The Burning Flowers

Chapter IX

After splitting off from Nigreos and Ryokumo following the event in the training yard, Abi and Album went back to their dorm room to get some sleep and prepare for the following day’s orientation matches. According to Album, the morning would begin with a meeting in the assembly hall where the headmaster gave the opening speech, and once the assembly concluded, only then would they be able to go to the front desk in their tower and officially join together as a team. Afterwards, they’d have only an hour to get themselves to the stadium on the northern side of campus where the battles would take place. Each team only participated in a singular match, but that match was what would decide their starting rank, and thus that one chance was utterly crucial to getting their education started on the right foot. They wouldn’t know who they were facing until moments before the battle, so there wasn’t any way they could properly prepare until then. All they could do was trust in their own abilities and in the abilities of their newly formed team.

With all of that in mind, Abigail hardly got any sleep, only occasionally slipping in and out of consciousness, and before she knew it, the sun had risen. However, she felt oddly rested and figured that must have been due to the adrenaline rushing through her with anticipation of the day to come.

Although, that probably means that when the day is over, I’ll be utterly exhausted. But oh well, nothing I can do about that now…

With a chipper skip to her step, a product of her excitement and stress, Abi hopped out of bed and proceeded to get ready for the day. Album wasn’t in the room, leading Abi to wonder if her roommate must have gotten up during one of the few moments of sleep she had that night, and when she went to check, she found the girl pacing around the front room, already dressed in her uniform with her long, brown hair perfectly combed and a leather-bound book clutched in her hand that she was furiously reading, muttering words under her breath that sounded like incantations. The panicked look in her eyes was enough to tell Abi that she was on the edge of a panic attack, so, wanting to comfort her new partner and friend, she stepped from the hallway and spoke in a cheerful tone.

“It’s going to be okay, you know? I have full faith that we’re going to crush it today.”

Album almost jumped at the sound of her voice, telling Abi just how engulfed in her reading that she had been. Upon realizing that Abi was standing in the doorway, the young light mage let out a sigh and smiled softly back at her.

“Yeah, I know that…” The girl chuckled quietly to herself, though it almost seemed like she was laughing at herself more than anything. “I guess I’m just working myself up but…well, I’m just afraid of being a hindrance today. Like I said last night, I can only cast a few spells before my mana depletes, and while I am taking medication for it, I just…”

Trailing off once again, Album glanced down at the coffee table where a small canister was sitting, most likely the container for the medicine the girl referenced.

“Well don’t stress too much,” Abi advised with a grin. “Remember, even if we get second rank today, I’ve been told it’s still possible to get to first rank if we just prove ourselves afterwards. It’s not like everything rides on this match so take some deep breaths and do your best! If we fumble it today, we’ll just impress everybody tomorrow!”

Yet again, a weak chuckle slipped from Album’s lips, and when the girl still refused to make eye contact, she muttered to herself, “Yeah…right…”

The words were quiet, but they seemed to hold a deeper meaning than Abi was aware of, leading her to wonder if there was something other detail about this orientation she hadn’t been informed of. But before she could press the subject, Album snapped her book shut and placed it on the coffee table.

“Well, we’ve got to be at the assembly hall in a half hour so we should probably get ready,” she said with a more upbeat tone, though it was clear that the girl was forcing it in an effort to calm herself.

And since Album was clearly on edge, Abi decided to refrain from questioning her on the matter, though she silently decided she would keep an eye on her partner just in case there was something she was hiding.

Though then again, if she’s not telling me, then it must not be that important. With how desperate Album clearly is to succeed today, I’m sure she wouldn’t hesitate to give me every detail I need. No…whatever’s bothering her must be personal, and thus, it’s none of my business!

Coming to that conclusion, Abi hurried to get ready, once again donning her school uniform before going to the mirror in their bedroom to do her hair. Like always, she tied it back in a braid then retrieved her flower crown from the bedside table. The crown was a gift from a little girl she had met in a northern village a few years ago. It was apparently charmed so that they would never wilt and with a simple incantation, the vines connecting the multi-colored flowers would intertwine with her hair as it wrapped itself around her head. She didn’t know why she had gotten into the habit of wearing it every day, but it now gave her comfort and even a bit of confidence, reminding her of a grateful person that her existence had helped. Whenever she would feel like she wasn’t good enough, she would reach a hand to touch the flowers so that she could remember the smiling face of that child, and it would give her the boost she needed to press onwards.

And I’m certainly gonna need my good luck charm today!

Once she was dressed, Abi headed back out into the front room to find Album sitting on the couch, her foot rapidly tapping against the carpet as she chewed on one of the herbs that served as medicine for Pinner’s Syndrome. Upon Abi’s arrival, the light mage looked up and immediately jumped to her feet, signaling that she was more than ready to go. The two women didn’t waste any more time before departing the dorm room and making their way out into the hallway where a handful of other girls were already chatting amongst themselves as they headed toward the lifts. Just as Abi pulled the door closed behind her, she heard the sound of her name being called, and when she turned back to seek out the individual that spoke, she couldn’t help but smile cheerfully as she noticed Fayela Rio making her way toward them with another young woman at her side, a person Abi figured was probably her roommate. Beside her, Album tensed up slightly and quickly glanced away.

“Morning, Faye!” Abi greeted warmly, raising her hand in a little wave.

“Good morning, Abi,” the girl replied with a grin, sparing a curious look at Album before turning her attention back to the person she had called out to. “I was hoping I’d catch you before you left. I was disappointed I didn’t get a chance to chat with you last night.”

Abi internally cringed, having noticed Faye with a group over at another arena not long after Rennigan left, but since all chances of forming a team with her went out the window once she spoke with Album, she had decided to leave Faye alone. She was sure that Faye wouldn’t mind, but since the two of them had talked about forming a team, Abi felt bad that she could no longer do so, and so she took the cowardly route of avoiding her altogether.

But I really do want to be friends with her, so maybe I should just explain the situation and hope she has other options.

“Yeah, I kept my eyes open for you, but there were so many people there that I guess you just got lost in the crowd,” Abi reluctantly lied. Then, realizing that she was already being rude, she quickly added, “Oh, and this is my roommate, by the way, Album Luz. Album, this is a friend I met on my way to the dorm yesterday, Fayela Rio.”

Awkwardly shoehorning the introductions into the conversation, Abi watched as both Faye and her partner’s eyes went wide before turning stunned expressions toward Album, who was already looking like she wanted nothing more than to pull into herself and pretend she wasn’t there. Right away, Abi regretted being so open with her partner’s identity since Album already made it quite clear how little she enjoyed interacting with strangers.

“You’re Album Luz?” Faye stuttered. “Of Noctalus?”

Album meekly cleared her throat and then, as if realizing that there was no way out, she managed to turn back and address the two newcomers with an awkward smile. “Er, yeah, I’m Album. Uh, nice to meet you, Rio, and…”

Trailing off, Album regarded Faye’s roommate silently as she waited for her to give her name, and Abi could tell that her partner was grateful to get the attention off of her and back onto them. However, both Album and Abi could only gape as the two of them finally took in the appearance of the young woman at Faye’s side. She was of average height, dressed in the same uniform as the rest of them, with bright pink hair split into two braids that hung over the front of her shoulders and eyes of the same color. It was a very unique sight, and since Abi knew that pink was not a natural color for either one’s eyes or hair, she could only guess that this woman had her appearance slightly altered with biological magic. Abi had never seen anything like it, and that was mainly because biological magic was illegal in every part of the empire save the Great City of Krato, which was about as south as one could get without entering Norania. Luckily, the girl didn’t seem to notice or care at the fact that they were awkwardly staring at her as she immediately leaned forward and introduced herself in a peppy tone.

“Oh, right, it’s nice to meet you guys!” she chirped. “I’m Jessi Yuahl, and I’m a fire affinity. It’s a real pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Luz! I’d heard there were Noctalus kids in our year but part of me just thought it was all rumor! I really didn’t expect it to be true. So does that mean Nigreos Noctis is in the year, too? I thought I heard that somewhere.”

The girl named Jessi spoke in a rather cutesy voice, rambling off questions in rapid succession, only furthering Album’s obvious discomfort as she pulled away even more, her back practically plastered against the dorm room door. Since Album was frantically shooting Abi looks that essentially translated to, “Please help me”, the girl was quick to step in and answer Jessi’s question for her.

“Oh yeah, Nigreos is here,” Abi confirmed. “I met him last night, actually.”

“Oh, you did?!” Jessi exclaimed excitedly, now turning her eyes toward her. “Wow! I can’t believe it! I hope I get to meet him, too! Is he as handsome and dreamy as I’ve heard he is?”

The girl’s face now only inches away from Abi as she leaned forward further, even the nature mage was becoming slightly uncomfortable in her presence. “Er, well, I wouldn’t say he’s not handsome,” she managed to answer. “But I don’t really know what people say about him, so…I can’t really confirm or deny, unfortunately.”

Jessi frowned, but before she could ask any more odd questions, Faye was quick to step in and interrupt her, telling Abi that she was already getting used to having such a hyperactive partner.

“So then I guess you’ll be joining up with Noctis for your team?” she inquired.

With the conversation turned to the one topic Abi hadn’t wanted to discuss, she knew there was no reason not to be honest, and thus she nodded. “Yeah, sorry about that, Faye. I know we talked about joining up, but I don’t think there’s much I can do. Album and Nigreos have to pair up, so…”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Faye quickly assured her. “In fact, it’s actually kind of a relief. I'm in a similar situation, too.”

Abi frowned, but the one who didn’t hesitate to step in and answer her unspoken question wasn’t Faye, rather it was Jessi.

“Yup! You see, my best friend is also in this year and I could never even consider not teaming up with him! We’ve been together since we were children, and I know his abilities like the back of my hand! With the two of us together, nobody can hope to beat us! Not even you!”

Jessi reached forward and stuck her pointer finger right in Abi’s face, grinning so confidently that had the girl not already been a little on the annoying side, Abi might have been intimidated.

“Er, right,” Faye muttered, sighing with exasperation. “Well, anyway, yeah. It’s some guy named Hirokol and his partner, and Jessi wouldn’t budge when I said I already had somebody else, so…”

Abi chuckled, thankful that fate had helped her out in the end. “Well, I guess it worked out, then.”

“Yeah, I guess it did,” Faye said. “Though I can’t say I’m not disappointed. You really do seem like a fun teammate to have, and if you’re interested, I’d still like to be friends. I really can’t stress enough how much I want to get to know you.”

Even though she knew it was unnecessary, a lifetime of living alone and constantly looking over her shoulder always made Abi feel doubtful whenever somebody was being nice to her, so she couldn’t help but activate her sense once more as she looked both at Faye and then at Jessi, but just like the day before, she felt nothing wrong with Fayela Rio, and even the obnoxious Jessi Yuahl didn’t set her off. Therefore, Abi felt comfortable taking her offered friendship.

“I’d like that too,” she replied. “When orientation is over, remind me to tell you my story sometime, yeah?”

Faye smirked. “Will do. It’s a promise then?”

“Yeah, it’s a promise.”

Then, glancing sideways to find Album anxiously staring down the hall, clearly wanting to get moving as quickly as possible, Abi decided they could continue chatting as they walked. And thus, the four of them turned and began making their way toward the lifts, the beginning of orientation just ahead.

***

The assembly hall in the central part of campus was a giant, circular dome that was roughly one hundred yards in diameter, which was more than enough room to fit the nearly one hundred and fifty students that were currently gathered within. The floor was made of a fine, dark green carpet and the massive, semi-circular ceiling constructed of liquet glass allowed the morning sunlight to illuminate the interior. At the northern end of the hall was a big platform upon which stood a handful of men and women dressed in fancy suits, each bearing the colors of one of the affinities, indicating that they were probably the heads of their respective departments. Five massive banners hung from the ceiling just behind them, with a symbol and color of the five core affinities on each, though Ryokumo Caeli couldn’t help but note that there was no sign of either a professor or a banner relating to dark or light magic.

And from what I’ve heard, there isn’t a department for that either. Makes me wonder who exactly is going to be teaching Nigreos and Album.

The young man spared a glance at the son of Noctis standing just beside him, his posture perfectly straight and his dark brown eyes focused right up on the stage, as if wanting to be prepared for the moment the opening ceremony began. From the look of it, Nigreos was lost in his thoughts, leading Ryokumo to assume that he was yet again stressing over the day's upcoming events.

Though, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he can’t relax. He has far more pressure put on him to succeed here today than I do. Though, given how easy it is to rise up to rank one, it does make me wonder if there’s something else to be concerned about—something he has yet to share.

With another glance over his shoulder, he scanned the scattered groups of students around him and confirmed that Abi and Album had yet to arrive in the hall. Satisfied that he had some time, he turned back to Nigreos and decided to spark up a conversation.

“So, where exactly are you studying?” he inquired. “I don’t see a darkness banner up there, and from the looks of it, none of those professors are dressed in black. What’s the deal with that?”

Nigreos seemed to snap back to the present then took a few seconds as he processed the question, before replying in a distracted tone, “Oh, uh, I won’t actually be studying here in the school. My admittance to the Academy is more for the assignments they send us on. Instead, I’ll be receiving personal lessons from my father in the Citadel.”

“Is that so?” Ryokumo chuckled. “Interesting. So the school lacks anybody versed in light and dark magic?”

Nigreos nodded. “It does. After all, there are few in the Empire who know even the basics of those affinities. You could probably find over ninety percent of Ijiria’s dark and light mages in Noctalus alone.”

Well then…all the more reason being on his and Album’s team is a crazy stroke of good luck.

“That truly amazes me,” Ryokumo mused, barely suppressing the satisfied smirk that threatened to cross his lips. “Then I suppose Album will be learning from Master Acostav? Or has her situation affected that as well?”

The previous night, Nigreos had explained to him all about Album’s case of Pinner’s Syndrome and her inability to produce a strong enough amount of mana. At first, Ryokumo had been surprised that he would share something so personal, but Nigreos had said he had Album’s permission to fill him in. In a way, it was more of a warning to Ryokumo that having Album on their team could be more of a hindrance than a benefit, but the Sukonese man didn’t see it that way. He believed that they could more than make up for any of Album’s shortcomings, and that any negative effects she had on the team would be balanced out by the benefits of having a Luz as a close ally to him. After all, as Nigreos had just said, light and dark mages were a large minority in Ijiria, so to Ryokumo, whether she was a poor light mage or not didn’t matter. All that mattered to him was that she was a light mage.

“No, Album won’t be working with Master Acostav,” Nigreos confirmed after a moment of hesitation. “Instead, she’s going to be studying here in the hopes of improving her ability with the core affinities, though at the moment, I’m not sure which one she seeks to focus on.”

Ryokumo shrugged casually, unsurprised by the answer. “Fair enough, I suppose.” And then, before he could say anything further, he noticed the other two members of their prospective team making their way over to where he and Nigreos stood. The young wind mage grinned then raised a hand in greeting. “Good morning, friends! Slept well, I hope?”

Album averted her eyes and said nothing, but Abi gladly waved back and replied in a chipper tone, “Not at all! But I’m ready regardless!”

“Love the enthusiasm!” Ryokumo said with a laugh. “And you, Album? Excited for the festivities?”

Similarly to the previous evening, Album didn’t appear very interested in talking to him, though it seemed that was mostly due to her shyness rather than any distaste or ill-will she held for him, and unfortunately for Ryokumo, before she even got the chance to attempt a response, a loud voice boomed throughout the assembly hall, drawing all eyes to the stage at the front of the room where a man was standing tall, staring out across the crowd as he scanned the crowd.

“Good morning, students!” he called out, his voice seemingly being amplified by what Ryokumo guessed was some form of wind manipulation. “Congratulations on making it to such a momentous day! Getting accepted into this school is not an easy feat to accomplish, and regardless of what happens today, you should all be quite proud of yourselves for standing here before me.”

The man gave a broad and pleasant smile, and to Ryokumo’s surprise, his words didn’t feel fake or empty. The sound of his deep voice actually gave the impression that he meant what he said, and immediately, the wind mage couldn’t help but smile. The speaker was dressed in the same suits that the others behind him, and since his clothing were all shades of red and crimson, Ryokumo figured he must be of a fire affinity. His hair was dark brown and might have come down to his shoulders if it wasn’t tied back behind his head. His jaw was firm and his eyes seemed lively and excited. Based just off of the presence he exuded, Ryokumo wasn’t surprised when the man introduced himself.

“My name is Headmaster Reddick Tykon and I am pleased to be standing before you,” he went on. “It is my goal in life to train the next generations of Ijirian magic users, and as I look out around this room, what I see is the future. I see future warriors, leaders, scientists, and dare I even say that perhaps we have some future Masters among us.” He spread his arms out and motioned around at the students staring up at him with awe. “Someday, Ijiria will be carried on your shoulders, and it is my pleasure to bear witness to the development of your potential. The journey will not be easy. It is not uncommon for students to die while attending this Academy, and I have known plenty of talented individuals whose potential was cut short because of such tragedy. But for those who do make it to graduation, you will have limitless opportunities before you!”

Pulling his attention from the Headmaster momentarily, Ryokumo wanted to quickly gauge the expressions of his team members. Unsurprisingly to him, Nigreos’s features were firm and almost intense as he fervently listened to the Headmaster speak. Album, on the other hand, was turning slightly pale, her stress and anxiety seeming to come to the forefront of her mind. As for Abi, her expression was unreadable to him. She didn’t seem to dislike Tykon, but she also seemed rather dubious, as if she believed that his words were exaggerated.

And perhaps they are, Ryokumo thought to himself. But one can’t deny that this man clearly has a talent for getting the heart pounding. He certainly has me excited.

“In just a few hours, your orientation will begin,” Tykon stated. “Once this assembly concludes, you will return to your dormitory and submit your team for participation. Those you choose will be at your side until the day you leave this school, and for many, they will remain your allies and friends for the remainder of your lives. So choose carefully. When that is done, you will then make your way to the arena where you and your team will be randomly assigned to face off against another team, and the winner will begin first year with first rank, while the loser will begin at second.” The man then flashed a toothy smile. “But fear not, for after every mission, your rank is reevaluated, so you can rise just as easily as you can fall. Today will merely determine where you begin this journey of yours.”

Tykon’s eyes continued to shift, his head never staying in one place, as if he truly sought to look at each and every one of them. At one point, he gazed at where Ryokumo stood between Nigreos and Album, and though it was hard to tell from so far away, the wind mage couldn’t help but feel as if he saw a flicker of intrigue in his eyes.

“I am joined today by the heads of the various departments,” Tykon explained, motioning toward the five individuals gathered behind him. “They will be the ones to guide you and should you ever need advice or help, their doors will be open. Now, I will turn the floor over to them so that they can each tell you a little about what you will be doing here at the school, and after the final remarks, you will all be excused.”

With that, Tykon stepped aside, allowing a large man in a dark brown suit, presumably the head of the rock department, to take his place. From there, Ryokumo and the others listened as the different departments were explained to them. Ryokumo mostly tuned out the speeches, finding more entertainment as he watched the crowd, and at one point, he even noticed the silver hair of Rennigan Glaus standing at the front of the crowd, a dopey grin on his face as he listened to the head of the water department talk. To Ryokumo, he almost looked like a puppy watching its master, and he continued to observe the young man only until the Head of Water left and the head of the wind department took her place.

Well, I suppose this one I should listen to.

However, everything the man said was more or less what he expected. In his classes, he would mostly be learning about more effective ways to use air manipulation for defense, as well as to hone his agility. One of the greatest strengths of wind magic was its speed. It meant that even if his opponent was stronger, if they couldn’t hit him, then their strength wouldn’t matter. It seemed like that was what the first years would be giving their attention to, and Ryokumo couldn’t deny that he was interested in it.

My offense is rather strong, but I have to admit that my movement could be smoother.

Satisfied with the speech, Ryokumo watched as the man moved away, allowing Tykon to return to the front of the stage.

“Now, I wish you all the best with today’s duels, but do not let the results of these matches get you down,” he said firmly. “I believe in each and every one of you, so give today your all and regardless of whether you win or lose, learn from these battles and improve upon yourselves! Even the winners can find ways to improve. And one last thing…” His eyes then turned slightly mischievous, and the ghost of a smile twisted his lips. “I have heard through the grapevine that Princess Ilirianna will be attending today so…no pressure! You're excused!”

With that last announcement, Tykon spun on his heel and left the room in a stunned silence that lasted only seconds before everybody seemed to start talking at the same time.

Princess Ilirianna? She’s going to be here?

All around him, his fellow students seemed to erupt in a panic as extra pressure was placed upon them, but Ryokumo could only smile in excitement at the news.

My week just keeps getting better and better! This is a perfect opportunity! If I can at least leave an impression on the princess, I’ll be one step closer to my goals! And with Nigreos and Album on my team, not to mention Master Grunly’s personal recommendation, her eyes will already be upon us! I couldn’t have asked for a better setup!

As he turned to face his team, he found that Nigreos and Album didn’t seem too surprised, and he imagined that their parents must have already given them a heads-up. Abi, on the other hand, looked slightly annoyed and was shaking her head with a sigh.

“I can’t believe he said that,” she muttered. “And we were already stressed enough…”

“Yes, but stressed or not, this is a fantastic opportunity,” Ryokumo quickly countered. “Princess Ilirianna herself… If we can impress someone of her stature, then we’ll already be on the path to a brilliant future! This is a cause for celebration, not stress!”

“I feel like you’re a little overly optimistic,” Album murmured, somehow paler than she was before. “It also means that if we fail, then we’ll be embarrassing ourselves in front of the future queen.”

Ryokumo immediately shook his head, looking to Nigreos for support. “Then we’ll simply win! I have full faith in us! We have a perfect lineup here and there is not a doubt in my mind that we are going to come out on top today. Right, Nigreos?”

Once again lost in his thoughts, Ryokumo had to say his name to snap him back to the present conversation. “Er, yeah, I suppose so. But let’s not get overconfident. We should be prepared for anything. We don’t even know who we’re facing yet.”

“Exactly,” Album said softly, her voice trembling slightly. “Our opponents could make or break us. We can’t let ourselves get complacent. Almost everybody here got into the school because they were strong and clever enough to do so… They’re all excellent mages…”

“And so are we!” the wind mage quickly countered. “We’ve got this!”

Both Album and Nigreos looked at him with uncertainty, and while he was sure that his rather flippant nature probably made him look like he wasn’t taking this seriously, he truly believed that stressing was a waste of energy. He wasn’t going to allow his confidence to bite him in the ass, but he also didn’t plan on fearing their loss. He meant what he said about Ilirianna’s presence being a cause for celebration. It just meant that the payoff of their success had increased, and with the reward so much more enticing, it only made him that much more excited for the fights.

Yes… I’m well aware that with better rewards to gain, the pain of loss will only be that much greater. But it's a necessary evil, and I’m willing to handle these risks if it means I can even slightly leave an impact on somebody as powerful as the future queen of Ijiria.

The students gathered in the hall began to file towards the door, and at Nigreos’s prompting, they did the same. It would now be time to officially come together as a team, and as the four of them joined the crowd in departing, Ryokumo Caeli simply smiled to himself as the chips continued to fall in his favor.