Tori, have you ever thought that you may be doing too much? JP asked as he and Sonia arrived at Cafe Fortuna and found Tori lying across the chaise by the hearth with one of the accent pillows resting lightly on her face.
No, ca the muffled response from the unmoving young woman in pants and a long sleeve shirt.
You need to rest, Sonia said as she pulled a chair from one of the vacant tables and sat down beside the chaise. She raised her arm to get the attention of the man behind the counter at the back of the cafe. Mr. Tobias! Two coffees with milk.
Tori groaned. I can rest when Im dead.
All right, thats not the attitude we want to go with, Henrik said from a chair and a small table near-by. He sipped on his drink and went through so papers. Isnt your project moving along?
Tori reached up and grabbed the pillow on her face before dramatically pulling it off and glaring at the ceiling. At a snails pace! Its been almost a month and Im still waiting for the results of that test island.
Perhaps it was because she was from a world where results ca much faster and there was technology that sped it up or perhaps it was because there were people who needed a place to live imdiately, so she had no ti to waste, but the results of the piles on the island and the stone foundations felt as if they were being dragged along.
And they werent.
There was a team of enthusiastic Universit students, professors, architects, and excavators who were carefully monitoring the test island and shed receive daily calls from Professor Grey and Professor yer about the status. The last she heard; the wooden piles had been manually driven into the soil of half of the test island. They tried three different types of backfill and had settled on coarsely ground, scrap listone from a nearby quarry for both convenience and price.
The foundation stone ca recomnded by one of Professor yers professional associates; a dense stone called ifana stone. Tori had seen a sample and it was a dark gray stone with darker gray and navy marbling. A small portion of the wooden piles had already been covered by three layers of ifana stone.
It was ready to be built upon at what was considered a phenonal speed.
The students and professors planned to start the first hostead that weekend and Tori wanted to go and observe, but she had a prior engagent: Ewans birthday.
They were having dinner at Ewans house the next evening and Tori was going to spend the day at Auntie Lucias, making his requested food. She supposed it was a good distraction from the constant chaos of her project, Lions Gate, and her crystal experints.
Horizon wasnt built in a day, Sonia said as she received her drink from the server. At least while youre waiting, you can work on other things. How are the stores spring and sumr designs?
Finalized; were selecting the materials next week and estimate to have the prototypes out by next month. We can invite so important patrons to see them. Tori placed the pillow back over her head.
What about your crystal experints? JP asked as he stirred his coffee.
Tori was quiet for a mont. There is a bit of a pause. We need to find a new place to experint thatll be safe.
Safe? Sonia frowned. She narrowed her eyes. What happened?
A crystal...may have...exploded. The clinking of tal spoons against coffee cups ca to an abrupt stop.
Crystals can explode? JP asked, wide-eyed.
Tori grabbed the pillow and pulled it off her face once more, looking at JP with an aggrieved expression. Yeah, I didnt know that either!
What did you do? Sonia asked, looking at Tori as if shed done sothing crazy.
Tori let out a heavy breath and sat up. I wont get into the details, but I think there is a way to charge crystals faster, multiple at the sa ti, and especially if you don't have a strong innate ability, which is pretty much everyone. I carved so Old Sulfae symbols onto a slab of selenite. It's supposed to pull energy into the selenite. Then, I tried to place crystals on the selenite to transfer the energy into the crystals. It turns out that the crystals can be overcharged and too much energy can make them explode.
Her friends looked at her as if she were playing god and making terrible mistakes as she did. Henrik let out a heavy breath and looked up.
If Instructor Ignatius wasnt there to grab her and pull her down, shed be filled with crystal shards and in the hospital right now, he said in a dull voice. Thats why there is a bit of a pause in her project.
To be fair, Tori said, with so confidence. My theory is correct and I can program a crystal with Old Sulfae to connect and transfer energy into multiple crystals at a ti. The problem is that those crystals need to be monitored before theyre overcharged. I have another theory on the type of energy that is collected-
Sonia lifted a hand to stop her. Tori, maybe you should wait until the instructor finds a safer place for you to do your experints. Im sure this can be continued later. Youre already doing so much.
Toris shoulders slumped. I guess youre right. Most of my ti is taken by the Lyce project. I haven't even gotten to go practice daggers with Ilyana and Nanny Rey."
At that very mont, Ilyana, and Ewan and Albert, who tagged along, were at one of Nanny Reys private dagger lessons. Ilyana had raved about her first class, which caught the interest of the other two. This all ca about as a reaction to the stalker.
They didnt know or even suspect that soone tried to break into Ilyanas inn room until Tori told them. Sonia was furious, telling Ilyana that next ti, she would just stay with them.
When Tori told Ilyana, Ilyana was stunned. She had no idea such a thing happened and was very upset. She called her father to tell him and Baron Agafonov was ready to pull Ilyana out of Lyce. Tori offered to teach Ilyana so basic self-defense, if only to buy ti to get away, and to ease Baron Agafonovs mind.
However, Tori felt she was lacking as a teacher in that aspect. After speaking to Auntie Lucia when she got Ilyanas dagger, Auntie Lucia asked why she just didnt call Nanny Rey, who had more than just a little experience with daggers.
In Victorias mory, Nanny Rey was a sweet old lady with snow white hair and gray eyes, who took care of her until she was twelve. Victoria was very close to Nanny Rey and Nanny Rey wouldve stayed longer, but had to deal with family concerns back in Nordur. What Victoria didnt know was that Nanny Rey was one of the best dagger specialists in the empire and the family concerns was actually training survival techniques to elite soldiers at the request of the four main Marquises. Auntie Lucia was the one who revealed this to Tori.
Since she didnt have Nanny Rey in her comcry, she contacted her mother, who contacted Nanny Rey for her. Not two weeks later, Nanny Rey arrived in Horizon and smothered Tori in an embrace. Over dinner, Tori introduced her to Ilyana for private lessons. Ilyana was on her third lesson and she was enjoying it greatly.
Sonia shook her head with disbelief and looked at Tori. I cant believe your nanny trains elite soldiers.
Arent most nannies supposed to be these cute old ladies who treat you like their grandchild? JP asked.
Tori furrowed her brow. Nanny Rey is a cute old lady who treats like her grandchild.
Ive never heard Training Commander Reystrom being described as a cute old lady, a male voice, almost filled with horror at the thought, said. Tori looked over the back of the chaise and her face lit up.
Axton, youre back!
The man smiled warmly as he walked towards the chaise and reached out to pat Toris head. The three other students greeted him politely and he gave them a kind smile. I heard you all were able to feast on imported food Tori made. The other three seed to look away, as if a bit guilty.
Its not anything fancy, Tori told him. I was just experinting. When did you get back?
Two days ago, Axton said, stretching his arms over his head. Midterm exams are coming up and I have to put in so effort. He looked towards the counter. Mr. Tobias, is my order ready?
Almost, Sir Nassaun. His Highness roast is almost done. Just a few more minutes.
Thank you! Axton gave the man an appreciative smile and looked at the younger students. Do you mind if I join you?
Oh, have a seat. Tori swung her legs over the chaise and scooted to the far side to make room for him. Did Piers send you to pick up dinner?
Axton tried not to look annoyed. Sotis, I feel that going to get food for him is the primary function of being his aide. I barely entered the flat the other day and he told to go pick up dinner. Not even a greeting; just Axton, go pick up dinner.
Arent you already quite busy, Sir Nassaun? JP asked. Not only do you have classes, but you were out for military training, and also the aide to His Highness.
Its not as bad as it seems, Axton assured them. Military training happens three tis a year and only as part of my position as Piers knight. Ah, and I know we seem overly informal, but Ive known Piers since we were four. Hes my godbrother. My godmother is the Empress.
Tori and the others looked impressed. I didnt know that....
Axton grinned. I bet you didnt know that you were close to being my god sister, he said as he put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a little shake. My mother had to decide between Empress Monica and Marquess Antonia Guevera. Guess how she decided. Tori shook her head, without a clue. Coin toss.
Your godmother was decided by a coin toss? Sonia asked. Her face looked as if she were starting to doubt the rumored culture and class of the nobility.
Tori furrowed her brows. Sohow, knowing her mother, she could see that if she had a circle of friends, such a thing would be possible. She looked at Axton with a knowing expression. But youd also be a godbrother of Kasey and Sebby.
Axton took his arm off her shoulder and narrowed his eyes. He rubbed his chin. There are downsides to everything. She let out a small snort. He looked over at her questioningly. Why were you talking about Commander Reystrom?
There was an incident during the winter break, Tori said. Basically, now I want Ilyana to learn to defend herself, so I got her a dagger. Auntie Lucia suggested I contact Nanny Rey. I called Mama and she called Nanny Rey. Shes here until sumr and is giving introductory dagger lessons to Ilyana three tis a week.
Ewan and Albert are joining her, Henrik said. Its not far from here.
A block east, Tori said. How do you know Nanny Rey, Axton? Did you train with her?
Axton was quiet for a mont and his eyes seed to go blank. The four Lyce students waited and then began to look at each other, worried.
Sir Nassaun? JP asked. He lifted his hand and waved it in front of Axtons face. Axton seed to snap out of his daze and blinked. He looked towards them and smiled weakly.
Once, he said, with a slight tremble in his voice. Two years ago.... Commander Reystrom is.... He swallowed hard. Scary.
Tori looked at him, curious. It seed that her impression of Nanny Rey, who tucked Victoria in as a child, read her stories, and brushed her hair, greatly differed from Axtons.
Tori, were done! Ilyanas voice reached them and Tori looked back over the chaise. Ilyana happily walked in ahead of Albert and Ewan, all of them in training pants and shirts.
How was it? Tori asked.
Ilyana bead. Nanny Rey praised . She said Im a natural.
She said that to all of us, Albert said, amused. Your nanny is amazing, Tori. I know shes just teaching us the basics, but shes very good at instructing. Ive never held a dagger before and shes been very patient.
I invited Nanny Rey to my birthday dinner tomorrow, Ewan said. Like you asked. Shes very excited to try your food.
Im glad. I havent had a chance to cook for her yet. I hope shell like it.
Axton narrowed his eyes at the group of younger teenagers. Youre having dinner tomorrow?
Ewan gave Axton a respectful nod. Sir Nassaun! Welco back!
Thanks. Axton looked at him, almost expectant. So, its your birthday tomorrow?
Ewan nodded. Yes. Were having dinner at my house. Tori promised all of us that shed cook sothing for our birthdays. Ive asked for jambalaya, which is this rice dish with sausage, shrimp, and chicken. He paused and smiled. Do you want to co, Sir Nassaun? Its not a big house, but there is always room for one more.
A wide smile filled Axtons lips as his eyes crinkled up. Well...if you insist.
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