Chapter 2 - Home

Aurora returned home after the dinner. While Klaus returned the morning after, as everyone slept at the campsite. To be more specific, he’s outside of it. Hearing the sound of stone against stone, as it produced an uncomfortable sound. I don’t even mind the sound, it’s just that it takes SO DAMN LONG! I need to fix this at some point. His eyes followed the door lazily as it entered a slit. Why did we even make this go downwards.

His patience ran out and he simply forced himself through the opening. His body went through the gap easily. A bit too much, “Owh!” As he knocked his head against the top of the door frame. He quickly pushed the rest of himself through the gap and finally entered his home. The still unfamiliar grey walls greeted him, and he greeted them back. But despite constantly seeing each other, it appears that Klaus is still not comfortable to be in their presence, losing some sleep in the process when he first met them. Home sweet home. Well, not exactly. Not yet?

“Yeah, we’re definitely changing the way this works.” Aurora greeted him. She patted his head a few times before he gently brushed it off.

Frost quickly crept up his palm and covered it. He rested his palm on the sore spot and felt instant relief. “How was dinner with the merchant people?” He asked.

The two of them moved towards the center of their home. As the stone door closed behind them. Their footsteps were light, and made no noise. They were not used to it at all. The familiar wooden floor that would creak and groan regardless of how light their steps is absent. Somehow, they missed it. At one corner was a congregation of polished stone benches, they numbered five in total and surrounded a stone table made from an amalgamation of precious metals, polished and unpolished earth. The process of fusing the table resulted in obvious cracks, a web of which propagated throughout its body. Despite the flaw, it is the flaw which ultimately contributes to its attractiveness. The bench at the head of the table was accented in bright white platinum, demanding attention and Klaus’ eyes provided it. The others were plain, no metal accented them.

They talked as they moved. “Food? Heavenly. Conversation? Difficult, at the start.”

“I don’t doubt it. Was their speak getting easier to perform as time went on?”

Aurora dismissed his confidence in her instantly. “Ha, absolutely not. Your brother’s Head Captain, Lucien, said we could drop it. To make it easier on me. Saying it was him that invited me, so, I should be as comfortable as possible. There was also another lady who supported it.”

Approving of their understanding and their accommodation of Aurora he reevaluated them. “Quite the nice bunch, aren’t they?” They reached the center, a depression in the ground filled with flowers. “Oh, and I learned what Head Captain is for merchant. It’s ‘boss’. Lucien is Abdo’s boss.”

The two laid on the flower bed. “Man is it satisfying. He spent so much time drilling etiquette into you and you didn’t even need to use it.” A satisfied smile on his face. “So, what else did you talk about?”

Eyes closed, and with no response. She let out a long, stretched out, loud, exasperated sigh escaped her lips. Her hands, clasped above her stomach, lost their strength as they fell onto the flowerbed with a soft thud. Another sigh, just as stretched out. A long groan, weak, “Ahhh….” Permeated the room.

It mutated into yet another sigh which was cut short as she rolled around and smushed her face into the ground. Klaus laughed to himself, as Aurora grunted into the ground, displaying her discomfort.

Aurora’s vision was nothing but black, she heard footsteps and Klaus’ words. “Say what you may, but, yo–” She grunted in confusion, as his voice faded, as did his footsteps.

She didn’t bother to check on what he was up to. After a while she felt a cold touch was felt on her shoulder. She righted herself, “Fruits!” She exclaimed. Picking cut mango from the levitating tray made with ice. Then, the familiar sound of stone grinding against stone was heard.

“Take this to him.” Placing the cut mango back on the tray.

“No, this is for you. Not him. He can cut his own fruit.” Klaus challenged her.

“These are half eaten, leftovers. Give them to him. Cut some more for me, and I’ll eat more than him.” She offered a petty alternative, and Klaus accepted it with no hesitation.

The tray floated along with him as Klaus moved towards the entrance, Aurora following closely behind.

“Here, I cut up some fruit.” Klaus offered Aurora’s leftovers as instructed. “Thanks but no thanks. You know I prefer apples.”

The contrast between the siblings is night and day. Klaus and Aurora were in plain clothes. Simple garments meant for simple living. Aurora adorned a simple white shirt, she paired that with a medium length white skirt. And Klaus was in brown, he’s in full brown. Abdo’s attire was anything but simple. A red leather coat that stop slightly above his knees with long sleeves. He buttoned them at his abdomen. Revealing the orange shirt that complimented the coat’s color.

“I can cut up some apples.” Abdo rejected Aurora’s offer with a raised hand. “Also, why aren’t you wearing the clothes I bought you? We need to fit in with the rest.”

“They’re uncomfortable. Also, needing to keep ice magic constantly active is annoying.” Klaus objected.

“Your affinity is ice! There’s a reason why your clothes are thicker than hers! You’d both look much better than the junk you’re wearing. My affinity isn’t even ice, and I can do it. What’s your excuse?”

Klaus couldn’t be bothered. He simply rolled his eyes, “Whatever.” He let out as he turned around and left. Abdo stepped forward, a not so half hearted chase after him. Aurora placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let him be. You know how he is.” He relented, and not because of her words. That’s the last thing stopping him.