The Day After

Hammers pounded at my forehead as I awoke. A stickiness ate away at my throat, causing me to grimace in pain as I reached for the bottle of water on my bedside table.

Memories bounced around my mind like loose threads disconnected to the whole. What the hell had happened last night?

I took a swig of my water and felt the cool liquid pour down my throat. It’d been a while since I’d been this hungover. As much as Ben’s wallet would love my cash, I normally knew when to cut myself off. “Bloody hell…”

“Good morning.” A yawn followed Mai’s voice as she rolled over from under the cover.

“Morning…” gears turned in my head. “Mai! Where the hell…”

I glanced around the room. The room was similar, sure, but those feminine clothes in the dresser certainly weren't mine, nor were these sheets that we were currently under.

Holy shit… As I started to wake up, the loose memories in my head started to tie themselves together. “How are you feeling?”

“Sleepy,” Mai rolled over, groggily opening her eyes. “Arhonian’s don’t get hungover like Mikins, sounds like Arhonia wins this round. How’s it for you?”

“Pain and suffering.”

“Wow, is waking up next to your girlfriend that bad? I’ll remember that, bitch.”

My heart skipped a beat at the word girlfriend. “That’s crazy, all the pain just disappeared.”

“See, I’m magic,” Mai said as she sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “To the holy flame, I don’t think I’ve drank that much in years.”

“First time for everything,” I forced myself out of bed, refilling my water cup with a pitcher on her desk. Every bit of my body felt sore. I’d taken some tumbles before, but it hadn’t been this bad since my father had attempted to teach me swordfighting

Granted, this time around was a lot more fun than sword fighting could ever be.

“You really don’t get hungover?”

“As long as I drink water anyway, unlike someone who insisted otherwise.” Mai said.

“Anyone that dumb deserves the pain. As your boyfriend, I would never dream of doing such a thing.” Her cheeks blushed, ears pointed at my words.

“That’s the wisest thing I’ve heard come out of your mouth,” Mai said, yawning before she got out of bed and grabbed a fresh change of clothes. “I forgot, do we have class today?”

“Yeah, it's…” I groggily walked towards the door, creaking it open the slightest amount possible. “It was two hours ago.”

“Welp, nothing we can do,” Mai wrapped her arms around me, letting her warmth and mine mix. “Might as well hang out a bit, right Rio?” She said, wearing a grin that made it clear I didn’t have much of a say in the matter.

* * *

A few hours passed before I returned to my room and collapsed into my bed. My headache was thankfully a distant memory, but Mai had more than replaced it in her own way.

Granted I much preferred her remedy.

My mattress smothered me in a massive hug–the pillow feeling more welcoming than my family could muster. More than ever, today made it clear how important staging in shape could be. I couldn’t let Mai completely lap me forever.

After a bit, I willed myself to take a shower and get ready for the day. There still were classes for me to sit in the back and not say a word at, despite Mai’s best efforts to make me miss them all. And while every bit of me wanted to skip my reputation, probability wouldn’t take the hit very well.

My school uniform felt like someone had soaked it in water as I willed it on, taking care to make sure my collar stretched up to the tip of my neck.

Yet, before I could finish reality caught up.

“Rio? You like, alive?” Lacy creaked the door open. Her red hair was tied in a simple ponytail that waved behind her, strands falling on Lacy’s shoulders. “There you are!? To the breeze, where were you this morning?” Her voice trailed off as eyed me up and down.

“Red’s Tiger. I drank way too much last night.”

“I-I see…” Her voice felt shaky, forced as she kept her expression cold. “Well if you are content, I’ll return to the castle.”

“You sure? I thought you’d want to finish that book of yours first?” I said.

“I t-think it would be better to save that for another time,” Lacy said, giving a quick curtsy. “Though I appreciate your concern.”

“Lacy, are you ok? If you’re feeling sick or something you can take the day off? Don’t force yourself.”

“You’re such an idiot Rio, holy breeze…” Lacy sighed and turned towards the door, throwing it open so hard it nearly put a dent in the wall.

“Wait! I’m sorry Lacy, I-”

“Forget it,” Lacy said. “By the way, his majesty King Avery has sent a request for you to meet him in two days' time. You can find the details in the letter I set on your desk”

A chill ran up my spine. To the breeze, what could my father want from me?

“Forget it,” I muttered. That was an existential crisis for later. “Lacy, seriously, are you ok?”

“I’ll be fine. Just, can you give me a day to myself? Please Rio? I promise I'll be back to normal after that.”

“T-take all the time you need Lacy. Seriously, don’t feel like you need to burden yourself.” I said.

“Holy breeze… Thank’s Rio, I’ll see you soon.” With that, Lacy slammed the door behind her and disappeared from sight.

I sat in my bed, barely flinching for what felt like an eternity. First Lacy, now my father. One good day, one damn good day and of corse this would spring itself on me right after.

Father had summoned me maybe a dozen times after I’d entered school, few of those positive.

But for Mai’s sake, I’d have to pray that things would go well.