Free Fiction Tuesday: Seeds of Prophecy (Part 1)

“Are you sure we’re in the right place Toby?” Phiobe asked for what seemed like the sixth time in five minutes.

“I’m sure.” replied Tobias, “Weren’t you paying attention when I gave them our information?”

“Ummm…”

Turning away from his perusal of the Rymalian ceremonial masks decorating the northern wall of the Headmistress’s waiting room, Tobias settled his piercing green gaze upon his sister were she sat quietly blushing and shifting in her seat

“Rot it, Phi. We're here for a reason, and it’s not so you can let your mind wander.”

A softly cleared throat informed the twins that the Headmistress was ready for them, and reminded  Tobias of the fact that this was not the time for a private conversation that could be continued later. Besides it wasn’t like any amount of yelling had ever gotten through to his unfocused twin.

Being the oldest by mere minutes had burdened Tobias with always having to be the more practical of the two siblings, since Phiobe always seemed to claim her younger status as an excuse to act irresponsibly and get out of trouble.

Even today, after spending the past two months traveling to this foreign place from their island home of Tsur, far to the east in the middle of the Redro Sea, she hadn't learned to be more aware of her situation, despite the weight of their task as the first students from their home country to study at The Omorian Academy of Magical Arts.

Slightly shorter than his own five foot nine inch height Phiobe shared the same coloring of olive skin, dark brown hair, and green eyes all Tsurans did. She even wore her hair long just as Tobias did save that her’s was worn loose in a style befitting a young woman of seventeen, while he wore his in a multitude of tight braids as befitting a young man. In fact, they looked pretty much the same except for Tobias’s height, broader jaw line, and lack of womanly curves which Phiobe boasted quite a few of.

No, what really set them apart at the moment, thought Tobias as he helped his sister to her feet and began to lead her towards the Headmistress’s private office, where the her secretary was currently holding the door open as a signal that they should now enter, was the deferring states of their dress.

Casting another irritated glance over his sisters clothing, from the toes of her soft boots and continuing up past the dark slacks and the crisp white shirt covered by the rather large and shapeless brown coat she was using to hide Ubrin, Tobias did have to marvel at her ability to collect dirt and wrinkles with seemingly little to no effort. His own boots were relatively clean by comparison, as were his black slacks, long sleeved white shirt, and more form fitting jacket especially considering they had both arrived by coach at the academy gates only a half hour ago. Although, upon reflection, they had immediately been directed by the academy registrar to appear before the academy's esteemed Headmistress leaving no time to roll around on the ground which, Tobias thought, Phiobe apparently had.

‘Well none of that matters now’ he thought, ‘we’ll just have to get through this and hope she doesn’t make too bad of an impression.’

 

Sighing softly to himself, Tobias quickly helped his sister arrange herself and her voluminous coat in one of the chairs situated before the headmistress's desk, before taking the other seat himself and turning his full attention towards the woman who now held their future in her hands.