Chapter 27
After Saphine has been left standing, by Mor and furhter confused by the Ice-kin, she tried to get more information out of Orth, but he kept insisting, everything is fine. He just has a little problem going through his mind, that he might have to discuss with his family.
So in desperation she searched out the new girl, who started hanging around Orth and the commoner. She needed a hot second to remember the name Clare Celestyne, and went to talk to her. They then met almost dayly after the lessons and became fast friends.
"Why do you care so much about the commoner?" Saphine asked at one of their earliest meet ups.
Clare, blushed a bit and thought of how to answer that. "I really don´t know, somehow it feels like he is a little brother, I want to support. But after seeing his body at the tournament, I sometimes want to be protected by him? I really don´t understand all of this." She explained.
"What about his body? I saw it at the turnament, true he has a stronger build than most soul-kin, but what does that matter? His magic energy is low, therefore he shouldn´t be a good partner for anyone." Saphine drilled deeper.
"Well, you didn´t see him up close, right? It is just strange. I understand, that there can never be something between us, my parents wouldn´t allow it and honestly I don´t know if I would want it. As you say, magic energy is a big part in choosing the right partner for yourself." Clare shrugged.
"I just don´t get, what you and Orth see in this commoner. I understand, that his mother might have been so talented that she almost married into my family. If fate had been different, he might have been my cousin or even brother, but it wasn´t and he also has none of his mothers talents, so he is just a weak commoner at the wrong school." Saphine went on.
"Really? His mother was powerfull enough to marry into one of the high noble families?" Clare asked.
"Two in fact, the Emeralds also wanted to have her in their family, but she chose differently." Saphine said.
"TWO? What happend, why didn´t she accept either one? How come she´s just a commoner now?!" Clare asked exhasperated.
"I don´t know, she just chose a commoner, she herself was a minor noble, but chose to forfit this title and marry into the commoners family, instead of him marrying into hers." Saphine said. "I don´t understand that either."
"Does Mor maybe have a hidden talent, that he keeps secret for some reason? Maybe he has really strong magic, and a strong body. Do you know if his father maybe has a good physique?" Clare asked further.
"No I never met him, and we don´t have any connection to the Agatons, I just remembered the name at the entrance ceremony. But I don´t think he hid something, because the headmaster would have detected it by the attribute-ritual." Saphine said.
"Guess, a strong parent doesn´t equal a gifted child. But then why is he on this school, I think there is something going on, neither of us knows." Clare said thoughtfully.
"I can´t even beginn to guess. But you are right, it is strange. Being on the toppic of strange, do you know what´s up with Orth? He told me it is nothing, but he behaves stangely." Saphire asked and Clare got bashfull at this question.
"Well I was with him, we waited for Mor after he got dragged into the headmasters office by Miss Amethyne and afterwards he told us, that the ice-kin wanted to teach him how to gather magic from their surroundings." Clare begun to texplain.
"So? We also learn that, in our last year at this school." Saphine asked, confused.
"Exactly what Orth told Mor, but then we found out that Mor didn´t now about something like that." Clare said.
"Why? I thought that is common knowledge?" Saphine went on.
"I thought so too, but it seems, that the commoners don´t get told about such a technique." Clare told Saphine, who thought for a second and then answered supprised.
"You mean, the nobles keep secrets from the commoners to keep them down?"
Clare nodded. "Seems like it. Orth told me he wanted to ask his family about that and maybe in the future change this inequity. He is probably thinking about how he might do this, it seems a unfathomably big ask for a single person. I told him if the time comes, he can count on my support."
"Really why do you both care so much about commoners?" Saphine asked.
"Well if you would try to be friends with Mor and maybe understand his way of thinking, you might beginn to understand." Clare said and Saphine laughed.
"Me? Friends with a commoner? Impossible, my status is much higher than his!" She exclaimed almost offended.
"Well he is friends with Orth, and me. Maybe you just should try to look beyond status." Clare said shrugging.
"I don´t think so, you play nice with the commoner, if it is funny to you, but I won´t. The only Agaton family-member I would speak to would be his mother the ice-empress." Saphine said.
"Your decission." Clare said, then changing the topic. "What do you think about the ice-kin woman?"
"What question is this? She´s just a barbarian." Saphine said.
"I don´t know, Mor said, he liked her and I think if that´s the case there has to be more to it." Clare explained.
"You think, there is more about her, because the commoner said so? Sometimes, you have a strange world-view." Saphine almost chided Clare.
"Don´t get snippy with me! Even you have to admit that a lot of boy´s are watching her, almost staring, just like a lot of girls had stared at Mor after his robes were destroyed at the tournament. And somehow I kind of envy her, she seemed to move so fluently, and even though I don´t understand why, I find myself thinking I somehow lost to her." Clare confessed and Saphine thought for a second.
"I think I get you. She seems to move in an evortless elegance. It is unfair, that a barbarian would be somehow superior to a soul-kin noble." Saphine agreed, getting a bit annoyed, without knowing why.
"Yeah, I guess having a good body, does something, to make us envious. But why? Only magic energy should affect us like that?" Clare asked.
"I don´t know, but you only have the body, you got. So no sense pondering, why the soul-kin women don´t look like that." Saphine tried to reassure Clare and herself, but failing to do so.
"But, we are all kin. So maybe there is a secret to it? Maybe you are not stuck with the body you just got?" Clare asked.
"Now you are talking, crazy. You can´t change a body. I already told you." Saphine said condescending.
"We could ask her." Clare offered.
"Are you mental? You want to talk to the barbarian?" Saphine asked incredulous.
"Why not? She is training Mor, a soul-kin, so maybe she would be open to at least talk to us? If we don´t speak to her, we will never know." Clare said, and Saphine sighed.
"This is stupid. What do you think this will get you?" She asked.
"I don´t know, but I will try talking to her. Maybe she´s nice." Clare answered.
"Really, that is your reasoning? "Maybe she´s nice". You know what I will go with you, just to see how badly you fail and look out for you if she want´s to hurt you." Saphine told Clare.
"Let´s try to invite her sometimes! You will see, this could be fun." Clare said excited.
Like this they both met up, and just talked, sometimes while drinking tea, sometimes playing some games and waiting for a chance to invite the ice-kin and after a few day´s their chance came. While Mor had his talk with Orth, Clare almost abducted the ice-kin for tea and snacks, while Saphine whatched with scepticism.
"I still don´t understand, what you want to achieve with this, but well." Saphine said, as they all sat down on a table filled with fruits, tea and juice.
"Why am I here?" Snow asked and Clare smiled friendly, while Saphine averted her gaze.
"I wanted to talk to you!" Clare said and the ice-kin looked a bit confused at this relevation.
"But why?" Snow asked again.
"Well you seem to be friends with Mor, so I thought you might be nice." Clare offered.
"Are you friends with Mor Agaton?" Snow wanted to know.
"Yes!" Clare said, grinning. "Not really." Saphine added quietly.
"And you thought I would be nice? Because I am on good terms with Mor Agaton?." Snow asked picking out a piece of fruit.
"Exactly! Also we wanted to ask you something." Clare went on.
"What would that be?" Snow asked further.
"Is it possible for us to get a body like yours?" Clare blurted out.
Snow was a bit suprised and thought a second on her answer. "Yes, maybe not exactly but close." "I don´t believe you! You can´t change the body you´re born with. Everyone knows that!" Saphine interjected.
"Doesn´t change the truth, that you can." Snow countered.
"Could you show us how?" Clare asked, interrupting Saphines next outburst.
"I could, but I won´t, I have chosen Mor Agaton as the one allowed to be taught by me. So if you want to know how, you need to ask him. I'm just suprised, you didn´t already." Snow told the girls.
"What do you mean?" Saphine asked.
"Mor Agaton, knows this since before I showed up." Snow said, getting herself another fruit.
"Of course. The commoner knows, how to change a woman´s body. He´s a boy! How would he know?" Saphine asked sarcastically.
"Doesn´t change the truth." Snow said again.
"And why won´t you tell us?" Clare asked.
"Because it is tradition." Snow said matter of factly.
After this the conversation petered out, and soon Snow made her excused, and thanked the girls for the snacks, and conversation. Leaving two confused girls behind.
"You think, she´s messing with us? What she says can´t be true." Saphine asked.
"But what if?" Clare countered. "We should ask Mor about this." At this exclamation Clare got a bit sad.
"What´s the matter now?" Saphine questions.
"Mor wanted to have space, to think about everything. And I don´t want to annoy him further if I don´t give him space." Clare answered dejectedly.
"True he seemed, very angry after I tried to question him about Orth. He was extremly disrespectfull." Saphine added.
"Then no choice but to wait, until he want´s to talk to us again." Clare said.