LAILAH #2
“Our school prides itself on being fully self-sufficient, so we aren’t taking away from the community around us.
The school has its own livestock, vegetable gardens, and grain fields that are used to make all the food here on campus.
We also have our own herb garden that our medical students use to produce modern and holistic medicine. ”
I was so distracted by all the indigenous plants that I had to stop to investigate. Unfortunately, when I looked up, I couldn’t find my group.
Why do I always do this? I know I get lost all the time, so I should be better at staying with the group.
I remembered them saying that they would be heading to the garden maze next.
I looked around, hoping I might see something that would point me in that direction, but with no luck, I headed off to the right, praying that was the direction I needed to go.
I wandered for a while and ended up by the reflecting pool I had seen from the dorm windows—nowhere near where I needed to be.
Lost on the school grounds, I sat on the edge of the reflecting pool, letting my face fall into my hands. “Are you okay?” a voice said, making me jump.
I looked up and was shocked to see a gorgeous man peering down at me.
He was tall and attractive, just like Parker, that other guy I had met in town.
His clothes were of the latest fashion and very high-end but still practical.
His rich-brown hair was styled in the latest trend—short on the sides but longer strands swept back on the top.
Did this school only have gorgeous model-esque students attending here?
His warm hazel eyes were still looking at me, filled with concern, and I realized then that he was still waiting for my answer.
“I am hopelessly lost. I was on a tour of the school, but I got distracted and lost my group,” I admitted as my cheeks heated.
“Yeah, this school is huge, it takes some getting used to. Would you like me to help you find your group? I’m actually supposed to be helping out with the tours anyway, but another obligation made me very late,” he said and held out a hand to help me up.
I reached out and let him pull me to my feet.
When his skin touched mine, a slight tingle ran down my arm, causing me to shiver slightly.
I smiled up at him awkwardly, hoping he didn’t notice my reaction to his touch.
I was acting like I didn’t know how to be around attractive guys.
I took that moment to collect myself and brush off the back of my pants.
“I’m Brayden, by the way,” he said, giving me a small smile.
“I’m Lailah,” I said, returning his smile.
“Thanks for offering to help me out. Let’s just say I’m directionally challenged, and that’s a severe understatement.
I would have wandered around out here till I gave up and went back to my dorm.
I can at least see that clear as day,” I said, gesturing to Ashfall behind me.
“Ah, you’re staying in Ashfall Hall. I heard that the rooms don’t have windows. Is it true?” he asked as we started walking along the edge of the reflecting pool.
“Yup, but with the school load I decided on, I’m not sure I’ll be around much except to sleep. Thankfully, there are common rooms that have massive windows to make up for it.” I chuckled.
“Well, at Aiden House, there are lots of windows and plenty of sunlight. The concept of not having a window and natural light freaks me out a little. As an agricultural major, you could say I’m pretty attached to the outdoors,” Brayden said with a grin.
“Aiden House?” I asked. “I don’t think I know that dorm.”
“Most of the students here call it The Manor,” Brayden clarified for me.
I stopped in my tracks and gaped at him. “You’re one of the five?”
Brayden turned to look at me. “Is that a problem?”
“No, I guess not. The campus is so big, I just thought the odds of me running into any of you would be rare, and now I’ve met two of you,” I said. I’m not sure why it surprised me.
“Oh? Who else have you met?” Brayden inquired, starting to walk again.
“My friend Cami and I ran into Parker when we were in town.”
“You know Cami? What a small world. Our families have known each other for a long time. We grew up together,” Brayden said.
“Funny how that works. I grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Although it sucks when people who used to be your friends aren't anymore. It makes things awkward because they live down the street.” I was rambling.
“I’m sure that would be challenging. I’m sorry to hear that happened. Is that why you decided to come all this way to attend college?” Brayden asked.
Why am I telling him all this? I don’t even know him. He’s just so easy to talk to. Plus, he keeps asking questions, it would be rude of me not to answer—right?
“Yes and no. I knew that I wanted a change, but I didn’t know what exactly.
Then I got an email from Ryevick University after my parents signed me up for this crazy college finder website.
Funny, what really got me excited about this place was the history, the different culture, and the art.
Like that fountain, for example.” I pointed to the huge fountain in the middle of the reflecting pool.
I’d seen a picture on the website, but seeing it in person, it was much more impressive.
Brayden looked to where I was pointing and smiled. “That is one of my favorites. Would you like to hear the story behind it? But I have to warn you, it’s a bit fanciful.”
“Now you’re just taunting me,” I said, nudging his arm encouragingly.
“The story claims that Aiden Ryevick started going crazy in his old age. This fountain was the last piece he created before he lost his mind and died. When people asked him what it represented, he would explain it like this.” He was setting up the tale expertly.
“As you can see, there are five human figures holding hands with an additional human figure standing in the middle of them. He said that each one represented an element.”
I frowned. “Wait. I thought there were only four elements: earth, wind, water, and fire. What are the other two?”
“The fifth element is less commonly known; it is called by a few different names. Some people call it aether and others call it spirit. I actually have a friend who likes to call it heart.” His eyes were shining with mystery. “The final one in the middle is what Aiden called Synergy.”
“Synergy isn’t an element at all. It’s more of an action, isn’t it?” I asked, knowing I had heard the word before.
“Synergy means to combine one or more elements to make them stronger,” Brayden said, giving me an answer straight from the dictionary.
“Okay, so how do the elements relate to the figures in the fountain?” I asked.
“This is where the fiction comes into play. He explained to one of his students that five men were gifted with these elemental powers by angels. If they fought for good and didn’t turn evil, then one day, they would be gifted a great power.
This power was titled Synergy. These magical warriors were not told what Synergy would be or when it would appear, they just had to continue defending the world from demons, and they would someday be rewarded.
Aiden had always envisioned that Synergy would be another human, so he made this fountain to represent the five warriors and when they were gifted Synergy.
” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye.
I took in the fountain with a whole new perspective. I noticed that each of the figures had a symbol carved into it. I could only assume the symbols represented each element. “That is a beautiful story; did they ever discover their hidden Synergy?” I asked, looking back at Brayden.
A shadow of sadness flickered through his eyes before he started walking away from the fountain. “The story, as far as I know, hasn’t been finished yet. It seems they’re still in an endless journey of looking and waiting.”
“Stories like that are why I fell in love with history. If I’d never come here to try something new, then I would’ve never known this amazing story about this school. Sure, it might be fiction, but what life doesn’t need a little dash of fantasy to make it interesting?”
“I can see why you and Cami are friends; she sees the world through a technicolor lens and hates to be sucked into the humdrum of life,” he said with a wistfulness in his voice. “Ah, look. There are our tour groups. Seems we’re meeting them on their way over to the reflecting pool.”
Brayden and I waited till the groups caught up to us, and I filed into one, not caring if it was the right one. This time I was determined to stick with them and not get left behind again. Before I could wander too far off, Brayden gently grabbed my elbow.
“It was lovely to meet you, Lailah. I hope we run into each other again some time,” Brayden said with a smile that gave me butterflies.
“I would like that. Maybe you can share some more stories with me about the school,” I said, blushing and falling in with my original class group.