Stars and Swords

Tale Under The Stars

"It all began one morning when I was just doing errands for mother." Soura began her tale. "I was about to return with culinary herbs for Mother's cooking when the royal messenger came up to me." she recounted. "Even knew my full name." she added, shifting in her seat, as she continued her tale. "To tell you truthfully old friend...I was quite terrified." Soura's tone fell, as she recounted that fateful day. "Of course, there was the census every month of Aries, but still, what is a royal messenger doing in our household, I thought." Soura recounted.

"Fair enough. I'd be surprised, even though my family does interact with the King" nodded the silver-haired boy.

"I did answer the call of the Polarian throne," Soura continued. "but who awaited me there surprised me. Another of our old group, Asuka was called in alongside in. Me, her, and the King formed The Order of Iridescent Guardians, an organization of people all over Aurorai, banded together to defend Aurorai from threats within and outside it." she stated.

"Sounds awesome. Being the first of no doubt a great organization." Holos said.

"It is quite an endeavor to take." Soura sighed wearily. "The whole of Aurorai watches your every move. As much as our King's." she exhaled.

"I do understand that..."he said. "In a way, its my situation on a bigger scale." he added, "Everyone watches what you do, who you associate...down perhaps to what you eat and drink even?" he inquired.

"You could say that." Soura replied. "And the scrutiny increased somehow when the revolt happened in Blancopolis and the new Grand Pontifex was...forcefully crowned." she haltingly said.

"It was big news going into the Academy." Holos recalled. "A violent doctrine...barring males and females from interacting too much." he said, as his voice dropped, clearly repulsed by thought.

"Already, some of the higher-ranking clergy are whispering about how the new Fantasia Brigade would make better leaders of the Valkrs and the Guardians as a whole." Sora recalled with a low voice. "And yet I still play and sing for them whenever asked..." she said wistfully. "I do regard all my Guardian comrades equally." she clarified to him.

"A very noble view, Soura." replied Holos. "It is not easy trying to resist hate." he commented.

"Yes, but we must fight it." Soura reminded him. "If Blancopolis cannot do that themselves, we from the rest of Aurorai should." she declared.

Both boy and girl stared into the night sky, not saying a word.

"The night skies can be quite beautiful." remarked Holos.

"I do agree." said Soura."That after all, is where The Celestium shows its devotion and love to us mortals of Aurorai." she added.

"May it ever glow upon all of Aurorai..." Holos remarked.

"How's it been here, Holos?" asked Soura. "Besides the obvious, I mean." she added, chuckling lightly.

"Well, tomorrow is the last day of Preliminaries." Holos chuckled, recognizing Soura's little job at his bruises. "How about you? Where's your next business for The Order?" he asked, "Or is that confidential?' he added, smilimng deviously at Soura.

"Hey!" Soura pouted, aware of the teasing by Holos. "You are right though, I cannot reveal much about my tasks as a Guardian willy-nilly to non-Guardians." she confirmed.

"Whatever it is, you and Asuka are doing well." he assured.

"I hope so. For Polaria, and the whole of Aurorai's sake." said Soura. The two continue to stare at the beautiful night for a little while before Soura had to leave for the night and return inside.

"I must go on, old friend." Soura said to Holos. "Tomorrow is another day full of tasks." she sighed. "Let's meet again soon, shall we?" said Soura, smiling at him.

"I sure do hope so." replied Holos. "Celestium bless you, First Valkr." he smiled.

"Hope to see you as a Knight of Polaria someday!" Soura called out, as she stepped back inside.

Soon, Holos went on his way back to the dormitories, feeling sparkly inside due to his conversation with his beautiful childhood friend, who also turns out to be his teter and above all, a member of a prestigious organization. The giddiness was so evident that his friends did not need ask questions later that night about how did it went...except for Art.

"I assume it went well then, Holos?" he said, grinning mischeiviously.

"Art, just look at his face." Franz commented, "That tells us everything." he added.

The day ended and it was time to sleep. Up until he closed eyes, that smile was beaming bright in Holos' face. That smile carried on into the night, sleeping with a smile.

The third day of exams was heralded by the sun shining over the recruits as they awoke to face the last day of their examinations. As always, the halls of the quarters echoed with the groans of people waking up. For the final time in a while, people can be heard reciting things, ranging from formulas, dates and definitions.

Holos' class has Arithmetic, Linguistics and Magic Theory for the last day, all in written form. Most students did not look forward to today's Arithmetic test, Holos included among the many. Complaints about the subject littered the breakfast chatter of Holos' class that day, and his group is no different.

"Come on guys, its just numbers it ain't that hard." Art tried to ease up his three other friends.

"I look forward more honestly to Lingusitics." Holos sighed. "Now thatis more my speed." he added, perusing the notes for said subject.

"This day is going to be less eventful, for better for worse." Alec commented, while doing his own reading for Arithmetic.

"I can say that again." Franz agreed, remembering the turbulence of the first day and the star power of the second. Soon, it was time for Artihmetic, which most except for a few like Alec dreaded. Like the exam yesterday and the day before it, there were two rooms to accomodate spacing out seats. This time, Holos was away from his three friends while all of Oren and his group was in the same room as him, which was an ill omen for Holos.

Nevertheless, the exams began in earnest, and after an uneventful 7 hours split up by a lunch break somewhere around the 4th hour. After the three days of testing, the recruits' collective mood lightened, being free of the academic crunch for now. With it being Friday, students were out and about, playing music, board games or just strolling aroung the school grounds in general.

That night's dinner was quite relaxed, having no more things to study for and the weekend coming up.The celebration of sorts lasted until curfew was enforced, and soon, the academy was silent yet again.