Page 25 of Lucent Academy 2: Trinity Awakens
"We were worried about you. What happened out there anyway?" Oliver was looking so earnest that I felt it was time totell them what really happened. I told them about the snake and it turning into a monster, my flight through the woods, going off trail, and then losing consciousness before falling off the horse.
"So, you were starting to faint before you fell off the horse. That's weird." Amber said, and Oliver agreed.
"Do you think it could have been someone creating an illusion to scare me? Cursing me with magic?"
Both of them seemed to really consider my question, and Oliver finally shook his head. "We're talking two different types of mind magic, very powerful stuff. The only first-year student capable of doing that kind of magic would be Cleopatra, but she's not a Mind Mage. And why would she want to? Why would anyone want to?"
"Much as I don't like her, I really don't think Seraphina would have been capable of doing it," Amber said. "She was prissy and obnoxious when we got here, but I think she's been knocked from her high horse, so to speak, and the fall has been quite hard for her. I think she really did just happen to come across you in the woods."
I agreed with Amber's assessment. "Yeah, I don't see her having the magical skill to pull it off either. I think she's been riding off-trail to avoid Ines DeMocca. She's been teasing Seraphina relentlessly, and not in a playful way either."
"I'll ask Naja what she knows about the Kigyo Hydra," Oliver said as we rose from the table. "Maybe it is just a mythical creature."
"Hey, you guys still want me to show you where the seamstress is?" Cleopatra asked, suddenly appearing beside us. I wonderedif she ever just greets someone like a normal person. She was forever just falling into conversation without saying hello first.
"Yeah, that would be great," Amber said, and I was a little surprised at how friendly she was toward Cleopatra. She knew as little about the Princess as I did. She looked over at Oliver. "We're going to get dresses for the end-of-term ball. Want to come with us?"
He rolled his eyes. "You may forget, but I'm a guy, so dress shopping isn't really my thing."
Amber punched him on the arm. "I know that, you goof, but you'll need formal attire for it too, won't you?"
"Yes, and I can get it like, a week before the event. No big deal. The ball is still ages away. I have some research to do, but you lot have fun." He walked off before Amber or the rest of us had more ideas of roping him into doing girly things.
When Oliver was out of earshot, I rolled my eyes. "Men, am I right? I envy them for the fact that they can throw something on at the last minute and manage to look like they spent ages getting ready."
Cleopatra shrugged, "I wouldn't know. I don't have any brothers, and I haven't had many friends who were male."
As we walked in silence up the staircases to the fifth floor, I wondered if Cleopatra was lonely. Was that why she was reaching out? Was she actually trying to make friends? Maybe Amber sensed that, and that was why she was being friendly with Cleopatra, who had always seemed super reserved, even cold. She was an only child, heir to the throne. Was it possible that she didn't have many friends growing up? For the first time, I thought about what it must have been like for her, as thedaughter of the Empress. How could she know whether she met people who were nice to her because they really liked her as a person, or because of who her mother was?
I suppose I felt lucky then, being born a commoner. It wasn't like anyone would pretend to like me just because they hoped to gain something.
Then I remembered Ines's fake charm. Well, it hadn't been true before. Now, things were different, and I had to be careful of fake people as well.
Entering the seamstress's shop was like stepping into a different world. Glancing at Amber, who was walking quietly beside me, I could tell that she was as much out of her depth as I was.
The place smelled heavily of incense, and everywhere we looked, there were magnificent dresses on display. Some of them were only half-made, and I wondered if they were dresses for the ball that other students were wearing.
Rolls of fabric were stacked on top of each other or spilling out of the many overflowing shelves. Baskets of beads, feathers, and various colored sequins sat on the counters. In a display case that covered one wall were samples of pearls and jewels that could be used to decorate a garment. It was a crazy burst of color and texture that flooded my senses as soon as we had stepped inside.
The seamstress herself was a tall, aristocratic woman with long, dark hair, a pale face, and pursed lips that made her look like a porcelain doll. She regarded us over the half-moon glasses that balanced precariously on top of her dainty bud of a nose.
"Leah, Amber, this is Lady Lovilla, the Academy's seamstress."
When Cleopatra explained that we needed attire for the end-of-term ball, Lady Lovilla had wrung her hands. "Argh, and you only come to me now? But there are only a few weeks left before the event!"
My stomach dropped to my shoes. "So, it's impossible?"
Cleopatra shook her head. "Had you gone to anyone else, it would have been impossible, but Lady Lovilla is one of the very best seamstresses in the Invicto Empire."
It was such an obvious ploy at flattery that I wanted to laugh, but Lady Lovilla gave a delicate sniff and squared her shoulders importantly. "Yes, well... I shall see what I can do, of course," she nodded at Cleopatra. Then she turned her attention to Amber and me. "But don't expect me to work miracles. Next time, you will know to come to me at least two months in advance if you want one of my magnificent creations."
With a long measuring tape, she took our measurements, and then we spent the next hour looking at sample after sample of fabric. In the end, Lady Lovilla had seemed to warm up to us some. "Leave it to me. I think I can create a dress for each of you that will capture your individuality. Now, we should talk about shoes, hair decorations, and what jewelry you'll be wearing. I think I have some jewels in the back that will be perfect for each of you. Let me go have a look."
The seamstress disappeared to the back of her shop behind a curtain, and the three of us wandered over to a huge basket filled with multi-colored bobbles. I had no idea what they could be used for, unless someone wanted a clown costume. They were soft and squishy, though, and I gave in to the temptation to stick my hand in among them. It felt like tiny clouds.
Cleopatra cleared her throat. "Have you given any thought to what we discussed last night? About you getting your head back into the game? I can show you a few calming techniques if nervousness is all it is."
She was being all serious, standing there elbow-deep in the bobbles, and I didn't feel much like turning the conversation to the problems I'd been having. The dress shopping had been fun. I didn't want Cleopatra to spoil the mood by talking about my lack of faith in my own abilities.
