Isn't it great? I have my School-issue laptop back, and believe it or not, it's the same exact laptop I had last year. The only difference is that they gave me a three-hour battery.

Other than that though, everything is still the way it was. The "t" key still has that strange stain that is unknown in origin and composition and takes up most of the key.

With that being said, enjoy and leave me all of your thoughts…

Chapter 23: Hy Brasile Dinner

Drake followed Roxy back into the house, and into the dining hall, where everybody was. It was amazing to see everyone with each other.

Tecna and Timmy were seated right at the left of Brice, and were unsure of what to say or do, knowing that Tecna's father was seated right next to them. Bloom and Sky were seated at the right of Brice, and were currently making out while managing to be in two different chairs. Next to Timmy and Tecna were Flora and Helia, who were currently talking to each other at a volume so low that no one else could hear what they were saying. Across from them were Brandon and Stella, who were talking about what they would do after this crisis was over. Next to them were Musa and Riven, who were talking about flying, or something else flying. And at the end of the table were Layla and Nabu, who were currently discussing the revolutionary movement occurring on Andros.

Drake and Roxy took a seat across from them, and as Drake sat down, he felt something pulling his hair back in a not-quite forceful, not quite gentle way.

A cock of his head revealed Roxy setting to work dividing his hair into three parts and braiding them? Indeed, she was starting to braid his hair, and not in a way one would find on a guy, but rather the way you would braid to show off length and breadth.

"What are you doing babe?" Drake asked, confused as to what his girlfriend was doing this time.

"I'm giving you a waterfall braid" she explained "You have such beautiful hair; it's an insult to not do anything with it"

"I leave it like it is for a reason" Drake explained "In Hy Brasile, men having long hair is normal, but there are certain things that are male-hair traditions and female-hair traditions. Styling hair by pins, braids, and curlers are considered female activities. For a male, hair is to be left hanging, unless you are a warrior going into battle. At that point, nobody would care if you used a headband to keep it out of your eyes."

"So that's why you let it grow like that?" she asked.

"Yeah." Drake sighed "And warriors traditionally trim their hair once it gets past the shoulders. Only men of nobility actually grow their hair down past their shoulders"

"So that's why yours had been cut when we first saw you" Layla exclaimed "You only considered yourself a warrior and had no idea of your
de-Sparks stature"

"Huh?" Drake asked, turning from Roxy to look at the rest of the table. It seemed that everyone had stopped what they were doing as a couple and had been listening to Drake and Roxy's conversation.

"Well" he replied "Yeah. After the talk I had with Saladin back after the duel Sky challenged me to, I had realized that back on Sparks, I would have been a noble, and started to grow it past that. Sure beat having to use a knife to keep it at my shoulders."

"You use a knife to cut hair?" Stella asked "Who does that?"

"Everybody back in Hy Brasile" Drake explained "Scissors are actually banned after the Scissor-blade Assassinations. And that was back when they were first invented too. People had been using a knife to cut hair for thousands of years; they'll continue to do it for thousands more"

"Dinner's ready!" Aril's voice cried from the kitchen. With that, she stepped out, recited a transport spell, and within seconds, the large trays on the table were filled with Secai flatbreads with the corresponding dipping pastes, ranging from fruit-and-spice pastes to meat creams. There were Vernali-Noodles, an egg, wheat, and rice-based noodle soup that had various spices mixed in with meat, vegetables, and a rich stock. There were copious amounts of Apple, Peach, Strawberry, Citrus, and Passionfruit wine.

"I did a little research on the various dishes of Sea Elves and after watching 3 hours of instructional videos, managed to replicate this fancy dinner." Aril explained "Enjoy"

She then proceeded to lean back against the wall, obviously exhausted.

"Thank you so much" Drake exclaimed, taking the Vernali noodles and beginning to eat. He hadn't had this dish in 5 years, back when his mother was still alive. He remembered she worked at a restaurant and learned to cook this stuff in her spare time.

"Aril" Brice asked, looking at the drinks "Is this wine?"

"Why yes it is sir" she replied "Mr. Flaragon, could you explain this a bit more please?"
"In Hy Brasile" Drake explained "Once you are sixteen years of age, you are officially an adult. You can get married, gamble, give consent, and of course, drink alcohol. If we're going to a party in Sea Elf territory, we obviously are going to be served wine. I personally recommend moderation unless you are used to drinking, unless you want to be the first one wasted and have a bottle broken over your head out of celebration"

"What the hell?" Bloom asked "How is that considered celebratory?"

"First one to be hammered-drunk in a sea-elf party is the first one to get good luck the next day." Drake explained "To maximize your luck and avoid you making bad choices, they will break empty bottles over your head until you're unconscious"

"Ouch" Timmy commented.

"I'll tell you one thing" Drake replied "If it wasn't for the fact that I can burn off the alcohol within me, I'd be the one having ten empty bottles broken over my head every time I party."

"I was tempted to do that to you during the party" Bloom replied "You insisted that I repeat what happened at the lake when we first met, and add tongue"

"When did I say that?" Drake asked, confused.
"After shot number thirty" Bloom explained "You were looking for Roxy and found me instead."

"What?!" Sky yelled, anger in his eyes.

"In my defense" Drake replied "I was incredibly drunk. I don't even remember what happened after 7:45 last night. After that, all I remember is singing karaoke and Tecna doing a robot dance."

"You were drunk?" Sky asked.

Everyone else nodded along with Drake.

"Alright, no problem." Sky sighed "Just hope you can hold your liquor better. I wouldn't want anything going wrong." Sky paused "Considering how a diplomatic relationship is resting on Tecna's shoulders as it is."

XxxX

After about an hour, the time for dessert had finally come around. Stella seemed confused about most of the food, but after a little slight insisting and an attempt, she actually found she enjoyed Elven food.

"So tell me" Riven asked, noticing the mark on Drake's left tricep, "What is this strange symbol you have tattooed"

"You have a tattoo?" Bloom asked. "I want to see."

Riven immediately took Drake's arm, and revealed the betrothal mark. Or to them, just an ordinary tattoo; a good thing if there ever was one.

"What does it mean?" Sky asked, noticing the glyphs in the center "I know how all of you hardcore warrior-types have ink that has significant meaning."

"It's a signet" Drake explained "It symbolizes the eternal enemy-ship that lies between myself and Gratnic"

He managed to lie through his teeth on that one, taking a gamble that he was the only one able to understand Elven Script. Thankfully Brice was at the other end of the table. He had a feeling that Brice could probably read it; though it was an older script that was essentially extinct in everyday use.

"I don't get why you got it?" Brandon replied "You already killed Gratnic"

"Just one of those things that you can't really explain away simply" Drake replied "It's only one of those things that one can live with."

"Well, pack your bags people" Brice announced "Because the ball is in three days."

"What happened to a week?" Tecna asked.

"It got moved, as to coincide with the Full Lunar Eclipse." Brice explained "It's very rare that all four moons of Hy Brasile are eclipsed from the sun. It's a big thing, and it's supposed to be an omen of crucible times. So be warned, everyone is going to be at that ball, including the famous Princess Lorelei of the Sea Elf Kingdom, now that the exchange is over, and she'll be back at the palace."

Drake gulped. He had no intention of seeing Lorelei for a long time. He frankly knew he'd have to dump her and get their marks removed; yet knowing that he'd have to face her again. This warrior rarely ran away; unless he was guaranteed to fight another day, he always stayed. This was the one thing that he wanted to run from, yet knew he couldn't.

He only hoped he could hide the ugly business from everyone else before it would become his undoing.

Sorry about it taking so long to update. I have at least a dozen other fics on top of this one, and I have been told to cut back, on writing fanfiction that is.

I still write my original works, and that takes a good chunk of time that I have to write. Turns out, there's an opportunity cost when it comes to writing; just like with all other economics.

So there you have it. Next stop is Hy Brasile; and some heavy duty finalizing drama. Please post a review in that little box that's two inches by four inches. I would really appreciate your opinions.