Guardians of Magic

XII. Council Meeting

Alden sneaked inside Brianna’s quarter and now staring at her dull ceiling. It was painted in cream and…well, just cream. Atleast the bed is soft. He lets his body sink in her fluffy covers and feather-soft mattress. He throws a glance at Brianna’s direction—leaning behind her door, her arms crossed over her chest, and she’s looking at him with disapproval.

“You okay?” Alden casually asks.

“Yeah, I’m perfectly fine staring at you, breaking in my private room, and comfortably occupying my bed.”

He finds it extra amusing seeing her roll her eyes. He doesn’t usually see Brianna throwing a fit but when she does, he finds it fairly entertaining. She’s short-tempered as he is, strong-willed as he is, and that makes him conclude that they’re a perfect match. Their abilities are almost the same too. He’s been waiting a century for her and here she is smoothly sliding into his life like a missing puzzle. Or was he sliding into hers?

“You owe me,” he reminded accusingly. “After causing me that much shame?”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “I—I beg your pardon? Let me remind you, Sir, if you had forgotten—it was you who injured me badly!” she spitted each word like acid. Alden’s blaming her for passing out at the Headmaster’s office. Which is true. But that only makes them even because she suffered as well, having a broken hand for days.

She was worried struck that it might permanently stay broken after hitting a concrete wall disguised as Alden’s face. But she’s glad about having Guardian’s blood running through her veins. It helps her heal fast.

She turns at him and prepare to lash out when she saw him smile with sarcasm. “Out. Out of my room, you low lying chipmunk!” she said while jabbing a finger at the door.

He lazily push himself up to sit on the edge of the bed, smiling. “It’s boring outside. Dolly is there, with her puppy, doing some school stuff.” He mumbles, referring to Dahlia and Martin.

“That is not my problem anymore.”

“Abigail’s there too…with Christiannn…” Testing, he prolonged the name of the latter, and succeeded when she blushed.

Alden’s a bloody observant. Years and years of scrutinizing people around him, he’s proud to admit that he’s expert in sorting them out. He can easily tell if you’re showy, just clumsy, born proud, painfully shy, and the thing that entertains him most—is seeing people fall helplessly in love.

Brianna’s not in love. Yet. But he could see the prospect of it. She was lost for years after her parents heroically died, defending her. That, Alden had witnessed with his own eyes. It even made her forgot who Christian is during her childhood.

He finds it amusing every time Brianna tense when he’s around. Pride, he thought, is abundant in her system. She’s just too proud to recognize the feeling that builds between them. But Alden’s patient. He doesn’t want to rush things for Brianna. Afterall, she’s 19. She has not yet lived a quarter of his life.

For now, he’s content filling her youth with experiences, and unveiling the meaning of life right in front of her eyes.

Brianna opened her mouth to argue but ended hushing Alden when she heard footsteps coming. Indeed, after a few seconds, someone knocks. She looks at Alden flatly, signaling him to leave. If ever the intruder is the Empress, she wanted to avoid trouble. But he remains immovable.

Leave, she sternly commanded.

Make me, he teased and beams at her.

Brianna started to move towards him, but was stopped by the impatient knock at her door. She sighed.

 I’m warning you. She turned her back at him, and slowly opened the door. It’s Empress Veronica.