HIERARCHY

Both Fennel and Inai stayed silent after Elia’s scolding, as they gathered the training orbs, the circular screens, as well as their notebooks, leaving the cabin as it was when they first arrived. With minimal communication, they carried everything to a small storeroom right across the corridor, and once they were done, after a shy farewell, they both went different ways through the corridor, marking the end of their work shift.

The sun was still high as Fennel reflected on both Elia’s and Aelia’s words. He took the outdoor walkway from the highest floors, wondering about why things worked in such a strict manner inside the palace, strongly differing with the life he had led in the city and the academy. Considering how wars were described in history texts, it made sense for military ranks to be strict, as to avoid any indiscipline that could lead to uncertainty or even treason. In those extreme cases, he guessed people really needed mechanisms to trust their subordinates, even if it was by force and punishments.

What Fennel couldn’t really comprehend, was the need for this level of military structure in a kingdom that had been peacefully isolated from the main continents for over a hundred years. It’s not like the guardians didn’t have any work to do though. There was an incident nine years ago, when violent sea-monsters swarmed into the city from deep inside the ocean, climbing the towers like salamanders. It was thanks to Lord Ataoro and his successor Lord Amaer, that casualties were kept in a single digit, although there was a huge damage to the city’s infrastructure. The fact that the guardians were prepared to act, probably saved dozens if not hundreds of lives, and it's likely that having them there in the first place avoided the kingdom from being destroyed as a whole.

But, was this level of hierarchy really required for guardians to follow their training properly? Fennel had always been studious and a hard worker without needing to be threatened or scolded, so it didn’t make much sense to him. Or maybe this severe treatment was only with Aelia, since she was tagged early as a troublemaker? But that wouldn’t explain the overall way of functioning in the palace nor what he had heard from her mother Anise.

And even with all that: was Aelia really that much of a disaster as everyone seemed to think in the palace? Anise used to say Aelia was kind and funny, back when she was still a researcher, and not counting this past week, the only memory Fennel had of Aelia was that of a playful kid with too much responsibility for her age, back when they briefly met about a decade ago.

As Fennel walked lost in his thoughts, his gaze hovered through the sky and landed right above one of the nearby towers of the palace. Up there, at the very ledge of the tower, just a step away from the precipice, stood Lady Aelia, with her white dress and midnight blue hair, waving like a serene flag during days of peace. All the colors of her silhouette elegantly contrasted with the deep blue sky behind her, both in the sunlight and in the shade.

The majestic sight of the guardian made his mind go blank. Her face seemed to convey a feeling of quiet resignation, even at a distance. She was no longer the lively kid he had met as a child, and didn’t feel even close to understand the circumstances that had led her to be who she was today. Although his work was to research and support Lady Aelia’s training, in reality, he knew nothing about her.

The untangling thoughts of Fennel were once more interrupted, as he noticed the young guardian looking his way. Her look of surprise revealed she had just spotted Fennel down in the walkway. Their eyes briefly connected with intensity over the distance, without any clear message being conveyed, until Aelia’s face morphed into indifference, and then slight annoyance as she broke eye contact. She retreated from the ledge, and disappeared from view as the tower began to cover her.

"She… she hates me." said Fennel to himself, worried in many different manners.

He knew he had to do something about this, or his stay in the palace, the job he had obtained after so much effort, for which he had sacrificed his way of life to this point, would probably become a living hell. Or even worse, he might be kicked out of the palace, if things became too bad with the guardian.

Without fully understanding the pathways of the palace, Fennel walked hastily trying to find a way to Lady Aelia. She had recently told him to leave her alone: would talking to her now annoy her even more? She was hard to read, but he felt doing nothing would only widen the rift between them, making it even harder to communicate in the future.

Fennel asked a few people around the palace for a way to the roof of the pillar, treating each one of them with full formality in case they were unexpectedly important people. In that manner, he managed to reach the outer stairs that spiraled up to the garden. The stairs were reflecting the sunlight with a warm white glow, with no one else around, other than Lady Aelia, who was cheerlessly descending across the stairs to where Fennel was.

"Lady Aelia." Greeted Fennel with a nervous bow, not really sure of how to proceed.

"Lord Fennel." She said sarcastically with a small bow, but lack of energy and a cold look in her eyes. "How may I serve you?"

Fennel was momentarily shaken by the unexpected honorific. Was she having fun? Her face didn't show it, but if she was in the mood for a joke, maybe he had a chance to make things right.

"I'm really sorry for what happened before. I'm afraid I might have annoyed you."

"Is that so?" replied Lady Aelia with calmness and still a hint of sarcasm.

"I'm new and inexperienced here in the palace, and I'm trying my best to do things right." Continued Fennel. "As your supporter, I truly hope we can get along properly, Lady Aelia."

Aelia looked at Fennel from top to bottom for a moment, as he slightly bowed in respect. He seemed sincere and it was obvious he was trying his best.

"It's fine Fennel." She replied once more.

Fennel looked up, surprised and worried it was that simple, and that she seemed like a normal person he could talk to, radically different from how everybody treated her.

"I wasn't at my best back there either. I managed to relax now that I meditated." Continued Aelia.

"You're not mad at me, lady?" asked Fennel now feeling slightly more relieved.

"I'm... not mad. You're not doing anything wrong." She said, clearly expressing there was something else bothering her.

"May I ask then, if there is anything else troubling you about our conversation earlier?"

Aelia took a soft but deep breath.

"I guess I'm just disappointed."

Those words sent chills down Fennel's spine.

"D-Disappointed, my lady?"

"I thought you would be different, since you carry the blood of my teacher. But I guess I was putting my expectations too high. That's my fault, so don't worry too much about it." Said Lady Aelia with low energy, as she made the gesture of ending the conversation and walking away. "It was nice meeting you again though."

Even though he seemed to be out of danger, those words hurt Fennel. He wasn't good enough? what exactly were those expectations? If he left the conversation there, he could probably continue peacefully doing his job. The words of Miss Elia also echoed in his mind, remembering how she told him to avoid contact with the guardian, and that her mother's reputation wouldn't save him if he messed up.

Not sure if it was because of his ego being hurt, or if he was genuinely concerned about understanding Lady Aelia, he simply could not let things end there. He could hear her walking past him into the inside of the pillar, and in a split moment he decided to simply let his thoughts flow out of his mouth.

"Would treating you as an equal…" Said Fennel "Really mean that much to you, Aelia?"