You look like a father and son.
Those words buzzed in Chast's ears, as annoying as mosquitoes hovering around. He grimaced. What a joke!
Chast laughed, pretending that it was funny. At the same time, the people were quiet in their seats. Nice! I just embarrassed myself.
The man standing beside him walked toward the long, massive floating marble table. Glowing orbs hovered along its center, stretching the length of the table. The professors sat in their marble-cushioned, high-backed chairs that surrounded the table. Every gaze followed him in silence until he reached the head chair at the far end and took his place.
Should I follow? Do I have to stay standing here? Aren't they going to ask me to take a seat? Chast wondered. He slouched against the wall, one leg casually crossed over the other.
The room was quiet, everyone waiting for the man to speak. No one dared to break the silence, each wondering what he might be thinking. His expressionless face revealed nothing, yet he seemed lost in deep thought, stealing secret glances at Chast.
"Sit, kid." The man's voice was sharp and commanding, breaking the silence.
Chast looked at the man who was pointing at a vacant chair beside him.
Chast gulped and obeyed the man's order. Damn! This man's aura is scary! His aura radiated a high, unyielding authority.
"What's your name... kid?" The man asked after Chast took his seat. His gaze clashed with Chast's, and the room grew tense. For a heartbeat, neither of them looked away as if they were waging a war.
Everyone remained silent, their eyes filled with enjoyment, fixed on the man and Chast as if they were putting on a show.
Great! Now I'm competing in a staring contest. Chast thought, then blinked his eyes, conceding his defeat.
"Chast Vaughn." He answered, his voice was low, almost a whisper. And slowly looked away.
"Chast Vaughn." The man repeated, and a quick smile flashed on his face that no one had noticed.
Should I say it? Do I hide it? No… they'll find out anyway.
"Valkiery…" Chast began, then paused. His gaze flicked toward Professor Valkiery. Their eyes met, and she instinctively straightened her back.
"Chast Vaughn Valkiery," he continued, his eyes never leaving hers. A sigh of relief escaped him. He finally said his full name to everyone.
Professor Valkiery clenched her jaw, her face betraying nothing.
Everyone traded brief smiles and subtle nods, as if unspoken signals were flowing around the table that Chast couldn't decode.
"Now that you're awake and okay, I will accompany you to your dorm." The man stood up and exchanged gazes with everyone. Just gazes, but everyone understood. They nodded in response.
"Okay," Chast said and smiled politely at everyone.
At last, I'm getting out of here. Any longer and this awkwardness would've swallowed me whole. Chast thought and stood up excitedly.
Chast rushed to find the exit, but there was no door. Spinning around, he realized the only one that existed was the door leading back to the bedroom. Nice! A room without exit. What is this, some riddle now?
The man, who was already standing beside him, cleared his throat. "Let's go."
Chast frowned. Let's go? Tell me how we will go to my dorm? Teleportation? After Chast thought about teleportation, a realization struck him. Oh yeah. Of course, by magic!
Chast drew in a long breath, preparing himself for the familiar dizziness. Here we go again, Lavender Haze. Devour me as you always do.
The man snapped his fingers, and as fast as lightning strikes, they were already standing in Chast's bedroom.
"Wow!" Chast whispered in awe, wide-eyed. For once, he teleported without the usual haze, dizziness, or some other insane side effect.
"We're here." The man stated the obvious.
"Uh… thanks," Chast said, awkwardness dripping from his voice. "Sorry, I forgot to ask your name."
"Zay... Zion," he answered. Before Chast could ask more, Zion blurred into mist, gone without a goodbye.
Chast hissed. "Goodbye, Zion!" Chast muttered, rolling his eyes.
Chast's stomach growled loudly, like a war raging inside him. He looked out the window as the sun sank, the pitch-amber sky consumed little by little by the rising dark.
Chast quickly changed into new clothes and headed out. He found his dorm mates sitting on the couch, restless with worry, while the elves paced back and forth.
"It's been two days already, and Chast isn't here yet," Luke muttered, resting his head on the couch while his gaze darted to the floating orbs.
Two days? I was unconscious for two days. Chast wondered; his hand rested on his growling stomach.
"Did he leave the academy without informing us?" Ronnie wondered.
"Chosen won't... can't!" Nottie snarled at Ronnie.
"Whoa, relax!" Ronnie shuffled back, throwing up his hands as if caught in the act.
Chast laughed at Ronnie's reaction. His laugh caught their attention, and everybody looked at him excitedly. The three elves rushed him and pounced, knocking him off balance until he tumbled flat on the floor. "Ughh!" He groaned, crushed beneath their ridiculous weight.
Luke and Ronnie laughed while watching Chast and the elves. "Let me in!" Luke shouted, grinning with envy as he dove onto the pile of bodies on the floor.
"Tickle! Tickle!" Wottie hopped excitedly, clapping its hands.
Nottie and Tottie pinned Chast's arms, Luke clung to his legs, and Wottie went straight for his armpits and belly with merciless tickles. "Sta... Stop! En... Enough!" Chast howled with laughter, thrashing as he fought to catch his breath, while the room erupted in giggles.
"Where have you been?" Luke asked between bursts of laughter as their chaotic play continued.
"I don't know," Chast answered, then froze. Wait… he really didn't know where that place was. A meeting room? Somebody's house? The Dean's office? What the hell?
Luke stopped what he was doing. "What do you mean you don't know?" He raised his eyebrow.
Chast waved at the elves to stop, and he needed to talk. The elves hesitated but eventually obeyed.
Chast shrugged his shoulders. "I really don't know," he admitted. "I just woke up in a room with the professors and a bunch of unfamiliar people."
Chast's answer left everyone confused, but nobody said anything. Ronnie and Luke looked like they were trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or just making stuff up.
"How did you come back? Nobody even sees you come in." Ronnie asked, his arms crossed on his chest, as if he were interrogating Chast.
Chast sat up, recalling the incredible teleportation he had just experienced, and he smiled amusingly. "Teleportation." He answered proudly.
"Whoa! You finally found your magic!?" Luke slapped his shoulder.
Chast twitched his lips, then frowned. Luke should stop slapping my shoulder. Do I look like a punching bag?
"No," He answered firmly.
Luke sighed in disappointment.
"It will come," Nottie said out of nowhere.
Chast pursed his lips and nodded slightly at Nottie. Then said, "Professor Zion sent me back here."
"Professor Zion!?" Ronnie and Luke exclaimed, and their eyes widened in total bewilderment.
"Yeah, you know him?" Chast stood up when his stomach growled. He's famished.
Ronnie and Luke shared a glance, their widened eyes betraying their uncertainty.
"There's no such person as Professor Zion here!"