Esveldza: 'The Lonely Child of Fire'

Chapter XII- Curiosity

Chapter XII

Curiosity

The next day I woke up feeling more refreshed than I had in months. I had woken up earlier than everyone else and even after I had finished my shower and changed my clothes everyone was just starting to wake up. I went downstairs to find Lianra in a robe covering her nightwear cooking pancakes.

“I thought I would make something nice for a welcoming gift.” She said, turning around to smile at me for a moment before turning back to her cooking.

I enjoyed Lianra’s food; she was a creative and clever chef. I took a seat at the bench and talked with Lianra. Sarben was the next to come down the stairs, he nodded towards me and was going to say Good Cyltee when Daarken came galloping behind him.

“Good Clytee!” He cried, letting his voice echo around the house. “Did you sleep well, Akaiya?” He rested his elbows on the bench and smiled at me. The pure energy of his good morning seemed to send a spark through everyone, as if to fully wake everyone up.

“Good Etayn Daarken, I did sleep well.” I smiled back at him. I couldn’t help myself; his happiness was just so contagious.

“Breakfast is ready, everyone to the dining room!” Lianra announced, carrying a plate of pancakes.

We hurried to the dining room where she served us the food. “I am going into town today, I need to get some more groceries and that book you wanted should have arrived now, Sarben.” She said, pointing her fork at him when she mentioned the book.

A dark look flashed across Daarken’s face, it had barely been there for a second and if I hadn’t have been sitting opposite him I would have missed it. I guess it also didn’t help that I was staring.

“I have to go into town too, there’s a few people I have to see plus I am low on liquorice.” Daarken said, his face was back to that of a silly child, there was no trace of any anger or the dark look was.

“You are never low on liquorice, Daarken.” Sarben sighed, stabbing his fork into the pancakes.

“You can never have too much liquorice!” Daarken said passionately, threatening Sarben with a butter knife. Sarben raised his eyebrow at him.

“Just like you can never have too much chocolate.” I joined in, grinning.

“Oh do not tell me you too have a weird food fetish!” Sarben cried, slapping his hand to his forehead.

Daarken winked at me and we high fived each other. “Are you going to come into town too, Akaiya?” Lianra asked.

I shook my head, “No thanks I think I will stay here and work a few more things out. I might go explore a bit tomorrow though.” I replied.

+++

I waved goodbye to my three housemates as they left. I stayed behind because I wanted to do them a favour, Lianra was strong but I could tell looking after her little brother and his friend was a handful for her. I cleaned the house, putting clutter away and sweeping the floors. I was caught in one of Daarken’s pranks when attempting to clean the play room. I picked up a pillow off the floor when a large bug squirmed out of it and up my arm. I screamed at the top of my voice and threw the bug to the floor- only find it was just a toy made for scaring unknowing victims.

I made myself lunch before I washed the windows and cleaned all the dishes. As I finished I looked out the window; they said they would be gone the whole day so I had at least an hour to roam the house.

I walked up to my room but stopped before my door. Daarken’s door was slightly open. Temptation soon got the better of me and I walked inside the room.