Presage

Chapter 15.3 ♚ Healers

A/N: Outside the old Inn :D

***

That was the time when Zoe noticed that only Reonan was eating the cake. Without having any breakfast, her stomach struggled for its survival. She stared at her share of the heavenly dessert, its layers of yellow cake and rosy filling with bits of red fruits made her mouth water like a river. She could already taste its soft and creamy-white icing, balanced by the nuttiness of chopped, roasted almonds on its top.

She picked up her share of the cake and took a small slice.

Suddenly, she longed for the company of the lavatory.

She had no idea how could Reonan eat almost half of the whole cake. It tasted nothing compared to how it looks like.

Its icing was way too sweet with a kick of saltiness and a punch of bitterness. The cake itself was dry that she feared of almost choking two times in one day. But those didn't make her wish to be in the nearest restroom. It was the horrible taste, as though the cake had the flavor of all the vegetables she could list down.

Was it a vegetarian cake?

Zoe quickly put down her plate and swallowed her food, pushing it with the help of tea. Good thing it washed away most of the gruesome taste, leaving a hint of lemon and ginger in her mouth. She saw Ty and Nox gaping at her with such awe and respect that she couldn't help gape back at them.

She felt Reonan stirred beside her and a shiver ran down her spine. She glanced at the older man and her stomach almost dropped on the floor. He was grinning with eyes twinkling much brighter than the stars as though waiting for her to finish her cake.

"To discuss the matters of her stay," Darcy said, getting everyone's attention, and Zoe mentally thanked him.

Then his words rendered meaning.

Her alarm bells instantly rang in her head like a hyperventilating cow. "Who's staying?"

For what seemed like a long time, their eyes met, causing her heart to squeal in her stead or maybe for both their sake. Although his expression was impassive, something inside her twisted in pain when she saw the plain melancholy in his eyes. The warmth that used to somehow comfort her was now replaced with a certain degree of coldness. At the deepest part of her mind, there was a small voice that started to whisper, to wish, and to hope to see his irritating smile again.

"We can't take you to the Academy," he explained, bringing her back to reality. "It would be dangerous if anyone finds out about your origin. In the mean time, you'll train under Uncle Dilinjer." He paused as if calculating his next words. "But I'll make sure to visit you once every week."

Zoe wasn't sure how she should feel.

Should she look dejected or optimistic?

Either way, a smile made it to her lips and all his words were washed away the moment she heard 'training'. Although she felt like an ungrateful vagrant, in a way, she was thankful to be miles and miles away from Krista. Remembering her desire to befriend her summoned all her goosebumps.

Being aware of her own naivety invited a great sense of fear inside her - the fear to be betrayed, to be toyed, and to be swallowed by the vast world she knew nothing of.

However, she must keep moving forward.

"A combat training?" she asked hopefully, making Reonan snort.

"No." Darcy shook his head, his hair brushing on his thick lashes. "You'll practice taking control of your presence, both light, and darkness. After that, you'll train to become a healer."