Orison | Celeste Academy Series BK #3

Chapter One ۞ Gray Scale

Chapter One ۞ Gray Scale

The Twelve could not help but feel suspicious of Corvan and Valeriana's strange antics. Sure, one carriage could at carry at least six people in total. Four was the recommended passenger number but the space available during such circumstance was enough for each and every one to wiggle around without even bothering their seatmate.

It wasn't like they were against the two taking a whole carriage to themselves, but, seriously? What was up with all the talk of 'being not able to last being in the same room with her/him alone' stuff and suddenly—all so suddenly—take a carriage with the other party willingly. And Valeriana, they dare say, looked even more excited? Corvan had the usual frown on his face but it wasn't the kind of frown that said he was displeased.

"I really, really don't get those two." Aneeka muttered. "I swear if bipolarity has three stages, they're probably in three."

"With Zion being in four." Genevieve quipped, high-fiving her brother. "We have the strangest love triangle in history it's probably something nobody has ever really literally seen before."

Tamara burst out laughing at the previous statement. "So, a love triangle with everyone having a bipolar disorder?" She guffawed, her laughter ringing deafeningly. "Sure is amusing, though."

"I'm still Valion." Elfre growled, snapping at the twins.

"Corval!" Genevieve and Zevlin snapped back.

"Shut up! Where's Zion anyway?" The seventh asked, wondering where the pestering non-ranker was currently at. "He was screaming a while ago, where's he gone?"

"He's sulking in one of the carriages with Raziel and Brindon." Keelan quipped, walking towards the group while wrapping his knitted sweater to keep out the cold. "It's the strangest ever! He's so quiet it doesn't feel like it's him."

"What about Rowe?" Aneeka asked.

"Well, I dunno." Keelan answered innocently, his grass-green eyes sparkling. "All I know is that you guys are huddled in here laughing, Zion, me, and Brindon are in the carriage having the most awkward atmosphere ever, and Valeriana and Corvan are having a nice, romantic moment alone—just the two of them!"

"Why did you leave the carriage, then? We're just about to leave." Tamara told him, making his smile falter.

"Whaaat?! I left the carriage because I thought you guys were having fun! I don't want to go back in there!"

"Well, we have no choice. It's about time to go."

"Tamara!" Keelan leaped for the redhead and latched onto her arm. "Take me with you, please. You're more fun to be with. Those people are a bore." He then glanced at Charles, who had been unusually quiet watching everything unfold. "Let Charles sit with those people!"

"Are you implying that I am a bore as well?" The fourth-ranker inquired with a peeved quirk of his brow.

"Well, uh . . ."

"Huh." He huffed, fixing his glasses. "I assume you are forgetting who cooks your meal every single day."

At this statement, the color completely left the eleventh-ranker's face as he realized what sort of situation he got himself in. As though a puppy whose treat got taken away, his eyes widened and he started practically crawling towards Charles.

"Uh . . . uh . . . I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Keelan worriedly exclaimed. "Lord Charles!"

"And he's a slave to whatever hand literally feeds him." Tamara blew out a sigh. "Anyway, let's move out!"

-*-

Corvan kept his word and indeed summoned another one of his fireballs—as Valeriana preferred to call it—until the lord himself got irked by her incessant referral to it by the apparently 'indecorous' name. He corrected her harshly, his words as sharp as his stoic expression and algid eyes.