The Academy’s Rejected Mage

The Kiss

Aelia’s POV

“Everyone gather around,” Orin calls. The nine of us sit around the only lit candle in the room, with a bottle in the middle. “Who’s going first?”

“Me,” Jafser quickly replies, spinning the bottle. It turns slowly and stops on Orin. Jafser grins. “Perfect. I got the group leader first. Truth or dare?”

Orin leans back with a smile. “Easy. Dare.” Jafser thinks for a moment. “I dare you to let Aelia choose your next dare.” Orin looks at me then smirks. “Okay, go ahead.”

I smile back, and think for a moment. “Okay, I dare you to stand on one leg until your next turn.” The smile wipes off his face. “That’s pathetic.”

I shrug.“You chose dare. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” Everyone laughs and he sighs and stands, lifting one foot. “This is no way to treat your leader though.”

“Doesn’t matter.” I say. “Next.” Sylvia spins the bottle next. This time, it lands on my friend, Mara, who’s sitting beside Kai. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.” Sylvia grins. “Who in this room do you trust the least?” Mara looks around the circle, her eyes briefly settle on Kai but she looks away. “I’ll pass.” Everyone laughs. I look at Kai and he shows no reaction. He’s quiet as usual but something tightens in my chest.

“That wasn’t an answer,” I say. She holds my gaze. “It was my answer, Aelia.” The bottle spins again and the game goes on one by one between all of us. Truths and dares.

Some are embarrassing questions, others are ridiculous challenges. Someone is even dared to imitate principal Harden, drawing a hilarious reaction.

Even Kai gets asked a question. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” he says simply. He’s been the only one that hasn’t found anything funny since the beginning of this game.

“What is the strangest thing you’ve ever done?” He thinks for a moment. “Survive.” The room goes quiet as everyone stares amongst themselves.

Jafser forces a laugh. “Man, what kind of a response is that?” Kai looks at him. “The truth. I thought that is what you guys wanted to know?” A few m persons whisper amongst themselves. Others laugh awkwardly. I don’t do either of those things. It’s not like I understand what he’s talking about. I don’t know what life he’s lived before the academy but I can tell there’s something looming over him. Something strong, maybe bigger than him.

The bottle spins and slowly lands on Kai again. The room goes silent. I look around their faces and it’s almost as if they are grateful they didn’t spin the bottle and don’t have to relate with him. Jafser, who spun it, thinks for a moment before a mischievous glint comes over his face. “I think I have the perfect one.”

Kai raises an eyebrow. “Go ahead.” Jafser points at him. “I dare you to kiss her,” his finger moves slowly, stopping on me. “Aelia.” A loud silence sweeps over the room.

I look at Orin and our eyes lock for a moment. Then I look at Kai whose face is as blank as ever. Jafser quickly catches on. “Oh.” He raises both hands, eyes wide. “Wait. I forgot…You’re Orin’s girlfriend.”

Orin appears completely unfazed but I know him. I know that smile is too stiff. Jafser clears his throat. “Aww my bad. That was stupid, forget it. I shouldn’t have said that.”

I stare at Kai again. He still doesn’t seem to care. No sign of discomfort about the situation. For some reason, that makes my heart beat faster and I don’t know why.

Maybe it’s because I'm actually contemplating something that would be considered taboo since my boyfriend is literally sitting a feet away.

“No. You should do it,” Orin says to the shock of everyone. “It’s a game and everyone is expected to do what they asked. That shouldn’t change because of me. It’s not a good look, especially because I’m the group leader.”

“Are you sure?” Jafser asks. He nods. I look at him, shaking my head. “Orin, I don’t have to do it. I can just ask for another dare.”

“And which other person amongst us has had that privilege?” He asks straightforwardly. I swallow. “Exactly. No one. So no, you can’t take another dare. Go ahead with what you’ve been given.”

“Oh goodness, this is just ridiculous,” Mara whispers. I ignore her and look at Kai and he finally lets his eyes linger on me longer than before. Neither of us say anything.

Then I move. I lean forward, our heads touching. He stares.

“It’s your dare,” I whisper. “You’re supposed to be the one kissing me.” He stares longer, then slowly lifts his hand. He cups it around my cheek, and kisses me. It’s quick, barely a second. I pull back. Someone coughs. Another sighs. And Orin? He’s still just staring with a smile in place.

I meet Kai’s face again and I hate to admit it, but I wish it was longer. He’s been appearing on my mind far too much and I was hoping—

“Well, that was…fun,” Mara cuts into my thoughts, smiling unnecessaryly. “Okay then, let’s move on,” Sylvia says.

Someone else is about to spin when a deep bell suddenly rings through the house. Everyone stops and Orin stands.

“Well…That’s our signal, people. It’s time for the expedition.” The atmosphere immediately changes as everyone scurries to their feet to find their equipments.

I grab my bag and check my weapons. As I turn to walk away, I pause and stare back at Orin. Although he looks normal, like he really doesn’t care about what happened. Like it was really a game to him. However, I know him more than anyone else and that gentle demeanor for something like this isn’t quite a characteristic of his.

Kai is about to open the door when Orin joins him.

He looks Kai down at his hands. “You don’t have gloves?”

Kai looks at his hands. “I don’t need them.” Orin gives him a small calm smile and reaches into his pack. I'm about to go closer and tell him that I brought an extra pair for Kai because I knew he wouldn’t since he doesn’t know about it being his first time, but with what just happened, I decide against it. There’s no need to add more fuel to the fire. Besides if Orin is asking, he probably has an extra pair.

He pulls out a pair of gloves and tosses them to Kai. “Take them.” Kai catches them. “Uhh, I really don’t need them.”

Orin smiles. “Trust me, you do. The dungeon walls are covered in mana residue. You don’t want it getting in your hands. If it does, you won’t be able to use them for days.”

Kai looks at the gloves, then nods at Orin. “Thanks.” Orin smiles. “Anytime.” I watch the interaction quietly. Something about it bothers me and I can’t shake the feeling that tonight something terrible might happen.