A Trepidatious Canvas

The Quest

Determined to learn more about the girl he had seen, Ivor found himself at a loss. He had no information about her other than her residence near Aethon Academy, which left him with a sense of frustration. With a growing curiosity and urgency to find out who she was, he confided in Venece.

Venece, pragmatic as always, suggested that they should ask around among her classmates. “Maybe someone from her class might know her,” he proposed. “It’s worth a try.”

They began their quest by approaching students who might have been in the same group as the girl at the after-party. However, their inquiries were met with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Students questioned Ivor’s sudden interest in the girl, with comments ranging from, “What’s this all about? Why are you so eager to find her?” to “Are you trying to make a move or something?” Ivor’s repeated explanations that he simply wanted to introduce himself or learn more about her were met with raised eyebrows and teasing remarks.

Frustrated by the lack of progress and the unhelpful reactions, Ivor and Venece decided to pursue a different approach. Ivor recalled that Aethon maintained a journal or directory of students, which might provide some clues about her identity. “If she’s a student here, her name might be in the Aethon journal. We should look there,” he suggested.

The two friends devised a plan to access the journal secretly. Knowing that it was kept in the academy’s administrative office, which was strictly off-limits to students, they waited for a quiet evening when they could slip in unnoticed. Under the cover of dusk, they made their way to the office.

Once inside, they carefully searched through the archives, finally locating the leather-bound journal of Aethon Academy. They opened it cautiously, flipping through the pages until they came across a name that matched the girl from the after-party— Rachis .

Ivor’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the name. It was unfamiliar and did not immediately reveal anything about the girl’s background or significance. “I don’t know what ‘Rachis’ means. Do you?” he asked Venece.

Intrigued, they decided to research the name. They returned to their dorm and used the academy’s resources to look up the meaning. Through their investigation, they discovered that , Rachis was a name of Greek origin, meaning “spine” or “stem,” often symbolizing strength and support. This revelation intrigued Ivor further, adding a layer of mystery to the girl he was so keen to know.

With the journal safely returned to its place and their curiosity about Rachis heightened, Ivor and Venece headed back to their homes . The day’s events had added a new dimension to their experience at Aethon, with the enigmatic Rachis now occupying a significant place in Ivor's thoughts. The quest to learn more about her was far from over, and they were both eager to unravel more about this intriguing student in the days to come.