Zephyr Heidrich - Collab Part 1
Day 2 - After lunch Zephyr brusquely replied cordially with his hands on the towel. The kid was surprised how hospitable the girl was, having gently placed a dry towel on his head instead of a pillow flung in his face. Though the latter now seemed like a far off possibility, since she still had yet to even bring up the fact that she was half-dressed. He quickly flushed out the image and subtly eased the cloth just over his eyes to preserve what remained of his mentality. In spite of the rough start, a sensation of alleviation rushed over him. He savored the feeling, finally at peace within a set of walls he wouldn't be forced out of.
Oh, how careless and naive the young mind was.
The previous events weakened the guard he maintained as a second nature. With his front enfeebled by halcyon happenstances, Zephyr allowed himself to slip into a state of ataraxia. A shiver burrowed deeply and bored its way through his spine's bone marrow. The girl's voice filled to the brim with vibrant amiability abruptly traded places with silence. He wanted to keep his vision blacked out yet fingers acted in the complete opposite manner as if in defiance. A blank countenance was unveiled to take in the current status of
Emi Ak. His eyes were instantly grasped and pulled to her face, which was now in an ashen state. All color had been drained from Emi's expression of disbelief, but somehow it had yet to cross over the boundary into utter disgust.
He concluded she had obviously found out that Zephyr was a darkness user. Although this beared a close resemblance to the stock reaction, something felt different. There was a deeper underlying cause. The boy sat there as water continued to drip to the floor, wracking his head for a reason. And then the revelation came into full stride. She was, undoubtedly, his antipodal.
She was a light user.
Naturally opposing forces repel one another, save for magnets. But then again, humans and magnets were two completely separate things. Even somebody as humanly inept as Zephyr knew that. Her light was her soul, much like how the darkness embodied his. But despite the fact that the two elements are polar opposites, in nature, they are forever intertwined. One cannot exist without the other, but controversially, their domains are segragated by their own form. Even though Zephyr attributed himself to the darkness, the light was something he always yearned for. It was always there for him. No matter whether he was inside of a farm or sleeping at the edge of a cave, the sun was the first thing that never failed to greet him he awoke, just like how the moon always bid him a goodnight when he closes his eyes.
Zephyr's gaze remained on the girl curled up into a ball, seeking refuge within her own body. The boy got up from his spot and cautiously paced his way towards the girl who winced at every step.
"Um, Emi..." He began as he kneeled down about a foot away from his roommate,
"Please tarnish the thought. I would never dare harm the light and its envoys, because..." His voice trailed off as he attempted to piece together the right words. Though nothing really seemed "right" in this case,
"Because it's the only thing that has stayed with me all these years. It's made life worth living." Although his words were audibly dull, the pains, struggles, and hardships he's experienced were enumerated within every syllable.
"But if you would like, I can file for a room transfer. I'm sure placing me in my own room wouldn't be too much of a hassle." Frankly, he was still trying to grasp how the academy came around to this decision. Then again, it was an academy. It propagated the growth of the mind and body through multiple means, but most fell under the category known as experimentation. Perhaps the board saw something to reap from this arrangement.
@Liferusher
Day of C.E.T. - After Lunch - Town The ambiance of muffled passer-by primly complimented the sweet aroma reifying the cafe’s atmosphere. The smell gently slipped into his nose with a lighthearted greeting, allowing the boy to find peace in its pungent yet attentive smell. Around this time of day people entered and exited the cafe at the same sluggish pace. Most of the townspeople must have been preoccupied with their jobs, thus the only other residents within the establishment were a few senior citizens haphazardly deposited throughout the tables and a pair of children, a young girl and boy. They must have been eleven- maybe twelve, only a handful of years younger than Zephyr. The commonplace sight of the two vivaciously chatting about what he deduced to be a TV show made him think about the times that laid behind him. Times about them. Times about her. Where his first feeling of love budded, or at least a tie bearing a close resemblance. But since that ardor wasn’t cultivated, much like a plant would, it withered, greyed, and evanesced to nothing but dust.
”Your order, sir.” The only waiter on duty spoke in a courteous tone, the product of surely many hours of practicing. He attentively slid a porcelain cup of macchiato and a vanilla cake onto the clothed tabletop.
”Thanks” He offered as a meager response as he flickered his eyes from the kids and up to the waiter, then gave him a slight nod. The employee left Zephyr to his… well it wasn’t a lunch, nor was it a snack. It was more like a memento, a little sliver for him to step into a vague replication of the past. He stared into the spot of milk surrounded by the moat of coffee.
It was the day of the C.E.T. The previous days leading up to now went by without pause. Zephyr was exposed to new experiences left and right, a series of rude awakenings and learning instances plastered him by the moment. All in all, they placated his mentality. For the most part, that is. Although the darkness user was never even referenced in the fables depicting the youthful brave Luke Thames besting a water dragon, accounts still floated about from spectators of Zeph’s morning classes. He’s caught the term
Grim Reaper chucked about here and there, and his weapon of choice only ratified these anecdotes. Sure, the headmasters could act, but the most they would do was give students a slap on the wrist and send them off. After all, people are entitled to their own opinions. He took a sip of his caffeinated beverage, followed by a skilled cut of the cake with his fork. It was an act he had indulged in many times, but now had become a bit rusty at.
Tonight many students would delve into cavernous systems to dispatch beasts and crude elementals. It wasn’t his own safety that Zephyr was dwelling over, it was that of others. And just to add insult to injury, the matter with Emi had yet to be fully resolved. Even though at this point his roommate can stomach his presence, to not complicate things, the boy heads out well before she awakens and returns just before curfew. Albeit this solved nothing, he’d rather not witness the girl go into near-shock. Thoughts raced guised behind a vacant facade, doubts and other dubious queries of the like uncontrollably flowed forth. With his chin resting on his palms, the boy remained there in his silent muse.
”Your drink’s going to get cold.” A seasoned voice broke him of his trance. Zephyr glanced up at who he determined was a man in his late-forties and the owner of the establishment. He gave the youth a warm smile that brimmed with experience,
”May I?” The man asked, resting his hand just an inch over the table’s other chair.
”Your establishment.” The younger replied as he pressed the cup to his lips,
”True. But you know what they say: Thou shalt thy neighbour as thyself. And besides, gotta treat customers right, or they start talking dirt ‘bout cha.” The owner’s laugh bellowed within the walls of the cafe. He seemed like the guy to fit right in as a bar, yet here he was, a benefactor of serene atmospheres, and also shattering them. Zephyr savored the sweet and bitter taste for a brief moment before placing the cup back onto its holder and crossing his arms.
”And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”The owner was surprised, even with the lackluster demeanor that made recited the verse.
”A man of God as well, I take it?” Zephyr shook his head,
”I’m just versed.” He explained with a blase expression.
”Versed and an Elementalist, yes?” Now that was something far out of left field. The man had successfully acquired Zephyr's attention and locked gazes with the boy.
”Oh, no, it’s not like I have a nose or an eye for ‘em. This may be a big town, but you can tell an old from a new face easily if you get the hang of it. So, what’s your hidden power, if you don’t mind me asking young one?” Zephyr swallowed another gulp and looked like he was about to open his mouth, but took a quick pause before any words met the air’s guidance,
”None as of yet.” Whether the man was sufficed with the answer or not remained unclear. He surely didn’t show it on his face.
”Stop by next time you’re free. I’ll give you a discount.” The owner got up from his seat and promptly pushed in the chair,
”Oh,” He started as the same smile came into fruition again,
”Your drink’s going to get cold.” With that, the owner departed for the kitchen, without even disclosing his name.
Zephyr straightened out his tie as he stepped into the bustling street. The fact that he would be fighting off other forces within a span of hours didn’t even have a chance to creep into his conscience. All he could do was find respite in the lingering taste of the sweet, fluffy vanilla cake, made with consummate precision. The flavor brought back memories. Memories of them. Memories of her. The bittersweet sensation clung to his tongue, assuring that he would never forget. With his eye on the clock, Zephyr made his way back to the academy.
That's half a cup of milk and one cup of fine white sugar
Two eggs and two cups of flour, a stick of butter
And last but not the least
Add three vanilla beans to the mix
Sweet aroma fills my whole kitchen
