Time Continues On

I open the door to my dorm to the sight of Birta lying on her bed. Must have just finished her stretches. I step into the room and shut the door, still no words between us. I plop onto my bed.

“Eris is the one that brought me back to life.” I say breaking through the wearying silence. “I didn’t share that because I thought it was irrelevant." I add turning onto my side to look at my roommate. The silence begins to return, even heavier then before. Birta shifts onto her side to meet my gaze.

“That’s messed up.” The teen bluntly replies.

“That’s it?” I respond. “I drop something crazy like that and that’s all you say!?” I exclaim with surprise. I just, this information is crazier than almost anything else she was yelling about when I first told her about being reborn.

“Yeah.” Birta says bringing me out of my thoughts. “That entire thing with Skadi appearing was honestly so unbelievable I’m still trying to wrap my head around that.” She explains with a sigh. “She cursed a group of applicants publicly for seemingly no reason.” She continues. The ogre turns over to her other side. “What a petty thing to do.” The teen finishes.

-- -- --

The heat is unbearable. I exhale with discomfort, my tongue lulling out of my mouth. Summer is upon us… damn. Really wish the temperature balancing enchantments effected the courtyards and outer pathways. I spot a familiar looking orc sitting on a bench beneath a tree. I have time.

“What’re you working on?” I inquire Chaska as I approach the tinkerer. The teen shifts in surprise and almost drops the contraption.

“Yamakuma!” The trapper exclaims. “Don’t do that!” He adds checking over the small device.

“Sorry about that.” I reply sitting down next to him. “I just saw you and got a little excited.” I explain trying to look and sound cutesy. I am still younger physically after all.

“Why’re you acting weird?” The orc asks me while he begins to tinker again. Ouch! I need to work on my technique. Or maybe he is just the wrong target for the cutesy act. “I’m strengthening my pressure traps.” He finally answers my question. “Don’t want what happened with the bihorn to happen again. Lots of targets are heavier than a bihorn.” The teen further explains.

“That makes a lot of sense.” I respond. I put a finger to my chin. “But it’s been a few months since that happened.” I say with realization.

“I’ve been busy with other things.” He curtly replies.

The chirping of crickets fills our silence. Normally I am not concerned with silence, but this one feels so awkward.

“Well it was nice talking to you again.” I say standing up to my feet.

“Yeah it was.” Chaska replies.

-- -- --

“Today is my founding day…” I mutter lying stretched out in bed. I groan in annoyance.

“What’s a founding day?” Birta inquires. I turn my head to see she is lying on her side looking at me.

“The orphanage didn’t know what day we were born so the caretakers celebrated the day we were added to it.” I explain turning my body.

“Wait, today?” The teen asks standing up from her tiny bed.

“Yeah, what’s so special about today?” I respond sitting up in bed. The ogre walks over to the small daily calendar on her desk.

“It’s Blood Oath day.” She says as if I should know what that is. Birta walks over to me and hands me the calendar.

“And that is?” I ask looking at the little papers in my hand.

“They really taught you nothing in that orphanage.” The ogre mutters in annoyance. “We don’t celebrate it in Seruna currently because of the civil war but it is a day most associated with Eris.” She explains.

“No wonder Skadi hates me.” I mutter quietly.

“Probably more to do with Eris bringing you back from the dead.” Birta replies apparently I was not as quiet as I thought. “I don’t know too much about Blood Oath day, but it’s basically both the day a daemonic war began and the day it ended.” She explains without me needing to ask.

“That,” I say looking up at my roommate “Sounds awesome!”

“I take it that’s some word from your original life.” She responds rather indifferently.

“Yes, yes it is.” I answer lightly tossing the calendar back to her.

Birta walks back over to her desk and sets the calendar back on her desk. Meanwhile I close my eyes and try to focus on the elements. Perhaps I should work on wood or metal today, maybe both.

-- -- --

A strong breeze carries the kaleidoscope of colored leaves upon it. Nearly a year here… Despite the breeze bringing a slight chill with it the shining midday sun keeps the courtyard surprisingly toasty.

“I’m leaving.” Celosia bluntly says to Chaska, Goodswell, and I. The elf turns around to face the walled gate giving a simple wave behind her as she walks away.

“What?” I ask having recovered from surprise the fastest. “Why are you leaving!?” I exclaim at the girl. She stops in her tracks. “You’re the best damn tracker out of all the applicants. Possibly even the apprentices!” I yell at her venting my annoyance and confusion. She turns to stand perpendicular to the rest of us further turning her head to look at me specifically.

“I can’t do this.” Celosia says holding back tears. Despite that, a few tears do fall down her cheeks. “I was raised my whole life to follow Skadi.” She explains now looking down at the ground in front of her. “Then to be cursed by her.” The elf chokes the words out no longer able to hold back her tears.

“Why now then? Why not immediately after the proclamation?” Goodswell inquires crossing his arms showing no hint of emotion.

“I don’t know…” The former tracker replies. “I don’t know…” She repeats completely defeated.

“What a waste of potential.” Goodswell mutters barely keeping his frustration hidden while turning around and walking away. “I’m done with this charade.” He adds his frustration blatantly apparent on his face.

Goodswell is right, Celosia is wasting her true potential… The girl begins to sob letting out all of her emotions.