Arlene

"Karina wake up."

I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder.

"Hmmm." I mumble my voice dry and hoarse from sleep.

"Don't you have lectures today?" Kaedan asks.

"Lectures?" I rub my sleep laden eyes.

"Yes, lectures. At the Royal Varsity...which you attend? Ring any bells? You've been absent for more than a week now, even though the palace tendered a royal report because you were hospitalized. Now that you're fine... you really need to get to class. After all it was you who convinced dad to let us go to the Royal Varsity in the first place, so you might as well actually go to it before he changes his mind?"

"Are you even listening to me?" He frowns.

"What? Yeah, I am." I yawn.

"Alright that's it, get up." He nugdes me off his lap. "What time is your class anyway?"

"Later in the day I guess." I sit up.

"Well better don't be late. Even though I know that's almost impossible for you." He smirks. "Anyway I've got to go now. I have a class this morning."

"What class?" I yawn again.

"Quantum physics."

"The one with professor Tara?" I think I have a class with her this morning. If I do then I'm definitely late.

"No no, Logon." Kaedan stretches.

"Oh thank goodness." I breathe a sigh of relief. Cause you know I take that class. "Wait a minute Kaedan, Logon?

We both take Professor Tara's class, don't we?" Now I'm confused.

"Yeah... I pulled out." He rubs the back of his neck, something he does when he's nervous. "Switched to professor Logon's class."

"Do you want to tell me why?" I look at him earnestly.

"Well... I just wasn't feeling it anymore." He avoids my gaze.

"Alright, alright." I back off not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable.

"Yeah, so I guess I'll see you later then." He rises from my bed.

"Yup. Maybe in Diplomacy class. I hope you still take that class though?" I give him a side glance.

"Of course I do." He's laughing now. "See you later sis." And with that he makes for the door.

"Oh and Kaedan."

"Yeah?"

I say sincerely. "Thank you."

He smiles. "Just make sure you're not late for class."

The door closes.

"KARIS."

"Yes Karina?" An automated male voice replies me.

"Can you please let Elva know I'm up."

"Alright." KARIS responds.

"Oh and tell her to bring me breakfast. I really don't want to go to the dinning hall to eat with everyone."

"Is there anything in particular I should tell her to get you?" KARIS asks.

"Don't worry she knows what to get."

Alright, so in order not to be late for class, I get out of bed, not wanting to stay any longer than necessary. I thank The Light for another day. KARIS gets a bath running for me and I get out just in time to meet Elva heading in with different types of food. I quickly scarf them down because I'm really hungry. The little episode of last night didn't let me get anything to eat. It's all father's fault. If he didn't upset me yester night I wouldn't have left.

Moving on...

"I hope you feel better today." Elva asks nervously as she dries my hair.

"Yes, much better thank you." I give a quiet reply, replaying the unfortunate events of last night.

I shudder.

"Elva..."

"I'm really sorry for sending you out last night." The words tumble out.

She's understanding and her dark eyes look softly at me. "It's alright Karina. I know you were really upset and most times you just want to be alone. I get that."

"That's a relief cause I don't know what I'd do if you were mad at me. I'd feel really terrible." I turn to face her, holding her hands in mine. "Elva I'm really sorry. I won't ever do it again." I say with all sincerity, gently fluttering my lashes and give her this sweet and charming look no one can resist. Except my father that is.

"Karina I'm not mad." Elva laughs. I'm happy she's laughing. Elva's such a sweet soul. She hardly keeps grudges.

She styles my hair and I choose a simple light pink salwar kameez with gold and silver embroidery and wrap the same colour of shawl over my shoulders. Elva applies light natural make up on my face before proceeding to help me with my royal rings and jewelry. I pack my bag, books and course materials inside.

"Have a nice day." She calls out.

"Yeah, you too. I'll see you later in the evening." I reply.

Using one of the teleporters, which are teleportation devices that converts a person, thing or object into an energy pattern otherwise known as dematerialization then beams it to a target location where it is reconverted into matter. They are located at specific parts of the palace. I am beamed up to the castles' parkade to pick up one of the numerous automobiles that belong to the royal family. I need one to get to school. These automobiles are no mere vehicles, they are automobiles that are powered with Yavanana's main power source that helps them bend gravity. They are environmentally friendly because they do not emit gases. These automobiles don't need tires to move instead they reverse gravity and move in the air, not too far from the ground with electromagnetic fields.

I hop in a sleek black car, rev up the engine and go.

On my way there I carefully take note of the city, it's structure and buildings, it's people... my people. Anytime I leave the palace, it's usually with a convoy and I'm heavily guarded, rarely never alone, thankfully my body guard isn't in town at the moment. It's been ages I've crossed the palace gates alone and on my own, father doesn't allow it. Maybe seeing how upset I was the night before mother told him to cut me some slack.

I enjoy my quiet drive, which helps me to clear my head, self reflect and just take in the little things.

After a while I'm at the Royal Varsity. One of the guards there takes my car and parks it in the the space allotted to me even though KARIS could have easily done it for me.

"Well well well. Look who finally decided to show up and you're on time for class too." My friend Arlene smiles.

We hug. "I've missed you so much." Arlene holds on to me tightly.

"You did?" I chuckle.

She fakes a hurt look. "You know I did."

"I haven't seen you in like forever, what happened? I thought it was intentional when you did not show up for lectures. You know...you skip classes like... a lot." The brown haired elf girl giggles.

"I wouldn't see it as skipping class, let's just see it as choosing the lectures which are, important." I give her a wide grin.

"What lecture isn't important?" She's laughing loudly now. "Well you're going to tell me what made you think over two weeks of lectures isn't important. This has to be your longest streak of absence ever."

"Don't worry I'll tell you what happened and I'll explain everything, right now we need to get to class."