The Realm Protectors

Chapter 26 - Nile

"Make sure you get that missing work turned in, Mr. Aquino." Mrs. Denali tells me when I leave Forensic Science.

"Mrs. Denali, I'm the High Arch of Intelligence." I remind her. "Why do I still have to spend time working on these fake scenarios? Shouldn't you be helping me solve my actual case?"

"I'm well aware of your current standing, Nile." Mrs. Denali sighs. "And I'm always open to help you if you need it. But you're a bright young man, and I only want to make sure your skills stay sharp. Cold cases can be mentally tiring."

I huff. "Will I still have to do cases while we're out on the tour?"

Mrs. Denali raises her eyebrow. "What do you think?"

"I think I'll be seeing you just as much then as I am now," I sigh.

"Good luck on your trip." She nods to me, a smirk on her face. I turn and walk down the hallway and back outside onto the Main Campus. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to see a message from Enya:

How was For Sci?

Denali's still making me do scenarios, even tho I'm literally working on a case right now. I type back.

Bummer. Enya adds a frowning emoji on the end. It makes me laugh a little. Ever since we met back when we were both first sects, she's always been so open with her emotions, even through technology.

You'd think she'd help you out more, Enya types.

She offered to help, but if Alexxi can't piece anything else together with what we have, I doubt she can. I reply. I turn past the Health Center and make my way towards the Water Campus for my Physical Hydrokinesis class. Enya will be walking the opposite direction, over to her Physical Pyrokinesis. She always used to joke our first year here that our campuses were on opposite sides of the school to keep us from fighting. Not even a year later, she and I started dating.

Never in a million years did I think that we would end up being High Arches together.

Enya used to have this big plan for our future. Once we graduated, we'd spend a year or so getting used to living together. We'd start our jobs, whatever they were, and then I would propose. We'd get married, start a family, and raise them well.

I've always wanted to go into intelligence. I'm taking forensic science this year, and then I'd go to the small police academy off in rural Capital. I'd learn as much as I could, and then I'd join the Capital police force. I'd work in intelligence here in Center City. Enya and I would go back home to our countries to visit our families whenever we could.

Enya didn't know what she wanted to be. She's not fond of kids unless she knows them pretty well, she doesn't have any specific skills besides maybe her incredible looks, and she never thought she'd leave Fajro in the first place. It was a surprise for both of us when Professor Grantwood showed up on our doorsteps four years ago, asking us to come to Asavanra instead of our home country schools.

Now we're High Arches. I work in intelligence, just like I've always wanted, even though I have little training to back me besides a month and a half of forensic science and binge-watching the Center City P.D. TV show. And Enya... Enya's in charge of the whole realm.

It's safe to say that she's very stressed out.

Inside the locker room of the Water Facility, I change into my gym shorts and extra t-shirt. Inside my locker is my extra pairs of socks, briefs, and my extra towels. I stuff my backpack in there as well, just to keep it out of the way of all the other guys – we'll all be soaked when we come back in here after class.