Unlikely Reunion

After a few minutes of a leisure descent, the two finally land on the grass of the forest. It's not as dense or dark as the glens, making it easier to navigate.

The lake is a good fifteen minute run away, so they can take their time.

Absinthe swats away prickling insects that try to bite into his skin.

Miriam's nose twitches as she catches a whiff of smoke. "A campfire?"

He nods in response, grabbing a silver dagger from his shadows. The pair creeps forward, crouched down to quiet their movements.

Absinthe spots two people sitting by a campfire. A young man with dark-skin and tight braids and another man with flowing golden locks.

Miriam's eyes widen as Absinthe steps out of cover, approaching the two in the open. "H-Hey! What are you doing?"

Standing with a grin, Absinthe locks eyes with the boy with braids.

"Looking good, Mel."

"Can't say the same for you, Absinthe."

The two trade fist bumps, grinning.

"You can come out now, Miriam! This is my brother."

Miriam steps out from the cover of a tree. She approaches Melchior with a curious expression. "What are the chances you'd find your brother already?"

Melchior gestures his hand to the blonde student who approaches the three. "This is Rouge Aradhana."

Rouge waves with a bright smile. Miriam doesn't even need to ask, already knowing that he's an Invoker of Sol.

"Hey," Rouge says as he observes Absinthe's wounds, "let me patch them up for you."

He holds his palm in the air as sunlight is drawn towards him. Rouge seems to inhale the light, absorbing it into his own body. Holding out his plan towards Absinthe now, the burns on his forearms begin to slowly recover.

"Invokers of Theron could patch this up in a second, but you'll have to bear with me for a bit."

While Rouge heals Absinthe, Melchior asks Miriam, "So, what did you two go through?"

Miriam bites her lip, glancing at Absinthe before she begins. "We encountered a pack of spiders in the Gossamer Glen. Huge, grotesque things. Absinthe's shadow teleportation came in handy more times than I can count."

Melchior nods, his eyes flicking to Absinthe.

"Not bad for someone who likes to take it easy," he remarks, with a smirk.

Absinthe shrugs, a playful glint in his eye. "Let's just say my laid-back nature keeps me unpredictable. That and it's not exactly the first time I've had to deal with oversized arachnids."

The fire crackles, casting dancing shadows over the group.

As Absinthe receives treatment from Rouge, Miriam notices Melchior squinting at her.

"Is there a problem?"

Melchior takes a step back, his cheeks burn red slightly. "No! Sorry, I have bad vision, so I was curious whom Absinthe made a friend with. You don't seem like a bad person."

Miriam shrugs casually. "Thank you, but I'm not his friend. He's just one of my means to pass the test, as am I for him."

"I think you'll come to enjoy his presence. I'm a pragmatist myself, so I get your sentiment. But it's good that you're an honest person as well."

She turns her head away. "That's the same thing Absinthe said."

…

Absinthe chortles as he sits by the campfire with the other three students. "She was blabbering about how she was going to wash my hair from the webs, thinking I'm a damsel in distress. Then I turn my head, and she goes, 'Feh. You're a man'. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so let down!"

Miriam's cheeks turn red from embarrassment as she quickly responds, "Why is his hair so damn long?! Anyone would have been horribly fooled as well."

"It has to do with my mother. She passed away, so keeping my hair long is a token of remembrance," Absinthe answers with a solemn expression.

A silence breaks out among the four of them.

Rouge in particular has a bewildered expression, cringing slightly from the situation.

"Oh… shit. I-I'm uh, sorry."

Melchior and Absinthe glance at each other, barely able to contain their laughter. They burst out laughing, with Absinthe in tears.

Miriam flusters even more, thunder crackling from her hair. "W-What's so funny?!"

Absinthe holds his palm out, wiping his tears with his other hand pausing between giggles. "It's just… it's just that that's not the reason! We don't even remember mom. Sorry about teasing you."

"God! You are so storming stupid," she falls onto her back with a huff. "May the Stormlord smite you and your hair."

Absinthe then turns his head to Melchior and Rouge. "So? What's the reason you two didn't join that alliance by the lake?"

"Seraphina took hold of the students who were summoned near the lake. I left to go find you, and Rouge tagged along."

Absinthe groans as he gazes towards the lake.

"She's the one that froze it over?"

"The only one who can," Rouge shrugs.