Boy of Light and Dust

Dayin

Dayin was a little reluctant to go back to his room. He didn't have much to do, but he didn't want to bother Ica and he wasn't ready to sleep quite yet.

His thoughts kept slipping to the book he'd gotten from the library with Ica. He was itching to know more, but he wasn't sure if Ica would approve. Not to mention the book didn't seem to explain everything. But it didn't stop him. He sat cross-legged on his bed with the book in front of him only a few minutes after going back to his room. He quietly turned pages, soaking up the information.

It still horrified him, but the more he read, the more interesting it became. He wondered who would go through something like that, just for the sake of power. But then reminded himself that plenty of people would do a lot of bad things for power. And he could definitely see how something like this might tempt someone.

It wasn't until there was a frantic knocking at his door that he pried his eyes away from the book. "Dayin!" called Ica. Dayin wondered why time it was stumbling out of his bed toward the door to his dorm room. He pulled the door open with a yawn to find Ica standing at the other side of the door, looking concerned. "Are you coming to class?" he inquired, eyebrows raised as he glanced at Dayin, who clearly was not ready to go anywhere.

Dayin's eyes widened. "Uh, what time is it?"

"Almost eight. Were you sleeping?" Ica frowned and furrowed his brow.

"Uh, no. Reading," he said. "Give me a minute," he said as he brushed his curly hair flat to his head as he turned away to find his books.

"Did you sleep at all?" Ica inquired from the doorway, watching Dayin gather his school things as quickly as he could manage.

"Also, no," Dayin managed as he turned back to the door, his books and other things he thought he might need in his hands. "Alright. I'm ready. Let's go."

Ica gave him a somewhat concerned, somewhat annoyed glance before they hurried down the hall to the seemingly never-ending stairs. "Were you reading that book about Turning?" Ica asked as they practically dashed across the common space between the living area of the school and the classrooms.

Dayin didn't bother to look ashamed. "It was interesting," he said between breaths.

As they neared the classroom, Ica gave him a dark look. "Yeah, that's the problem," he said. "Just be careful."

"I am," Dayin promised, wondering if Ica really thought Dayin might try something out of the book.

"Mr. Drakos," said a stern, unamused voice as they entered the classroom door, "you're late." Dayin followed the voice to find William at the head of the room and found himself shrinking away. "Mr. Jackson, I had hoped better of you."

"It was my bad," Ica piped up before Dayin could say anything. "I was messing around and made us late."

William eyed Dayin and Ica for a moment. "Be sure that it doesn't happen again," he grumbled before returning his attention to the rest of the class while Dayin followed Ica to empty desks along the far wall from the door.

"Thanks," Dayin whispered as he sat down behind Ica, trying his damnedest to not draw attention to himself.

Ica shrugged. "He expects it from me," he whispered. "Just try not to make it an everyday thing." Dayin scowled at that. It wasn't like he tried to stay up all night reading... But let it go. Ica didn't deserve his anger when he was probably just tired and not really annoyed.

The class went by relatively fast. William made no move to point Dayin out, as he'd hoped. He worried he'd draw attention to himself, but hardly anyone turned to look at him. In fact, most of anyone who turned in his direction was actually looking at Ica. He supposed Ica had been right about being popular.