Chapter 25 - Z

"Please, Calista, you have to understand," I took a step forward.

Calista and I were talking in the empty ballroom after everyone had left. She'd given me such a depressing look.

"Zael, I- I don't think we should see each other anymore," she turned her face away from mine.

"Calista, wait-," but she was already walking away and I wasn't going to stop her. I knew she was just worried about me, but I was honestly trying to help, and it was very frustrating that she couldn't, or wouldn't, see that. I sighed and left after she had. It was a little weird trying to storm out of an argument when you both had to go the same direction to leave.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***back at the tavern *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

"Well then, here's to Zael and Dagran, the new knights in trainin'!" Syrenne raised her mug. "Cheers!"

Only two others met hers, Lowell and Mirania's, which was filled with water. Dagran was, again, polishing his sword in the corner with a smirk on his face and I hadn't seen Yurick since after the Count finished his speech. I was sitting at the table with Syrenne and the others, but didn't feel very cheery at all.

"I can't believe it's finally happened. You're on the road to becoming knights! I'm proud like you wouldn't believe," Lowell patted my shoulder and I gave a brief smile. I was honestly happy about being a knight in training, but the way it happened was getting to me. I wasn't there because of my skill. I was only there because the Count wanted the Outsider.

"What are you proud of? You didn't do anything," Syrenne teased.

"You're joking! Without me fightin' by their sides, they'd never have made it this far," he smirked. I rolled my eyes. I loved watching them get along like this.

Mirania sighed. "Can we not enjoy a friendly drink today without all the usual bickering?" They stopped after a few more meaningless retorts.

"So, I guess it's all-out war with the Gurak, then?" He took a drink. "Looks like we'll have a chance to show our stuff," he did a look-at-me-I'm-cool pose. We all laughed.

"Exactly," Dagran walked over and stood behind me. "Zael and I may have been picked first, but we've all been made official retainers in Count Arganan's court." He put a hand on my shoulder, "The dream is for all of us to be knights. I won't stop working towards that."

Syrenne let out a loud laugh that made everyone stare at her. "I can just see the look on Sir Hoity-toity's face when we're knights!" They all laughed. I smiled along with them, but it faded when I started thinking about what the Count's plans might be and what I was going to say to Yurick.

"Zael?" I looked up at Mirania across the table, who was the only person not drinking and cheering at this point. "What's wrong? This is supposed to be good news."

I fidgeted with my mug. "Oh, er…. It's nothing," I smiled and shook my head, hoping she'd understand.

"Did you have an argument with Lady Calista?"

Syrenne patted me hard on the back. "Don't be down in the dumps! Women change their mind from one second to the next," she smiled a caring yet playful smile.

"Indeed! Never has a truer word been spoken," Lowell laughed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Syrenne snapped.

Lowell backed up a few steps. "Nothing, it's-," Syrenne threw her mug at him, "Ah! That really hurt!" They both erupted into laughter.

She ran a hand through her hair, "Ugh, now I'm all hot and bothered. Guess it's time for what you've all been waiting for." I knew Lowell and I were thinking the same thing for a second, but then I figured she was just messing around like she usually did.

"What? What have we been waiting for?" Lowell joked.

"Booze!" she shouted and downed his mug.

"Hey! That was mine!"

I laughed again then stood to head upstairs. Mirania caught my eye with a concerned look, but I just smiled at her and started up the stairs. I had no idea what I was going to say to him. There's no way a simple "I'm sorry" would do, hell no. I knocked then opened the door.

"Yurick?" I had to wait for my eyes to adjust, but once they did I saw no-one in the room. I sighed and went back downstairs. Where could he be?

Mirania was at the bottom of the stairs, on her way up.

"Mirania, have you seen Yurick?" I asked while passing her.

She stopped and turned to face me. "I have. He said he was going for some fresh air." I looked down and bit the inside of my lip. "You still seem in low spirits, Zael. Dagran has worked very hard to get you this far. It's a time to eat, and drink, and eat, and eat," I laughed at her food obsession, "and be merry!" I could tell that her last few mugs weren't water.

Don't worry, I'm not going to take any of this for granted. "I know. Maybe in a little while I'll join you," I smiled and started towards the door to go find him.

Syrenne threw her arm over my shoulder. "Ah, it's good to move up in the world," her breath was toxic, "but I'm already sick to death of all this formal manners stuff. At least we'll still be able to come 'ere and relax. Maybe it's not so bad."

"Do you see Dagran? It's rare to see him so wasted," Lowell laughed then thought about it and I could see his eye twitch. "I guess I'll be his shoulder to cry on later," I assumed he never forgot what happened last time my brother was this drunk. I shrugged Syrenne's arm off of me with a laugh.

"I'll talk to him," I walked over to him and caught him just as he swayed too far and almost fell.

"Di'nt I say I'd make you a knight one day?" He slurred.

I laughed again. "It's been a while since I've seen you drunk."

He leaned fully on my shoulder. "W-we're gonna be happy from now on, you hear me? We're gonna make it! I'm tellin' you!"

"I wish it was that simple," I muttered. "Lowell, a little help here?" he staggered over and pushed Dagran back to a standing position.

"Mate, you cannot hold your alcohol," Lowell laughed and Dagran joined in, not fully comprehending what was being said to him. I smiled and headed towards the door.

If Yurick was getting some air, there's only a few places I could think of that he'd go. I started towards the Fountain Plaza. The wind was terrible, even at night, but the world remained still and calm. There weren't many people out tonight as there had been on previous nights.

He wasn't there. I had even looked along the allies around the plaza. The next option would have been the stadium, but Yurick wasn't the type to fight away his problems. I tried the Castle Library, but he wasn't there either. I was running out of ideas and I had taken almost every back way around the city. I was on my way back to the tavern, depressed and worried. Maybe he went back while I was out looking for him. I stopped on the bridge and leaned on the railing. I sighed and looked up towards the sky. I wish I knew where to find him. I hope he's back at the tavern.

"Oh God," someone said quietly. I looked around, but there wasn't anyone in sight. Confused, I looked back down at the water just in time to see a boot disappear under Central Plaza.

"Yurick?" I sprinted around to the stairs and followed him down the side of the waterway. "Yurick!" When I got under the bridge he had disappeared, but there hadn't been enough time to climb the other set of stairs, so there were only a few places he could have been. I ducked my head into each of the make-shift homes by the wall. One by one, they were all empty, until the one guarded by a small boy.

"Oi! You can't go in 'ere!" He postured as best he could. "This is where I hide me secret treasure," he huffed.

"It's not much of a secret if you tell people, you know," I frowned. "Besides, I think you may have hidden my treasure in there." I looked around him to the far side of the tent and saw a familiar white head curled up with his knees to his chest. "Yurick," I jerked my head, telling the kid to move and he did so reluctantly, "I've been looking everywhere. I've been so worried." I ducked under the small roof and sat directly in front of him, but when I reached out a hand to touch his hair, he smacked it away and turned his face.

"I'm still upset with you," was all he said before remaining silent.

I could feel the emotions start getting stuck in my throat. "There's nothing I can say to make up for this. Just know, I would never do anything to hurt you, or at least not intentionally," I winced, thinking he would shoot one of his hurt glares at me, but he didn't. "I… I only meant to help…," I frowned, "The others… they… we've wanted this for so long… I didn't want to take the opportunity away while we had it…" he still wouldn't look at me. "I have no desire to marry her and I'll say no when the time arises. I love you, Yurick. Nothing will ever change that."

He was silent for a little bit longer then asked, "Why was Lisa… umm… Calista… why was she looking at you like that?" He kept his face turned away almost like he was afraid to hear my answer.

"She didn't want me to agree."

"Then why did you?" he looked up with red eyes, which I could barely see in the dark.

"I had to save her from Jiral. He's a terrible person. There's no way I'd let her-," he huffed and looked away with a quick shot of pain and anger. "You don't like her."

He buried his head in his knees and muffled, "It's not that I don't like her, it's that I don't like that she likes you."

I could barely hear him, but I did… and I laughed… I didn't mean to, but I laughed. "You're jealous? Of Calista?"

He looked so irritated, it was adorable. "Why shouldn't I be? I've seen how you look at her. More importantly, I see how she looks at you. You look good together…"

"No."

His head jolted back to face mine. "No?"

"No," I said again with a straight face. "There is no way. She's not my type. She's sweet and all, but no."

"But," he started, "the white hair, the soft eyes… she's a mage…"

I held his confused face in my hands, "I don't like that. I like your white hair, your soft eyes. You are my type. No-one else."