Moira's Last Day

The evidence of graduation had started to creep its way into the walls of Taleah High School. The dark blue doors all had posters advertising the senior party at the north beach ("Volleyball! Singing! Keòen Dances! Food to please all!") and here and there in the main hall a couple of blank cap & gown order forms dropped by people were rustling around with the footsteps of oncoming students. Even though official graduation was still a little less than three weeks away everyone was very excited because this was the seniors' last day of official class. Finals were done and over with and it was now time to relax.

Moira Lochgren had barely sat down in her Catin History class when the announcement came over the speakers to send the seniors to the auditorium for a presentation. Most of the class leapt up with excitement, ready to be out the door and into a place where they didn't have to think of a single scholarly thing, but Moira groaned and sneered in annoyance. She would rather stay in class where she would enjoy the jokes of her favorite teacher, Mr. Bhangren, who was a rather eccentric man from Balthòr and directly related to Meiro Bhangren, the fifth Eldin of Leena. In addition, he was also her uncle and sponsor and she loved him dearly. She looked over towards his desk and caught his eye and he gave her a knowing look but a nod of encouragement to join the rest of the senior class. She sighed and, turning back around, leaned to her right and put her fingers around a large book in her satchel, pulling it out so it was slightly visible, smiled with a mischievous look, and as she let it sink back in her bag she too arose and marched out of class.

The auditorium was very large, as it also served as a venue for town activities, of which there were plenty and always in abundance. It was a short distance away from the main school building but thankfully it was a beautiful day outside, perfect for the party in the afternoon. Moira was wearing her favorite moccasin shoes crafted of woven material and made by her own grandmother. Her light brown skirt moved elegantly as she walked in no real hurry towards the giant building decked in navy blue and coral pinkish-red. The weather had improved greatly enough for Moira to leave her favorite jacket at home and she was donning a red and flowy summer shirt. Her beautiful golden hair with its tight waves flowed rather nonchalantly down her shoulders, blown slightly in the light wind. She finally approached the auditorium and made her way for the very coveted back seats where students were less likely to get caught texting or whispering to each other.

At the last minute she changed her mind, seeing the giant mass of people who were already over there, clearly ready to fight for them. She instead settled for the middle, which was surprisingly empty. She spotted her friend, Alina Sokar, and she came to join her. On Moira's left, a boy named Alton Earle sat down, lowering himself so that his head rested comfortably on the back, in an attempt to look as uncaring and bored as possible. He too was a friend of Moira's and she just gave him a smile before waiting patiently for the yearly presentation to start.

The lights dimmed, and Moira waited patiently for her eyes to adjust. All around her were the whispers of conversation which grew louder despite the conscious efforts to not be heard, causing grumpy teachers to keep shushing them. The presentation, her older brother Severin had warned, was quite boring, talking about being responsible as an adult. To Moira's amusement, she saw that it had been subtitled in Keòen but soon lost interest in the dry film and took that large book out of her tan satchel covered in hand-sewn designs and cracked it open. Once she was sure she had enough light, she began to read it. To the average person, it appeared to be some sort of journal, but as it was all in Keòen, only about three quarters of the students around her would be able to read it and fewer would be able to understand it without effort. Being Jadali born, Moira spoke Keòen fluently and had no trouble at all reading this book and was obviously enjoying it.

"Where did you get that?" Alina asked, looking from the book to Moira and raising an eyebrow.

"Gift..." said Moira in a very offhand way, as if she wanted a slight air of mystery about her.

"Wait a minute!" Alina went on, realizing just what Moira was reading, "That book! That's the Journal of Mera Visi!"

"Yeah, it is!" Moira beamed, looking at Alina. "My parents got it for me as a graduation present and I've been reading it ever since. It's fascinating!"

Without another word she completely tuned out the presentation and the world around her and began to read and study the words as they were in their original form, making sure to hold the book in such a way that Alina would be able to read it too if she leaned slightly to the left. Images of the Realm and the goings-on inside danced across her mind and were far more interesting than whatever was being presented. Every so often she would catch a word or phrase of what was going on but they were then quickly drowned out by her imagination.

Eventually the program had ended and teachers had demanded the attention of all the students. Moira realized that she had better put down her book before she got it taken away by the very strict-looking Mrs. Southern, who was eying her row suspiciously. The vice principal of the senior class, Mrs. Brandonne, with her over-enthusiastic and way-too-happy and plastered smile, was speaking some last words to this graduating class. Moira was only half-listening and was instead wondering how the grounds looked when Mera Visi would come by looking for specific plants. Her full attention was quickly brought back to Mrs. Brandonne however when she somewhat sharply demanded that the class stand up and sing the Alma Mater complete with hand motions.

The whole auditorium groaned, untouched by her speech that this would be the last time they would ever sing it together, and too cool to stand up and be caught singing it the way she wanted them to. Suddenly her sugar coated personality was gone and she was barking at them, demanding that they rise. Moira sighed but knew that this could only mean that the end was nigh and reluctantly stood up in a way that made it seem like she had 100 bricks on her shoulders. Barely standing upright, and leaning over so far she looked like she would fall over at the slightest breeze, she began to mumble along to the Alma Mater, hoping that Mrs. Brandonne would not be ask them to repeat it in a clear voice.

It went just as Moira had expected. There was nothing more than a mumbling drone from the student body and she was immensely satisfied, though remained entirely deadpan, at the frustrated look on Mrs. Brandonne's face as they didn't take this task as seriously as she conjured up in her mind that they would. With a sigh, the vice principal reluctantly, and with defeat in her voice, concluded the assembly and excused all of the students to the party on the beach.

The auditorium, which had been nearly devoid of energy, suddenly sprang to life and students crowded the doors trying to be the first one out. Moira wanted out just as fast as everyone else, but waited patiently until she could fit through the door without getting pushed around. Once outside, bright sunlight flooded her vision and she was blinded for a moment. Squinting, she grabbed Alina by the arm and they made their way to the very nice red car that Moira's sponsors, her aunt and uncle, owned and gifted to the current junior and senior living with them. As Alina piled into the passenger seat Moira was already starting it up and adjusting her mirrors. When they finally got as far as the main street from the parking lot, Moira looked quickly around before going forward. With a mischievous giggle she turned right instead of left. Alina was also full of rebellious laughter as the signs that pointed the students toward the beach party got smaller in their mirrors instead of bigger.

Once they escaped the heavy traffic of so many students they began cruising south along the coastal highway, soon leaving Taleah behind. They drove straight through Ameresa, pausing only to admire a pod of whales that were visible in the sparkling blue ocean. Far to their left and behind them they could see the majestic mountains and the lush green forests of Jadali and after about half an hour they came to the signs welcoming them to Cobh de Via, one of Moira's favorite cities in the world. She slowed down the car and turned right where they pulled into the parking lot of a large, faded, weather-beaten, plain white warehouse type building. In the same black letters, crooked and loose as always, spelled the name of the store, Meren Bha, which was Keòen for Treasure Chest. The date smiled down on them from atop its black framed spot above the store sign and off-center from it.

Moira and Alina smiled at each other as they got out of the car and walked happily inside. This was the best store in the whole world, as far as Moira was concerned, and nothing could compare to the treasures that awaited her on their dusty shelves. Today she loosely had in mind what she wanted. She would never forget the time she found a perfectly working flute which led her to become a musician in the first place. She had already decided on the college she would attend and needed some clothing and items for the little house that she and Severin had found through a kind man who owned several houses near campus and had a special heart for music majors. Though she had not been there in person she was satisfied with its appearance and had seen many pictures.

As the two girls, best friends, made their way up and down the aisles, they kept exclaiming and throwing things, treasures, into their shopping cart. Moira found plenty of cute and eclectic drapes and sheets as well as some dishes and silverware, but nothing compared to the most beautiful pendant necklace she found. She just knew that it had to be something from Jadali, and upon examining the back she knew that she was right. It was an apprentice study piece, she could tell, and it bore the crest of Montàlo. It was a butterfly pendant, cast in beautiful tarnished silver, an unmistakable symbol of Terabi. She wondered what it was doing in a secondhand shop and quickly rescued it from the dusty white shelves.

After they had thoroughly looked through everything in the whole shop, they bought their treasures and headed for the nearby grocery store before heading out to the coast where Moira's brother Severin was waiting for them, having finished his first year of college and stopping here on his way home to Jadali. As they headed for the shore, Moira could see a figure flying a kite on the water's edge and began to run for him, knowing without a doubt that it was her brother and ultimate best friend, with Alina quick after, just as excited to see him.