The Boundless Library - Warriors of the Five

CHAPTER 4

Around him were the sounds of plates clattering, glasses clinging and people chattering. Xavier was absorbed in his thoughts, slowly lifting his fork to put food in his mouth. His thought chain was interrupted when the irritating boy from earlier walked into the dining room again. He walked towards his mother and whispered something to her. She sighed and rolled her eyes. He noticed that after she rolled her eyes, her son rolled his eyes. It was as if he was annoyed with her actions.

"Excuse me, everyone," she said while rising from her seat. "I have a quick matter to attend to... I promise I'll be back before dessert."

She left the room. Her son followed her shortly after. Xavier could swear he heard the irritating child say something along the lines of, "You annoy her with all your responsibilities all the time and when she asks you to do your responsibilities you roll your eyes out of irritation."

Xavier glanced over at Cylix, who nodded. Cylix then glanced over at Gunther, who rose from his sitting place. Eavesdropping is a bad thing. At this point, they didn't care. They were taught not to care. Anything to finish a mission...

"Where's he going?" asked Rosalina's elder sister, Thornbelle.

"To ea- relieve himself," Kyeli answered while stuffing her mouth with mince pie.

Gunther walked down the hall to Helga's office. The door was closed. He pressed his ear against the door and listened in.

"So you've come here for the festival," Helga said.

"Yes."

"But you weren't aware you had to inform me."

"Yes."

"Well that's alright," she said while she relaxed in her comfortable chair. "Now... I don't have a place for you to stay... Annika!"

"Yes?" she replied.

"Would you be so kind as to let this young man reside in the extra room in your house for the duration of the festival?"

"I mean..." she said. "I suppose it's alright. Bu-"

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Helga while clapping her hands. "What's your name sweetheart?"

"Noon," said the boy with the white hair.

Alec laughed. He covered his mouth.

"Noon..." said Alec disrespectfully, feeling no sympathy for the "blind" boy. "Sounds like moon. Whoever named you that probably did so after looking at your forehead."

"Alec!" Helga scolded.

"No no it's alright," said Noon while smiling. "I-uh-quite like that joke."

"No," Helga said angrily. "This boy has gotten far too disrespectful. He needs to change his attitude. I wonder where he's learnt it from... He's becoming exactly like-"

"I'm serious," said Noon. "It's alright. He's just a child who likes playing with words. Don't punish him too harshly."

Helga grunted. Alec frowned at her.

Gunther, knowing the conversation inside was nearing its end, decided to move away from the door and return to the dining room. Momentarily, the door of the office opened. Alec stormed out and up the stairs, heading to a room in the corner of the floor, slamming the door behind him. Annika and Noon left the house. They stepped outside. Noon laughed.

"Did you seriously find that funny?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Just for interests sake... How old are you?"

"Seventeen... I've lived seventeen useless and terrible years."

Annika didn't mean to change the atmosphere with that question.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, trying to distract him.

"... Yes."

"Let's go to my house. My uncle cooked today so the food is especially good. You'll eat while I prepare the room for you."

"Thank you..."

Tears formed in his eyes. Never in his life had anyone offered to treat him to a warm meal. No one in his life had ever shown him such kindness. His whole life he gave and gave but never got anything as much as a simple "thank you".

"Let's go now. We won't magically teleport there."

Through the little he could see through his black blindfold he saw her warm, radiant smile. Once again, she grabbed his hand. This time she didn't drag him and the scenery around them wasn't a blur.