How to fall in love

The best things had simple beginnings. Oleo came to believe this on that evening.

Franz and he had gone out for lunch to their favorite restaurant – Orange Bowl. The food tasted the best, the servings were the perfect size, the ambience was just right and the restaurant was just the walk that was comfortable and lazy. None of them was the real reason though for their fondness. Old man Fugu's special discount was it. The two of them didn't show it, but they were rather miserly even with their wallets being larger than most students and there having never been a month when they could successfully empty their wallets. The best food was so much better alongside preferential treatment.

They didn't really need an excuse to head over to Orange Bowl for a meal. Although they were students at the academy, their statuses were special. They didn't attend regular classes. And they had only two teachers. Mr Lam, who was an advanced magician and of repute, and principal Herb, of whose they were the only two students. There were the occasional times, however, when Lam, who they called by name without restraint, had them participate in regular classes. It was necessary, Lam said, so the two wouldn't be entirely alienated from their fellow students. What Lam didn't say was that he had them do this because he didn't want them succumb to arrogance even if it was well deserved. Lam was a humble man and he wanted his beloved students to be humble as well. Most times the two went along. Sometimes, they rebelled. And they did so by leaving the academy only to escape the regular lessons. The morning after such times they would receive an earful of Lam's scolding which never did go all the way as planned because you could scold good students only so much. And the two were model students on these mornings. That afternoon they were to participate in magical combat class on the academy grounds. Lam deemed it necessary, and principal Herb agreed. Oleo and Franz didn't. It was the one class they had refused to attend since the beginning. The escape had them headed to Orange Bowl where they ordered much more than the two could hope to finish as a meal, which was the intent. The dishes that could be enjoyed cold they left untouched. And because they couldn't leave without finishing all they ordered, they rested in the private room for a while after lunch, and when their stomachs were ready enough to accept some more food, they slowly feasted on the remaining dishes. It was evening by when they were done. Magical combat class was long since done. Still they were in no hurry to return. They were ambling down the narrow side streets when they felt it.

A sharp pulse, like a drop of rain falling into a still pond. The ripple traveled fast, but it was as if only the two of them felt it. Franz was excited. That was pretty much his only reaction to anything magic. He was racing toward the pulse. Oleo was only a step behind only because Lam said it was his responsibility to act the more responsible among the two even if only by the slightest bit. They came to a stop in a quiet corner buried within the back alleys that almost no one visited while it was daylight. This was where the pulse originated. And the cause was a boy and a girl who looked the same age as them and who seemed to be lost as they stared at Franz.

Ano was, for the lack of a more fitting description, weird. He said he had no recollection of anything except his duty which was to look after Franz. "I'm Franz's guardian angel," Ano said with the straightest face. Oleo didn't know what to make of this and his expression showed as much. Franz on the other hand was the same excited. Ano was clearly a being of magic, as alike them as different. That was enough for Franz. Oleo needed more, but he couldn't bother at the moment for his attention was almost entirely upon the girl.

"I'm Iris," she said. She was small and though pretty it wasn't to the level that all would freeze at the sight of her. Her hair was the same bright silver as her eyes and it seemed to lend some of its luster to her skin too. She was wearing a white dress that covered her from neck to her knees, including all of her arms. She had white shoes on her feet. And a silver robe over the dress. She was of magic too, a lot like them. Lam once said that the two of them were different from other students because they were filled with magic unlike others who had magic flowing in their blood to various extents. The two of them, however, seemed to be made of magic, as if every fiber of their being was molded with magic, which was why they had such a deep connection with the Word. They were for the first time seeing others like them, so filled with magic. This made Iris seem so much more beautiful to Oleo, he couldn't turn his eyes away. It was in this moment that he felt regret for the very first time. Why hadn't he rushed over as fast as Franz? Wasn't like he couldn't. Though Iris showed the same favor to the both of them, getting the same feeling from both, she clearly leaned so very slightly toward Franz from having seen him first.

Oleo felt his heart raging as if intending to explode. Felt his breath grow labored. Felt a current surging through his limbs originating from the depths of his chest. Felt his eyes enveloped in an inexplicable hue that colored everything he saw brighter. More than anything, felt his head slacken as it was overwhelmed by the desire to be near her, to hold her, to never lose her or let her go. He needn't be a genius to know he was struck by love. And was surprised by the fact that he wasn't surprised by how easy it was to fall in love.

"Where is this?" Iris asked.

"Abu," Franz answered. "Capital city of Western Sun." Seeing the questioning look on her face, continued. "Eagle continent?" There was no change in her face. "Where are you from?"

This she knew. "My lab. Greys Academy." This time the incomprehension was Franz's. "Freen city? Horan country?" She was hesitant by the end as Franz's face remained the same.

Oleo finally managed to squeeze a word in. "Were you studying some kind of magic in your lab? We felt a pulse. It's what attracted us here. Must be responsible for what happened with you too."

Iris paused and nodded with a glow in her eyes that made her grow prettier. "Yes. Must be. I was studying a compound spell of space magic. I've been studying it for months and finally thought I'd had some breakthrough. Thought I made the conditions safe enough for a small scale test. Something must have gone wrong with the parameters. It was bigger than I was prepared for. I must have gotten sucked into it and gotten transported here. Seems to be a different world altogether. I have no recollection of any Eagle continent or Abu. From your reactions, you clearly haven't ever heard of any Horan country either. I guess this can be considered a success much greater than anticipated. Still, I don't think I could have missed anything significant that could alter the results so greatly. Unless there was external influence. It was too much information even for me. I was depending on my notes which I don't have now. I'll have to backtrack as far back as I remember and start from there toward rebuilding the test if I intend to go back. As worrying as it is, sure is exciting. Ah, I'm sorry. I got lost a little. I tend to do that. I am sorry."

Half way through she seemed to have completely forgotten about everyone else as she got lost running with her thoughts. Franz was amused and intrigued by her words. Oleo was enamored and also felt a pang of worry. If she returned, wouldn't he lose her. Wasn't difficult at all deciding his future course of action. He had to win her love before she left, so when the time came she would choose him and stay.

"You can stay with us in the meantime," Oleo suggested, and Franz nodded vigorously. "We're students at the Capital Academy. We are studying magic too. And I can say we're quite good without exaggeration. We could say you're our friend and you could stay with us. No one would question too much, of course, considering our very special circumstances."

"Really?" Iris asked looking truly pleased. "Thank you. I will take you up on that offer. I guess I could also learn about here while staying with you."

The three looked delightedly at each other for a while before turning toward Ano. "What about you?" Oleo asked.

"What about me?" Ano asked in return.

"Who are you? How are you here? Tell us anything about yourself," Oleo offered.

Ano nodded and answered. "Sure. I don't know."

"What do you mean?" Oleo asked after a whole minute of stunned silence.

"I can't recall anything," Ano said simply like he was talking about the most ordinary thing. "I only know from the moment I was here and I saw Franz. Then I saw Iris and Oleo. I'm special. Very strong. Very powerful. Keep it a secret though. And I saw Franz first. So it clearly means I must look after him. Like his guardian angel. Yeah. That's it. I'm his guardian angel. I'm also hungry. Think we could have some food?"

Franz laughed delightedly. Threw an arm around Ano's shoulders even as he explained that he needed no looking after. He was plenty strong himself. But he didn't deny Ano. "Let's go to Orange Bowl. Old man Fugu is going to be quite surprised."

Oleo and Iris' smiles were the same looking at the backs of the carefree Franz and Ano. They exchanged glances, Oleo blushed and the sight widened Iris' smile, and began following after.

Not long after they left, Franz and Oleo returned, which was quite surprising to the waiters at Orange Bowl. The two young masters were popular and among the best patrons of the restaurant. They always asked for a private room, which the Orange Bowl fortunately had plenty of. But they usually visited once in a day. They ate to their full, and so they didn't have dinner on the days they had lunch here and skipped breakfast the following day when they had dinner here. Their stomachs just weren't big enough, they complained. Today they had eaten much more than usual. And so the surprise was much greater upon their return, even more so as they brought along friends. A waiter asked if they would like to be shown to the private room they had dined in earlier. It was Ano who answered with his actions. He went straight to a free table and sat down. The remaining three followed him.

"I'm very hungry," Ano said rubbing his stomach. "Noodles are the best when I'm feeling so empty. So, a bowl of your best noodles please. Along with something cold and popping to drink. What about you guys?"

"We'll just have whatever he's having," Iris said as the three boys looked at her.

In the end, it was only Ano and Iris eating, as Franz and Oleo kept them company. Ano kept asking about the restaurant's menu and Oleo kept answering while struggling to keep away the embarrassment while meeting Iris' gaze. Franz was at ease answering Iris' occasional questions. The evening was all about food.

It was night when they left the restaurant. Ano truly was hungry. And his stomach was a bottomless pit, much to Franz and Oleo's excitement. "We can eat so much more now, to our satisfaction," they said, staring starry eyed at Ano, who beamed at them in return. And then, they started on the slow and long walk back to their cottage on the academy grounds. Tonight they would rest. Tomorrow, refreshed and revitalized, they would begin. The night was, however, very different to each of them. Franz slept peacefully. Ano was slept lightly but contentedly. Iris seemed to have trouble for the longest while before finally falling asleep. Oleo pretty much couldn't sleep due to excitement and his restless heart. The morning sun couldn't be more welcome.