,,Yes I'm up for the challenge" Zypher tried to sound calm but it was obvious that he was everything but that.
,,It's nothing too impossible, don't worry. Everyone gets to ask the other 3 riddles . The person who gets the most of them right wins. It's as simple as that."
-Sounds easy in theory, but I have a suspicion it won't be as simple as I think
,,I will start. I move without legs, I cry without eyes. Wherever I go, Darkness slowly dies.
What am I?"
-Hmm…I can't really think of anything….the last part is throwing me off, 'Darkness slowly dies' maybe it's somewhere where there's light…but I'm not sure.
,,Is it the sun?"
-Wherever the sun goes it's not dark anymore and it moves without legs so it could be that
,,You were close. It's light. I can understand your thoughts but you thought too much into it."
-Damn it
,,Now for my second one: I have keys but no locks, Space but no room, You can enter, but you cannot leave. What am I?"
-He likes to ask riddles with easy answers so I shouldn't interpret too much. Keys….space…enter…on first glance they don't have much in common but there is one place where they are all present
,,Is it a keyboard?"
Michael smiled ,,Yes that's correct. You got your first one right. Now as for your last riddle to solve:
I have a face and two hands,Yet arms I have none. I move all day long, But I never run. What am I?"
-I've heard that one before…what was it…/Oh now I remember
,,It's a clock am I right"
Michael nodded ,,That was quite fast, it seems you're better than I first thought. Now it's your turn to ask me."
-What can I even ask someone of this caliber? He looks like someone who could answer any question…
,,The person who makes me doesn't need me. The person who buys me doesn't use me. The person who uses me doesn't know it. What am I?"
-I hope I can catch him off guard
Michael thought for a bit and then answered
,,Am I a coffin?"
Zypher nodded but inside he was getting frustrated
-Damn it, what can I ask this man to make him loose?! Who knows what he'll give me as a punishment if I loose…
,,The more you take from me,The larger I grow. I swallow mountains,Yet make the ground below. What am I?"
-Pleaseee let this work
Michael thought hard but couldn't come up with an answer.
,,I don't know. Please tell"
,,It's a hole."
,,How intriguing, that was quite a difficult one. If I get the next one right we're tied if I don't than you win. What an interesting moment."
Just as Zypher was about to ask his last riddle they heard a voice talking to them from the kitchen.
,,Dinner is ready, everyone get ready to eat."
Michael stood up and Zypher followed suit.
,,We can continue our little game later. Let's go wash our hands."
Zypher followed Michael to the bathroom and then washed his hands. Afterwards he went downstairs to the kitchen and sat at the table.
Saphina placed the plates full with food in front of everyone. She sat down next to him and Michael and her mother sat opposite of them.
,,Thanks for the food."
Saphina smiled happily at his comment and they began eating.
It tasted like nothing he's ever had before. The flavors filling his mouth were so good that he could barely notice how quick he was finished with the food.
,,So you're Zypher right? I'm Saphinas mother. You can call me Madam or just Elizabeth if you want to be less formal."
,,The boy is quite smart you know, we played a game just now and he actually managed to outmaneuver me ."
Zypher looked shy , this situation was a bit awkward for him. He was eating at a table with the family of a girl from his class. He didn't even know if they could be called friends. And now all of a sudden he's eating food made by her with her parents looking and talking about him.
-Never in my life did I think I would be sitting in a mansion eating delicious food
,,So Zypher, what are your plans after you graduate ?" Elizabeth asked him but it felt more like she just pressured him to tell her
,,I'm not so certain yet. I am sure I want to go to college but I haven't decided on a major just now. I am still only in 10th grade so I still have time to think about it."
Elizabeth seemed a bit unpleased at the answer but just nodded.
,,Well Saphina has already decided hasn't she." Her mother sounded a bit arrogant
,,Actually I myself am not quite sure yet mother."
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
Half an hour later it was already very dark outside.
,,I better get going home now. I don't want my mother to worry and I don't want to disturb you any further."
Zypher politely said and then stood up.
Michael accompanied him to the second gate and gave him a firm handshake.
,,I expect to see you soon again boy, our game isn't quite finished yet after all and you seem quite nice to talk to."
,,Thanks sir."
Zypher walked out and after 5 minutes of walking through their gardens and gates he finally got off the estate.
-An unexpected twist in my day.
He walked home and noticed the mansion getting smaller and smaller the further he went. Soon he couldn't see it at all anymore.
At home his mother was already sleeping, he didn't want to wake her up so he went to bed as well and thought long and hard about how weird this day had become.
-I wonder when I'll see them next…Michael seems nice but her mother is a bit arrogant and weird.
His eyes closed and he slowly drifted into the world of dreams.
————————————————————
A whisper into the ear
,,Saphina dear , wake up. You'll get late to school if you don't get up now."
-Huh…oh yeah school.
Saphina got ready for school and walked to the train station. She saw Zypher and walked up to him.
,,Good morning."
She whispered into his ear from behind.
Zypher shook in shock and then turned around to face her
,,Good morning to you too Saphina."
-Heheh I caught him off guard
,,Isn't it tiresome to say our long names all the time? How about we call each other by our nicknames. Your friends call you Zyph don't they. You can call me Saph. What do you think"
,,Hmm I suppose it's alright if you're fine with it."
She smiled happily at his response.
The way to school was quiet, the train empty and only Saphina and Zypher were in there.
,,I love quiet time like this , do you Zyph?"
,,I do, although it feels lonely sometimes."
She pouts.
,,But it's not lonely right now is it"
,,Not with you around. You make it lively in here. It's energizing."
She leaned in closer and tried to see if he lied but his face seemed genuine.
,,Hmm is that so." She grinned and then leaned against the bench they were sitting on.
-Ever since I started going to school early with the train , I find myself happier. I wonder if Zypher had that influence on me…who knows