Chamber of Light is the city government hall of Aurora. It is built precisely in the middle of the city. The Office of the City Governess, or Mom's office is located on the topmost floor. According to this maid, Mom's office offers a 180 degrees view of the city. She also has a royal bedroom beside her office where she stays.
They have an elevator here, which is good because Mom's office is on the 30th floor. Using the staircase wastes too much time and is also tiring.
The 30th floor is tranquil. There are lots of doors, maybe the offices of other higher city government officials, and paintings too.
We stopped as we reached the double champagne door located at the very end of the hallway. The maid knocked on the left door thrice and opened the right one. She stepped inside. “Governess Regalia, you have a visitor po.”
“I don't have an appointment for today. Tell that visitor to schedule an appointment first.”
The maid faced me, so I just smiled and mouthed. “I'll take care of this.” She nodded and opened the door wider so I could go inside. “Leave us, please.” Mom stopped reading papers when she heard me. The maid bowed her head and closed the door. Finally, Mom faced me. “Mom.”
She smiled. “You should have called me first. What's the problem?” I went to the glass walls to look at the view of the city. I felt her rose from her seat and go to me. Mom stood beside me and looked at the scenery too. “I can sense that there is a problem.”
“You didn't tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“Aunt Calla and Uncle Carob are both your half-siblings.”
I heard her little chuckle. “I was waiting for you to find it out. And you did, only earlier than expected. Yes, Calla and Carob are my half-siblings. We don't know who our parents are, but we were found by a winged witch who already died before you were born. She told us that she found us three inside the South Woods, severely injured and unconscious. We also woke up after a complete fortnight.”
That doesn't match Sir Collin's story. “Then how come you can say that you three are really blood-related?”
“That witch can identify if two people are blood-related or not.”
“That's it?” She faced me. “Mom, your ability is summoning. You probably created that winged witch out of your conscious.”
She took a deep inhale. “I know that one but no. It is not what happened. Celeste knew that winged witch. She showed us her picture, so we are quite sure that I didn't create that witch.”
“Sir Collin told me that you were half-siblings in mother. How come that you discovered it?”
“That witch who saved us made a spell for us to see our past. That's where we saw that only one woman gave birth to a child. However, my father was her first husband, and Calla and Carob were her last one.” Oh, okay. “Why did you ask?”
I just shrugged. “I just can't believe it. I thought Aunt Calla's just your friend.”
I looked at Mom as she patted my shoulder. “You still have a lot to know, Ahrina. As time passes, you will know all of that, so you should prepare yourself.”
I faced the scenery as she walked away from me. I took a deep sigh. I should do my real objective now. I'm just wasting time if I don't do that. “Including my biological father?” I felt her stop a few steps away from me. “You never told me who my father is. Neither one of them. They answered that I should ask you about that because it isn't their story to tell.”
“W-Why did she ask? Does my son already know anything? Did anyone tell him?” Mom asked in her mind. “How…” I faced her, and she smiled. “You want to see your Dad?” I nodded. "Follow me."
Mom went to a door at the end of the office, so I followed her. As I entered the room, I just realized that this was Mom's bedroom, where she lives. She stopped in front of her nightstand and picked up a picture frame. I went beside her and looked at the picture. “This is your father, Tyson Regalia.”
She handed me the picture, so I took it. As my eyes focused on this guy, scenes flashed inside my mind like I was being brought back in time.
“Ahrina?”
I just smiled. “We have the same eyes,” I simply stated and returned the photo to Mom. “Where is he now? Is he out in another country?”
Mom smiled bitterly and shook her head. “Your Papa died when you were six years old. He died to protect us.”
So it means we have been living on Earth for a decade. “But Mom, why didn't you tell me?”
“I was scared.” You should be because you're lying. “I was scared that that worst nightmare would return to your mind once I told you about your father. I'm sorry, Ahrina, please forgive me.”
I just smiled at Mom. “Mom, I should be the one saying sorry. But yes, I always forgive you, Mom. You have protected me since I was just in your womb. Thank you, Mom.”
After spending more minutes with Mom after that dramatic scene, I left the Chamber. Mom is a great actress. She literally tore as she told me sorry.
Her late fiancé died protecting us both. And I can also say that there is a high probability that Tyson Regalia's soul is in Dreich. Headmaster Hades perhaps will use his soul to inflict Mom's nightmares. He knew that Mom bore his only daughter, so there was a chance that once I learned perfectly how to control both my ability and magic, he would announce a war again.
And I will not let him do that. He may be my father, but I can kill him with my own hands. I loathe that Headmaster Hades.
We arrived at the Academy after a few minutes. As the car stopped, a butler opened the door, so I could go out. I thanked them all and entered the Academy to proceed to my training with that shade of red.
As I opened the door of the Training Chamber, I saw the Torren cousins. Thoreau first saw me, followed by Blake, Crimson Ul*l. I shut the door close and went to them. “Do you, guys, know who Tyson Regalia is?”
Blake nodded. “Of course. He's the greatest governor of Aurora. Most of the improvements happened during his time.”
Thoreau smiled a bit. “He's your father. Aunt Ruby introduced him to Aunt Amber, which strengthened the friendship between Hesperia and Aurora. Up until now, those two cities are still on better terms.”
“He died to protect Mom and me, right? That's why you don't want to tell me.” They nodded. “That's all I want to know.”
“Alright, Thoreau and I are leaving. You have to train now.” Blake smiled and even closed his fists as a gesture of support. “Do your best, Tanny.”
Thoreau agreed. “Yup. We both know that you can beat Crimson. See you later.”
Before I could ask, they both vanished. Later? It's afternoon.
Oh no. Maybe they have no plans to make dinner tonight, am I right?
Crimson faced me with his bored look. “You took so long—”
“You know that those are all lies.” Not a question but a statement. I know he can sense that this is all lies. What Mom told me is all lies.
He inhaled deeply and nodded. “I know.”
“Thank you.” He lifted his head, showing me his puzzled face. I just stood across from him and removed my cape. I rolled up my sleeves and faced him. “Let's start.”
Crimson Ul*lens smirked a bit. “I like your attitude today.” He rolled up his sleeves, too, and stance. I was surprised when I saw the worry in his eyes. “Let's start.”
We both stopped as we caught our breaths. I looked to the whole Training Chamber while the alarm continued ringing. I accidentally broke the glass wall leading to the hallway and the lights. The floor is wet because the melted ice and twigs are scattered.
Crimson Ul*lens snickered. “You have unlocked your real magic. Good for you.”
I smiled and then squeezed my wet cape. “I know. You were distracted when my pendant glowed, so I found out.” Lie. I faced him. “Are you okay? You have lots of wounds.”
“This is nothing. Go to your dorm now and change. I'll take of Sir Collin.”
I nodded and smiled. “Thank you.” I bowed my head a bit to him and left the Training Chamber.
I stopped walking when I felt his warm touch on my wrists. Crimson made me face him and placed his coat on my shoulders. While he was buttoning his coat on me, I just stared at him. “You might catch a cold.”
“O-Oh, okay. Thank you for this.”
That was super awkward. Not to mention, his face was just a few inches away from mine. And since my uniform is soaking wet, I bet he can view my undergarments.
I met Sir Collin and Uncle Carob as I reached the hallway. I bowed to them and smiled. “What happened?” I was about to speak when Sir Carob interrupted me as he caressed a strand of my hair. “Don't bother explaining," he immediately stated and flashed a smile. “Change your clothes first. You might get cold.”
Uncle Carob agreed. “Collin is right, Tantan. Just get dressed first.”
I nodded. “I will. Good afternoon!”
When I arrived at the dorm, I saw them lying in the living room and playing Snake and Ladders. “Yow!” Marina frowned immediately. “What happened to you? You swam without changing your clothes?” The two of them turned to me and frowned as well.
Lia pointed to the coat I was using to cover my top. “Whose coat is that?”
“I’ll change first. The press conference will be later.”
“It’s even better," Freesia said. “I’ll take care of Ahrina first.”
“Sure! We’ll play first.”
Freesia got up and accompanied me to our room. I unbuttoned the coat and placed it on my bed while Freesia opened my wardrobe to get me my clothes. “I will use the bathroom now.”
“Okay, I’ll just give you your clothes.”
I went into the bathroom and immediately took a shower. Gosh, I’m getting rashes. I'm like this when I'm soaked in water, or maybe my clothes are wet, and then I can’t change right away. My skin is really sensitive.
Freesia knocked and handed me my dress. I thanked her after and after drying, and here I got dressed. Freesia was also good at choosing. I look like I came from somewhere.
When I came out, she laughed immediately. “Are you okay too? You’re good at choosing clothes.”
“What!”
“I look like I’ll go somewhere.”
She laughed again. “It's not that I'm driving you out of this world but—”
“Shut up. I'll turn you to ice.” I dried my hair and combed it. I faced her after. “Come on. I'm hungry.”
As she opened the door, Freesia dashed out and went to the living area. Since she missed ten chances, she played ten times continuously. Lia was about to leave when Freesia stopped her. “Let's eat first. We'll include Ahrina later.”
“Okay!” Marina and Lia exclaimed simultaneously. “Let's go!”
When Lia stood up, she immediately grabbed her head and sat down again. We immediately attended to him. “I’m fine.”
“It’s because Lia has a migraine,” Marina told me. “So, she often has a headache.”
I nodded. “Can you, Lia? If not—”
She smiled. “I can. I'm not going to die.” Then she stood up. “Let’s go.”
While in the hallway, I wonder what Lia has. I doubt she has a migraine. Maybe she’s just hungry. Or maybe anemic. But she was not pale. Perhaps she was just really dizzy. Whatever the reason is, I’m sure it’s not a migraine.
Marina opened the door leading to the Dining Hall. “I’ll take our dinner. Lia, come with me.”
They were immediately amazed. “M-Me?” I nodded. She smiled. “Alright.”
When we were in line, I wrapped my arm around her and immediately asked. “I doubt you have a migraine.”
She smiled awkwardly. “Is it obvious?” I nodded. “How?”
“Instinct. Maybe you're dizzy because you're skipping meals.” She shook her head. “Then, what?”
“Later.”
The four of us got food. Lia took the food for the two of them while I took mine and Freesia. After that, we went to our table.
As I sat down, Freesia spoke. “You were clingy to Lia earlier.”
“Maybe later she'll suddenly faint again.” You're an eloquent liar, Ahrina.
When the Dining Hall opened, I felt the three going to the counter. I waited for several seconds before standing up. “Freesia and Lia, let's go.”
“Why?” They all asked.
“Just.” So, they stood up. I tapped Lia and pointed to the seat across Marina. She sat there, and Freesia followed. I sat next to Marina. “Good.”
Marina faced me. “Why was that?”
“Later, you'll find out why.”
A few seconds passed, and those three stood at the table beside ours, causing students to look at all of us. Blake spoke. “Still moving on, Tantan.”
“It's up to you.” So, Thoreau pulled the table and placed it right beside ours. When he was about to sit beside me, I spoke. “Nope. You're there next to Freesia. I don't want to be next to you.”
Blake teased him. “I think—”
“I don't want a seatmate.” Crimson pulled a chair and placed it beside me. He simply sat and ate. I just faced the two. “What's your trip in life?”
Blake snapped his fingers. “Maybe you've seen this scenario.”
“Nope. Thoreau said, see you later. I got a hint from there. And look, I'm right.”
“Yes, whatever.” I glared at Blake. He turned to Thoreau. “Sit down, bro. Do you want to eat standing up?”
“Of course, no.”
I felt Freesia's glare at me, yet I just winked at her. I faced Blake. “What do you really want?”
He pointed his both index fingers to the guy sitting beside him. “This is all Thoreau's plan.”
I turned to Thoreau. “Some sort of reminiscence,” he simply said.
Reminiscence? What worries do you have about this restaurant?
“I heard,” Blake was really gossiping, “it flooded in the Training Chamber.”
Their eyes widened. “Eh!”
Blake nodded. “Yup. The side of the glass wall facing the hallway was also broken. All the lights were also broken, so the alarm went off.”
“It's possible the last two you said,” Freesia stated. “But flood? That's—”
I cut her. “Possible too. Melted ice.” Their jaw dropped. "There are also twigs, fresh leaves, and some small stems scattered.”
Lia spoke. “That's why you looked like you were swimming earlier.”
“Speaking of!” Marina shouted and smirked at me. "You haven't said whose coat it is.”
“It's —”
“I just found out where.” I glared at Blake, and he just grinned. “Besides, it's not that important.” By the way, I'll wash it. It's embarrassing to bring back something that isn't even presentable in scent, texture, and even appearance. Maybe it is a gift to him.
“So, are you four close to each other?” Lia asked and pointed at these three idiots and me. "Are you really close?"
“Of course!”
“Maybe.”
“F*cking no way.”
Marina, Freesia, and Lia all laughed at my answer. I eyed Blake and Thoreau. “You two are very assuming.” Then I smirked. “Or maybe—”
Blake immediately winced. “Yuck! Be careful what you say. Hey, Tantan, for your information—”
“Who's Tantan?” I teased.
The whole dinner with these three dorks was successfully funny and very bright. And first, it seems awkward, but as time passes by, it's also fun. With Blake’s pain-in-the-stomach jokes and Marina’s nah-don’t-want humor, other than the thing they’re two, we almost forgot eating. We were probably the noisiest in the Dining Hall before.
And now, it is already sleeping time. But here I am, outside of our room, staring at the bright full moon. I cannot sleep. I think I have insomnia again.
I felt one of the doors open and a pair of feet near me. “Aren't you sleepy yet?” Oh, it's Lia.
I faced her and shook my head. “I can't. It's like something's bothering my mind.”
She stopped beside me and stared at the moon, too, after she closed the balcony door. “Is that what Aunt Amber told you?”
“More than that.”
“Hmm?” I glanced at her. “I'll listen.”
I sighed and faced the moon again. “I doubt that Aunt Calla and Uncle Carob are sisters. I doubt that Tyson Regalia is also my father. I doubt that I am Sir Collin's cousin. I doubt my magic. I—”
“You doubt everything.” When I turned to Lia, she just smiled. “It's inevitable, Ahrina. You've only been like this for almost a month, but a lot has happened. But you're the only one who can answer all your questions.”
“Mommy told me that Tito Carob and Tita Calla found them in the South Woods. A winged witch took them.”
“Do you know who that winged witch is? Are you sure it wasn't done by Aunt Amber?”
I shook. “Celeste said she knew that winged witch, so she's sure she didn't do that. But…”
“Are you still suspicious?” I nodded. “There's only one thing you can do there, Ahrina. Find out.”
“But how?”
“You have the ability, Ahrina. You can use your ability to see the past. The Academy has a library, you can search the history books. Also, use the connection you have. Use all your sources to find the answer you want mo.” She smiled again and patted my shoulder. “I’ll help you. Throughout Thalia's history, I'll find out who the winged witches are.”
It's embarrassing, but it's also beautiful. “Thank you, Lia. Thank you very much.”
“It's nothing. Don't worry, it's a secret—” She gasped a bit. “Can't Freesia hear us?”
I smiled and shook my head. “I'll share another secret with you. I can block all of the ability.” Her eyes widened. “Same applies to those literally close to me. For example, you and me. You're right beside me, so she can't hear you. That's it.”
“Oh my god.” She applauded. “Seriously?” I nodded. “Then this is really a secret! That’s so fun.”
I laughed. She's cute. “Let's go. Let's go to sleep.”
As I lay on my bed, scenes started flashing like a film. It was cut when I tore. I need to sleep now.
*****
Early in the morning, we heard whispers of the brainless. What the h*ll is going on now?
“There she is.”
“She’s really a flirt.”
“Even the teacher.”
“So that's it.”
My god, I have an attitude, but I'm not flirty! I woke up in a bad mood, and they’re making my day even worse. They even include their very ugly faces.
Oh my god, just calm down, Ahrina. They are just jealous of what you have.
“There she is. She may look nice, but she's hiding her real attitude.”
This Sutton can’t really live her life in solitude.
“What's all this mess, Julianna? There's nothing you can do with your life, so you're interfering with other people's lives?” Marina immediately bombed. “Ahrina is not a pedophile, and we can assure you that!”
“Oh, really? Then, what is this?”
She showed us six pictures from different angles. Photos of me, Sir Collin, and Uncle Carob are all. In the last picture, Sir Collin smiled at me while holding a wet strand of my hair.
Lia and I looked at each other. Her laughter echoed in the whole hallway in a split second, making everyone disturbed and confused. Marina and Freesia looked at us, confused about what had just happened.
“And what's so funny?” Julianna asked angrily.
I shook my head, maintaining my smirk. “Nothing. You're just so pathetic.” Julianna’s eyes narrowed, and her grip on her phone tightened. “Is your brain really that narrow? To the point that you misinterpret things around you?”
“What did you say?” She prevented one of his henchmen from rushing. “It's obvious in those pictures that you're flirting with Sir Collin!” one of the b*tches roared.
Lia stopped laughing and smirked too. “Pathetic!” she yelled, making Julianna more pissed. “You know, it's better to find out the real reasons before spreading such news. Anyway, it's called rumor because it doesn't make sense.”
Freesia agreed. “Right. You don't know what's really going on. One more thing, aren't you tired, Julianna? Do you want us to repeat Nullification with you? Just tell me, Ahrina is there, and she will be the one to tell Headmistress Mildred on your behalf.”
“Let's go, girls. We're just wasting time here,” Marina said. “Learn to settle down, Julianna, without being embarrassed.”
We walked away, not to the classroom but to the garden. We sat on the grasses as we arrived. I dipped my hand in the pond to play with fishes. “What exactly is your relationship with Sir Collin?”
“We don’t have a romantic relationship,” I answered. “We’re related to each other by blood.”
“What?” They both blurted out.
Lia spoke, “It isn't confirmed yet but considering that Aunt Amber, Headmistress Mildred, and Headmaster Mildred are sisters, Ahrina and Sir Collin are cousins.”
“Wow.” We all turned to who spoke. It was Blake. “Your connections are perfect, Tantan. You're weird.”
“Which makes you more majestic,” Thoreau added and smiled. Lia bumped her elbow to my forearm while smirking. “We saw the fake news earlier, so we thought you four would go here. And we're right.”
And as usual, Crimson stayed silent. He just lay on the grass and slept while the two sat next to Lia. “Why are you all here?”
“Nothing. We just want to,” Blake answered and then laughed. “Since we’re all here together, let's skip classes!”
“Bad influence,” Marina murmured.
Then, Freesia yelled out. “Blake! Marina said you’re bad!"
Blake laughed. “Of course, I'm a bad boy.”
I held a fish and threw it to Blake, causing him to panic while they laughed. “Bad boy, your face! You're not even handsome, then you're a bad boy? Maybe you mean you're bad because you look like a drug user!” They all laughed harder. I took the fish and returned it to the pool. “I'm sorry, I hurt you.”
“A-A-Ahrina…”
I looked at the woman who called my name who's nervous. “Is there a problem?”
“I-I just want to s-say….”
I nodded and stood up. She seems to be serious because she is nervous. “Excuse us first.” They all nodded. I led the girl to a quiet place and faced her. “Why?”
She cleared her throat. “I'm Bella, I'm a sorceress, and I also have the ability to mimic.” Right. To sorcerers and sorceresses, the ability I have in common. “I just want to tell you something. I don't want to do this, but I can’t endure it anymore.”
“Alright, what's that?”
“The winged witch who saved Governess Regalia, Headmaster Mildred, and Headmistress Mildred,” as she looked into my eyes, scenes flashed like a video with 2x speed, "you know her.”
I calmed down and then spoke. “May I have a favor, Bella?" He nodded. “Can we hide it? I don't want to make a fuss.”
She smiled and nodded. “Promise, I won't say a single word. I also won't confirm or deny if anyone else finds out because of their ability.”
Hay, thanks. “Thank you very much, Bella. Thank you.”
I went back to our place and played with the fish again. Marina spoke. “The woman is very nervous, so maybe she's too serious then.”
I just shook my head. “Nothing. It's not that serious.” I sat beside the pool and faced them. “What are you all going to do all day?”
“We can take classes or wander around the Academy mall,” Blake suggested. “There's a cinema there, we can watch a movie. There are also playgrounds there. Or better, we're in the Training Chamber and then let's watch Crimson and Ahrina train.”
Marina immediately frowned. “So lame.”
“It's lame that you didn't contribute,” Blake mocked.
“Hey, hey, just calm down,” Freesia interrupted. “Let's do something productive today. It's not just nonsense. Can the seven of us train? It's also a form of spending time, and it's also effective.”
We all entered the Training Chamber. We all agreed with Freesia's plan, so we are here now. By pair, the showcasing and winner's pick will happen. For example, if Thoreau won against Crimson Ul*l, he would be the next one to fight. All he can do is defeat Crimson Ul*l, and then Freesia or Blake will replace him. Simple.
Since Freesia thought so, she would automatically be the first to fight. To decide on who will be her foe, we played a bet. To our surprise, Thoreau was at stake.
When Thoreau stood at the other end, I shouted. “Hey!” They both glanced at me. "One shouldn’t care if she’s fighting against the love of her life!" Freesia's eyes widened while Lia and Marina both laughed. “We’re all rivals for a while! So, you girl, calm you *ss.”
“F*ck you!” She blasted off a colossal ice ball, so I immediately moved my palm and vaporized it. “Did I mention that I can't trust you with things like this!” Lia and Marina laughed harder. “Traitor!”
I laughed as well. “Calm down, girl. All right, you have to fight. Anyway, you’re blushing.”
Thoreau winked to Freesia, causing the latter to snicker, and rolled her eyes. “What if I crush you now, huh? I'll make you an iceberg there.”
Our laughter echoed. “That's the spirit, girl!” Lia yelled. “Start!”
While the two were having a fight, I faced Lia. “Lia, can I have a minute?”
She nodded. “Sure.” We both went to a corner slightly far from the action. “What is it?”
“How old are you?”
She smiled. “It isn't my birthday yet, so I'm seventeen.”
“Really?” She flashed a confused face. “If you are already seventeen, then how come that you were the one who saved Mom, Tita Calla, and Tito Carob from inside the South Woods?” Lia's eyes widened. “Can't believe it? Now tell me, Lia, what do you know?”