14 CHAPTER 14: FREE TIME

The next day it was sunny and bright, Ritz and Rei woke up early and they prepared breakfast. By 8:30 in the morning they all left and went to church. The service started at 9 a.m. woth a simple melody from a piano being played.

The worship leaders started by asking everyone to stand and sing a couple of songs, then prayed thereafter. Once everyone were sitted the passage was read and the message was delivered by the pastor. After 30 minutes, they all sang a response song and few more worship songs. As for the last hour left, they ask if anyone would like to praise or ask for prayers. The service ended with an offering and prayer through a song.

Ritz was new to this, and tried to join while singing. Although she got interested with the sermon about prayer and approached the spreacher after the service. She was able to meet some of Rei's group of youth that she is taking care of.

After lunch with Rei's family, both said their goodbyes and left going back to school. They reached the harbour of the dorm at 1 in the afternoon and changed. By 2:00, they left for the school campus and meet both Jade and Len at the school gate, already waiting for them.

"So... Len, is this your first time to see the area?" Jade asked.

"Yes, it is. I wasn't able to join the tour." Len answered.

"Let us then start in the market place, then the residential area until we end up to the school. Would that be alright with everyone." Jade explained.

By the time they reached the market place, it was pack of different people both students and citizens. They then start hearing names of plants and flowers.

"Rei... we're here again. I feel like I live in a different time. One time when I was in high school, a teacher of mine stop me from over using adjectives. I tend to make my words too 'flowery' in a way. Well... if she ever hear this, I'd like to see her face." Ritz whispered.

"I don't think they are doing it to play on us. It is their language anyway. Just hope they don't talk about selling us." Rei said to Ritz.

"Oh, please no.... So this is what our linguist instuctor ask as to learn, I can't even understand anything aside from the plant or flower and even those do not make the whole sentence understandably." Ritz complained.

"Well... that is for the three of us. This is even worse than hearing my relatives talk on their dialect." Len said joining to the conversation.

The three continued walking beside Jade until they reached the place he planned to show them. It was a shop, cafe to be exact. When you look from outside it is like a tavern made out of the rocks. Inside it is well lighted, cool and cozy. The view from the window shows the sea. It is also high ceiling and wide with comfortable chairs at the sides and an area people could sit on the floor. They took a place near the window and a tall, skinny person with silver hair came to take their order.

"Doog yad, woh yam I pleh uoy?"

"Uh.... ym sdneirf dna I dluow evah eht tseb relles doof dna sknird. I tnaw meht ot rosemary siht ecalp."

"Taht dlouc eb enod, Jade. Tiaw esaelp dna agrimony." He left after taking the order.

"What just happened, did I just heard you...? how do you do it, I feel awkward hearing it." Ritz started after the man leaved.

"It's fine, you guys could get use to it. You won't be able to survive here if you could not at least know how to speak their language."

"That is true, however why add a flower or a plant's name to an english word that has been scrambled?" Rei asked.

"..... well that was fast..... it took me 3 months before I got how they talk. That's amazing Rei! you should continue whatever how you are doing it. Why don't we just enjoy this time and don't over stress yourselves. Those who are performing here are mixed, some comes from the locals others are students. Of course, you are aware that some of the students are from here?"

"I actually notice that lately." Len said and both girls just nod in agreement. They waited for the entertainment to begin, after 5 minutes the band started. The lead singer started singing, her voice was perfect not too high pitch that cause you to close your ears and very clear.

"What the! should we just go?" Ritz whispered to Rei.

"No, we'll wait." She replied calmly and look between Shana and Jade.

"Hey, Rei. Come on, we should leave. They're coming.... and they saw us."

Ritz told Rei after the band stopped playing.

"Don't worry I'll explain it to her." Jade said overhearing them and stood up but before he can say anything Shana started speaking.

"What are they doing here? I remembered inviting you not them." Shana said while pointing at Rei and Ritz.

"Come on Shana, stop that. I invited them so that I won't be watching on my own." Jade replied.

"Sorry for the trouble, Shana, we didn't know." Rei tried to explain.

"Then you three are free to go." Shana replied to her.

"Sure, but before we leave, I have to talk to you... in private. Please." Rei said while pulling her away from the group.

"Stop! and don't say a word. This time I talk, you listen. I know you hate me for some reason, and I seem to know why. Stop hating everyone who gets near him, because he already likes you whether you see it or not. You don't have to keep being the villain because he never look at anyone with the same affection and interest he shows with you. So please stop!!! it is getting out of hand and booring." Rei whispered to her flatly then she left her looking at her. Rei asked Jade if they could go by themselves around the island and try to explore it. Jade agreed after a few minutes of argument with Rei.

Once they were out they were again surrounded with a lot of beings shopping and talking. They never tried to approach anyone but walk a path going near the council. They reached a garden with a stream and realized they are on the palace grounds. No one is allowed to get in without a permit and they decided to retrace their way back before someone sees them. Rei knows that shes always great in directions.

»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»++««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««

(Coffee Shop)

Shana and Jade were left alone by the rest of the band. They decided to talk and Shana begin by explaining her behaviour while Jade just listened until she was done. Shana again asked what is their relationship is but before Jade could answer an announcement was released.

"ATTENTION! to all junior's and senior's who are close to the council's palace. Kindly extract three freshmen students in 10 minutes before the training start. Thank you!"

Jade and Shana left and run as fast as they can to reached the ground to look for them. After a couple of minutes they heard a cry and followed it. They found Rei trying to stop the bleeding from Ritz left leg. While Len was standing between the attacker and them. The being was a young female, and her eyes are like reptalian and moves swiftly but before she can attack both Jade and Shana surprise her by pulling her leg down.

"STOP Ava! sti Jade dna Shana. Yeht ton ruoy tegrat ecitcarp." That got her to stop and look at them. She went to Ritz to help but the three felt still to be on guard.

"Its ok, she thought you guys were part of her training." Shana said stopping Rei to move then continued applying pressure bandage. Ava volunteer to carry Ritz to the Hospital and they all decided to follow.

"Have you forgotten that no one is to enter that place?" Jade asked looking at Rei, while crossing his arm.

"It wasn't on purpose, when we found ourselves in the grounds we retraced our steps back." Len started and look at Rei.

"Just like he said, we did retrace our way back, but it was my fault. I was the one leading when I suddenly heard someone and I followed it thinking it might be someone who is also not allowed to be there. The rest, you saw what happened. We are really sorry." Rei said to them.

"If you don't mind me asking, what exactly did you hear?" The school head asked showing himself to everyone.

"Good evening, sir." Everyone acknowledged and the head asked to talk to Rei for a minute. They talk about what happened in the council grounds. After a five minutes she went back to them.

"And Rei, don't forget the words you told to me before, about coincidences. Now, Ms. Palmer have a good rest and recovery. As for the rest go back to your dorm it is late. I'll then take my leave." he said and left. Shana was the first person to break the silence.

"What is your relationship to the school founder, Rei?"

"He's a family friend, my dad once save his life when they were younger and they become friends since then." Rei replied casually.

"Do you think, he can let us go without punishment?" Ritz said finally talking.

Rei just smiled at her, they all stayed for another 15 minutes before leaving Ritz. Shana tried to talk to Rei before she sleeps but found her already in bed. She then decided to rest too. However, Rei could not completely sleep that night remembering the things the school founder and her talk about.