(Amaia)
This is not how I envisioned my day to begin, but I know this is just starting, and the situation will only get worse for me.
How much can I endure is the real question?
We head down for breakfast in the dining hall. Mostly it's empty, three to four students are strewn here and there, eating.
My mates are nowhere to be seen, nor is Rahria present.
We grab plates and begin to fill them with food. Tables have been lined on one side and breakfast food is arranged. Fruits, pancakes, muffins, baked beans, whipped cream, scrambled eggs, cheese omelette, different kinds of breads, butter, flavoured yoghurts, milk bottles and juices.
I grab a strawberry yoghurt, a cheese omelette, two slices of bread and some apple slices.
There are still knots in my stomach but I force myself to eat. We have training later and an empty stomach will not help.
We finish our breakfast in silence and it's almost 6 am when we leave the hall and head to the library. That's where Alnilam has asked us to gather.
Kacir knows the place like the back of his hand so I don't have to use the map to navigate.
A sharp chill is present in the morning air as we step outside and make our way towards the Eastern wing where the library is located.
"You are from Orion?" I ask, keeping in step with him and he nods.
"A lot of us are. Rahria, twins, and I grew up together," he explains, confirming what I had been suspecting all along.
"So you guys went to school together too?"
"Yes! We attended Orion High. We have completed most of our studies. These two years will focus on our combat, polishing of our magic, information and knowledge on monsters and learning life skills to survive in this post-apocalyptic world," he explains and I absorb every word he says.
We arrive outside an old but thick oak door. An inscription has been carved into the door with golden ink.
"Nothing more valuable than a good book, so welcome seekers–hope you find the one you are looking for."
Kacir pushes open the doors and we enter the space.
A sweet mustiness welcomes us. The smell of old books mingled with dusty, woodsy scents makes me take a deep breath. There is something very nostalgic about it, since so few libraries are left in our world.
The war that raged between mutilated monsters, supernatural species and humans resulted in destroying more than two-thirds of them.
This is heaven, thousands and thousands of books are lined in wooden racks with glass doors and I cannot help but stare with my mouth slightly open.
The centre place has wooden chairs and tables, reserved for reading.
A few of our badge mates from Serpens and Pegasus have already taken their seats around the rectangular table reserved for us.
Kacir and I occupy two seats, side by side. A boy who has dreadlocks for hair and intense greyish orange eyes sits on my other side. I am sure he was chosen for Pegasus.
"Hi!" He greets and I offer a small smile. "I am Luthial Jace." Wisdom seems to exude from him. His voice is calm and friendly.
"Hello! I am Amaia."
He returns to the open book in front of him and begins to read.
Neatly piled leather-bound books, quills, and notebooks lay on the table in front of every chair.
I rub my hand on the one in front of me and feel the soft leather under my skin.
Suddenly, the air shifts and the smell of these books intensifies for me. Alnilam is here, and that's exactly how his scent is.
The pain erupts in my heart, the pain I try to bury. I know it has been him today being intimate with his girlfriend or fiancée or whoever she is to him.
For anything, I can't raise my head and look at him. The ruthless agony, the burn, it's too much.
I do wonder if he would have accepted me if I weren't cursed. Or he would reject me because what he saw was an illusion and he believed it to be true. And he already has someone in his life.
"Good morning! Sir." He is met with an unenthusiastic greeting.
His blue cape flies behind him as he confidently walks past me, filling my being with his aura and scent. My knees shake and I clutch my hands in my lap to keep them from shaking.
My eyes follow him but I keep my eyes on his body and do not lift my gaze to watch his face.
Pausing at the end of the long table, he places his hands, palms down on it and leans forward.
"Are you all zombies?" He sternly asks. A hint of annoyance was so visible in his voice.
"No, Sir," a few of us chorus.
"Then speak like you mean it. I don't care for dead greetings. All of you will do three laps around the training ground as punishment for this sleepy greeting. Is that clear?" A few groans follow. "Speak clearly and I want to hear each one of you or it will be five laps," he firmly says.
Some grunts follow but everyone speaks this time, without hesitation.
"Yes, Sir!!"
"I told you he doesn't take any nonsense from anyone," Kacir whispers to me and I nod.
"In front of you are all the books and other materials you will need for this academic year. Take them to your rooms later. If you need anything else just let Miss Arington know." He points towards the librarian. Our heads turn to watch her and she glares back at us.
Miss Arington is a stern-faced lady with a no-bullshit-acceptable attitude. We simply nod and turn our attention back towards Alnilam.
"There are going to be three rules in my class. Fail to comply and you will be severely punished," he begins.
Rule number one: Never be late for my class…."
The door to the library swings open and twins enter with stupid apologetic grins flashing on their faces and their silky auburn hair tied in buns on the top of their heads.
"Sorry! We are late…," they say in unison, but that nonchalant attitude is so fully on display.
Alnilam straightens and crosses his burly arms on his flat chest. He pins them with a stare as my eyes go back and forth between my three mates.
Here we go.