Photo: The hearthfire dress
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Flurris had turned out to be a brazen gossip. In between the unsolicited tour he gave her all the way into her studio flat, Flurris sprinkled gossip on his first year in the Academy.
Some Aeja found useful like the need to memorise one's Orin ID, the companion system and staying clear of high Nitayaran society. Not that he would speak ill of his own people. As a matter of fact, Aeja had a vacuum where Nitayaran information should be stored.
The high Nitayaran society sounded too similar to Uek snobs in Aeja's opinion. She wouldn't let Flurris know that, but she was certainly burning their names in her head.
"...After dinner with Claire, we were breezing through the main school grounds. Claire had wanted to take the scenic route home. Who was I to withhold her this? Thanks be to Utesis for night and Usin for revealing her secrets be- "
Flurris still hovered on the floor, folded into a sitting position now. Aeja placed the fuschia rose shaped pillow in front of the other stacked pillows on her bed. Stepping back, she gave him a long-suffering sigh. Aeja had appreciated the company and his hospitality, but she had unpacked as much as she was willing to and just wanted to rest.
"Why are you still in here Flurris? You hate us too."
"-cause I caught the chill on the winds. Hate is a dense word better suited to the grounded. But you haven't tainted the room yet. I can cope for now."
Aeja brushed off the barb, she had heard worse. Aeja had just stood back to admire her bed decorated with the brightly coloured and mismatched pillows she treasured, when Flurris' words froze her in place.
"Having you in here will be good security. I wasn't happy about it when the agency mentioned you were coming. But with you here, it's doubtful anyone would dare rob us" He floated towards her windows, coming to an upright position. A distant part of Aeja's mind registered her irritation at him for hovering instead of walking. She would set her boundaries with them later.
Right now, she needed clarity. The heat of the Second Season was still in full swing and they still had two or three months until the monsoons brought cooler nights.
He looked through the window facing the street and nodded once.
Aeja allowed his words to flow over her, ignoring his expectations of her. There was no point in raising an argument with him and getting herself kicked out.
"Perfect view, you'll see them coming" He said in appreciation.
Many questions swirled in Aeja's head. For the life of her, she could not articulate even one of them. Instead, she choked out an obvious fact.
"Second season is not yet over"
From the smile breaking out on his face, Flurris had caught her meaning.
"Correct. It was another halfling, your soulmate. His command over the winds was certainly impressive. It's like he chilled the air with merely a thought. I am truly blessed to see two such rare sights within hours of each other."
Aeja felt the locks around her throat and tongue break and fall off.
"That is a myth" Aeja said, squaring a look at his back.
He tsked three times in rapid succession. The sounds came to her individually. They touched the bumps and grooves of her ears like three fingers searching for the entrance. Then the sound swirled into her ears. Tickling the insides as it travelled. Aeja jumped from the sensation and rubbed both ears, swearing loudly in her father's tongue.
