Reina led Alec out of the building and toward the training grounds, refusing to tell him anything about who they were looking for until they arrived.
"Ah, I knew I would find you here, O' great savior in times of need and solver of all our problems!" Reina exclaimed cheerily when she approached the red-haired woman practicing her swordsmanship in a secluded corner.
Basra paused her swing and turned her head to look at Reina with skepticism dyeing her face.
"Whatever it is, I want no part of it, not when you use that tone, Reina."
"Oh, come on now! Don't be like that, Basra," Reina said, trying to put a hand on Basra's shoulder. Basra easily stepped to the side. She had sheathed her sword when she tried to dismiss Reina, but now she looked like she was ready to unsheathe it again.
"Stay back! I won't hesitate to use force," Basra warned.
Reina raised her hands in defeat.
"Fine, fine. But I do need your help—Well, technically, I'm not the one who needs it. I'm asking on his behalf." Reina stepped to the side and pointed at Alec with both hands in a grand gesture.
Basra's brow wrinkled in confusion as she looked at the wet-eared and baby-faced first-year student. She leaned toward Reina.
"Is he blackmailing you? If he his, blink twice."
Reina smacked her shoulder.
"Alec, this is Basra. Basra, this is Alec. He…had a slight altercation with the Mason boy during lunch. Unless he wants to bow down and kiss the boy's feet, Mason has said that he will fire whoever serves him food from the cafeteria."
Basra frowned.
"Can't the Academy step in?"
"Definitely. But Alec said he wanted to figure it out on his own."
"It looks like you're doing more work than he is."
"I'm just taking care of my future research assistant."
"What?"
"Long story. I'll tell you later. For now…" Reina leaned in close and whispered in Basra's ear so low that Alec wasn't even sure if she was saying anything.
'This is the student whose answer you brought to Zalar's attention. Didn't you say you were going to take responsibility?'
'Hugh was the one who said that, though.'
'So you're going to let him starve? What would you do in his position, Basra?'
Basra sighed. She sure as hell wouldn't bow down.
'Why did you come to me, though? I am as much a commoner as he is. I can't tell the Mason boy to back off.'
'Oh, please! I know you get more food from somewhere else. I'm just asking you to share a little of that with Alec here. He's a small kid. He won't need much.'
Basra didn't whisper back. Instead, she scanned Alec with a scrutinizing gaze. He was scrawny and neither short nor tall. It indeed didn't look like he ate a lot.
"Fine. But you owe me one, Reina."
"I'm always willing to help you, Basra." Reina blew Basra a kiss as she left. She tapped Alec on the shoulder and whispered 'Good luck' and flashed a wide smile.
"Thank you for agreeing to help me out, Miss…?"
"Molt if you're a stickler for etiquette. Otherwise, just Basra is fine," she said dismissively.
"Miss Basra." Alec nodded in acknowledgment.
She nodded for him to follow her, which he did. They walked to a part of the Academy that Alec hadn't even known existed. Behind the building furthest away from the city, there was apparently a large greenhouse.
The area around it didn't look as well-groomed as the rest of the Academy, and it didn't look like the greenhouse was in active use by anything other than the weeds clinging to its outside.
Basra's knuckles rapped on the door before she pushed it open and dragged Alec inside, quickly closing the door behind them.
'Woah.' The smell of dirt and plants hit his face like a truck. There were a lot of different kinds of vegetation in the greenhouse. Flowers. Trees. Bushes. It was like he had stepped into another world.
"Moira, are you awake?"
A head of messy brown hair popped up from the bushes right next to them. The density of the shrubs made it impossible to see the rest of her, though.
"Dinner?" That was the first thing out of her mouth as she looked at Basra with colorful eyes that reminded Alec of colorful flower petals.
"That too. But we'll be having a new friend joining us during meal time if that's alright with you." Basra put her hand on Alec's head.
Moira turned to Alec, and her eyes widened like she hadn't noticed him before this, despite standing right next to Basra.
The bushes she was standing within opened up like gates as she made her way to the path Alec and Basra were standing on. Moira did not look away from Alec, not even to blink, as she approached him.
Her eyes narrowed slightly when she got close. She gently pushed Basra to the side as she circled Alec and inspected him from top to toe.
Suddenly, she grabbed his arm. It wasn't enough to hurt, but Alec was shocked at the firmness of the gentle-looking fingers. He couldn't break free even if he tried.
"Skinny." Moira turned to Basra while patting Alec's head.
"Put some muscle on him."
"Of course, Princess," Basra smiled and nodded while brushing a leaf out of Moira's hair.
"Hehe!" Moira giggled as she ran off ahead.
Basra glanced at Alec while they followed Moira into the center of the greenhouse.
"She likes you." There was a smile on her lips that carried a heartfelt warmth. All the skepticism she had shown toward Alec was washed away because Moira liked him.
Alec nodded.
"The feeling's mutual."
Basra's gaze sharpened, and Alec felt a chill run down his spine.
"I mean, she seems nice. A kind person."
Basra's gaze gentled, and she looked at Moira.
"The kindest."
Although Basra's face was filled with warmth, Alec could see something else. Something tragic.