Chapter 99 –
“What took you so long?” Johan asked when Dorin, Eirian and Seb entered the round room on top of the tower. “I was beginning to think that I was the only one to show up from our Sphere!”
“You mean, Benette isn’t here yet?” asked Dorin. “Where’s Dagon? Didn’t you bring him along with you?”
Johan raised his thumb and gestured behind him.
“Dorin! You finally arrived!”
Dorin and Seb were surprised to see Prince Alexander and his retinue in the room as well!
[What are you doing here?] Seb was the first to ask, while Azra stared at the third prince.
“Isn’t this class only for Special Class Sphere members?” Dorin asked next.
“Yes, it is,” Xander said as he came closer with Dagon following behind him, carrying a large bag of potato chips. “We just got permission to be re-evaluated,” he explained. “You see, I wasn’t feeling very well on the day we had our proficiency test, thus, my true capabilities were not adequately measured.”
[And the rest of your group? You’re saying you were all measured inadequately?] Seb wrote with a hint of sarcasm.
“Yes, we were, after all, still tired from the long trip from the Capital, and had to take the Proficiency test as soon as we arrived, ”That’s why we decided to retake the exam, and show them the extent of our true capabilities.”
“That’s great, now that there are two SCS teams, we can have matches!” said Dorin.
“That is correct!” said Mordecai who came behind the third prince. “I am looking forward to having a chance to spar with you.”
“We can do it right now!” replied Dorin who grinned at the older student.
“Perhaps some other time,” said Xander who was staring at Eirian who stood behind Dorin with a small smile on her face. “May I know who your friend is?”
“Oh, this is my best friend Eirian!” Dorin introduced them. “She just arrived from our village and got accepted in the Special Class as well!”
“That’s right, I heard that you have already found a 5th member,” said Xander. “But I had no idea she was a lovely enchantress, and an old acquaintance of yours as well.”
Xander reached out a hand towards Eirian she gently placed her hands on his. He gave a fluid bow as he kissed the tips of her fingers.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady,” he greeted her. “I am Alexander Bryon Louise Alcione, third prince of the Alcione empire.”
“And I am Eirian Marie, Dorin’s childhood friend,” the other simply replied and looked at the people behind him.
“The company behind me is Mordecai Almacion, my steward,” Xander introduced them. “The others are my attendants, Benedict Venet and Guiscard Boulvar, and of course, our fifth member and newest companion, Eurydice Dennison.
“Dennison is here?” Dorin asked, his face lighting up. “Where is she?”
The group looked back at the spacious room which filled the whole top of the North tower which was about 50 meters across. There were several arched windows which lined the walls, and the light from one at the farthest end was blocked by a person sitting on the sill.
“She’s taking in the sunshine from the west side of the tower,” said Mordecai. “You can say, she’s nourishing herself.”
“Let’s go introduce ourselves!” Dorin told his companions.
“What for?” Johan asked as he brushed off potato chip crumbs from Dagon’s clothes.
“Of course, so we can be friends with her too. Isn’t that what University is for?”
Xander gave the young wind mage a big smile.
“That is right! Let me introduce you to Eury!”
“Your highness, are you sure?” Boulvar whispered beside him.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Eury wouldn’t mind.”
The two group of friends walked across the spacious room.
“I must warn you, though, that Eury is very particular about who she talks to. I guess you can say that she only considers a handful of people are good enough to approach her,” said Mordecai with a thin smile. “If Xander wasn’t the third prince, I doubt she would have joined our group or even spared some time to talk with us.”
“She’s a snob then?” asked Eirian who looked amused. ‘Yet Dorin seems to be interested in her,’ she thought to herself.
“No, not really,” Xander added to the Dryand’s defence. “She just does not like to be among humans. I believe that her tree was near the mine that was granted to the Empire years ago, thus she had to transfer deeper into the Dark Forest. She was still there when the mines were opened and saw how the humans cleared the area to build a quarry.”
“I guess her dislike of humans are justifiable then,” said Dorin.
“I don’t get it... just because of a tree?” asked Johan with a frown on his face.
“You see, Dryads are connected to their trees,” Xander explained. “If the tree dies, then they will follow soon after.”
“Follow where?” Johan asked once more.
The others didn’t have time to reply as Eirian’s soft laughter filled their ears.
“What an ig - innocent kid!” she told the young fire mage. “No wonder Dorin chose you to be his friend!”
“I still don’t get it!” Johan frowned.
[We’ll explain later.] wrote Seb on his slate.
“Eurydice,” Xander called to the Dryad who was facing out the window.
Eurydice turned to face them, her eyes slowly opening as she did. Her soft features looked transparent with the sun behind her as it descended on its path towards the horizon. Her green hair floated around her pale face, and her green eyes, the color of new grass in spring, shined with a life of their own.
“Eurydice, I would like to introduce you to the members of the 1st Special Class Sphere,” said Xander as he came closer to the Dryad. “These are Dorin Silvius, Sebastian Revious, Johan Ignacius, and Eirian Marie.”
“Benette’s already here, too,” said Johan who pointed at the medic who stood at the back of the group.
“Sorry... was a bit late...” he mumbled.
“Everyone, this is the fifth member of the 2nd Sphere, Eurydice Dennison, a pure Dryad.”
“Oh, a pure one, meaning you were born from the seed of an ancient oak tree?” Eirian asked with a smile.
Eury simply nodded.
“I’m so glad I could meet you again!” said Dorin, his face with a big smile. “I’m glad to see you’re fine after our fight the other day!”
Eury stared at Dorin blankly. She seemed to be thinking, when realization finally brightened up her face.
“Silvius, 620.” Her head tilted to a side.
“Huh?” Dorin copied her.
Eury then faced Johan, pointing an accusing finger at him.
“Tree killer.”
“What?” Johan frowned.
“Oh, she might be talking about the past tournament!” Xander said. “Remember, you burned the trees in the area to clear the way?”
“Oh, that. That’s part of our strategy since you kept hiding in the trees! Don’t blame me when you’re too cowardly to show yourself.”
The two glared at each other.
“Now, now, let’s let bygones be bygones, it was merely a tournament and the trees in the area where we had the event would surely be replanted or replaced by the University gardeners...” Xander said. “Besides, there are always some casualties in such fights.”
“That’s right, we’re sorry if we hurt the trees or offended you in any way,” added Dorin. “Right, Johan?”
“Whatever,” his friend mumbled.
“I must admit, though, that I was surprised by your fighting skills,” Dorin told Eury. “I didn’t even notice you broke my token until the announcement said that I was out of the game.”
“Oh, you beat Dorin in this tournament you mentioned?” Eirian asked.
“That’s right, Eirian!” Dorin faced his childhood friend. “She was so good at manipulating the plants that she almost got me after pulling me beneath the earth! I thought I was a goner until remembered that plants can’t grow on hardened soil!”
“I guess you are still lacking in your training then!” Eirian pouted at Dorin who gave a nervous laugh.
“No. Not Lacking.”
They both looked at Eury who stepped closer at Dorin.
“You are enough for this Eurydice,” she said, touching the shorted boy’s shoulder. “I have been searching long for a strong stamen, and now, I have chosen my anther.”
The group stared wide-eyed as Eury touched Dorin’s chin, bowed low, and kissed Dorin’s lips.
Or at least tried.
As a blank slate blocked the two lips from touching each other.