Call of the Water (COMPLETE)

49. DODGING THE QUESTIONS

I sat on the carpet of lush green grass. Above me, branches of cherry tree bent under the weight of the fruits. Although still unripe, the green color began to recede before the ruddiness.

In the shade of the cherry tree, on the wooden bench, Mathias found a place to repose. With his back against the backrest, he was facing away from me. Still, his breathing was deep and slow, his body without a trace of tension.

He hadn't been that relaxed in days. The conversation in the headmaster's office exhausted him more than the nights of the full Moon. He tried so hard to change Ms. Cyan's mind, but she had already made her decision.

For over thirty-five years, she was a part of the human world. Not by choice, but by someone's desire to prove that the impossible could become possible given enough time, patience, funds and, in the case of missing Aquantiens, lack of empathy.

While I could understand why she would choose to take the unknown path, Mathias wasn't ready to accept it.

"Why?" he asked our Professor with plea in his voice. "Why isn't everything you have here enough for you?" 

All of us that were in Mr. August's office on that day, awaited her answer. She approached the burgundy armchair and gripped the soft, upholstered top of the backrest. 

"Everything I have here? And what exactly do I have here?" Professor Cyan replied with a question. "Here I only exist. I'm living, but I don't feel alive."

She took a few steps closer to the window. Not too close, she stopped the moment she noticed Mathias' nose wrinkled. He would never be able to handle Aquantien smell without feeling queasy. Ardea placed the palm of her hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed. He looked at her.

"This isn't about what you want," she said quietly. "I know Professor Cyan's choice isn't making you happy, but forcing her to stay unhappy won't bring you joy."

Her eyes didn't allow him to look away. "Why do you always have to be a know-it-all?" he asked.

"I'm just telling the truth," she replied.

"In a manner that makes you sound like a wise-ass," Opal added and sighed with relief. She had been quiet for too long.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Apparently, the adults in the room found her remark equally amusing. Even the man who raised that wise-ass know-it-all smiled.

Once she broke her silence, Opal had more to say. "Even if the plan works, it doesn't mean you're never gonna see her again. Azora's father has a boat. I just hope you don't mind getting your fur wet."

"Opal!" Ardea's voice amplified mine as we both did what we could to prevent the werewolf from lashing out. But this time he didn't react violently. Perhaps he became immune to Opal's snark.

Eventually, he managed to accept Ms. Cyan's decision to give Doctor Kasian a chance to attempt giving her back what was taken away from her so many years ago, even though he did not agree with it.

°  °  °  °  °  °  °

Three days had passed since then. Ardea's father left with a promise to call as soon as he prepared all that was necessary to conduct initial tests in order to assess the risks of the procedures. Our Professor wasn't the only one who anxiously awaited that phone call.

Sitting on the grass, in the garden that basked in the sun, I tried to put all the unsettling thoughts aside. Opal joined me on the grass, while Ardea sat next to Mathias.

For a while, nothing but the chirping sound of birds interrupted the silence. Then a humming sound of a song sang by a fairy joined the feathery quire.