Page 70 of Cerulean Truth
Preparing for the Great Exposure as a Leader had its perks, one of them being always around people who knew the Human World better than any of us, like Enya. Since humans lacked magic, they relied on mechanics for speed, and I was much more up-to-date on the fastest modes of transportation than Matthew .
The bike he picked was fast, but it was a heavy, unwieldy beast. The fastest route to the destination needed some agility, and there was just no way his ride would deliver.
I conjured up a dirt bike instead, easier to navigate, though a lot less flashy.
We tore off, and of course, he shot ahead from the start. But by the third turn, I had him trailing behind. Winning this dumb race brought me way more joy than it should've. I couldn't help but smirk as I left him eating my dust, his frustration plastered all over his face.
Approaching the east side of Oasis, with Matthew hot on my heels, I cranked up my speed for the final push. But right as I was about to nail the victory, I spotted someone at the finish line.
Not just anyone; the second I saw her, I knew.
Emma.
There she was, sitting solo, surveying Cyclos. All alone.
The urge to go to her, to talk, to comfort her if she needed it, punched me in the gut. It was like every damn cell in my body was screaming at me, but I squashed that shit down.
I was too fucking stubborn,unwilling to feel anything just yet. So, I did a quick mental calculation: four Friday mornings of pure hell versus facing her. Slamming on the brakes so hard it almost sent me flying off the bike, I let Matthew rush past me and clinch the win, all while ignoring Emma, like she didn’t even exist. I could sense Matthew’s confusion when he realized I wasn’t about to follow him across the finish line.
Without a word, I spun the bike around, tore back to the dorm, and didn’t spare a backward glance at either my friend or Emma.
Four Friday mornings it was.
NINETEEN
EMMA
In the days that followed, I felt really lost—both figuratively and literally. I kept getting myself turned around a lot, which didn't positively influence my emotional state. James was nowhere to be seen, and I wasn't about to reach out to him after how he refused to even talk to me on my first day.
I took my time exploring the Universitas, trying to figure out all the hallways and how to use the Touchstone. I bumped into Enya a few times, and she was nice in her own way, reluctantly helping me out. But there was too much to take in, and I missed my old world constantly. I’d never been one to cry; I thought it was weak and pointless, and I didn’t really understand the purpose of tears. Yet, when I was alone in bed at night, I wished I could simply shed a few and be done with it. Though no such luck.
On Tuesday evening, a week after my arrival, I decided to sneak out on my own. I took a long stroll through the streets of Cyclos and ended up at the edge of Oasis with a beautiful view of the city.I mean Collective—I was still getting used to the new terms.
Sitting there alone, I expected to feel sorry for myself, but the beauty and quiet of it all captivated me. It wasn't until I hearda motorcycle approaching, I decided it was time to return to my dorm. The journey back took longer than the journey out, as I got lost a few more times.
On Wednesday, I received a summons from the head of the Universitas, delivered through a simple note slipped under my door. The message requested my presence for a discussion about my future education, specifying a date and location.
Following the directive, on Thursday, I found myself standing before an exquisitely decorated entrance in a secluded part of the Universitas which had eluded my previous explorations.
The door stood tall and imposing. Made of rich mahogany, it exuded a polished sheen that caught the light in mesmerizing patterns. As my fingers grazed its surface, I felt the intricate carvings beneath them. Golden leaf patterns decorated the panels, shimmering with an ethereal elegance that hinted at the importance of what or who lay beyond. At an even closer look, subtle etchings of symbols and glyphs caught my eye, hinting at hidden knowledge and ancient wisdom. Great, now I felt dwarfed by a door. Not a good start.
Taking a deep breath, I put on my big girl pants, knocked and entered when instructed.
To my surprise, as I entered the room, I was greeted by not one, but three individuals: Sam, Sarah, and Simon. They welcomed me warmly, each claiming the title of head of the Universitas. Three heads—why not?
As they continued speaking, they revealed themselves to be second cyclers and siblings. There was little doubt about the latter, given their matching black curls, brown eyes, and similar height.
"Please be seated, Miss Thompson," one of them instructed. I took my place in front of them, feeling an intense scrutiny thatmade me yearn for my days as a lawyer, where even the most formidable egos couldn't rattle me.
Here, I was a nobody and I was becoming painfully aware of my newfound status as a failure.
"We're delighted to meet you, Miss Thompson. I hope you're navigating our beautiful Universitas smoothly?" one of them asked kindly.
I smiled in agreement, too embarrassed to confess how frequently I had found myself lost in their freaking Universitas.
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. We wanted to personally reach out to you to assure you of our sincere commitment to your education," Sarah said, smiling.
Returning the smile, I chose not to correct her and explain how my schedule was consistently wide open, and how this was probably the most social interaction I'd had since arriving in Cyclos. There would be plenty of time to reflect on my pathetic social life later.
