While Naini left to go start breakfast, Tua helped me change back at her room. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlSS9GDTgJ
I quickly ripped off the muddy clothing behind the wooden screen and slid into a white fitted, high-necked, short-sleeved coat that hit just above the knees and fanned out at the waist, straight-cut trousers, and my favorite black leather boots that stopped right below my knee caps. Tua donned a bright yellow long dress filled with lots of folds, pleating, and a cinched waist, worn over a long sleeved top. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAbX7qUos8
To multitask in an attempt to get to some food faster, I braided my dark wavy mess to the side while Tua helped me with my sash, the final piece of my ensemble. I could tell she was still upset since she yanked and tightened the dark green fabric around my waist until I coughed.711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsYJWezlQy
As much as I should hate her, I can't. I don't know much about Tua’s past other than the fact that her family was involved in an incident that resulted in them being banished from the village and leaving Tua behind. I wouldn't dare ask her about it. I can tell the situation still bothers her even though it happened a while ago. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhzaP1GXt0
She used be be so sweet. I would watch her prance around the village, running errands for elders and entertaining the children from time to time. Now, she's a cold soul who keeps to herself. I try my best to cheer her up but it'll take time for her wounds to heal. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAopZ9c7JlJ
“Want me to braid your hair, T?” I strained. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqZsczRX8w
I'll have to loosen my sash once I leave. She stopped walking around the room for a second. I could have sworn she sniffed but when she turned to face me, she looked like her usual self. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEP2VXLL2i
“No thanks. I'll just tie it back for now.” 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSdubZmY4M
Tua grabbed a red string from atop her great wardrobe and wrapped it around the bottom half of her hair. I was glad she didn't completely leave her locks untouched.711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYW98nPEHQ
Tua had gorgeous hair so pale that it was almost white, sleek, smooth as silk, and hit just above her waist. Her frosty locks suited her striking blue eyes and toasty skin perfectly. Her delicate features stood out even more when her hair was tied back. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwugufoocb8
Tua sat down on the edge of her cot and slowly slid on a pair of the most beautiful woven flats I'd ever seen. They were a deep wine color with a plethora of golden flowers decorating the toes. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEdt2Um0pf
When she rose up, miniature streams were stained on her face and the whites of her eyes had changed to a light shade of pink. She brushed nonexistent wrinkles out of her dress and shuffled past me, out the door, and towards the main part of the house. Boisterous clicks filled the awkward silence then gradually faded out, leaving another less-than-desirable silence. I let out a long sigh and walked off in the same direction, struggling to fix my own clothes as I went.711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5V5MM9owq
I could smell the delicious food almost halfway across the compound. My stomach rumbled with excitement and I broke out into a light jog in order to appease my growing appetite. Finally reaching the kitchen, I snuck a strawberry while simultaneously giving Naini a tiny peck. Tua was already sitting at the table blankly staring off into the stars. She'd paled out and a look of pure absence took up the space usually reserved for disgusted looks at me. At least her tears were gone. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70WPOdQVbQ
I sat beside her and gave a playful nudge at her side. My eyes asked if she was okay. Tua responded with a sad smile and a nod so small it almost went unnoticed. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yIZtnpzC3
“Are you both ready for the big day?” asked Naini. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LFYkTJ7df
Big day? Shoot. I almost forgot. Today marked the start of the graduation exams at Coven. Coven was the huge training center where all young Yanzenians attended to learn the necessary skills needed to keep everyday life going. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqFnnz4aOV
From warriors, to healers, to breeders, magic majors and so on, every role was important and special; or so they said. There were painfully obvious lines of demarcation between the jobs no matter how much the capital tried to market equality. Some were more respected than others and had a higher earning. This was understandable, but in a place pushing for equality between everyone in the community, they had a horrible way of dealing with it. Discrimination wasn’t that uncommon either. Those who were well off were mostly treated better and had more opportunities than those born with the short end of the stick. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRO6T3sJmw
Due to these circumstances, you could study whatever you wanted, including the more respected careers, but that didn't guarantee you a job, unfortunately. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi5yGBQpZV
“Nervous?” asked Tua in that usual condescending tone of her's.711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEFyfmcJ6c
And she's back. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgnk4CVMBa
With an intense glare, I shot back. “No way.” Raising a brow, I could feel the oncoming jab like how the world feels a bit duller before a disaster and said, “I'll still never understand why you decided to be an Illinad. You know, just because it has a pretty name, doesn't mean it's all gold and precious jewels."711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LehQ9IGqe
Illinads were an elite group of secret guards who often went on missions outside of Yanzen to protect the people from underlying threats. “An absolute snob such as yourself would never get her hands dirty on purpose. You can barely do chores around the house without whining.”711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jdlTtatHP
“Hey! I’m serious about being an Illinad. They're just so fascinating. Plus, I get an insight into state affairs. Wouldn't you like to know about-” 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHMdQCUO7v
“Enough!” Naini's voice was stern. I froze. That was unlike her. “You can talk about that on your way to Coven. Look! The food’s already getting cold and it's almost time for you two to leave. Hurry up and eat something.” She cleared her throat then switched back to her yellow personality. I wonder what that was about.711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvbvP2wpeG
Breakfast consisted of steamed eggs and rice porridge with fresh tomatoes on the side. Sadly, I didn't get to finish but, then again, neither did Tua. Naini walked us over to the front door, handing us our passes and cloaks thick enough to withstand the bone-chilling air of a Yanzenian winter. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWiDrcp1fB
“Best of luck to you both.” Naini gave us a smile warm enough to melt Tua’s icy heart and patted the tops of our heads while pushing us off to our likely doom. The graduation exams at Coven were no joke. “Off you go! Focus and do well! I didn't raise failures!” Naini called out just as we passed the gate of our compound. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J2Pqi4iyb
I turned around to offer a last wave, but I was shown another different side of Naini. She looked worried and a bit flustered. Once she noticed that I was looking back at her, her trademark happy demeanor returned and she mouthed something I couldn't make out. I twisted on my heels, nearly smacking into Tua, and continued walking with her down the path leading out of Haqir, accompanied by some of the other aspiring graduates of the year.711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ977pfBhOzB
“Someone's as clumsy as ever,” muttered my favorite icicle.711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZSq9t6MAR
"Indeed, I am. You, on the other hand, are surprisingly a little less venomous than you are on a regular basis, especially after I made you cry this morning. Sorry about that.” Something shifted in her again just like earlier, but instead of putting on a facade, she let her emotions flow just as freely as her river of tears. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwKfi4ucPp
“Oh, that was nothing. Some old memories of my family just flashed in my mind. There's no need to be sorry." 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xzcxxaN8e
I felt awful. Now that I think about it, Tua did tell me stories in the past about her mother braiding her hair when she was young and how it was her most beloved time of day. How could I have been so stupid? I have family issues myself, so as to how I could be so inconsiderate with my words, I don't know. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb2NAo5TuC
She must have noticed the regret painted on my face because she stopped in the middle of the road, ignored the irritated whispers around her, grabbed both of my hands and slowly enunciated her next words. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghmGAWeSvC
“I. Am. Fine. I already told you that I'm fine. If you really want to make up for it, then wipe that gloomy look off of your face. It was an honest mistake. Their banishment happened so long ago. I should be over it by now.” 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa83MeEHrHr
I understood what she was saying and granted her wish by giving an obnoxiously wide smile flashing all of my teeth, to which she rolled her eyes at. We continued our stroll down the path in silence and I used that time to think over Tua’s last statement. 711Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBMQcs8G2m
She didn't have to be over her family’s banishment. I definitely wasn't over what happened to my parents, whatever happened to them. I still think about my mother’s singing and lessons from time to time. I still tell myself the rooster tale every morning when I am awoken from my deep sleep by those wonderful, pesky devils. I think about them so that I don't forget more than what I already have. Abruptly, I was broken out of my second dream-like state of the day by a familiar deep voice.
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