Rain
The rain pounded on my window as I was trying to study. I couldn't focus, my gaze kept going from the dark clouds in the sky to my textbook. I was supposed to be studying my sword play, but since it was raining, no one was allowed in the training grounds. So I was looking over the magic spells we had learned in class. My eyes shot back down to my textbook, and I noticed a drawing I had done. I had drawn a rose in the top right corner of the page, just like the ones Marin used to show me.
I heard a knock on my door. I didn't move at first, but then a voice came through my door.
"Caelum, a few of us are going to the library for a study session. You coming?" It was Len.
I cleared my throat, "Yeah, I'll be there." I said, trying to sound casual.
I reached for my bag and started putting my notebooks in when I saw something flapping underneath my door.
A letter? My heart dropped, and the air felt heavy. Is it from a Victoria family member?
I slowly opened the note, and it was not what I expected.
"You're not the only one who remembers, but not everyone wants revenge. Some of us just want to heal. What you did was right, don't forget that. I hope saying that helps you find the peace you deserve."
There was no signature, but at the bottom was a sketch, a rose.
"Marin," I whispered, "Maybe not everyone hates me. I wonder if I can go back to using my real name."
I put the letter in my pocket and grabbed my bag. I headed to the library.
When I got to the library and opened the door, the smell of leather and paper pierced my nose. I didn't mind the smell all that much. Students were murmuring to each other, it was nice.
I noticed Len and a bunch of others already had a table. Books were sprawled all across the table, but they seemed more engrossed in the conversation they were having.
"Caelum, over here," Len shouted. He suddenly got chopped on the side with a hand.
"Len, you know the library is supposed to be a place where you're quiet." A girl named Lyla whispered.
I walked over and sat down. I took my books out of the bag.
"Do you need help with anything, Caelum~," Lyla asked me.
"No, I got it, thank you," I answered
"Hey, did you guys hear about the 5 School Tournament. It is coming up pretty soon, I'm thinking about participating." Lyla said with a smug grin.
The 5 School Tournament, where all the schools on the continent send their best fighters to show their skills and talents.
"Oh please, like you could hurt a fly," Len remarked.
Layla glared at him before returning to her smug smile, "That chop didn't hurt enough? I guess you want another one on your head this time."
"Are you sure you can toe to toe with Arya, I mean, she got second place last year." Len chimed in. "She's a beast when it comes to swordplay and magic."
Arya, the student council president, and the one who confronted me a little while ago about being Rain. I wonder if she talked to Sophie, like she said she would. They both were missing from the academy for 4 and a half weeks. Just then, the door to the library opened and Arya walked in.
She walked over to our table and sat down directly across from me.
"Arya, are you planning on entering the 5 School Tournament?" Layla asked hesitantly as if knowing her answer already.
"Of course," Arya responded, "And this time I'll win. I'll beat Maxwell this time." She sounded confident, as if last year didn't happen.
Maxwell, people call him Sword Dance. It's because when he uses his sword, he weilds it so majestically that it looks like he's dancing. He's one of the top prospects across the continent, so good in fact, he's already started being a Diver.
"Isn't he already a pretty high-ranked Diver too?" Len asked.
Arya looked conflicted, then spoke, "Yeah, he is, but I almost had him last year." Her conflicted look turned into one of confidence. "What about you, Caelum? Are you going to participate?"
I wonder why Arya was so conflicted at such a simple question? Was it because she wasn't a Diver, but she was as strong as Maxwell? Was she maybe jealous about that? I had a lot of questions floating around my mind, but Arya's question snapped me back to reality.
"I'm not sure, it doesn't seem right for me," I said. Then I remembered the letter that Marin had sent. "Yeah, I'll participate."
"Good, I hope to see you in the finals." She got up and walked over to me. She leaned down, and what came out of her mouth didn't shock me but I still felt chills run throughout my entire body. "Rain." She walked out.
It took me a couple of seconds to process this, but when I did, I hurriedly shoved my stuff into my bag and chased after her as fast as possible.
I walked out of the library and there she was, right next to the door, leaning against the wall.
"I figured you'd follow me, let's talk." She led me to the student council room. She slowly opened the door, as if she were opening it to something sacred.
When she opened it, though, I was underwhelmed. It had a bookshelf that lined the wall in the back left corner, a plain, shabby wooden desk in the middle of the room with a chair on both sides, and a small tree in a pot in the back right corner. That was about it.
I let out a sigh, "I thought the student council room would be much grander than this based on how slow you opened the door."
She let out a little chuckle before walking in and sitting at her desk. She then pointed to the chair across from her, "Well…" she said, "Aren't you going to take a seat?"
I walked up and sat in the chair. I was looking around the room, just in case she might've done something.
"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you, although I might put a tack in your shoe." She said half jokingly.
"Please don't do that," I said flatly.
"Anyway, back to the point-"
"There's no need. I assume you talked to Sophie?" I asked.
"Yes, I did. We did more than talk. We went back to the Victoria house." She didn't change her expression; she just sat back in her chair and put her hands behind her head. "You don't look shocked." She said simply.
"You guys were both gone for 4 and a half weeks. I kind of figured you guys went back to Victoria, the timeline fits." I said while shrugging my shoulders.
"Pretty smart, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm more surprised you aren't shocked about Sophie going back." She said with a confused look.
"It's not that I wasn't shocked, I figured she'd go back eventually, just not this early. I knew she had it in her." I said with a smile. "My question is, why did you guys go back, though?"
"Has Sophie not said anything yet?" She said, then she whispered under her breath, "That stupid girl." She went back to her normal volume, "Well, it's not my place to tell you. That is something only Sophie can say."
I tilted my head out of confusion, "What do you mean?" I asked.
"It doesn't concern me, is all." She stated matter-of-factly.
She paused, a mischievous smirk graced her lips before continuing, "What does concern me, though, is the tournament." She paused and looked me up and down, not in a judgmental way, but as if she was assessing me, "You could use some training if you want to make it to the finals." Her smirk grew even wider, "How about I train you?"
I blinked, unsure if she was kidding or not.
"Why do you want to train me?" I asked, and raised an eyebrow.
"I want to see Rain, not Caelum, but Rain. I want to see how Rain would fight when pushed to his limits. The only way to do that is to fight you in the finals. You have potential. I see you practicing with the sword after school a lot. "
I leaned back in my chair and pondered the proposal for a moment. The way she said it was odd, like it wasn't about strength at all, but understanding me, and maybe even help me understand myself. It was scary but it was something I had to do eventually.
"Sure, I'll let you train me."
"You'll let me train you? I don't think you understand how this works?" A smug smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Then why don't you tell me?" I responded.
"You'll see tomorrow morning. Make sure you're up at 5 A.M, and in the training yard, and if you make me wake you up, well, let's just say, it won't be pretty for you.
"Yes ma'am," I said flatly, got up and walked out of the student council office.