Chapter 18 The first Briefing
Eloise
“Why did you ask Raihn that question?” Tina asked as we approached the Briefing room.
I chewed on my bottom lip, my cheeks red with embarrassment as I remembered what I had done.
“A girl asked if he was fucking me and he seem shocked by her assumption. I wanted to know what the word meant.” I explained. “I don't know why she assumed that.”
“Oh, I think I know.” Tina smirked, her eyes fixed on Raihn who leaned by the classroom door, his hands in his pocket. He raised an eyebrow when his eyes met ours.
“Raihn is usually only seen alone with a girl if they're fuckmate– I mean lovers. That must be why the girl assumed that.” she added.
My brows furrowed in confusion.
“That makes no sense. He's only with me because he's protecting me.”
“Well, that's not exactly common knowledge.” Tina's eyes darted around before she leaned closer to me.
“No one knows about the murder attempt except a few people. Lord Byron want to keep it that way. If that information gets out, it might cause an uproar among students. Something like that is dangerous, especially during these critical times.”
“Critical times as in The Burn and The Hollowborns?”
Tina nodded. We had gotten to where Raihn stood. He leveled me with a look that said he knew what we'd been discussing. Tina either didn't notice or she didn't care.
“I have to go now. Briefing is starting soon. Your class schedule is in your pack.” She gave me a side hug and rushed in.
I stared at her retreating figure in confusion.
“I thought this class was just for first years.” I said to Raihn.
“Briefing is for everyone. The only difference is the sitting arrangements.” He said.
I understood what he said when we entered. The front rows were filled with students with the same uniform as me, first years with one dragon sigil on their top uniform. A huge step separated the first years seats from the next.
The next few rows had uniforms with two dragon sigils, the second years. While the top rows, which had fewer seats, were filled with third years, three dragon sigils. I spotted Tina talking to a girl. She flashed me a smile when our eyes met.
Raihn and I walked to the seat for first years. We were heading towards the back seats when I spotted Aeron standing with Lidia. They waved me over. I changed routes and went towards them.
“Where are you going?” Raihn grumbled but came after me.
“Eloise.” Aeron smiled at me while Lidia nodded at me.
The smile from his face as he stared at Raihn, but Raihn was staring at Lidia who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
“I didn't know you're friends with him.” Aeron scowled.
Raihn finally looked away from Lidia, a smirk overtook his face.
“No, we're not friends. He's my–” I paused, remembering Tina's words. I couldn't tell them that Raihn was my temporary bodyguard without telling them why I needed one in the first place.
“We’re temporary acquaintances.” I said instead.
“Don't worry, kiddo. I won't steal your friend this time.” Raihn chuckled, but I could sense the hidden pain in his voice. There was clearly some history between the both of them.
Aeron averted his gaze and stared ahead. Raihn plastered a smile on his face. He nudged me slightly.
“Erin, would you introduce me to your friend?” his smile was way too bright, the exact kind he gave the girl in the hallway earlier. My brows furrowed but I introduced them anyway.
“Raihn, this is Lidia. Lidia, Raihn.”
“Nice to meet you, Lidia.” Raihn stretched his hand forward.
Lidia swept her gaze over him, her arms folded. “You're dripping on the floor.” she said.
Raihn blinked, clearly surprised by Lidia's declaration. Aeron seemed like he was fighting a smile.
“Oh! I hadn't noticed.” Raihn muttered, his hand falling awkwardly at his side.
The sound of sizzling filled the awkward silence that followed. Within the blink of an eye, Raihn's clothes had dried off, steam surrounding him.
“Thank you.” He nodded to Lidia. She didn't respond to him or even acknowledge that she had used her magic to dry him off.
The four of us stood in awkward silence. Aeron and Raihn seem determined to avoid each other, while Lidia just seems bored of the entire world.
The Briefing room went silent as a woman walked in. She seemed to be just a few years older than most of the students but she commanded respect nonetheless.
I realized a second too late that it wasn't just her presence that caused the pindrop silence. It was the three powerful males that strode in after her, their auras exuding danger.
The Dragon Heirs stood behind the professor on the platform, and stared down at the class like predators surveying their preys.
“Why are they here? They've never attended Briefing before.” Lidia mumbled beside me.
“Something is wrong.” Raihn said immediately, all traces of playfulness vanishing from his features.
“Alright, let's get started on today's Briefing.” The woman said, her voice magically amplified.
“For those of you who are just resuming, I'm Professor Geneva and I'm in charge of war Briefing. This course is general and one of the most important course here at Drakmor. This is where we tell you the current events of the war, daily reports, casualties, and so many more. There are two professors taking this course. Professor Kael and me. But you will be seeing a lot of me in the future.” she glanced pointedly towards my direction and smiled.
It took a second to realize she wasn't smiling at me, but at Aeron. He offered her a small smile in return.
Professor Geneva launched into details about the course. I could hear students groaning around me. All the first years had taken the introductory class except Aeron and me. But I knew she was only teaching it again because of Aeron.
The latter seem genuinely embarrassed by it but he didn't let his smile waver. His eyes went to the Shadowborn Heir, pleading with him to stop this, but all he got was an amused expression.
Professor Geneva had glanced at the Shadowborn Heir more than a few times, each time she would subtly adjust her hair or clothes, but he barely paid her any heed. His eyes were on me the entire time.
I made sure to keep my eyes off him and tried not to flinch as I felt the heat of his gaze. I didn't understand what his current fixation with me was but I wasn't eager to find out.
“Now that we're done with the introduction, let's talk about the most current event in Drakmor. The Descent.” she said a bit forcefully.
“Great. She spent half of the class mumbling nonsense and eye fucking Byron and now she wants to talk about The Descent.” Raihn scoffed.
“People died in The Descent, Raihn. They deserved to have their names read. The least you could do is shut up and not disrespect them.” Aeron retorted. They went back to ignoring each other after that.
Professor Geneva picked up a long paper and tucked her short hair behind her ears.
“One hundred and fifty one students participated for The Descent, only ninety students made it to the finish line.”
I did a mental calculation after that. There had been sixty one casualties. Sixty one students crushed beneath the huge cave. Bile rose up my throat at how casually she mentioned it, as if it meant nothing, as if they meant nothing.
Geneva proceeded to read the names of the sixty one students who hadn't made it. Everywhere was silent as she spoke. I felt Lidia stiffen as she called a name. I wanted to ask if she was okay, and comfort her, but she looked at me.
“She was my roommate.” Lidia said. The three of us offered our condolences to her which she simply nodded.
“...Iris Jon. May the Hearth be with them on their journey to the other side.” Professor Geneva prayed as she dropped the death roll.
She waved her hand and an image was projected on the wall. I looked closer to see it was a map. A map of Varethin.
“A few days ago, a pack of Hollowborns attacked Azehar…” she pointed to a village close to one of the borders. “The pack wrecked havoc in the village, resulting to fifteen casualties. Five died, while the other ten either lost their elemental magic or fell into coma. Now, this attack is quite different from all the ones they've carried out in the past. Can someone tell me why?”
Geneva turned to the class, her eyes scanning the crowd. I chewed on my lower lip. Normally, I would have an answer to the question, but I didn't even know what a Hollowborn is.
A second year raised her hand. “The attack is unusual because Hollowborns invade small villages. Azehar is considerably larger and more populated. It was why the casualty was few. They were caught early.”
“Thank you for your answer, but you aren't entirely correct. That's not the reason the casualties were few. Does anyone know the answer to that?” Geneva asked.
Tina was the one who answered the question this time. “It's because the Hollowborns retreated to the borders of Thornwood when they were chased by the Heirs.”
“That is correct. Thank you, Thomasina. This is why you should always make your research ahead of class. You won't always be taught everything.” Geneva said but I wasn't paying attention to her anymore
My eyes was on Tina, a question brewing inside me. Tina held my gaze and dipped her head slightly, confirming my thoughts.
I turned my gaze away from her, my hand tightening around the straps of my pack as I wondered why the Hollowborns headed for Thornwood the night I was found.