Chapter 105 - Incorrigible
“Ah, what a wonderful morning!” sighed prince Xander as he opened the door of his room.
“Good morning, your highness,” Boulvar and Venet greeted him.
“Good morning! How was your sleep in your new room?” Mordecai asked him in a striped apron.
“It was simply marvelous!” replied Xander who went to the kitchen counter to watch his medic flip a half burnt pancake in the air.
It flew in a wide arc and landed on the kitchen counter in front of him.
“Would you like your hair braided now, your highness?” asked Boulvar, holding a brush, a mirror, and a piece of red ribbon.
“Thank you, please do it fast, so that we can head over next door for some breakfast,” said Xander, unperturbed, as Mordecai dropped wet pancake batter on the floor.
“I can cook you something, my leage! You don’t need to mingle with those lowly peasants just to eat!” Venet pressed.
“Or, we could just go downstairs to have breakfast, like the rest of the students,” said Mordecai who had dumped his cooking utensils in the sink. “The cafeteria had just finished being renovated.”
“But I have always found Johan’s cooking more interesting,” Xander replied, his hair combed hair rising with the wind. “Also, we can’t eat with Dagon and Azra in the cafeteria, the other students would just keep staring at them.”
“There, your highness, your hair is fixed.”
Xander looked at the mirror Boulvar held to check his long braids.
“Thank you, now, let’s have some breakfast with our friends next door!”
Seb didn’t look delighted when he opened the door and found Xander and his retinue in full uniform.
In fact, he didn’t look like he was awake at all.
“Is Seb sleepwalking?” Xander asked Johan who let them in, wearing an apron over his undershirt.
“Don’t mind him, he’s not a morning person,” replied Johan before returning to his kitchen.
Xander watched as the mute mage wobbled towards the bathroom.
“So, what brings you here so early?” Johan asked them.
“We decided to join you for breakfast!” replied Xander.
“Wow, how thick skinned can you get?” Johan glared at them while his ward Dagon took a steaming sausage from his skillet.
“We have brought our own food,” Mordecai said. Boulvar and Venet handed over bags full of sausages, hams, different type of cheeses, and other meat products.”
“Take a seat then!” said Johan with a grin.
“Good morning, Azra!” Xander sat on the chair where the white bird perched, looking at him. “Where’s Dorin and Benette?”
“Dorin’s still asleep for some reason. Benette’s right behind you.”
“Oh,” Xander looked back and saw the pale white medic seated on the beige sofa in the small living room they just passed. He didn’t notice him there when they entered the room.
“Dorin got home before 5 in the morning,” Benette said in a soft voice. “He’s still asleep with his friend Eirian.”
“Eirian is staying here as well?” Mordecai asked, wide-eyed. “Aren’t women forbidden to enter the male dormitories?”
“Yeah, well, you try telling Eirian that,” Johan answered. “She came in here carrying Dorin like a princess and went straight to his room with dog and haven’t gone out since. We told her she can’t stay in here in the male dorms, especially in the same room as Dorin, but she just told us to shut up and get out of her way.”
“We just hope that Ms. Ermingard wouldn’t notice...” Bennette added, looking worried.
“Well, I heard they were childhood friends, after all, they probably treat each other as siblings,” said Mordecai.
“Yeah, he probably sleeps with her and his mom in the same bed,” Johan added just as the bathroom door open. Seb came out, his eyes still swollen from sleep, but noticeably more aware of his surroundings.
[What are you guys doing here?] he asked, raising his slate.
“We came for breakfast,” Xander replied with a smile, “you even opened the door for us.”
“The sausages and waffles are ready,” Johan called to his room mates and guests. “Can someone wake Dorin up? He’ll be late for classes if he doesn’t wake up,” called Xander.
“I-I’m on it...” Bennette volunteered.
He went to the first door to the left in their hallway and gently knocked on it.
“Dorin? Time to wake up,” he called softly.
There was no reply inside.
“Dorin? Miss Eirian?”
Still no reply.
“Let me do it!” Venet snapped at him, looking irritated.
He went to the door and knocked at it so hard, you would think he’s trying to break it down.
“Hey Dorin! Wake up if you want to eat!” he yelled by the door. “You’re gonna be late for class!” He started kicking the door after.
“Um... you really shouldn’t...” Benette tried to stop him, but Venet just kicked the door harder.
“Hey, open up if you know what’s good for you!”
The door suddenly opened.
Venet lost his footing as he was about to give another kick, and was pulled inside by a pair of pale arms.
The door closed shut once again and Venet’s cries could be heard inside.
“Venet!” Boulvar called, knocking on the door. “Dorin, please open up!”
The room went quiet and the door opened once more.
Boulvar, Benette, and a curious Dagon took a cautious peep insided, when Eirian stepped out of the room, looking fresh and glowing in her magic division school uniform. Her hair was set in golden curls that fell softly on her shoulders and her purple eyes have now turned into a deep sky blue.
“Good morning!” she greeted everyone with a dazzling smile. “I appreciate the morning wake-up call, but next time, please send me someone more agreeable.”
Boulvar rushed inside and saw Dorin poking an unconscious Venet on the floor with his back side up in the air.
“What happened to Venet?” Boulvar asked Dorin.
“He got on Eirian’s bad side,” the other replied, shaking his head. “She hates it when someone disturbs her slumber.”
“And you?”
“Oh, I just overslept...” he gave a big yawn. “Don’t worry, she just bonked him on the head a bit, he’ll be fine after a couple of minutes.”
“Good morning!” Xander greeted Dorin as soon as she stepped out of his room with Dog by his side.
“Morning, why’s everyone here?” asked Dorin, rubbing his grumbling tummy.
“We decided to eat breakfast together,” Xander replied. “It seems, Mordecai isn’t as good a cook as our Johan is!”
“I do have my own shortcomings,” Mordecai said with a laugh while eating his sausage with waffles and eggs.
“Hurry up before the food is all gone!” Johan warned Dorin.
“Haa, I’m famished!” Dorin exclaimed. “I didn’t get to have any dinner last night!”
Dorin sat by the counter and took a waffle, placed two eggs on top of it, and took a big bite. He licked at the egg yolk that dribbled on the side of his mouth and took a sausage before Dagon could grab it.
“Hey, Benette, have you eaten anything yet?” Johan called to the pale medic who was back seating on the sofa.
“O-oh... I had a waffle earlier...” he mumbled, his voice trailing off.
“Get some more before they’re all gone.” Johan looked at Boulvar who dragged Venet out of Dorin’s room. “You as well, Benette, put some food aside for your noisy friend, and Seb, eat properly, don’t just feed Azra waffle crumbs.”
“You seem to be quite used to this, Johan?” Xander asked his fellow fire mage. “I feel like you’re a mother hen feeding his chicks!”
“Yeah, well, I used to take care of the smaller kids back at the mines,” Johan answered absentmindedly as he fried some more sausages and eggs and placed more batter on the waffle mold. “We kids are often left behind while the adults work in the old mines, so I’m used to stuff like this.”
“But don’t you work in the mines as well?” Xander asked, looking interested.
“Yeah, but, there’s no one else to feed them, so...” he trailed off. “Anyway, I got to teach the bigger kids, so they help when they can.” He looked at Dorin. “Next time, you get to do the cooking!”
“Got it!” mumbled Dorin with his mouth full.
“I can help in the preparations as well,” said Boulvar. “Just tell me what to do.”
“Good, but one helper is enough, since the kitchen is a bit small, and you’re quite bulky,” Johan replied. “I’ll maybe let you wash and cut the veggies next time...”
“I am famished!”
The bathroom door opened and Eirian steps out. Dorin rushed to the toilet while Eirian takes his place on the kitchen counter.
“What’s for breakfast? And why is it so crowded here?”
“The more the merrier,” Mordecai replied. “Take your pick before the food is gone.”
“Ah, this smells heavenly!” she sighed as she placed some waffles on a plate, added a ball of butter on top, and dribbled maple syrup all over it.
“So, Ms. Eirian, I hear you’re Dorin’s childhood friend,” Xander asked her, “how long have you known each other?”
“Since he was born!” she said proudly with a smile that caught everyone’s attention. “I practically raised him as my own.”
“He must have been a handfull...” asked Mordecai who couldn’t take his eyes off of Eirian.
“Oh, he was a sweet boy, he loves sweets, his pets, and loves it when I read him fairy tale stories.”
“Were you the one who taught him magic as well?” Xander asked, entranced by Eirian’s smile.
“Mostly,” she replied. “it came naturally to him, like breathing is to a new born baby.”
“Right, like eating when you’re hungry,” said Johan with Dagon perched on his shoulder. “If everyone’s done eating, then I suggest one of you clean the dishes.
Seb raised his slate and went to the sink.
[I’ll do it.]
He just wanted to move away from Eirian whose appearance seemed to have enchanted all the men in the room. She was worst than attention seeking Prof. Raevers who likes to flirt with every professor of the opposite sex.
He gently shook his head when he got to the sink and washed his face with cold tap water.
‘That woman is a very strong enchantress, which is no surprise, since she took care of Dorin as a kid,’ he found himself thinking. ‘She probably got him to follow her every will by manipulating him, just like his mother.’
“Any more food left?” asked Dorin as he came out of the bathroom, his messy hair still dripping wet.
“Here, I saved some sausages and waffles for you,” said Johan.
“I want some more waffles, too!” Erian whined.
“Then you should have asked for more earlier,” Johan frowned at her. “I’m done cooking.”
Seb stared at Johan wide eyed.
He was now taking his apron off and eating his breakfast from a hidden plate heaping with food. Dagon kept clinging on his shoulder and grabbing at it. Johan gave him a sausage to keep him still.
‘That’s right!’ Seb realized as Dagon munched on the morsel. ‘Dragons are highly immune to magic, particularly enchantments and illusions!’
“Here, I’ll give you half of mine,” Dorin told a pouting Erian as he cut his waffle in half. “Do we still have time before our classes begin?” he asked, but his room mates were all busy staring at his best friend.
“Hey!” Dorin clapped him hands twice. “Won’t we be late at this rate?”
Xander snapped from his enchantment and looked around the room.
“My goodness, what time is it?”
“It’s five minutes to eight!” replied Mordecai who looked surprised himself.
“We better hurry or we’ll be late for class!” said Boulvar who placed Venet over his shoulder.
“Hmph, mine begin at 9,” said Johan with an arrogant smile.
“We need to leave then, my classes are from 8 to 5!” said Dorin who went to his room to get changed.
“That’s right! Why is your daily schedule packed so tight? We hardly have enough time to have fun outside!”
“Oh, I requested if from Dean Alcione since there was so much I wanted to learn!” Dorin replied from inside his room.
“Ugh, you little nerd! When are we supposed to hang out, then?”
“Well, didn’t you say that you took all my classes as well?” Dorin returned with his sachel. “Isn’t that hanging out already?”
“Argh!” Erian placed her balled fists to her sides. “I’m gonna have to tell that dean to give you a break!”
“We have breaks every Sundays, Ms. Eirian,” Mordecai informed her.
“That’s not enough! I want to have fun with Dorin everyday!”
“Sorry, Erian, but I like my classes and don’t plan to miss any of them!” said Dorin as he made his way out the door together with the prince’s retinue.
“Really, you little brat, you’re incorrigible!”
They all left together, leaving Johan with Benette, Seb, and the three ‘familiars’.