After a few minutes of waiting, Roxen returned, carrying two plates and two drinks. The first plate, clearly intended for herself, was a full-course meal, piled high with cooked meat, devoid of any vegetables, accompanied by a steaming bowl of what looked like a meaty soup. On his plate, in stark contrast, were only sliced apples and a glass of water. He looked at the food, then at her, his silver eyes silently questioning the stark difference.
"Well, I'm broke," she replied with a shrug, a wry smile playing on her lips. "I didn't expect anything either way, but… really? Only meat? Nothing else? That's not like you… or, well, this body, I guess. It has needs?" As she spoke, her hair flickered, turning a shade of brown, mirroring her younger sister's, and her voice deepened slightly, taking on a rougher edge. "What exactly do you mean by 'this body,' huh? I like meat. Without veggies."
Areion was visibly taken aback by the sudden shift, his eyes widening in surprise. Her hair flickered again, returning to its normal pinkish-brown hue, and she held her hands up in front of her face, a sheepish grin spreading across her features. "No, no, it wasn't me. It was… Vixen."
He tilted his head in confusion, his brow furrowed, before a sudden, startling thought crossed his mind. His eyes widened in surprised realization. "Don't tell me it's… what I think it is."
Areion took a slow, deliberate sip from his honey cup, his silver eyes fixed on Roxen's face, a knowing glint within them. "She's alive inside you."
Roxen's expression shifted, a flicker of something akin to resignation crossing her features. "No, not exactly. Rather, you could say she shares her body with me. It's… complicated."
He offered a small, knowing smile as he took a bite of a crisp apple. "Well, keep her inside. I don't particularly like her."
Roxen's right hand slammed onto the wooden table with a resounding thud, the sudden noise causing several nearby students to turn their heads in their direction. "Sorry," she muttered, a hint of irritation in her voice. "I can't always control her."
"I get that," Areion replied calmly, unfazed by the outburst.
"Yeah, and…" She trailed off, her gaze lingering on his face, a hint of confusion clouding her eyes.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Areion asked, reaching up to touch his cheek.
"No, it's just… I'm confused," she admitted, scratching her head, her pinkish-brown curls slightly disheveled.
"About what?"
"Well…" She paused, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "Are you… a girl now?"
Areion let out a deep, weary sigh and facepalmed himself with a dramatic groan. "No… mansi… I'm not. I'm still a guy. Luckily."
Roxen chuckled at his exasperated reaction. She could tell by the look on his face that it wasn't the first time he had been asked that question, and it likely wouldn't be the last. She cut off a piece of the roasted meat on her plate and took a slow bite, savoring the rich flavor. "So tell me, does being an elf suit you?"
"Firstly, I'm half high-elf and half-human," Areion corrected gently. "And how much do you actually know about being a high-elf?"
She shrugged, a dismissive gesture. "Nothing, really. I just read something… like they have a high Paranh capacity and are often praised as children of the gods rather than people themselves. I even went to a church dedicated to a high-elf once."
"Ohh, was it Mother Iranda?"
She nodded slightly. "Yeah. My new parents are devoted to her. And to be honest, it's okay. I'm not that spiritual anyway. Being in this body just makes my blood boil for a good fight."
"A hot-blooded cat, I see," Areion mused, a hint of amusement in his silver eyes.
As if summoned by his words, Roxen's demeanor shifted abruptly. Her golden eyes sharpened, her posture became more aggressive. Once again, Vixen seemed to take over, standing up so suddenly that her chair scraped loudly against the stone floor, knocking over. She grabbed Areion's collar, her grip surprisingly strong. "You have a long tongue, elf. Meet me in the arena. I'll describe to you exactly what I am, how I am, and answer whatever questions you might have."
Areion looked up at her, his expression remarkably calm despite the sudden aggression. "Sure," he replied. "Whenever you want, sweetheart."
.
Romona and Vixen walked together through the bustling academy grounds, their conversation flowing easily between them. "Yeah, so tell me, what does your village look like?" Romona asked, her curiosity piqued by Vixen's earlier mention of her home.
Vixen's brow furrowed in thought, her tail swishing gently behind her. "Ahhh, how can I properly describe it? Well, let's start with the church. It's established right in the middle of the village, surrounded by a beautiful garden of jasmine, so the air is always filled with this wonderful fragrance."
"Yeah, the church in my village is also surrounded by a jasmine garden," Romona replied, a nostalgic smile touching her lips. "It smells fantastic."
"I guess Mother Iranda really likes jasmine," Vixen mused.
"Yeah, my father always said something like that," Romona chuckled, "but I never really paid much attention to his… pronouncements."
"And after the church, there's the marketplace," Vixen continued, her voice gaining a touch of excitement, "where we can buy fresh meat and vegetables for our tummies. And all of that is surrounded by our houses, the inn, and various workshops for all sorts of purposes."
Romona made a surprised face, her imagination painting a vivid picture. "Ohh, is that it? Your village sounds absolutely lovely, the way you describe it."
Vixen shook her head, her pinkish-brown curls bouncing. "No, no, it's just your average village. Nothing as grand as a big city like the one you live in."
Romona snickered softly. "I can't exactly afford to live in Lorium on my own, you know. It's only because of my job."
"But still, you live in a perfect place," Vixen insisted, her eyes shining with admiration.
Romona's mind flashed to the less glamorous side of the capital, the sprawling slums that clung to its backside like a persistent shadow. "I wouldn't exactly call it perfect. The capital has its own… unique set of challenges."
As they strolled along the same path for a few more minutes, Vixen's feline ears twitched, her bright brown eyes suddenly focusing on a distant point, following the direction of a growing noise.
Romona noticed the abrupt change in her companion. "What happened?"
Vixen pointed a finger in the direction of the increasing clamor. "I can hear people… loudly cheering and stuff." Suddenly, her eyes widened, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. She grabbed Romona's hand, pulling her along with surprising strength.
Romona stumbled slightly, caught off guard by Vixen's sudden burst of energy. "Hey, easy, Vixy!"
Vixen bounced on the balls of her feet, her tail swinging back and forth with unrestrained excitement. "Oh, oh! I'm so sorry, but come on, fast! Someone's having a friendly duel in the arena! I can hear it!" She tugged Romona along, her small frame surprisingly strong.
Romona, still slightly bewildered by the sudden shift in mood, followed Vixen's enthusiastic lead, weaving through groups of students. [She's way too active for her own good,] Romona thought, a smile nonetheless creeping onto her face.
After finally pushing their way through the crowd, they reached the edge of the arena. Romona leaned against the railing, a small smile fading from her lips as she took in Vixen's conflicted expression. She followed Vixen's gaze to the center of the arena. Roxen lay sprawled on the ground, her chest heaving with labored breaths, while Areion sat casually on her back, as if it were the most comfortable throne in the world.