Chapter 9: Good Morning, Haven.
Sophi's eyes creaked open at the sound of a bell tolling. A bell? She sat up and look around, panic stricken, at least for a moment or two before her memory came back. Pen and notebook still in hand, she stood, her back cracking with a loud snap. She winced and set the pen and paper down on the same small table as her brush.
She found a stack of Grays at the foot of her bed, she sighed and took a pair of Grays before walking down towards the bathhouse.
A light tap on Tanja's door was met by a sort of yawn. It didn't look like she was the only one who had a long night.
"Ye-es?" A drowsy voice met her tapping. "Who is it?"
"Housekeeping. You want mint for pillow?" Sophi grinned, speaking in her best high-pitched Spanish-lady voice.
"What?!" A slight sound of sheets falling and light footsteps.
"Housekeeping. You want towel?" Sophi suppressed a chuckle as the door flung open, Tanja looking down at her with an odd look.
"Eh...no." She shook her head and rubbed an eye. "Morning already? Ugh."
"Well, think of it this way," Sophi gave a thoughtful look. "Three years of training. We had two of high school, but this is stuff we can actually use. That and it's training for a job, so it spares us college time and time searching for a job. Language classes will be very helpful with all the Hardonian refugees and the traveling that I at least intend to do. History is obvious, but religion can help us with our story and weapon's training should be fun," she paused, "Eh...well interesting at least. Plus we get gift training! That and it's rushed training at that, with Ancar on the rampage," she reminded her pointedly.
Tanja sighed and nodded, taking a pair of Grays from the foot of her own bed. "Sheila said she'd meet us in the mess hall, right?" She asked wearily.
"That's right. If we can find our way, that is." Sophi added bitterly as she looked around the hall.
"Oh, it's not that confusing around here, in the Collegium," Tanja started down the hall. "Upstairs is the library, down are the classrooms, outside our windows are the gardens. Second floor are the boys' and girls' separate dorms on either side of the cafeteria. And here," she flung open a door, hot steam and faint splashing heard. "Is the washroom. See? Simple."
"Oh sure, just upstage me why don't you!" Sophi grinned and stepped in before her, nudging her with her elbow as she passed. Tanja gave a smug smile and nodded.
"I think I will, thank you," then followed.
By the time they both washed and changed, Sophi was simply starving, her stomach wanting to wrap itself around her backbone. She waited somewhat patiently for Tanja to mutter about her makeup and toss her hair up in a ponytail. All the while, looking very smug over the fact she never wore makeup and always ran a brush through her hair just so she'd not scare people away. She cared very little about what she looked like, and her old wardrobe, thrown together at the last minute, composed of three pairs of jeans with all the cuffs worn to threads and the same five worn, long sleeved s hirts over and over again, proved that point.
"Food would be good, Tanja," she prompted carefully.
"Yes, I suppose you would want to eat," Tanja rolled her eyes and scoffed, grinning a little as she finally left the room, Sophi following on her heals.
"What was that supposed to mean?" Sophi quirked a brow and smirked.
"Oh, nothing," Tanja stated plainly. "I wonder how many dirty looks I can persuade from the head cook today." A small chuckle came from Tanja as she changed the subject. Sophi shrugged and let it slide.
"We'll just have to find out, won't we? I'll help, even" She ran a hand through her long "bangs" once before parting them on either side of her face.
She had hoped to get a moment with Ezra this morning, but after breakfast would come chores, then the normal classes, then they had to meet with their gift teacher to see what gifts they had. Apparently, it had been a busy month, for there were three others who rode in on Companions this past two weeks besides Tanja and herself.
Yes, but are they Outworlders? I don't think so. A small smile turned the corners of her lips. Of course, there was no way to be sure of it. Vanyel hadn't told them if they had been the only ones. How likely was it that there were other Outworlders? She didn't think it was common, but then again, she didn't think any of this was possible half a month ago.
"You're quiet," Tanja stated as they rounded a sort of corner and walked toward the mess hall.
"Just thinking. You know, about things." She shrugged half-heartily and went up to the door, pausing. "I was thinking," she continued, turning to Tanja. "How many of us do you think there are?"
Tanja looked mildly surprised and paused, thinking to herself. "I honestly don't know," she moved past Sophi and into the cafeteria. "Haven't really thought about it to be completely honest."
"Huh," Sophi followed her quietly, looking around for a clear spot to sit herself and Tanja. Apparently most everyone had decided that it was time to eat, conversations flung themselves at her as she dodged a wild gesture here, a stray tossed piece of bread there. It was comfortable though, nobody was crammed into a place or having anything less than a cheerful conversation. It all had a nice feel to it.
"It could be possible, I'd imagine," Tanja spoke up after a moment, supposedly a moment of thought. "I mean, Van isn't as weak as he pretends to be. He could transport more Outworlders if he wanted, I'm sure." She sat down at a table more than half empty.
"You're right, but the question is, presuming he did open a g-g-g," Sophi growled, "Well, you know, then how did he know we would come through? Has he tried before and we didn't take the bait? And furthermore, I thought they could only do that when connecting two places they know of." She nibbled thoughtfully on a fingernail, or what little remained of her fingernails.
Her partner only shook her head and shrugged. "You sound like I'm the all-knowing one here! I'm just as much in the dark as you are." She finished dully, glancing about for some breakfast. "But, we have a long day ahead of us, so let's eat and go check out our classes."
Sophi nodded carefully and took up a bowl of what looked to be some spiced porridge, or some such. It didn't matter much, she only rarely realized she was eating as she thought to herself about all of this. Technicalities are such a pain in the arse, and they bother me until I find them out. She thought in silence, glumly until she looked down and saw her bowl was empty.
It was unfortunate that she didn't taste it, it smelled quite sweet and almost like cinnamon. How she loved cinnamon, but Tanja rose up from the table as she began to think of cinnamon applesauce and cinnamon and raisin bagels. All the better, they had other things to think of that old Home favorites.
She stood carefully, looking about once to realize that while people were still around, the majority had left. As long as we're not horribly late, it's quite alright with me, she thought to herself as she followed after Tanja.
"You two!" Shouted a voice behind them, followed by rushed footsteps. "Don't tell me you forgot about me already," Sheila strolled up next to Tanja, smiling as she fell in pace with them.
"How could we? We'd get lost in no time if you weren't with us," Sophi readily returned the smile. "Well, I would at least." She added with a sidelong glance to Tanja, who gave her a snide look, but kept her mouth closed.
Sheila chuckled and nodded. "Well, don't I feel needed then!" She beamed and made her way through the door and into the halls where she made her way to the stairs leading to the classes.
"Oh, by the way, the gift instructor told me to tell you that she can't see you today. They're having problems with someone's training and they need her expertise. She'll come and tell you when she can see you again." Sheila added on before Sophi stopped paying attention.
Sheila chatted with Tanja, who seemed like she could be warming up to her a bit. Sophi made a point to lag slightly, watching the walls and other people absently as she wandered through her thoughts on the little ordeal so far.
::You're letting this get to you too easily.:: Tanja's voice spoke out of the blue. ::I can almost feel you thinking about it so hard.::
Sophi smiled to a wall and sighed. ::I can't help but to wonder if it was a good thing to mention we were Outworlders in Anaya and Ezra's presence.::
She could almost feel Tanja blink in surprise. ::When did we mention that? I don't remember it.::
::When I told you I wouldn't respect you any more and you said I was jealous. Remember now?:: She cast a look to Tanja when she looked back to her.
::Yes, I do.:: an audible sigh was 'heard'. ::Well, Iftel is kind of like a different world since it's to isolated, can we pull that off?::
Sophi bit her lip and ran her fingertips along the wooden handrail. ::It's close, but it should work, I'd suppose. Thank goodness you're here to think of all of these excuses!:: She grinned as they stepped into the student halls, 'hearing' another chuckle from Tanja.
Sheila quickly shoo-ed them into a room of uncertain young folks, their yearmates it seemed, and said she would return later on.