A Raire Gift

Chapter 2

The next morning, Lina and I walked down to Gabriel's office. We were fidgety the whole way but knew we had to tell him about the sword. I had it wrapped in a cloth and bound with twine.

Before we could even knock on the door, it flung open and we were greeted by a furious Gabriel. He didn't look even slightly surprised to see us. "Why didn't you come sooner?" he thundered. "Got something to hide?"

We didn't respond, well aware we should've gone to Gabriel immediately after we pulled out the sword.

We were ushered into the small, open room. I was twisting a loose piece of twine around my finger when he began to speak,
"Do either of you wish to explain to me why exactly I've gotten several reports of a massive surge of energy bursting from your room last night?"
His voice was flat and cold, nothing like it had been before. Lina was as white as a sheet, her mouth opened but no words came out, so I spoke instead.
"My mother gave me a box before we left. I opened it last night because she told me to only open it once we got here, and I couldn't wait till morning to find out what was in it."
Gabriel looked at me, as though considering my words, then he nodded.
"And what was in this box?"
The icy tone had faded out of his voice a bit now that he knew what he was looking at, but it was still sharp. I showed him what I was carrying, which was still wrapped and bound in cloth.

I undid the twine ties and revealed the sword in all its glory. Gabriel stared as though transfixed. For a moment an expression I couldn't identify crossing his face, and then it was gone.
"The last time I saw that it was in Alain's hands. Let me see it for a moment," he reached toward my hands, and before I could warn against it, he had already touched it, and immediately his hand recoiled, and he hissed in pain.
"So, it's already bound to you. I suppose it'll start again." Before I could ask what he meant he continued, "From this point on, you will learn to work with the blade as well as Magik training, you'll also need to take more specific classes." Before he could pile more information onto me, I heard Lina speak up.
"Gabriel, I really hate to interrupt, but don't you think she should rest before you plan out her schedule?"
It was a tentative suggestion. And Gabriel looked taken aback, as though he had completely forgotten she was there. "Ah yes, yes of course."
And with that, we were sent on our way to the dining hall, which I still hadn't seen.

When we entered, a young boy, with unruly brown hair and fair skin called us over.

"Hey Herl, how're you doing?"
Lina said, after dragging me to the table he sat at.
"Don't pretend nothing happened, I felt the energy from your room. It's still surrounding you and your friend, care to tell us what that's about?"

The 'us' he was talking about consisted of him, and three others. One of the boys with him had black shoulder-length hair, tanned skin, and blue-black eyes. Another had neatly trimmed red hair, ash toned skin, a smattering of freckles that made him look younger than he was, and piercing brown eyes. The last of them had dirty-blonde hair, pinkish skin, and startlingly pale green eyes. At this distance, I could see that the boy who called us over, Herl, had warm green eyes. Lina replied to his earlier question with a vague smile, before sitting down.
"Lina, don't you dare pull that face on any of us, it doesn't work."
The black-haired boy said.

She sighed, but her only reply was to look at me.

I raised an eyebrow at her and she seemed to remember that I didn't know them.
"So, guys, this is my roommate, Audrey. Audrey, the snarky brunette is Herl. Next to him, with the black hair is prince Marc. Redhead is Tena. And Blondy is Flette."
I stared at Marc, was Lina serious? He certainly looked princely. Before I could ask, the group turned their attention to questioning Lina.
"So, are you going to explain the Magik spike, or are you going to keep changing the subject?"
She groaned, then told them with more than a bit of reluctance.
"It wasn't me this time, ask Audrey."
they all turned to me, and I had the unpleasant feeling of being put on the spot. I inhaled slowly, then exhaled.