“The best cookie I’ve ever had,” I tell her gulping down repeatedly to wash away the foul taste.
She clasps her hands together and sighs in happiness.
“I’ll have more waiting for you the next time you come by.”
I force a smile, though as I look upon her, it swiftly becomes natural and genuine. “I can’t wait, Miss Moe.”
“Get home safe, Nykander. And bring the book next time too! We can talk about the first chapters.”
I’m reluctant to leave but know I cannot linger. With one last glance at her, I depart the restaurant, heading for the nearest shop to buy a bottle of flavored water.
Once the foul taste is out of my mouth, I can’t help but crack a smile that ultimately turns into a full-on laughter.
I have a friend… Abeautiful, sweet and kind friend.So what if her baking is not exactly on par? I’ll eat all her foul cookies as long as she keeps regaling me with her presence.
13
In the two moons that I’ve been working for the Department of War, things have been relatively easy. My work relationships have suffered since that conflict, though they were never great to begin with. So I do my work in silence, participating in bi-weekly conferences without really saying much.
The lonely environment might have been weighing more heavily on me if I did not have the friendship of Miss Moe. I try to go toFated Encounterat least twice a week, maybe three times if my budget allows me. She’s always there with a smile on her face, and she spends every free moment she has talking to me.
At first it was mostly about the books, but soon we tackled other topics. She told me more about herself—that her parents own the restaurant and she and her brother work there to earn money for further education. I also found out that she is about twenty-eight years old in mortal years and that she is yet unmarried.
My emotions got the best of me when I heard that and I tried my best to keep my features neutral so as to not make heruncomfortable. After all, she gave me her friendship, nothing else—no matter how much I might be dreaming otherwise.
I did not ask more about the specifics of her situation but I gathered that her unmarried status is mainly because her parents have not been able to gather a dowry and thus, the lack of funds make her an unappealing prospect.
I bit my tongue, of course, from mentioning that I would marry her in a heartbeat, dowry or not. Our differences aside, though, there isn’t much I could offer her—I can barely support myself as it is. But I am getting ahead of myself again. She offered friendship, nothing else.
The day starts as usual as I take my seat at my workstation and go through files. The routine hasn’t changed in the slightest in my time here, but as long as I avoid danger and earn a livable wage, I’m fine. With my position solidifying in another four moons, I will also get a considerable raise. Of course, I must make it until then with no issues. But there is also another aspect that I must consider: since everyone is so concerned with my level—or lack thereof—I must find a way to develop some skills. If the position solidifies, then I will likely encounter dangerous situations that I can only deal with at a more advanced level.
Luckily, when I entered the exam and signed my contract I used a slightly different last name so I cannot be tied to my House.
But that will only help me so far. If I want to increase my level, I won’t be able to hide the black mark on my record from any potential teacher. My father had explained as much in some of his writings. But if I find an unofficial one… Perhaps they will overlook it?
The thoughts of quickly advancing and becoming less helpless plague my mind the more I look through the files showing all the powerful warriors from the House of Memnon.
If I could be like that, too…
A blinding red light flashes inside the room, followed by a loud siren. Everyone stands up, looking around in shock.
“Conference room, everyone,” Elysand commands.
We all hurry inside and take a seat, at which point Elysand pulls up an enlarged map. It is focused on a region north of Sattoriya, though I can’t say I’m very familiar with it.
I look around, wondering if others know what it is. They all stare at the map with a look of recognition. It seems I’m the only clueless one.
“Since Lake Velor is considered a grade zero mystical item, I am personally in charge of it,” Elysand starts.
Lake Velor? I frown. He is indeed pointing toward an area that looks like a body of water. But how could that be a mystical item? It’s a lake!
Elysand makes eye contact with me and he notices my confusion so he explains, “The Lake is a mystical vestige from the era of the Primordials. It possesses the aura of the Primordials and has a mind of its own. Any person who makes contact with the lake has two possible outcomes: either they die, prisoner to their own minds, or they come out with their strength much improved. As far as the records show, those who survived the Lake returned with a fifty percent increase in their spiritual energy.”
I gawk at him in shock. The Lake has a mind of its own? It can kill people or make them stronger? That’s… fascinating.
“For example, if a level three enters the lake and survives, its new level will be a five or a six. But according to the information we have, the higher the level of the person entering the lake, the less likely they are to survive?”
I frown. Wouldn’t it be the other way around? So I voice my question aloud.
