Friendship Blossom

‘I just keep running into unique people.’ Kaltain slant on the cool surface of the wall, waiting for the faint familiar aura to leave the office. ‘I hope it’s him and I’m not deluding myself. That would be weird.’

A small humorous smile curves Kaltain's mouth, finding herself at ease with her drifting thoughts. Her arm glazes the thick frame of the award case, drawing her attention.

Behind glass were rows of oval star golden trophies. A large one with a glistening silver mark of a constellation on the top shelf made her eyes widen.

Positioned stiffly in front of the trophy was a picture of seven figures. She recognized two immediately. 

Her mother and father.

Kaltain's mother is a stunning beauty, frequently receiving compliments about her appearance, which could be mistaken as a goddess. 

Olive flawless skin, pink curly hair pulled back into two elegant ponytails, defined gentle features, and compassionate heterochromia eyes—left black and right silver.

In the photo she was nestled between two smiling girls, wearing a similar attire to the rest; a thin navy jacket with a phoenix and dragon design on the back, paired with high waisted white trousers.

As Kaltain stares at it, she gradually recognizes four others, but finds the familiarity to be obscured.

‘Who the hell are they? I know I’ve seen them before.’ She frowns with a thoughtful expression, unable to decipher their identities. ‘Oh well, they’re clearly not important if I didn’t store them in my mind.’

The door to the council room opens, startling Kaltain out of her head. She straightens her spine, mumbling internally. ‘It’s okay. You’re merely nervous. Just say hello. No, who the fuck says hello anymore?! Ugh, damn it! This is far too hard despite it literally being so simple!’

Ishaan, Akira, and Manon enter the hallway. The atmosphere around them is eerie, rippling with a tense Kaltain didn’t understand.

“I really can’t stand any of them,” Manon mutters with a sigh of resentment. “It’s like they’re on their own little cloud, ignorant of its fading existence.”

“Tell me about it.” Akira huffs a breath of annoyance. “I lose brain cells converting with them. It’s ridiculous.”

“You both need to learn to be more patient,” Ishaan chides. “Besides, clouds are always fading, though I suppose it’s poetic, as none of them has ever had a stable existence. Glory and power, oh how they sought it, with their ambitions lofty and efforts unheeded.”

“It wouldn’t be reality if you weren't scolding someone.” Akira's eyes dance with amusement. “But can you really be the one to talk? I can feel your disdain, my brother from another clan.”

“I love your poems,” Manon praises, smiling brightly. “Always beautiful.”

Ishaan's measured steps come to a stop, surprise lifting his brows before he smiles secretly. ‘I couldn’t feel her aura, yet it’s not gone. She’s not intentionally hiding it either.’

Kaltain watches them from across the hall, trying and failing to soothe her racing heart.

“There is a difference between feeling and showing, dearest little Akira.” Ishaan's mouth curls into a sly smile. “Sometimes you must hinder your fangs in order for your prey to be wholly ensnared in its prison.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Akira grumbles, while Manon reverently nods in agreement.

‘Now!’ Kaltain silently moves in their direction, her expression a feign coolness. As she appears before them, she gains the attention of Manon first.

Manon opens her mouth, yet it snaps shut in shock the next second.

“Ishaan,” Kaltain greets, deciding not to think too deeply about this encounter.

Ishaan's heart skips a beat. “You solved that mystery quickly.”

“Not really.”

“I’m glad.” Ishaan's voice is soft, gentle almost, sounding like a calm wave. His companions look at him with an odd expression.

“Huh?” Kaltain stares at him in bewilderment. “Glad about what?”

“My name has never sounded better.”

Comprehension illuminates Kaltain’s features, her heart rate acceleration. She swallows down a blush. ‘Too much. He is too damn much. His presence, looks, and way of words is like a tide of the most delicious disaster.’

Kaltain clears her throat, glancing away. “I have many more mysteries to solve. I only barely got through the first layer.”

“Indeed, sweet darling.” Pausing for a moment, Ishaan considers his thoughts before speaking in tender firmness. “Don’t fight out of duels. It’s improper and is ridiculed by the gods. Next time, challenge those who annoy you to a duel, but good job defending what you find precious.”

“Eh, thanks.”

In his mind, Ishaan envisioned her. Ice blue eyes that seem to gleam like glaciers, bright white hair framing a fair glamorous face, and impossibly long eyelashes, with round plump lips.

Her appearance layers like mystify fragments born from imagination, rousing a warm pressure in his chest that itches at him to peek. To see her.

Kaltain is a gorgeous girl, but that’s not why he wanted to see her. It was her overall existence. 

Her apathetic exterior and anxious twitches of emotions showcasing on every aspect of her body intrigued him; low tone, brows narrowed when annoyed, fingers fidget due to awkwardness, eyes twitch out of excitement, twisting the ends of her hair when bored or irritated.

Ishaan didn’t feel emotions like the Misul’s, but with his advanced spiritual awareness, he can feel every movement, even the fluctuate of all divine energies in air, becoming aware of these subtle actions.

Ishaan wasn’t really aware of why she interested him so much, only that he was the type to indulge himself in anything he found enthralling.

Akira whistle draws Ishaan's attention. 

Ishaan raises an inquisitive brow in his direction as the young male wiggles his fingers with a wide coy grin. “I see you, my friend.”

Ishaan's expression morphs into confusion before turning his attention back to Kaltain.

She was already walking away.

‘Did my words offend her? Does she not take scolding well?’ Shaking his head in amusement, Ishaan calls out, “I’ll be seeing you, sweet darling!”

Kaltain steps falter momentarily. “Of course, you puzzle of mystery!”

An involuntary laugh escapes Ishaan. Turning, Ishaan's head inclines, sensing his friends bafflement. “What?”

“Don’t what us!” Akira bristles in feigned anger, while Manon appears dumbstruck, her body trembling with frustration.

‘A praise and advice?’ Manon's thoughts spun with jealousy. ‘I never heard him talk so… normally. Like a real gentleman! He’s always so strict and serious.’

“I thought you said you weren’t interested in freshmen,” Akira says, pointing accusingly. “Since when have you and Miss ice princess been best friends? I’m supposed to be your number one best friend.”

‘Oh.’ Ishaan nods slowly. ‘I didn’t realize my actions came off like that. Or that they would offend either of them. Well, one of them… Akira just fucking around cause he can.’

“I was simply talking with her,” Ishaan says sincerely, his calculated mind working wonders. “We’re friends or rather, we’re on our way to such a fate. Our petals will form a blossoming friendship.”

****

Wyn's outward dismay is evident in her erratic movements as her knuckles tap in a rhythmic pattern upon the oak surface. Leaning on her forearms, Wyn sighs nervously with a lost expression.

“What’s got you winded in knots, Wyn?” A droning voice questions softly near the back of her neck.

“Go away, Calix.” Wyn nearly managed to dodge the boy's playful hug, shaking off her aggravation by rolling her shoulders.

It wasn’t like her to be on edge or snappy, yet the emotions seem to prickle beneath her flesh like fleas. 

“You must be depressed. Why? Winter break officially starts tomorrow.” Calix plops down on a chair. “You’re goin miss your bestie and side bestie. Of course, me too, right?”

Wyn sits back down, her lips trembling with dread. “No, I’m… g-going home.”

Calix tilts his head, blinking in perplexity. “No shit, you big dummy. Everyone returns home for winter break.”

“No, no, I mean—“ Wyn shakes her head before forcing a smile. “Never mind. Anywho, are you excited to leave Lightless for a few weeks?”

“Hell yeah, I hate this place.” Calix grins, and then physically shivers. “Don’t tell anyone I said that. If my father got wind of my feelings for this damn academy not matching his expectations, I’m fucked.”

“I feel you.” Wyn looks down, her expression grim. “Parents can be tough.”

“I never personally meet your mother, Aysun Misul, Blade of Song,” Calix muses, leaning his head on his palm. “What’s she like?”

“Uh, I-I well,” Wyn stammers. She licks her dry lips, agony throbbing in her head, and she lets out a scratchy cough.

“Hey, are you okay?” Calix asks in a small voice.

“Y-yeah.” Wyn wipes a drool of saliva coming from her mouth with the back of her sleeve. “What were we talking about again?”

Calix’s frowns, appearing conflicted on whether or not to let it go.

Before he can respond, a euphonious voice flows behind him. “Good morning.”

Calix's heart dances with warmth. He whirls around, smiling in delight. “Kaltain, good morning to you, beautiful.”

Kaltain pays him no mind. Sitting beside Wyn, her impassive face softens as she and Wyn begin chatting about anime.

A few minutes later, Shadeen enters the classroom and teaches history for an hour before letting the cadets meditate for the rest of the class.

During the end, a student shows off a colored mark, but Shadeen says nothing. Her reaction was only a frown and then a firm nod.