NOVEL NEXT 82 - Familiar Faces
The sun was setting over the forest as Div, En and Rigomaros made their way back to the village. Without Vedovessa, they had to take a small rowboat to cross the river. After dropping them off on the mainland, Adeurix returned to the island where he lived.
Rigomaros knew the way and with the increased activity due to the gathering, there was no real danger this close to Bavacium.
"I'm dead tired," Rigomaros complained. "But I don't think I can sleep tonight."
"Too many micro-naps," Div and En agreed.
Throughout the day, the flowing sheep had worked their magic on the two boys, making them fall asleep a few too many times.
It turned out Rigomaros wasn't such a bad guy after all. He was a bit arrogant and didn't make the best first impression, but everyone had bad days. Div and En knew something about it.
They couldn't really fault him for being wary of Kheironites. In their own experience, their old countrymen could be mean to people they deemed beneath them.
Soon, they reached the walls. Once they were through the gates, Rigomaros insisted on accompanying them to the building housing the Camboacian delegation.
"It's almost on my way," he said. "It would be good to show your teacher there's no bad blood between us."
"Fine," Div and En said. "But don't worry, I will tell her even if you don't come with me."
"I know, but if I don't do it now, I don't know how I'll be able to show my face at the gatherings. It's embarrassing enough already."
They walked in silence through the streets of the village, Div and En slowing down to take in the sights in the enchanting light of dusk. The sky was turning shades of purple and pink, coloring the few white clouds hovering on the horizon.
Bavacium wasn't as beautiful as Kheiron, nor was it as magical as Camboaci. But the village had its charms.
They rounded a corner, their left hand grazing past the typical stone foundations covering the base of every building. Barely two steps later, Div and En froze.
On the other side of the street, a fair distance away from them, a group of people dressed in standard-issue Kheironite explorer gear stood in front of a building.
They stepped back, hiding behind the corner.
(Why are we hiding?)
[We talked about this, we don't want to be recognized.]
"Diven?" Rigomaros walked back toward them. "What's the matter? We're almost there."
Right, this was the street where they lived.
"Wait," Rigomaros continued, joining them behind the corner. "Isn't that Camboaci's lodging? Why are those southerners waiting at the door? Ugh, no offense. That's just what we usually call them."
"None taken," Div and En said. "I don't know why they're here, but I don't want them to see me."
"Why?"
"I've been exiled from the city. I don't want more trouble. Not before I'm ready."
While Div and En both had their reasons, the end result was the same. They didn't want to be recognized.
Div and En leaned to the side to peek over the corner. With the fading light and the distance, it was hard to make out everyone's faces. It wasn't like they knew everyone from the city. Kheiron was a lot larger than any Lienien village, just the acropolis was home to more people than Camboaci.
Still, if Rigomaros was right, there were people from his year in the delegation. They had to be from the three great clans. At least, most of them should be.
It was unthinkable that the elders would send commoners to represent them.
"Do you know them?" Rigomaros asked.
"It's hard to tell from here," Div and En said. "But…"
A girl turned her head in their direction. Div and En's eyes went wide, and they immediately stepped back behind the corner.
[It's Ela. Isn't it?]
(I'm quite sure it was her. Do you think she saw us?)
"Diven?" Rigomaros whispered, he had also moved back into hiding.
"I know her. She must have seen us too."
"At this distance?" Rigomaros asked.
"Her bloodline… I think it was something like True Sight. I'm not sure of its effects, but I wouldn't bet against enhanced vision."
[If she saw us, we have to move. I don't want to meet the entire group from Kheiron now.]
They shared their concerns with Rigomaros.
"Don't worry," he said. "We're still in Bavacium, they can't act as they please here. Not in front of me."
Div and En hesitated. They didn't think they could avoid the Kheironite delegation for the entire duration of their stay. But they were not ready for a confrontation.
"Diven?" Rigomaros asked, unsure of what to do.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Diven?" A girl's voice rang as Ela appeared from behind the corner. "Diven Leios?"
"Not Leios anymore, Ela," a boy said, following right behind her. It was Alexios.
Div and En looked at them. It was too late, they had been found.
"What are you doing here?" Alexios asked sternly.
"Who comes and goes in Bavacium is none of your business, southerner," Rigomaros said in perfect Ameian, placing himself between Div, En, and the two Kheironites.
"You…" Alexios started, only for Ela to put a hand on his arm, stopping him.
"We're just curious about our long-lost cousin," she said.
[They're… kind of lame. What are we afraid of?]
(I don't know, I was expecting to care more. But seeing them now…)
"Let me handle it, Rigomaros," Div and En said. Turning to Ela and Alexios, he added, "I was exiled, so now I live in a nearby village. Is it that surprising? What are you doing here?"
Alexios tsked.
"You'll see when the sparring matches start. I hope you are participating."
"Of course," Div and En answered, a smile forming on their lips as they stared at Alexios.
[I can't wait.]
The two pairs looked at each other in an annoyed silence that seemed to stretch over an eternity. Then, in a moment of impulsiveness, Div and En inspected Alexios.
It was rude—but then again, so were Alexios and Ela. They had always been mean to Diven.
Name: Alexios Leios
Bloodline: Radiant Sun
Current Facet: Facet of the Hoplite
Previous Facets: …
Skills:
Sun Magic - Basic - Lv5
Spear - Basic - Lv2
…
Alexios realised what was happening and flared his Conceal, stopping Div and En from seeing further. Before he could warn Ela, they quickly inspected her too.
Name: Ela Leios
Bloodline: True Sight
Current Facet: Facet of the Scout
Previous Facets: …
Skills:
Bow - Basic - Lv6
Farsight - Basic - Lv2
…
They were clearly trained, Ela, too, didn't waste time concealing the rest of her status.
"You…" Alexios started as he tried to inspect them back. But Div and En were ready and blocked both his and Ela's attempts.
Skill leveled up: Conceal Lv5 -> Lv6
(Being inspected by people hostile to us seems more efficient than the training we were slacking on.)
Seeing that his attempts didn't go through, Alexios took a step forward. He reached for his spear, but not fast enough to catch Div and En off guard. However, they were not looking to get into a fight, so they simply stepped back.
But their retreat gave Alexios the impression that they were scared of him. It only made him more confident, more aggressive.
"What's going on here?" They were interrupted by a man Div and En recognized but whose name they couldn't remember. A member of the Thesios clan, as the emblem on his coat indicated.
"That's what I'd like to know," Rigomaros spoke up. "Watch how you act, southerners. You are in our territory."
"Alexios, Ela, return to the group," the man ordered.
He looked at Rigomaros, Div, and En and added. "I don't know why this conflict erupted, but you kids better show some respect to your betters."
Dragging the two Leios clan members with him, the man returned to the rest of the Kheironite group waiting in front of the Camboacian delegation lodging. After a few steps, he turned around and looked intently at Div and En.
"Well, what now?" Rigomaros asked. "Do you want to go in?"
"At this point, I don't think there's any point in waiting," Div and En said.
The Kheironites already knew they were in Bavacium. If they wanted to, finding out Div and En were with the Camboacians would be trivial. Their body tired from the day spent at the farm, they wanted nothing more than to sit down and rest.
Walking past them would be awkward. But well…
"Let's go," Div and En said as they started walking toward their dormitory.
Rigomaros shrugged and followed.
The closer they got to the twenty or so Kheironites who were waiting in front of their door, the more people they recognized. They couldn't name every face, but most looked familiar. Most of them were their age, from the noble clans of Kheiron, but there were at least two or three who seemed to be commoners.
They were accompanied by a few Evolved Rank adults, like every delegation.
(I wonder what they are doing here.)
[In Bavacium?]
(Yes, that too. But I was referring to them waiting in front of our door.)
They couldn't have known that Div and En were staying here. Even if they did, it wouldn't attract so many people.
[It has to be for Theaphilia. Look, I don't see any Opheo clan members outside.]
They had to be inside.
Once they were a few feet away from the door, the man who had dragged Alexios and Ela back spoke, "You are not welcome. Leave."
Div and En ignored him and kept moving toward the door.
"Hey, I'm talking to you."
They pressed on the handle, pushed the door, and stepped inside. Rigomaros was right behind them.
"I told you not to…" Theaphilia started before she noticed it was Div and En. "Never mind, come in."
The entire room turned toward them. On the side of Camboaci, only the adults were there. But the real surprise was the presence of Elder Secuda and a few members of the Opheo clan, including Zoe.
"Diven?" Zoe said, startled.
Elder Secuda looked at Theaphilia, her question evident.
"I think it's time for you to leave," Theaphilia said. "I'm not going back to Kheiron, my decision was taken long ago."
"Wait," Secuda said. "Putting that aside for now…"
"No, please leave. I will not repeat myself."
Div and En shared a long look with Zoe. They didn't know how to feel. There had been so many scenarios in their head about seeing their old friends again. Resentment and thoughts of revenge mixed with hopes that everything could return to the way it was before.
But now…
It was different. Not what they expected. Their minds were filled with confusing thoughts. They couldn't bring themselves to hate Zoe but they couldn't forgive her either.
They detached their gaze and stepped further inside with Rigomaros, leaving the door open for the Opheo clan members and Secuda to leave.
"Fine," Secuda said. "It is getting late, we can't keep the others waiting forever. But this discussion is not over, Thea."
Secuda gave a long look to Div and En as she stepped out of the building, followed by the rest. Zoe was the last to leave. Before closing the door, she threw a last glance at Div and En, her complicated emotions visible to all.
"What a pain," Vecinetos sighed. "It's good that you came back, Diven. I thought they would never leave."
"The situation remains unresolved," Martos said, turning to Rigomaros. "But let's talk about it later."
Taking his cue, Rigomaros spoke, "Sorry for intruding. I came to apologize for my earlier behavior. Miss Vedovessa, thank you for setting me straight."
"I'm also sorry," Div and En said.
"Good," Vedovessa said. "Make sure to tell your comrades about your time at the farm. Hopefully, it will scare them into behaving."
Rigomaros left after telling Div and En they would see each other at another time.
[I'm glad we made up with him.]
(Not sure we'd have made it through tonight without him.)