Initium Novum: Dracones #1

More than awkward

The sun could not be seen when Zar was awake. Up and about outside practicing stances and stretching till sweat covered his body. In the end a bath was needed, he had not washed for the past two days (a miracle his stinky scent did not go through the air), falling into a lake could not be deemed as giving oneself a wash. And he supposed a washroom was somewhere in the large house.

He left the little white bundles hunched together on the flattened mattress where they slept. Knowing they were not going to wake up soon and made sure that there was no washroom on the first floor. Then proceeded up the wooden stairs, feeling the smooth surface with his toes. On the second floor, Zarmeideus didn't know where the washrooms were, he was only partly paying attention to Pyris when she was speaking he mostly heard about the 'sharing of rooms' everything else came through one ear and left through the next.

Honestly, he did not find it necessary to listen to the details.

Facing the wrongs of his decision now an 'I told you so' would have been a face slap to him. Zar now only had another alternative.... to pick, choose and refuse a room.

On the first guess, he opened the door to find two lumps on a broad bed, both at opposing ends, the distance between them great. He had gently closed the door then. The second guess led him to an almost ghostly looking room, this one was further down the hall in the left corner near to the second set of stairs that led to the third floor. He only blinked at the empty room before closing it.

On the third guess he did find the washroom, thankfully.

Upon stepping inside Zarmeideus was stunned, was the people in his village and the ones living here the same type of people?

Of course not.

Back in his old village the people living there had outside washrooms, a little stall made outside with their unclean water pumping system and tubs. Some others used the old chamber pot to complete their business and others simply bathed in the sight of others (those who did not own an outside washroom). He himself had one of those little outside washrooms, but most times he would not use it and go to the ice cold streams instead. From this alone, you could tell that his village was extremely poor and remote in contrast to here; they could not even mention their little outside stall.

The room was tiled with an auburn leaves pattern. Even the walls had tiles. The place, he supposed was the bath was sunken in the ground with some sort of hole in it to let out the water. And a water pump at one end, this thing was a flat surface was needed to be stepped on with an incline underneath it in order for the water to flow through a head on the wall.

Other than that there was a bowled thing in the corner, he could only think it was what there to replace the chamber pot. He could not tell the technology behind it, there was only a hole in the bottom with some water inside.

The ravenette could only assume how it worked, the technology was far different from the one he was used to.

Quickly he figured it out and washed with water only. Then he donned the tunic on his wet body, after all it was the only thing he had to wear. Not much time was spent there, minutes later he left, just wrapping his lush hair in a quick bun with the tips slightly damp, because of stray water. Upon leaving newly refreshed, the place that felt hot a moment ago was now cooler.

Surprisingly, someone other than himself was awake. That someone was Amaris, he bumped into her upon his exit of the washroom. They both stopped and stared at each other, silently. This was the first time he would view her face, if not for her outstanding silver hair and temperament or aura he wouldn't have been able to recognize her.

He knew her skin would be supple and clear, that much was obvious, her skin looked paler than the others but tanner than his with fitting features on her pretty face that had smooth outlines of everything and anything even miniscule. She had a sharp jawline and a straight nose with full red lips and intriguing golden eyes.

Said eyes narrowed at him, glaring sharply. To returned the favour Zarmeideus's blue eyes became sharper than before. The two were so alike but completely different.

Resembling two apex predators that could not beat the other. On brink of death and too stubborn to give up.

So it seemed.

The two didn't move for what would feel like a long time, the air quickly ascending to tense and stifling. Amaris was the first to move, even so, that did not mean she had given up the fight. No, in fact, she wanted to shower and get a move on. So she opted for the more provoking action of bumping his left shoulder.

Scoffing lightly when we did.

They did not say anything to each other, only parting ways and leaving the terse silence. You would think that leaving, Zar would most likely feel the frustration and may have stomped his way in anger, no. His emotions both on the inside and out were calm, neutral and collected. He didn't expect any better from the female predator, may have even predicted this outcome, who knows. Either way if she did or did not do it he would not back down or bend over, never have and never will.

He was no coward nor was he a pushover.

Already back down stairs and in his room he sat in lotus position on the cold floor. He went into the meditative state drowning out everything else in the immediate area. The time his mind lifted was when he felt little paws. Light now streamed inside,warm and heated up only one side of the room. The cublings whimpered up at Zar probably hungry once more, the little cubs could smell the different flavours of food just outside the door, honestly they were tempted to go outside but the door restricted their actions. The only other choice was to wake up Zar.

Knowing fully well what they wanted and he had to get it, he got up and opened the door for them. Allowing the little things to run around. He would not lead instead he would watch them from afar, away from the awkwardness surrounding everyone. As little animals, they could just ignore tense atmosphere and so could he but he would rather avoid them fully, not for cowardice but for getting close to them over all.

So now Zar watched the cubs eat whilst staying far from that bluenette, at this point he could not spot the other two that was claimed to also live here. Not even once, but he knew they were, oddly he could sense them. Not by presence but something else.....

It was when he thought this, that an average height dark brown haired girl entered the room. Her dark eyes telling lots and so did her face, her body was not slender like Amaris nor short with a regular figure like Pyris, more straight than curved but you wouldn't... no- couldn't imagine a different figure that would go well with her face. Her face was gentle like, not cold or filled with restrained excitement just gentle, she was a little beauty in her own rights, with that calm aura surrounding herself drawing in the population.

Even with this temperament she looked kind-of shy or was it embarrassment. Her cheeks flushed a little as she waved at Amaris, Pyris and Keanu. They returned the gesture.

"Uh- Haneul won't be coming down, he-"

Pyris face was showing worry as she interupted loudly.

"Oh my, is he alright, did he get sick?"

"Well..- he."

"Stupid, he doesn't want to come down don't you get it." This girl, Amaris, was so straightforward and could tell right away the dealings of what was going on.

The girl's cheek turned darker in embarrassment, this person Haneul was her brother after all, it was only natural. She scratched her hair awkwardly.

As Zarmeideus saw that the conversation was getting heated the cubs at the same time filled their tummies and he called them a low whistle that startled the brunette. Only because of the whistle did she know that he was there at that moment, and was shocked silly from his presence and face, the latter did not matter very much and really she only saw the little creatures passing her legs stealthily.

Keanu and Pyris looked up at Zarmeideus leaving while Amaris ate her homemade meal. After the little encoumter the four did not see him after, the group took this for time to gossip. The girl sat down on the empty chair a seat over from Amaris opposite of Pyris.

"Hey, Pyris!"

"Hi Arael."

It was a little awkward for they were talking some time ago, but then there was a moment of silence before-

"Who was he?" Naturally Arael was curious and couldn't restrain herself from asking.

"Well, he is our last bonded one and I- I mean we don't know his name, not even his servant. Nor do we know anything about him." Pyris said.

Arael was with a disbelieving expression, which servant didn't know their master's name.

"To me, that guy is a jerk, nothing fascinating." Amaris made a cut in the dry meat and other foods elegantly.

Jerk?

At that moment the ever quiet but polite Keanu rose. He was finished eating.

"I will now take my leave." His voice was gentle and soothing, he turned with his bowl in hand to place it on a table in the kitchen before leaving swiftly. No one else knew about this morning and unknowingly, Zarmeideus had woken up Amaris. The time when he was busy looking around for the washroom. The boy had opened their room door, and being a female she naturally thought that the other was taking a look at two defenceless ladies.

Such a p*****t! The young lass stabbed the food a little too hard causing the surrounding persons to flinch. They warily looked at her.

Finishing the meal early all decided to retire, there was absolutely nothing to do in this thirty six hours and they would only suffocate each other with the atmosphere. So with little to no words however walking along side each other to the stairs, but unexpectedly there was a knock.

Strange.

They weren't expecting anyone.

Nevertheless, the two others look at Pyris expectantly encouraging her in their minds to open the door. She did so without coaxing or any hesitance. And had on a genuine smile.

Upon opening the door there was a slight pause before she was talking excitedly.

Amaris nor Arael could hear or see who was at the door, truthfully only Arael truly wanted to see. While Amaris could not figure why she was still standing in place. Best she headed up to the room.  They then spotted servants, like ants appearing for sugar they came from no where and disappeared deep into the building. Paint, brooms, kitchen utensils and many more. Others were.... furnitures, bed heads, mattresses and others that were lost under the many servants passing through. Then a man stepped into the house, you could tell he was different by his dressing and how he carried himself. But either way people had to wonder, who was this person? Just yesterday they were told that they couldn't help to furnish this dwelling, the students themselves would have to find jobs and do it themselves.

They could tell it was this man, who came shimmering in a golden light. It wasn't wrong to assume that all these stuffs were theirs. If it wasn't for them then.... what was the need of bringing it here. Plenty of persons passed them on the staircase and another bed and mattress set went to the living room. Somewhere in the background you could see Pyris directing the servants movement, where each section of the house was and that they should place it there and so forthm

The man his golden locks and smile was eyecatching with slight age showing on his face. Beside him stood a single servant with only few luggages on his back. They didn't look that many but had a supple amount of things inside. The two stepped walked further into the house and greeted the rest at the staircase

"Hello, good morning, good morning." The man bowed his head at each greeting, clearly he was of high status, but bowed to those lower than himself, weird.

"H-Hello." Arael curtsied.

"So, I'm Nefèrro Baslandel, but you can call me Nefèrro. My reason for being here today is because my son is your luqi aetra. I sincerely apologize for his behavior." Faces were made.

"Who are you speaking about?"

Amaris said from her spot.

"Uhm yh.... Zarmeideus, my foster kid is he alright?"

To the naked eye no one could see the nervous fidgeting of the High Lord. The man already started to adapt to being a real father, and he was only feeling what was at the edge of a father's feelings. The starting of anxiousness. By his tone no one would notice, underlining the nerves would be clear.

The teenagers only assumed that Zarmeideus was that disrespectful ravenette. But only kept it inside, not wanting to gossip about him in front of his father. Matter a fact his father seemed so nice, too nice, to have such a child is just...

Wanting to seem courteous the man was led to the living room, where the flocking servants were rearranging all. Placing single chairs and couches with cushions.

By looks it may be comfortable, they placed chairs that about four persons could take a sit. While some other servants were painting the mild dew walls. In what look like the only colour they had.

A nice shade of white. Nothing majestic.

"Due to your silence, I can only assume that you guys aren't getting along well." It was more like there wasn't much of an effort; between anyone.... at all.

It's not just your son.... sir.

Silence still went through the air not a single mouth opening to even utter a breath.Only sounds of work could be heard.He sighed dejectedly taking the silence as a yes.

"I, High Lord Nefèrro ask that you bear with him please. You just have to understand that he isn't really a talkative person nor was he around people alot, so try not to blame him for not answering. Also he has a bad attitude- no that's too off topic. All I am saying is that take care of him mhm." While he nodded, his sunshiny aura made the others unconsciously agree with him, nodding their heads as well. A brilliant smile appeared on the Lord's face.

Then realization clicked l, his eyes widened slightly before he snapped his fingers.

"Ah!? Before I forget, Zarmeideus doesn't eat animal meat or anything relating to that. So if your making food or anything try not to put meat on his plate. Can you just imagine how he not even told me that he didn't eat meat!! I swore that he didn't eat for like three days, before I asked and he told me... ish."

Pyris was dumbfounded. Their wasn't much change to Amaris, most likely not finding the information necessary. Arael just did not have a reaction because she, in particular wasn't at dinner, yesterday. Just then said ravenette entered, ancient folks would say that this child would live long. For right after he was mentioned he appeared. Taking single glances at the servants before finding the two particular ugly, abnormal discoloured bags on the floor. He went for them not even finding time to care about the present Lord and just as he arrived he left to the corner hallway.

Nefèrro had intended to greet him, maybe a little hug would suffice. But seeing that cold face he decided that it may not be the best idea. In the end he let him leave. In the mind of others this scene wasn't quite right. Respect was due to thy father.

Either way.

Nefèrro coughed before his speech.

"Ah yes, I specifically asked Meliane to prepare your school schedules." And as if the gods granted a wish the servant female became visible. She handed out the tiny scrolls to each individual, as if she knew them by name. Having only three left in her palms she gave an extra to Arael, for her brother.

After the woman disappeared throught the broad hallway and up the stairs. Very quickly for her short stature. They looked at where she previouslt was before shifting their gaze back towards Neferro who could only bid his farewell.

Unexpectantly the blond hugged them. First Pyris who was delighted really. Arael who was a bit shy only Amaris refused the hug right as the man came. Placing her palm in his face bringing him to a stop.

Even so, the man wasn't embarrassed.

"Thank you for having me on such a short notice, please take care of Zarmeideus for me. And don't worry the servants will soon be finished with the placing of furniture, cleaning and the paint job. So... later."

The man left in a golden shimmer. That was a little unexpected. Through the whole ordeal they barely said anything only listened. What he said wouldn't benefit them other than with his son part, who was bonded to them through energy.

They could pinpoint his exact location, for he was near but the other lads could only be sensed faintly. Now for real this time the lasses went up the stairs and disappeared to their individual close to finish furnitured room.

They didn't see each other until dinner time.