Chasing Shadows

Knock.

Knock.

The next day I heard someone knocking on my door.

“Meilyn, are you hungry? Come let us eat together!”

It was Calica.

“I will be there in a minute!” I replied.

Seriously, I have to get myself together!

Today I will be the same Meilyn as always!

I will just ignore Pointy ears for a while and then it will be fine sooner or later. With everything that happened so far, we will certainly drown in missions anyway.

Tannie stared at me.

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked.

“Yeah, totally! Can’t you see?” I smiled.

“Good luck already running away from Pointy ears!” he replied with a chuckle.

“Who said I am running away?!” I gulped.

“Oh Mei, I know you better than anyone else. You are frantically moving and keep on stumbling over your things. You are stressed!”

“So what? I-it’s early in the morning and I am just tired! That’s all!” I replied as the warmth rushed to my cheeks.

“Yeah, yeah let’s just act like that.”

“Tannie!” I reached out and stretched his cheeks.

But he just let me do so without whining like usual.

Is that your way of cheering me up?

As I stepped out of my room I saw a nervous Calica, moving up and down the hallway. As she met my eyes she jumped at me.

“Meilyn, are you fine? Are you feeling better now? Tannie said you were sick!”

I looked at Tannie chilling in my hands.

So that’s what you told the rest. Thanks for that Tannie!

“Yeah, I am all better. Sorry for worrying you!” I said.

“I’m glad! Should we go and eat something now?” She linked her arms with me and we strutted down the hallway to the cafeteria.

When we arrived at the grand entrance I could see countless mages happily munching on their food.

In the distance I could see Pointy ears sitting with the rest of the squad.

No! No! No!

This is still too early! Where do I hide?

Wait, maybe they haven’t seen us, we can just sit somewhere further away, yes that will d-

“Meilyn, Calica here! We are also eating breakfast. Come join us!” Roy yelled as he waved toward us, now all eyes on us.

No Roy! Why did you have to ruin it like that!

With that remark even Pointy ears turned around, his eyes met mine. I averted my gaze instantly and tugged on Calica’s clothes.

She was busy waving toward Roy before she looked at me.

“Meilyn?”

“I actually wanted to sit somewhere else. But you can join them, Calica.”

However Calica held my hands and stared at me.

“Where you go, I go! And even if you have a problem you can’t talk about right now you have my full support!” she said.

C-calica! So you noticed that something was wrong after all!

“You are the best!” I cried out.

Calica pointed at Roy telling him that we would sit somewhere else. Roy looked dejected.

Sorry Roy! I really need some time to breathe!

As we sat down, our flying trays already arrived and I felt my body slowly relaxing.

Ah, finally I can breathe.

“Meilyn.” Tannie said.

“Yeah, Tannie, what is it? Don’t worry I will even give you all of my strawberry jam this time!”

“No, it’s not that!”

“Huh? What is it?”

But before Tannie could even explain himself I heard someone putting his plate of food down opposite of me.

No!

Pointy ears sat down and stared at me.

No, I have a better phrasing! He stared right into my soul!

And now everyone in the group joined our table!

“Why did you just go and sit somewhere else?” Roy sulked.

“I–That-Well, wait Meilyn are you okay?!” Calica said as she looked in my direction.

Of course not!

I am suffocating and having trouble breathing right now.

I should just bolt my food and leave already.

“I am doing great, my dearest don’t worry!” I smiled as brightly as I could.

Tannie tapped me in worries, I glanced at him and blinked frantically.

“Dearest? Since when are you using such words Meilyn?” Roy asked.

“I-it’s nothing! Just a girl thing!” Calica intervened, realizing my struggle.

“Unfair! Let me join you too!” Roy complained.

As they continued I held my plate up high, suddenly everyone went silent as I bolted and cleared the entire plate. But eating in a rush made me choke.

I should have taken the food into my room instead! My heart burns!

“Meilyn, here drink water!” Calica said as she passed me the water.

I finished the drink in just a second, feeling my face turning red from almost choking to death.

As I stood up, all eyes were on me.

“T-that was a great meal, right Tannie?”

“Yeah?” he replied, a little confused but grasping the situation.

I raised him up from the table.

“So if you would excuse us, we still have something to do! Bye!” I said as I sprinted out of the cafeteria.

“See you later Meilyn!” Calica waved me goodbye. The others stared confused.

“Finally I made it out of there!” I said as I ran outside.

“S-so” I heaved heavily for air, as I supported myself by leaning on a tree.

“This is the garden, right?” I continued.

“Seems like it, but I feel like you took us to a calm corner? There is no one here.”

“Even better, I need to hide!”

“Really?” I heard a painfully familiar voice ask.

As I turned around, Pointy ears was standing in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest.

No!

Did he follow us? But why?!

I have to get away!

His stare froze my body. I couldn't move an inch. When I tried to avert my eyes, he followed my gaze.

I tried to push him away while focusing on the ground.

Right! He was far too strong, I can’t even push him!

“You are avoiding me aren’t you?” he said calmly.

“W-what no way? I just had a lot to do, that's all.“ I swallowed hard.

“So, if you could excuse me, I have to go!” I said but Pointy ears caught my arm.

“You are going nowhere, we have to talk!” he said, his voice strained but he looked dead serious. His gaze still focused on me.

“What’s there to talk about? We can talk later during the mission, so if you care to let go of me.”

“No.”

“Hey!”

“I said no, you can only leave after we talked!” He looked exhausted.

He took a deep breath then he focused his gaze back on me.

“Let me tell you what happened three years ago, Meilyn.”

He didn’t call me a demon.

That was enough, I stopped resisting and felt the tension in my body drain away.

I looked him in the eyes, which were still focused on mine.

We sat down on a bench, hidden from everyone’s eyes.

In a faraway corner of the Association.

And with that, Ishan finally decided to talk to me.