Page 15 of Salvation
“In name only,” he conceded. “The one thing the committee overlooked was that only amasterhealer can be a magister.”
“Ah, then you did not hear about your promotion.”
“What promotion?”
She gave him a crooked smile. “Check your messages on your data device. You have been made an emergency master healer pro-tem with the stipulation you will return to the Collegium to complete your training after I finish mytem altrous.”
Nick’s eyes bulged and he sat bolt upright in the recliner. “What? I never agreed to that.” He pulled his data device out of his pocket, tapping it several times before stopping to read the words scrolling in mid-air in front of him. He groaned and sagged back in his seat. “You’re right.”
“This is not the end of the world.”
“I have no interest in going back to complete my master healer’s training. I wouldn’t be on this missio…I wouldn’t be filling in for Dante if it hadn’t been an emergency.” He glanced around the now mostly empty common area with a guilty expression. Fortunately, no one was close enough to overhear his almost faux pas. It would be bad if anyone discovered the real reason they were going to Matir.
His words had stung her pride, though. Did he think he was too good to help her out? She tipped her head and forced her voice low. “Well, you do not need to worry. I will do everything I can to finishtem altrousquickly so you can go back to your selfless job of playing Rock Band with your friends.” She pushed out of her seat.
“Where are you going?”
“To eat my dinner,MagisterBock. Alone.”
~*~
Sakura hurried along the pedestrian avenue, sneaking peeks at the pale-lavender Matiran sky while trying not to crash into anyone. It was difficult to walk and not be distracted by all the beauty of Matir’s capital city, Cassia Cae. She had expected only cube structures, and there were some, but most of the buildings where old and in a style that reminded her of ancient Greek architecture. The tallest were only three stories high. No skyscrapers impeded the view of the lavender sky above.
And the people, they all seemed to walk to wherever they were going. The streets were more like extra wide sidewalks between the buildings. Only an occasional multi-passenger terrain skimmer moved above them like sleek futuristic floating buses. Dante had told her if she ever got lost in Cassia Cae, there were pick-up stations throughout the city.
“This way, Sakura.” The hint of impatience in Nick’s voice yanked her back to reality.
Zero improvement in his mood, that was for sure. She readjusted her duffle bag on her shoulder and trotted to catch up with him as he turned down yet another street. “You do not have to snap at me.”
“Pay attention, then.”
Was he walking faster? “I...Nick….” Hewaswalking faster. With her duffle, suitcase, and backpack weighing her down, she could not possibly keep up. The least he could do would be to match her pace, instead he seemed intent on leaving her behind. “Nick?”
He was ignoring her too, the rude jerk. She stopped in her tracks. “Nicholaus Bock!”
That seemed to get his attention. He stopped and his shoulders rose and fell as if he had sighed. Heavily. Then he turned partway around and glared at her. If only the book on Anferthian anatomy were in her pack, not his. She would take it out and smack him over the head. But, that would be lowering herself to his level.
Even though they and their luggage had stopped in the middle of the walkway, Matiran pedestrians flowed around them without complaint. “You are speeding along like the Shinkansen train and I am the passenger who was left standing on the platform. You cannot show up at the Collegium without me, so slow down. My legs are a lot shorter than yours.”
His gaze flickered down and lingered on her grey leggings and black boots. Then he seemed to shake himself and his gaze returned to her face. “Sorry, I was preoccupied. I’ll slow down. It’s not much farther anyway.”
She gave him a nod. “Thank you.”
Five minutes later, they walked through the entrance to the Collegium of Healers. The building was huge, and ancient. Like concept drawings she had seen of the Parthenon before it went to ruin. Definitely pre-cube era construction, and the most beautiful piece of architecture she had ever been in.
“Saku?” Nick had half turned, apparently realizing she was not directly behind him anymore. An understanding smile lit his face. “It’s pretty amazing the first time you see it, huh?”
Amazing did not capture the wonder and awe filling her at this moment. All she could do was nod her head, just like she had the day she received her grandmother’s Hina dolls from her mother. She could not even be annoyed at him shortening her name again. His chuckle slipped passed the mental wall she had erected, sending a warm fuzzy feeling to her stomach. “Okay, take your time. We’ll register after you’re done playing tourist.”
Playing what? The warm-fuzzies evaporated.
Nick made a placating gesture with his hands. “Whoa, that’s not what I meant. No stereotypes.”
She shot a suspicious glare at him. Was she being oversensitive?
“I just want you to have time to take it all in. It’s a lot, I remember.”
“You do?”
“Sure,” he said, a teasing light danced in his eyes. “And neither one of us had a dozen cameras around our necks to capture the moment.”
She pushed back hard against the laugh bubbling deep inside. Nick must never know that as obnoxious as he was, she actually found him amusing at this moment.
The laugh won.
