The Burning Flowers

Chapter X

Scott’s words did manage to bring Abi a small modicum of comfort, but she was far from feeling at her best. Unfortunately, she was out of time to give the matter any further thought, for the trip to Noctalus was already upon them, leaving her with no choice but to bid Scott goodbye before rushing back to the beach where, at the scheduled hour, Ryokumo cut open the portal and provided her a means of returning to Ijiria. Since they would all be getting up early the following morning, she and Ryokumo didn’t remain in Faye’s dorm for long, wanting to get to bed as soon as they could. Abi preferred it that way since it was quite obvious in how Ryokumo, Faye, and Jessi interacted with her that they were concerned about her, but Abi really didn’t feel up to talking to anybody. The results of her final exam were humiliating, so she desired nothing more than to pretend it never happened. Since she couldn’t change the past, she wanted to push it from her mind completely and give her full attention to the coming holiday. Scott had recommended that some relaxation could be good for her health, and though such a thing would be impossible once they departed for Stellareid, she at least intended to try and enjoy the Festival of the Shadow Solstice at Noctalus.

Yeah, Scott’s right… We’re not actually on any assignment until the solstice is over, so our time in Noctalus is a great opportunity to wind down and refresh myself. Not only am I finally getting to see my best friends’ home city, but now Faye and Jessi are going to be with us. Iris, too! It’s going to be fun to hang out and celebrate with people I love! Right…it’s going to be so much fun…

Yet, no matter how many times she thought those words, her emotions simply wouldn’t match them. Before Piriit, she had been looking forward to the holidays more than she ever had in her life, but after what happened with Mikea, her horrendous final performance, and the ever-present guilt for what she was doing to Scott, the thought of being excited for anything felt impossible.

Her heart and mind were filled with a dread she could not rid herself of.

When she arrived in her dorm room, she certainly didn’t fail to miss the curious, and perhaps even suspicious, glance Album sent her from the couch, and though the light mage did not pry into where she had been, Abi knew based on what she said at the library a few weeks prior that she was very conscious of her frequent disappearances. The Angel was also present in the room, currently in Nigreos’s form. Abigail made small talk with them, though she couldn’t recall even a word of what was said, before she and Album decided it was time to get ready for bed. However, once the light mage had headed off to the bathroom, Abi pulled the realm dagger out of her bag and handed it off to the ancient being, who, as always, placed it safely inside of its strange body, where nobody would be able to find or sense it without The Angel’s permission. It never demanded to know what she and Ryokumo used it for, and as far as Abi was aware, it kept its promise not to tell Nigreos and Album that they used it. She was grateful for its help, but at the same time, she could never help being suspicious as to why it was so cooperative with her.

When Album returned, the two of them bid each other good night and tucked into bed. It was yet another sleepless night for Abigail Reiner, who did not get even a second of unconscious bliss before the first rays of sunlight began to shine through the curtains. Not only was her mind far too preoccupied with all the stress in her life, but her nausea had gotten much worse once she lay down, forcing her to crawl out of bed and rush to the bathroom at one point. She didn’t throw up, but she felt as if she had come very close. A part of her even started suspecting that there was something physically wrong with her, and that it wasn’t merely stress causing her headaches and sickness, but since her affinity was all about curing wounds and disease, she knew as a fact that if she were coming down with something, she would know. On top of that, when she attempted to use magic to tap into her body’s systems and see if anything was wrong, she came up with nothing.

Left with no other conclusion but to accept that her mental health was taking a physical toll, Abi forced herself to endure the discomfort for the remainder of the night, knowing that her exhaustion the following day would only serve to make her friends even more concerned for her.

As predicted, the first thing Album said to her when the two women got out of bed was, “Abi, are you alright? You look awful… Did you even sleep?”

The young nature mage forced herself to put on as pleasant of a demeanor as she could and reassured her roommate. “Yeah, I’m perfectly fine! I was just a bit too excited for the trip so it was harder to get to sleep last night, but if I need any extra rest, I’ll sleep in the carriage. We’ll have plenty of time to relax in the coming days, after all!”

Album was clearly unconvinced, and since the light mage had known her now for two and half years, and had spent all of that time living with her, she would not be so easily fooled by Abigail’s mask. “Hey… If you need to talk, I’m here for you. I know that exam didn’t go the way you thought it would, and while I can’t change your grade or anything, I can at least be a shoulder to lean on. Even if you just need a hug… Just ask…”

Album’s smile was warm and genuine, a sharp contrast to the fake one Abi was wearing, and while she was beyond grateful to have a friend like her, the simple fact of the matter was that she couldn’t lean on Album. Her friend didn’t know the truth about Scott Reiner and Omaruo, and though Abi still heavily considered finally letting her in on the secret, she feared the damage had already been done. If Album found out that she had been lying to her for all this time, the trust built between them would fall apart, and their relationship might never properly recover. Album was a sweet and loyal girl, and she probably would have understood Abi’s situation back when it first began, but that ship had already sailed.

So I’m just going to lie… I’m going to keep lying to my best friend’s face… Even more guilt began to assault her, leaving Abi wondering if there would ever come a day when she would be freed from the constant bombardment of that nasty emotion. Probably not, though. I think I’ve screwed too many things up to the point that I may never have a solution that fixes everything… I can’t have both Scott and Album at the same time…

“Thank you, Al’,” Abi replied softly. “But I’m honestly fine, I promise. Sure, the exam was far from what I wanted, but I passed the class and now, it’s time for the holidays! No point dwelling on it, right?”

Album’s smile briefly wavered, silently communicating that she still wasn’t buying it, but true to her polite nature, the girl didn’t press further. “R-right…”

Since they were departing the Academy around nine o’clock, Abi and Album had packed all of their belongings the previous night, meaning all they had to do to get ready that morning was follow their typical routines. Briefly checking The Angel’s liquet canister to see if the creature was awake yet, the two of them headed down to the showers to wash up, changing into their more comfortable traveling clothes afterwards and making small talk as they brushed their teeth and hair, Abi adding the extra step of weaving her flower crown around her head. By the time they returned to their dorm to collect their bags, they found The Angel, now in Album’s form, laying on the couch with its hands behind its head, quietly observing them with a knowing look as it often did. Abi still wasn’t sure how she felt about it, for as helpful as it was, she always felt like it saw right through them, straight to their deepest and darkest secrets.

“Do you really have to take my form?” Album grumbled as she walked past it to where her bag was laying under the window across the room from the door. “How many times do I have to ask you to be Nigreos when you’re around me? I hate talking to myself.”

The Angel laughed, as if finding Album’s discomfort funny. “Come on, Little Light! I spend most of my time with you around, so if I did as you said, I’d never get to take this form! I don’t see the big deal!”

“And I still don’t understand why you can’t room with the boys more often,” Album retorted.

“I like you girls more.”

The Angel spoke as if that answer wasn’t suspicious in its own right, and wanting to put an end to the two Albums’ bickering, Abi intervened.

“Well good morning, Angel,” she greeted. “We’re about finished getting everything prepared so are you ready to go or do you have anything you need to do first?”

It shrugged, gesturing towards its chest as it said, “Everything I’ve got is inside of me so just say the word and I’m ready to be off.”

“Perfect. In that case—”

Abigail was cut off mid-sentence by a knocking at the door, and nearly faster than her eye could follow, The Angel’s form melted into a black and white sludge, shooting across the room towards the empty canister on the dining table before filling it. That action alone indicated that it was not a royal team member at the door, so when Abi turned back to see who was there, she was wholly surprised to see Faye, though she was mildly curious why Jessi wasn’t with her.

“Mornin’, Abi,” the rock mage muttered hesitantly. “You have a moment to talk? I know we don’t have a lot of time before we have to be down at the gates, but…well, this is important.”

She was immediately on her guard since it was rare to see Faye so on edge. The taller girl was a bit paler than usual, and she was fidgeting with her fingers, leading Abigail to wonder if this had to do with Scott and Omaruo.

Is it possible she’s finally grown fed up with risking her safety for me? I mean, I’ve feared this might happen at some point, but I had hoped I still had more time. I can’t really blame her though.

“Of course,” she answered quietly. “Do you want privacy?”

Faye nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably best.”

Yup. If she doesn’t want Album overhearing then it must absolutely be related to Omaruo.

Wanting to be a good friend, Abi tried not to let her disappointment show as she called back to Album, letting her know she was stepping outside for a second, then followed Faye into the corridor, though she didn’t fail to miss Album’s surprise when the two of them left without her. Since it was still early on the first day of break, there wasn’t anybody around, so they were able to quickly find a secluded corner away from the dorms to talk, and once they had made sure they wouldn’t be overheard, Faye began.

“Alright, look, Abi. I’m not really sure how to ask this question without things getting a bit awkward, so I’m just going to request that you forgive me in advance, okay?”

She had a powerful desire to lower her eyes and avoid Faye’s gaze, but after everything the rock mage had done for her over the last few years, she knew it would be a disrespectful thing to do, so she swallowed back the storm of emotions forming in her chest and nodded.

“That’s fine, Faye. Go ahead…”

“Right, okay…” Taking a deep breath, as if to mentally prepare herself, Faye wiped her hands on her pants and went on. “Look, I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened with your nature final yesterday. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been an exceptional mage when it comes to nature magic, better even than some professionals, so I couldn’t wrap my head around how you could have possibly failed an endurance test, and then…well, something occurred to me…and I realized it might also be the cause of your headaches…”

Wait…what?

Faye was taking the discussion in a completely different direction than she had expected, making it seem as if this wasn’t about her involvement in the Omaruo trips. But if that wasn’t the topic Faye was trying to broach, then Abi couldn’t fathom what might have her so anxious. She didn’t get a chance to ask before an unexpected question left Faye’s mouth.

“Look, I’m not usually one to pry into personal matters, but I have to know…have you and Scott had sex recently?”

Abi blinked a few times, questioning whether she heard the question correctly, but based on Faye’s beet red skin and the fact that she had turned away with embarrassment, it became clear that she heard perfectly.

Why…does she need to know about that?

“Er, well, erm…” That certainly wasn’t a topic she wished to discuss with anybody, but given Faye’s prior insistence, she forced herself to be honest. “I-I mean…yeah, a few times over the years… Why?”

“And were you using protection? Did you have the proper charms in place?” Faye added.

“I’m not sure why this is relevant, but…” Abi trailed off, her eyes going wide as the purpose of the question suddenly rammed into her.

Wait…? Did we…? I mean, when I got back from Piriit and rushed over to Wilham to see him, a lot kinda just happened in the heat of the moment. I usually cast the charms since magic is more effective than Omaruan birth control, but did I remember that time? Hold on… The nausea, the headaches, the weaker mana endurance—as if something is siphoning off some of my mana… No…

“Abi?” Faye began softly. “Is it possible…that you’re pregnant?”

***

At around eight in the morning, Rennigan Glaus and Hirokol Pafran departed their dorm room and made their way towards the campus gates, much to the clear displeasure of Hiro, who incessantly complained the entire duration of the walk that they were going to get there far too early. Rennigan didn’t want to hear it, for he was bound and determined to do everything on this assignment flawlessly. His father had succeeded at getting him permission to join the trip to Stellareid with the royal team—an opportunity at a level he may never get again—so he wanted to ensure that there wasn’t even a slim possibility he and Hiro could be late. Therefore, even though they arrived long before anybody else, Rennigan was perfectly content wiping away the snow and sitting down on the curbside to wait. Hiro, almost certainly for no reason other than being petty, refused to be anywhere near him, instead leaning up against the brick gatepost behind Rennigan.

Whatever. Sulk all you like, Pafran. I’ve done you a favor.

It was around a half hour later that the next person arrived, and Rennigan couldn’t help watching her with mild curiosity, for while he had heard about her from Faye once or twice, he had actually yet to meet the Kotonorish mage, Iris Mackia. Unfortunately, it was almost instantly made clear that Iris had been told plenty about him, for she didn’t so much as glance at him before moving to the post opposite Hiro. True to his sociable nature, Hiro began making idle conversation with her, but Rennigan tuned them out completely as they waited for the next set to arrive.

This time, he was met with intense disappointment.

“Good morning, Glaus! Your best friend has arrived!”

Rennigan refused to turn around, not wanting to give Ryokumo the satisfaction he clearly sought. “Well isn’t that a pity. I had hoped you’d die in your sleep, Caeli. Truly, this is not a kind world.”

“Oh how I l love that sharp tongue of yours!” Aggravating as always, Ryokumo plopped himself down on the curb beside Rennigan and threw his arm around him—an arm Rennigan instantly and aggressively shoved off before moving ten feet to the right. “Anyway, Glaus, are you excited for our first official mission together?”

Rennigan scowled. “I am plenty excited for the assignment, but I am not happy that you are coming with me.”

“Actually, you are coming with me” Ryokumo corrected. “After all, you’re the one crashing our royal team assignment. And with that said, I suppose that means I outrank you here, doesn't it? The royal team is supposed to be the greatest Academy team of this generation, so by that logic, you should be bowing to me as your superior!”

Don’t kill him, it’s not worth it. Don’t kill him, it’s not worth it. Don’t kill him, it’s not worth it.

Repeating those words like a mantra, Rennigan clenched his teeth and glanced back over his shoulder to find not only Hiro and Iris, but Nigreos and Lunara watching him with amusement, the latter of the four barely holding back her laughs.

“I imagine you all find this so very funny, don’t you?” he growled.

“Oh absolutely.”

“No comment.”

“Maybe a little bit.”

“Funniest thing I’ve ever seen!”

Hiro, Iris, Nigreos, and Lunara all rattled off their responses, further irritating Rennigan and reminding him how few allies he was going to have on this trip.

This is going to be a nightmare, but I have to just bear it! Don’t let them bother you, Rennigan! You don't need to like any of them, you merely have to work with them! It’s the same approach I’ve taken to my own damn team for the last five semesters! It’s one assignment…one ridiculously important assignment!

As he had feared back when the royal team was first announced, Rennigan had never once been able to surpass Nigreos Noctis, let alone even reach his level. The water mage knew he was the superior student, for he had worked far harder to get what he had than the heir of the Master of Darkness did, but since Nigreos was on the royal team, he had more moments to shine. There wasn’t a soul in Erika who didn’t know the feats of the royal team members in this conflict with the Kosah-Rei, but he would be challenged to find anybody who knew the name “Rennigan Glaus”. In that sense, not only had Rennigan failed to reach Nigreos, but Nigreos was getting farther and farther away, to the point that a time may come where Rennigan could no longer even see him.

And though Caeli has never been a priority to me, his mockery certainly makes it that much more frustrating that even he is leaving me behind. I cannot allow it! Father wants this assignment to be something I can add to my resume—something I can use to convince Master Rana that I’m worth her time! If I could become the Master of Water and sit alongside Noctis as his equal, and even stand above Caeli, then perhaps I don’t have to view these years as a waste…

Rennigan spared another glance over his shoulder to find that Ryokumo had already run back to join the others, chatting cheerfully with Hiro, Nigreos, and Lunara. Iris had moved off to the side, clearly a bit intimidated by the older students, but her slightly anxious features lit up when she saw the four girls on their way to the gates.

Instantly, Rennigan knew something was wrong.

On the surface, Abigail, Faye, Album, and Jessi appeared like their usual selves. Jessi called out excitedly to Hiro and the other boys, rushing over to greet them while Album, as expected, made a b-line to Ryokumo. Faye and Abi greeted Iris with a smile, the former sparing Rennigan her typical cocked eyebrow, as if berating him for something he hadn’t even done yet. Everything appeared perfectly fine, but Rennigan had long since learned to perfectly read the members of his team, and while Hiro and Jessi wore their emotions on their sleeves, Fayela was always a bit more reserved. That was why he dedicated a lot of effort to observing her most subtle expressions and tells, making her easier to work with since guessing her feelings became easier.

She’s on edge about something. I highly doubt she’s nervous about the assignment. That’s just not how she is. She takes everything in stride, always prepared and composed regardless of the situation she finds herself in. It’s one of her few admirable traits, so there’s no way the trip to Stellareid is the cause. She didn’t seem like this yesterday either, so something must have happened overnight. Curious…

Making a mental note to press the subject later, Rennigan turned away once more, having no interest in the socializing taking place behind him, and soon enough, three huge green and gold royal carriages rounded the corner down the street, gracefully rolling towards where he sat. Rennigan bolted to his feet and took a few steps back, straightening his posture and folding his hands behind him, ready to bow before those who stepped out. He was pleased by the fact that Faye, Iris, and even Hiro and Jessi, followed his lead, though the royal team members were far more relaxed and casual.

When the carriages stopped alongside the curb, the driver stepped down and moved to open the door, allowing four individuals to emerge from within: Masters Viiro Noctis and Acostav Luz, the current apprentice of light, Eko, and Princess Ilirianna Iiji herself. Of the four, Rennigan had only ever met Eko back when he was still a student at the Academy, but it was only really in passing, so he hardly had an opinion about the young man. He did, however, hold strong feelings of disgust for Viiro and Acostav, but he knew that biting his tongue in their presence was a necessary evil in order to achieve his ambitions. That being said, even with all this time to mentally prepare himself, he couldn’t deny how surreal and terrifying it was to have finally met such significant figures in the Ijirian Empire.

Viiro Noctis was a large and intimidating man, his skin and well-trimmed short hair pitch black where his eyes were a bright and soulless white. He was built like a barrel with how wide his shoulders were and how thick his torso was, with powerful arms that might have been able to crush Rennigan even without magic. Acostav Luz was, as expected, Viiro’s complete antithesis with his pure white skin, combed-back hair, and bushy mustache, and following the effects of their rituals, his beady eyes were black. He was a far smaller and lankier man, but his slim build did little to minimize his own intimidating presence. As for Princess Ilirianna, even though her expression was far less harsh than the Masters, Rennigan felt more uncomfortable looking her way given who she was. Knowing he needed to make a quick and good first impression, Rennigan bent his back parallel to the ground and greeted them before they even had a chance to speak.

“A pleasure to meet you, Masters, Princess. My name is Rennigan Glaus and I look forward to working alongside you in this coming assignment!”

He was rather pleased with the fact that he was the first one to properly address them, but that pleasure was, as always, stomped to dust by the mocking voice of Ryokumo Caeli.

“Oh please, Glaus, no need to kiss their asses before they’re even out of the carriage!” Slapping Rennigan’s bent back with more force than necessary, Ryokumo stepped up to stand beside him and grinned. “Sorry about him! He’s a bit of a suck-up, you know?”

Having to once again contain his fury, Rennigan rose and tried his best not to stare at Ryokumo as he gauged the reactions of the still silent Masters, only to find Viiro and Acostav glaring at them both.

“So you’re Kloras’s boy, eh?” Acostav grunted, twisting his lips in what looked to be disgust. “Well, if you really want to please us, why don’t you tell your father to stop being such a selfish piece of garbage. If you can’t do that, then don’t speak to us.”

Rennigan had no idea how to respond to such a blunt and harsh dismissal of him, and though his instinct was to verbally lash out and defend his father’s honor, he was not about to challenge the Master of Light. Because of that, he was quite relieved that everybody but Ryokumo was behind him, for it meant he didn’t have to see their almost certainly amused reactions.

Acostav’s black eyes then shifted towards Ryokumo, turning somehow sharper than they were when directed at Rennigan. “And perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to insult one’s respect for etiquette, Ryokumo Caeli. Normally, those in the presence of Masters are quick to bow.”

As if Acostav’s words served to remind them, those around Rennigan and Ryokumo bent forward, Nigreos and Album included. Not sure what was expected of him since he had already greeted them the proper way, Rennigan decided to play it safe and bowed a second time. For a few seconds, Ryokumo remained upright, as if debating whether to challenge Acostav Luz’s command, but Rennigan glanced up just in time to see Ilirianna fix the wind mage with an exasperated look, prompting Ryokumo to join the others.

“Excellent,” Acostav grunted, not seeming terribly pleased. “Anyway, we are on a tight schedule so let's not waste any precious time. Load your things into the carriages and let's be off!”

Leaving no room for conversing, Acostav snapped them to work as the two teams, plus Iris and Lunara, hurriedly began helping the carriage drivers put their things into the back compartments. Rennigan was curious to know which carriages they would be assigned to ride in, for he hoped he would have a chance to share a coach with Princess Ilirianna, though he fully expected them to be separated by teams. Yet, neither of those options were what Ilirianna announced, and what was actually stated was by far the worst one.

“I’ll be riding in the front carriage with the Masters, the girls will take the second one, and the boys will ride in the back.”

Huh? The boys will ride in the back? Does that mean…?

“Well, isn’t this going to be fun!? We’re sharing a carriage, Glaus!” cheered Ryokumo, throwing his arm around him for the second time that morning, only from Rennigan to shove it off the same way he did before.

Somebody kill me. Just take my head and rip it right off…

Once again, he couldn’t very well whine to the Masters, so he choked down his dread and forced himself to obey. Within five minutes, the bags were all packed, and they split up into their designated rides with Faye, Abi, Album, Jessi, Iris, and Lunara filing into the second carriage while Rennigan, Nigreos, Ryokumo, Hiro, and Eko took the last one. As he had expected and feared, Ryokumo insisted that he sit on the same bench as Rennigan, with the other three taking the seats directly ahead of them before the door was shut and the carriages began to rumble down the road, in the direction of the southern gates.

With that, the trip to the Great City of Noctalus had begun, and while Rennigan was annoyed beyond belief by how things had unfolded that morning alone, he was not about to let himself get discouraged so quickly. The assignment didn’t truly begin until after the solstice, so for now, he had plenty of opportunities to set himself up and get in good with the Masters of Darkness and Light, as well as Princess Ilirianna. The one silver lining to their current carriage occupants was that Eko Luz was probably his bet at getting a route to impressing Acostav.

At such close proximity, Rennigan could now easily see the young man’s resemblance to Album. He had the same polite and quiet demeanor, though he displayed far more confidence than his sister did even these days. His hair was a dark brown and his eyes were rather large and gentle, a sparkling blue that was somehow brighter than Album’s. He was smiling pleasantly, and in Rennigan’s opinion, if he was even half as submissive as his sister, he could be easily manipulated.

“So, not that I’m not glad you’re joining us, Eko,” Nigreos was saying, “but why didn’t you decide to ride with your father? I just figured you’d be sticking with him.”

Eko chuckled and shook his head. “Yes, I know it must seem strange for anybody to give up a seat beside the princess, but with all due respect to my father, I’m at his side more often than not these days. Even I need a break from time to time. And for that matter, it’s quite nice to properly meet the two of you.” Addressing Rennigan and Hirokol, Eko stuck out his hand. “I’m Eko Luz, and for the sake of avoiding any confusion, you can just call me Eko.”

As expected, Hiro was quick to shake his offered hand. “Yeah, nice to meet you, too. I’m Hirokol Pafran, but my friends call me Hiro. As you already know from his little show earlier, this is Rennigan Glaus.”

Ignoring Hiro’s unsubtle prodding, Rennigan forced his smile and nodded. “Yes, a pleasure, Eko.”

The apprentice of light leaned back in the seat and let out a satisfied sigh. “You know, as much as we’ve got an important job ahead of us, I am happy to at least have time to relax at home for a little while. I’ve been looking forward to this vacation and it’ll be good to see Mother again. Neah, as well. How’s she doing, Nigreos?”

Nigreos’s features turned a bit strained at the mention of his littlest sister, and as much as Rennigan disliked the dark mage, he wasn’t so cold that he wouldn’t feel some empathy for what his family was going through in regards to Neah Noctis. Nigreos himself had never conveyed the story to him, rather Abigail had told Faye, who eventually told Rennigan when she got on his case for harassing Nigreos, as if the mage’s tragic home life was a reason to leave him alone.

“She’s…alive,” Nigreos finally muttered. “Abi and I are still doing everything we can, and I’m hoping she’ll be able to figure something out once she meets Neah in person. I have hope, but…I fear it’s a hope that lacks substance.”

Eko nodded somberly. “Well, I believe in her, in you, and in Abigail. You Noctis are no less siblings to me than Album is, so there are few things I want more in this world than for Neah to see her eighteenth birthday. Whatever you need from me, Nigreos, I am happy to provide it.”

“Right…thanks, Eko.”

The carriage fell into a rather uncomfortable silence that even Ryokumo seemed hesitant to break. Perhaps it was because he knew the least about the Noctis situation, or maybe he just wanted to try and turn things in a positive direction, for it was Hirokol who cleared his throat and asked a really stupid question.

“So…since it’s just us boys here, you wanna talk about girls?”

Eko and Nigreos turned to stare at him with mild surprise while Rennigan just put his face in his hands. Hiro was clearly aware of how awkward of a transition that was, but to his credit, he committed to the question.

“Or boys, if you swing that way,” he added, as if that was the issue. “Look, I just thought I’d lighten the mood a little. We can sit in silence, too, if that’s what you guys want to do!”

Ryokumo was the first to properly recover, and to nobody’s surprise, he encouraged this direction of the conversation with a sly grin. “No, I think that’s a wonderful question! Pafran, since you’re the one who proposed, I think it’s only fair that you spill the beans first! There are plenty of rumors circulating about you and Yuahl, so why don’t you finally just come out and confirm it. Are you guys actually married?”

“God damn it, Caeli, I’ve already told you we’re not a couple!” Hiro retorted, clearly dissatisfied that his attempt at making small talk had already been mercilessly turned against him. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Jessi with all my heart, but I practically grew up with her! She’s like a sister to me, so no, we’re not married! As it so happens, my eyes are fixed on another!”

“Really?! Who?!” Ryokumo pressed excitedly.

“Professor Tarnal!”

“Our wind professor?!”

“That’s right, Caeli! I’ll say it out loud! Professor Tarnal is absolutely stunning, and if I wasn’t her student, I’d have asked her out on a date already!” Hiro puffed out his chest proudly, leaving Rennigan genuinely wondering if his roommate was just teasing Ryokumo or if he actually did have a thing for his teacher. “Come on, Caeli, I know you’ve got a thing for Princess Ilirianna, but you’ve gotta admit that our professor was hot!”

“I mean, sure, she looks pretty good, but I just couldn’t see myself falling for somebody twice my age!” Ryokumo stated. “Besides, she doesn’t hold a candle to Liri, so I have no reason to look upon her in such a way!”

“Woah, woah, woah!” Nigreos frantically cut in, his eyes going wide with shock. “Ryokumo…? Do you actually have feelings for the princess? I mean, I know people say you do, but I just thought those were baseless rumors?!”

“Noctis, how oblivious can you get?” Rennigan grumbled. “Caeli’s obsession with the princess was the most obvious thing even to me, and I don’t live with the asshole!”

Nigreos shot Rennigan a glare. “Shut the hell up, Glaus! Ryokumo, seriously?”

“Er, well…” In a huge rarity for Ryokumo Caeli, he actually stuttered over his words, as if suddenly embarrassed despite having openly declared it seconds ago. Of course, he composed himself rather quickly, a moderately serious expression coming over him as he gave a half-hearted shrug. “Look, Nigreos, I’m not a fool. I know full well that my feelings for Liri are one-sided, and that it will remain that way, so I do not expect anything to ever come of them. I’d never be a candidate for her husband no matter what happened. I know that. But yes. I do love her…quite a lot…”

“How long?” Nigreos muttered, to which Ryokumo smirked.

“Omaruo.”

Nigreos slumped back in his chair, seeming still stunned by a revalration that could hardly even be called a revelation. Even Eko didn’t appear surprised by Ryokumo’s declaration.

“Well aren’t I oblivious?” Nigreos finally said with a sigh.

Ryokumo laughed. “Yes, yes you are! Anyway, that’s Pafran and I out of the way, so onto you, Glaus! Whose heart are you pining after?”

“Nobody’s.”

“Bullshit! I know you’re a cold-hearted bastard, but there’s no way you don’t have a girl you’ve got your eyes on!” Ryokumo leaned forward and fixed Rennigan with a prying gaze. “Yuahl and Rio are single, aren’t they?”

“Touch Jessi and I kill you,” Hiro immediately threatened, not a touch of humor in his venomous words.

Rennigan snorted with disdain. “I would rather fuck a donkey than ever be in a sexual relationship with Fayela Rio or Jessi Yuahl. No, Caeli, I have nobody I am even remotely interested in. I have far too much to deal with to waste my time on a woman.”

“You know, I might actually just kill him anyway.”

Rennigan ignored Hiro’s second threat, staring firmly back at Ryokumo to make sure there was no further room for argument. He was, after all, not lying even slightly, but if Ryokumo decided not to take him seriously and started spreading rumors that he was in love with either of the women on his team, he would never hear the end of it. Luckily, it seemed the wind mage was more interested in turning the conversation towards one of the others in the carriage, much to Rennigan’s relief.

“Alright, whatever, Glaus! Be that way! Eko, your turn!” he said. “You have a girlfriend yet?”

The apprentice of light had been observing the interactions with a touch of amusement, seeming as if he was glad he decided to ride with them despite how immature they were behaving. On top of that, he didn’t seem even remotely averse to talking about his love life as he let out a bashful smile and answered Ryokumo’s question.

“I would request you do not tell my father, but as it so happens, there is a young woman I’ve been talking with. She’s the eldest daughter of a Korrei-Tarr captain who only recently moved here to spend more time with her father. She and I happened upon each other in the garden one morning and though we have yet to go on an official date, I do think I have a chance if I asked.” As he spoke, Eko’s embarrassment faded, replaced instead by a youthful joy as he thought about this person. “In fact, I would have already asked her to dinner, but Father is quite insistent that I refrain from beginning a relationship until I’ve trained a bit more.”

Nigreos nodded with understanding. “Yes, my father has said similar things. And I’m sure that when he and Master Acostav decide we’re ready for a partner, they’ll be the ones picking them. That is how it tends to go…”

“That it is…”

Eko and Nigreos both seemed to grow sad, and Rennigan couldn’t help wondering what Viiro Noctis would do should his son ever express his poorly-concealed crush on Abigail Reiner. The water mage supposed he could understand why they would be so opposed to their parents setting them up, but Rennigan had long since decided he would prefer for his father to choose his spouse. He had very little interest in the prospect of seeking out a partner, so an arranged marriage took that responsibility off of his shoulders. It was, after all, not an uncommon practice among the richer families of the Great Cities.

“Well anyway, glad we got all that out on the table!” Ryokumo stated. “And I wish you all luck in your romantic endeavors! What shall we discuss next?”

But Nigreos was already frowning at his roommate. “Hey, what about me? You skipped me!”

“That's because we all already know whose heart you pine for!” the wind mage pointed out, to which Nigreos’s brow only furrowed further.

“What? Like hell you do!”

Ryokumo shook his head and fixed Nigreos with a dubious look. “Please, it’s so obvious to everybody with a pair of eyes that you’re head over heels for Abi! In fact, I think she’s the only person who doesn’t know about your feelings! Clearly, you’re both oblivious!”

“I do not have any romantic feelings for Abi! We’re just friends!”

Not a soul believed him, and Nigreos found himself being stared down by Hiro, Eko, Ryokumo, and even Rennigan, who certainly took some personal pleasure in how flustered his rival was becoming.