The Blight Chronicles: Odalia & Alador

How it Started

Every day started the same. "Get up, Alador, we're going to be late for school. Take a quick shower while I get us some food." ordered Odalia as she picked up clothes that were on the floor. 

"Is it necessary? I showered yesterday so it should be ok." muttered Aldor as he got out of bed. He didn't understand why everything had to be so clean all the time. As far as he could tell it was a waste of time. 

"I've told you if you want to make good business connections you have to make a good impression. We're not just trying to sell your inventions, we are also trying to sell people on you." 

"Ok… but what does that have to do with my room?" he asked while rummaging through some drawers for clean clothes. "You're the only person that sees it." 

She knew he was just stating facts but something about the thought that she was the only other person that would get to be in his room made her heart quiver. 

"It's filthy here, it's easier to find things if it's all in its place." She replied matter of factly and as if to prove her point Alador could not find any clothes in his drawers. They were filled with random notes and tools. 

Odalia handed him some clean clothes from a basket of laundry she had done the day before while giving him a smirk. Without any form of expression on his face he took the clothes from her and headed to the bathroom. 

“Make sure to be quick we’re already behind schedule” she said as she headed out the room.

“Ok” mumbled Alador.

This is the way things had been since that day at the market. After making eye contact with him Odalia got a strange look in her eyes and started following him around. She kept trying to make conversation with him but he was so unsettled by the situation that he just stayed quiet in hopes that she would leave. Most people did but not her. After a while she just stepped in line with him and walked around the market with him in silence. 

He could feel her watching him as they walked and he wasn’t sure how to react. He was not used to being around people like this. When he took a glance at her he saw that she really was staring at him. Those piercing blue eyes made him feel very exposed but he didn’t know how to deal with it. So he decided to just get the materials he needed as fast as possible and leave. 

He headed to his usual stand where he was greeted by the shopkeeper.

“Hey, why if it isn't my favorite customer?! Oh and you brought a lady friend with you?” bellowed the large man while giving Alador a wink. "What can I do for you?"

Without responding Alador grabbed the items he needed and showed them to the shop keeper so he could give him a price. He just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible and go home. 

“I see you’re still not much of a talker ey? Let’s see that there will be 250 snails.” he said as he started putting the items in a bag. 

That was a lot of snails. He pulled out his wallet and started counting. He barely had enough but this would mean he would be out of money. He would have to hold off on buying groceries until his next allowance the following month. As he was lost in thought still looking at his wallet his companion stepped forward. 

“Wow if this is how you treat your favorite customer I would hate to see how you treat your least favorite.” chimed the green haired girl whose piercing sapphire eyes were now set on the shopkeeper. 

Alador almost felt sorry for the man who seemed to have shrunk under the gaze of this school girl. Having been the target of her gaze though he felt a sense of relief that she wasn’t looking at him like that. Although she had a smile on her face there was a storm behind her eyes. Even her presence had changed, it was terrifying. At that moment Alador was sure of one thing; he was happy that she was on his side.