The air around her was colder, the silence lingering for longer than it should. Suffocating at times however the one drowning in it went about it without care. Callista who was still trying to orient herself with what her new life had devolved into stood up and took her leave.
Done with her class, she heard a call directed at her. "Callista, do you mind for a small talk?" The professor quizzical as the students around her cast curious glances as they took their leave. It wasn't long before the hall was empty leaving the two.
"Callista, is there anything wrong? Something to do with Jarren perhaps?" Her demeanor had greatly shifted from before. Before, she was cold and aloof but her eyes were sharp, reeked of class and elegance but now. It felt like a completely different person.
The faint glimmer behind her eyes were gone replaced with blunt beads for eyes. Her breathe was exact, never nervous or out of sync and the brooding silence that clung to her like a leech was too overbearing for not only those around her but for the professor as well.
"I'm fine." Her words dry akin to parchment. "... Really because I've noticed the shift with you. I congratulate with your glyphwork, the best I've seen comparable to the head teacher even. As expected of the daughter of James Vaewlyn." His tone light however there was no change with Callista.
His eyes now grew sharper as after drawing his breathe. "Not to be nosy but I've noticed that you've distanced yourself from your earlier friends and word is that you have relations with Jarren." Callista who seemed mentally absent gave her reply, unbothered with the professor's observation.
"I'm here to better myself and grow as a Maga and Knighthood expert. My friends were merely nothing more than a hinderance." She didn't display any discomfort with how sensitive the topic was around her. "Well it's nice to know that you prioritize your studies but do loosen up from time to time. You can leave."
With a gesture, Callista made her way towards the exit. Her motions perfectly mechanical before her figure went out of sight. 'Why didn't address Jarren?' A detail he had picked up however even he knew that that would be too intrusive for a professor.
***
"I still can't believe that she would leave us like that and for what? It's not like she's in a romantic relationship with Jarren." Sarah, Callista's former friend clicked with annoyance as she walked down the halls. "It doesn't like it worked out for her either. She looks miserable anyway."
The latter added before the two fell silent as they saw her make her way towards the Faction House. Once she was out of the way, the two let out snickers that echoed through the hall. "Did you see her? Does she look horrible!?" The comment was followed with a snarky laugh.
"So much for Callista falling in love with Jarren Velros, what did she think was going to happen?" Sarah added as they went to their own business.
Her business she had at the Faction House wasn't formal, a small call from Lirale and without fail there she was. "I'm quite glad that you made it." Lirale chuckled hoping to lighten the mood. Yet no response came, her and Callista were people with interests, the relationship between the duo more than just students.
The two made their way out of the House Faction and towards a small garden that lurked. It's supple and luscious green grass and rosy scapes delightful to the eye. The two took their seats and watched the world around them come to pass. The light breeze swaying their hair and skirts, the air oddly calm.
"What's the problem Callista? Knowing you, you wouldn't be this silent for this long so spill it. Or is it Jarren with that glyph he tried to pass on to you." Her statement poking at Callista begging for any form or reaction out of her. "It's ...complicated. Just know that I'm present and that's enough." Her words didn't feel like hers and Lirale could sense it.
"What do you mean complicated? The tournaments are around the corner. We can't have you freezing up like this. Just say the word and I'll have Jarren expelled." Thinking that Jarren had something to do with her state she offered, aware of his antics. The response this time was longer, strangely calmer.
"Where do you think we go when we die? Is it a place where we can rest or where we are tested for our wrongdoings?" Unnerved, Lirale let out a sight to downplay the absurdity of her question, waving it off like a joke that failed to land. "What are you trying to say here and why would you think that?"
A question met with another question. "Do you believe in a god? Maybe he would want to play games and watch us suffer. Maybe this is the retribution of our past mistakes." Her eyes now meeting with Lirale's. A silence that threatened to swallow her whole made her look away.
"I don't know what is going through your mind but you're freaking me out. Your hair is all over the place for crying out loud." Her short and crisp hair has now started to grow out of hand. A tuft of hair drooping over her face and covering her eye. The shoulder length already breached leaving her hair to grow as she wished.
"He prefers it that way so I might as well keep it like thay before he kills me off." A burst that felt out of place but after digesting it, Lirale's suspicion shot through the roof. "Is Jarren controlling you with the glyph he taught you?" The pause suffocating. "No, the glyph is a collateral gift to spice things up."
Certain that Jarren was now behind her change, she pushed on. "Look, we can go to the professors and have the glyph deciphered. Have you scanned for any effects of perhaps phrenomancy or some other mind altering spell." Callista supported her head with her hand, her pulse deadly calm.
"It's none of that. It's way more but you'll have to wait to see it all unfold. Hope you live to see it." And with that she rose to her feet and took her leave. Watching her figure depart, Lirale already felt that she was onto something. Callista apathetic what she concluded or what she found.
She had already accepted what hee fate was, at one point wishing to end her life which ended with her ending up in null space in her necklace bringing her back. His smile present as he watched her slowly unravel.
With her next step already in mind, Lirale rose to her feet and went elsewhere.
***
The first time he was summoned, it was under curiosity but now, it was suspicion. Next to him was Callista who stood like a sentry awaiting orders. The four leaders of the factions towering over them. "Jarren Velros, do you understand as to why your presence is here in the Faction House?"
Lirale started off, her tone sharp as her eyes probed all over his figure before darting to Callista who was equally apathetic as he was. "Because you have nothing else to do. Honestly if you're so bored I'm sure that there are other matters that you could be investing your time and effort in."
His tone casual with a bit of playfulness sprinkled which served to trigger her. Offended with his indifferent remark, Saevin shot up. "Mind your tone Jarren or the consequences will be more than just dire." Her threats falling short as he remained aloof, his hands still pocketed.
"Jarren Velros, we're not here to joke around. The reason for your summon alongside Callista is due to the unnerving fear and suspicion that has grown with your glyph. Unlike before,this time we will have you take a test of appraisal to fully uncover what skills you have." Vhorren spoke, his voice calm filling the entire air.
"Very well. I've got a tournament to prepare for." Small multiple crystal clear ball came into view hauled by first year students who scurried off as soon as they came. "Just make a drop of your blood onto the crystal." Eldrion mused, his gaze boring deep onto the crystal balls. Jarren who had all of the eyes on him let out a sigh before doing as instructed.
The first crystal ball meant to asses his affinity with elements and as expected it exuded fire before the crystal ball halved showing darkness. The second meant to appraise his rank in the Maga path and the third for his Knighthood path.
...
'There's no way!' Lirale shouted in her head, still dumbfounded with what she saw from the results. It wasn't just her but the other three were in a state of disbelief however their faces refused to show it.
The second crystal ball grew golden similar to the third. What this meant was that he was a Gravechant and a Crimson Sigil. The first rank being clear, the second crimson, third green, fourth golden, fifth was black and sixth was a myriad of colors. For a fourth year to be in the fourth rank on both fronts was absurd.
'Wasn't he a Silver Vow a couple or weeks ago?' Eldrion couldn't help but ponder, his gaze skeptical of it all. At first he found Jarren unnaturally talented but his rumors failed to track and now, it was clear that something else was at play. "You'll perform the test as well Callista."
Curious about something, Saevin asked with a hint of worry on her mind. Callista made a small cut, using the other set of crystal balls present. The first showing strands of silk showing Crystal, as expected but the other two weren't what they had expected. One of them was golden as expected while the other was black.
It was her Knighthood rank meaning that she had the physique of Obsidian Heart, something no other fourth year student had. Even Kevlar didn't have this rank yet and he was seen as the best knight amongst the fourth year student. The air was unnervingly silent, be it out of shock or the deadness that lingered around her swallowing the scene was palpable.
The cough was harsh and dry, Vhorren in a state of stupor. "...How? How were you capable of advancing to such a rank?" This acted as a gateway to a near endless spiral of questions that lingered in their minds. Callista still composed looked at the four, her mind already crafting the words that she would say.
'There's no need to lie to them.' Hearing Jarren's voice echo through her head, she finally spoke up. "Well it was quite simple, I bought an Obsidian Heart molt and refined it. With no subsidiaries that is." Her tone casual however the four fell into denial.