Chapter 39 - Registering for School (1/2)
Everything after the guardhouse was a blur, literally. Slung over Haven's shoulder like a dead body, Lydis was carried into the academy grounds and from there everything from the ground to the buildings had just zoomed liked they were smudged.
She didn't know when but they had entered one of the buildings until Haven slowed down to stop by a large hazel colored wooden door. As Haven opened the door and stepped inside Lydis saw the nameplate which read 'Counselor Haven, Slyphir Teacher'.
Inside it was scarcely furnished. The room wasn't too big but it wasn't small either. With a few chairs lined up in the middle and a large wooden desk in front of them. On the side were two lounge chairs with pillows and blankets on them. The two floor length windows had their curtains pulled apart to let in the warm sunlight. Lydis was placed in one of the many chairs lined up in front of the desk and Haven rested herself into the large chair behind the desk. Haven folded both hands under her chin and looked at Lydis seriously.
”Now, Lydis. I want to confirm with you. Captain Valeri sent you here am I correct?”
”Yes. When she found me at the train wreckage about two years ago, she decided to take me in.” Haven nodded and stuck her hand out.
”And the letter?” Lydis handed Haven the letter and waited patiently for her to read through everything. Valfafer was feeling a bit restless and disoriented from the bumpy sprint over so he hopped onto Lydis's leg. Lydis scooped him up and patted his head calmly, her fingers catching an occasional knot. Her patting seemed to sooth Valfafer as he found himself dozing off. Unnoticeable at first until his head dipped further and further back, his body becoming slack with the occasional jolts. A few minutes of silence passed until Haven finally set the papers down.
”Sorry for doubting your background, it's just that Captain Valeri is pretty famous around the border areas. There were some cases of people using her name to do various crimes in the past so I just wanted to do a double check.” Lydis couldn't believe that Piti was actually kind of popular. From the stories about her recklessness to her carefree management and her stern training Lydis didn't hear any heroic stories about her at all during her time at the camp. Maybe this was a test to see if the papers were true since they had already been opened. If Haven wanted to challenge her then Lydis definitely couldn't back away now.
The air in the room tensed as Haven gave Lydis a smile, so pure it almost looked forced. Lydis raised her guard instantly.
”Then how do you know that it's really her? Maybe I'm a foreign spy sent here to cause a disturbance and I just used her name.”
”There's no way. She's only famous around these parts. You'd have to be a local for a long time to know.”
”I have my resources but, should you really take the risk? As a teacher it's your responsibility to protect the students as well as teach them. My presence here would only spell disaster for them, most likely deaths or fatal wounds to say the least.” Lydis looked Haven in the eyes, her gaze firm and unwavering, not leaving Haven any opening to try to piece together the truth. Haven returned Lydis's unwavering gaze and added a bit of killing intent out.
”Should my students be harmed the culprit will not get off easily, even death would feel like liberation once I'm done with them.” Haven's former pure smile twisted a bit to look menacing, she released a bit more of her slyphir pressure onto Lydis, upping her killing intent as well. With the new added pressures to her mind and body Lydis could feel her heartbeat in her throat. Sweat seeped inside her clenched hands. If it wasn't for the chair she was siting on Lydis was sure that she would've stumbled a bit while standing.
”Ha ha, are you looking down on me? Even this puny amount of pressure won't be able to scare off a rabbit, much less me.” Lydis never once looked away from Haven's gaze. Their eyes stayed locked together in a one-sided struggle. They stayed like that for a few more minutes before Haven finally closed her eyes and sighed.
”HA HA! Looks like Captain Valeri wasn't kidding!” Haven instantly pulled back her killing intent and released Lydis from the pressure of her slyphir. The moment the pressure was lifted Lydis could feel herself breath better, she took in deep gasps for breath. Haven was smiling for real now, the glee on her face was similar to Blair's right after their first sparring match. Lydis had a bad feeling about it.
”Just like her letter said, you would be stubborn, quick to pick a fight with those stronger than yourself, and your pride will not allow you to back down! To think that Captain Valeri raised such a child is a miracle in itself.”
”Why do you say that?”
”Ha, well you probably didn't hear but Captain Valeri was actually very meek and passive in her early days in the military. Whenever someone ordered her to do something she would do it without fail. Always following their commands like an idiot. Though, during those times she was kinder and more generous than anyone else. If someone needed help, regardless of who they were, she would offer to help… *sigh* … And yet, to think that every time I talk to her now it's always for a favor, so shameless! Even bringing up past small favors like when she covered for me when I had to take a s**t during guard duty!” Even though Haven was ranting Lydis could tell that Haven cared deeply for Valeri.
”Ha ha…” Stopping mid rant Haven refocused on Lydis.
”What? You don't think it's unreasonable?”
”N-no, it's just you remind me so much of Blair back at camp. Both of you complain about Valeri and yet you never seem to be able to refuse her.” Lydis laughed a bit. Haven wanted to refuse but memories of Valeri asking for favors and her always agreeing came up. Sadly to say, it was true.
*ahem* ”Either way, it's still unreasonable how often she asks for my help.”
”Heh, say all you want, I know firsthand what someone fanatical with her looks and acts like.” Haven was about to refute when she remembered that Lydis was only ten years old. An adult arguing with a child made it seem like she was a child as well.
”Anyways Lydis. I'll give you a tour of the academy but you'll need to register with a dorm head first. They'll be the ones in charge of providing for your needs outside of class. New uniforms, dinner, breakfast, and a room to sleep in are all managed by the dorm head. Lunch is served by the school so they don't cover that. I recommend Hal but that depends on if he wants to accept you, so we'll head over there first.” Lydis nodded and stood up, careful to not wake up Valfafer in her arms. Haven led Lydis out of the building and they walked around to a branching pathway. There were seven dorms and two buildings for teaching.
The one Lydis just left was for classes one through three while the one further away was for classes four through five. The dorm for class five kids was behind the building for classes four and five while the other four dorms were spread out evenly closer to the first building. From left to right was two class one buildings, two class two buildings, one for class three, and one for class four. A road was paved between two and three to lead to the second teaching building.
Haven led Lydis to the dorms for class one.
”Though we are only small academy there are children from villages and smaller cities gathered here. Being at the border means having a greater chance of getting attacked so academies are only set up in big cities like ours. Though, it really doesn't compare to one from the capital or even one further in the mainland. Since we are nurturing the future we can't be negligent in cultivating strong soldiers.” Lydis looked around and saw that the building for the dorms were built differently than the others in the city. Thick glass framed the windows, the reinforced metals branded together, along with the huge steel doors almost made it look like a prison. Had Haven not mentioned that it was a dorm Lydis definitely would've thought that it was one.
By the door to one dorm stood a stern looking man. His slightly upturned eyes showed dread and fatigue. Dark eyebags lined the bottom of his eyes. His hair was tied messily in a long ponytail that reached his waist. He was dressed in a long-sleeved turtleneck with black slacks. Slippers peeked out from the rumpled pants. An apron covered most of his body. In one hand he held a clear digital tablet, it's screen automatically scrolling through the registered students. In the other was a child's broken toy, a hole in it's side revealed the cotton inside.
”What do you want Haven?” The man could not have sounded more annoyed. Spitting the words out through gritted teeth.
”Eh heh… Good to see you too Hal… This is Lydis Fawn a new student. I wanted to know if she could stay in your… dorm…” Haven found it hard to talk with Hal's overbearing stare. Each word made her feel smaller and smaller. Haven had done this so many times that Hal had grew to resent whenever Haven came to visit. Lydis saw that the conversation wasn't going anywhere so she placed Valfafer on the floor gently and stepped forward.
”My name is Lydis Fawn. As a new student I was hoping to enter your dorm. It's a pleasure to meet you dorm head Hal.” Lydis stuck out her hand and Hal just stared at it. His indifferent stare was really hard for Lydis to guess what he was thinking.