The Empyrean | Fourth Wing |

Chapter 12

I haven't seen Dain in a few days which in my terms is basically a holiday. Thank Gods. I exit my room and down the stairs. Today is a good day. I feel so light compared to the other days. I don't have this huge pit in my stomach. I feel at ease, something I haven't felt in a long time, since I got here actually

''Hey bestie, where have been these past few days?''
''Oh I was... in my room studying'' That's strange. I am sure that I was in my room studying but saying to Rhi feels weird like I am missing a piece of the puzzle. 
''Oh, I thought you were taking Tairn to Sgaeyl'' Huh? 
''Why would you think that? No, Tairn goes on his own every few days that was the agreement'' Rhi doesn't know everything but she does know that Xaden is alive and hiding somewhere because he disobeyed the orders.
''Yeah, I know but the last time I saw you, you were in Tairn about to leave''
''Yeah, I saw on Tairn but that's because we went for a flight with Andarna before he left.''
''Right of course. I must have misunderstood. Anyway, what do you want to do now?''
''Oh, I was going to the library. I have ... studying to do'' That is absolutely not why I am going to the library but it's too dangerous for her
''Right, I will see at dinner then. I am having lunch a certain second year'' Her cheeks burn up
''No, really...''
''Yes, I am so excited and scared I don't want to screw this up''
''Understandable but I am sure that you won't'' I wink and we go our separate ways

I finally arrive at the library. It's not my first time here and yet every time, I am waiting for Liam to jump out the rows to try and scare me. It worked the very few times but eventually I got used to it. 

''Jesinia'' I sign
''Hi, Violet? How are you?''
''I am okay. I miss him but it's okay. You? I know that you really liked him''
''I am fine...'' Her expression is somber but I don't push it after all everyone grieves differently
Including dismissing his grief entirely
I wish I could help him but he won't let Sgaeyl
You don't...
I am not abandoning but I just don't know where to start

''Anyway, I was wondering if you could do a huge favor and lend your scribe keys. I can't find the key for the amphitheater and I am not asking any of the teachers. I don't need to give them another reason to be hard on me''
''Sure but be careful if anyone finds out'''
''It's fine, I promise. You are a life saver. I will be back in an hour''

I take the keys, enter the faculty lounge, find the cloning spell and spell a specific key: the key on the underground tunnel. I run back up, give Jasinia her keys back and go on my usual day

I go over my plan a thousand time before
''Violence, what are you doing? except following your course of course.''
''Well, well. He talks and more importantly he talks to me. Also, seriously, I haven't talked to you in ages and the first thing you say to me what are you doing, don't you have anything else?''
''Right, you hate me. I forgot about that part. Anyway, since we are doing nothing. Go ahead''
''Go ahead?''
''You want to get to know me. Fine. Ask me anything you want. However, there are 2 rules: 1 there are some things I can't tell you. You fell for the leader of a rebellion, there are some secrets I can't divulge. There are somehting that are much bigger than us and until I know for sure that no one has ever access to the bond or that you are strong enough to block Dain. I can't, will not tell them to you.'' I nod. I am pissed. This is not how I wanted this to go
''So I have trouble trusting you are your response is I will be honest but something but not everything. You really are a prick'' I sigh, I guess he does make a point. Some things are much bigger than us
''Fine, and number 2''
''I get to throw Dain from the parapet''
''Xaden'' I exclaim
''What? Tell me point blank it didn't occure to you''
I stay silent. He laughs understanding the meaning of my silence. That laugh... it's real and true. Didn't think I would hear it again
''Fine then, I accept the rules. Can we get started?'' I say eager to get to know him
''Sure, go ahead''
''Why do you love chocolate cake? What was your father like? What actually happened to you that day?''
''Wow, wow, slow down. I can't answer one at a time. I guess the answer to the first 2 ones coincide. I love chocolate cake beacause of my father. When my mother left, I wanted to cry. So he ordered Raisa to take the night off. We spent the next hours trying to bake a chocloate cake. We destroyed the kitchen in the process but it was soo worth it.'' He laughs at the memory
''When we finally made it, we went to that room behind the library and draw, laughed for hours. I knew for a fact that he had meetings and that I was 17 not 7 but we spent an incredible in that children's area.'' I can't see him. I am guessing there are tears in his eyes so I pull us to my library. Surely enough, Xaden is sitting on the floor leaning against the row, tears in his eyes laughing at the memory. I sit next to him and wipe the tears away.