Helix

Chapter 5 - Ruby

It was the first day of the school year, and I was taking a tour of the campus with Maverick. Our guide was Phoebe, a girl in pigtails and a grey cap. She lead us through the maze of corridors, patios, classrooms, and gardens, and cheerfully explained all the features of Rephia.

"Coming up along your right is Equinox Library. First built half a century ago, Equinox boasts the largest collection of books in Mi!"

I gazed in wonder at the building beside me. The outside finish was not as impressive as Phoebe's description; it was just a massive brick building with some decorative roof tiles. It looked homey enough, with a couple of torches lining up to a single wooden door. A couple of windows were spread across the walls. From where I stood, I could see floor-length bookshelves brimming with books lining the walls. It was impressive, no doubt, and maybe even rivaled the castle's.

"Let's see," Phoebe glanced at her crumpled guide notes, "I'll take you through Equinox, then the arena, and we'll be done!" Phoebe skipped ahead to push open the library door. "By the way, I heard that you were from a Duke family in a neighboring kingdom?" Was it my imagination, or did her question trail off in anticipation?

Maverick nodded, "Yes, we're going to be exchange students here." Father had arranged for us to come undercover as non-native marquesses. Because I barely showed myself in public as a princess, Father wanted to keep my identity a secret.

"Don't worry, you'll fit right in! Rephia hosts many exchange students with other kingdoms – it's part of the tradition here to maintain the Peace Treaty."

Maverick looked me knowingly and said, "Yeah, I'm sure we'll be fine. Don't you think so, Elaena?" He reached to loop his arm around mine, but I ducked out of the way.

"Um, yeah," I mutter, eyeing at Maverick. He had his exclusive cocky look on, and I almost rolled my eyes at him out of habit with Toph. Luckily, I stopped myself in time; after all, eye rolling wasn't ladylike.

Phoebe grinned even brighter and continued the tour. "This is our last stop of the day!" she beamed. "After we cross this hall, it will be our famous Eclipse Arena, though we just say 'the arena.' On your left is –" Phoebe glanced across but quickly shifted her gaze "– well nevermind, let's keep going." She smiled at us to go.

"Wait a minute, what's below us?" Curiously, I peered through the windows. There was a large area below, with rows and rows of teenagers hunched over their desks, scribbling furiously. They weren't Rephia students, and from their mismatched clothing, I guessed they were peasants. I could hear the boisterous banter between students passing the hallway I was in, but behind the glass, everything was silent, nervewracking. "Are they taking a test?" I pressed.

Phoebe sighed, saying, "Yes, if you really want to know, they're underprivileged children taking a scholarship merit exam that measures their capabilities." The smile drops off her face as she settled into a scowl, "Totally unnecessary if you ask me. Like those poor, dirty peasants would be worthy of this place." Phoebe turned around, and instantly switched in a bubbly voice, "Now, if you'll follow me....!"

I stood there, stunned. I didn't really know what to think, but something about everything didn't feel right. Phoebe's and Maverick's footsteps were fading away, but I scanned the crowd of test takers. Suddenly, my gaze stopped at someone with midnight black hair.

Toph? What was he doing here? Like it was telepathy, the moment I zeroed in on him, he looked up and locked with my eyes. A stunned expression flashed across his face, but quickly he changed to a mysterious smirk. He mouthed something at me, but I couldn't understand what it was. A split second later, Toph resumed his test as if nothing happened.

"Elaena! Let's go!" Maverick jerked my shoulders violently. I turned around and saw the face I'd grown to be annoyed by: the sharp chin, the small nose, and two slitted eyes that reminded me of a fox. Maverick must've been annoyed by me, because his lips curved without showing much teeth, which I learned was his sign of annoyance.