She pulls out a cute, little mug, resembling a skull, and I almost lose it.This girl is insane with a sense of humor to match.
“It’s cute, right? Now I want some…what do you call it, iced coffee. And see, mine has a cute little face on it.” We share a laugh, and she begins making a cup for herself.
“It’s funny how this place doesn’t have a kitchen, but there’s a bar. There’s no eating, yet drinking is within your wheelhouse?”
“You’ll see. It’ll all make sense later, trust me. Coming from someone who’s never had a drink before attending this Academy, you’ll need one from time to time.”
I retrieve an additional chair from the living area and place it beside mine. As I look more into the sprawled items over the desk, a specific book beckons my attention. Red lettering is raised against the midnight background.
“Gods of Order,what’s this?” I yawn again.
“Save it for after the Awakening. It goes more into detail about the first-born fays, how their magic was passed down, and helps with understanding the order you’ll receive.”
“Speaking of fays, what’s that anyway?”
“Hmm. Let’s see.” Angie takes an everlasting sip, and I patiently wait. But one sip turns into two, then three, then four…
“Hello!” I interrupt before she makes it to sip number five.
“Wow, this is so good.” Her eyes sparkle. “You drink these every day? Why haven’t I tried this before?” I’m not sure if she’s asking me or her mug, based on her blank expression as she stares into it.
“Hold on, when did I get iced coffee?” The realization hits that she was able to make this without any prior knowledge. “We haven’tvisited a store, nor did I mention it, so how’d you make this if it is your first time trying it?”
“About that. This beverage is just like any other. A few ingredients here, a few there, and boom–a delicious concoction. Plus, remember when I found you deceased and brought you back to life?” Angie states between sips.
“Deceased? Unconscious maybe, otherwise, how am I standing here now with all my memories?”
“Because I brought you back to life, silly, and your life force wasn’t too far in the past. Hence your memories. But that’s not important. Stay focused, Kyra.” She shakes her head. “While searching for your life essence, I stumbled back through time a bit and saw you pouring a cup. It stuck with me, figuring you’d like to have it.”
“No ma’am, we’re not skipping past any of that. Explain.”
“Another time. My point is, we have iced coffee.” Her smile reaches her eyes, and there is no room to argue.
“Fine, you don’t have to tell me now, but you will tell me. As for going through my memories, what else did you see?”
“Just you in your cute, little place, drinking this. But I couldn’t watch for long, having to bring you back and all.” She continues grinning as if nothing is wrong with anything previously stated.
“Because that’s not borderline creepy,” I chuckle. “Can we return to the topic at hand, please?”
“Right. You were asking about fay.”
Angie proceeds to inform me how fay, or fata, is Latin for the English word fae, or ‘the fates,’ meaning, fairies. However, fairies are depicted as being cute and cuddly, whereas fays are a pinch darker. They’ll kill and destroy for the ones they love. Fairies won’t.
It somewhat makes sense.
“Is everyone here a fay?”
“Yep. We all have a form of magic passed down by the first-borns.” *Sip* “But there’s an order of ranking.” *Sip* “We’re not allequal in terms of magic or magic levels. You’ll learn more about it later.” *Sip*
“Sure, but you should slow down on drinking so much, or we won’t have any left.”
“Pish-posh. We have plenty. And if we run out…” Angie flicks her wrist. “We can always get more.” She summons a sigil, and a bottle of cold brew coffee appears.
“Where–”
“I know, let’s go over the trials, which come after. And before you ask, we’ll discuss the Awakening as time drifts closer.” She stands, jittery from the onslaught of caffeine, and begins rearranging my living-room.
Angie clears an area, pushing back my sofas, coffee table, and reading lamps while humming what sounds likeMonsters’by Ruelle. An interesting choice. She waves me over, and curiosity guides me to stand before her with my back facing the imposing window. Her twisted expression is highlighted by the moon’s glow.
