[SpringsSong]

“Fifty-five chairs… and stands… in precisely HOW much time?”

Aila had remembered asking this question of one of the assistant managers.  When they had replied that they needed the chairs in under two minutes, Aila had felt the fire she was naturally able to control nearly come to her hands.  Immediately, she began barking orders until, suddenly, someone had spoken above her.

“YOU need to calm down.”

[SpringsSong]

Aila had glared at Ekal when he said that, to be certain.  Who was he to tell her, the stage crew manager of two full years, how to do her job?  Regardless of the fact that he had just told her to calm down, Aila continued on with her duties, grabbing up all the chairs and stands that she could in that two minutes.  If they were missing stands; well, then, they would just have to share.  That’s what stand partners were for, after all, right?

[SpringsSong]

Nevertheless, somehow, the entire stage crew (about ten bodies in total) had gathered the required number of chairs and stands in just under the time allotted to them.  Aila had plopped down on a chair backstage and sighed in relief, while Ekal had sat down on the piano bench that was situated nearby.  The two had sat there in silence for the introduction of the famous Beethoven Symphony Number Five.  After that, however, Aila shifted her chair slightly, so that the chair was closer to the piano bench.  The two exchanged a pensive glance at first, before any words were spoken.

[SpringsSong]

“So… what year are you in?” had been her first question to him.  Some would have thought that to be a silly question, but to Aila, it was completely logical—a chance to see if there was a chance at having classes together.

“I’m a third year,” he had responded.  “How about you?”

“I’m also a third year,” she replied.

[SpringsSong]

From there, it had started.  The two of them had found themselves wishing away the weekends so that they could see each other during the school hours.  Ekal would get out of his Mystery Literature class to practice duets with Aila during her study hall period.  They would stay after school for math tutoring (which they had both needed desperately) and sit next to each other and work on their homework.  He would walk her to the bus that she took to get home after school was out for the day, or walk to nearby eateries if there was a concert and they remained after school.

[SpringsSong]

“Ekal, are these… for me?” Aila had asked, opening her locker at school one day and revealing a box of chocolates that she knew were not cheap.  Ekal had smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek from behind, which was a fairly easy feat for him.

“Happy birthday, my darling,” he said, and she smiled as she closed her locker.

“I’ll eat those at lunch,” she said, smiling.  “Don’t want them getting stolen by other people~”

[SpringsSong]

Valentine’s Day was the next holiday to come up, being just a little more than a month after her birthday.  When she had arrived at school, he had been waiting at her locker for her.  When she opened the locker up, she had been astonished to find a full dozen roses sitting there, along with a card from him—signed as being from her Saikenichi.

“Oh, Ekal, you’re so sweet!” Aila had squealed.  “You make me feel bad that I only got ya one rose!”

[SpringsSong]

Ekal and Aila had spent a couple of weeks together, after the school year was out and apprenticing was beginning.  Since Aila and Ekal were both apprenticing in music, her parents had let her move out to a temporary home that they were renting, and Ekal was living in the same building.  It was during this time that Aila became pregnant with their children.

Aila had remembered being both nervous and excited at the same time.  However, that was when the rift had begun to appear between the two of them.

[SpringsSong]

However, the rift had long since passed between the two.  They were together now, and they were talking about getting married once they were out of high school and had maybe a year of college together.  They had both agreed that they had done what they did a little too early.

“After we’ve solidified our Saiken entirely,” they had agreed.  “Then, we can have children again.”

[SpringsSong]

“Good morning, Wombats!”

Hearing this statement was an affirmation that it was, indeed, morning and that Aila was, indeed, in orchestra, sitting alongside Ekal and Raicen, with Nyera right behind her.

“So, we know what the all-school musical’s going to be this year, Wombats,” he said.  “It’s called Aida, and if you’re interested in performing in it, I need you to stay in here.  The rest of you, go to sectionals,” he said, and a flood of students left the room, leaving only an appropriately-sized pit orchestra behind.

[SpringsSong]

“Well, well~ might not need to hold placement auditions for the orchestra.  Looks like we’ve got about the right amount,” Mr. Fy’cral said.  “All right, here are your parts.  Aila, Ekal, I trust you’ll make copies of your parts before the first rehearsal?” he asked.

“Indeed we will, Mr. Fy’cral,” both Aila and Ekal said in unison.

[SpringsSong]

The rest of the period was spent listening to the musical.  Aila listened as intently as the selections were played, but before long, Fy’cral cut off the tape to begin discussing the logistics of the rehearsals.  Aila felt as though the requirements were spot on; there would be occasional rehearsals during class when there were no concerts immediately around the corner, and come the first month of school after the winter break, they would be rehearsing almost every day.

“What about those of us who have other classes?” Nyera asked.

“I’ll write ya notes to get you out of it,” Mr. Fy’cral said patiently.

[SpringsSong]

All too soon, orchestra ended and it was time for band.  Aila and Ekal looked apprehensively at the schedule on the board.  It appeared as though they were going to be receiving new music.

“Finally,” Aila muttered as she looked around the room.  Ekal grabbed a couple of chairs for them, while she grabbed a pair of stands.  “I wonder what it’ll be…”

[SpringsSong]

“Nothing spectacular, that’s for certain,” a familiar voice said, and both Aila and Ekal turned to face the speaker.

Sylira's Paragon form-to-be

“Ciren, old friend!” Ekal said, shaking the God of Water’s hand.  “While it may be true that Han’am generally skimps on the music early in the year, you have to admit that it’s better than warm-ups.”

“Tell me about it,” Sylira, the other person who had entered the room with Ciren, said.  “He’s had us doing these damn warm-ups since… forever,” she added.

[SpringsSong]

Aila forced a smile when Sylira spoke.  Having her appointed to serve as the Goddess of Light was certainly a shock, and it was not one that Aila was thrilled with.  After all, she had quite the attitude on her when she wanted to.  She had even gone as far as to claim that she and Ekal had been stalking her the year previous.

Needless to say, Aila was thankful when she was to apprentice in Athilia while she and Ekal were apprenticing in Inailia.

“Come on, it can’t be that bad,” Ekal said, chuckling nervously.