Burning Water (In process of editing and re-writing)

Burning Water Chapter 13 *edited

Chapter 13

It was mid-afternoon when they had entered the training Arena. Before they even got there they had done most everything possible. At first they saw Sir Toviel's family. An old fat lady with a stained white apron who offered each one of them a yellow cookie, which were hard and stale on the outside but soft and warm in the center. They didn't have a particular flavor, but it was sweet and that's what counted. Sir Nathaniel was pleased to lead the orphans throught the Great Hall filled with long tables on each side of the room, and one huge one in the middle. He explained this was where feast were held, and what caught their attention was the news of a feast and party when the orphans would finish training and would receive missions. Sir Toviel was extremely pleased, and described all the foods that would be eaten and activities that would be enjoyed. He said some special guests would come from Sentrum and of the Villages (which was what they called people living outside of castles). The walked past the fountain and had nice cold drinks of the slabert. 

Stepping into the streets of a different world was like discovering a new flower, bug, or color; you know what it is, although you've never seen it before. At first glance, this looked pretty normal; a fountain, stone roads, small houses and buildings...not shocking. But like the flower, the closer you look, the more you notice its true beauty. 

The fountain for instance, it had four white, stone levels; the biggest one at the bottom, the smallest at the summit. On each level were symbols, painted most likely. At the top a sword planted into a hill, with two smaller swords on each side, a dark red sunset behind the three. It seemed familiar, but to what she did not know. 

As she walked closer to the fountain, while everyone else walked around the big square courtyard. On the second level were two pictures, one a fish and a butterfly. The simple grey outlined fish contained letters A and O in gold color whatever they meant. Usually butterflies or any insect for that matter didn't really interest her, but this one was different. Purple and bright orange wings, dark blue dots around the outside of them. It was...well, just a butterfly, she didn't know why she was attracted to it.

She then set her gaze onto the next level down as the lucid liquid poured down like the one chocolate fountain she had seen in a magazine. She shifted a bit closer, for these two paintings were a bit smaller than the rest. She saw what looked like a golden crown when her hand touched the cold fluid, her nerves sending in right back up. She looked to see if anyone had noticed, but no one had. Some small kids were teaching the orphans how to play some game. It looked fun. But Lily was focused.

"Hey! Lily!" Cried Morgan from within a small crowd. Lily looked at her friend and smiled. "Wanna play? It's really easy to learn." 

"Nah, no thanks. I'll pass." She said, without even thinking twice about it. She waved at Morgan who just lifted her shoulders as if asking 'why not?'. But Morgan knew Lily well enough to know she wasn't all that much of a game player.

Morgan and Lily were best friends, they even made braided bracelets with their favorite colors; dark blue, dark purple and light green. She wore it on her left wrist, Morgan on her right. Their birthdays were three months and two days apart, making Morgan that much older. They first met the day they went to the orphanage, hey both got picked up at the hospital, Lily after the crash, Morgan after her mother died giving birth to Jake, one of the babies in the orphanage nursery, who had been adopted not to long after he was finally able to be. Lily was relieved that the mist hadn't brought the nursery, that would be hectic at best.

Morgan's father was a drug addict, and didn't follow the terms to keep a child, no one really wanted her. On that same day, about 5 years before, they saw each other sitting in the waiting room, but never talked, they cried. They were later called into a small school bus to bring them to the orphanage. The bus was filled with boxes, suitcases, folders and more, leaving only three seats available in the front. Lily sat on the left side, Morgan on the right. They looked out the window most of the time, ignoring the 'encouraging' words from the orphanage director, Mrs. Natsit who sat behind Morgan. The driver was old and plump with a small white mustache and beard, from what Lily remembered.