"I've sent an email to your communicator listing the possible relics you might possess that are within the zodiac path you've been assigned to, along with an audio tale that made them," Shadeen says. "You can go through them when you're alone."
Crossing her arms, the stylus pen disappears, her expression thoughtful, she says: "For better understanding for those who haven't witnessed divine power firsthand, can someone give me an example of a relic in usage?"
Out of three hundred and eighty-seven seekers, 18% lift their hands to answer.
Catalina goes rigid when the professor points at her, nausea launching her belly into a knot of anxiety.
'This bitch.' Her eyes turn luminescent, yet darker at the same time. 'I didn't even raise my hand. I know the perfect example, of course, but why must I speak it?'
Subconsciously, her nails dig into the table, marring it; however, she stops the motion impulsively.
Repressing her irrational frustration, she gathers her words as palpable silence fills the classroom, lasting long enough for the atmosphere to grow tense and uncomfortable.
"If you can no—
With her gaze remaining ahead, Catalina speaks in a low tone, cutting Shadeen off: "During the deadly journey, time manipulation, the core attribute of Capricornus was used on the entire shrine, casting it into a different temporal domain. To the challengers, reality appeared to be unfolding at a normal pace; however, we were in a fast-moving domain that allowed the audience to watch the entire trial unfold within a week. A week in the mountain was an hour for the spectators."
"Correct."
****
Divine Research and Cultivation is held for five hours and as the clock hits 1:00 PM, the end of class arrives; a smooth chime resonates through the building.
"Do you know Child of Heaven?" Rhea asks Kallias, stuffing the notebooks in her backpack, her pale blue eyes bright in curiosity.
"Agent of Storms is your brother after all, so you must know her to some degree. What is she like?"
"She and Rune broke up a year or two ago, I think. It was never clarified. Their relationship was sweet to be honest. It was the type of relationship that didn't seem to hurt as much as it should, if that makes any sense. In those years, she was—believe it or not—like you, Rhea. Upbeat, all smiles and shining eyes of calm hope. Nowadays she's like…."
Kallias glances to the side, nodding with a smile. "Like Lady Catalina. Aloof, indifferent to her own surroundings unless she's the one instigating engagement."
'He is so off,' Catalina thinks, vaguely amused. 'I care too much of my surroundings, so now I loathe them.'
On her feet, she does not find interest in the romance topic, sweeping her gaze around the departing seekers.
Then she chimes in with a question she's been wondering about since the trial, "Did Calix kill your brother? He kind of seemed down, like he was grieving, when he left the mountain."
Kallias flinches hard, his eyes snapping over to her. He remains silent for a good moment; his expression clouded with loss.
Kavish Polymina, youngest son of the Heavenly Star Lord, Arian, passed away during the Deathly Journey. The boy did not have an outstanding talent that was extraordinary, but as a holy child with angel traits, he shouldn't have died in that trial—Catalina line of thinking resembles that.
Arian Polymina has one wife and three mistresses. Kavish, Calix, and Lycidas are triplets of one of those mistresses.
Star Clan is known for their brutality with each other. They have no love for one another, greed and strength the only ties beside lineage connecting them.
Consequently, a funeral for Kavish wasn't convened because the pillar was disappointed in his son and disowned him.
Catalina isn't alone in thinking one of Kallias's brothers killed Kavish, she's simply the only one bold enough to outright ask.
A bit insensitive of her, yes.
Does she care? Yes.
Is that going to halt her curiosity? No.
"I didn't even think of Calix killing him," Kallias mutters, distress lacing his voice as doubt rushes in.
Rhea glances between the two, her eyes conveying her hesitance of stepping in.
"Why not?" Catalina inquires.
Kallias clasped his hands tightly and cast his head downward. "Calix vowed he wouldn't be like Rune or Marvos. And beside Lycidas told me how Kavish died. He drowned in a pond of lava trying to speed over it."
'And what, he just watched him drown? Plus, aren't you the only who lacks angel wings? I see. He himself is in heavy denial or else he's pure stupid. Speed over lava when you can fly? That doesn't even sound logically to a baby."
Catalina holds back the urge to scoff. "It didn't occur to you that they could lie?"
"We promised to never lie to each other. Me, Calix, Lycidas, and Kavish."
They are all fifteen years old and are the closest out of the Polymina's heirs.
"Do you think one of them did it, Lady Catalina? You don't even know my brothers! You hardly know anyone. I bet you don't even know yourself." His voice takes a sharp, harsh turn. "How could you when you're from the north? You all hide beneath snow and call it ice."
Her backs straighten; surprise irradiates in her eyes before she narrows them with malice. "You wanna fucking repeat that?"
Kallias ignores the powerful urge to shrink back, too angry to be concerned about the potential damage to a friendship he unfortunately was looking forward to, holding her heated gaze with fury of his own—a hint of contempt flaring in the purple irises.
Hide beneath the snow and call it ice is a mocking term Sun Clan came up with long ago and is echoed behind Winter Clans back. It means that beneath their icy lands is a strength that can melt. No clan, especially a holy one, wants to be viewed as breakable.
Tension thickens in the air, drawing the attention of Shadeen Valeria.
She advances their way with calm strides, her eyes flickering over the three.
"Everything alright?"
Catalina scoffs, the sound cold.
"Perfect," she mumbles, snatching her bag and immediately regrets it when it tears, her strength shredding it. The snacks tumble to the floor.
She does not bother to clean it up, her hands fisted, guilt suffocating her heart as she scorns the last five minutes for the next few hours.
The freshmen have lunch from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Current time: 1:07 PM.
She recalls hearing Rhea say something about meeting her in the cafeteria but believes it best not to go. Neither of them is truly Catalina's friends.
As her steps lead her to the villa dormitory, feeling more comfortable there, she makes up her mind quickly, intending to find a solitude place, eat some snacks while studying the relics.