Chapter 5: The Night’s Desert Star

 

 

 

Chapter 5: The Night’s Desert Star

 

“IF you don’t want me around, I won’t approach you anymore.”

Oriana reflected on the words she’d blurted out earlier as she sat in her room. Her heart was hammering, so she put a hand on her chest.

After her outburst, she and Vincent went to the cafeteria together, but he never said another word about not wanting her around. He was probably too overwhelmed by everything else she’d said and forgot.

Oriana thanked the heavens that he didn’t seem to remember. She had one other thing to be grateful for as well.

I never dreamed he would believe my story!

After they talked, Vincent promised to have a thorough physical. He finally believed her story after calling it nonsense for so long. Oriana couldn’t blame him for that; if someone had told her during her first life that she could go back in time and relive it all over again, she would’ve thought they were full of it.

Oriana was thrilled with how things played out—so thrilled, in fact, that she’d tried to show her appreciation by embracing Vincent. But he’d firmly rebuffed her.

That was a bit strange. Lately, he’s pretty much resigned himself and let me cling to him.

For a while, Oriana had sobbed in front of him, longing for his scent and his warmth. He stared down at her all the while, completely apathetic. That saddened her. She wished he’d give in to her more. Yet, she loved him all the same.

I’m so glad things worked out.

There had never been any guarantee her hard work would pay off. But since she was doing it all for Vince, she’d never considered it exhausting labor. Having Vincent understand where she was coming from after all these years was a much bigger relief than she’d ever imagined.

All that effort…was worth it…

Oriana wept again and her tears of happiness showed no signs of stopping any time soon.

❦❦❦

“HEY, Oriana.” Yana blinked over and over, her long, thick lashes fluttering.

Oriana jumped, having been lost in a reverie about Vincent, and stared at her friend. Yana took a seat on the sofa and placed something in her lap.

“What’s that?” Oriana asked.

“Someone gave it to me a minute ago. Weren’t you paying attention?”

The spacious lounge they were in was located inside the same building as the cafeteria. They’d retreated here to take a break after their meal. With a full belly came drowsiness, sinking Oriana into thoughts of the past. As a result, she apparently didn’t notice that someone had approached Yana.

“Sorry,” said Oriana. “I was daydreaming. Ooh, those are fireflies!”

“Fireflies? Are they really that impressive?” Yana furrowed her brows.

An insect cage made of domed glass sat in her hands. She was so accustomed to receiving gifts by now, and yet, although she’d accepted this one, she wasn’t sure what to make of it. Should she be happy? Or was this some kind of prank?

A group of fireflies was nestled inside the cage, and although they glowed in the dark, they looked like your average insect in the light. Judging by Yana’s reaction, they probably didn’t have fireflies in her hometown. No one could blame her for being perplexed at receiving a box full of bugs.

“Well, I think it’s impressive. I love them,” Oriana gushed.

“All right. In that case, I’ll have to be sure to thank the person when I see them next.” She turned to Azraq, who was, of course, seated right beside her. “Azraq, do you remember who gave this to me?”

He nodded, as if there was no way he wouldn’t remember. “Kaspar Haapoja, a fifth-year student. I’ll call him over the next time I see him.”

“Thank you. Please do.” Yana lifted the cage and stared through the glass. “They seem to be glowing faintly. Is that the work of a magic circle?”

“Nope, these bugs are…uh, how to explain this…”

Pretty sure fireflies glow to signal their desire to mate, Oriana thought. That must mean this Kaspar wanted to express his interest in Yana, right? But to think he’d hand her such a bold gift in front of her bodyguard… He has to know that Azraq has been fighting all these other boys who want to win her hand, right?

Perhaps Kaspar had gone for the romantic approach because he wasn’t confident in winning her through strength alone. Either way, he had some guts.

As Oriana struggled to explain, Azraq hopped in to help her.

“I have heard it’s a part of insect copulation. They glow as a way of signaling their interest in one another.”

Oriana awkwardly cleared her throat. She was a commoner, but she’d still been raised in a sheltered environment. “Copulation” wasn’t a word she heard very often.

Just recently, some of her underwear had flown off the clothesline, and with nowhere else to turn, she sucked up her embarrassment and enlisted Azraq’s help. He retrieved her undergarments without so much as raising an eyebrow.

She thought he was maintaining a poker face for her benefit, since she was bright red at the time. But maybe, it was because such things simply didn’t bother him. His expression betrayed nothing, but the atmosphere around him wasn’t of someone naive and inexperienced. If anything, it was dangerously sensual.

Amazing what a difference being two years older than the rest of us makes…

Although when she took her previous timeline into account, she was actually older than him.

“Oh, I see. That must be difficult for such small creatures.” Yana stared blankly at the fireflies. It was too unnerving for Oriana.

“H-Hey, Yana, since you received such a great gift, why not take it outside? The fireflies will look even more enchanting in the dark.”

“Really? I would like to see that then.” Yana smiled and lifted herself off the sofa, flipping the tail of her robe back. Her every movement—even down to the way she bent her fingertips—was so graceful and fluid

As the two girls walked side-by-side, Azraq followed after them. He was almost always with them when they were outside the girls’ dormitory, and they always kept this same formation. It had flustered Oriana in the beginning, having him tail them, but after eight years (her time at the Academy in this life and her last), she shamelessly enjoyed his presence for the sense of security it afforded her.

They left the cafeteria building and continued walking, only stopping once they found a random bench to sit on. Yana lifted the cage in both hands.

“Oh my,” Yana gasped.

“It’s beautiful!”

Inside the glass enclosure, the fireflies gave off a captivating yellowish-green glow, standing out starkly against the darkness as they fluttered around. Yana brought the dome close to her face, examining the insects so closely their brightness was reflected in her black eyes.

“They truly are gorgeous! It’s as if someone trapped the stars in here.” It was only after Yana blurted that out that she finally realized the arrogant message Kaspar had intended to send. She snickered. “The boy who gave me this must have been naïve if he thought he could put me in a cage.”

“Pretty silly,” Oriana agreed. “After all, we’re talking about a tomboy who was adventurous enough to leave her own country to study here.”

“Haha.” Yana caressed the cage, her pearly white nails brushing over the glass. “I will be sure to give him a heartfelt thanks for showing me something so beautiful.”

Oriana nodded. Though she knew nothing of Kaspar save his name, gathering up so many fireflies on the school grounds had to be a tough task.

“Oriana,” Yana said, interrupting her thoughts, “I would like to release them. Would it be all right if I do that here?”

“You’re really going to let them go?”

“Yes. Small creatures like this have such short lives. Their whole reason for glowing is so their species can continue on. I don’t want them to stay trapped like this.” Yana smiled wryly. “That boy truly thought he could put me in a cage. Can you imagine the look on his cocky face when he sees them flying free?”

Kaspar would surely realize his feelings were unrequited once he saw them. Oriana pitied him, but it was even more painful to continue hoping for something when you were never destined to receive it.

Oriana and her friends made their way to a small stream beside the cafeteria building. Yana cracked the door of the glass cage open, and the fireflies eagerly escaped. It was a bewitching sight, like a river of stars trickling through the darkness.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it, Oriana?”

“It is. It’s thanks to you that I have the pleasure of seeing it.”

Yana giggled. “Perhaps I should kiss him when I thank him then.”

“Whaaat?!” Oriana gawked at her friend.

Someone suddenly stepped between the two girls, but Oriana didn’t even have to glance up to know it was Azraq.

“Pardon, but I don’t believe that man deserves such an honor.”

“Oh? Then what would you propose instead?” Yana asked.

“A small show of appreciation, such as calling his name, would be more than enough.”

“Then I should be sure to remember his name from now on.”

“No need. Merely speaking it one time in his presence is sufficient.”

Yana broke into laughter.

As the last of the fireflies faded into the darkness, Yana grabbed Oriana by the arm. The princess was so petite that even when she leaned on Oriana, she barely weighed anything.

Oriana had been so busy in her second lifetime between her studies and looking out for Vincent that she didn’t have many girlfriends. In spite of that, just as in her first life, Yana took a liking to her and grew attached. It was an unexpected but happy coincidence.

“I wonder if we’ll be able to see these insects again,” Yana wondered aloud.

“Good question,” said Oriana. “Probably next summer.”

“Is that the only season they show up?”

“Yeah. They disappear if it gets too hot, but they always show up about this time of year. Although if you venture closer to the Dragon Tree, where the air is clearer, you might find more of them.”

“Interesting. I would like to see them again.”

Oriana nodded. “In that case, let’s go to the Dragon Tree together next year.”

“A splendid idea. Perhaps we should invite Mister Tanzine along as well.”

Normally, this was the part where she was supposed to squeal in delight, but Yana’s comment was so out of left field that Oriana simply froze.

Yana snickered, reaching over to stroke her friend’s head. “Oriana, when you stand on the stage, you need to continue playing your role until the curtain closes.”

Oriana had never communicated anything to Yana about this being her second life. It wasn’t strange for her to comment on Oriana’s affection for Vincent—she’d made such an open show of it—but the way Yana spoke implied she sensed something more.

Well, she’s rightly guessed I love him, but…what the heck is going on?! How did she realize there’s more to it?

Yana continued chuckling, and with no rebuttal readily at hand, Oriana could only mutter a weak, “Y-Yeah…”

❦❦❦

ONCE they arrived back at the girls’ dormitory, Azraq bowed, intending to bid them farewell.

Yana would normally thank him for his day’s work before wishing him goodnight. But today, she stopped him.

“Azraq.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I wanted to ask you. Who was it that told you this story about the fireflies and their mating practices?”

The only lighting in the area came from the dorm, and the way it fell over them made it impossible for Oriana to see the expression on Yana’s face. Azraq likely couldn’t either.

He mumbled the name of a female student, one Oriana knew from her past life when she was also in Class 2, as Yana and Azraq were currently.

“I see. I assume that story isn’t all she gave you. Did you…take her up on her offer?”

“…Yes.”

“How naughty,” Yana said with a laugh. It was hypocritical of her to say that, given her popularity with the boys, but no one could argue that point with her. She was a princess. All Azraq could do was submit.

Oriana watched with bated breath, wondering if the two were about to start fighting. But Azraq suddenly smiled.

“I did tell you I would accept punishment for it.”

“My, you really do surprise me. What a bad boy you are!” Yana made a face of mock surprise before smacking Azraq’s forehead. It couldn’t have hurt much, but he pressed a hand over the wound and lowered his head. “I appreciate your hard work today. Please be sure to rest.”

“You as well, Princess Yana. See you tomorrow, Elsha.”

“Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry, um…my bad!”

Oriana didn’t realize she was intruding on the two until after Yana began affectionately rubbing his forehead. By then, it was too late for her to make her retreat.

It feels like this life has lasted an eternity, but there’s still so much I don’t know. I hope Yana and Azraq won’t hold it against me! I really do feel bad…