Finding the Bryd

Adavya

"Are you alright?" Leora's voice snaps me out of my trance. I stare once more outside the window panel I was looking out before I direct my movements to listen to Leora.

"What did you say?"

"I asked if you were alright."

"Ah yes. I'm fine, just nervous about meeting my Guardian." I say as I force a smile at her.

A brow arched as she tilted her head to the side a little. "Oh don't give me that look. You know very well that you're nervous about meeting the Senior Hybrid."

Leora rolled her amber eyes as a small smile spread across her lips. "I guess I am just a little nervous about meeting the top-ranked Hybrid, but then again, who wouldn't? By the way, you never told me who was assigned your Guardian. Don't think I'm letting you off the hook for that forever."

I look away uncomfortable. I wished she didn't bring this up. I mean why would the top Hybrid trainee want to know who someone lesser got that's not the top-ranked Hybrid in the land?

But this was Leora. One that didn't care that there were others that weren't as good as her to be her friends. One that always was humble, oblivious, protected those she loved from harm, determined not to let others get in her way, but overall, a good person that held kindness in her heart, despite her fierceness and competition.

"I . . . kinda got the director." I reluctantly answered her.

"The director?" Both eyebrows shot up as shock registered in her face.

"Yeah . . . " I mumble. "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. She kinda intimidates me."

Shock turned to laughter. She started laughing, her sides heaving heavily as if she couldn't breathe because she was laughing so hard. "Oh, cut it out will you?" I mutter with a smile plastered on my face as I roll my eyes.

"You're intimidated by the director?" She starts back into a wheezing laughter again. "Oh please, she sure seemed strict, but being intimidated?"

I give her a playful nudge as I roll my eyes again. "I guess now thinking about it, she sure didn't act like the monster I made her appear to be in my head."

She keeps right on laughing, clutching her side. When she calms down, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and she leans into me while we walk down the hallway to our dorms.

"So are you ready to face meeting your Guardian?" Leora asks.

I shrug. "I suppose. It'll be tricky getting used to whatever system the director has for trainees, but I think I'll manage."

"Lucky you. At least the director has taken some trainees under her wing to teach them. Kairo Hemdess—or the Senior I should say—has never taken any under his wing and I'm worried about whether I won't be good enough to meet Kairo's—the Senior's—expectations that he'll want from me or I'm not good in general and that Kairo will regret every having me as his trainee."

I stop and turn her to look at me like I did the other day. "Leora, you'll always exceed people's expectations. And you will—because you are the best Hybrid trainee there ever is and you never disappoint. You strive for success and strive to be the above and beyond. I have no doubt that Kairo will approve of having you. Just be yourself and he'll maybe end up becoming one of your closest allies. After all, it was your personality and charm that got this boy to become one of your friends. Relax and stop stressing. I know you'll do great."

I pull her in for a hug before letting her go. "Thank you," she whispered, a smile on her lips.

"You might wanna get some rest before your meeting tonight." I remind her.

"Ugh, don't even. That's gonna make me wanna die of worrintation and go hide in a hole and never return."

"Worrintation? Is that even a word?"

She shrugged and eyed me mischievously. "It could be if I wanted it to be."

"You know, after our meetings tonight, do you think you want to go starlight watching tonight? I hear the stars are glowing extra brightly tonight because of the Lunare star aligning with several others in the Gland constellation."

"If I make it through my orientation, then I'll maybe be alive to go star watching with you one last time." She said—a broad smile on her face with a twinkle in her eyes.

I emit a small laugh before waving goodbye to her to head towards my dorm. "Then don't flunk your meeting tonight then or you'll be a rotten tomato."

"We'll see if you become one first." She winks before walking off.