Xelqua Rising || The Lost One AU

12.The Pizza

Grian found himself in the garden. It was what he would argue was the most peaceful place in the entire Downside Up. It was also by far the most colorful; containing much more color than the various shades of white and purple within the temple. He was taking a break from all the lessons, although he still wasn't sure what he supposed to during these times.

Since he had come back from his still unexplained disappearance, Miesall had taken it upon himself to be the human's teacher. Grian found himself smiling as he stared at a group of pink asters and reflected on the past few lessons. When he had challenged Miesall, he did not stomp out any room for discussion and turn into a wall. Instead, they had combatted with their words as equals. He hadn't realized how much he had missed having a real conversation with someone without being treated like he didn't have a single braincell to his name. Not only that, but he had somehow managed to break Miesall's mask of perfection, at least a little bit. Maybe it hadn't been much, but it felt not quite so calculated or robotic. It felt real... almost. Now if only he could get the other Watchers to be be more real with him, although he doubted such a thing was possible. Even with each other, they kept their flawless acts up at all times.

"||𝙹⚍ ᓭᒷᒷᒲ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ꖎ╎ꖌᒷ ⎓ꖎ𝙹∴ᒷ∷ᓭ," Someone said suddenly, causing him to jump a little. He spun around. Standing there was Zoltalia, a female Watcher that he had interacted with only a few times. He paused, trying to piece the words together. She had mentioned something about him liking... something. He tried to figure it out quickly, but the panic rising inside of his chest was not helping at all.

"╎ リ𝙹ℸ ̣  ⚍リ↸ᒷ∷ᓭℸ ̣ ᔑリ↸." He tried, hoping that he had told her that he did not quite understand. Most of the Watchers had been pressuring him to use at least some Language outside of the classroom now. Maybe she would not be so upset that way? In response, the Watcher knelt down to the flowers and held one in her hand like a wineglass, careful not to pluck it or harm it in any other way.

"⎓ꖎ𝙹∴ᒷ∷ᓭ. ||𝙹⚍ ꖎ╎ꖌᒷ ⎓ꖎ𝙹∴ᒷ∷ᓭ, ↸𝙹 ||𝙹⚍ リ𝙹ℸ ̣ ?" She said slowly. Was she talking about the flowers? She must be, right? Grian swallowed.

"||ᒷᓭ." He replied in agreement, hoping that it had been the correct response. He felt so uncomfortable speaking this foreign language. It was as if it created a bit of film between him and everyone else, which was bad considering there was already a brick wall between them to begin with.

Zoltalia broke into a slight grin, implying that the human had dodged the bullet this time. "||𝙹⚍ ᔑ∷ᒷ ᔑꖎ∴ᔑ||ᓭ ꖎ𝙹𝙹ꖌ╎リ⊣ ᔑℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ ∴⍑ᒷリ ||𝙹⚍ ᔑ∷ᒷ リ𝙹ℸ ̣  ʖᒷᓵ𝙹ᒲ╎リ⊣ ꖎ╎ℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ᔑℸ ̣ ᒷ 𝙹∷ ʖᒷ╎リ⊣ ꖎᔑ⨅||." She replied, the sting of her words not reaching the lost human, who only nodded in confusion. A period of silence passed them by before she added, "ᔑリ||∴ᔑ||, ╎ ᓵᔑᒲᒷ ⍑ᒷ∷ᒷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ᒷꖎꖎ ||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ᒲ╎ᒷᓭᔑꖎꖎ ∷ᒷᑑ⚍ᒷᓭℸ ̣ ᓭ ||𝙹⚍∷ !¡∷ᒷᓭᒷリᓵᒷ ⎓𝙹∷ ᔑリ𝙹ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ ꖎᒷᓵℸ ̣ ⚍∷ᒷ."

There was only two words the dimwit understood: I and Miesall. The rest of her words had passed him by. He was tempted to ask her to repeat what she had said in English, but he winced at the out-lash that would surely come along with it. Instead, he decided to go with an educated guess and assume that he was being called for a lesson. It was about time to go back anyway he presumed, so he gave her a nod and rather awkwardly walked back towards the temple. There was no scorn that followed, so he assumed that he had made the right choice.

Sure enough, Miesall was already in the lecture hall, scribbling Galactic on the board. Grian took his seat and the lesson began.

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