Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

Chapter 4: A Chance Meeting

BEFORE EVEN OPENING the entrance of their apartment, they left the place, leaving Kathrin to guard their house. She slipped in quite easily through the window.

In the letter, Lucas talked a little about what you would expect in the trial. So, Wrik sent Anton to manage a few necessary tools, like armour, knives, firearms and other necessary. Red should be able to manage a few of those on short notice.

While he walked up to catch a horse carriage, he was going to meet up with Sophia Syfinn to decline her offer.

He was walking for about a quarter of an hour without finding a carriage. Well, that's what folks of Elania say: you can't find them when you need them the most.

The Grand Canan. The place where she was staying, quite close to the university. It's about fifteen minutes away from University, while he was an hour away from the University.

At last, he saw a wagon; he moved towards it. "The Grand Canan."

"Hop in." A gruff voice answered as he entered the carriage. By his good fortune, he didn't have to share the carriage with anyone. That's what he thought until two fellows came in after covering a few distances. They were about his age. One male and the other female. They should be students from the University.

Wrik closed his eyes and tried his best to stop listening to their chatters. Even so, their whispering came into his ears. God, forgive him for that. Finally, they left at the University. And Wrik sighed in comfort.

Wrik looked through the window, the disappearing green-less trees, the University of Elania, and the long road. The sun had set a moment ago, so there's not much problem with the light for now.

"The Grand Canan," the similar gruff voice sounded out in his ear, disrupting his sightseeing. Wrik jumped down from the Wagon when its velocity turned to zero.

"Keep the change." Leaving two coins of fifty tinz, he moved towards the Grand Canan.

It was as grand as the name suggested. He could see the magnificent erections over the large gate in the dim light. He went nearer the gate to find two guardsmen.

"What do you want?" One of the guards asked without a single speck of sweetness.

"Sophia Syfinn," He didn't care about the guard, answered. "I've something to discuss with her."

"What's your name?" Another voice came in behind the gate.

"Wrik Everknight."

Wrik waited about a minute, then the gate opened. Not the large one, but a smaller one in it. When he walked on inside, the first thing he noticed was a vast garden with a wide range of flowers and plants. There's even a maze of hedges. He had little time to appreciate its beauty. He moved towards the reception on the straight path.

"I'm looking for Sophia Syfinn," He answered the receptionist, a handsome-looking young lady. She nodded and opened the large slab beside her.

"I'm afraid, Mistress Syfinn is not here at the moment." She answered in her sweet tone after fiddling with the notebook for a while.

"Any mention of when she would return."

"Not that's written here." She closed the notebook.

Wrik pondered for a bit. They were already short on time. He can't wait here for hours. He asked. "Can I have a pen and paper?"

She nodded and handed him a pen and a pad.

Wrik sighed and wrote a note for Sophia Syfinn.

'I would've liked to do this in person, but it looks like time is the only thing that we don't have much. I'm extremely sorry to decline the offer that you presented in the morning. Apparently, we managed to obtain two tickets a moment ago. I'm not saying that your offer is anything bad, it's just forget it would take more to explain this through this. May we meet again.

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Wrik Everknight.'

He left the note to the receptionist, empathising to give it to Sophia Syfinn.

Wrik left the reception and walked his way through the gardens. Now his pace was a bit slower. Gentle wind blew in his face, swirling his shoulder-length hair a bit. Admiring the elegance of the garden, Wrik continued in a carefree walk, appreciating the soothing wind until he halted.

A slender figure among the plants caused the halt. Even in the dim light, Wrik could determine who the silhouette belonged to. And her luminous emerald eye confirmed his speculation. The fair girl that he met today near the University. The girl he didn't know the name of.

The emerald-eyed girl noticed his gaze. She seemed to not remember him, gawked at his exterior for a few moments, then a faint smile appeared on her lips, indicating her recollections. She opened her mouth in a teasing manner, "Please tell me, you're not stalking me." And she didn't forget to put a horrified expression on her sleek exterior.

"I would have if I have time."A rather flirty phrase voiced out of his mouth. He didn't notice that there's a thin grin on his lips.

"I don't remember you being this cheeky this morning." A glimmer appeared in her emerald eyes.

He didn't take his eyes off her. "I found it now as well." He said, "Maybe it's an unpleasant habit I picked up while talking to you."

"Maybe," she beamed out in mischievousness. "Though I won't call it unpleasant."

"So you stay here?" Wrik asked, looking around the grand resort. The limelight lit up all over the grand Canan, giving a picturesque view of the majestic palace. It's a marvellous place.

"Oh, no!" She gave another phony-terrified look. "Now you know where I live."

The smile on his lips widened, showing a few of his whites.

She also laughed, then continued, "looks like you made your decision."

"Yeah," he nodded. "I don't know what impact it would have in my life though."

"So, why are you here?" She asked.

"I was looking for someone "

"Are you sure it's not me?" She never rested in her playfulness.

"How can I look for you?" He answered, smiling. "I didn't even know your name yet."

"Fair enough." She nodded, as if she expected him to say that.

"So, what's your name?" He asked, looking at her emerald eyes that seemed to have a hue of Sapphire in them. He only noticed it now.

"I might tell you if you ask sweetly." She said as she expected him to ask again sweetly.

Wrik looked around to notice there's no one present in the path or the garden. That definitely raised his courage. He kneeled in one leg, like those princes on novels, and drawn his right arm towards herasking for hers. And she did give her slender arm.

"Forgive me, my lady. Would you bless this humble one with your name?"

Wrik didn't know how that sounded outhe was more surprised by his own brazenness. But he steadied down his heart, seeing the broad smile on her striking, full lips. 'I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought.' He relieved inwardly.

Wrik didn't pick his leg up, and remained still, looking at her. She didn't say anything either. Finally, the barrier of his continuance broken, as he gave her a questioning frown.

"I said I'll tell you my name." She held out her tongue. "But I didn't mention it would be now."

Now, she played it dirty, but with zero experience in this regard. He didn't know what to say. She snatched her arm back while he stood up. He said, "I feel like I'm at the losing end."

"How're you at the losing end? I don't know your name either."

He peeked deeply at her, couldn't help but give out a helpless laugh. "I think I'm at the losing end most of the time while talking to you."

"I'm glad to learn that, I managed to win against one of the smartest individuals."

'She never forgot anything, did she?' Wrik gave her a pitiful look, asking for a leeway. And she did.

"I'll tell you my name if our paths cross-pass again, and will ask for yours."

"And if that never happens again?"

"Then what's there to lose?" In the dim light, the gusts of warm wind swayed her dark hair as she looked at the night sky, pondering over something.

'Yes, what's there to lose,' Wrik nodded, musing inside. 'Wouldn't know the name of a stranger that is.'

The gust of wind still blew. Wrik looked at her again. Even in the dim light, she looked striking as the wind swayed her fine dark hair. He gave her another look. Then to bid her goodbye as he carried on to leave. But soon his walk faltered, a smile appeared on his lips, hearing what she said:

"I'll be at the bench beneath the willow tree tomorrow afternoon."

.. .

With a smile on his lips, Wrik opened the door of his apartment. He walked up straight up to notice Anton on the couch, studying some papers. Anton returned before him. With a small nod, Wrik continued his way towards the washroom. He needed a bath to relax. It's been a long day for both of them.

When he came back from the bath, Anton was still tinkering with the papers, while Kathrin was resting in her place. He asked out, resting his buttock on the couch. "So, I can assume your side is well covered?"

"Mostly yes," Anton said. His head was still in the papers he was reading. "Red said he would manage a few by tomorrow."

"What are you studying so hard?"

"Do you know how much the card is worth the one Lucas sent us?" He asked, raising his head from the papers. "It's two million penz. And he said it's a little money to take care of the smaller problems."

"It may be little for him" Wrik's exterior twitched. They had been working their asses off for a few thousands of penz and here someone calling two million little money. "So what you're doing with the papers."

"I'm making the papers for buying off this apartment. I like this place quite a lot. Wouldn't hurt, only cost about a hundred thousand penz." Anton clicked his tongue while saying 'only a hundred penz'still not used to that. "And after buying the necessity, I thought about leaving the rest in Aunt's care."

"If you're always as responsible as now, I won't have to worry about anything," Wrik said as a sensible elder brother advising the mischievous little brother.

"When was I ever irresponsible?" Anton yelled out. "Maybe a bit careless, when I was young."

He grinned out, hearing that. "We will leave for home at dawn, tomorrow. I already booked the tickets."

It would take over three hours on the train to reach Pantia, the small town where their family was. Well, it's only his sick mother and aunt. Wrik looked at the resting figure of Kathrin. He had to leave her in the care of his auntcouldn't take anything to the trial. Thinking about it made him uneasy.

"Alright. But you're the one in charge of dealing with aunt," Anton finally agreed. "Almost forgot, how's your conversation went with Sophia Syfinn? Did she ask about me?"

Wrik shook his head. "I didn't see her," he said. "Supposedly, she was out on some business. I left a note mentioning our decisions."

"I'll really miss her," lamented Anton.

"Ahh, Ton, you know close to nothing about her."

"I don't need to learn anything about her... Fuck! I'm already missing her."

"Fair enough," Wrik pondered for a bit to nod in comprehending. With Ton's nature, it was comprehensible. "But it's not like you would never meet her again."

*******

It's about midnight when Sophia returned to the Grand Canan. There's not even a single soul present on the street, but the Grand Canan was still gleaming with faint lights. It was one of the most extensive and secure fortresses in the country. Not many of the Mahasayer could get a suite in here. And capital was the least of the things you need to get a suite here.

Sophia walked in through the path between the garden. In the cool breeze of the night, her long gown swayed as her blonde hair. She was wearing a white gown with a black and silver striped pattern on it. And there's a symbol of swords and a shield on her left arm. It appeared to be the dress code of some organisations.

She walked on, unfretted. Her good-looking exterior showed a hint of fatigue in them. But she hid it as she approached the receptionist.

"Good.. . Greeting, mistress." The handsome-looking receptionist didn't know what to say about the greeting, bowed.

"Is there anyone looking for me?" Sophia asked.

"A youth named Wrik Everknight came in the evening.. ." the receptionist said answered instantly. She messed over the desk to find the note, and handed it over awkwardly, saying. "He left this for you."

"If there's nothing else?" Sophia took the note.

"No. Mistress." She bowed again.

"Good night then." Sophia turned and left for her suite.

"Good night." the meek voice of the receptionist came in her ear, but Sophia didn't falter in her walk.

Arriving at her suite, the first thing Sophia did was removing the heavy gown from her body. She changed it to more comfortable clothing. Finally, she took out the note and started reading, sitting on the couch.

A deep frown appeared on her brows as Sophia finished reading the note. She sighed. "Now who would offer them the invitations, I've to look into it later."

She rested her head on the couch and closed her eyes, pondering.

After a few minutes, Sophia picked her body up and walked towards the room to her left. Before even opening the door, a frown appeared on her forehead. She moved further on to the second floor through the stairs.

The second floor was not that majestic as the one before, but it's more materialistic. Sophia went straight to a particular chamber, opening the entrance.

The temperature of the chamber was on the colder side. Mists were drifting away from the centre of the chamber. A serene figure was sitting cross-legged in the centre of the room, while white mists were as if warping around her. But she wavered as the mists dispersed, quiet and quick.

The serene figure opened her eyes, as her figure became clear in the disappearing mists. If Wrik was here, he would have recognised her emerald eyes in the instant.

"That's quite the progress in barely a few hours," Sophia said.

"I'm in a good mood today," the girl with the emerald eye said, raising her body.

Sophia nodded. "Well, Mahasaying does depend quite a lot on the emotions," she said. "You don't need to worry about it, you're already few steps ahead of the others. Moreover, it would be a lot easier after assimilating with the origin seed."

The dark-haired girl nodded.

"Rest the next day, you'll get busy in the trial," Sophia advised. "Apparently, I have to find another person. Couldn't waste a ticket."

The emerald-eyed girl opened her mouth to say something. She hesitated a bit to close it again as she left the chamber. While Sophia couldn't help but sigh a bit, looking at her sister.

*****************

END OF CHAPTER FOUR: A CHANCE MEETING.

NEXT CHAPTER: HOME.

*****

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