Martinez rolls his eyes slightly. "I’m from Westerlin, just like you," he says, then softens a bit. "My parents are from Zaledan, but I was born here. They’re diplomats or something. I never quite understood what they do."
Zaledan is Westerlin's closest neighboring country. Freddie perks up and mentions they’ve always wanted to visit. You’ve never been either, but you’ve met many Zaledan people and seen paintings and photographs of dusty terracotta palaces amidst vast desert plains.
"Go in the winter," Martinez advises. "It’s way too hot in the summer; you just end up lying around doing nothing or you’ll overheat."
He dramatically mimics the act of collapsing on the train seat, and Freddie stifles a laugh behind their hand.
But as the moment of camaraderie passes, silence falls over the compartment. Freddie leans forward on their elbows. "What’s your name, anyway?"
You respond: "I’m Lyrakis."
YOU ARE READING
Lyrakis
FantasyTitle: "Lyrakis at Westhaven College" Description: Amidst the hustle and bustle of a train heading to the prestigious Westhaven College, Lyrakis, a young man with a rebellious spirit and hidden ambitions, finds himself surrounded by intriguing new c...
