The Companions

      And so Elsa's new life had begun. She would breakfast with her parents—who were incredibly relieved at both her newfound vigor and the cessation of her chatter to Tak—, go off to school, and briefly play with her friends. Walking home was what she looked forward to every day. As soon as they were alone on the path, Elsa and Tak would run and play. They had agreed never to speak to each other outside of the clearing but they didn't need speech for their games. After tiring themselves out, they would meet Robin in the clearing.
      These were wonderful days, she had never felt so alive. She was even able to bond with some of the other schoolchildren. Four of the others—those who had initially been curious about Tak—took to walking home with Elsa and Tak. Elsa's revelation in regards to Tak and Robin had left her palpably more confident. She seemed to radiate an air of effortless self-direction towards which her newfound friends eagerly flocked.
      "You're a natural leader," Robin would mock her jovially, "those four would follow you through the veil itself if you asked it of them."
      "Robin does have a point," the ever serious Tak would add, "you have the ability to bend others to your will, you must be very careful never to employ it without careful thought."
      Sober thoughts aside, the newly formed companions grew ever closer. Inevitably, they abandoned the stifling playtime with the rest of the schoolchildren. Gill and Brin, twins with seemingly unending energy, would run through the trails with Tak, playing hide and seem or tag. Lucas would sit under a tree and strum his lute as Elsa and Dor would discuss subjects never taught in school.
      Elsa and Dors' debates would range through uncountable subjects in mere minutes. An attempt to uncover the mathematical theorem behind The Peoples' Electoral Consensus would lead to the incredibly dangerous subject of the ethics of The Grand Enlightenment.
      "They do teach us that the nobles exploited the people but it is so hard to understand when all of our history begins with The Great Enlightenment." Remarked Dor, a well behaved and mindful girl who's growing intellect was just beginning to cause problems in a school where mediocrity was the set goal.
      All five of them—even Gill and Brin when you held them still for a moment—displayed troubling intellectual prowess. Elsa's drastic change from a mediocre girl into a beautiful genius was the subject of many discussions between Tak and Robin.
      "They also teach us that geography ends at the river;" exploded the beautiful little genius, "according to them, the ground below our feet doesn't even exist!" A warning glance from Tak, who had emerged from the forest with the twins, silenced her outburst.
      "I'm an evil nobleman, devouring logic and sowing the seeds of fancy throughout the land!" Gill shouted to Brin, "You and Tak have to silence my lies and restore order to The People!" And with that, he was gone. Brin, not to be out-sprinted by her brother, quickly gave chase. With one final warning glance in Elsa's direction, Tak followed the twins into the forest.
      "You know, my family does still have a few history books predating the revolution." Lucas remarked as he set his lute aside and stretched languidly. "My family, being nobles, obviously opposed the revolution, but it does make for some interesting reading."
      This was a common occurrence in their discussions; Lucas would interject during a heated moment, always with a neutrally worded observation from a previously overlooked vantage point. His opinion was always highly valued amongst the group; after all, it was from his family library that they gained their illicit extra-curricular material. His family was of old and noble blood. Whispers stated that every male member of the family above the age of twelve had been put to death, their wealth had been reallocated, and they had been banished to the very edge of The State.
      His references to his noble blood were never resented by his friends. He always treated them with the utmost respect, not once lording over them.
      "Oh, you must bring them one of these days!" Elsa swooned, knowing she would catch grief from Tak and Robin but lost in her own excitement.
      "As you wish." Lucas smiled at her. He could refuse her nothing, for he was madly in love with her. He never let it show; not fully understanding what passed between couples in love, he had a vague notion that it possessed the capability to disrupt a group's harmony. Every melody played on his lute was of his own composition, composed for Elsa. Lyrics in his head silently wooed her as he played. Even the phrase, "as you wish", was from a love story—long banned by The State—that his mother had read to him as a young boy. He only said it to Elsa, safe in the knowledge that she would have never heard it.
      And thus life progressed for the five companions; nothing could disrupt their carefree adventures...until the man from The Peoples' Council arrived.