It's been a week since the day that Blake managed to know the existence of the Aetheria. I already told him about Aerona and Tellus but not about Valen. I don't know how to explain that to him. I also explained the power hierarchy of Elysium, and about the councils and kingdoms.
"Amore…" he called me. We are in the classroom, preparing to leave because the class is dismissed. The girls look at him in shock. They aren't used to his actions, especially him talking to me.
I remember the first time Blake approached me.
"Hey, Amore… I saw this food on my way." He handed over a paper bag. I stared at him, and wondered what was in it while slowly taking it.
The girls and I were in the student lounge idling while waiting for our next class. Thala was shocked while her mouth was slightly open. Celestia, Rizzy, and Hanna were blinking repeatedly as if they were unable to process what they just witnessed. Freya just arched her excessively drawn eyebrow.
"What's this?" I looked inside and I saw a transparent box with vegetarian tacos on it. It looks so tasty.
"It's a Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado-Tomatillo Sauce… I just saw it then decided to buy it." He speaks so slowly and he is looking at his side, trying to not make eye contact.
I tilt my head in confusion. He bought this on his way, just because he saw it? I don't know how to react. "Hmm… for what?" I hesitated. I felt like it was rude to ask.
His face turned red, brushing off his hair. With expressionless and blank face, he whispered. "Just eat it." Then he walked out.
I blinked upon his reaction. What is his problem? I shouted, "Thanks." I checked the transparent box and got it out. Looks yummy. I would open it when I saw in my peripheral view the girls with their questioning stares.
I awkwardly smiled when I saw their reactions. Thala got her eyes widened and she dropped her jaw. Celestia's mouth is slightly opened and staring blankly. Rizzy is blinking repeatedly while covering her mouth. Hanna stopped sipping on her tumblr. And, Freya stopped putting on makeup. All of them are in a state of shock and stunned.
"Are you guys okay?" I slowly asked them as I was confused about what happened to them.
They did not answer, so I called them once again and snapped my fingers. Then, in sync, they all moved and looked at me with questioning eyes.
"What?" I asked them with a confused face, not knowing what their problem was.
Celestia's eyes squinted as she stared at me. "What's the meaning of that?"
What?
"That's the unang beses I heard Blake talk for so long… well… except kapag he's answering and reciting sa class." Thala's eyes are still widened.
"May something ba sa inyo?" Rizzy asked this time. I looked at Hanna and she just continued drinking on her tumblr.
I shake my head. "I don't understand what you guys were saying."
"Come on, Sera. Do you guys have a relationship?" Freya straightly asked me that made me stunned for a few seconds.
What?
I snapped back and answered her. "What? We don't have any romantic relationship if that was your question. We're just friends," I calmly answered, clearing any suspicion they built in their minds.
"Really?" Celestia asked for confirmation, she's squinting her eyes as if not buying my answer.
"Yes, really," I emphasized those words. I saw them smile and shrugged. What is their problem?
Until today, they are still shocked when Blake is talking to me. They do not ask about our relationship anymore but they tend to tease me sometimes.
"Hey," I greeted him back.
"I have something to do first, can we go later at 5pm onwards?" he asked. He often hangs out in my house and asks me anything about the Aetheria.
I smiled and nodded at him. "Yeah, sure." Blake smiled at me and started to walk away.
"Ingat," I added, he just waved back at me.
I looked at the girls and there they were, stunned and unable to move. I shook my head and sighed.
"I am hallucinating? Or, did Blake smile talaga?" Thala is the first one who talked and asked.
"I think that isn't hallucination, he indeed smiled," Celestia said as if what happened was unbelievable.
"Grabe pala nagagawa ng isang Sera," Rizzy commented without taking her eyes on the door where Blake came out.
I saw Hanna slightly smile in their reactions while Freya rolled her eyes. I also chuckled at their comments.
"Come on, guys. Let's go," I said, making the three girls snap back and immediately fix their things.
***
"Who is Alpha? What is she like?" Blake asked. We are talking about Alpha.
It's night time yet Blake and I are here in my house, still chatting about our world. It's time to tell him the highest and most powerful woman in Aetheria.
"Hmm… She's an ethereal and breathtaking woman." To show him, I commanded my water stone to create a water image of Alpha.
Blake's jaw dropped as he saw the image of her. "She's really beautiful. Almost perfect… no, she is perfect," he commented, leaning his face towards the water image.
"What power does she have?" he asked, still staring at the water image.
"She's the epitome of creation and light," I simply answered him, looking at the water image.
In my peripheral vision, I saw him glance at me while tilting his head. "What do you mean?" he asked, not leaving his eyes on me.
"She can create things—living or nonliving," I glanced back at him then smiled.
"That's cool." His sparkling eyes filled with amusement.
I chuckled. Blake is a nonchalant, emotionless, and i-do-not-care type of guy yet here he is, being so curious and excited about our world.
I wonder if he really accepted being one of us.
"Do you want to meet them?" I asked him, staring directly at him.
"Do I really need to live there?" he asked, leaning back and fixing his sit position.
"You belong in the Aetheria, Blake," I stated, softly.
"I do not know if I can do my supposed responsibility there. You know, I do not know how to fight," he whispered, looking down at his hand. I understand him, he grew up having a normal life as a mortal human. He does not know anything about missions.
I sit by his side. "Blake, we will not put you on a battlefield without training you. We will not risk your life. As a Beta, you are one of the most important people in Elysium. Also, I would be on your side. Remember? I promised that I will protect you," I reassured him, smiling and tapping his back while directly looking at his eyes.
"Should I undergo training?" he asked, looking surprised.
"Of course. You need to train using your power."
"Will you at least be there?" he asked, having those pleading eyes.
I smiled. "Of course, I will request to be your training buddy." This time, I saw him smile and the worry in his eyes faded.
"How about my life here?" he asked.
That… is the only problem. He had a life here.
"Do you have any family left here?" I asked him back. This is such an insensitive question but I need to know if he had any family left.
"None," he answered me while shaking his head.
"Then… where did you get your money?" I directly asked him, looking confused and having furrowed eyebrows.
"That's the money left by my mom, she has a passive business income and all of that goes in my bank account." he told me in a low voice tone, he looks sad.
"I'm sorry. Any idea what we should do about it?" I asked him, having no idea about what he just said but I get the gist and context of it.
"I can leave it here. No one will get it," he calmly said.
I nodded. "Anything else?" I asked again.
"Nothing, except my friends and some properties," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Can you leave your properties also?" I asked and he nodded in reply. "You can tell your friends that you will migrate, transfer, or something," I suggested, that's the only thing I thought of.
"That's a good idea. We can do that," he immediately agreed.
I squinted my eyes at him and smiled. "Are you accepting the life of being an Aetherian?"
He hesitantly smiled and nodded. "Of course, after all, I am an Ignisian, right?"
I was stunned for a bit but I managed to get back and smiled back at him.
"Of course. You are one of us."