A/N: Inspiration on Zoe's room, but much bigger and with higher ceiling :D
***
The group turned to the platform behind the mahogany counter and watched as a young girl in faded jeans and oversized blue T-shirt went down the narrow stairs. The moment she noticed them, her eyes examined one person after another and finally stopped at Zoe. She instantly halted and averted her gaze.
"Maevis!" Reonan shouted as though she was on the other side of the cliff. "There's someone we would like you to meet!"
The plump girl gingerly approached the group, her braided black hair swished from side to side. Zoe quickly swallowed her food and wiped her mouth with the tissue as Maevis took the seat beside Dilinjer, not giving any of them a second glimpse.
"Maevis, this is Zoe," Reonan said, gesturing with his fork, "Zoe, this is Maevis. She's staying at the Eastern wing, which is seven rooms from yours."
The other girl's attention remained pin on the ground that Zoe was forced to tilt her head, only to see nothing but her broad forehead and bulging cheeks. She was far from how she imagined. She pictured Maevis as someone a few years older than her, bearing the same confident aura like Krista, the smart appearance like Nox, and a carefree mentality like Ty. Yet she was like Hubert, but a much timid version.
Or perhaps she was being too judgemental.
"I think Da-- Jao mentioned something about her." Hearing her own voice say his name awakened the butterflies in her stomach.
Was it because of his weird name?
Before she could dwell on the sensation, the other girl looked up at her, regarding her with a pair of bright emeralds glistering with shock and curiosity.
"What?" Maevis croaked. "Did that Squirrel bad-mouthed me?"
Zoe choked back a laugh and tried to muster the sincerest expression she could, which was the hardest thing she did ever since she arrived at Mamoria. "Oh no, it's nothing like that," she answered, her hand suddenly itched with a pang of pain as though she just slapped him again. "We passed by your room this morning and he said I'd meet you much later today because you're in the Academy, working with requirements."
The smaller girl nodded thoughtfully.
"But why Squirrel?" Zoe chuckled, pushing down the memory of her greatest mistake.
Her face brightened. She opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted when Reonan cleared his throat. He already finished his cake and started gathering his plates, imitating Dilinjer's example.
"You should join Zoe for dinner," he said, the sound of a wooden chair scraping the floor echoed in the room as he got to his feet. "Dilinjer and I would be in the kitchen." He patted both their heads and received a mixture of scowl and snigger from both girls. "Eat a lot, duckies, so you'd gain more height."
The two grunted in response and watched the two older men disappeared behind the kitchen door.
Zoe slowly stood and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Maevis."
Stars.
She could see them twinkling in the other girl's eyes. Her cheeks bulged with a pinkish glow as she beamed at her, and Zoe swore that she heard a throttled squeal.
Maevis leaped to her feet and took her hand with such gentleness as if it was an artifact, then shook it while staring at her with awe.
"I've heard a lot of things about you and-- and--" She took a deep breath and fanned herself with her other hand. "I never expected to shake your hand. I mean . . . wow! I uh-- I'm glad to meet you! The merging of light and dark soul isn't supposed to be possible and yet . . . here you are, so real and solid."
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Fantasy|Book#1|Chronicles of Mamoria| A story that was forgotten by history. A secret kept for hundreds of millennia. A dark heart sheltered by the light. A young prince who gave up his pride to protect his people. And a teenage girl who was destined to lo...
