Memory of AUSOS

S1| Ep07: First Snow I

The student body was abuzz with rumors for the rest of the week. The four chosen attendants had been spirited off to the palace for further preparations and instructions; everyone else was left to speculate eagerly about the closely guarded secrets of the new year's rites. There were some, too, who suspected that the selection had not been overseen by the gods as claimed, but rather had been rigged by meddling courtiers. No one could say for sure, as only the teachers were old enough to remember the last time attendants had been selected for the rites, and they discouraged such blasphemous speculation.

Intan herself wondered if it were not merely a case of sour grapes. There had been many who had been eager to be chosen, though Intan didn't really understand why. Most of them no longer believed in the old ways, after all.

She was, in fact, puzzling over this instead of listening to her professor's lecture one afternoon when a soldier arrived, interrupting the class. Intan and her classmates watched with interest as the soldier conferred with the professor.

"Aghavni," said the professor after some time. "You've been summoned by the Headmistress."

"Oooh, in trouble again?" snickered the boy next to her.

Intan grinned and shrugged. (She was glad, in truth, to have an excuse to skip class!)

This time when she arrived at the Headmistress's office, the door was cracked open by a wedge. Like the last time she had come, she could hear raised voices from within.

" -- waited all week --"

Eguzki! So he was back -- that probably meant the other attendants were back as well. Perhaps that was the reason for the summons this time.

The second voice -- a woman's, probably the Headmistress's -- was muffled.

Eguzki's voice rose. " -- didn't ask for this!"

"This is neither the time nor place for this."

"Then what the fuck do you want me to do? I can't just --"

The Headmistress's response was once more low and difficult to make out. " -- for your own good."

"Fine! I'll do it! I'll fucking do it --"

Silence.

Intan was a bit surprised that Eguzki did not come storming out this time around. Instead, the door opened slowly to reveal both a sullen Eguzki and a rather tired-looking Headmistress.

"Ah, Aghavni," said the Headmistress. "You're early."

The elevator dinged. Eguzki shoved past Intan, heading toward it. The doors slid open, and out walked Tuyet, who seemed a bit surprised to see Eguzki there, but quickly recovered and greeted him with a cool nod. For Intan, she offered a bright grin and a wave.

The Headmistress sighed. "Dugu, Aghavni. Come in."

* * *

Intan and Tuyet both took a seat. Headmistress Liow lit up and took a puff on her cigar.

Without missing a beat, she began. "Our contacts have informed us that the dissidents have begun to gather at the capital."

"The capital!" said Tuyet. "But what are they planning? They can't possibly mean to --"

"They would be quite foolish to think they could pull off the same thing they did at Sunset Village."

"Then..."

"It is your job to find out what they do intend."

"... Ah." Tuyet hesitated. "Just me and Intan?"