"Academy Chronicles Ch. 2" by H. Coyne

Solorya's heavy boot buckles made clinking sounds with each stride across the stone floors of the Academy's halls. Solorya loved these boots; the worn leather and the way she felt like her feet were indestructible in them. Her boots, pendant and her sword, she couldn't part with either, for reasons both practical and sentimental. As the sword hit her hip it seemed to be asking for her attention so it could bring to mind the memories of home.

Her memories were rich enough for her to smell the lavender that hung from the rafters and feel the fire hot on her back as she had sat on the rug before it. Her father held the sword in his rough farmer's hands, and his thumb stroked the flat of the blade. "Only the best for my girl," she recalled him saying. "There was a time I left home too. I hope you find the same peace I did. You will miss what you put behind you, but the world is opening for you, do not miss its season."

Solorya remembered how the awareness of the moment left his face. They always said Papa had "gone North" when he did this, figuring he was thinking of his old life in Northern Kinath. He soon returned to her.

"Sol, as the firstborn I want you to take great-grandfather's pendant, the bravery token. It will remind you of where you come from and what is possible."

And the pewter pendant still lay tucked beneath her midnight blue blouse, resting near her heart. She could think of home in the quiet halls. Only the scratching of the teacher's quills shooed away the silence. Sometimes she envied the students who could flee for their life after school. Especially since the lesson she'd gone over was miserable. Several student's attempted to gouge their eyes with their quills. All were sadly unsuccessful and instead of an end to their misery, wound up with ink stained eyelids.

A sudden moan of anguish trembled in the air. Solorya looked around for the source to find a Glimmer in a little heap, her back leaning on the door. The little Glimmer looked heavenward her hands raised in petition. Her moan became words of such despondency it was almost comical.

"Oh cruel cruel fate! I am too pretty," she paused thoughtfully, "Wait no . . . too clever..." another beat of silence, "No, not that either."  Her face lit up, but quickly turned pitiful again as she moaned, "Too young to die!"

Solorya quickly drew near, her hero persona rising to the occasion, "What's wrong?"

The Glimmer looked up with eyes shining from the tears that were beginning to form. She pointed a tiny hand to the door, "That beast of a door refuses to yield and has caught me in its wooden clutches!"

Solorya gave the Glimmer a puzzled look. Alyssum added soberly, "It won't open."

Solorya approached the door and with a gentle push of her shoulder it swung open. She paused a minute holding the door so Alyssum could fly out, and then continued on her way. The human glanced back to see if all was right with the Glimmer, only to be tackled around her waist.  Little arms encircled what they could of Solorya's waist and squeezed like a corset.

"Oh thank you! Thank you! I am eternally grateful," the Glimmer gushed. The way she dragged out "eternally" made Solorya smile.

"Next time you can use the door for little people back by Miss Brogate's class. But 'twas nothing my little Glimmer."

Alyssum let go of Solorya's waist, "Nothing? That's utter bog muck, you are my hero! You valiantly exerted your strength for me."

Solorya responded, smiling amusedly, "It wasn't that heavy and-" Alyssum cut her off, "Oh and what about the horrid splinters you could have gotten!?"

Solorya laughed, "Well when you put it that way. By the way, my name's Solorya Aranon." She tilted her head towards the Glimmer, "And you are ?"

Alyssum quickly retorted with a deluge of words, "Alyssum, Alyssum Thistle-velle. I've just arrived and am so absolutely tickled pink to have met you, well actually I'm more a light light peachy color. Anyhow, I miss my friends back home. The academy let me in last year but my mum made me wait and go to a school near home instead but now I am here. My mum said a little time away would maybe slow my over- active heart, and I want to be the world's greatest mage ever!" She threw her hands as she said this as if proclaiming some great prophesy. "Or at least the sparkliest mage ever. I'm not overactive I think. Do you think I'm overactive? Oh bah! Who knows? I sure don't!" Alyssum paused, maybe for air, "So where are you heading? Can I come?" The Glimmer raised her shoulders and toyed with the flower entwined about her finger for a ring. She bit her lower lip expectantly and raised her large, child-like eyes to Solorya. With a look like that, who could deny the Glimmer?

"I'm heading for the training grounds. You're welcome to come with me."

The Glimmer erupted glitter, and latched herself on Solorya's leg in an embrace.

"Oh bless you! It's not so splendiferous being new."

Solorya peeled the delightful creature off her leg and responded, "Welcome to the Academy, Alyssum. I'm sure everything will work out just fine for you. Now, let's be off."

~*~

The training grounds were divided into several sections, but the most popular area was the sparring area. Higher level warriors would enter the large fenced area and practice with their weapon of choice. Today the groups were working with staves. Cracks and claps filled the air; it sounded like a summer storm was upon them. While Solorya came to observe technique, Orelle came for a different kind of observation.

Orelle propped her elbows on the fence and watched the centaurs dreamily. Every now and then they would throw a smile her way that would tickle her spine. She was in a much better mood, now that her temper had gone down a bit, sated by repaying Mykalah.

Orelle laughed merrily and made comments amongst her hind friends as she watched the matches. Sometimes the conversation grew grating. Gossip could bore her, but she was wise to be abreast of all the he- said, she-said. Ignorance was not a luxury of those teetering at the top of the social ladder.

The day just might end on a high note, though. Especially since Kennar, the chestnut Centaur she took a liking to winked at her after winning a match.  Those warm cinnamon eyes thrilled her. It was odd. How could such a slight gesture brighten a day? Perhaps it was like the wind. It only takes a small breeze to clear clouds from the sun.

~*~

Not too far away, Mykalah attempted to get some air. Despite her earlier spill, Mykalah was a decent acrobat. Not troupe worthy, but impressive enough. She walked the thin fence rail of an empty fighter's enclosure as if it were a broad country path. Her mind was allowed to breathe a bit, and she found she schemed far better in the outdoors. She held her chin in her long-fingered hand and wrapped her other arm about her waist. Her head was tilted down, but her gaze seemed to be nowhere. It wandered across the horizon but stopped dead on one hind. Mykalah felt like a hawk swooping in as she narrowed her attentions.

In Mykalah's field of vision was a distant Orelle, with her gaze transfixed on a chestnut

Centaur. The Centaur soon approached Orelle and began talking. Orelle appeared to beam at his approach, fluffing her hair and looking coy. Mykalah crossed her arms and smiled wickedly. Her smiles were almost always wicked looking, though, as if she mocked herself for letting emotion affect her.

Perfect. Orelle is smitten with someone.

Mykalah perched on one of the fence's supporting poles like a curious bird and continued to watch with her elbows on her knees.

Alyssum and Solorya came upon the training grounds in due time. Alyssum chattered in her lilting voice the whole time and Solorya just smiled benignly. When suddenly silence came, Solorya snapped to attention as if caught napping. Alyssum had flown ahead towards Mykalah, who looked merely a shell and the real Mykalah was off somewhere else. When Alyssum got very close to the mix's sensitive ears she cried out loudly in her exuberance, the common greeting of the area: "TIAR!"

Solorya watched the surprised Mykalah fall from her precarious perch at the sound. She landed with a thud on the grass her face towards the earth. So much for Eldar grace and poise.

The mixed Eldar spun around quickly so she could face the Glimmer. She did not look enthused by the greeting. Mykalah was not known for her sweet spirit.

"I'm not sure, but is it make your local half-breed fall day?" Mykalah demanded.

Solorya rushed forward her hand resting on her sword's handle. "She didn't mean to surprise you. Let's not do anything we'll regret."

Mykalah glanced up, her features now stoic, save that disturbing glint in her eyes. It spoke of a propensity to do more than something regrettable. She stood and dusted herself off, curtly responding to the Glimmer, "Tiar, Alice."

The worried Alyssum wrung her hands red and squeaked, "It's Alyssum, and I'm so sorry. As a matter of fact I'm beyond sorry, I'm greatly greatly, greatly sorry. The sorriest one could possibly be, I don't know exactly how sorry one could feel, but I'm pretty sure I feel it now. I mean how can you really measure sorryness? Is that even a word, sorryness?"

Mykalah crouched and put a finger to the Glimmer's lips and spoke with a voice that had the warmth factor of an icicle down your shirt, "Enough. My ears may bleed."

Alyssum just nodded and glanced to Solorya. Mykalah straightened and began to walk away. Solorya followed the mix with her eyes narrowed and her jaw set. She commented to Alyssum, "She's not a very pleasant one. We all avoid her, 'tis not good to keep bad company. Friends reflect who you are." She sighed, "Let's go watch the fighters."

Alyssum smiled softly and flew towards the main sparring area, "Certainly! I just can't wait to watch them spar! It sounds like such fun, but I wouldn't want to do it, getting hit with a stick is not my version of a good time. On the other hand . . . " Her chattering continued as they walked along, a constant buzz pricking the ear.