Chapter 79—Young Duran

Chapter 79: 79—Young Duran The celebrations breezed by after that. Sleep weighed heavy on Lucen’s eyelids, and Kibara seemed to notice. She sent him off, and he caught up with Liam on the steps down from the training yard. "I didn’t see it all, but everyone saw you guys dancing together. You know Fineas, right? He was cursing you all night." Lucen nodded, his head felt too cloudy to speak. They stopped at the front of Grey Keep, and clasped forearms. "So when is our journey beginning?" Liam asked, grinning. "I still haven’t told my mom I’m going with you." Lucen rolled his eyes. "We have class with Warren tomorrow, he’ll tell us when we’re to set off. Tell your mom soon, she deserves to know." His climb up the myriad of steps, and journey through the black and velvet halls of the Keep, were hazy. Before he knew it, he was crashing into the soft white bed and drifting to sleep. ■——■ He dreamt all night. Of six-winged butterflies. Of mist running its hand through his hair. Of golden light falling on him Someone tapped him on the back softly. When he refused to open his eyes, Selene slapped his back hard and shouted, "Wake up, you have lessons soon. Go bathe and prepare!" "Warren said our class would be in the afternoon by the fourteen light," Lucen muttered back. "Yes, I know that, you told me four hours ago," Selene warned. "It’s eleventh light now." Lucen rolled over and glanced out the window. He blinked twice before sitting up. "What the hell?" "You worked really hard yesterday. If it was up to me, you’d sleep all day. But Warren’s class is important for preparing for your journey. So get up." Lucen rolled to the edge of the bed and rubbed his eyes. "Why am I still so tired?" An hour later he was fully dressed. He wanted to go down the Keep to get something to eat in Liam’s shop and ask him whether he talked to his mom. But Ymir stopped him on the way. "Where are you going?" she asked. Ymir was of the direct line; servants brought food to their rooms all the time. Lucen had to buy or make his food downstairs. "I wanted to get something to eat," he answered. "Didn’t hear Set’s announcement? We’ll get food for everyone in the Dome." Ymir smirked mischievously. "That girl really twisted your head last night. You didn’t even hear us." Lucen deadpanned as she laughed. He still wanted to go see Liam, but Ymir grabbed his shoulders and pushed him forward. Maybe he’d see him in the evening. The glass roof of the crystal dome filtered light into different colours, giving the wide circular room a green tint. The wooden desks that circled the raised podium were occupied by chattering kids. "That’s more than thirty people?" Lucen murmured. "Duran’s class is also here since they’ll be following us," Ymir explained. Kedral’s decree last night permitted any one who hadn’t had their first quest to follow the Squires on this quests. These included people that became Knights in the last fifteen year. He picked an empty seat beside Kon. Some heads turned as he entered with silent, evaluating looks. But some had irritated sneers on their lips. Duran was dark-haired like all Lightcloaks. His hair was combed back and smooth, with a single lock over his forehead, and his eyes shone with amusement. "Why are you so late?" Lucen raised an eyebrow. "The class starts in two hours?" "Oh, I forgot you don’t usually hang out here." Warren’s students often used this place to hang out with their friends. It must have been nice to be so young and all live close to each other. "I slept in anyway," Lucen said. "How are you all awake so early?" "Quit drinking, old man," Helie said, turning back to smirk at him. "It’s a family secret, but I’ll let you in on it. Alcohol dulls the brain." Lucen rolled his eyes and looked for Set. "Where’s the free food? It’s the only reason I’m here." It took almost thirty minutes for servants to start streaming into the room, holding trays of food and plates. They served everyone very quickly and nicely, though. Once his belly was full, the sleepiness had fully passed, and he was wishing time would pass faster so Warren could arrive. The kids talked of the most random things, arguing about spells one moment, talking about potential couples the next. "Everyone saw you with Kibara, hehe," Kon whispered to him. "Didn’t know you liked older women." Woman? Kibara was less than twenty years old. Even at twenty you’re just barely an adult. Unless you have a job—Lucen never had one, so he never grew past being an irresponsible kid. Elle glanced back at him sharply. The others also looked pretty interested. Hither was smiling widely. "I didn’t think Lucen was the type to talk to anyone he didn’t have to." "I thought Lucen hated talking." Helie nodded sharply. "thought I was dreaming." "One of the few advantages of being an alcoholic is confidence," Lucen quipped. Kon looked a bit unsure. "But I think Duran also likes her. He’s a big shot, almost became a Knight when he was nineteen." Becoming a Knight early wasn’t really a sign of potential. It was a matter of resources and constant channelling. Speaking of channelling, he was so low on mana. He needed to sit down for an hour or two and channel. Lucen neglected answering Kon’s question. But he did follow the boy’s eyes when they shot up to the front of the class. Duran was walking up the rising steps of the class towards them. He could be going for the exit though. But then Duran’s eyes met his. He wasn’t going to the exit. Lucen sighed. He considered putting his head down and pretending to be asleep. Kon and the others shrank back to their seats as the older boy drew nearer. Four other young Knights trailed him. Duran stopped in front of Lucen and sat on his table, smiling down at him. "How goes it, halfblood?" Duran asked cheerily. "You’re the story mudborns will tell each other for the next few weeks." Mudborn was a name for the common, non-magical population. But Duran was actively going after Kibara, who was mudborn. Did he not feel the irony of using that word? Lucen sighed. He would never understand people. "I’m okay. Thank you." He rose and bowed to Duran, then saluted him. As obnoxious as the boy was about to be, Duran was still a Knight. Lucen had a feeling that being respectful now could help prevent the senseless trouble that was brewing here. None of them returned his salute. Another boy chuckled, "We wanted to chat with Warren’s second-best student. See if you had any pointers for taking down Fiends." "Knowing your enemy is always a good one," Lucen recited things Warren said in class. "But being calm is the best pointer I can give." They all stopped laughing and glared. Lucen forgot how adamant these people were about downplaying yourself in front of your superior. They must have thought this was his way of insulting them. Duran sneered, "Don’t let your luck get to your head, halfblood." Lucen wasn’t feeling very respectful today. He smiled. "Kibara did say that one time is luck, twice is skill." Duran’s glare turned murderous. "Disturbing your seniors, little Elle or Helie aren’t enough for you." He smiled wickedly. "Kibara talked about you last night after you left. Just a little, though. I made sure she forgot about you later." Lucen cocked his head, holding back a laugh. "Nice try. Almost believed you there, kid." Duran reached for his collar, but Lucen caught the hand. Duran looked a lot like his older namesake when he was angry. "Looks like I need to teach you a lesson," Duran growled. Lucen laughed. "Feel free to try."