Friends

Kaltain was in a good mood. The first day of school was coming to an end. She could return to her bed—a privilege she took for granted—and eat, read and sleep. Her favorite things.

She had no intention of hanging out with anyone. The thought never crossed her mind.

So when Wyn barges into Kaltain space and asks her to eat dinner with the other freshmen in the cafeteria, she says no without any hesitation.

However…

“Is that all you’re having for dinner?”

Wyn's question made Kaltain pause and stare at the pile of junk food on her lap for an entire minute with a complicated expression.

Right. Food. Healthy food. She remembers vowing in her mind to eat healthier to strengthen the use of her traits.

Kaltain wasn’t supposed to feel exhaustion for such trivial things. Yeah, she had to walk more than usual, but combining today's movements into miles it would be around 38, along with the survival skills class where she had to be on guard against every little thing made her very tired.

She possessed a dragon’s endurance, so all this exhaustion should be nonexistent, but unfortunately, Kaltain realizes her traits meant shit if her body isn’t capable of handling it.

Kaltain wasn’t as fit as her older sister or muscular like the males in the Melpomene family. She was 5 '6 and had a slender, yet athletic build, with sturdy arms and legs from training with her family.

The Four Holy Clans are the governors of earth, possessing lesser clans within them, with the main front being the founding families of each. The Melpomene family—Winter Clan, Iniko—Sun Clan, Polymind—Star Clan, and Misul—Moon Clan. They are deemed royals by the world and holy existences on their continent.

Kaida, Sagan, and Valeria. Those three are the lesser clans of the north and each member could possess dragon traits, albeit only one.

If Kaltain allowed a lesser clan student to get ahead of her it would be humiliating and embarrassing.

Sighing, Kaltain forcibly stands up and stashes the junk food under her bed in a brown bin while grumbling internally. ‘I’ve been too carefree. Here, I can’t be. If I continue to be laidback, deep consequences will bite me in the ass in the future. I just know it.’

Kaltain's mood was soured with a dose of reality. She was only glad she caught on to her behavior before something terrible transpired.

She wasn’t weak and could hold her own in a fight—never lost a physical match to this day—but she wasn’t powerful enough to be so carefree here. She could afford that type of attitude back at home because her father was the Snow God.

“By your actions, I take it that no blooms into a yes?” Wyn's cheerful voice annoyed Kaltain, but since the girl played a part in reeling her into reality, she kept quiet.

They were both still dressed in the academy uniform as they exited the dorm building, heading over to the main base. Occasionally the silence was filled by Wyn. Around them were a few sophomores wandering, some training, studying in the garden, or heading into the dorm for rest.

On their way to the cafeteria, they ran into Manon Misul; one of Wyn's older sisters. She was wearing a royal blue gown and silver butterfly earrings. Her short orange hair frizzy, with bangs framing her doe green eyes and freckles.

“Wyn, I’ve been looking for you,” she says.

“Sister!” Wyn smiles brightly, hugging her back with affection. “What can I do for you?”

Manon pulls away. “Tell me why you messed with the speaker.”

“Huh?” Wyn pales, her steps back laced with a shocked stagger. “I-I don’t, eh, follow? How c-could I do a-anything when I-I am sle.. sleep!”

‘Oh my.’ Kaltain sweat drops. ‘I thought Cas was the worst liar.’

“So, it was you.” Manon lips curl down. “Why?”

Wyn goes silent, shrinking back as her sister regards her with disappointment. Her dark orange eyes flicker over to Kaltain pleading.

Kaltain's head tilts, unsure of what Wyn wants her to do. She was very tempted to just walk away, but then the situation kinda reminded of her relationship with her sister, and as if to add to the hesitance, her mothers words rang in her head.

If someone shows you kindness, always return it, Kitty.

Kaltain sighs, and speaks up apathetically. “I made her do it.”

Manon finally looks at her, expression shifting into relief. “And you are?”

“Kaltain Melpomene.”

Manon's face turns unreadable, though Kaltain could see agony in the women’s eyes, reflecting a similarity to the women she met earlier. “I heard you were as talented as your brother, yet you’re not him. He would never push someone to be someone they’re not.” Her tone was harsh. “I don’t want you hanging around my little sister. You’re a bad influence.”

‘Okay?’ Kaltain wasn’t offended. In fact, she wanted this outcome. She has done nothing to earn kindness and the fact that Wyn continues to be friendly made Kaltain suspicious of her intention.

Friends. Kaltain had a lot of them growing up, but as she started to actually look around her, she had none.

Kaltain wasn’t bullied, but girls would befriend her, only to hate and talk shit behind her back while smiling in her face. It’s like she was a toy to them. One they picked up to play and have fun with when it benefited them. When they were in the mood to be her friend. Then, they would mock her with others because ‘toys’ were childish.

It was more of a mental type of bully. ‘They never did hurt me in a way that was shown.’

“That’s enough, Manon,” Wyn says, her tone sharp, dragging Kaltain from her inky memories. “Who I am and not friends is none of your concern. Besides, have you forgotten who you align with? You’re in a league with the heir to Sun Clan for Goddess sake! Mother is still and forever pissed about that. She’s this close—“ Wyn holds up her fingers into a thin line. “—to disowning you.”

Manon flinches as if she’s been slapped. Her eyes blew wide in shock and hurt.

Wyn and Kaltain didn’t stand around and wait for a response.

10 minutes later.

“Oh my goddess, I can’t believe I just did that.” Wyn blinks again and again from her seat across Kaltain and Kallias. She made the two sit beside each other. Next to Wyn is Calix, whom Kaltain met in survival class.

He was a pretty boy with the same crystalline eyes as Kallias, the hue ocean blue instead. He had sparse lavender fluffy hair, golden skin, thin lips, and a deep scar running down his chin to his right collarbone.

Her first impression of the fellow holy child—he’s beyond annoying it’s illegal.

They all sat at a four-seat gray table, which was scattered by hundreds of similar ones, ranging from six to ten seats.

The cafeteria's plain white walls are made of rough stone, with purple light illuminating the corners, while silver lights hang from the ceiling in the shape of mythical creatures. Dangling off the wall are trophies and pictures of legendary Ophanim’s.

The plates of roasting meat, creamy chicken pasta, steaming bread rolls, and beef stew before Kaltain and company wafts the air alongside the smell of sweat and body odor.

Tense lively chatter and clattering of silverware against plates fill the atmosphere.

“You’re still on about that?” Calix scoffs. With the back of his hand wipes, he wipes rich pasta sauce from his mouth. “Siblings fight and bitch at each other daily. If you hurt her feelings, she’ll get over it.”

“Our family isn’t like yours,” whispers Wyn. Her brows pinched together. “I’ve never been so… upfront or spoken harshly to my family. Ever.”

“So, you’ve grown some balls and now want to become a pussy again?”

“Be quiet, Calix, your words aren’t helping her,” Kallias chimes in. “Give it some time, Wyn. You’re allowed to live your own life, but she is simply looking out for you. Most of the time, people aren’t who they appear to be. Just in case, listen to her judgment.”

‘Was that shade at me or himself?’ As they chat, Kaltain silently eats her food. The crispy buttery bread melts on her tongue with gravy. She holds back a groan.

After finishing her food, she drains a glass of plump grape juice. The sweet liquid slides down her throat in a refreshing wave. She hadn’t said a word since she sat down.

Kaltain liked being silent, believing she made fewer mistakes that way. ‘Besides, what’s the point of talking with people who only heard themselves? You can be screaming, weeping before them, but they won’t understand a sound. In life, the most humble thing is being born. You may have life, but are you alive?’

‘I used to speak my mind all the time when I talked and was told I am constantly mean and dramatic.’ What happened earlier proved her assessment correct.

Kaltain never thought her and Kallias were friends. Acquaintance, maybe. She didn’t hate his presence.

However, she thinks he hates her presence, which made her keep more quiet than usual out of consideration for his feelings.

She could have sat anywhere. She should have. Why didn’t she? It’s not like Wyn’s forcing her to be here.

In Kaltain’s peripheral vision, she saw brilliant golden hair and involuntary whirls her head to the side, catching a quick glimpse of the handsome mystery man.

Through the tinted windows of the cafeteria, there was an arched balcony, and she saw him stride beside a short black bearded man dressed in a dark gray suit. 

He had a bulky build with long limbs, defined features, dirty blonde hair, which reaches his nape and a silver monocle perching his left eye.

Czar Venezio, the freshman’s mentor for survival skills.

Kaltain paid him little attention, tracing her eyes over the most attractive person she’s ever come across. He wore a black linen shirt, paired with a waistcoat and trousers. His cuffs were rolled up to his elbows, showcasing brown scarred skin. The scars are crisscrossed, traveling to his forearms and glow with a mythical amethyst light.

“Is there something going on between you two?” Kallias asks quietly.

Kaltain jumps in her seat and immediately hardens her exterior in defense. “What?” 

She looks at Kallias.

His expression was teasing. “You and Ishaan. I saw him deliver you food in the heavenly realm.”

“Ishaan?” She tested the name. A second passes. Then, realization causes her belly to knot. ‘Well damn.’

She knew of this name. Ishaan Iniko, the favored one. His existence made every teenage boy and grown man want to be him.

Whenever events with all holy clans were held, Kaltain would hide in her family, following behind one of her parents or elder siblings. If Kaltain paid attention to reality, she would have realized sooner.

The heir of Sun Clan was rumored to wear a blindfold. He is said to have conquered the sun divine path and is currently looking for a way to conquer the others.

Kaltain felt like an idiot for not realizing before comforting herself with the fact that none of it mattered. 

Rumors—whispers spread by people who have no life.

A rumor claimed he is blinded, yet he told her he wasn’t. ‘He could be lying, but what for? Why bother? Ishaan said he and Ziven were friends. Yet, father always told me brother was a loner.’ Kaltain gradually perceives why.

Hael Melpomene hated the Sun Clan more than anything. He mentioned on multiple occasions he would risk a war just to kill off that entire bloodline. But Zolani held him back, anchoring him to the rationality of the damage his actions would cost their continent.

‘Ziven must have kept his group of friends a secret or father lied because he was ashamed.’ The truth could ring in either direction. Kaltain was leaning towards the former.

She could briefly remember Ziven bringing up his league, stating how amazing every member was, but couldn’t recall anything beside that.

‘Good grief, I really need to focus more on the things happening around me or I might get lost in ignorance.’

“I’m sorry,” Kallias says suddenly. “About earlier…. I didn’t mean those words. I don’t view Winter Clan in that lowly light. I admire you guys actually.” The genuineness in his voice made Kaltain truly listen to him. “Every holy clan is legendary, but they all still try to be more great, better than their ancestors, yet no one can be better than the Phthartic.”

“The Winter Clan has never tried to be anything. Every generation of the north since the fallen age don’t go around shaming other clans. You guys uplift them in your own continent and are the strong center of our peace. Earlier, I tried to bring you down because I felt down. The Star Clan always tries to uplift themselves in the process of downplaying their own blood. It makes me sick.”

“I understand,” Kaltain says, her tone surprisingly gentle. “Hurt people hurt people. You can’t help that you were raised in an environment that encourages minimizing someone to make yourself feel high.”

Kallias nods slowly, his voice low. “I’m trying not to be like that. It’s hard… and I hate that the most.”

Their conversation gets interrupted by Calix's loud voice. “Every man wants a harem.”

Wyn rolls her eyes, her face filled with disgust. “You’re the type of man I fear my future husband might be.”

“Agreed,” Kaltain chimes in, while Kallias nods. They look at each other and burst into hearty laughter.

Friends. Kaltain longed to have true friends. However, deep down she knew the absence of it was worth the future loss of them.