The Black Flare

Catching Up

Realizing he couldn’t lie in bed and ponder his questions that he couldn’t answer himself, he got up and got ready for the day with a quick shower, and dressing in some clothes from his packed bag he filled before leaving his now old house, then cooking breakfast omelets for all of them as thanks for letting him spend the night before spending the whole day hanging out with the host family playing various games, as it was likely the last visit for a while. So Alex wanted it to be special.

This was how Alex spent the rest of the day happily playing various games with his friend. Card games and video games of varying titles and genres. Alex was a big gamer, learning to accept himself in several ways. One of them being his internal nerdiness. He was trying to teach himself that the things he liked weren’t negative or bad. He just loved games, reading and learning. Now, without the toxicity of his mother in his life, he would be free to explore himself totally. These were his thoughts as he drifted off to sleep that night after his last day with his friend for a while. That night, he dreamed of spending time with his father again and going to a new school.

Before Alex knew it, he heard a knock at the door, his friend letting him know that his father was there to pick him up. Alex quickly got ready in his favorite gray sweatpants and his lucky anime shirt that was gifted to him by a friend, setting the clothes he’d slept in inside a separate bag from his clean clothes and heading to the living room to meet his father for the first time in nearly a decade.

On sight, Baron hugged the boy seemingly within an inch of his life. “Alex! My baby, It has been far too long. You’ve gotten so big.”

Alex chuckled, “Yes it has been a few years since you’ve seen me. I look very different from then.”

“I’m sure that you’ll only continue to change with time. I have a surprise for you at home regarding that.” Baron said, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Alex looked at his father wearily, noting that he no longer had to look up to meet his eyes as he wondered what sort of surprise his father had for him. His dad used to give him good surprises as a child. “OK, where’s your car?” He asked, looking around but not seeing any vehicles that weren’t there the previous night.

“Oh, Alex. There is no car. That’s not how I got here. That is part of your surprise. It’s time you learned the family trade.” Baron said patiently.

“What family trade? How did you get here without a car?” Alex asked, horrendously confused. Only seemingly more confused when he saw his father pull out a… stick?

“Watch and learn, Alex.” Baron said, tapping the wand gently against the door and muttering words that Alex couldn’t quite make out. He then turned the doorknob that in the back of Alex’s mind he was sure he had locked. Then he pulled open the door to a completely different room than his friend’s living room. Alex was stunned for a second, then, without a thought, ran inside to investigate. Upon inspection, this was a completely different house!

Baron entered and shut the door behind him. “Welcome home, Alex!” He said, putting his wand back into his hidden vest pocket.

“How did you do that? This is a completely different house!” Alex said in total confusion.

“Correct Alex, we are now in my home in Columbus. The how, however, is the family trade I told you about. Magic.” Baron explained with a grin.

Alex sat on the navy couch directly behind him, and he thought about that statement. There was no way. He had heard that magic existed in some form or another, and even learned that, typically, African and Native Americans, like Alex's own ancestors, had practiced natural magic before the colonists settled and had taught the colonists to use magic to survive in unfamiliar lands before being betrayed and slaughtered or enslaved. But Alex didn’t think it was true! No one did! Right?

“Alex” Baron said, to get his son’s attention. “I assure you, that magic is quite real. After all, how else could you explain how we got here?”

“A dream?” Alex tried.

“I’m afraid not, my boy. You are very much awake.” Baron answered.

Alex slapped himself as hard as he dared, so not too very hard, in order to make sure. It hurt. “Ow”

“See? Totally real,” Baron said with an amused giggle.

“OK… so magic exists and you can use it. So does that mean I can use it too?” Alex pondered aloud.

“Quick as a whip, my boy. Yes you can.” Baron answered.

“And. I assume the school you work at isn’t a normal school is it?” Alex asked.

“Correct again, Pharos School of the Wonderful is for supernatural and magical creatures alike,” Baron explained.

“Supernatural and magical creatures?” Alex asked, bewildered.

“Yes. Ghosts and other spirits, werewolves, vampires that have sworn off human blood, elves, dwarves, mermaids, mad scientists and their creations. Anything you thought was made up. It’s all real, and Pharos welcomes them all to learn and become contributing members of magical and regular society.” Baron explained.

“How are werewolves and vampires allowed? How can they swear off human blood?” Alex asked in disbelief.

“There are different ways. Some wolves hunt the more dangerous magical animals like manticores and chimeras. Vampires hunt animals alongside them, both magical and not. Or if they are wealthy, there is a synthetic blood they can consume to satisfy themselves.”

“That was a TV show!” Alex argued.

“A show based on reality. It was actually a vampire that pitched the show. It was hysterical.” Baron countered.

“Well… in any case. Back to the part where I can use magic. How come it hasn’t happened before? Like, shouldn’t I have accidentally done something magical before?” Alex questioned.

“In your case, Alex, no. You see, magic comes from within you. In your very soul. It is technically in everyone’s soul. But, not everyone can use magic. Because it has to be unlocked. Your mother never let me unlock yours and forced me to lie to you about my profession and deny the existence of magic. I don’t know why, but I never knew her reasons for most things.” He said thoughtfully. “Anyway, moving on. Your magic is currently still locked. I can unlock it for you, should you so choose to embrace your magical origins and embark on an exciting adventure of the true state of the world around us. However, I will not push you. If you choose to live a normal life, as you know, that is fine with me, and you can live here as long as you like, while you navigate your future as you please.”

Alex opened his mouth to speak, but Baron cut him off. “Think about it some, son. And in the meantime, let’s get all your things unpacked.”

Alex nodded and moved to pick up a couple of bags, Baron doing the same and leading Alex up to his new bedroom. At sight, Alex wondered why the walls were painted black and had glow in the dark stars stuck literally everywhere.

He must have looked confused, because Baron spoke up “I remember how much you always wanted a bedroom like this as a kid, but you couldn’t and how you’d always loved space. I might have converted this room to be yours the day I moved in and never had a true guest room in hopes that a day like this would come when we would reunite.” He admitted.

Alex smiled, “I love you, dad.”

“I love you too, son.” He said, setting down a couple of bags. “Do you want help unpacking?”

“No, thanks, dad. I doubt you want to see my underwear.” He said with a laugh. “Go do your magic stuff. I’m sure you have cool stuff to do.” He said, causing Baron to laugh as well.

“OK, son, I'll come get you for dinner and in the meantime I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” Baron said as he began to walk away.

“I can’t wait to taste your cooking again!” Alex called to him as Baron walked through the door and down the stairs.