Her hair shone like a pocket of rubies in a deep, forgotten cave —glowing, wild, untamed — and under siege.
"Aaaaagh! Let go! I have no more bread! "The girl flailed her arms desperately as a murder of crows pecked and tugged at her glorious red strands. "I FED you! Twenty loaves! Twenty, you ungrateful sky-goblins! WHY THE HAIR?!"
She ran in frantic zigzags, swatting the air like a warrior in training… badly. A few feathers caught in her mouth. One crow perched on her head like it had claimed royalty.
Nearby, confused townspeople paused. Some stared. Some snickered. One man offered a single clap of pity.
And from behind a pillar near the edge of the Golden Hall, Xitij peeked out — blinking at the chaos.
"Is this… normal?" he whispered.
Yelena, standing beside him with her arms crossed and an amused smirk, replied dryly, "In Ardovale? Give it an hour — it'll get weirder."
The girl finally collapsed onto a bench, panting. The crows, deciding she'd suffered enough, retreated with loud caws of judgment.
She glared at the sky, fists raised. "I swear, I am done feeding anything with wings. Chickens included."
Then her eyes fell on Xitij and Yelena.
"Ahh Xitij , Wait…You saw all of that, didn't you?" she asked, her voice flat with embarrassment.
Xitij looked around as if unsure whether to nod.
Yelena just grinned. "Every glorious second."
An awkward silence creeps across the city square.
Crows shuffle nervously.
Xitij clears his throat.
Yelena twirls a lock of hair.
The red-haired girl flicks a feather off her shoulder.
...
Narrator (sighs):"So… moving on from that."
Meanwhile, inside the Golden Hall:
A grand chamber of pillars and parchments. A line of hopefuls stretches toward the registration desks. Overhead, domes of glass let sunlight pour in like blessings — yet for one boy, it feels more like a spotlight.
The azure-eyed boy stands frozen, papers clutched in white-knuckled fists. His name tag reads:
Einar.
His legs want to walk forward. His heart is already out the door.
"Come on Einar, you can do it… yes I can… noooooooo I can't!"
He takes one step forward — only to spin back like a clumsy ballerina.
A hall attendant gives him a concerned look.
He tries again. Two steps this time. Then, a whisper from someone nearby:
"Hey, that's the kid who cried when the folder slipped."
Einar's heart sits back down.Hard.
He inhales like a hero. Exhales like a victim. Stares at the registration table like it's a final boss.
A single drop of sweat rolls down his temple.Another round begins in the battle between perseverance( persistence ) and crippling social anxiety.
Narrator (sighs):"So… moving on from that." ,"AGAIN"
Back , at the city square:
The awkward silence is still lingering like fog. No one quite knows what to say after the crow attack.
That is, until the girl with hair like ruby wildfire brushes a feather from her shoulder, sighs dramatically, and straightens her back with pride.
She offers a polite, if slightly frazzled smile.
" Pleasure to meet you after such a long time Xij."
Xitij (trying to stop himself from letting a tear out ) — "Rose, it is so good to see you again . You have grown up huh ?" — Wiping a tear with his sleeve — "well your actions don't justify it but its alright you look much prettier than before"
Rose(joyous from the compliment) — " Hehe - Thanks , well you look more handsome than before as well"
A genuine and straight forward compliment true from the heart is enough to stir up almost anyone, it is enough to turn a bad day into a good one and a good one onto one better.
Xitij blinks. Overwhelmed after seeing his friend after such a long time , he just stares at her face — remembering the Rose from the past — "your face has changed quite a bit , stature has too , your body now resembles that of a young women rather than a childish girl."
"But inside you are still that Rose who came running to me and yelena after seeing any small bug , you'd want snacks everyday , you clinged close to me during the departure and made me promise that I would return to you no matter what happens, Well Rose , your saviour has now arrived , he he "
Her cheeks blush , her teeth grin , she cannot stop letting tears out — Rose grabs Xitij with one hand and Yelena with other she grips them both firmly pulling them close , she clings on hard . yelena and xitij wrap their around her and each other.
The three young souls clinged hard to each other as to never let go .
You may warm your skin with a jacket but to find true warmth and comfort you need to cling hard and hide yourself in someone else's jacket , someone whom you trust and believe in more than you do in yourself , someone who would return to you no matter what , someone who you can cling on to and cry as much as you want for as long you find.
After soaking each others clothes in tears , the trio heads towards the hotel .
Rose : "So which one of you booked the hotel?"
Then, without looking,Xitij points a finger at Yelena.
Yelena, also without looking, points right at him — both in perfect sync:
"Yelena/Xitij."
A pause.
Then, also in sync — but now confidently:
"Then it must be HIM"
The crows scatter.
Somewhere in the distance, a lute plays a confused chord.
Narrator (sighs):
"Yes , that should be enough awkwardness for today"
The trio arrive at the hotel each with a seperate room part their ways , they didn't know where 'his' room was and it was getting late so they decided to meet him at the Golden Hall , as they all were headed there anyway.
Night falls and after such a eventful day ; all the young men and ladies sleep in peace .... except for the Narrator .
Sunshine strikes. Overhead, domes of glass let sunlight pour in like blessings again —only this time, there are four young fools under the spotlight, not just one.
The azure, brown, hazel, and green eyes meet.
Epic theme plays....
Xitij enters the GOLDEN HALL!!!
Narrator: ("Sighs , but now with the passion of Ardovale !!")
"Now that is a good closing to the chapter."