—of course, after finding worms on his bed Ikumus followed us until the end of the castle. We didn’t go back to our room that night. We slept outside on the castle’s horse farm. I heard from Corr the reason why Ikumus is so dry is because he has lost everyone he cares for, so he tries not to attach himself with others. That way, he won’t lose a loved one. I guess that’s his way of protecting his feelings from ever getting hurt.
Corr and I have a good relationship. He’s more like my guardian, always there, watching over me. He says I remind him of his little brother, well, Jorsay does. Last night as I sat on the balcony watching the stars, he approached me, and joined my isolation. He confessed the brother I reminded him of was killed in war three years ago. I wanted to embrace him, show him I cared for his hurting, but when I placed my hand on top of his, he stared at me creep-out. I think he thinks I’m a bit odd…
“You should stop hanging out with this menace. I see you falling in his same path.” Onnet says to me as we walk down the stairs. I’m so hungry I can eat the entire mealroom. Ramuso chuckles and puts an arm around me. “Too late!” I’m sure he says it because of our secret of poisoning everyone. How the hell did Khysso figure it out anyways? I was so careful.
The fellows stop moving the moment we reach downstairs. Suddenly, an awkward energy encircles us. Khysso stands in front of us, with him a beautiful girl. I don’t see the big deal, but my roommates stand in a severe silence that concerns me.
“Casandree, you’re back,” it’s Corr the one to become pale. I frown, trying to figure out the mystery. The girl name Casandree partially smiles. She is a true diamond. Her ash-blond hair is capture in a side braid that touches her thighs. Her eyes are round and blue, her lips naturally pink. By the point of her ear and her beauty, I can tell she is half elf. She dresses in a long light-blue hip skirt with sheers, and a pearl crop chemise that shows a bit of her flat stomach. She partly nods. Khysso’s eyes move to me. He scoffs, somewhat ridiculing me, and my ambience. Perhaps he mocks my truth; I’m still shaken by our earlier conversation. He walks away and sweepingly she follows. Corr is fuming. He punches a wall near us striking us. In a dramatic rage, he rushes back upstairs. I call his name, and I’m about to head his way, but Ramuso takes my arm and shakes his head disagreeing with my idea.
“There goes his patience.” Ikumus murmurs, and continues to the mealroom. I frown, unaware of the circumstances. Seeing I’m lost, Ramuso waits for the others to go upfront to tell the gossip. “That girl is Casandree, the woman Corr loves,” my heart sinks down a hole of emptiness. Now I too want to hit the wall and run off in a rage-burst. My chest tightens my heart. The bitter taste in my mouth is random and repelling. I want to take it tough. I don’t want to demonstrate how my legs wobble and my body aches to hear the man that has touched my feminine side belongs to somebody else. Away from the others Ramuso starts from the beginning. He explains how Corr and Casandree grew up in a small-town called Everleaf, a town where most of the natives are elves and are married to humans. It's a lovely town, filled with trees that are green, and a fascinating grass anyone can sleep on. Their town is maintained by magic, and their only concern is the earth. However, to the collectors that didn't matter, and as every other town, people were collected and taken to the war castle. At that time, Casandree and Corr were seventeen, and they were dating, planning to marry. Once they arrived in the castle… everything changed.
For the first years, their relationship and love remained the same. But suddenly, Casandree pushed herself away, telling Corr he had changed since his brother’s death. She stated he was angrier, and had become addicted to war—careless for the people around him. She alleged he was selfish, and couldn’t be with him, but soon Corr found out the truth, the real reason for her rejection, something that altered his emotions. Casandree fell in love with Khysso Shorewen. And because of Khysso, she joined the lecturing profession, for an instructor and an apprentice could never relate unless professionally. Being one of the most powerful healers, and very intellectual, the leaders allowed for her to be a substitute for sorcery and healing. The puzzle has come together, and I comprehend why Corr hates breaking rules. Why he’s so obsess with regulations. It’s so he can get the woman he loves back, by him becoming an instructor. “So Khysso and Casandree are a couple?” for some unexplainable reason, it bothers me to think it. I thought he was sire isolation; nobody deserves him because he’s just too damn perfect, but then again, that girl is beautiful. Any man can easily fall for her. “Prick likes no one. That girl is a moron. She kisses his arse, but he neglects her. If they are a couple, hah…I highly doubt it.” I can’t believe Ikumus too calls him prick. Hell… isn’t there a man in this world that likes him. We sit on our spot, although I was hungry, it vanished the moment I heard of Corr’s love affair.
I try to see things positive, if Casandree and Khysso are a couple, then Corr is free to love another person. Who are you kidding Judyala? You don’t have a chance with Corr, or anyone in this damn castle. You’re in a boy’s body. “Jorsay…Jorsay,” I hear a distant voice, but I ignore it. My mind is set on that beautiful girl who is loved by Corr. A shade covers my light, from the corner of my eye, I see someone standing. I tilt my head to confront my nuisance. I scowl to see Azania is the one who seeks me. Great, not the weird girl, that girl acts so strange with me; it freaks me out.
“Hi, Azania,” I feel uncomfortable by her shyness. She presses her lips together.
“Umm…would you like to sit in my table?” she asks. For some strange reason, her cheeks are on fire. She must be hot. Weather seems fine inside the castle. I grimace. Ramuso and Osys tittering worries me. “No thanks. I'm good here,” why invite me to her table? Onnet’s elbow meets my ribcage. I gasp for air. “What!” I hiss, but he smacks his forehead, as the others again laugh. I just don’t get it. Is he trying to tell me something?
“Oh-no,” she bows down her head. I can see shame in her. “He’ll go, go buddy!” Ramuso insists. I frown, damn you Ramuso. “Please… I have spare food,” enough is said, to hear spare food I run to her table. I forget all my concerns the moment she hands me a tray full with black bean soup, cheese and slice potatoes, so much better than the unflavored crap they give us. But as I eat in the table for two, I can’t help but notice Azania’s eyes don’t move from me.
“This is very good.” I say eating my soup. She looks down, and awkwardly nods, even though she hasn’t touched her food. Why the heck is she agreeing?
“Jorsay, have you ever been to the swan garden?” I scowl, what the hell is that. I shake my head. “Neither have I... I heard there are thousands of swans, and they fly in a strange pattern. It’s here, in the c
astle’s meadow…wouldn’t you like to go… with me…see it,” she mumbles. I smile, and rush a nod. I’ve never seen swans, so why not. Thus, I promise to join her later today for dinner time.
It breaks my heart to see Corr isn’t well. He lies silently on his bed, not saying a word. We all know better not to talk to him when his temper is intense. I can’t believe he reacts in such a way because of that girl. He really must love her. His feelings are rather fresh. It has been fifteen days since he hasn’t seen her, for she was sent to the west-castle for temporary lecturing. In those days, Corr was a happy man. Ramuso said he’d sometimes worried for her, but he was never broken, not like now. It’s the fact he believes Khysso and Casandree share a relationship that gets him mad.
“So, how was your date with that girl? She’s cute. You two look good together.” Ramuso says. I scowl. Why is he saying idiocy? “Look good together…” I repeat and groan. “Are you indicating we have something going on because we don’t.” I assure with attitude, folding my sheets and organizing the room, something only Onnet and I do. The others just arrived from doing who-knows-what, now they sit on their beds doing nothing. I was studying when they came from their hang out. I stood in the room with Corr, still, in those few hours, he never said a word to me. Ramuso makes more mess with his blocks. I pick it up, and angrily throw it back at him.
“Then, why did you say yes to her, on going to swan garden?” Osys asks impatiently. I sneer. “It’s only a garden. What’s the big deal?” They crack up in laughter, including angry Corr, his smile eases my sunken heart. “You dumb kid. Everybody in this castle knows swan garden is a decent name for the kissing garden,” my relax expression immediately changes, and I stop what I’m doing—holy crap, kissing garden. Azania sees me that way…no way! I can’t let her kiss me. I have to break the date, fast.
Twilight sets. The hour of the date arrives and I plan not going. I stay in my room wasting time when Ramuso, Onnet and Osys snatch my arms and force me to the garden. I struggle and strive. I beg them to stop, but they don’t care and call me a silly-girl—if they only know my truth. Alone, I anxiously saunter through the swan garden as everybody else remains in the mealroom. I sigh in relief as she’s nowhere to be seen. “Great, I’m going back.” I say cheerfully, heading back.
“Jorsay!” a voice says from my behind dropping my poise to the ground. I turn to face her. She looks adorable in a girly, fluffy short gown. She holds a basket. I gulp, her nice looks alerts me of her deadly intentions. The garden is as beautiful as everyone says. Swans fly high in the sky, reaching a lake nearby. The trees bloom, and wind rushes the tiny dimples of flowers to us. Azania takes my hand, and pulls me to the garden’s labyrinth, a green lofty hedgy place that is forbidden to go profoundly. I struggle and yank away from her, but she’s persistent. All she has to do is miserably pout her lips. Her innocence instantly hauls me.
We walk deeper into the hedge. So deep I lose track. Finally, we reach an area with many fireflies. It's there we stop, away from the rest of the couples that walk by the garden. She lays her basket and takes out the food she prepared for us. Holy shit, she’s devious. She planned this to the extreme. I can learn from this girl. Azania passes me slice breads with turkey and lettuce inside. I contemplate on whether to take it, but feeling terribly uncomfortable, I accept it. “Isn’t this place beautiful?” She whispers looking at the fireflies. Yes, it is. For a boy and a girl, this is too damn romantic. I start eating with small bites. We eat silently. Just a bit longer, a bit more and you can go back to your room and ignore this ever happened. If something happens with her, I’m forever going to question my sexuality. “You know. Every girl in class really likes you…they say…you’re the cutest of all,” she mumbles as she eats her bread in an odd form, she holds it with both hands, observing the grass. I grimace.
“Really…oh…” Jorsay the cutest in class… yuck, he's a twig. I can’t deny he has nice biceps now thanks to my daily workout.
“I was nervous, to be rejected by you … n-nobody thinks a girl like me can…b-be with a…with such a handsome boy like you.” She stutters. Her fair skin has a fresh redness. I eat my food quickly. The taste is pungent, thrusting down my stomach like a hard ball. Every gulp is difficult. Every breath is disturbing. I flesh in the food.
“Done! We should go,” I blurt with my mouth full. She shows me slice apples in a container, offering it to me. “No-no, I’m full,” I swallow roughly. I wobble my hands on the air. “Oh…you don’t want to be with me here…am I that repulsive,” she says brokenhearted. I can see sadness in her eyes. I gasp.
“No, no…Azania, you are absolutely beautiful…really…” Azania’s eyes expand. She stares at me with twinkling eyes. Uh-oh… why did you say that? Now she’ll think something that is not. Azania bashfully stares at the ground, rubbing her hands together, I seal my lips. I’m feeling awfully weird right now. I gawk around the area, but when turning to meet her sight, I find her moving towards me, with a glimpse of an eye she swiftly presses her lips against mine, startling me. To make matter worse, I inhale in her mouth, taking her warm humid.
“No!” I jostle her, her back thrust the hedge. My strength has totally increased. She stares at me wrecked. Her eyes consume water, and tears rush down her cheeks.
“Azania, I’m so-sorry.” I say reaching to her, but she stands and hurries away from me. “Azania, wait!” I shout. I run after her, her hurting breaks me. I need to explain my behavior, even if it means telling her the truth. Azania runs quickly, and proceeds to the mealroom, probably to hide among the many people. I attempt to catch up with her, but she’s so tiny a crowd rapidly covers her, and I lose sight of her. I gaze around the room. In our ordinary table I see my friends eating. I dart towards them. I need their advice. A big fellow falls in front of me, and we hit one another, only that it’s my smaller body that drops to the floor, on my knee.
“Oh man, I’m sorry,” the big fellow says. I stand, rubbing my knee.
“JORSAY!” the six feet, muscular man I stumble into hollers. I narrow my eyes. Who the heck is this fellow? “No way, Jorsay Zayras…in the end you were brought here too,” he says excited. I scowl. After repeating his words in my head a few times, I establish he knows my brother. “Oh…yeah…hey…” I couldn’t say it more awkward. Damn it, my plan is going to shut down because of this big moron. I should have run away when he called Jorsay’s name. Who knew Jorsay knows people… I mean, our town is known for having the weakest kids and having more girls than anything. “It’s me, Jameson…you don’t remember me, do you?” He asks. Behind him, there are three other bulky fellows, the dark skin, six foot four, is very muscular, and quite handsome.
“It’s been a year since I was appointed to join the war. Hey, remember ninth year… that thing that happened…” Holy shit, is this kid Jorsay’s age? No way, he looks older than Corr. Wow, what is this kid eating? “Yeah…that thing…” I laugh trying to play the part. He chuckles.
“You fellers want to know what this magician did last year?” He says to his friends who appear to be highly interested. I groan. I really don’t have time for this.
“This is the feller I talked to you about. Thought he was big shit because he was the strongest magician in our late class. He locked me in a closet then summoned a spider the size of an ogre. I was ensnared in its web for an entire day… until the magic faded.” My eyes widen together with my mouth. I swiftly shake my head. The fellow’s smooth expression changes, he seems conniving. “No…you…you must have the wrong person,” my brother would never do that.
“Ah…want to clean your name now. After you terrorized half of the school because of our normality or magic weakness…it is people like you that make me sick,” he shoves me on the chest, pushing me rearward. I hit a table of four, scaring away the apprentices that sit. “No, I wouldn’t do that…and if I did, I changed…I…. I’m sorry…alright…I’m sorry,” that can’t be possible. First of all, Jorsay gets sick when he uses magic; second, magic rules
don’t allow a spell to continue that long unless combined with other powers. My brother is no bully. This kid is insane.
“Not so tough now eh, not so tough magic is forbidden to use…come on…give me some of that shit of yours, come on,” he taps his hard chest. His resentment toward Jorsay is conspicuous, almost as if what he speaks is true. I shake my head, in dismay. “I’m sorry.” I insist. Jameson frowns.
“No, I’m sorry!” he hisses through his teeth, within him an anger I don’t comprehend. He lifts his arm, and in a firm knuckle, he strikes his fist on my face, pounding me hard. I drop to the floor. My nose is frenziedly bleeding. I whimper overtaken by the excruciating pain. But I try to hold my soreness. I’m not going to show weakness. The people in the room encircle us, excited by the quarreling. Jameson’s three friends grasp his arms, begging him to control his temper. I force myself up. I hold my runny nose. But Jameson hasn’t had enough. He jerks away from his friends and rushes towards me for a second time. He takes me from my collared and bangs me to the wall. I hit the back of my head. I have to fight back. I have to get out of his clutch.
“Get-OFF-my friend!” a wild Ramuso screams. He pulls the bulky kid away with a strength I’m daze by. In a jiffy, Ramuso slams Jameson on the flat-bottom surface and punches him frantically. Immediately, Jameson’s friends intervenes beating on Ramuso all together. My instinct says to protect my friend, so I jump on the back of one of the fellow and bite his ear. He squeals; slams me on the floor. He holds a knuckle high with the intention of striking me on the face, but an abrupt Osys wraps his tiny body around him, choking him.
I’m angry by the attack. I hear the crowd screaming in panic, but the buzzing in my head causes the noise to be distant. I furiously run to the kid whom is now beating on Osys, and I fight him using all of my fighting knowledge. As I fight him, Osys traps the weary fellow from behind— I punch him on his face tendering my knuckles, yet finally knocking the kid to the floor. Breathing heavily, I gaze around to see my friends are fighting to defend me. Ramuso is winning the battle with Jameson, as for Onnet, he dangerously fights the biggest and toughest fellow, battling him like in the self-defense classes. Ikumus, the one who tried to avoid the fight is obligated to join, when a brainless kid throws him a punch because of his association with us. But Ikumus is not the person to mess with— with a kick on the fellow’s chest, he sends him flying across the room, instantly pounding him down. Fortunately, Corr saved his ass by not being around. He skipped meal time, because of his distressing love affair.