Luines - Book 1

Chapter 17: December Weather

The weather outside was as crazy as a monkeys' wedding, or perhaps a ghostly one. It was boiling hot but rain was beginning to drop. A lightning flashed synchronized with the rumbling of thunder. Hal glanced at the dark clouds looming outside, and then stuck her nose back in her piles of books.

By twelve o'clock noon, the survivors of the first day of the H.E.A.T.s, the Highly Extensive Aptitude Tests, filed into El Mundo Cafe. Sharing the table with Neon Requyem studying next to Mitsuki Miho wasn't torture anymore. Their bickering pace was a rhythm she had gotten used to by now, just like Sef Young jabbing at the buttons on his game.

Coming from the survivors, Zee Nakaji and Lesedi Ngoma took the other empty chairs. Zee was dripping as much as the windowpane outside, while Lesedi dropped her bag, and leaned forward on the table. Her head hit the table and Lesedi fell asleep.

Waving his hands on his clothes, a warm breeze circled Zee. He said, "Advanced Geomancy was hell! They made us amplify the weather outside."

"So, you caused the light show for the marriage of the tikbalang?" Hal said.

"Funny, Hal! I just added stronger winds for the sunshower. So, what's your lineup today?" Zee said. He finally sat down when all the water was gone.

"Empathy 100 and Higher Psyche." Hal said. She felt her heart skip as a presence leaned forward towards her. Ryu had entered the cafe, and kissed Hal on the cheek. Hal kept her eyes on the book, and bit her lip.

Ryu Kazama laid two trays full of sushi and maki on the table. "I know none of you would bother stand, so I bought snacks."

Hal gleamed, and took a piece of Salmon. "Thanks, mahal. How was your exam?"

"I just survived Professor Sagura Rauch's exam. The weather was a killer. The sun's in your face but it was raining. Is a fox getting married?" Ryu Kazama asked.

Sef took a few sushi and said, "Beats me. Those two have been arguing about it. They're debating if it's a monkey or a fox. In our hometown, they're tigers getting hitched."

"While we believe two ghosts are getting wed or a tikbalang. And maybe, it could be true. The Tikbalang back home are notorious racers." Hal said while she continued reading. Ryu Kazama slipped his hand towards Hal's, and intertwined his fingers with hers. He brought her hand up and kissed it gently.

"Come on, now! You two should get a room!" Mitsuki Miho said, then had a teasing smile at Neon Requyem, "So, tell me. A blackbird told me you're dating Sef's older brother. Is it true?"

The dark elf's ears were twitching and her high cheeks were turning into a dark shade of red. "It's actually forbidden for me to fall in love, once I fully take over as High Priestess. My heart and mind should be for the moon." Neon Requyem shifted topics, "Hal, where would you go after the H.E.A.T.s?"

"I'm heading back to the Philippines with Zee and Ryu. We could be going to the Republic of the Cordillera too. It's cold there, and the mountain breeze is awesome. Ryu would get a taste of our family Christmas roast."

"Literally and figuratively." Zee inserted. "Her aunts would eat Ryu up! Better be ready for the downpour of questions."

"Does it rain like that there?" Neon said.

All of them gazed outside, watching the darkness convene. More specks of the water jetted on the windowpane, and rushed down as more drops followed. Lightning and thunder struck again, sending another shocking bang to the campus.

Zee and Hal nodded together; Hal said, "When you live in Southeast Asia, you'll get used to the rain."

At the third rumble in the sky, the cafeteria doors slammed wide open. A gush of dragon smoke dashed into El Mundo. Hal stood as she knew that trademark smell. Reeg Myrkvi was back, and she could feel his pouncing anger. Through the dissipating smoke, Reeg was standing in the middle of the cafeteria, his rapid breaths formed jets of terrible clouds that aimed at each direction.