Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) (10 page)

The headmistress
places both her hands on her hips. She walks towards me. Her large gray eyes meet mine. She’s indeed… perfect. She dresses in a black, to the calf hood-gown. A black silk corset compresses her small waist. She has the body of an hourglass. To many men, especially in Duolic, this means the perfect woman.

“
Boy, that was a stupid act what you did,” she says closely.  I shake my head
.

“
Is it wrong to speak for one's right? I only said what’s true.” I defend. The woman’s eyes widen. She stares at me impress. Is it weird that I opened my mouth? Even brave Ramuso stares astonished. “What’s your name?” She asks quietly.

“
Ju…Jorsay ma’am,” she chuckles.

“
It is Headmistress Srovio and…Jorsay what?” She asks nastily, with a stingy attitude.  I frown. “Forgive me, Headmistress Srovio…”
bitch
, “Jorsay Zayras of Duolic,” the headmistress’s eyes extend, for an instant she stares shaken, almost petrify. Her eyes don’t stop looking at me.
What just happened?
  She clears her throat, and views the guard. “Take them to the gruesome dungeon. There for three days they shall learn to appreciate the food they eat,” she seriously announces. I sigh. I’m relief to know our punishment isn’t our heads.

Ramuso and I
are taken to a filthy underground dungeon in the castle, and together we are thrown in a cell overflowing with maggots and rats. “Not again here, oh well.” Ramuso is at still. I cover my nose. I’m disgusted by my surrounding.

“This is so unfair, prison because we spok
e about righteousness.” I whine. Ramuso scoffs. He shakes his head and sits by the rats, scaring them away. “Don’t you get it. Here in this castle… no, I take it back. In this world, the Srovios’ are in command. For centuries, it has been their rules and there is nothing you can say or do to change their minds. I hate this place. I hate the Srovios’ unrighteousness. If they really wanted to save this world would they be into authority?” For the first time, he speaks maturely impacting me.
“I’m not their follower. I can tell you that much—beside the fact trouble finds me, they are the reason why I don’t care what happens to me. That’s why I followed you in this, you’re different, and I like that. You don’t give a crap about the rules, you risked it all. You're truly fantastic.” I blush, and strain a smile at him. Did the boy I think to be ruining my life just say that? In the end, the one I called a freak is the only one who stood by my side. Not just anybody would endanger their lives so easily for another person. “You’re fantastic too.” I say smiley, for the first time, not seeing Ramuso as a freak, but as a friend.

Three days in prison, eating old food and living with the rats for no true crime
is ludicrous. It is unfair. But injustice I have identified when Ramuso confessed three days was nothing to him. On one occasion, he was arrested for six days; eating spoiled bread and drinking dirty water, for what alternative reason… because he placed a dead frog on one of his instructor’s chair. Was that right? How about removing his privileges, but no, instead he was sent to be punished where traitors spend the night in. Who was the instructor? Khysso Shorewen. No wonder the hate towards that man. Since finding out Khysso is capable of such harm, even I feel resentment. Who thought that once kind boy was going to end up so…cruel.

  Prison gave us time to get to know each other. I learn from Ramuso that when rules are broken, if we come back from the war, the broken rules are forgiven. When I
asked him how many rules he has broken in his two years, he alleged one-hundred and fifty. I wonder how he has kept his head on. After a few hours of boredom, we stopped caring about the rules and secretly used magic to entertain us. He assured Corr is paranoid, and the leaders won’t find out, unless magic is use to disrupt anything they’ve created. So, we went with the flow by lifting rocks near us, a foolish usage for I can easily turn into myself, but I risked it anyways. The one that picks it up faster is the winner. Of course, I always win. The cell opens. We drop the rocks and view the woman who stands still.

I gasp,

“Vaniele,” I utter taken aback by her arrival. She smiles at me.

“Oh you…
two days and already you’ve caused so much trouble. Come, let’s take you out of here.” I smile widely.
Yes, I’m saved. It’s good to be the future of the world.
I saunter her way with a grin. I glance behind to find that Ramuso stays behind. I halt. “And my friend…” she shakes her head.

“I got permission for you
only.” I scoff, and I walk back inside.

“If he doesn’t leave
, I won’t either.” I can’t believe I just said that!
But…he stood by my side and I'm grateful for that. “No Jorsay…don’t worry—”

“Alright,
” she breaks in. “He can come out,” Vaniele’s decision shocks us both.

“But P
riestess, Headmistress Srovio said…”

“It’s all right,
” she cuts in, stopping the guard from speaking. “Let him out, as Madam Sandrine’s priestess. I am allowed to decide who to take. Now please boy, see your-self out. And you…” she looks at me. “We have a serious conversation pending.” I press my lips together. I’m suddenly scared. Ramuso strains a smile, and hurries out before she changes her mind.

We creep out of the dungeon in a dead silence.
I don’t dare to say a word to her; I’m taken aback by what she alleged.
She’s that woman’s priestess… could it be, that’s the reason.
“You never said anything about being the priestess of a Srovio.” I utter as we walk a clear path. She turns to me with a smirk and touches my eye. I sense a warm energy. I recognize that sensation. She’s using her healing abilities to heal my swell eye. “I didn’t think it was important,” not important, Morgan told me all about of Srogeri’s hate towards the Srovio. It’s so great he would hate anyone who’s by their side. I’m finally figuring out the pieces to the mystery. Vaniele is the priestess of a Srovio, meaning their watcher, care and guardian. This affects Srogeri, I know it would. “But…you know how Srogeri feels about them, is that why he…”

“Hat
es me…” she whispers. I warily nod, “we were all good friends once. When I joined Sandrine, everything changed. He doesn’t understand my need for freedom.” She murmurs and walks ahead of me, leaving the conversation behind. It’s not something she’s easily going to express, but at least I crop out a hint of the puzzle, the hate he has towards his once good friend.

Fo
llowing a short walk, we reach Srogeri’s office. She smiles at me. “Get ready for some deep scolding,” she warns. I bite my lips, expecting the worst. We enter. Inside is Ronneto. He stands next to Srogeri. I envision rage yet strangely my old man has a smile on his face. “Good, you are here.” Srogeri moves from his place and walks towards me, he hands me a sheet. I carefully analyze it. My heart skips a beat. I feel as if a ship sinks within me. What he has given me proudly is a released consent for Jorsay Zayras, signed by Sandrine Srovio; the writing indicates,

“
incompetent to continue.”

-
8
-

Discontinue

“What is t
his?” Vaniele reproaches obtaining the document from my hand. I’m still petrified by the notice.  I swallow hard, my hands shivering. I can’t let this happen. This is what I need, not for Jorsay but also for me. I want to fight. For the first time since Papa’s death I’m happy with life. For once, I know I’m following the right track. “Jorsay is liberated from the cynical war, hence, we’re going back to Duolic first thing sunrise.” He seems to be the only one pleased. Ronneto and Vaniele disapprove with frowns. “No!” I exclaim, about to force chaos. “I don’t want to go back. I want to stay. I can help. I can do this, so please Srogeri ignore this letter.” I take the sheet from Vaniele and rip it. Srogeri screams
no
. He stares astonish by my action.  He isn’t going to force me. No matter what he says or do, I’m going to stay.

“Your brother is finally
liberated. Isn’t this what you wanted?” He argues.

“Yes, but I’m already here. And as weird as it sounds, I feel as i
f I belong in Doomsvell. There’s something within me that knows I can facilitate the world, and hiding me back in Duolic is not going to shift me forward to the truth. Vaniele said it, right. I’m the one to find the mystery of the haze of dusk, and if I leave I’m never going to find anything. I’m sorry… but I don’t want to go back home. So please, don’t tell me to go back…if you want… you can go, but I’ll stay. I beg you Srogeri, don’t ask me to return again.” I say calmly, my eyes watering. But before my tears rush down my eyes, I walk out of the room, not looking back.

The room is crowded with my companions, making me wish for privacy. It’s strange to no longer have seclusion but that sacrifice is worth it, as l
ong as I don’t return to Duolic. “Are you alright?” Ramuso asks me as I lay on the bed hugging my pillow. I turn my head away from him. I don’t want to talk to anybody. And with my approach, my roommates quickly figure my emotions, leaving the room all to myself.

Daylight swiftly converts into the night. The isolation I keep within brings me lifelessness. I don't have a future for it is blocked with misfortunes.  My companions fall asleep the moment darkness enters our sight, and I twist and turn discomfort by a decision I can't confront. Not able to sleep, I head to the balcony, and sit to view the sky that is dazzling with millions of stars,
glistening a gentle wave of colors that can easily renew a hurt soul like mine. The half moon shines bright, yet a cloud begins to cover its beauty, making it as gloomy as my heart. It’s lovely to be able to sit outside, without any difficulty of breathing. “Are you all right?” A voice comes from behind startling me, but seeing his upper uncovered body, I fall uncomfortable.

“Ah,
yeah…good.” I say avoiding staring, looking directly at the hollow night. He sits next to me, his shoulders almost touching mine. I wish he wouldn’t have. But there’s nothing I can say, but enjoy his company. Corr hugs his knees, joining my eyes to the sky. “When I was young, my mother told me wishing on a star can make your wishes come true. But growing up, after millions of wishes, I realized it was nothing but a myth. Don’t you really wish this myth is true?” My eyes move to him. I smirk, also desiring his needs
. “What has been your biggest wish Jorsay? What is something you badly wish for?” My mother…I remember wishing for her day and night, since Papa spoke so beautifully of her, she’s all I wanted in my life. But…you’ve asked Jorsay, and I know my brother and I share one wish the very same.
“A free world…and rain…I want to see natural raindrops. I want to see clouds darkening… filled with water, thunders, storms…oceans…” I say excitedly. His sudden laughter breaks my enthusiasm.

“Are you kidding
me? You dream the impossible don’t you. Storms haven’t happened in a century,” he mocks my dreams. I sigh miserably. Yes, why bother dream so high, if that’s all just impossible.  “But if you want to see rain and sacred lakes, I can take you to my town. The elves of nature force the clouds, making it pour water once every few days. They are devoted to our earth.” I smile at him. I can tell he’s proud to be half elf. They truly are miraculous. If we still have water, it is because of their effort and powers. If not, by now our lakes would dry, and the human race would vanish. But with so much war and the elves dying, it’s not long until the suns end us all. “How about you?” I ask.

He chuckles.

“The ending of those damn creatures,” he growls. The hate he has towards them is noticeable. He sighs, looking up at the sky. “What you did earlier… it was insane. I have never seen someone as courageous as you.” I grin, taking his words as a compliment. 

“Sometimes justice has to be served, and someone has to speak about the rights. A world can’t be so devious.
Why is it we’re not allowed to speak our minds? We are humans too. We feel…without us who are the great leaders anyways…no one… just a crew looking for members…”  I’m in my moral mood again. Corr’s eyes move to me. “It hasn't occurred to me that way. Nevertheless, if I were you I do not attempt to make a change, the beings that have tried to have wind up dead. The world is how it is and nothing will change it.” His words I do not like. It enrages me that the people are comfortable with the rules. Don’t the citizens love one-self enough to fight for what’s right? Well, I want more, and I'm not going to give up until I gain justice for us all. Doomsvell needs me, so, I’m not going anywhere.

“You should rest.
Tomorrow you have to wake early. Don’t think too much Jorsay,” he taps my head, and noiselessly goes back inside. I dreamily sigh. Corr is so handsome. I wonder…can a girl like me ever get a man like him. But in this body, nobody will ever love me.

Day breaks
and before heading to my first class, a guard seeks me implying I am search after—Srogeri wants me, now I’m thinking of something dreadful. Maybe he's leaving me, or worse, he's going to force me back to Duolic.  I shake to think I have to face him, thus my steps to his chamber are slight.  The door squeals as I open it; his head rises, and briskly stands to face me, giving me all his attention. “I have bad news for you,” he begins strongly. My heart pumps up. I know what’s coming to me.“I’m not leaving!” I snap. His eyes widen, he then relaxes and chortles.

“I spoke with Madam Srovio about your decision, and she says you cannot take it back. Now you are st
uck to this war, no matter what.” I puff out. I can’t believe it. I'm staying. “I don’t understand your needs. Alas, I’m not ready to depart. Not without you. I would stick with you until the end. Hence, I also will stay. ” I stick out my bottom lip. My chin shivers. I fall sappy by his words. I run to him and throw my arms around him. He laughs at my foolishness. I'm thankful with my old man, for he never lets me down.

I’m baffled by the food given to us, a
pile of white gooey slime that actually moves. Because of my speech, the leaders punished all kcowl members. Now because of my stupidity everyone has to suffer the consequence. Ramuso and I bow down our heads. People around us murmur awful things, especially about me. “Hey bonehead, thanks a lot,” a passing fellow says to me. “Yeah, I should punch your face,” a second muscular boy says.
Oh please, don’t, your muscles are so big.

“Hey! Why don’t you leave before I punch you?" Ramuso instantly defends me. Onnet grabs his arm before Ramuso collides w
ith them. “Sit kid, let them be.” Ramuso is on fire. I think it’s sweet how my friend defends me, but I don’t blame the kcowl members for being mad at me. It's the leaders I’m angry at, for making things worse and for ignoring our demands.“I’m sorry. This is my entire fault.” I say miserably as we sit on the mealroom.

“Yes it is!
This is what happens when you break the rules. Now we’re all punished,” Osys could be a bit nicer. He seems to be the only one of my roommates whose mad at me, then again, he loves to eat. The others have nothing to say but gawk at the food. “This shit has a brain of its own…” Onnet says as the gooey food crawls on his arm. I exhale unhappily, and turn to Ramuso, whom as usual, acts careless, and is eating the food.  “It’s not bad…really,” he says with a mouth full, disgusting the majority of us, but because of his daring act, the rest of my roommates intend to guzzle down that crap. But not me, because eating means agreeing with the leaders, and I won’t agree until I, Judyala Zayras gets what I want, and what I want is righteousness.
“This is ailing. There are hundreds of concoctions here. This is just going to make us unwell.” Ikumus’s words turn on a candle in me, an idea blossoms.

I have a plan, a way to get back at the leaders, although risky, during potion class, I steal a few substances from the potion shelf. It is such a short quantity that’s impossible to determine. Then, alone in my room, I create a high sorcery
mixture that will alter anyone’s abdomen. The procedure is very delicate, consequently, I’m extremely careful. My revenge is ready to be performed.

I
trust Ramuso with my plan, and of course, the wild kid loves the idea and is willing to go along until the end. “With this…they will never feed us that crap again.” I whisper showing him the tiny black container that I hold with two fingers. “How can you do this? We are not taught this. These are highly exclusive. Outlaw for any apprentice to commit.” I sneakily smile at him. Well, thanks to my guardian and instructor, and the millions of books he made me read, I’m filled with wisdom. I give Ramuso the potion.
He’s in charge of putting it inside the pile of crap they feed us. My plan is to slightly poison the kcowl members— who are going to be blamed— the freaky girls and the leaders, for feeding us chemicals the human body shouldn’t be receiving. It’s not as if I’m doing anything wrong, with the nourishment they are providing us we are bound to get sick, I’m just pushing the effect.

By the
meal hour, Ramuso tactfully enters the cooking area where the freaky girls roast and throws the toxic into the nourishment. He thought that was all, until I confessed the worse. In order to make it all seem authentic, we have to consume the food.  Meaning, we are not protected by the poison. “No-no…” he panics, assuring he isn’t going to eat of it. I pick up my tray,

“
fine…just remember, whoever doesn’t get poison will be suspicious,” I whisper and head to get my food. I know better but to play the part until the end. The people to be blamed for the catastrophe always are the ones who avoid the food. He sighs giving up, and serves himself the black tacky food. And for the first time, as my friend eats the tasteless meal, I see something unlike of him, repulsion.

A few minutes after eating
, my tummy rumbles and flame rises heating up the acid within me, the cramp suppresses my motions.  The kcowl members in the cafeteria wail in discomfort.  They question the reason for the hurting, but as an older fellow realized we share the same meal and pain, the truth slips out, we have been food poisoned.
“Oh lord, what did this food had…oh, I’m not feeling well,” Onnet moans. He rushes to a corner and heaves. We are all on the floor, holding our stomach. I huff and puff harshly, the burning takes over me. And I thought I made the toxic light, I must’ve added to much Calky. I swallow hard trying to suck in the stomach sting. I breathe heavily; gulping for air. I’m hurting, but my heart hurts more as I see what I’ve done.  My friends are in pain, and it’s all my fault.
Forgive me Corr
… I can tell he’s in great pain, yet he doesn’t express it but holds it in. It’s Ikumus who sits eating coolly, isn’t he human? I’m sweating. I’m falling out of control. I can no longer hold the pain.
Oh lord, what have I done?
“Jorsay was right. We have to fight for equability.” Did I just hear a person say that. I smile, but fragile by the toxic, I finally fall unconscious. 

Hundreds of
apprentices, including myself are taken to the castle’s sanatorium to be healed by high rank healers and priestesses. As I predicted, the healing process wasn’t quick, but fairly distressful. Remedy had to be provided as to care for the sensitivity of the stomach. Within a few hours, most of the apprentices are discharged. And just as I planned, the poison couldn’t be identified in the body, but classified as food poisoning in expired food, and mixture of condiments that are lethal to our bodies, as a result, everything came as natural causes. Like Srogeri taught me, the mixture was imperceptible.

For two days we remain in bed, Ramuso and the boys loved it, for the leaders gave each
kcowl bedroom three healers from the ribbons to care for us, in our team was Azania, who personally took care of me. Our body slightly gained strength and life went back to normal, except that for meal time, requested by the headmistress we had better food. The food wasn’t as great as the ribbons, or as succulent as the instructors, but the vegetables are fresher, and the meat lacks fluid. The dryness is pleasant to look at. Ramuso and I did it, and that made us proud. Also, we became heroes for being the first to defend our rights, and all it took was a nasty stomach poison to unite the apprentices, and make the leaders realize we deserve better. Yes, my plan was terribly risky, but it worked—nobody is suspicious.

I daze
to another world looking at Khysso. Really, he has not changed at all. His features, his hair, all of him, it is still the same. I don’t understand why I didn’t recognize him. The bit of facial hair throws him out of my wits, but otherwise, he is exactly that boy I met seven years ago. Having Khysso as an instructor is truly a bad idea, I can’t stop looking at his perfect kissable lips. What a handsome man. No wonder the girls are insane by his looks. But his strictness and seriousness makes me question if there’s something behind his crankiness. Not once have I seen him grin. But I’ve seen that smile already, and I know it’s striking. It is his frown that petrifies my blood vessels and curls the hair in my skin. He’s different now, he’s a dark figure.