Call of Ring(Compleled)

35 Security Detail

Blake was relieved to have passed the latest test. He first looked over at Sadie and longed for a chance to collapse into her arms. Blake felt exhausted and momentarily allowed himself the pleasure of imagining time with Sadie at the bath house.

Almost thirty students turned from the battle scene and began leaving. Ten others began to make their way back to their dorm houses, while Blake, Natan, and Sadie huddled with King Stome and Mage Zenith.

“Congratulations Blake!” the King said, bowing slightly but being careful not to abdicate his royalty in any way. The King then greeted Sadie and Natan offering them both a more muted congratulations.

         “Well, I must be off,” declared the King. “I have important business to attend to,” he explained before leaving their company.

         Blake had wished to thank him for his intervention which allowed him to compete further, but King’s leaving was so abrupt, it left no opportunity for such a thing to occur. Natan turned to Mage Zenith and inquired of him:

         “What is next for today, Grand Master?”

         “You have all earned your rest,” he replied.

         “There will be nothing else scheduled until the evening meal. And as you heard earlier, many students have been excused, so there will be a smaller group at dinner tonight.”

         Sadie exchanged glances with Blank, but she was wearing a seductive smile. Blake wasn’t sure if his victory has somehow turned her on, or if she was thinking of the same pleasure he had permitted to briefly enter his mind just a few moments earlier. Nonetheless, all of the musings were rudely interrupted by words that came next.

         “There is one other order of business that needs to be dealt with before we leave. The next shift of security for the roof will fall to Sadie. You must report to your post within the hour.”

         Blake knew this meant that any rendezvous at the bath house would be postponed for yet another day. He hoped that he could at least deliver her some food after the evening meal. The three of them left the training field and walked toward the patio. Sadie’s demeanor had changed significantly. Blake wasn’t sure if he had ever seen her visibly sad before. The three walked in relative silence until Natan spoke:

         “I’m happy that the three of us will continue in our studies together. You’ve probably noticed, but I kind of like to keep to myself. I never got to really know any of the other students, but if I were to choose of any of them a few to get to know better, I would have chosen the two of you.”

         Blake was surprised by this outburst of talk from Natan, the mysterious man he wanted to know more about. Since Sadie’s security shift would be a twelve-hour one, Blake wondered if he would be afforded the opportunity to learn more about Natan.

         “I’m happy to know that you feel a level of comfort around us Natan,” Blake replied speaking first.

         Sadie managed a few words as if it were an attempt to rid her of her sadness.

         “Natan, you seem like a pleasant young man. But I must say that you have a mysterious quality to you as well.” She spoke these words trying to manage a wry smile.

         “Let’s continue on our journey of study together and you may find out more,” Natan replied almost as a taunt.  

         The group of three made their way through the patio to the far end, turning right into their dorm house. Sadie decided to retire to her room and lay on her bed for a few minutes. Blake could see her clearly from his room. He could feel her sadness, and his feelings matched hers. Natan had also retired to his room and was out of the view of both of them.

         Blake decided it was his turn to visit Sadie in her room. He made his way to her bed and sat next to her. He sat so closely that their hips were touching. He must have felt some boldness from his latest battle win because he surprised even himself when his hand extended toward her touching her hair in a sensual way. Sadie showed a welcoming smile as he caressed her hair.

         “I’m sorry that you have to work rooftop security tonight,” Blake said empathetically.

         “It’s okay. I was hoping to celebrate with you tonight, but we must all take our turn protecting the school,” she replied still smiling.

         “Oh yeah! How were you planning on celebrating?” Blake inquired.

         “Well, I shouldn’t torture myself or taunt you by elaborating with details. Let’s just say that I meant for our plans to involve a visit to the bath house, and more than a few shots of Singani,” she replied placing her hand on his arm that was still extended to touch her hair.

         Blake falsely concluded earlier that he was accustomed enough to her advances that he was beyond blushing. His face reddened, and he attempted to clear his throat.

         “Oh my, I am indeed a distraction for you, my dear Blake,” she said, pretending to be surprised.

         “I fear I will have to visit the bath house alone today,” replied Blake with disappointment in his voice.

         “I’m sure there will be other men there happy to see you. And if you’re lucky, one of them will be Mage Zenith himself!” she said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

         “Go ahead. Keep teasing me and you’ll be late to report for your security detail,” Blake responded trying not to let her get under his skin.

         Sadie sat up quickly startling Blake just a bit. She then slid over his lap, pausing for a few seconds while on top of him as if it was the only way she could leave her bed. Blake could hardly contain restraint in his response. He decided to remain where he was as Sadie made her way to the doorway of her room. Before she exited, she turned her head and winked at him. And then she was gone.   

        Blake remained seated on her bed for a moment, contemplating what he should do next. He decided that he would head directly to the bath house. He needed to empty his mind of all the distractions that had taken place. He especially needed to heal his body of the toll that was taken during his training and subsequent battles. Blake felt his body probably also needed a proverbial cleansing from the distraction of lust toward Sadie.

         Getting up from Sadie’s bed, he returned to his room and fetched his towel. Again, it was fresh and clean. Once again, the wondering of who was changing his towels daily crossed his mind. But he decided not to dwell on such trivial thoughts. Blake exited his room and then his dorm house. He decided to take one of the paths the patio offered to lead to the center where the flag pole was located. He paused looking around him at the beauty of the grounds that were so well maintained. He stopped to admire the beauty of the roses. He then observed a bee landing on a hydrangea. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a humming bird. It was fluttering above a large sunflower.

         “What a beautiful sight to admire!” Blake thought to himself.

         His thoughts were startled by a shrill whistle.

         Blake’s eyes left the beauty of the humming bird as he scanned the patio looking into the direction from which the whistle had come. The patio was empty. He could see no one. Then the whistle came again. It wasn’t loud. It was subtle. In fact, one could have dismissed it for the call of a bird. Blake looked up, in the direction of the entrance to the school and when he did so, his eyes confirmed the source of the noise. Sadie stood atop of the roof taunting him with a smile that would melt any heart. Seeing that she had finally gotten a hold of this attention, she motioned her hand, beckoning him to come closer. Blake looked both ways and still seeing no one, he made his way closer.

         “Have fun at the bath house!” she said teasing him yet again.

         “Stay focused on your job!” Blake retorted trying to fight back her jest.

         “Okay, okay. Just be careful not to stare as I walk away…” she declared.

         Blake realized that because of her perch on the rooftop, he would be privy to a view of her that he had only imagined to this point. He then remembered why he had chosen at the time of pause at the bath house, “I need to cleanse myself of this temptation,” he concluded.

         She began walking away, but he was able to break free from his stare just in time not to see anything private. Blake began walking in the direction of the bath house.

         Blake was surprised to find the bath house empty. He shed his robe and entered the first pool. It felt like magic. His body instantly felt relaxed. The warm water had a mysterious therapeutic power that began to touch every ailment he could sense from the day’s events. Blake was a fan of the outdoors, so he decided to quickly move toward the outer pool. Outside the day was now fading into late afternoon. Soon it would be dusk. The evening meal would be served, but Sadie would not be in attendance as she would still be assigned to her security detail.

         “How in the hell am I still thinking of her? It’s time to close my eyes and practice the exercise taught to me by my late drunk mentor Apollos,” Blake thought simultaneously questioning and scolding himself.

         “What do you hear?”

         I hear the gentle water of this hot spring.

         “What do you feel?”

         I feel the water’s healing touch. It is healing my physical body and clearing my mind of all distractions. I feel that this tradition of bathing in a hot spring is a necessary tradition for my life in this world moving forward.

         “What do you sense?”

         I sense that Natan represents a different race or Kingdom just as Sadie does. I sense that he is in disguise hoping not to be discovered. My two allies in this world I find myself in are both students in disguise. I still sense that does not pose a threat to me, but I must look for opportunities to ascertain his true identity.

         Blake was once again uncertain how much time had passed while he was in his meditative state, but when his eyes finally opened, he discovered he that the sun was now setting. Dusk would soon be upon him. Blake exited the hot spring quickly feeling grateful for understanding his purpose for the evening.

         “It’s time to figure out who Natan is, and why he is here at the Calvin School of Magic. Sadie will not be a distraction for me tonight. I must look for an opportunity after the evening meal, and convince him not to retire quickly to his room as he has on all the previous nights.”