Loathe - 5

[Gabriel pov]

It was only upon that final uttered word, said within the context of a challenge. For those that would be outraged and saddened at the lack of care.

Only at those provoking words that utter outrage occurred. Whispered panics that brought greater and greater noise to the room. To the point that it was almost impossible to even know that this had occurred because of one leading whisper.

And as for the classes, those professors who had looked so dazedly at the candidates, searching for some unknown qualification turned and left. Leaving a storm of words buzzing on the lips of those that found no weight within their pockets.

Those that did - I knew because of my own sight, but only because of that - stayed silent. Letting those outraged talk amongst themselves as they read the pages within that spoke of lesson plans and invites.

My own was filled with merely two letters. One for care of creatures, meaning taming as it was believed I would have talent in such an art. And another for a more esoteric class. That just told me to come.

And that seeing was believing.

Whoever had wrote such a thing knew just the way to provoke me. Hidden meanings and encoded messages that could only be found within the necklace I held so close to me. Translating it with a function I could have never imagined it to have.

Yet it still did.

And so I looked up, facing that same woman, who had smiled so serenely. Watching the proceedings with a sort of detachment only found in those so near to death.

Filing out of the room. There were several that read their own letters, looking at various professors and others that seemed to only panic further.

I found myself merely struggling through the streets. Thinking not of my future but of my immediate shelter. As I knew not where we were.

Only that we were among the campus. Not where the dorm that I would sleep in would be. Or even if my roommate would be able to help me.

I was completely lost.

"Let me help you." A voice echoed.

I hiccuped, trying to hide the absolute fear within my voice.

"Miss Julian." I greeted, placing my hand upon my stomach and letting the fear flow away from my mind. All to the part of my brain that was panicked and searching for every lesson of etiquette.

A way to distract myself. I really hoped that it would distract me. But it seemed not to help as she raised her arm and placed it over my cheek. Absolute fear washing over me as I stepped back.

She seemed to find that cute as she smiled, her cheeks flushing red as she strode further and took my chin within her fingers.

"I hope you remember what I said…" She trailed off as if that had meant something to me. And even if it had I was too afraid to think rationally.

I wanted nothing more than to just curl up in a ball and cry. But no… no, I could not. It would be a disgrace and plus…

Plus I was a changed man… I… I…

There was a crash. Something impacting something as I felt fur hang over my hair. Letting down my own onto the nape of my neck.

"Titania?" I asked, feeling the sensation of her soul impacting mine. Comforting it with her own emotions.

She imperiously gazed over me again, her own soul guiding me somewhere. Somewhere that I could only oblige, trying to think straight.

I did not know what she had done to Miss Julian… but… but I wasn't brave enough to check. Even if my other vision would allow me such a great view.

I could only cower further into the hands of another. Guided back to my room by a dazed person. Her face flushed with rage as she looked not to the cat that guided me here. Not to that suspicious figure.

But to the air in which I had left. The fleeting place that I had escaped from. How? Not even I could tell such a thing. Only that I had been helped.

…

I fell face first onto the couch, letting out a sigh of relief. Finding the comfort of the soft cushions oh so great. Yet when I looked up I found that same person, Lyra, gone. Her form disappearing into the wind.

Whispers that she would be back in mere hours. I checked the stock of food, trying to see if there was anything simple that I could make. There wasn't anything. Not much for me to make at the very least.

But I still tried, setting the table and stove as I went. Creating a recipe that I had merely heard of, never made.

And when it was done I tried it, taking a simple taste. It was… It wasn't bad, merely good. All of the experience cooking in the open had helped my cooking here apparently.

But I had no choice but to present this meal, as the lock turned and the door opened.

"For me?" Lyra echoed. Her voice filled with disbelief.

For a moment I just stood there, not saying anything at all.

Then after that awkward silence I nodded, tugging her hand and leading her to the dining room where I gave her a bowl of the food. A bowl that she ate with vigor, an absolute smile on her face.

One that I echoed with the same enthusiasm. Only stopping when I was placed in bed. When night had fallen and it was no longer time to be up.

As I had meetings tomorrow, classes that would be called my own to attend tomorrow. And I couldn't miss those.

No, I could not. And a restful night's sleep would very much help with that endeavor.

"Who's this?" Lyra asked.

"Oh, that's Titania, I named her myself."

I must have sounded so proud of that name and I was.

"She's very cute?" It was almost a question as Lyra stuck her face in Titania's view, grasping some strange existence out of her presence.