Into the iris

Chapter 4 : It's an order

Yasmin

I guess Javi does have an advantage than me,his deep wounds were slowly healing and he was muttering something under his breath.he was still groaning and could barely walk properly,i can't help but blame myself for what happened.

The once dark sky was now twilight, indicating the start of a new day. The birds chirped loudly o

as they set out to get their daily bread,some stood on the tree branches probably gossiping about the little show we pulled off yesterday.Only God knows what is going on with these feathery creatures.

Javi surprisingly hasn't said a word since the incident happened and am not sure if I should be happy or sad about it. The morning breeze sent chills into my skin, goosebumps filled my arms sending shivers all over my body.

"Is it always this cold?." I asked no one in particular,I don't even think Javi would want to talk to me after risking his life for me. But I was proven wrong.

"It's the wind coming from the sea,we are almost there" Javi replied with a stiff but calm voice.

I can't help but think about what we encountered yesterday, and that girl. She was so bold and she fought like an sss. Did she leave because she was shy?,or she has couldn't stick around because she has in a hurry?. Whatever it is,I have to thank her for saving my life,if she wasn't there those beasts would have probably torn me to pieces.

The morning sky has gotten brighter and we moved at a slow pace . The sea was now in view, the waves clashed on the rock as the salt water roared as it rised up and down. And the once distant chatter of people was getting audible as they moved closer to the sea.

The sea breeze kept getting stronger and it blew my hair from my face displaying my forehead to everyone in sight. The sea wasn't only filled with people but also ship which sails waved in the direction of the wind.

This ample ships were settled at the sea shore, the sand beneath us bury our Feet in the bed of sand.

"You both stay right here,I will go get the ship passes" Telle took some gold coins from her brother's pocket," I will be back." She added as she talked away from us and we watched as she moved the ship entrance.

"Am sorry Javi,you are in this condition because of me."He just stared blankly at me,his eyes as calculative as ever.

"It's not your fault,I would have done it with or without you. But I guess I was wrong, you are not useless."He said in a hoarse voice while he looked away from me and in the direction of his sister who happens to be running towards us.

With the tickets in her hand,we moved towards the ship heading to Arem. I can't help but think about what Javi told me, what did he mean by "you are not useless".Those words he randomly just said made me feel appreciated for once since I got to the requads.

At least I know he won't let me get feasted on by some crazy beast we might encounter along the way. That felt safe and I couldn't help but smile inwardly.

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Lucille silently read the paper file handed to her in front of the convocation, the silent audience looked fixedly at the frigid woman.The room was filled with silence, and the large round table was filled with department head of the institution.

"This year's curriculum would be the same as before but you are to increase and add to the lessons in each of the departments, even add to it."The members of staff seated at the table were taken aback by the woman's words.

"We already have a long scheme for the recruits to tackle but adding to it,seems quite impossible to finish at the end of each section."An elderly man in his late seventies stated, and the others nodded in agreement.

"Lady Giselle, each department has their own scheme and it has been scheduled. Adding new topic,we all can beat the time and the trial is hard enough for the recruits to pass. If we do as you are saying,it means the output of students passing will be few ."A petite lady in her early thirties,her amber eyes shone as she addressed the Dean

Lucille inwardly agreed with the discussion coming from the department heads but she had an order from above and it wasn't something she couldn't overlook. A couple days ago,she was summoned by the Duke to have tea.

Her vert eyes narrowed at the Duke as he gracefully took his tea,his jet-black hair was set back and his ruby red eyes shone as he was busy with his tea.he gently placed his tea cup on a table beside him.

"You don't like your tea, Lucille." The Duke asked as the woman in front of him.

"I don't like tea but i prefer wine.It would be improper for me to refuse what you offer, your Grace."

" Nonsense, make yourself at home." A slight smile curled on the Duke's lips,he slowly access the older woman.

One glance at the male servant and he got the message as he bowed and left to get alcohol for the Duke's guest

"You summoned me here for a reason?."

"I did, didn't I?.I want you to careful watch over the new recruits at the hermacade. It's very essential,You know how to do that. Right?"

" May I ask why?,i wasn't aware you had an interest in the hermacade even though the Queen already marked it as her fortress."Lucille cold demeanor didn't soften ,she was right about the Queen trying to run the hermacade as if the whole iris wasn't enough to rule over.

"You will see,i can't tell you anything but…..things are about to get interesting."Lucille wondered what is going to happen,it seems she would be observing the recruits till she figures out what the Duke was playing at.

"And you should get used to the Queen,I have a feeling she would be more possessive of her fortress this time around."The Duke said as a smirk like smile quirking way to the corner of his lips,it baffles Lucille that the Duke was having fun putting her in the dark.

Her distant thought returned to it's original place, everyone present at the table were waiting for her word which was hopefully to take back what she just said. She quite interested in what the Duke was plotting underneath the Queen, and why it suddenly involves the hermacade.

"I can't say anything about it,but this is an order…."

" From the Queen?"A middle aged woman asked anxiously.

Lucille cleared her throat and continued "Like I said,it's an order and I have no power to change an order from someone superior. You all should get ready and work out the scheme."

Silence filled the room as everyone thought within them on how they have to follow the Dean's order. Things are taking a turn and even Lucille couldn't figure it out.

"Dismiss."

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Unlike the gate,we didn't need a casting mirror to get into the ship. We just showed our passes and we were allowed into the ship. Just like any ship,it was big as a barn even from the inside. I held onto Javi's arm in excuse to help him but instead it was to avoid getting lost in the ship.

It wasn't as big as the Titanic and I wouldn't try to exaggerate but it was a ship you can call big. On one hand i was trying to avoid getting lost, and on the other i was distracted by the people passing by with different eye colors.

We moved into a cabin in the ship which was spaced and filled with people, sitting on the floor as if waiting for something to happen. Even in the ship, I could still hear the wailing sounds the waves make as it hits the rock. The smell of the wet sand hit my nostrils and the distinct murmurs of the people in the stead couldn't overcome the waves splashing sounds.

We moved to a corner in the room,we sat on the cold floor. This was surprisingly new and funny to me. Back home I was the princess, the girl who always had front seats at an event. A VIP at any event due to my title and i never found it discomforting.

Just something when the paparazzi decide to interrupt my peace or turn my arrival at the movies into a social affair. Now here I am, sitting on the floor with a bunch of people who don't care what i am or who my father is. I don't feel sorry for myself because I know am learning, from everything.

From my arrival, from Chantelle, from Javi, from those bloody beasts. Here am not Yasmin the celebrity or Yasmin the princess, that ended the minute I passed through that cave. Here am the useless girl who doesn't have anything to offer, the loud thump of the ship .

The ship swayed in the water and the murmurs in the ship didn't seem to lessen. I think around here people have always have something to say,well everyone except Javi. His right hand wrapped around his left arm with his eyes closed,he has been quite since we boarded the ship. While his adorable sister seem to be having fun making cute faces to the little toddlers yanking her hair.

A stout woman in dull pink clothing walked into the cabin with a cart. The long cart was filled with snacks and refreshments,the rice balls looks tasty from afar. Quite a number of people surrounded the woman,i could only stare at Javi who hasn't shifted from his previous position.

"Javi,we want to take a walk around the ship." Telle said to her brother who immediately opened his eyes on hearing her request. He seems to be half asleep,his dull eyes stared back at us.

"We are going to get fresh hair on the deck,we won't take long." Telle said and Javi nodded his head in approval.

"Don't go too far, and don't take too long." His hoarsely cautioned and i think for the first time he was talking to both of us. We left our stead and walked on a narrow wooden corridor which appears to be filled with different rooms filled with people like ours.

At the end of the corridor,there was a spiral staircase leading into the upper chambers in the ship.

"This ship is packed."Telle nodded her head in agreement,we took the steps that lead higher up the ship.

"Arem is the most populated land in the iris.People go for different reasons, to seek knowledge and gain experience.it is very prosperous."Telle said.

" So you mean most people in this ship are on their way to the hermacade like we are?"I asked as by now we have reached another part of the ship which was quite different from the ones we have come across.

"Probably,… be careful with your steps" Telle said cautiously as we climbed the stairs.

"Why is this place quite and less crowded?. Wait…..,is that apple pie?."I asked as I sniffed the air as the tantalizing smell of apple pie hit my nostrils. This part of the ship was quite different from the ones we have come across, even the wooden floors look polished.

"Where are we?" I asked and Telle looked back at me .

"This is the upper class part of the ship, The rooms here are very expensive."We reached what happens to be the end of the stairs, it didn't take long for us to reach the top of the stairs and onto the open deck of the ship. The smell of salt water from the sea was everywhere, the sails moved in the direction of the wind.

Chantelle happens to be enjoying the view as well as i am. A bright smile on her lips,she slowly inhaled the fresh air and the wind blew through her ginger hair as she stood on the deck of the ship.

A few people were also on the deck,some stood in pairs and groups chattering on. On the left side of the deck, some children were playing hide and seek. I stared into the sea as my thoughts drifted home. Different questions popped into my head,i inwardly asked myself hoping to find answers from a voice trapped in my body.

"How are things back home?,is father doing well?. What is Vee up to?,was it a wrong idea coming here?." Telle pulled me out of my homesick thoughts.

"Yas,why do i feel like have seen that girl somewhere?" My eyes followed who Telle was talking about and my throat run dry. I would surely recognize that face anywhere,it was blonde hair girl who saved us in the woods.