The Sight Beyond The Haze

Chapter 32: Doors in the Hallways

"How about your injuries?" Eris asked, our conversation going smoothly from the serious matters to inconsequential and trifle matters. "I know you have been practicing with his adoptive son... well practically," Eris added after some thoughts, her eyes looking at ceiling as she thought about it then she directed her gaze at me. "I know you're practicing with Yto, but you're not fully healed just yet. Give yourself some more weeks."

"You and I are aware that I do not have the luxury of time for that," I responded to her, quickly killing off any of the casualty Eris created so we would not be uncomfortable talking with each other. "When Deo did not come back, I promised that I would get stronger for myself. Not for him, not for the factions, not even for anyone. If I have to face the problems that are waiting for me outside the comfort of this house, then I would."

"Leigh tried his best to patched you up," Eris said and I could feel the frustration building up on her. "But a mortal's body is still a mortal's body, even how powerful you might be. You can't even still use one of your hands."

That was actually true.

Due to the injuries I gathered from the explosion, even being healed with magic, I still have some of the injuries left leaving me quite incapable to some things. It did not damaged me permanently, but I do need to recuperate further. Eris has already told me the repercussions of forcing my bones to heal magically, I would be weaker physically. The strength that I used to have would not be the same before I was involved in that accident, not unless if I were to wait myself to heal naturally.

When I asked Cocytus why must I be healed in such a way when I could recuperate the "normal" way, as I called it, he only answered me a curt response. It was rather colder than usual, very brief and heartless.

"Leigh and Eris, even Lord Deo, couldn't have afforded to lose you if the Haefen attacked and you're still incapacitated. Bring a burden while they escape."

It did make sense, and because it was Cocytus, I was already used to being admonished at.

"Tsk, after everything Deo has gone through, you'd think she'll now understand even just a little now," he added ruthlessly.

I did not response to him then because I knew that actually made sense. If Haefen members suddenly decided to raid the Middle Ground or this school, Academia Amitiel, it would be such a bother to move me if I was unconscious or cannot move a single limb.

"I'm going to be fine," I told Eris, I reached for my own cup and poured the porcelain tea pot on it. It was still smoking, but not scaldingly so. Sipping on the cup timidly, I looked behind my lashes at the girl sitting in front of me. "I've been training with Cocytus not for nothing. Besides," I paused. My reflection on the clear tea on my porcelain cup looked fragile and murky I could not almost see it. "If I will going to be the involved with both of the two factions inside the Dalcanoraz, I might as well see my subordinates."

I could see the disapproval on Eris' face, but she dared not to say anything out loud and only just sipped more on her teacup. We chatted some more about trifle matters. We talked about the sweet and delicate macarons, and how the tea was fragrant and mild, coming from remote place in China. Even about Cocytus who she has known for the better half of her entire life.

When some time passed, Eris bid me her farewell, saying that she wanted to take a short nap.

"I have to at least get away from reality and futures and pasts," Eris told me with a tired smile. "Cocytus, that boy, is overworking me to find the missing students. He's rather pushy really. And between finding what is happening in Dalcanoraz, making sure I get all of Deo's instructions, and keeping your future at our hands; I'm really tired."

"So Cocytus is making you catch that kidnapper then?" I asked out of curiosity.

Eris nodded, exhaustion was evident on her eyes.

"Yes, and he's as slippery as an eel. We fear that he was the same person as that man with the beautiful voice. But if not, then you should be more careful of yourself because that would mean there are becoming more and more people whose trying to break away from my absolute clairvoyance."

That only made me worry, naturally.

Despite that though, I stayed at the drawing room, the veranda in front of me was bright and the sun shone warmly. I could see the forest that was located just behind the academy. The wind was smooth and fresh despite being mid-afternoon, it was cold enough to cause a mild cough and I reached for the soft pillow closer into my chest, hugging it like a little baby.

Maybe a week or so the snow would finally drop. I missed the fall season after recuperating for the last couple of months. The shades of trees have become sepia and red, drawing a very vivid image in front of me.

The door creaked slightly, and I was already on my feet. Leigh stopped on the threshold, hesitating to enter the drawing room. I straightened my back.

"Great Uncl—" I paused, almost addressing him so properly. "Leigh," I instead said.

"No Eris?" he asked, finally entering the room and stepping over the threshold. I shook my head as a response. "Still bothering her about going back to school?"

I looked at him exasperatedly.

"I'm not bothering her," I contradicted while Leigh sat beside me. "I'm asking nicely."

"Huge difference," he said, teasing me with a little smile and a glint on his eyes.

I glared at him.

"She's..." he paused, "anxious," he finally settled on.

"I know," I said.

"But I heard the last bit from earlier." My eyes glared at him fiercely, from the neutral to ferocious. I heard Leigh took a deep sigh. "I could hear you earlier. You often forget that I am actually a Deity. I thought you'd discuss that further with Eris so I let you all be, it seems it wasn't the case though."

There was a long stretch of silence between us. When I think he turned bored with the stale ambiance between us, he reached for the tea and poured for himself. He turned his gaze at the far distance. On our position, it seemed as though we were in a different place where it was just this house and the red forest from the drying and falling leaves due to the season.

I closed my eyes, but there was not a single hum of the golden butterflies.

"We both are," he finally said, "but you would never see what's outside if we both tie you up with us. We are Deities, and we have very different paths to walk on. If you wanted to go, then you should. I will make Cocytus arrange everything for you."

I did not jump out of joy not because I still have my legs shaking beneath my weight but because I was a little frightened with all of the things that might happen and all the possibilities that surrounds that man with a beautiful voice that was invisible even to the Seer's clairvoyance.

And so, Cocytus arranged for my return to the regular classes of the academy. I was set to return on Monday, and with that much time to wait, I trained more and more until I could beat Cocytus within fifteen moves. On the sidelines, I could see Leigh observing me carefully.

He never brought up the matter with me possibly ruling over the factions of the land. I could not even read his take on this matter. He would look at me often, almost as though I was a different person, and there would be that inscrutable expression on his lovely face.

Eris was always not around. She would only appear when she needed more energy to supply to her use of clairvoyance. It was either Leigh or me, Cocytus would join occasionally but he was limited on touching and physical contact. It infuriated him and I found that matter to be something I could use to tease against him.

When Monday came, I did not see any of the Dalcanorian children. Although I knew I was hoping to see a certain person, I was also relieved that I do not have to see her face which reminded me of someone else. Maybe it was deliberate on Leigh's part, who did not attend his supposed classes since he said he was over about high school. I was grateful though, of those three for supporting me, even when Cocytus was rude became bearable to me, often just ignoring his glare and scoffs.

The lunch break came and I was hesitant to go to the dining hall, but then a person intercepted me. It was someone I was not expecting to have a chat with and actually approach me.

"Miss Griyego," she called to me, "Or should I say my Lady Alaric Elliot?"

Miss Henrietta Amitiel was as lovely as ever. She did not have Cocytus' bright blue eyes so I guess he got that from his mother, instead her eyes were very sharp and keen. Her blonde hair was up in a tight bun on top of her head and she was wearing her usual uniform for Amitiel.

On her face was a grim expression that had my guard up.

"Headmistress," I greeted her back.

Of course I have never heard any word from the Amitiels upon my stay on their property because they could not possibly have done so even if they wanted to drive me away. I have two Deities on my side, the Seer and the Immortal Deity, always accompanying me inside the manor on the school grounds. Besides that, I have never set a foot outside since the incident have occured. From the looks of it though, they were very much aware

"Cocytus hasn't come home for over a few weeks now," she said, her voice was as casual as anything could get although her face told me of a different story. "Would you mind telling him that he should go home, even once in a while."

I swallowed my saliva, I was not certain where this might be going but I remained relatively calm and faced her.

"Of course, Headmistress Henrietta," I agreed, nodding my head once to let her see my amicable attitude though like her, I knew my expression must not have matched. "I would pass the message to him."

But she did not went away after I responded amicably. I raised an eyebrow at her, not intending to prolong our conversation. She was unwilling as I gathered, but I did not want urge her to talk if she did not want to. So we were stuck in this loop of silence.

As I have predicted, the Amitiels would not be privy of matters regarding to me with two Deities on my side and an additional of one more supporting me. Headmistress Henrietta, despite being my senior both in age and position in this academy, also did not want to put herself on the spot wherein I could easily dispatch her if I got annoyed.

I am becoming more aware of the position I hold over everyone.

"If you have nothing else to say then please excuse me," I told her, walking past her but she stopped me.

"Lady Alaric Elliot," she said, addressing me on my formal and actual name, "my family may not have the luxury of taking sides on this war—"

"I thought you already did though," I said sarcastically, my eyes were sharp. "For years that this Middle Ground has been established, your family has meddled on politics. Tell me." I walked back to her spot. She took a few steps back and it was not that she looked afraid, it was that I gently pushed her back with my power. "Tell me, do you know me when I first appeared in the academy?"

My black eyes bore into her own.

She did not move an inch so I was able to get her back further. I did not walk towards her though, just watch her. Just then, I heard her sigh and shook her pretty head as a response. There was a sign resignation on her shoulders as though she was extremely exhausted. And maybe she actually was, maybe Henrietta Amitiel just got winded up to her family's affairs; never intending to participate on the supernatural and fantasy for others that were both reality to us.

"I know you are someone important," she revealed. There was that relief on her face when I finally dissolve the energy that I was holding her with. "I have never seen the Deities, frankly no one ever does. But for you? They didn't just appeared, they took care of you."

"What exactly is the purpose of this conversation?" I demanded at her.

"Cocytus is doing more done enough to help you," Henrietta said, finally getting to her main point. "Why do you think you have never been sold out while you're here despite the Haefen knowing you are indeed here? How do you think Lord Deo has been getting all those things to pamper you with?"

Even against my will, I felt my cheeks reddened with her statement. So it was her. I though at first it was Leigh who provided everything for Deo after I found out that they were actually colleagues.

"What do you want? Stop beating around the bush."

I was impatient and I think Headmistress Henrietta noticed that on both my face and tone.

"I want reassurance," she said fiercely, "whichever side you take on, I want the reassurance that my family will not be touched."

So they have been anxious with both the Eirini and Haefen. I do not know why it should take a single person to tip the balance between the victory and the opposite. Why should it take me for them to realize which side should win or not?

"You have rights to both a seat in the Thirteen Noble Seats, the head of the ancient organizations of Eirini and the Haefen. Now, even the Deities have favored you. Lady Alaric Elliot, you just do not realize it but you have more power than what you thought you have."

I do not know how to respond to her then.

Should I reassure her? I still think of me as a weakling, not yet into full maturity yet. How could I do something so extraordinary as to partake of running something big like the organizations of Dalcanoraz.

"You do not know how powerless I feel right now," I told her, a mocking smirk on the edge of my lips. "But why not, right? You've been quite useful to me, though Cocytus is rather rude to me."

"I appreciate your acknowledgement," Headmistress Henrietta said, bowing her head slightly. But she did not leave like I anticipated.

"What is it?" I snapped at her rudely.

"There are missing students around the academy," she said, anxiety was marking her voice red.

"The Seer is already on it," I told her coldly. "I do not need to meddle to such things, surely you know that?"

Headmistress Henrietta scrambled for a response, clearly dejected and devastated with my cold-hearted answer to her.

"I shall leave you then," she finally ended.

I nodded, turning away from her even before she walked away.

At the end, I never went to the dining hall. It just seemed too much to be looked at and understanding the meaning behind those eyes. It was difficult to wrap my head around every single thing. It seemed like I could now sense the people that looked behind me, nailing me.

So I just turned around and went to my next class.

Dismissal was the time that the hallways on the building were cramped up with students and faculty members alike. Zachriel's class was farther down the hall. It was merciful not to see any of them, I guess, and not to even walk past their class. I do not know why must I have the urge to dodge them, but I just do not feel like I was prepared to be confronted face first.

When I said to Leigh and Eris that I was ready to get out, maybe that might be a big lie just to survey what was going on outside Cocytus' house.

I went out of my last class. My eyes were anticipating a particular person, not just one actually, but the whole lot of them. It was another person amidst the crowd that I saw though.

Huffing and puffing his chest out, Cocytus' brows were both knitted together. He was walking so purposely that people just went out of their way to let him go through. It was like the Red Sea being parted all over again except the water became people, and the supposedly kind and good-hearted man that should have parted the sea became a devil incarnate.

"Time to practice," Cocytus told me, gesturing me to follow him. "I need to check on an important thing before we go in though."

I looked back.

I could not deny that there was that little hope floating around my chest, touching it and relieving it from some burden as I did so. But I never saw Haziel Imbert's face, not even her shadow. I turned towards Cocytus who has gained some distance away from me and I ran that short gap between us before I lost him in the multitude of the people around the hallway.

"What is your important thing?" I asked smugly at him. Instead of going down to where we both could exit, Cocytus led me up the stairs where the unused classrooms were located.

It was the eight floor that Cocytus said we should go and I would like to smack the back of his head if all the running around the stairs was not good for our vital. I was still injured though so he left me behind many times even before I struggled to walk that gap.

"Damn you, Amitiel," I cursed at him. Cocytus really bring out the worst in my personality. My struggles were all useless against the stairs. It did not take me a while before I started to get sweaty and all clammy. "Hey, you!" I screamed at Cocytus, looking up to the slit at the very middle of the stairs where I could see his shadow and feel his presence. "Are you doing this just to torment me?"

I heard an evil laughter and it was then that I finally decided on killing the bastard.

"You could say that!" he shouted back at me. "It's the first time I heard you ever complain! It's nice to hear!"

I clamped my mouth together.

Bastard!

I was about to shout again, but then I thought he was right. I always pursed my lips and only looked at him judgmentally, never uttering any words. Since I absolutely do not want to give him the satisfaction of laughing over my misery, I remained quiet and persevered on these damn stairs.

When I reached the eight floor, I already lost Cocytus' bulbous head.

The building's structure was quite complex, the doors to different galleries and classrooms were filed out but there were a lot of twists and turns on the structure of the building. I concentrated on the place and even on sensing any presence. Finding nothing wrong, I moved to walk around to find the missing boy.

It was really quiet and when I reached out my index finger, there was none of the warmth I yearned. Disappointed, I let my hand down, only to jumped with surpise.

"Seraphim," a very familiar voice said.

I looked around me. My heart pounded in my chest rather painfully, making it seem as though it was about to get out of my ribcage. Disregarding my still trembling knees from all of that climbing, I walked deeper into the complex.

There were not a single living soul around so I could hear his voice quite clearly. I have missed it and, even at night, I was denied of chance seeing him in my dreams. He never once visited me and I never once resented him for it.

"Deo?" I asked with great uncertainty.

There was the double doors to a gallery. The doors were both closed, but when I turned the doorknob, it slowly opened.