Miela watched in frustration as Jakob failed again to cast the Meteor Shower spell. It was advanced, yes, but lately it seemed that all his spells were getting weaker. The most he could get was a few fiery stones to fall. Nothing that was substantial in comparison to his previous skill and talent. She rubbed her forehead thoughtfully, concealing her look of disappointment behind her hand. She had really thought he was going to get places, maybe receive High Magic awards from the Academy. This goal was becoming more and more distant however.
"Alright Jakob... One more time." She sighed and listened to the ever silent man take a few steps away. Boredly, she turned and looked down the hill. Regent valley this time of year was beautiful, also nearly the farthest place from the war with the Charr, just beyond Ascalonian walls. Birds twittered, sun shone, and just as an undertone, there was the subtle sound of Rangers training their Melandru's Stalkers.
It was well into the second week of training, and Miela was fearful. Originally her plan was to present Jakob to the council of Elders and cover for her general slacking with her other two students. However at this rate, they'd all pass off at Average in the general scheme of things. Miela didn't like average; average meant that you didn't work hard enough. She sighed and stood up from her seat below a tree. She yawned and stretched, her eyes watering in the process. Gently, she patted the young man on the shoulder and he jumped.
Miela pointed back at town and murmured that she needed to talk to the other two students. Jakob shrugged and followed her down the hill and back onto the dirt road. They settled into a walking pace as they started back towards Ashford Abbey.
"So, where did you live before the academy?" Miela asked, hoping to find out a little bit about her student that she'd been focusing on.
Jakob shrugged.
"You don't know where you lived?" Miela teased with a chuckle.
Another shrug.
"Are you listening to anything I say?" She questioned, starting to notice something was off. She suddenly realized he'd never spoken to her, merely stared at her when she spoke, and followed his instructions perfectly.
"Can you hear me?" She said softly, while looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
No reaction from the young man. His gaze rested coldly on the horizon. Quietly she slowed a little, and tapped on his shoulder again. He jumped again before turning to look at her. She pointed at her ears and demanded.
"Are you deaf?"
Jakob looked uncomfortable for the first time. He didn't look directly at her and began turning red. He slowly nodded and spoke for the first time.
"Yes." The word was there, but the sound was slightly off. He sounded unsure of himself, and the word actually slurred the letters together. She could almost imagine the lips moving correctly, but the tongue not working properly at all.
He glared at a nearby tree, and the air intensified slowly. Something imperceivable unless one could attune themselves to the air. Miela put a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. It worked, slightly, although now he was glaring at her. She smiled at him, speaking before she thought.
"My little brother was deaf... S'okay, you're no less of a person." She emphasized her lip movements for him, and the glare lessened. She began walking again, and he followed.
The silent walk lasted until they entered Ashford Abbey. There, Red and Karria were sitting around a table drinking a dark liquid. Red's face was flushed the colour of his name, and he smiled stupidly. Karria blushed and looked awkward. As Miela and Jakob approached, they wrinkled their noses at the smell of Mead that Red had been guzzling. Karria was still on her first glass, although didn't look entirely in control. Red smiled up at Miela, his gaze surprisingly serious in comparison to his demeanor.
"Hi there, profeshure." He slurred, keeping his eyes locked on Miela's own. Something was not right with this scene. Miela didn't realize what it was for a while, but the way Red's gaze maintained her own disturbed her slightly. Not to say he was creepy or anything of the sort, but rather that she'd underestimated his intelligence. At the moment however, she was just confused about it.
"You done with wounder boy over there?" He gestured vaguely, his finger pointing right past Jakob. "When're you gunna teach us stuff'n spells?" Red slurred some more, resting his head on his hands.
Miela blushed as she was called out by this drunken teenager. He was right, she wasn't doing her job, and this needed to change, however...
"What are you talking about you drunken slob? I've given you plenty of jobs and assignments to do!"
"Yeah. Practice Flare, practice Aura of restoration, practice Fire Storm. When're we gunna start learning the stuff you're teaching him?"
Once again, he got her. She really hadn't anticipated this. She was coming back to Ashford to apologize, and hope they hadn't noticed much. She looked at Karria for support, but she looked away and sniffed again. Then she hiccuped.
"Fine, tomorrow, we'll spend the day catching up to Jakob. You two need to go to bed though, and drink some water!" Miela screeched, blushing.
"Fine!" Red cried and stood up. At first he wobbled, nearly falling back into the chair, but managed to stay up. Karria stood slowly, almost as shaky as Red. The two tipsy elementalists linked arms and supported each others way up the stairs.
Red kicked open the door to their room, using Karria as a support, and she giggled. The two fell into the shared room, too drunk for the indecency. Karria pulled herself into a sitting position on her bed, continuing to giggle like a school girl. Red continued to lay on the floor, although titled his head to look at his fellow student.
"Whas so funny?" He demanded, an indignant look showing.
"You and your high and -hic- mighty act on Lady Miela! -Hic- You actually got her good!" She continued to hiccup, although the intervals got slower each time. Eventually, she stopped and soberness began to return. Red still lay on the floor, too lazy and drunk to move. She sighed and lay down on her bed, the alcohol in her system still keeping her happy, but less silly.
"You know... I really like you..." Came the voice from the floor, a slurred quality still apparent. She sat up slowly, turning to look at him in the dark. The moonlight shone picturesquely on the red haired man as he dozed and spoke.
"I guess maybe you're asleep." He slurred, sounding less and less conscious each time he spoke.
"At any rate, Karria, I really like you, will you be my friend? Through thick and thin, til ugly monsters do us part?" He spoke as if he were mostly in dream land at this point, a misty quality on the words he spoke.
"Erm... Sure." Karria replied, too shocked to really say anything more than that.
"Mmm... Good, maybe someday... We can be... Lo--" The words were cut off as sleep finally took him.
She released the breath she didn't know she was holding. Her hands unclenched from the blanket underneath her.
"Good night then, friend."
Well, another chapter done. I'm not as happy as I should be, but I figure I should get these chapters out. This story admittedly has no direction character wise at the moment, so I'll figure out what'll come of Jakob, and how Karria and Red fare.
Please read and review! It keeps me writing this story!
