THE FORTUNIST

37. Leurayssa

“Zia's Spring takes the form of a necklace.”

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Leurayssa does not wait for her time to be up before springing into necessary action. By evening, Denpo would be waiting for her reply and so would Lay. She checks the tray he left behind and appreciates the mug of hot sweet chocolate, some saccharin flavoured pancakes with bacon, cheese and a soft crumbly bread which Leurayssa suspiciously sniffs and leaves uneaten.

"Golder 22306."

Leurayssa smiles so wide she feels her facial muscles go numb as she stares at the nurse at the infirmary front desk. "Ciara Mulden," she says hoping that mentioning the name would cause it to somehow merge into her own identity. The nurse looks surprised, obviously by the fact that Leurayssa is a golder. Leurayssa tries not to imagine the state she must have been in when she was bought in. What kind of golder would look that undignified at any point?

"If you sign out now, you'll have to go straight to class."

Leurayssa looks at herself. She had been cleaned up while unconscious and her outfit resembles a maternal nightgown. "Of course you can make a short detour to your hostel to change."

She doesn't know where it is, but that isn't going to be a problem since that is not where she plans to go. She smiles at the nurse, pretending gratefulness. "I'm just so excited, I don't wanna miss my first day."

The nurse gives her a sad smile. "Trust me darling, you'd be having a lot of first days."

"Where do I sign out?" Comes a sharp brisk voice that Leurayssa is certain she has heard before. If her memory serves her right, it would belong to a certain cocky high classed fair haired noble who derived his only joy from calling every person beneath him commoner. Their eyes clash.

"You," she seethes.

He scowls, and then as if she is to low to speak directly to, asks the nurse what she is doing in the place. He seems to be impossibly more dashing. Is it the hair which shimmers gold in its low ponytail? Or the Albenarum uniform which suits him like second skin, the swirls of blue on it matching his eyes? The difference could all be in the pull of his lips in a scornful sneer however.

"She was here before you last night Lord Feng."

"You're not supposed to call him Lord since he's a student now," Leurayssa blurts out.

"Don't be petty," Feng tells her, "so you came all the way to Albenarum for quality infirmary services."

"I could say the same about you."

"No you couldn't, my father has a whole hospital in his house just for me."

"Could be because you're sick in the head."

The noble sputters speechless and glares at her. She leaves while snickering to herself, glad to have the last laugh. "Asshole," she mouths in glee. He's probably never had anyone talk to him that way before. She realizes something.

"Where's the way to High Garden?"

Feng is still there, poised over the check out register. He scoffs, "didn't you take the tour?"

"I believe you should be asking your way to the hostels," the nurse quickly intervenes before another showdown can happen. "You can't go to High Garden dressed like that. Feng please can you escort her to the hostels?"

"But…" the enemies trail off in unison.

"Fine," Feng hisses.

"I'd have found my way eventually," Leurayssa claims. The nurse obviously thinks they would settle their differences if they are forced together on a short walk. It would take a million extra long walks however and nothing would change.