Observation Week

*including more Showing of Faradei's view... i like him, he was introduced as a representative of alfheim in season 1 Earth mightiest heroes in final two episodes... his eartips are v long but wow so cute!


After all instructors and Consultants held meetings about our ideas, there was plenty of feedback. Cool, the Alfheim system is so nice! Ilkar was having a Science module with us and today he had adopted a more informal style. "K, people how are you? I've some news, let me talk for a while?" The mage tapped the microphone. "I need you to be present- both here and body. (he pointed to his head) Some of you are 50/50 and dreaming. Normally I'm fine with that, but this week is Observation and the senior departments will be assessing how lessons are done. Can I expect your best?" Most responses were affirmative except Yasmine.

She raised her hand. "Mr Ilkar you're too awesome to be penalized!Why worry?"

He said frankly,"It's not that. I'm still held responsible. It won't hurt to be good students would it? I'll be worried if you're summoned to the office for a scolding. Joe, come down please." Joe had pushed himself up on the table, his cap turned backwards. The mage shook his head, motioning down to the chair. Joe argued but they were not raising their voices, and eventually the boy conceded. I marvelled at my godbro's progress in managing problem-kids. He used to be quite sensitive and stressed.

My class likes professors to be 'cool' Other rules were 'less bullying' 'don't talk on phone in class'

For Algrim, I attended some evening sessions. He didn't ask for favors and all he said was, "I will only state one key point- mutual respect. I'm here to guide you where you're wrong and teach. So I don't care whether you hate me. Preferably let's have a good time." Algrim was taking over for a Level 2 Elvish and Culutral studies, about the analysis of history in poetry. The usual person was away. His accent is Much better than dwarf G's. Time with the Svalfar has testified that friendship can transcend race. I didn't understand why some people would misinterprete what I said as prejudice! Around me, all were depressed. Julian laid down his head and there were collective moans. "Why all this hmm? I've not finished yet, for first 5 units, you'd need to know the material. It's active discussion. And to the back, the Source-based readings are compiled." Algrim chuckled. Patiently, he walked to where some boys wanted to sprawl on the floor and reminded them.

Although no one is likely to be fired or dismissed (because shortage of staff), the various departments would still assess them. A trying time for them! All the merry guys like Hal and Junos were affected too. (messaging shouldn't be a problem of conflict but people were unhappy with my shortforms so I tried to spell certain words) Hal sent: so scared, alm fell!

Oh no, u ok? Need help? Thankfully, Hal was all right and he meant 'almost fell' We still went to visit him at the clinic. That made him weepy. As we had not met as a group for ages, one day we did for lunch, to celebrate that uptight time. Ilkar was relatively calm, though he didn't agree with the feedback. "My report is, I speak too softly and should use my own voice. But without the amplifier, I'd hurt my throat. "

Darn what nonsense! Mercun put an arm around him and said that was also his case. We had met him briefly and his hair is lighter brown than Ilkar's. "No fair. It's not your fault!" Alicia and I echoed.

That cheered them up. Mercun said, "Thank you, we need encouragement."

The Julatsan coughed a bit and had to suck on a lozenge. "It is true I'm soft. Crap, have to go for some voice-projection workshop. As if I don't know how to take deep breaths?" While we commiserated on the change of schedules, our feelings of being repressed, he fell silent. I glanced at my best friend. He felt it and smiled faintly. I'm with you! Tried to convey that mentally.

Kruz approached with a tray of assorted drinks. "Free got them from the other theatre, haha!"

"Wah they must've been deceived," Faradei remarked. We thought he had a perfect score. "Not really. Because the headmaster felt I spend too much time outdoors, have to switch with someone to be indoors. Stuffy." He fanned himself.

"It's not that hot, many have the cool air blowing into your face." Hallien said, rubbing his nose. He had caught a cold. Then we all dispersed and godbrother glanced at me, brows raised.

"What's up, Phoe?"

"Want to see the new forest? Are you tired?" I invited as we left the cafeteria. He didn't mind. The pavilions were newly constructed for homesick visitors and citizens to adjust to Alfheim. He was delighted and the weariness faded from his face.

"Love it! Looks just like the view when ships are sailing into the Calaius docks. I kept forgetting to come here."

"Yea you sounded glum, Ilks. They can't ban you from using the mike. Just ignore them."

"Oh. I know you care... I'm not sad now. The other factors are fine. Pacing, control, discipline. I had been worried some of your friends would bully me. Heheh." He squeezed my hand tightly. Wow, didn't mind my nickname! But as we were heading back, the elf said he had heard me.

Next day some of the instructors had time off. Mira and my other friend would be out, so I wanted to invite Ilkar over to view my new art. Being lost in the hundreds of unread mails, godbro couldn't find what I had sent. Our dorms are all ground-level and less spacious than an adult unit.

I said,"Careful there's a windchime there."

Elf gracefully strolled into our dorm, smiling at the pink vs blue colors. Mine was black stars on blue. "Pink's not your color? I did want to get a pink blouse for you."

I beamed. "Sweet. But nope I don't. How about a pink dino?" He made a vomit-face. There was only one chair today. "Don't stand too long, bro. Oh need a drink? At this time, it's water. I can get a mug for you?"

"Oh I'm fine. Relax." Elf waved me down and nodded to my laptop. Pause to give you audience a view of my room: desk beside my bed, messy layout of a short shelf of books, folders by colors, albums of stamps, postcards sticking out from my drawer. Unopened mail

"Did you get my letter yet?"

He smiled. "Yup." Right after, he was staring intently at something beside my bed and I did wish can snap his photo! Ilkar's features were relaxed in wonder and his brown eyes were widened and sparkling. "Phoe, what's this? Looks strange..." I had twisted a few colored wires into a pattern.

"Oh it's for thinking... when I'm worried I will twist it. Yeay knew you'd like it haha!"

Meanwhile I had already navigated to my webpage. He lavished praise on my picture of a Cat fantasy! "Did you see them in action? Very real!"

"Aww shucks (I blushed) I wish. Nope cats and birds are enemies. My imagination." Elf asked me if I used a pen on a tablet screen? He viewed all of my new works and loved them. Such a supportive non-artist friend is Rare! "Don't use your real name online, I've many many to show you..."

"Hehe, hang on. I am slower." The mage blinked and squinted, holding up his hand. An hour or so passed and Ilkar looked at his watch. "I've to start dinner now, thanks for inviting me. Hello Mira."

She exclaimed and shook his hand. "Do you know the way, sir?"

"Yes. Don't trouble yourselves. Take care!" The elf touched our windchime on the way out. He met with another colleague and speaking with him they left together.


Three months later, Faradei had an accident and became temporarily blind! He tutors Kruz and Mira , and this deeply affected them. While riding the horse, it had bucked and thrown him off. He had a fiancee but she left him. Faradei must be deeply affected but he continued being brave and calm in our presence. Kruz wanted to talk sense into 'that bitch' after we came out from visiting. Being responsible, he had made arrangements for someone to coach them for exams. If only I had taken some time to visit him before! I sympathized, but had to prevent Kruz from being rash. Mira was distraught and couldn't refrain from crying. So for the meantime, she could not come yet though a week had passed since the accident.

Kirin, Hal, Junos and fellow colleagues were there to support Faradei. Hallien had got the best medical team to speed up the healing process. "So far, he's all right and recovering from shock. It's a relief that he can see blurred shapes, not complete total blackness. As long as he rests, we are hoping for a miracle." Some people I didn't know were concerned too.

"But what about riding and archery?" one of the boys asked.

"Oh it's best not to tell him, long-sight is not possible now. Some mages will help him to adjust with other senses." He looked sad and rubbed his face. We agreed to be tactful. One day, the fiancee ran out of his ward.

The walls were white and windows gilded with golden curtains, fluttering gently in sync with lyrical music of birdsong. I wondered if it was from outside and looked about for a radio player. His ward had an aroma of lavender! As Faradei faced us, an olive bird flitted to the windowsill and chirped. He had a radiant smile and shifted against the pillows of the large bed. Other furniture was absent, except a bedside table of only one bouquet of flowers. Probably doctors worried the patient might knock against obstacles.

To me he is 'Ranger-elf' always in breeches, longbow strung across his shoulders and never still for very long. But now his clothes consisted of soft blue and white-striped robes, without long trousers. As the elf was sitting with his knees propped up, not as bedridden as we had pictured before coming in. This was a fortunate sign, falling from a horse is serious without healing-factor! Other than a bandage bound to his forehead, his fair locks had not been cut so Faradei looked his usual self. One leg had a poultice taped to the thigh.

He cocked his head.

"Reslin, Kruz you've come! Hello!" Narrowing his leaf colored eyes, Faradei still sounded optimistic. We responded.

"Wow so smart! We're so obvious?" I clasped his hand.

He smiled. "Made a lucky guess. Kruz, are you alright? Have you been good?" At this my friend sobbed. He held out his arms and acted as guardian. Indeed he would sooner explode or implode, getting angry at the slightest things. Faradei consoled him.

"Sorry, you shouldn't hafta worry... about us. We're mostly ok," Kruz answered, sniffling. "Get better quickly." I asked about therapy. He said everyone in the medical group was nice and patient. He had fallen and bumped into things when he tried to walk around. But it was boring to stay in bed , so he was going to keep persevering. "Glad I can at least see outlines. They force me to rest today, damn. Oh Reslin, what did you bring? Hungry."

I had bought some pastries from the bakery. We opened the paperbag and shared. The elf rubbed Kruz's back. "Where's Ilkar? I want to see him. "

"Oh he will be coming later, now at an Alfar lesson I think." I flipped through my schedule copy.

"Great. You know, though I've known Hal and the locals for longer, Ilks was the first I thought of. He's a good friend."

Yea the Julatsan would be overjoyed and touched to hear this! The nurse had shown him how to use the special phone with engraved numbers so Faradei could call. He asked for us to recite certain codes and numbers. "Ah now I'm tired. Thanks for coming. Look forward to more visits." Kruz helped him to lie down and I tweaked the air conditioner as it was blazing-hot out. We left, and bro was less angst.

Ilkar finished at around 3.30 and got our message. "Yea I don't expect to hear he misses me! That evening, I waited with the others outside the hospital room too." he said, walking with me in that direction. I told him about the progress.

"You're a deep impact on everyone!" I grinned. Ilkar slitted his eyes and poked me. As the building was on the ground floor, now we had reached the lobby.

"Embarrassing me. Ok I'll go in now. Where's the next class?"

I told him and watched as he went inside. The notice put Hours to come: from morning to early evening. Night visitors special permission. I wondered if Al had known of this.

"Was he better?" Mira asked first when Ilkar met us for a small-group tutorial.

"Yes. He says for us not to be down, he's alright. I read him letters from home and we talked." He smiled, absently twirling a pen. Some of the girls said they liked his longer hair, today pulled back in a braid. Sportingly, Ilkar said thank you and waved to them. Haha!

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