When we make our way through the city and arrive at the destination, I'm a little speechless.
Elias told me this was a restaurant. So why… is it so big?
From the outside, it looks like what I would assume a palace would be. Four stories and wide.
Very wide.
I was surprised by the academy and its impressive stature when I first arrived in the city and thought that it was the only structure I've ever seen comparable to the arena.
Now, I know my knowledge is lacking and how truly ignorant I am.
While the Frosted Rose looks to be made out of wood mostly, it was no way inferior in its appearance.
On the third floor I can see a giant chandelier of sparking and glowing red jewels through giant color-stained windowpanes. The ambiance feels somehow sophisticated, and it puts me on edge.
I feel like a savage standing so close to it.
Closing my mouth from its open gawking as Elias pulls on my arm.
"Come on Kelric, don't even think of backing out now."
I let him lead me as we pass various people of high station. When we reach the entrance, a woman wearing a masculine style suit greets us.
"Reservation for.."
"Elias Hayford."
"Ahh you grace is with your presence M' Lord, the table on the third floor is ready. Miss Pyne and Miss Bywater have already arrived."
"Excellent! Here, for your trouble."
Elias does a slight of a hand and I see him deftly slide a gold into the woman's palm.
She then steps to the side a little, allowing us to pass.
'I knew he had money.. I should've tried to squeeze some outta him when I had the chance.'
My thoughts are distracted when we fully enter the Frosted Rose.
The first floor is odd, and I see no tables in which to dine at, instead there are men and women pairs slow dancing to the orchestra on the stage at the back of the room.
There's a path down the center of the room, marked by a plush red carpet. It breaks off and leads to stairs to the left- and right-hand sides of the room.
It makes for an odd design as the couples' dance in sectioned off quadrants.
I do not like the softness of the carpet when I step on it, it feels unnatural.
We pass the second floor as we continue on to third. There is a sturdy banister that's reinforced with metal on the stairs. This design is copied by the railing on the second and third floor.
The second floor had tables on it and seemed to be completely filled from my point of view.
When get up to the third, the tables are spread way further apart, allowing for conversation that couldn't be overheard.
Elias leads me to a corner of the room, and I spot Marinah sitting with another woman. Our table is by a large window and overlooks the city streets.
Marinah notices us as we approach, and her angry red face is immediate when she looks at me.
'Wow. I've made an enemy, and I haven't even finished the exam, great job Kelric.'
Elias nudges me with his elbow to get my attention and leans in to whisper.
"Just play it cool and be yourself, tonight will be a great victory for us both."
'I don't know what victory there is to have here..'
"Who else would I be?"
My question catches him off guard as he laughs loudly and the other girl at the table turns to look at us.
Her voice curious and teasing.
"What's so funny Elias and who's your friend?"
She looks me up and down and I see a little anger in her face as well.
'I'm not very popular with women it seems..'
Elias catches her look and now he seems to dislike me a little as well.
He introduces me as I regret my decision to come here.
"This is Kelric, I met him today at the exam and we've become quite close."
His irritated look turns into a sly grin.
"When did we become close?"
For some reason, everyone laughs like I told a great joke. I'm still confused as the woman Elias came here to meet, puts out a hand towards me.
"I'm Kathlyn Bywater, pleased to meet you Kelric."
Her handshake form is weird. Her hand is tilted down, and her wrist is limp.
Now that I think about it, Marinah had her hand the same way earlier before turning it and asking me to shake.
I shrug inwardly and grab the extended hand and shake it as well.
Everyone laughs again and I'm starting to not like it. I hold my tongue and bear being the butt of their joke.
Elias pushes me into a chair opposite Marinah, and he sits down next to me across from Kathlyn.
He starts a conversation with Kathlyn, and I sit silently and stare at Marinah.
I don't attempt to talk to her as I fear she might burst into anger at the slightest provocation.
I'm surprised when she asks me a question.
"H-have you been in Watercrest long.."
"No, I got here a day ago."
"Ohh.. then uhh you must've just come from your hometown to join Elomburg academy."
"Yeah."
Elias takes an interest in our conversation and butts in.
"Oh yeah I've been meaning to ask, where are you from Kelric?"
"Saltpond Village."
Kathlyn's face turns into a grimace.
"Oh, that's terrible, I heard from my father that Saltpond got raided a couple years ago by slavers… he was furious at Earl Stanning for pulling his forces so far from the coast. You must've had a hard time after you got away.."
I shake my head at her misunderstanding.
"I didn't escape; I only made it back to the kingdom.. two months ago? I don't remember exactly. I lost track of time when I got back to Saltpond, nobody had buried the bodies, and it took a while to do by myself."
Marinah dropped her glass of water and Kathlyn put a hand to her mouth.
Elias was muttering something about scars.
'Maybe I should've just lied..'
"Kelric, I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to ask such an insensitive question."
"It's fine Kathlyn, they died a long time ago."
The air is awkward and Elias stares at me like he knows some great secret.
I know then that I should've just kept my big mouth shut.
There's no need to distract everyone with a new topic as a waiter comes over.
"Could I interest anyone in tonight's delicacy? Braised feathered lion cub meat on a bed of white tato mash, drizzled with the houses original sauce."
No one says anything to him as they keep staring at me in horror.
"I'll take that."
The waiter nods to me and waits for everyone else's order. There is none at first, so I kick Elias's shin under the table.
He jumps and is about to snap at me until he finally sees the man standing with a towel cloth over his arm.
"Oh.. uh yeah, I'll have the seared Hell Boar ribs and a side of tato mash with brown gravy.
Elias's order seemed to snap the girls out of their thoughts, and they say their orders as well.
When he leaves, everyone steals glances at me like they weren't just staring at me.
I kick Elias again and he shouts at me.
"Oww! Kelric you-"
Elias stops when he sees my face.
I feel myself wearing a slight smile at his outrage.
He just sighs and goes back to trying to woo Kathlyn. It's not a very good attempt as she half pays attention to his words.
I look at Marinah and for some reason her anger turned into sadness.
The air surrounding the table is much better now but still stifled as the waiter returns with our dishes.
My mouth has never tasted such rich food. I'm not sure why the waiter gave me five forks as I pick up the meat and eat it with my hands.
Elias let's out a small chuckle, followed by Kathlyn. Soon the mood returns to normal after I break some kind of rule of etiquette again.
Marinah has been quiet for a while now and as I'm finishing the glorious tato mash, she speaks.
"Kelric.. what do you think of my hairstyle tonight…'
After she asks this question, she hides her face in her hands.
I look at her as I ponder. Her wild and fiery red hair had been combed neatly, and thin braids wove in and out of the sides of her head. I see her green eyes peeking out at me from behind fingers.
I have to turn away from her as an unwanted feeling rises in my chest.
"N-nice."
I kick Elias harder than I did before because of his mocking laughter.
He's still laughing at me as he holds his leg.
"Kelric.. you sure do have a way with words.. bahahahaha!"
I kick his other shin and feel a little dumb as I see Kathlyn hiding a smile behind her hand.
'Why did I agree to come here..'
The rest of the dinner is peaceful and soon the waiter comes to retrieve our plates and ask what we want for dessert.
My eyes narrow as I inspect the man. He's not the one who served us previously and there's a small splatter of blood under his wrist. He reaches to grab the girl's plates first and I see that his eyes never leave Elias.
No one besides me is paying attention to him and I see him jerk something shiny into his hand from under his towel as he approaches Elias.
My hand catches his wrist as he plunged his dagger towards Elias's neck. Elias was to my left and the assassin on the opposite side of the table in between him and Marinah.
Dress shoes shatter ceramic and glass as I leapt up onto the table. There are panicked cries from the girls as I do so, and I see Elias try to understand what was happening in my peripheral. He turns and notices the dagger and his eyes bulge.
My grip is solid, but this assassin isn't a complete pushover and breaks free.
He backs up half a step and his face is twisted in anger at my interference.
"Stupid boy, you just threw your life away."
I don't say anything as I leap towards him, my body has been charged with energy ever since I killed the merchant earlier.
My rage bubbles and explodes forth from my fist.
It connects with the assassin's shoulder, and I feel the bones break under his skin. He roars at me and pierces his dagger towards my face.
I take the blow clean through my hand as I put an arm up. I did this intentionally to pin his blade between my fist as I charge forward.
His anger turns to panic as my rage grows, and my bloodlust spills out. He understands that I'm a threat and tries to escape, letting go of his dagger.
I don't let him.
I rip the blade out of my palm and run after the fleeing man, I think he's going to jump over railing.
The battle energy feeds my body as I run faster. And faster.
I catch him by an arm and yank him back towards me.
We crash into each other and fall to the ground and wrestle for control. I'm on top of him and my knees pin his shoulders into the floor. His broken one seems to cause him great agony, and he can't catch his breath.
I feel wickedness take control of me and clasp my hands to the sides of his head.
I push my thumbs into his eyes and his screams send a wonderful shiver down my spine. His eyes kept providing resistance until I pushed a little too far and they popped.
I pull my hands back, not wanting to kill him too fast. I stand then and stomp on the hand that stabbed me, his shrieks are girlish as his hand flattens. I stomp on his elbow as well; it had a good crunch as it breaks.
I'm about to start on his other arm when someone approaches me from behind.
I almost lunge forward in my madness but stop when I recognize Elias's disturbed face.
It's hard to suppress my rage, but it finally quells, and I feel my body relax.
I take one, shuddering breath before I speak.
"Do you want me to kill him?"