3 p.m. in Eldoria.
The streets were empty. The adults had gone about their own duties, leaving the city's children to their routines. Silence hung over the cobbled lanes no vendors shouting, no clattering carts, no stray animals, no laughter or shouts of children breaking the calm. Only the distant clink of coins in the market reminded anyone that the city was alive. This was every adult's favorite hour: no disturbance, no chaos, no noise just peace.
Inside the school, however, the children were far less quiet, though not by choice. Today's lecture was on the geography of Eldoria, a subject considered essential for every citizen. Maps, districts, trade routes, boundaries.....they needed to know them all to understand the city's safety. For most, it was boring. The teacher's voice droned on, monotone and unyielding, while students struggled to keep their attention.
Not Eliora. She leaned over her desk, her dark eyes bright with curiosity. To her, maps weren't lines on paper they were invitations to adventure. Her companions, Iremiel and Kalderon, were always eager to follow her lead. Explorers, they called themselves, even if their travels rarely went beyond the city walls.
As the teacher described the famed Jerome Market where one could buy literally everything from rare herbs to magical materials. Iremiel's mind wandered. He tore a scrap from his notebook, scribbled quickly, "Today at Jerome Market," and passed it along. The note moved hand-to-hand, seemingly guided by instinct, until it reached Eliora. She read it, grinned, and gave a discreet thumbs-up. A silent yes.
She scribbled a reply and sent it back. Iremiel's face flushed as he read it. Shaking his head, he wrote "No" in return. Eliora's next reply teased: "You should ask him."
Iremiel's eyes darted toward Kalderon, sitting nearby, his usual stoic expression hiding any hint of emotion. Eliora mimed silently, lips moving: "He's literally right there."
Even after all these years, Iremiel never approached Kalderon himself. Shyness, awkwardness, and an inferiority complex chained him in place. He relied on Eliora to act as his messenger, his voice, his courage.
Eliora finally took another route, passing the note differently. It reached Kalderon, who glanced at it, eyebrows raising slightly, as a stray duster flew across the room. With effortless reflex, he caught it midair without even looking up. The teacher's voice cut sharply: "What do you think you're doing? Leave the class .....both of you....right now!"
Iremiel and Kalderon exchanged a glance. Iremiel's legs felt weak, his mind racing, but he knew better than to argue. He rose, trying to explain.
"But ma'am—"
"Do you think I'm a fool?" the teacher snapped, her voice sharp as a whip. "Stay in class or this book hits your face!"
Out in the sunlit, the heat of Eldoria pressed down harder than usual. The cobbles shimmered, the light bouncing off the rooftops, making everything sparkle but also intensifying the heat. Sweat trickled down Iremiel's forehead. His breathing was shallow; his hands dug into his knees for support. He felt like he might collapse.
Kalderon noticed and leaned closer, his voice calm, measured: "Do you want something to drink?"
Iremiel hesitated. "If ma'am comes out and sees us… she'll be furious."
Kalderon's expression remained unreadable. "Okay. Wait here. I'll bring it."
Iremiel barely had time to nod before Kalderon dashed away, returning moments later with a cold drink. He pressed it gently against Iremiel's forehead. The relief was immediate, a refreshing chill spreading through his fevered skin. He opened his eyes and saw the drink hovering in front of him. Hands trembling slightly, he grabbed it, sipping greedily. The cold liquid ran down his throat, refreshing him instantly. Kalderon drank alongside him, and for a few moments, there was a quiet companionship in the heat, a shared pause from the world.
Then Eliora came running, a light laugh escaping her lips as she reached them. "Are you okay?" she asked, holding out her hand. With a flick of her fingers, she cast a small cooling spell. Iremiel felt as if he had stepped into a gentle spring—the heat washed away, leaving him fresh and renewed.
He straightened, brushing damp hair from his eyes, and turned to Kalderon. "Sorry."
Eliora smiled, her dark eyes sparkling with amusement. "Let's go home, then meet again at six," she said.
Iremiel and Kalderon nodded. The three of them moved off.