Pandora Chronicles

5 - My Pupil

***Istoviir’s POV***

I walked to my room thinking about Marchus’ words, and rested for a short time. I found myself dreaming that I was with Wolf. My dream showed her walking to the book house. When I awoke I just had to see her. I left the castle in a blink, and appeared inside a book. The book jumped from the shelf and opened and I stood up and stepped out. I closed it and placed it back on the shelf, and went to look for her. I had many portals in the city that I could use this way, and in most cases, could even just blink myself out of mid-air. I found her sitting at a table with a stack of books, writing in one of her own different notes from each volume. I watched her for some time as she devoured book after book like a dragon and found that Marchus was serious when he said she was different.

She went to collect another armful of manuscripts, and was climbing to the top of the ladder, 30 teths from the cold stone floor. (Roughly 30 ft). She got to the top but as she reached for her book, she lost her balance and plummeted backwards towards the floor. I panicked, and appeared quickly beneath her and caught her just before she hit the ground.

Her hair lay on the floor, but her head rested in my hand only a few lengths from it. Her feet were in the air for she had come down head first, and my other hand supported her back. Her skin was even paler than usual, and she was as amazed as I was that she was not dead. Her feet touched the floor as her back arched, and as I brought her up slowly I asked her, “What,” I paused to think of how to say it, “was in your head?” I fumbled my language here, for I did not mean for it to come out so rude, and she immediately became defensive.

“I wanted to study the Ilythrin Animalia.” She said sweetly. “It is a larger volume than I realized, and I lost my footing. I did not mean to cause you any trouble, Your Highness, I can manage.” She finished as she pushed me away and climbed up the ladder once more.

I snatched her off before she could protest. “Allow me.” I said, raising my hand and the book left its place on the shelf. “It is best for the floor, in case you fall again.” I said laughing, once again not meaning to be rude.

“You have humor, Your Highness.” She smiled rather bitterly, “A rarity amongst nobility.” She finished and took the book from mid-air and returned to her table to read and take her notes.

I felt like an ass and sat beside her. “I meant not to be offensive, are you alright?” I asked.

“I am fine.” She said sharply. “Thank you for saving the floor.” She didn’t look up from her book.

“Have you eaten?” I pressed.

“Not yet. I have been very busy.” She continued reading and flipping vigorously through the pages with her right hand and writing notes in her book with her left. I closed the book. She opened it again without a second thought as if I had never closed it. I closed it again, and again she opened it. I closed it again and she looked at me coldly as she opened it once more, giving me a small glimpse of the poison Marchus spoke of. She began to read.

I smiled and closed the book keeping my hand on it this time and said, “Marchus said you were stubborn, but I knew not he meant as this.”

“I never told you my master was Wicksthorn.” She said, puzzled.

“No, you did not. Wicksthorn told me you were his apprentice.” I said standing her up and walking out of the house. “I saw him last night, when he was arguing to get you into the Solicere.”

“Solicere?!” She asked, shocked. “That is the Ilythrin Aca...”

“...Xas, xas.” I interrupted. “He succeeded.”

“But,” She began, “I cannot leave my master, and how could I attend?”

“It is your decision.” I told her as I led her through a door. “Should you choose, xas, you will not attend the academy as other students do, I have been selected to instruct you. The normal academy is not fit for your particular needs.”

“You mean while the King himself may have allowed me to go, the Masters of the Academy would never allow it.” She said knowing all too well the truth of the matter. I offered her no more explanation than a comforting smile. I was ashamed of my people for that.

We had entered the same tavern as the night of the fights, and sat down at a table. The place was empty and as we spoke, the food seemed to appear, for Wolf had never seen anyone bring it and our eyes were fixed on eachother. The unsavory barmaid I had seen hassling her was nowhere in sight.

“May I be blunt, Your Highness?” She asked.

“I wish you would.” I answered, hating how formal she had been trained to be with me.

“If I were your pupil, would I actually be taught?” She asked as politely as she could think too.

I knew exactly what she meant, and smiled. “Xas.” I told her. “I promised,” I smiled as I remembered the word, “Marchus I would take very good care of you. You are very important to him, and I feel honored that he entrusts you to me.” She could do nothing but smile embarrassingly, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of red.

We talked for only a short time more and then I returned her to the book house to finish, “The Ilythrin Animalia.” It was very pleasant, but I didn’t want to overwhelm her. She seemed so delicate.

For the next day and one half before Marchus came to fetch her, I watched her closely from a distance without her seeing me. I watched the way she studied, spoke, moved, everything. She stayed late and arrived early to the book house, took a one-meal break in the middle of the day and then returned. She was a devoted student, and I hoped I could be a proper teacher.