'It's cold'
The first thought that come to mind as he tried to examine where he was. Blinding light came from all directions as if he stood in a room full of illuminated mirrors. Even so he tried to see where he was.
After sometime, the light had dimmed enough for him to open his eyes. He stood on water, crystal clear waters for as far as the eye can see, shallow waters that went up to his ankles. Blue skies with altocumulus clouds covering a section of the east. They cast their reflection in the endless, serene waters seamlessly. Not a ripple in sight, towards the vast horizon.
Despite the chill breeze, the place was altogether calming, and to add to the strangeness of the situation he didn't seem bothered by it.
He looked around as he waited, as if something was about to happen. And without out disappointment the mood shifted, he felt a penetrating gaze , he could not tell where it originated from or what was staring at him. It was so intense even a normal person could pick up on it.
Intense as it was it had no malice or ill-will. He stood there ready but not too defensive as to provoke an attack. Then without notice a figure appeared from behind him, walking slowly as his white and golden robes moved ever so gracefully with the wind.
He emitted a soft radiance, his silver short hair dancing with the wind,his tanned complexion that complimented his expression "aimless". His hands tucked away on his back as his golden eyes examined him as he walked circling him. He bore no ill-will but Ethan could sense his presence. It weighed him down. Dominating his will.
"Hmm...so...you...are...!" The man muttered in a fading voice.
With those words everything faded as he woke up back in his room.
From the chill in the room,he woke up. Head on the desk, it seems he had been out for sometime. The fireplace was out and from the ash he could tell he must have slept the whole night.
'This isn't good.' He thought as he got up, pain seemed to be numbed by the cold atmosphere in the room.
He looked around, there was no sign of the girl and she seemed to have left overnight. There was a note left on the table.
"Meet me, 7 o'clock front gate." It read.
He began to prepare, he splashed his face and freshed up.
•••
Moments later he stands at the huge gates of the university. Snow covered every inch of campus as a result of yesterday's storm. It piled up and he could see it for miles out. From the city all the way to the horizon. Even so, students were out and about, after all this was a normal occurrence.
"Ethan." A voice called out. Behind three in coming students, there she was. The girl from yesterday. Her name was Noir, actually Noir was a nickname of sorts, her real name was Lysandra J Morgan but she never liked it. Noir wasn't like most girls her age, she had a hint of tomboy-like behavior, and it didn't help her case that she frequently called herself an inventor. It's common knowledge that girls plus manual labor equal unpredictable.
Ethan meet her a year or two prior to attending the university. She was as unpredictable as she is now. As girls grew up they began showing interest in marriage, looks and such but at a glance, she payed almost no attention to that, signs of oil stains on her pants, worn out male boots and a beat up coat. She was indeed "odd".
"Morning, did you sleep well? "She asked jokingly so.
"What do you think, you left me on the chair, again," Ethan responded with a hint of fastration." You could have said something before you left."
"You need to learn somehow to not always lean on me." She said as the began to decent towards town.
Noir walked casually leading, while Ethan followed closely behind. There wasn't any wind and the suns ray began to pierce the clouds.
"So where are we going? "
"I had a couple of silvers and I thought we could get breakfast. We've been working ourselves to the bone and a nice breakfast would be nice."
"Do we really have to go to town, the cafeteria ought to have some."
"Ethan, you don't understand the art of saving money. The cafeteria offers good meals but that cost us more. Even if they are that good, still doesn't justify the price."
"So, walking and getting the same offer is much better."
"Walking has it's perks."
"You do you, I'm not going to ask what thats about."
They walked and talked, passing by the residential district. Taking the older but seamlessly well constructed cobblestone road. Certain parts of the city had been modernizing during the past decade. That could be said about the districts around the university, namely the commercial, residential and western districts.
The streets in this area had a seamless blend of medieval and victorian era architectural styles. The cobblestone roads, brick houses and flame lite streetlights, even the people's clothing seem to suggest a change in times.
As for the commercial district, it was busy despite the cold temperatures that enveloped the city. Horse-drawn carriages roamed the streets from the outskirts. People going about, trying to start out their day, Ladies and gentlemen alike. One could argue that Eldoria was the capital if they knew nothing about the empire's capital, which Eldoria paled in comparison. Eldoria as a whole would be considered equal or less of a district if it was part of capital.
Some noteworthy places in the commercial district were the Eldoria union shopping center, the Eldoria law enforcement department, lantern keepers branch office, the church although located near the old district and governing office building which housed the New world bank.
Heading south of the commercial district, taking the main road that lead to the industrial part of the city and passing by the church, they entered the old district. Not as pleasant as the others this was where most of the low-lifes hang around. Even so almost all goods made their way past this parts, even now ,carrages and wagons hauling cargo past them by. This was because of the railway service. The train made two stops in Eldoria. The first was near the west district, there is a station for normal passengers and the like. But for large cargo such as market goods, supplies and the sorts, they came through the industrial sector in the old district.
Not much could be said about the appearance and atmosphere in the area. All buildings were older and some even run-down, even though some were still being maintained, the effort would be lost overall. With that being said, there was still life, a couple of stores and bars could be seen. People going on about and some sat in corners, huddling over a fire in a big metal drum, giving anyone new face the stink eye.
Among the line of stores and bars, one stood out the most, maybe it was because it was well kept than the others." The crimson phenix" was written above the wooden door in red painted capitals. Entering the bar not much could be said ,old furniture and poorly decorated . Even so they at least kept the place clean , the old lady that ran the place was very good at making sure the place was always in good condition.
She also liked to change the menu now and again. That became irritating after sometime but it showed initiative, it could be the reason why the haven't closed shop like most of the others in the area.
They sat down next to one of the windows near the back, it was the only table not taken that was near the fire place. As they sat down a cheerful young lady came by and offered them the menu. But Noir quickly dismissed that. She outright said the order without pause.
"Welcome, please have a menu and I'll be right with..."
"No, that won't be necessary, we'll be having two pounds of bread, three sausages, a bowl of chicken soup, a mug of ale for me and a cup of tea for the gentleman over here and Ah... do you what anything else?"
She looked at Ethan.
"No, that will be all."
"Ok, that will be 1 silver and 3 coppers."
As she paid Ethan looked out the window staring at the passing by carriages. Admittely he was a bit uncomfortable asking for anything. Even though his friend was insisting on it, he wasn't going to take the offer. He had never done anything like this for her, but she took him out to eat a couple of times.
He never had enough money for essentials let alone other things like going out for breakfast. He worked part-time obb-jobs at the university. So he had petty change. The university's special course students like him where given privileges such as paid fees and scholarships but beyond that they were on their own.
He was in deep thought as the lady came with the food. As she placed it on the table they began to eat. Ethan looked at Noir, he could tell something was bothering her. He cleared his throat.
"Is their something on your mind?"
"There is no hiding things from you, is there?... I going back home for a while, for about two weeks."
"Is it your brother? "
"Yes, he said we should spend sometime together before the trials."
"Spoken like a man ready to lose, instead of preparing for what's to come he accepts his fate. Father always said that about the other nobles."
"Look where that got him."
"Your right. Have you thought that this could be a way to prevent you from attending?"
Noir was silent for a while then with a low tone she answered.
"Yes"
"Not to say I doubt you but I think I'll need to update the plan."
"I don't blame you."
Ethan began to drink his tea,as he gently stirred his tea a hint of uneasiness came across him. He continued.
"Are you done with the project, or does it need more time?"
"Not yet, I'll have it done by tomorrow morning before I leave at the latest."
"Ok."
"Will you be taking the train?"
"Yes, it would be irresponsible for me not to."
"Personally I don't like it, too much noise on it."
As he said this, his eyes looked out the window, distant as if he remembered something.
"Memories," Noir responded in a low tone as if she was making a suggestion." To be frank, I don't like them either. Despite my love for machinery, I must say I don't like them.
She laughed a little as to break the tension she just created, But Ethan was still indifferent. He then proceeded to take out a golden coin in his coat's inner pocket.
The coin was just an ordinary gold sovereign used in trade before the introduction of paper bill. It is still in use in most parts of the world, even here in Eldoria rare metal coins were still in circulation.
But this coin had seen its fair share, you could tell by the tiny specs of dirt stuck on it engravings. This suggested he's been holding on to it for quite sometime. He usually flipped the coin in-between his fingers, often when thinking. But this time he just stared at it, as if he remembered something or someone from his past.
"You like things that relate to you, not everything can. That's why you have no interest in trains, I doubt you'd be fascinated by a motor car or an airship if you saw one."
"Are you assuming I haven't seen a motor car?" Noir asked as she smiled.
"Unless you've been to the capital I doubt you have seen one."
She laughted hard as if what he said was amusing, maybe it was the ale laughing. After all she wasn't good at holding her liquor. Ethan looked at her , he slightly brightened up, it wasn't a night and day different but you could see it if you took the time and looked. Then something swiftly came to mind.
His tone changed and he looked at her.
"I had another one,... again. "
Noir instantly stopped laughing and lowered her voice, she was trying to keep it together, what ever he was talking about clearly had her attention.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"That makes eight this month alone."
"Nine, and it's this week only."
"Yes, nine... I meant nine."
"They are becoming more frequent even though I haven't been channeled in months."
"Do they worry you or is there anything else that might be concerning?"
"I don't think so."
Noir leans back as she nods at him.
Ethan had a problem, most would call it a blessing but he didn't think so.
Those who practice the mystic arts are known as practitioners, a profession that yielded less than what it took. There are many types of practitioners and each with different skills and talents at their disposal. Some are born practitioners while others use other means to obtain the title of practitioner.
Ethan was one of them, even though he wasn't technically a seer he had a habit of receiving vision and premonitions. This happened mostly when he channeled but most of the time he wasn't bothered by them. Until now, they are becoming more of a frequent occurrence and this can be annoying since he meets this mysterious man everytime he has one.
He just endures them and let's fate take its course.
They finish up and walk out of the tarven. As they walked by the commercial district someone caught Ethan's eye, it seems he would prefer that the person not see him but before he could react the person in question turned. As their eyes met Ethan froze in place. Noir was leading as always, she turns to see Ethan looking at a lady across the street, red winter uniform and nice red coat with an insignia on her left arm, sword on her hip, scarlet hair and crimson eyes. The insignia was for the lantern keepers.
Noir murmured.
"Is that your sister?"