THAT ILLUSION || ONC 2021

~•{Chapter #11}•~

"I wish things get along well, Kenna. But why are the tutors taking much time? An epoch had been cruised and still, none is here. Not even Azarious. What could be more important?" Rohana poured her worries.

"Grace, breathe some cedar and relax. They would be here by the start of the next candle. It marks the start of official trails, right?"

"Yes, but..."

"No! Seal the words and steal some tea." She grabbed the porcelain cup rimmed with emerald glitters and poured out some hot tea for her.

"Aren't you drinking? Hope you said we will share things."

"As you wish, your grace."

Taking two cups of herbal tea and a smile lighting her eyes to shine like a speck of sun she had set the wooden slab opposite to the entrance for them.

"So if you were to get my vision what would you have interpreted it to be?" Rohana glanced at the opened parchment lying on the boulder set in the heart of the shrine while sipping her tea.

"Hmm. Could be anything. But not the right one." Kenna's words surprised her.

"Why not right?"

"It wouldn't be as simple as gazing sea. If I can read it right then the vision would have chosen me," she said as she chuckled to colour her cheeks.

"Haha! Witty and wise."

"Honoured to have comforted you," she said, raising her cup on air.

"Hail the glories of the mother!"

Between their breezing talks, they failed to realize the arrival of their anticipated tutors.

"Glad to greet you, Sir Azarious and Ms Valerie," she greeted them with a smile while her eyes hunted someone.

"Where is...?"

Before she could ask, they heard a howl of air washing the morsels of dust past their feet, pinning their gazes to the gate. The recent rush of breezes and the rising scent of Calamus and Galbanum made them comprehend him.

"Am I invited here?" A gravelly voice echoed from the tips and blends of the shrine.

"Come in, Sir Laurel."

With Rohana's command, three clanks of metals revealed his slightly hunched trunk donned in purple robes carrying the sigil of triskelion rimmed with geometric florals on protruded his fat flanking belly. After reaching the edges of the shrine, he halted and let his sharp nose snuff while his aquamarine eyes read narrowed in tension, making his thumbs rub his sharply hanging black beard furring his finely chiselled face.

"Strange it is," he declared to earn some odd gawks.

He rolled his thistle ivory palm stick emitting the fumes of the ignited herbs. With twenty strides for him where it should be ten for the others, he neared them.

"But why an emergency meeting for such a case?" Laurel whispered, placing his incense over the wooden ledge beside them.

"As you implied, Sir. Strange. It is." Valerie reminded him.

Laurel tossed his brows and gaped his fleshy lips. Before he could spit his sour words, Rohana streamlined them.

"Thanks for this early arrival. Azarious would have notified you of whatever I had worded him. Now let me express what I have seen. Kenna, can you please serve all of us some tea?"

With a courteous hum, Kenna brisked her services while Rohana gathered little pieces of parchment for all of them to trial their thoughts. When they both were done, they took their seats.