Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) (6 page)

“Enough!” he
breaks in.  “Simply do it,” he commands in a deep severe voice that intimidates me.  She whines like a small child. She places her hand over the book. The words that are in the page with my information erases, gradually, in a beautiful script, new writing appears.  A beige sheet appears in her hand. The sheet has words in a side and a map on the other.  She hands it to me, disliking me for making her work.  Before I could thank her, she screams, “next!” Ronneto and I walk back to the red door. I peek at my schedule quite thrilled. I can’t believe it, I’m out of Duolic. My smirk quickly turns into a frown, instead of nine hours of daily work I have twelve hours, but blown away I am when I see my schedule contains school work. 

Jorsay Zayras
age 15: Room
0322

Daybreak Classes, Total: 6 hours

Arithmetical focus: time—one hourglass-room 033

Language: time—
one hourglass-room 021

Adversary
communication: time— one hourglass- room 021

Spell Containing: time—
one hourglass- room 033

Beginner Potion: time—one hourglass-
room 023

Magic
Statistic Intro: time— one hourglass- room 014

Midday Physical T
raining: 6

Battle field stati
stic: time two hourglass

Self defense training: time two
hourglass

Enemy identification: time two
hourglass

“Ah, Wizard Ronneto…why…why do I have twelve hours of classes? And why do I have
arithmetical focus
…I took…that is school work, not war work.” I bite my tongue for almost spilling words Judyala would say. He takes the schedule from my hand and analyzes it. He frowns. “By regulation a child seventeen or younger still has to be schooled.  Learning is forever’r young man, even if there is war’r…” he hands me the sheet and discreetly smirks. “But I bet ye already need no learning…” he says sneakily. I push my body away from him, his words startle me.  Does he know? Did Srogeri tell him something? We reach Srogeri, who partly smiles.

“
Well, I have to head back. Soon is the instructor meeting.” Ronneto says to Srogeri. His eyes shift to me. “Young one, do not worry so much. Follow the map carefully. If ye ever get lost in this castle, simply find the red door. It will always bring ye back to the order room.” I smile at him and partially nod. I can tell he sometimes intends to talk clearer. “I will meet you in the assembly room in a tad,” Srogeri says, Ronneto nods and leaves us. I sneakily look at Srogeri. “Does he know?” I question in a whisper. Srogeri ignores my question and snatches the schedule from my hands. “Oh my, you’re going to take some quite interesting classes,” he mocks me
.

I scowl.

“Why didn’t you tell me I was going back to school?” I hiss. He quickly looks at his surrounding and slowly leans forward. “You wanted this…well now you have it. Do
not
complain,” he scolds. I cross my hands on my chest. It infuriates me that I’m going to repeat classes I completed years ago—I dislike school work. I was in the last grade of my third year. Learning about healing was my only priority, and it was for three hourglasses for four days a week. 

Srogeri
leaves me to guide myself by the map, in which the task is easy for the map indicates me where to go. Wherever I stand there’s a blue dot that represents me. If I go the wrong way large words emerge on red ink,

“WRONG WAY.
” Making the path completely obvious, then a red twine appears in the map, showing the correct path. “East…stairs…” I mumble fixedly looking at the map. I follow the map not seeing anything else. My inattention helps me lose track of my surrounding. I stumble upon someone—our foreheads collide and our behinds hit the hard floor. “Ouch…” I whine, holding my throbbing forehead, it’s as if I hit a rock. The girl I bumped into crawls to me and oddly massages my forehead. She seems to be free from pain unlike me. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking,” she mumbles. I foolishly watch how the elf girl rubs me as if I’m a child. I jerk away from the awkward girl. I take my sheet and unsteadily manage to stand.

The girl
picks up her sheet—I assume the reason for the stumbling is because we’re strictly into our maps to pay any attention, so there’s really no one to blame. I scowl to see the weird name on my schedule.

“I think you have my sheet.” I mutter. She giggles, and passes me the sheet with my name, I give hers back.

“
I am Azania by the way. I see we will have all the same classes, except for physical training. I’m getting meditation courses,” her accent is deep, like the people from the north. She’s cute and short. Her large long ears stick out of her blonde-greenish hair, her large blue eyes brilliant, almost scary. She looks young, maybe Jorsay’s age or younger.

“Oh…all-right…umm...sorry about that… bye.” I say awkwardly and rush to the stairs. I’m not interesting in socializing, especially in my brother’s body.

“See you soon…bye Jorsay!” the happy girl
yells waving her hand on the air. I ignore the strange little girl and continue to the second floor.

I look around the
hallway with many numbered doors. I sigh, beaten. I’m annoyed by the castle’s immensity. I stroll down the arch shape hall that seems to move in circles as I walk, making me feel smaller with every step. I suddenly feel dysfunctional by the magic. It’s weakening me, sucking my life.

Aft
er a long walk, the map signals stop. In front of me is a white wooden arc door, number 0322. I flighty knock. It’s always polite to knock, but as nobody answers, I creep in.  I take small steps staring around at the round room with six full-sized beds around it, dress in gold with white sheets, matching the fascinating walls and creative spinning ceiling. I gag. If I see more walls moving I swear I’ll fall.

“Hello!” I
bellow, but there’s no answer. I purse my lips, and walk around the room feeling the walls—touching the silky sheets, realizing that room is now my home, at least until the day I die… which means…whenever.

“Hey, you must be the new ki
d,” the voice of a man startles me. I swivel, and halt when I come face to face with a man who’s drying his wet hair with a towel. My mouth drops to the ground and my heart sails to an unthinkable place. I abruptly forget how to breathe, how to swallow. In front of me stands the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life, his excellence makes me question reality.

-
4 -

Surroundings

That’s not the body of a man. It’s the body of a divinity, a man like that couldn’t possibly be created on this world. Magic must’ve constructed him, because in my existence a perfect man could not be made. Suddenly, my world shifts slowly and I see the room go in circles. The man’s mouth opens but I only observe the way his gentle wet lips mouthed. I’m careless, ludicrous with wild sensations. He steadily walks towards me, my heart now puncturing. My knees wobbling.

The closer he
gets, the faster I pick out his small caramel eyes that stare at me with curiosity.  I love the way his straight wet blonde hair falls on his cheeks, tingling his olive skin.  When the hair comes in contact with his impeccable eyes, he pushes it back, demonstrating his perfection. Bit by bit, my eyes move to his body. His skin still has drops of water that crawls down his hard-rock body. His arms are brawny, combating with all of his other qualities. His chest hard— his stomach has six squares that tightened well on his body. He wears a pair of dark trousers that covers the bit he does not show. “Hey! Kid, are you well!” the man shakes my shoulders. I blush to our closeness
. Kid, who you calling a kid, I’m all woman.

“
...I’m fine, perfect really,” I bite my bottom lip to suppress my inner feelings. I pass a hand to my shoulder to twirl my hair, but as I reach my neck I find nothing. My long wavy red-hair is gone. That's when it hit me. I’m in Jorsay’s body.
What am I doing?
I randomly chortle.
“Oh...silly me…” I say laughing. I place my hands on my hips.
Dummy, that’s a girl position. Put your hands down.
I jerk my hands down and jiggle them.
Stop acting like a fool, breathe…breathe
. He chuckles.

“Thought I lost you there,” his voice
is deep, utterly nice to listen to.  But it’s his smile that’s petrifying—straight and white making a dot on each of his cheeks.

“What’s your name?” H
e asks nicely. I clear my throat before answering, but the words don’t want to come out. I shove my schedule in front of my face, so he can read my name. Looking at him pesters me. “Jor…say…” he reads carefully.

“Good to meet you, I’m Corr
,” the door opens interrupting us. I sigh in relief.
Saved by company, a bit more and my hands would’ve tried to steal a touch of his. Four men enter the room. Three of them very loud, laughing with one another. “Ah, the crew is here, great. Lads, come meet the new kid.” Corr says. An overexcited kid—youngest of the group runs to me.

“Splendid, we haven’t had a new kid since Jorge died,” the
dark tan kid with green fox-shape eyes blurts out, hastening my nerves. Corr nervously laughs.

“
Another one, why are they sending us children? How long will this one last? A few hours, a few days. I’m sick of burying children,” a tall man with long dark hair and small epicanthic fold eyes says sitting on one of the center beds.  My heart skips a beat.
Buried children, is it that bad?
“That’s enough. You’re going to scare him before the war.” Corr defends. His eyes meeting mine. His steady stare stings my skin, reddening my cheeks.

“Everyone, this here is Jorsay. He has now become a part of our family. Therefore, we will care for him. Jorsay…this here is Ikumus…” he
points at the pale rude-loner whom sits on his bed cleaning the twine of his bow with a towel. His dark hair touches his chest. I can tell he is from the elf race—a sovy, as he has long ears. Ikumus views my way in a glare that intimidates me.

“I’m Ramuso!” the beautiful fox eye
, overexcited boy yells. He takes my ear and pulls it hastily soaring it. I grunt in pain, jerking away from his aggressive hands.

“
Splendid. You’re not half, me too!!!”  he pulls his ear, stretching the poor thing. I grimace. “Half?” I question in a murmur.

“Most people
here are half humans and half sovy. Ramuso is impolite by always mentioning it.” A spiked dark hair, tan skin man says. I frown, my mouth drops opens for a moment. I’m baffle by his small dark eyes.
Is he wearing female eye coloring?
I narrow my eyes, examining him better.
Oh Yes, he is.... what an odd fellow.

“My name is Onnet. The ears are not by elf's ancestry but
by werewolves, so don’t confuse it kid,” he speaks mysteriously and rather dark, freaking me out. His ears aren’t big but
have
a small point. “And I’m Osys,” a small person shouts behind Onnet, hopping up and down, seeking my attention. He’s almost four feet tall. I’m gigantic compare to him.
He has long puffy white hair, but has bald spots on the edges of his forehead, where a squat of horns burst out. He has a long nose, and elf-like ears that fall downward. I wouldn’t be able to identify his race even if I attempt to. “Since we're talking about origins, I’m half sovy, yeti, satyr and my mother is a yolk…it’s why I’m short,” he laughs with a snort. I giggle at his amusing behavior. At least, I won’t be curious about his race anymore.

“Hey, what’s your half? Since you have no ears.” Ramuso asks me. I shrug.

“Half
human half wizard…” I plainly say. All eyes suddenly fall on me.

“What…
?” I’m uncomfortable by their stares.

“A half human, half
wizard
cannot
be a sorcerer. Everyone knows that.” Onnet confirms walking to a bed with an axe clung to the wall. I press my lips together
.
How dumb can you be Judyala, everyone knows the reason why wizards started to become sorcerers decades ago was because the elves and humans blended their race. What now…wait, but I’m a sorcerer…could it be my mother was a sovy. Papa never spoke about my Mother’s race. He said she was beautiful and loved to sing but… other than that he said no more. “I guess… I don’t know…” I say in a nervous laughter. I wonder why I never questioned my father. Perhaps, I didn’t have enough time, or maybe… I’m just too in loved with the perfect picture I have in my mind of my mother—a human healer with long ginger hair. I envision her faultless, and when she walks down the halls, she’s admired and loved by the world. Suddenly, I have the urge to see Srogeri, to release my concerns.

“You’re probably like me. Both my parents were mingled. Mother was half sovy and half wizard, and so was my father, thus I got their gifts. That's why I’m a sorcerer. In the end, the sovys are the only benevolent race that can use magic without the utilization of a staff. And when you combine the power of a wizard with a sovy, you create an outstanding sorcerer, ME!” Ramuso yells, everyone laughs except for me.
Why is this kid so hyper?
He leans forward, overlooking the laughter. I heave away from the insane boy. I’m afraid he’s going to pull my ear again. “Don’t let Onnet fool you. Everyone knows werewolves don’t have powers…those ears are from his sovy side,” he whispers near my ear. 

“I heard that!!”
Onnet growls startling both of us. I wiggle to his shout. “You want to see the teeth little devil,” Onnet gnashes his teeth showing his fangs.

“You don’t scare
me
knit
lover,” Ramuso bellows. The instant the word
knit
is mentioned, Onnet chases him, making the poor boy run for his life. I stare dim-witted by the scandal. And these men are my new family? They are mad…I’m going to lose my sanity with them.

Ikumus puts
down his bow, and stroll towards me until our heads almost bump. He has a natural angry visage that makes me question his endurance. “Listen up kid, that there is
your
bed. Don’t you dare to touch my belongings, my bed or anything that belongs to me, you understand?” He points at the bed farthest from him. I rush a nod. He’s certainly the driest from the group. Besides, he scares the hell out of me.

“Take it easy Ikumus.” Corr defends. His eyes set on me.

“Don’t listen to him,
sometimes he can be demanding, but you’ll get used to it. Why don’t I show you around? So you can feel comfortable in your new home.” My heart flips as his warm hand touches my shoulder. I wisp a wheeze, forgetting how to breathe. This fellow has fired up my outlook of life. Corr jerks the hair that falls on his face, exposing his ears. He too has a small unnoticeable point. This means he’s also half elf and half human.

He walks me to one of the two doorways passages.
We enter a room with seven numbered doors. Six of the doors are personal closets. The seventh door; a colorless door is the washroom— a bulky rounded polished white room with six holes on the sparkling ceiling. My arrival is identified as the sixth, for I’m the last one to arrive. Since Corr has four years in the war castle, he is first. He’s the only kcowl member to have lived this long.  Because of his survival skills, Corr has become the leader of the kcowls; it’s the name given to all male sorcerers and magicians. He’s like a guard, assuring rules are not broken. He’s also responsible for the everyday kcowls counting, keeping the numbers always the same—in case anybody runs away.
Second is Ikumus. As rude as he is, he has three years in the war castle. The remaining three boys have exactly two years, surviving many wars together. Since Osys came first, he is the third, Onnet the fourth, and Ramuso the fifth.

“Do we…all shower together?
” I gulp.

“Well,
Osys is a hog and likes showering once every three days.” I giggle at his confession. “Onnet likes to shower in the morning and before dinner. Ramuso…I’ve never seen him shower, but I think he does it,” he thinks hard. 

“Me, I shower every day-after physical training. I guess it
depends, not that it matters. The water is always warm no matter how many people shower,” he jokes. I meekly giggle. I rub my neck, wishing to twirl the hair that’s not there. It’s going to take some time to get used to Jorsay's body. But what am I supposed to do about my girly feelings? I never thought about that since I didn't know that exist. We head back to the bedroom to cross to the other passage.

“Jorsay
, you got package and mail!” Ramuso shouts the moment I step foot inside. He’s on his bed playing a strange game with blocks and his toes. The luggage I left in the carriage has magically arrived, with it a letter. I take the letter,

“
newcomers intro assembly,” I read aloud.

“Ah yes, the recruit assembly. The headmistress basically clarifies the rules…for three hourglasses…how fun…glad I’m not a newbie.” Onnet says as he knits a pink scarf. I scowl, and overlook his strange knitting. On my night table there’s an hourglass that was not there before. “And this…” I ask perplex.

“When the great ones send
an invitation, an hour before the occasion, the leaders will send an hourglass to alert you of the time. If by the time the sand is down you're not in the location, you'll get …”

“Wail
’s punishment!!!” Osys, Ramuso and Onnet yell in union. Hourglasses to specify time, we go by the bells back in Duolic. Then again, we are a small town.

“What’
s wails punishment?” I ask in a frown.

“Why tell him.
He’ll be gone in a few months.” Ikumus says. I try to neglect his conjecture, although Corr is not taking it well, and threatens him. Ikumus scoffs, unafraid by any of us. “It’s all right. I don’t think I’m going anywhere.” I guarantee Corr, impressing them all.
Way to go Judyala, with your grand powers, you will indeed survive.
“Nice attitude boy. The wail's punishment is when instead of three hours of lecturing they give you twelve. Imagine, twelve hours of one’s life wasted because a person is late to a dumb meeting that talks about rules. Garrr, that just reminds me how much I hate this place.” Onnet hisses.

I
set the invitation on top of my case. “Come, let me introduce you around before you leave.” Corr says. I smile at him. I love his attitude, his exquisiteness. 
We enter the room to the right, a circular room, but much larger than the closet room. A room he calls the entertaining lounge. The area is surrounded by scarlet sofas. In the center of the room is a painting of an elf woman and a wizard who seem to be romantically involved. He waves a hand in the air. The characters from the picture come out. I can tell is an illusion because of the flimsiness.  The man is on his knee, as if proposing to the female elf.

“Anything you wish, you can watch. Think of a story and the energy in this room creates it. In this room, insignificant magic can be utilized. However, know this, only in the entertainment room, for anywhere else
in this castle it’s a violation.” I nod, overtaken by his serious tone. “How come the art in the castle also moves?” I inquire, remembering the pictures in the order room and the way the walls loop.

“The
art moving signifies the rules. It’s a reminder, it is telling us we are not allowed to disrupt or change what the great leaders have created. If attempted to, the changes reflect the greater source, alerting them; then we get in trouble. So remember, do not use your powers around here to change anything. Not even the trousers you’re wearing. It’s against the rules, and here…we follow the rules.” He seriously speaks, gazing at the illusion-couple dance.