Chapter 7: Oath of Silence

Chapter 7: Oath of Silence

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"Hey, Sam, why are you here so early? The classroom door isn't even open yet!" Mirabella's voice echoed through the dimly lit hallway as she approached Class 3D. Her steps were light, barely making a sound against the polished floor.

Sam grinned up at her from his seat, his eyes a shade darker in the soft morning light filtering through the hallway windows. "I guess I was too excited about today's Awakening and didn't pay attention to the time," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Mirabella chuckled softly, joining him by leaning her head against the cool metal door. "I understand. I couldn't sleep either. It's been ages since I've felt this excited about anything."

Sam opened his mouth to respond but caught himself, his gaze lingering on Mirabella's serene expression. He decided not to disturb her peaceful moment and instead turned his attention forward, lost in his own thoughts.

Footsteps broke the quietude a few minutes later. Conner approached the classroom with purposeful strides, his steps echoing lightly in the hallway. As he neared the door, he noticed two figures already waiting there, fast asleep against the doorframe. It was only 7:34 AM, and Conner had arrived early because he held the key to unlock the classroom.

"Everyone sure is early," Zephyr remarked casually, with a faintly bored expression. They had met each other in the hall where Conner had stopped to get a drink from the vending machine.

"Everyone?" Conner inquired, glancing past Zephyr at the otherwise empty hallway.

"They're outside. Mike and Miles got into a spat, Sydney's playing mediator, and Emily was too nervous to come in alone," Zephyr explained nonchalantly, leaning against the wall.

Conner frowned slightly. "Why didn't you bring her in with you?" he asked. To leave a girl like Emily in the middle of an argument was simply inhumane.

Realization dawned on Zephyr's face, his eyes widening slightly beneath his tousled bangs. "I didn't think of that," he admitted with a rueful smile. "But how are we getting in? I thought the doors would already be open."

Shaking his head at Zephyr's oversight, Conner reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bunch of keys. Selecting one, he handed it to Zephyr with a knowing look. "You left before Miss Lauren could give these to you yesterday. She said it's your responsibility to lock up the classroom after school," Conner explained patiently.

Accepting the keys with a nod of gratitude, Zephyr approached the classroom door. Mirabella and Sam stirred awake as he gently tapped Mirabella's cheek a few times. Once they shifted aside, Zephyr inserted the key and unlocked the door, allowing everyone to file into the dimly lit classroom.

Inside, the room was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow emitted by star crystals embedded in the ceiling. Cosmo Crystals enhanced the density of Cosnergy in the environment, making early morning cultivation or study sessions common among students. The front door always opened promptly at 7 AM, a routine that persisted even on weekends.

Conner and Zephyr moved to open the curtains and windows, allowing the morning sunlight to filter into the room. Mirabella shook off her sleepiness with a series of small exercises, her movements graceful and deliberate. The remaining four classmates arrived shortly after, entering the room with a mix of curiosity and surprise.

"Wow, everyone's here?" Sydney remarked in amazement as she took her seat near the window. "Did I miss some sort of group meeting?"

"Nope, nothing like that," Mirabella replied with a smile after finishing her stretches. "I think we all just had our own reasons for coming in early. Personally, I wanted to escape my sister's morning tirades."

"I wish I could escape someone too," Miles joked, earning an eye roll from his twin, Mike.

"Now that we're all here, what should we do, Emily?" Mirabella asked kindly, walking over to Emily's desk where she sat quietly.

Emily blushed and shook her head, her pink hair bouncing gently around her face. She seemed hesitant to speak up, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.

Zephyr observed his classmates, noticing their casual movements and quiet conversations. It was clear that, except for Conner, none of them had a pressing reason to be there so early. Seizing the opportunity, Zephyr decided it was time to set his plan in motion.

Standing up, he walked confidently to the front of the class, drawing all eyes to him. "Everyone," he began, his voice steady and sure, "I need you all to swear an oath of silence about what I'm going to tell you. Promise not to mention it to anyone outside of those of us here."

A moment of surprised silence followed his request, just as Zephyr had anticipated. Before the Convergence, oaths were unreliable for ensuring promises, but with the presence of Cosnergy, swearing an oath carried significant weight. While an empty oath had little to no terms or penalties, it was witnessed and sealed by the stars.

"What?" Mike finally broke the silence, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "You want us to swear?"

"Why?" Conner asked, his expression serious and probing.

Feeling a slight discomfort standing still, Zephyr began to pace in front of the classroom, his movements fluid and purposeful. "While I can't explain without your promise, you can choose to ignore what I'm about to say and pretend this conversation never happened," he explained earnestly. "But I need you to hear me out first."

Another silence fell over the room, broken only by Emily timidly raising her hand for attention. Zephyr nodded in acknowledgment; an oath didn't have to be verbal—a simple understanding was enough to be accepted by the stars.

"I guess it's alright," Sam replied thoughtfully, his gaze thoughtful and contemplative. "As long as it's just an empty oath."

"I'm too curious to say no," Miles added, earning a reproachful glance from Mike.

"What was that for?" Miles snapped back, his voice tinged with irritation.

"You should pay more attention," Mike scolded, his tone firm yet brotherly.

"Can you both not fight right now?" Mirabella interjected, her voice tinged with irritation. "Besides, Miles is right—it's just an empty oath of silence. Count me in."

"I agree too," Conner and Sydney chimed in simultaneously, their voices blending into a chorus of consent.

"I suppose an oath of silence won't do any harm," Brian agreed finally, his tone thoughtful and measured.

Seeing that everyone had agreed to the oath, Mike reluctantly nodded in acquiescence. All eyes turned back to Zephyr, waiting expectantly for him to reveal what he had to say.