Renlin sort of missed summer. He missed the lake, his boat, and the effect the water had on him. The endless days spent basking in the sun and the serene mornings out on the dock. He missed it all. Though he enjoyed the company he found here at school, aside from Dante spending the summer with them, he liked being surrounded by people. The bustling energy of others was something he thrived on. He missed the casual gatherings, the impromptu parties, and even the simple joy of seeing familiar faces every day.
Here with Vinnie was nice. Though, the kitchen wasn’t really his first choice, and he was also surprised there were no cooks coming in and yelling at them for eating this ice cream. It felt like a small rebellion, sitting in there and talking as if they owned the place. The peacefulness of this moment contrasted sharply with the chaos of earlier, and Renlin found comfort in it. He glanced at Vinnie, grateful for his friend’s presence. The worries and tension from the fight seemed to melt away with each spoonful of ice cream.
He wished he could mix the two places. He wished there was a lake here as well. He had found some ponds during a night or two out, but nothing large. They usually were filled with moss and not swimmable. All but one. The one next to the abandoned hotel that he had found a few years ago. That spot had become his secret, a place where he could escape and pretend he was back on the lake, if only for a moment. It wasn’t the same.
He had painted his initials there with his symbol on a tree. It was a habit of his, marking all the places he discovered with a little piece of himself. If anyone else ever found these hidden spots, they’d know they weren’t alone. It was a silent connection, a message to the unknown wanderers who might stumble upon his marks. This particular place, with its serene pond and abandoned hotel, was special. His initials and symbol felt like a secret signature, a way to leave a bit of his soul in his favorite hidden sanctuary.
His soul now felt very torn apart, frayed at the edges. It wasn’t his usual self. The dreams were so vivid, so real, they seemed to be chipping away pieces of him. He used to be able to just forget, to brush off the lingering shadows of sleep, but not anymore. Now, it almost felt like he was going crazy. Crazy wasn’t inherently bad, right? There was a certain appeal to madness, a freedom in it. But he didn’t want to be crazy. He had reasons to stay grounded, reasons to keep it together. There were people who depended on him, people he cared about deeply. Inessa, Vinnie, the Umbra brothers, a few others….they needed him sane, strong, reliable. He couldn’t afford to lose himself to these dreams, no matter how tempting it was to let go.
Sometimes he didn’t want to wake himself. He wanted to know more, to see more. The dreams held fragments of something larger, something important. It wasn’t just for him, but for those people in his life as well. He wanted answers, clarity—for Inessa, for Vinnie, for all the Umbra brothers and for others. If the dreams were trying to tell him something, he had to understand it. He owed them that much.
“How’s he doing right now?” Vinnie asked about Tae.
Renlin shook his head. He hadn’t stuck around to find out, and he hadn’t checked his phone either. It was probably blowing up with messages and missed calls. He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling the weight of the fight. Tae was probably in bad shape, but Renlin didn’t feel much better himself.
He looked at his fingers for a little bit, the slight tremble in them betraying his inner turmoil. Vinnie moved on, recounting his own altercation, his words a comforting distraction from Renlin’s thoughts. Renlin appreciated the distraction, but he couldn’t help but think about what his sister would say when she found out.
“Someone has to initiate the new students,” Vinnie began, his voice carrying a weight of responsibility. Renlin nodded in agreement, his mind drifting to their own initiation into Umbra. It was more than just physical tests; it was about deciphering codes, demonstrating stamina, and proving one’s dedication to the cause. This year’s initiation seemed to hold a different significance, one that Renlin couldn’t quite grasp yet. Toughness? Alpha male energy?
Ren couldn’t help raise a brow at the mention of the person wearing a trench coat, and although he found it peculiar to wear a trench coat, he kept his thoughts to himself. After all, he was well aware that his own sense of style might be considered questionable by others.
Renlin chuckled and shook his head in response to Vinnie’s explanation. While it wasn’t his preferred method of asserting dominance, he respected Vinnie’s approach, recognizing that everyone had their own way of handling situations. “And do you think he got the point in the end?” Renlin asked, curious about the outcome.
Renlin raised an eyebrow at Vinnie’s mention of using his shadows. “And where is he now? Hiding under his bed from you? Transferring to a different school? Or perhaps he’s plotting his grand return to the common room for round 2?” he quipped, adding a playful tone to the speculation.
“Well, you know what they say, Vinnie,” Renlin quipped with a smirk. “Behind every dork is a loyal friend keeping them in check. Consider yourself lucky.”
Renlin laughed at Vinnie’s remark. “Hey, at least I’d make a pretty cool pirate, right?” he joked, adjusting the makeshift ice pack on his face.
“Yeah, about that…” Renlin hesitated, not sure how much he wanted to reveal, especially of what happened after. “Let’s just say I had a moment of inspiration, or maybe insanity, depending on who you ask. But it got people talking, right?”
Renlin leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Oh, come on, Vinnie. Don’t leave me hanging. You know I live for this stuff.” He nudged his friend playfully, eager to hear the juicy details without missing a beat. The thought of Vinnie getting into some escapade at the ball was just the distraction he needed from his own drama. Plus, there was always something intriguing about Vinnie’s exploits. They never failed to entertain or surprise.
Renlin couldn’t help but feel a surge of curiosity as he leaned closer to Vinnie, his interest piqued by the mention of a departure from the ball. “Seriously, spill the beans, Vinnie. I need all the details,” he urged, his tone a mix of excitement and anticipation. After all, what were friends for if not to share every scandalous detail of their escapades?