Chapter 4: Acquaintances

The night had yet to end and so far I found myself waking up around 2:30 am. I couldn't help myself from thinking too much. Even though Auhula had comforted me in an extraordinary way, I still felt uneasy. I turned to my side and then again, only this time I gazed at the beautiful flower Vellamoon gave me. I only have two days left before the trial as the message from my father stated the minute I laid down to sleep. To think that after all that training and preparing for this, I would probably be terminated from the Academy forever. This would mean I would have to figure out what to do with my life and most likely never see her again. Vellamoon, I hope I get the chance to at least thank her for this lovely flower that resembles her beauty. There is just something about her that I can't get out of my mind. Who would ever thought that I would fall for a woman not of my own race, though it's common with some other folks, but occasionally is rare for an alliance to be with a horde member. Usually they would move to a neutral town and live there happily, but to be far away from my home…I suddenly snapped out of it.

"Kai what the hell are you thinking!" I told myself as I realized what I was thinking was more than just knowing her "I'm definitely not ready for that kind of commitment."

I chuckled lightly to myself, to think I would of have imagined something as crazy as that. If father ever learned what I just thought of, why he would make a huge joke out of it. He would most likely say "your thinking of putting that ol'ball and chain! Good luck in finding a lady crazy enough to deal with your stubborn hard headedness!" I scowled of the thought, if he only knew how much I really resemble him in that particular subject. After all I was raised by the man more since mother had been ill practically all the time. I sighed of the thought. Mother, I wonder how she is doing right now? With all this going on I hadn't the chance to ask father about her. No one was able to find out what was wrong with her, not even Doc Mixel Pixel from the Stormwinds SI: 7 divisions. He's been known to be the best but unable to find a cure or diagnose of her condition.

The thought of what could possibly happen next; I'd rather shake it away and tuck it deep within the depths of hell to forbid the thought of it. I was starting to become frustrated now and figured that perhaps I can relax a little if I went out for a bit of fresh air. I got out of bed, grabbed my hooded tunic and stepped out of my room. Heading down the hallway I found a sign by the door that read "The Hymn Garden".

"The Hymn Garden? Sounds like a spot I can relax to, I hope the door is open" I said as I turned the knobbed and it was.

Exiting to go into the garden, I brushed off some flowers and branches that were in my viewing path. After finally shoving the last branch from off my face, I saw the garden. It was exquisite. Long and short benches to sit on like those seen in Dalaran and even a marble fountain with a decorative Gryphon, with wings spread apart as it blew water sprinklers from its marble beak. As I stepped a bit closer, on the other side of the fountain sat a young blood elf female with crimson hair. She wore a soft wool cloak, and it seemed she was writing into a book, perhaps her journal. My heart was racing as I knew well enough who this young blood elf was. I was nervous but I still stepped even closer, in doing so, she stopped writing and turned her head slightly towards me. Upon seeing me she became startled.

"My goodness! You scared me" she said as she placed her hand over her chest, as though trying to calm her heart.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to startle you. I was just wondering as to why a lovely woman could possibly be doing out here at this time of night" I said in an almost frantic tone, I was an idiot for not notifying her that I was approaching "Please, I do apologize"

She smiled "it is ok; I just didn't think that someone would be out here at this hour like myself. I just wish you had warned me before approaching me the way you did. I'm sorry for making a big fuss over it."

"No no, it is clearly my fault. You have nothing to be apologizing for." I lowered my head in shame, right about now she probably thinks I'm a complete loser who has no manners. I glanced over to her and she was smiling still. I froze, I loved the way she smiled, I smiled in return and I was sure that I had been blushing somewhat. She giggled in a cute way as she extended her hand out as she said…

"My name is Vellamoon, what is yours?"

"Kai, my name is Kai. A pleasure to make your acquaintance Ms. Vellamoon" I said as I took her hand and softly kissed it.

"You Night Elf men always know how to elegantly greet a lady" She giggled again as she blushed and looked away shyly.

I grinned to myself and I thought that would break the ice between us and hopefully bring up more to our conversation. Surely I didn't want to miss this opportunity to spend this lovely night with her. She returned her view to me and pleaded me to sit beside her. I did as she bid me and sat down. I was nervous, very nervous. The only thing that kept running through my mind was "Kai, what ever you do, Don't Fuck it UP!"

"I couldn't sleep well and felt terrible over what had occurred to you and everyone else, be they horde or alliance. I hope that everything has turned out well for you. Which is why I would like to ask you, how are you feeling?" Vellamoon asked as she laid her hands over her journal and gave me her undivided attention, but there was something strange. If I didn't know better, I could have sworn that she was speaking in my own language.

Was my head in the right track or did my hearing go crazy? I spoke to her in return in my own language, only to see if my ears were playing tricks on me.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. I can handle a lot more than just a few hits. Bruised a bit, but are quickly fading away" I said as I flexed my arm to her and grinned wildly.

She chuckled joyfully. "You truly are a funny man Kai." She places her small slender hand over my bulked up muscle and caressed it softly "Well, I am glad that you are well. This morning, after you were taken to the infirmary, I had decided to pay you a visit in hopes that you were still there…" Vellamoon widen her eyes nervously "Uh…well, not in a sense that I was hoping you were still hurt, but…you know…just to make sure you was still ok…"

I saw her blush and I thought she looked so cute. I smiled. My heart swelled with a warm feeling. She thought of me and worried about my well being. She wasn't looking at me as I glanced over her way. She turned her back to me in embarrassment. I chuckled lightly, but I confirmed it. Through out this whole conversation she was in fact speaking Darnassian. I leaned a little closer to her, this time I nudge my shoulder onto hers as she budged slightly. She dared not look at me with her face completely red. I laughed and leaned closer to her ear.

"Thank you; I really appreciate the thought and kindness. I especially love the flower. Lovely and beautiful…" I saw her ease a bit when I then said it, boldly "Just like the woman who offered it to me beside my bed" She flinched up again and began to blush once more. I smiled.

"Your…your welcome" She motioned her hand up her cheek as though wanting to block the blushing from me as her other hand held the journal on her lap. Still I wanted to know…

"When did you learn to speak Darnassian? I mean, the classes in language 101 don't start till the second term, which means you learned from someone else." I looked her curiously

Vellamoon widen her eyes, turned to look into mine surprised. She smiled and finally returned to her usual self. Now holding her journal up to her heart and closed her eyes. Perhaps I was invading her space and asked a more personal question than I should have. I just wanted to know, but if she felt the need not to answer the question, I certainly didn't not want to force it upon her.

"I'm sorry, you don't need to answer if you don't feel like it…it is rather personal" I said as I rubbed the back of my head and suddenly heard her lightly chuckling. I tilted my head wondering what was so funny.

"No, it is fine. I only had a wonderful memory when you asked me the question. For you see, I once had a Nana who took care of me and my other siblings. She was…well, she was a Night Elf who had a lot of magical powers. I believe your people would call them 'Highbornes'." She looked at me for confirmation.

"Highbornes? The mage casting Night Elves…yes, that is what their known names are. Wow, that's…wow" Shock and amazement all at once, I never would of thought of it even after looking at her for the first time. But why would a highborne want to raise a horde child as a nana? I wondered, as she then continued.

"Yes, she was very lovely and kind to us. She even showed me and my youngest sister how to cast fire in one hand and ice in the other." She casted both spells in each as she spoke of them.

I was in complete awe. Never was I ever able to see a Mage do anything of the sort except when they were casting a spell called Ice flare, but that spell was a mixture of both spells conjured within both hands, not one spell cast differently in each. Were highbornes that powerful! As a youth, we were forbidden to commute and associate with them in any way as they were considered outcasts, I never understood why, but I guess that's how it's always been, thus seeing this skill…makes me wonder why.

"And when you place both fire and ice together…" she slowly pushes both spells into one, creating a large sphere in her hand that not only surge together, but were harmoniously intertwined together as though in unity and not in contrast to each other "…forming the power of love and passion together. She would tell us, that it was what they did when unity would form as their bond for one another reached their hearts to become one in marriage." Saying so she slowly lures the powerful spell over to me.

I turned to my side to her as I stared into the sphere of magic and slowly reached out to touch it. In doing so, the minute my fingers touched it, I thought it would go right through it, but instead it flowed as though I was actually touching a ball that did not feel neither cold nor hot. I then placed my other hand and did the same with it. The sphere began to glow brighter; Vellamoon gasped to herself in shock as she saw her spell glimmer brightly as so and then stared at me. We stared at each other for some time now, not sure for how long, it seemed she hadn't realized that I had touched it. Somehow, that very moment, I knew I did something to her that I shouldn't have. I just didn't understand why. She started to breathe a little heavier than normal and slightly blink her eyes as though bobbing them to me, and blushed. Then the glowing sphere had slowly dimmed and the spell faded away softly as the glow remained momentarily in our hands before it vanished away into our skin.

I raised my hands up to look at them, watching the glow fade from it as I saw she did the same. I hesitated to talk but build up enough courage to simply ask her.

"What…just happened?"

She continued to stare at me and her breathing seemed to slowly calm down though she still showed sign of shock, worried, and at the same time a bit of relief in her. Mixed emotions were obviously flowing in her mind, heart and body. As for her soul, I wouldn't know what to say about that. I just know I felt really calm and somehow a deep warm feeling in my heart. It almost felt as though it was…bonded to her.

"BONDED! HOLY SHIT!" I screamed inside my head as I realized what Vellamoon had finished telling me. The sphere of fire and ice was a bond between two loved ones. I never knew how they bonded and now I think I blew it. With all that had happen it is obvious what and how it works. It was a symbol of love and matrimony within the highbornes…highbornes…The highbornes! That's right, we're not highbornes! But, does it still count? I was now showing signs of panic and worry and most definitely confusion. She was about to speak when she suddenly stopped after hearing a creak coming from behind a dark shadowed side of a tree. I glanced over to hear where the breaking branch came from and saw him. Zien Dawn, glaring at me as usual as his stare then reflected anger at Vellamoon. I glance my sight towards her by the rear of my eyes as she stared at him and suddenly look down in shame.

She stood up from where she sat and bowed herself to me as she told me she had to go. Turning her back on me right after and before she could walk away with that blood elf who wouldn't keep his eyes off us with that crazed stare of his, I stood up in time to grab her wrist gently and pulled myself closer to her ear to whisper to her fast enough before Zien flinched and took her away.

"When can I see you again?"

Zien had pulled her hastily away from me and ahead of him as he brushed up closer to my chest, face shot to mine glaring.

"She has no business with you Nelf!" Zien grind his teeth as he spoke those words and dashed off with Vellamoon.

She looked back momentarily and worded out her lips without saying a word and without letting him see her as he pulled on her back with his arm…"soon". Straight into the darkness they went. I then look down and saw she had dropped her journal, I kneeled over and picked it up. It had no lock on it. It was wrapped in fine silk and writing that seemed to be in Thalassarian language. I didn't peek into it, but kept it safe in my hands. I decided to head back to my dorm room and as I headed to the door leading inside the academy, I noticed the Headmaster staring out from behind the glass window. I went inside and greeted him as he did the same.

"Kai, how have you been doing since you've come out of the infirmary?" The Headmaster asked without leaving his sight on whatever it was he was looking at.

"Oh…heh, it's been ok so far. Just a crazy day, is all that I have been having. I'm about to head to bed now that I'm finally feeling warn out" I lied and he knew it. I had more energy in me than a murlock had chasing its prey.

The Headmaster chuckled to himself heartedly and nodded his head.

"Well, I hope you sleep well Kai. Should you ever need my help, please, don't hesitate to come by my office or approach me if you see me in the halls."

I nodded to him and he smiled as he headed away. I on the other hand just walked over to my door and entered my room. I placed the journal on the same table that held the flower Vellamoon gave me. I'll just hand it over to her when I see her in class, even if that Zien guy is around her. He can try to stop her from talking to me, but he sure as hell can't stop me from talking to her. He can try but will soon find out it will be a complete failure in his part. I lay down on my bed with clothes on and just simply dozed off.