Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

"You’re lying."

Yesu paused, blinked. But didn’t look away.

Seth watched her closely.

They held each other’s gaze for a few moments.

Then Yesu gave a dramatic sigh.

"Okay, you got me. I didn’t lose it."

She looked too carefree for someone who just admitted to outright lying. Like it was no big deal.

It was a big deal to Seth.

"Where is it?" He asked, partially tense and fed up at the same time.

Yesu didn’t think twice about it.

"I gave it to someone." She said. "It was an exchange sort of."

Seth’s eyes widened.

"Why would you do that?"

Yesu’s brows drew together. All this for a flower?

"I get the flower is rare and all but don’t you think you’re going a bit overboard?"

Seth let out a breath. Trying not to divert.

"Who did you give it to?"

Yesu made a face.

"A friend of mine. He was badly injured so I gave it to help heal his wounds."

Seth froze.

Yesu noticed.

"What? Please don’t tell me I’ve committed another crime."

"How did you know that?"

"Know what?"

Seth was still frozen.

"The Morning Dew. How did you know it had healing properties?"

Yesu paused.

Morning Dew...

’... You’re looking at the famous Morning Dew flower coming all the way from the east.’

She recalled her conversation with Olwen.

’... It’s very rare. Also known for its healing abilities.’

Yesu frowned.

How had she known that?

Seth was staring at her suspiciously.

Yesu shook her head slowly.

"I don’t know. I must’ve heard it somewhere I guess."

Even she knew that was very unlikely. Someone from her background knowing about something as exclusive as that?

Impossible.

Even members of the elite population were literally new to the plant.

Seth was growing more suspicious. The look he gave her made it clear.

When he spoke again, his voice was quiet, discreet. Like they were now sharing a secret he didn’t want anyone to hear.

Although there was absolutely no one around.

"What else do you know about the Morning Dew flowers?"

Yesu wondered briefly.

She couldn’t think of anything else.

How the previous information about the plant had magically sprouted out of her head was a mystery.

She didn’t want to dwell on it.

It was just a flower anyway. What was the big—

Seth was doing it again.

Brushing through her thoughts. Delicate fingers, flipping through.

Yesu subconsciously visualized it.

Fingers on pages.

Her pages.

She mentally slapped the fingers away. Hard.

Seth shifted back a little.

Like she had just slapped him across the face.

"I told you, stop doing that. It’s not nice." Yesu said.

She didn’t sound annoyed though, not even in the slightest.

Seth was looking at her with new eyes. Like there had been a veil covering her and it had suddenly been lifted.

"Okay." He said simply.

Yesu was a bit taken by his surrender.

"You are right." He continued. "That wasn’t proper."

Then his eyes trailed her from head to toe. Studying.

"But there’s something I want to know."

He met her gaze again.

"Who are you?"

Silence.

Yesu stared.

Totally unshaken by the odd question.

Seth waited.

The sun had set completely. Dusk had come.

The nocturnal inhabitants of the forest had begun announcing their takeover.

"Yesu." She said finally. "I am Yesu."

Seth took a moment to process the obvious statement.

Then he gave the usual sigh.

"This friend of yours, the one you gave the flower to. Who is he?"

Yesu couldn’t believe it. Not this again.

"Why are you so hung up about three little leaves?"

"It’s important. That’s all I can say."

"I know. I know." Yesu said without interest. "Endangered specie."

Seth looked slightly relieved. He nodded.

"That’s right. So tell me, who was it?"

"Frost Mellow."

Seth frowned.

"Frost Mellow?"

Yesu nodded confidently.

"Yes. At least that’s what I call him. I just can’t seem to remember his name."

Seth rubbed the area between his eyes with three fingers. He was starting to feel the onset of a headache.

"Seriously?" He asked, exasperated.

"You can’t blame me. I’ve only met him twice."

"Of course."

The sarcasm was blunt.

Seth turned his back to her and started walking away.

"Hey." Yesu called. "Have you forgotten you volunteered to escort?"

Seth stopped.

He groaned silently and walked back to her.

They continued on their way.

Seth then remembered there had been four captives.

Only Yesu remained as a result of the discussion. And it had taken a while.

None of the others had returned to check.

That told him everything.

"Finchkin’s out of the Trials." Yesu said suddenly.

Finchkin?

Seth brows furrowed. Then he realized who she meant. He couldn’t help but sigh.

Frost Mellow. Finchkin.

Some girl Kaelitha was.

"What did he do this time?" Seth wasn’t the least surprised.

"Got into a fight with a senior."

Now Seth was surprised. "Finch got into a fight?"

Yesu found the question odd.

"Yeah. The battle scene’s pretty something. You should go see it sometime."

It was an offhanded remark. Not at all insensitive.

Just...

Observational?

Spectatory?

Seth didn’t know what surprised him more. Finch engaging a senior or Yesu’s complete detachment.

"What’s the current status?" He managed to ask.

"Our supervisor said he’s seriously injured. But he’ll be fine."

Seth tried processing the abnormal piece of information.

Yesu stopped.

"I think you should head back now."

Seth looked at her, frowning.

"No more need for an escort?"

Yesu smiled.

"Never needed it." She admitted.

Seth let out a snort and turned to leave.

"Wait a sec."

His frown deepened. He faced her again.

"What?"

Yesu’s head was tilted to one side, thoughtfully.

"What does Apollo mean?"

Seth was taken aback for a moment.

Then his eyes slowly narrowed.

"It means exactly what it means. If you opened a book every once in a while, you would know that."

Yesu was quick to defend.

"Hey, you know nothing about my academic life. I read tons of books."

Her defense was light and weak as usual. Playful.

The darkness was fast descending.

Seth found it even harder to see. He rubbed his eyes.

"I don’t care about your grades." He said truthfully.

Yesu smiled.

"Really? Cause I remember you mentioning it more than once back at the greenhouse... but if you say so."

Seth muttered something and started walking away.

"Maybe," Yesu called out to him as he departed. "We could talk more about it after Trials."

Seth didn’t look back.

"At the club!" Yesu added.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Seth muttered in self-pity.

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