Chapter 10: Teardrops on the Morning Dawn
“AH, perfect timing. Vincent, Miguel, how about having a picnic?”
The cafeteria that evening was even livelier than usual. The Astrology professor, Ghislaine, had informed them there would be a meteor shower today. For these events, Astrology classes got special treatment, and students were allowed to observe the stars well into the night.
“You found a good spot?” Miguel leaned forward.
Oriana grinned at him. “Yep. Azraq and Yana have been saving us a spot since earlier.”
After finishing their evening meals early, the three had retreated to the roof of the eastern building, but Oriana had left by herself to come have a small snack.
“We’ll carry that for you.”
“Thanks, Vincent.”
Vincent took the basket she was holding, which had a fruit-filled blechkuchen tucked inside. Miguel took the other one, which had a whole tea set nestled in it.
“You’re both coming? In that case, I’d better get some more cups,” said Oriana. “Wait for me.”
“I’ll go with you,” Vincent offered.
“See ya soon, then.” Miguel saw them off with a smile.
With Vincent close behind her, Oriana returned to the cafeteria counter. They were lending out sturdy wooden cups to students for the occasion, and she requested two extras.
“Oriana, I realize we have enough cups now, but what of the hot water and tea?” Vincent said.
“Oh crap, I forgot. Thanks for reminding me. Ma’am, if you wouldn’t mind, a teapot too, please!”
“Sure thing,” the middle-aged woman responded, passing over a pot already filled with tea.
Oriana cradled the bottom of it with the sleeves of her robe pulled over her hands, so she didn’t burn herself. They carried the pot and spare cups back to Miguel, depositing the cups into his basket before they took off. They walked together side-by-side, with a magic lantern to light their way along the dark path to the eastern building.
“Sure is unusual for you to come alone,” Miguel commented. “Zalena usually seems to be the type to run errands for you girls.”
“He was none too pleased about being left behind, but I forced him to stay so I could come alone,” Oriana explained.
“Why?”
“Mm…that’s a secret!”
After learning of Yana’s feelings for Azraq, she went out of her way to give them time together, even though Yana hadn’t explicitly asked for it. She spent all day with the two of them, but nighttime was a different story. The late-night hour was perfect for romance, and she thought it best they be alone together for it.
“Oho, Oriana, that’s a naughty expression you’ve got on your face.”
“Ehehehe,” Oriana giggled, embarrassed. Miguel had, of course, been able to spot the grin on her face that she’d struggled and failed to repress. She really needed to pull herself together, for Yana’s sake.
“Hopefully the two of them are getting cozy together,” Miguel said.
“H-Huh? I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Oriana blurted out, turning her head the opposite direction in a last-ditch attempt to feign ignorance.
✦ ✦ ✦
❦❦❦
THE five of them took their seats, wrapped in blankets and enjoying the fragrant aroma of their piping-hot tea. There was an astronomy book lying open on one of the empty sets, but no one bothered to so much as glance at it.
“In Ete Karima, they call shooting stars ‘Rukh’s Tears.’”
Unlike Amanecer, which worshiped dragons as their gods, Ete Karima held birds sacred. The most powerful among them all was a bird named Rukh, who had a number of tales dedicated to him.
“The person who can drink down all of Rukh’s Tears is said to be promised eternal wealth. The one who can catch them will be blessed with children, and the one who manages to make a wish before his tear falls will have that wish granted.”
“That’s interesting. So, you make wishes on shooting stars, huh?”
“As a child, whenever a shooting star began to streak across the sky, everyone would rush out to make a wish on it,” said Yana. “Unfortunately, I never managed to make it in time.”
Oriana couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like to live as a princess, but she didn’t doubt that, unlike the children living normal lives in the city, Yana couldn’t rush out of the palace in the middle of the night. Perhaps she was even restricted from peeking out of windows as a security precaution.
“This is the one place where she can honestly say what she wants.” Oriana suddenly remembered Azraq saying that when they were watching Yana and the kitten together. Perhaps the freedom Yana’s lifestyle at Lagen Magic Academy afforded her was more precious than Oriana realized.
“So, have you ever wished on one?” Oriana asked.
“Yes. The same wish every time.”
“Then we’d better be sure to make our wishes today.”
Yana nodded. “I intend to. Make sure to keep your eyes glued to the sky. If you see one, make your wish immediately.”
“Yep!”
The two girls leaned in close to each other, giggling as they gazed up at the stars.
“Sure is nice how well they get along,” Miguel remarked.
“What? You want someone to cling to as well?” Azraq joked, the edges of his lips curling.
“What’s this, Zalena? You giving me permission?”
“Do as you like.”
Miguel scooted toward Azraq. “What? You really mean it?” The two were about the same height, so by sitting close, they looked like one enormous mountain.
Yana leaned against Oriana, tugging on the back of her clothes.
“What is it?” Oriana asked.
Yana brought her lips to Oriana’s ear, keeping her face hidden from the boys’ view as she whispered, “Azraq seems to be enjoying himself with the other boys.”
“Yeah, but if you think it seems like Miguel’s bothering him, I can put a stop to it.”
“No need. Leave them be. I want to watch.” Yana grinned as she pulled away.
While the two girls faced forward again, Miguel mimicked Yana by cupping his hand and leaning toward Azraq’s ear as he whispered, “Teehee, I’m a copycat.” He grinned, and Azraq chuckled faintly. Although Miguel had suddenly invaded his personal space, Azraq showed no signs of being bothered by it at all. In fact, he seemed to realize that it would make Yana happy to see him getting along with others.
Vincent regarded Miguel with unrestrained exasperation, as if he couldn’t fathom these silly antics between men.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Vincent,” Miguel cooed. “Were you lonely all by yourself?”
“Come again?”
“C’mon, come over here and get chummy with us.” Miguel’s voice was so sugary sweet that if he were to solicit female students the same way, at least ninety percent of them would go along without a second thought.
Vincent, however, blanched and shook his head. “Quit that. I am not interested in that sort of thing.”
“There’s nothing weird about it. Yana and Oriana are doing it too, right? So come on.”
“Don’t lump me in with the girls.”
“Ooh, discrimination,” Miguel gasped.
“Shut up.”
“Must be so nice,” Oriana blurted out as she watched them.
Vincent stared back at her, shocked. “Wh-What must be, Oriana?”
Oriana couldn’t help but eye them enviously as they bantered back and forth, no walls between them. I finally felt like I’d really, truly become his friend, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not—that we’re simply getting along as fellow schoolmates.
Memories of how he’d acted around Sharon Beezel flitted through her mind one after the other. That’s right. He was the same way with her. But he’s never acted that casual and open with me… The more she remembered, the more her jealousy grew until she finally scrunched her face.
“I want you to belittle me, too.”
“Oriana?” Vincent squeaked in disbelief. His reaction was so exaggerated that she laughed.