Chalia finishes the first book of Terel\u2019s and, for the first time, she\u2019s speechless. She won\u2019t even talk about it. She hands the book over to Ochilysse and moves on to the next one. What could possibly be so outlandish that it gets a reaction like that? Or like Charinva? I need to know the secrets within those books. I\u2019m dying to read them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In class, Voborrie is a little intense when it comes to helping. She\u2019s a bit vocal and brash when she tries to help and teach. Fortunately, this level isn\u2019t too difficult. What is taught isn\u2019t hard to grasp. So, when we are finally ready to take the test to move on, we all pass with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, both Chalia and Charinva make it to level ten, which means Chalia has to move out of the Novice dorms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I sadly help her pack her things. And, unfortunately, there isn\u2019t much to pack since most Novices don\u2019t have many possessions. I help her carry her things to her new dorm room in the Accepted quarters. One which she gets all to herself. It\u2019s rather small, a bit smaller than the one we shared, but she doesn\u2019t seem to mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to miss you,\u201d I say, desperately holding onto my tears. Life with Chalia was better than anything else I\u2019ve had. She truly felt like a sister to me. She smiles and hugs me tightly. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I won\u2019t be far, and soon you\u2019ll join me. You and the others have been rising through the ranks so fast. It\u2019s nearly as fast as Charinva. Just be patient, and soon you\u2019ll be right next door. I know it, and soon we\u2019ll both become sisters together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I look at her and wipe away the few tears that escaped, nodding. \u201cI can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, come to me once you finish reading the books. There\u2019s a lot I want to talk to you about.\u201d I nod and give her another hug. Then I make the lonely track back to my empty dorm. It feels so dark without her. I can\u2019t help but wonder who I\u2019ll get stuck with. What if it\u2019s a noble? That would be the worst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A knock at the door and I walk up to answer it and see Melyis standing there, clasping her elbow as she stares at the floor. \u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looks up and bites her lip. \u201cI was wondering since Chalia had moved out if I could move in? My roommate also just reached level ten, which isn\u2019t all that bad since she was rather\u2026 Hard to live with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nod. \u201cOf course, you can move in. I would like that very much. I was just thinking about who I would end up with as a roommate and I\u2019m glad it’s you. The last thing I want is to get stuck with a noble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She smiles. \u201cWell, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re happy. You\u2019re one of the few friends I\u2019ve ever had. You, Chalia, Ralodan and Biremeril. I’ve never had friends before. I never imagined having friends would make me so happy. Please tell me if I am being too forward, but I think of you as a sister I never had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAww, thank you. I feel the same way,\u201d I say before I realize I have pulled her in for a hug. She is so sweet and sometimes a bit naive. But I remember seeing the scars all over her back, and I can\u2019t imagine how anyone would ever want to hurt her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I help her move her things into the room, which is hardly anything at all besides the robes she\u2019s been given and some books she\u2019s taken out of Charinva\u2019s library. For not being very good at reading, she\u2019s become quite the scholar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After she is settled, we join Biremeril and Ralodan in getting some of our hours knocked out. So far, we\u2019ve managed to get six to eight hours done a day, and we\u2019ve knocked out over two-thirds of the hours required. It helps when you do them together. Today, we all head to the kitchens to help cook and prepare the food. Then we get to eat real fast before we help clean up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ralodan and I wait for the other two to finish their tasks out in the hall, which gives me time to finally ask him what I\u2019ve been wanting to ever since the High Father\u2019s sermon. \u201cRalodan\u2026 Can I ask you something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nods with a smile. \u201cSure, you can ask me anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I look down at my feet and shift my weight back and forth between my heels and my toes. \u201cBack during the High Father\u2019s sermon, you\u2026 Did you\u2026. Did you feel anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I look up to meet his eyes, and his face grows hard. He nods. \u201cI felt something I didn\u2019t like. I don\u2019t know what it was. There is something about him that makes me suspicious. I don\u2019t trust the High Father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wish I could tell him about the Brothel. I only nod my head. \u201cDid you see everyone else and how they responded? It was like they were entranced by his words.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nods. \u201cI think he is using some kind of spell of some sort. Not any source that I can make out though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy do you think it didn\u2019t affect us like everyone else?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know why it didn\u2019t affect me, but I\u2019m sure it didn\u2019t affect you because of that ring you wear,\u201d he says, pointing at my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My eyes go wide as I grasp my hand, feeling the invisible ring. \u201cYou can see that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nods. \u201cFor whatever reason, I\u2019ve always been able to see what shouldn\u2019t be seen. Like that ring on your finger. I know I shouldn\u2019t be able to see it, but it glows so brightly. I can tell it gives you some protection from whatever gives the High Father power in his words. Don\u2019t worry, though, I will not tell anyone about your ring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d I say with a smile of relief. When Melyis and Biremeril arrive, things stay quiet between us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo? What took you two so long?\u201d I ask with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, just Zarlatha Arcaneseeker needed assistance,\u201d Biremeril says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat he means to say, Zarlatha convinced him to do all of her work,\u201d a tall, a rather broad woman with short hair and long ears, interrupts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t surprise me,\u201d Ralodan says, giving Biremeril a smile. \u201cBiremeril has a good heart and helps everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMore like he\u2019s soft,\u201d the girl says with a laugh and walks out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is she?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, her? That\u2019s Ilethana. She just likes to give me a hard time,\u201d Biremeril says, his eyes avoiding everyone else\u2019s as he scratches the back of his neck. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t tolerate it,\u201d I say. He only shrugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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