Villainess From the Stars

45. Zia & Ravven

It had been a week and Vienna's roommates and her were having dinner when Ravven came up to our table.

Sweaty from training, the girls wrinkled their noses.

Vienna looked up and offered him a smile, "Long afternoon of training?"

Vienna was late to dinner as well, Rhosyn and Leora were almost done with their meals when she arrived.

She had been showing Professor Soren how to send messages through the sprouts. He was surprisingly clumsy at it for someone who was used to working with fine details but he got the hang of it by the end.

Zia was purposely eating extra slowly beside Vienna not wanting to leave her behind while the others got ready to stand and go back to the dormitories when Ravven arrived.

"Ladies, this is Ravven. A friend."

She watched as Ravven's tired eyes lit up, his obsidian sparkling in the low light of the hearth dining space.

"Your Highness." Rhosyn bowed her head while Leora scrambled to do the same. Zia looked at him with a cocked head her eyes roaming over his features and Vienna couldn't help but wonder what was going on in that curly head of hers.

Ravven waved away the courtesy, "Please none of that, we are at the Academy. I am merely a knight in training here, and not a very good one at that."

"Have you eaten?"

Ravven shook his head and Vienna pointed to a seat across from her, "Go get yourself some food and come sit. You must be famished."

He winced and ran his fingers through his hair before nodding and trotting over to where the hearth's banquet-style food still sat waiting to be ladled.

The warm stew in Vienna's mouth made her feel cozy.

She looked over to her side to see Zia's eyes trailing after Ravven. A smile came to her lips wondering if perhaps Zia liked him.

"He's the one that came looking for you, wasn't he?" Zia whispered in her ear.

"Yes, that's what I was told." It was harder to explain she'd seen it in a dream, well a connected message of sorts through the Old One back home.

"He's different from what I thought," Zia mumbled.

Vienna hummed into her tea, "How did you imagine him?"

Zia shrugged, "Taller."

Soon it was the harvest, an event celebrated city-wide in the Capital.

Unlike Vienna's Old Earth customs, the harvest wasn't rithe with religious connotations. It was merely a large market with everyone sharing their first fruits. A farmers market where everyone showed off their best harvest.

The Academy opened its doors on this day. Showcasing their students' achievements, especially in Land Okren studies.

The cobblestone streets of the Capital were full of laughter, talking, and music.

The minstrels that came to the city came from far and wide, to play and make people feel joy.

Dancing in the square brought memories of Ezzie's wedding, a small bittersweet wave passed through her before Zia grabbed hold of her and spun her around. A laughter bubbled from Vienna's throat, as the near jig had their feet kicking up their arms around the shoulders of their fellow villager. At one point Zia's wings unfurled sparkling in the light, they changed hands and Vienna laughed as she saw Zia and Ravven begin dancing. At first, Zia was stiff unsure around him but then as he spun her around, her giggles filled the air. They came to the center clapped their hands and then spun out with their partner.