Vard Realm
"Celestial Vein?" Winter arched her brow, averting her gaze from Siren. She clutched her pendant tightly as her breath started becoming heavy.
"Yeah, that's all they kept talking about" His words held a heavy weight beneath it. The thought of Blue not being in any of their topics choked him.
"This is dangerous" Winter said after a long moment of silence, staring at the blank space. Her fingers were fiddled with the pendant of her enchanted necklace nervously.
Dangerous? Siren thought as he looked at her with his brows furrowed.
She read his expression and started explaining.
"The Celestial vein holds and connects all the heavenly realms together. But not the heavens alone.." she heaved a heavy sigh as if the words were a deep threat.
"What else does it hold?" His voice though calm, it was filled with impatience and curiosity.
"The mortal realms and the demons' too. And if it vanishes, demons will have access to the heavens freely and will feast on mortals without mercy." Winter shut her eyes tightly as the thought made her heart almost come to a half.
Siren blinked severally as he tried to digest the heavy information.
Will Blue be okay? He clenched his fists, nails digging his palm deeply. His teeth gritted sharply as he continued to think about his big brother.
"We have to leave soon" His voice was a whisper but loud enough for Winter to hear.
The two remained drowned in their thoughts that felt like a blade piercing through their hearts. The heavy silence pressed them like a heavy load.
____
Areane's quarters
Areane stared outside the window. The ever glimmering golden light surrounding the realm kept on flickering.
His posture was calm, the face had no expression. But the inside held everything. It was an overwhelming feeling that he felt he might collapse on the spot.
Christina has barely spoken to him since Blue vanished. The warm loving gaze that she always gives him has now turned into something else he can't describe.
The Celestial vein. It is losing its power and for the first time he doesn't know what to do about it. The other gods were counting on him. But he is failing them.
You are a Vard. You hold a very strong legacy in all realms. Everything revolves around us. Everyone depends on us. We always solve problems. Big, small, impossible. We are the most powerful highly esteemed gods...And one day, the prophecy will be fulfilled. One of us will be controlling the Celestial vein...
His father's words, The Great Lirein Vard, stuck in his mind. He knew they were like a warning or preparation. But he did not expect the prophecy to fall on his son.
"My lord" his thoughts get disrupted by his butler.
"What is it Ronin?" His voice was low, deep and echoed through the walls of the palace like a cold threat. He did not turn to face him.
"Lord Hoffman of Olime realm is here to seek you" His head remained bowed down, posture still like a statue.
Areane slowly turned, his expression loosening a bit.
"You're here" His voice was like a whisper as he stared at the man in golden blue robes. His goatee is short and neat, his long hair tied into a bun with his scepter clutched in his hand.
The butler excused himself giving the two lords privacy.
Hoffman's lips curved into a small smile as he walked towards Areane. His steps were light and patience.
"You did not attend the meeting" Areane's expression stiffed once again, turning back to the window.
"How could I ?" He walked slowly up to Areane's side.
Areane heaved a sigh, turning to Hoffman. His expression softened with worry accompanying it.
"Do you think I did the wrong thing?" His voice was no longer the deep authoritative echo but a low and soft cracked one. He barely let's himself be seen as weak by anyone apart from Christina and Lord Hoffman, his confidant.
Hoffman wore a light smile as he averted his gaze from Areane. He looked at the flickering golden light that was slowly turning dark. "Any father would have done something even worse to protect his own child."
________________
Blue's Pov
I keep on sneezing like a damn freak and it's annoying the hell out of me! Lacey and Robert suggested that I should stay at home this Monday but I refused. A cold cannot prevent me from going to school, I'll just be considered a weak duckling.
I did not let the Saturday night incident get the best of me. That shit was embarrassing and I can still hear the echoes of their laughter in my head. Those damn fingers pointing at me and the stupid flashlights. But I could not let my guard down. If I don't show up today, I'll just be satisfying that monster of a human being.
To be honest, the mix of having a cold and the back pain is irritating. Today I woke up and got fresh marks but deeper. I wonder what that thing looks like especially when attacking me. But one thing is I could never let Lacey and Robert find out about this.
"Sweetie, breakfast is getting cold" Lacey's voice drags me back to reality as I quickly fix my tie.
"Be there in a sec" I reply hastily as I swing my bag on my right shoulder.
___
"You sure you wanna go to school like that?" Robert asks as he puts a pancake on my plate.
I nod stiffly, stuffing the pancake in my mouth. I have to finish this quickly before they flood me with their concerned questions.
"Sweetie, you look pale. It's not a crime to skip school just for a day. Your health comes first" Lacey's voice is cracked and I can't bear it anymore. If I continue to listen, I might end up changing my mind.
Without a single word, I stand up from my seat and grab my bag.
"See you in the evening"
"Wait, should I drop you off?" Robert quickly stands up, ready to follow.
"No, it's fine. I'll just walk to school" Immediately I step out of the door I heave a sigh of relief . Geez, those two behave like I'm a toddler in kindergarten. But I appreciate the love they give me. At least I get to experience a father's love.
_________
"Blue, Blue, hey!"
I struggle to open my eyes, lifting my head from my desk. The pain in my chest is suffocating, almost all my limbs are in pain and they all feel weak. I feel like a thousand blades are stuck on my back, and with every small movement they go deeper. I can barely see as my head spins like a crazy carousel.
"Wha__achooo!!" My voice comes out low and cracked as I turn to Shane. Her eyes narrow with a deep frown plastered on her face.
"What?" I ask again when she goes silent. Her frown deepens with each second.
"Why did you come to school?" Now, she looks kind of mad. This is actually the first time I've heard her voice sound so low.
I scratch the back of my head, averting my gaze from her.
"To gain knowledge " I shrug lightly, putting my head on the desk. I feel so fucking drained.
Suddenly a loud bang from my desk gets me up with a halt.
Shane's hand is in a tight fist, still on my desk. I've never seen such a piercing look in my life. Why is Shane so angry at me? Did I do something to upset her?
"What's with the frightening look__achooo!"
"Are you serious?! Blue, you didn't tell me you are sick at all. Is that why you were not replying to my texts yesterday?"
"I barely reply to any" I answer bluntly.
"Well..still! You should have said something. And why did you come to school when you look like a corpse?! Did you even get any medication? Clearly you didn't! And you don't even look like you care! Blu__"
"You are still talking too much " The way Shane has been worrying and caring about me really gives me the creeps. But at the same time it gives me a warm feeling inside my heart. I struggle to hold back the smile that wants to pop on my face.
She pouts like a child as she angrily sits back to her chair.
"Is your back okay?..that day you were bleeding a lot "
Fuck! That's the last thing I wanted her to know or ask.
"It wasn't bleeding "
"Yeah yeah...I wonder why the pool turned red around you" The sarcasm in her voice is clearly visible with her eyes rolling.
I noticed that when I came to school today no one was looking at me in a mocking way at all. I had prepared myself mentally for the embarrassment that was going to overwhelm me today. I was ready to ignore and send death glares to kids who'll be pointing and laughing at me. Ready to see a bunch of kids gathered , watching the video of that day. But instead, no one paid attention to me. It was like a normal day. No one stared, no one talked. Even Grey and his small crew. I did not want to dwell on that, and I thank the heavens for whatever reason that made them shut up about the incident.
"I have something to show you..but I'll show you in the library AFTER I take you to the nurse"
"I'm not going to the nurse " It just makes weaker than I am right now. I can't afford to
"Aren't you also a fan of Vard's?"
Vards? What does she mean?
"Mmmm..see how curious you look. You should give me attention like this more often " Her hands fold as she leans in her seat like she has achieved some enormous trophy.
"What about the Vards?" I lean close to her as curiosity takes over me.
She quickly moves back away from me. Why are her cheeks flushing? Weird.
"D__d__do__don't do that " So Shane can stammer? Wait why is she stammering?
"Do what?" I ask as I pull away, my brows furrowing in confusion.
"Nevermind... anyways, not telling you anything until I take you to the nurse"
I remove an annoyed groan because I have to give in. But only this time.
----------
"So...is it something serious?" Shane moves closer to have a clear view of my check-up.
"Nope, it's just a flu. I'll give him some prescriptions and he'll be fine in a jippy." She walks towards a certain cabinet and starts grabbing some meds.
Shane approaches me and the bed squeaks as she adds her weight next to me.
"Pheux... Thank God it was just a flu. But you looked like you were suffering from the last stage of cancer" she heaves another sigh of relief, "weakling "
I take her long ponytail locks in a tight grip and pull it. She yanks in pain, struggling to release herself in vain.
"Call me that again and I'll smash your face in pieces!"
"Okay okay okay.. I'm sorry, I'm sorry stoney guy!! I said I'm sorry!!"
I finally let her go. But just because the nurse returned with a bunch of disgusting looking medicine. She's wearing a wide smile on her face as her gaze lingers too long on the both of us. What's with her look?
"Make sure to take these peels twice a day. In the morning and evening. Don't skip any meals...okay?"
I hardly give her a nod before taking my prescriptions.
___
The hallway is empty as Shane and I walk through it. Our footsteps are loud and echo through the walls. There's distant lecturers voices in the classes where students are still settled.
"Are you gonna tell me now?" I break the silence between us as the curiosity takes the better part of me.
"Oh, right. Can't break my promise"
She quickly goes through her stuff in the bag eagerly. I watch her as she gets impatient when the search gets longer than expected. Okay.. I'm becoming impatient too.
"What are you looking for?" I ask with a deep frown.
"I can't find that book that I wanted to show you. I swear it was in here" she pouts while continuing to search her messed up bag.
"Quit searching for it if it's not there"
"But I...it was really important and juicy." Her shoulders sunken as she pouts hard. "I really wanted to show you"
"What was it about?"
"Something to do with the Celestial vein.."
Celestial vein? I've heard of it but why can't I remember a thing about it? But I think it has something to do with the mortal realms, heavens and hell.
Oh..right, it's the spiritually powerful thing that connects those places and keeps them steady. I know that it is being controlled by a Vard but I'm not sure if it's my old man. It has to be him or one of the worshipped elders
My old man barely mentioned a thing about it. So I think this mortal book might be interesting. Maybe I'll even get to know who's in full control of the vein.
"Maybe you misplaced it?" I ask with hope that she might remember where she put it.
"I guess" she shrugs, shoving her bag on her shoulders.
"Hey.. we're gonna be late for miss Schindler's class!"
Oh right, the test results.
"Can we skip?"
"Ofcourse not! I have to see what I got in calculus. I studied my ass off for that test" she looks really nervous. "I can't afford to get a forty again, my mom will freeze my credit card "
Her footsteps increase at a high rate speed, living me behind. I don't want to see the results because I already know what I'll get. It's always an F. I have never understood the mortal lessons since I came.
"Hey, can you walk faster?" Shane pauses as she turns back.
"I know you are ashamed of your scores. But it's fine, hot boys are dumb"
"Wow, thanks Shane. That really helps a lot."
Her chuckle echoes in the silent hallway. She grabs my hand and quickly drags me to match her quick footsteps.
____ ___
Shane hasn't stop fiddling with her fingers since we entered class. Her eyes are stuck on the teacher, following her around the class as she gives out the papers.
"Shane McMahon" miss Schindler calls her, slowly walking towards her.
"Blue..here goes nothing"
"You got a sixty three, that's a nice improvement"
"Yesssss!!! No cold credit card for this girl!"
"Blue Wave..." She hands me my paper and__what tha actual fuck is going on? Straight A??
"That's very impressive Mr Wave. If you keep up like this, I might take you to the advance calculus"
"Thanks but no.."
When the teacher walks away, Shane snatches my paper with her mouth agape. Her eyes examine the paper like a scanning robot.
"O my god! You traitor! When did you study and since when did you get a good handwriting and neat work? Did you get a tutor or something?"
I am confused just as she is. But what I know is that _
"This isn't your work"
Exactly.
"Because, I know who's handwriting this is, and who gets these clean grades "
"What do you mean?" I ask as I take the paper from her. Who would do this and why?
"They just changed their name to yours" She adds with a sluggish grin.
"You said you know who's handwriting this is,"
"Grey Saltona. What's the meaning of this? From a ninety seven to a twelve?! And did you write with a broken hand??!"
Shane and I turn to each other with confused looks. But her's slowly turns into a smirk face.
"Got your answer big guy?"