Our Soul Nexus

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Over the following days, the students that had been away for the break poured back into the dormitories, all buzzing with excitement to see their friends once again, trading stories with overzealous enthusiasm. Ayben was more than happy to be the ear of an eager listener, he enjoyed being someone others could talk to and be around. He was usually like that all the time in his first year.

This year had really started to change him...was it for the better or worse, though? He couldn't tell if his distance from the people he considered friends was something inevitable or powered forward by the bizarre events that had transpired over a mere six months.

Point was, he wanted to be someone his friends could rely on, someone who others could look to as a trustworthy and genuine voice. Whether he was succeeding in that or not, he had no idea.

Things with Rizel had been beyond awkward. Ayben couldn't understand why. They hadn't spoken since that night, and it wasn't that he didn't want to, but he didn't have the first clue what to say to him. What would he start with? How would he act?

What would Rizel say to me? How will he treat me? Will things be the same?

The questions that stormed Ayben's mind left him overwhelmed and avoiding the situation altogether. He felt awful thinking about it either way, and it had his stomach in swirls and his chest in aches.

Maybe I'm sick or something...

Ayben couldn't think about it right now. He had to focus on starting the new semester and not making himself look more foolish than he did last time. He planned on catching up with Claretta, Laude and Rei, distracting him from anything he felt inside.

Laude had indeed come back from the capital early, which was a great surprise to Ayben, one which Claretta hadn't let him in on.

"It's not for long, I still have projects I'm involved in." Laude disclaimed to them, dressed a little more lavishly than usual.

Claretta rolled her eyes at her brother. "So many projects. You'll always make time for us, though, right?"

Laude smiled and breathed a laugh through his nose. "Always. Did your exams go well?"

He had posed the question to both Ayben and Claretta, but only Ayben answered.

"I think so, the Celestial Studies papers were interesting. There were things on there I don't think we've ever covered." Ayben was speaking his mind, and it didn't seem like he answered in the way Laude had expected.

The magenta eyes of Laude lit up at the mention of Celestial Studies. "Oh, honestly, if there's any class I miss taking the most, that would be it. Don't get me wrong, I adore the capital and everything I've been learning, but I do wish I could still partake in magic to a degree."

Ayben bit the inside of his cheek, stifling a laugh. He could see the look on Claretta's face, it was a look of mild boredom, slight irritation but all covered by a friendly expression. But Ayben could see those little micro expressions and he knew exactly what was pissing her off.

It was as if there was an inside joke that Laude was completely unaware of, innocent in his bliss.

"Well, I'm grateful for you to be taking on the work of our family. It suits you!" Claretta grinned, patting Laude on the shoulder.

Laude had a proud look in his eyes, a wholesome and caring expression reserved for his twin sister. "I'm happy to do so. After all, you probably have other aspirations, right?"

She looked away for a moment with a smile. "Yeah, but I wouldn't have let you go to the capital if you didn't want to."

Ayben nudged her and spoke up again. "It all worked out. One of you was bound to end up liking politics."