Taliesin

At around two in the morning Tal let out a frustrated scream. He didn’t care about waking up other dorm members. He was about to tear the book apart when he remembered that it wasn’t his own. “Nik.” He growled in an almost unrecognisable dark voice. The name tasted like acid on his tongue. He shut the book with a loud bang and crawled into his bed. Tal was more than furious. Is this some kind of sick joke? Is Nik mocking me? Hours passed but Tal didn’t get any sleep. He kept trying to find a reason. He didn’t want to believe that Nik was messing with him. He had seemed so sincere when offering his help. It didn’t add up. When he left his bed the next morning to get dressed, Tal looked like a zombie. Dark circles rounded his eyes and his cheeks were puffy. He didn’t share the first lesson with Nik so he decided to catch up with him on his way to the cafeteria. He needed to talk to him about the book and figure out whether it was all some elaborate prank to embarrass Nik or a simple misunderstanding.

Tal was so focused on his anger and frustration that he didn’t realise that he’d walked past his classroom. He had to go all the way back and entered the room with an awkward smile on his lips. Everyone else was already seated and they collectively turned towards him when the door opened. The Professor spared him a quick glance and then went on with his introduction of the new topic. Tal quietly settled down and nudged his classmate as a greeting. “You’re never late.” They observed while keeping their eyes on the blackboard. “Couldn’t sleep.” Tal muttered as an excuse and pulled out his laptop. His best friend Sacr was already raising their hand to interrupt their professor. They were Tal’s only friend and technically should have graduated a year ago. But Scar had decided to take a leave for nine months to visit other countries. Tal was glad that they’d be able to graduate together. That way he would have someone to go to Prom with and drink themselves under the table together.

When he first came to the Academy it was Scar who approached him. Tal had never been good at socialising and apparently neither had Scar but they were interested in the shirt he had worn that day so they started a conversation. They talked about music, movies, comics and books. They realised how different they were after only a few hours and laughed it off. Their only shared interest was their obsession with Percy Jackson but it was everything they needed to build a great foundation for their friendship. “What’s with this weird book?” Scar asked, whispering. Tal hadn’t noticed that he pulled it out with his laptop. “It’s nothing. Just a new hobby.” They furrowed their brows after taking a closer look. “You’re interested in a guide for, uhm, something with Gods?” Tal stared at the book and then Scar. “You can read that?” “It’s Latin.” Scar took the book and flipped through the pages. They whistled quietly. “Latin and ancient Greek. Can you even understand that?” “No.” He replied honestly. “Nik gave it to me. He either didn’t know in which language it was written or..” They huffed. “He so did that on purpose.”

Scar didn’t like Nik. They never had. It wasn’t Nik’s fault. Scar perceived him the way everyone did. The popular straight boy who is favoured by teachers because of his good grades. Tal sometimes felt that he was the only person who really knew Nik. In his eyes, Nik was a hardworking person who deserved the praise he got. And for being a straight guy Nik had never made any bad comments towards his community, which was the bare minimum, really, but somehow more than most straight folk managed. Nik was a decent guy rather than a bully. A few of his friends were and you could accuse him of being a bystander but whenever Nik was around, his friends were careful with their words. Maybe he simply had no idea what they were doing behind his back. Even when Tal had been new, he had never received bad treatment from Nik, no matter the rumours and bullying from others. Nik had stayed out of it. “I’m not sure.” Tal mumbled and bit down on his lip. Scar shook their head and raised their arm again. For the rest of the lesson Tal tried to clear his mind. He didn’t want to think bad of Nik. Sure, Nik wanted to get rid of him but wasn’t he sabotaging himself by giving Tal the wrong book?

As soon as the bell rang Tal waved Scar goodbye and made his way towards the cafeteria. He noticed Nik and his friends joking around in the hallway and his anger grew. Tal pulled out the book from his backpack and approached them. He pushed the guide against Nik’s chest who was startled at his sudden assault and moved back. “Taliesin, hello. What’s wrong?” “What’s wrong?!” Everyone’s gaze was on him and out of the corner of his eyes he could see one of Nik’s friends glare at him. They shared hushed whispers which Tal decidedly ignored.

“This book is written in two dead languages that I don’t speak!” Nik’s lips curled up into a sly smile as if he’d been waiting for this moment. “Would be rather unusual for a dead language to be spoken.” One of his friends chuckled approvingly. “This isn’t funny! You promised to give me answers.” “And I did. I gave you the book. It’s all in there.” “But I can’t read it!” Nik hummed and then shrugged his shoulders. He moved closer and pointed his finger at him. “Sounds like a you problem.” “Nik–“ “Gee, runaway, give it a break.” Tal flinched at the name and turned to face the girl who was talking to him. It was Sally, one of Nik’s closest friends and essentially, a bully. “Can’t you see that you’re bothering him? Do what you’re best at and get lost.” Nik’s head jerked to the side and he examined his friend with a calm stare. Tal’s chest tightened. Her comment could have been much worse but it still hurt. At first, he didn’t notice Nik’s glare but then he spoke up. “What did you just say to him?” Sally and his other friends froze. Nik was moving towards her with a threatening aura. Was he defending Tal? “I just tried to help you get rid of him, Nik. He’s annoying you.” “Is he?” Nik straightened his back. Sally was probably the only person of his friend group on his eye level. Tal felt his heart beating faster in his chest. Nik was defending him. “I thought we were having a rather amusing conversation. Why don’t you all go ahead and I’ll catch up with you after lunch, hm?” They nodded. “And Sally, apologise.” She gave him another weak nod.

“Sorry Tal.” “Taliesin.” Nik corrected her with his arms crossed in front of his chest and Tal saw her bite back a comment. “Sorry about what I said, Taliesin.” Her eyes were locked with his and her gaze stung so bad that he thought if looks could kill Tal would be dead. He cleared his throat while awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. “It’s alright... Thanks for apologising.” She looked at Nik for approval before heading towards the cafeteria with the others. “You didn’t have to do that.” Tal said after they were gone and glanced at Nik’s face. “I won’t let them disrespect the descendant in my presence, Taliesin.” Realisation hit him in the face like a puck during the last few seconds in a game when the other team was getting desperate to make every shot count. “Oh, right. Of course.” Tal’s heart stuttered in his chest. What did he expect? He should have known that was the reason. Nothing else. “About the book?” He tried changing the topic and avoided direct eye contact with Nik.

"I didn’t think it through. Honestly, I had no idea in which language it was written. Seems that I’m left with no other option but to tell you everything myself.” He let out a sigh and held his head in a dramatic pose. “What a waste of my precious time but alas, it can’t be helped.” Sometimes Nik was talking like a man that had lived for too many centuries. Maybe he had. If Tal was really a descendant of multiple or all gods, what other things could be possible? What other mythical beings could be alive and wandering the earth covered in Mist forever unnoticed by mortals? “Hand me your phone.” Nik said and stopped Tal’s train of thoughts. He reached his hand out and Tal hurriedly unlocked his phone before Nik snatched it away. He saved his own number under ‘Nikandros’ and gave it back. Tal would definitely change that to ‘Nik’ later.  “Text me when you’re free so I can arrange a meeting. It shouldn’t take much longer than an hour but depending on how late it gets I’m open to treating you to dinner.” He leaned in to examine Tal whose cheeks were now burning up. “Will that be fine with you, Taliesin?” He was close. Way too close. It made it hard for Tal to think straight. “Yeah– yeah.” “Good.” Nik leaned back again and grabbed the book. He turned around and left without another word. Tal followed him with his eyes until he vanished inside the crowded cafeteria. He was touching his cheeks and sighed softly. Remember what you saw, Tal, you can’t crush on a killer. His cheeks were red and his chest was filled with a familiar warmth. “Please don’t fall for him again.”