13: I Really Should Stop Almost Dying
1501 Words
I opened my eyes to see the now familiar ceiling of the infirmary. I really should stop almost dying, I told myself. My body felt like it had just gone through the world’s most rigorous training session; and in a way, it had.
The blind strike spell was way beyond a bad idea but it was better than what was going to happen before I conjured it- full disclosure, blind strike spell doesn’t kill its victims, just makes them wish it had.
Just then, I heard someone clear his throat beside me and I turned towards the sound to find no other person but the great Mr. Lucifer himself.
Okay, I didn’t mean the devil here- not dead, remember?- Mr. Lucifer’s real name was actually Luke Svenson. He was a grey, almost silvery-haired, fifty-something years old- just guessing at the age- man who taught Healing and Herbs to year two wizards in Firewalt.
True to his nickname, he was the most devilish white wizard you could ever find. He was the head of the student affairs committee and one never really in the company of others.
So, Mr. Lucifer sitting next to my bed could only mean three things: one, I was in trouble. Two, I was in a very big trouble. Three, Francesca wanted me to know that I was in a very big trouble.
I mean, I knew I broke the “no extreme” rule but did she really have to make the devil deal with me?
“I’m guessing you already know why I’m here,” Mr. Lucifer said to me in that husky voice of his that made boys tremble like little girls and little girls like... Well, something more scared than little girls.
“Yes,” I replied, gulping a bit. “So, what’s my punishment?”
“Solitude, after-lessons recitals, and more solitude,” he listed off and stood up without even bothering to ask if I understood a thing he just said- like I said, Lucifer.
Thing is, the punishments themselves were nothing to worry about. Solitude meant I got to spend my evenings and weekends doing nothing but sitting in the classroom with only myself as company; and the recitals meant extra assignments which I had to recite the answers off the top of my head.
But even as bad as they sound, it was my supervisor I wish I could avoid; Mr. Lucifer all the way- seriously, machines had more feelings than the man.
I was about to close my eyes and wallow in self-pity when Vic entered and she was looking a lot far from pleased. “You do know this is starting to become somewhat of a habit, don’t you?” she said as she took a seat next to me on the bed- a really tight fit, I must say.
“How’s Stan?” I asked; Lucifer had gone out the door before I had the chance to ask him.
“He’s alright,” she replied, “but looking a lot worse than you. And speaking of which, the blind strike spell?”
“Well...”
“You performed it on your brother!” she continued without giving any notice to my grimace. “It’s supposed to be exclusive to only old high-level wizards. But even they only dared to use it in emergency situations.”
“It was an emergency situation, Vic!” I shouted but quickly controlled myself before I accidentally spilled the beans. Vic didn’t know about my dark magic problem and I wasn’t ready to tell her yet; or ever, for that matter.
“What are you talking about?” she asked with a lot of worry on her face. I didn’t know what she was thinking but she was definitely on to something; something I couldn’t allow.
“It’s nothing, just a slip of the tongue,” I assured her; and although she didn’t look very convinced, she dropped it- guess she wasn’t ready to badger me yet while I was still recovering.
“There’s another reason why I actually came,” she said, moving on. “I already spoke to Francesca about your punishment.”
Okay, that was news to me. I had just received the information barely thirty minutes ago and she had already discussed it with Francesca- typical Victoria Elmonton.
“What did the Dragon lady say?” I asked. I knew Francesca as well as I knew Vic; and if I wasn’t mistaken, the two had already reached some sort of agreement concerning me.
“She’s willing to let your punishment go in exchange for community service.”
I couldn’t stop the wave of laughter that hit me. “Vic, I don’t think Firewalt can be referred to as a “community”,” I pointed out. “Besides, what can I do for it?”
“Well, about that...” She trailed off with an almost sheepish look on her face; and in that moment, I knew. I was so about to be in for a lot more than I bargained.
A meeting with Francesca Firewalt, Dragon lady and head of one of the most prestigious schools in the magic world, in the middle of the night was something that raised the curiousity up to eleven. Whenever Francesca had that business as hell look about her, you better be downright worried.
But problem is, Francesca was doing everything apart from business- the woman was reading a frigging comic book, for Christ's sake!
“Is this your idea of a torture?” I asked when I couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “Make me sit down to watch in agonizing silence while you did nothing.”
“I’m not doing nothing, Troy, I’m reading.”
“A comic book!” I pointed out for her. “How is that supposed to be productive?”
“They say reading edifies the mind,” she replied, still not taking her eyes off the book.
I was ready to explode to a thousand pieces right there and then to escape whatever game Francesca was playing.
Luckily for me though, I didn’t have to as just then, a guy walked in and said, “All ready, Ms. Firewalt.”
Wait, what! What exactly was “ready”? That wasn’t the part where I started planning my escape route, was it?
“What’s going on?” I asked. But she only gestured for me to follow her. “Francesca, what are you planning?” I asked again.
“Troy, this is Gale,” she introduced the new guy to me while expertly evading my original question; that clever woman. “He’s the captain of the Knights Order for the year.”
“No offense Gale, but what in the world is going on here?” I asked him, very forcefully.
“Patience, valorwizard, patience,” Francesca chimed in again and moved on her way. It wasn’t the fact that she told me to be patient that really got to me but she called just addressed me as "valorwizard"; she’d never done that before.
We got to the conference room and opening the door, I found out that I might have become late for a meeting I didn’t even know I was attending to begin with. Victoria, Cole, a few of his friends, and- surprise, surprise, people!- Stan were already in the room.
“What’s that doing here?” I asked, gesturing to my half-brother. I knew I was being rude but I did have the right to be rude at least once, didn’t I?
Anyway, Francesca replied, “The both of you were able to split my school into two without so much effort so I believe you can unite it for what’s to come.”
“Which is?”
“Not yet to be revealed,” she returned with a cryptic smile. “The circle’s not complete yet.”
Now, what the hell does a circle have to do with anything? I thought angrily to myself. Besides, everyone I thought would usually be present for the whole “Ms. Firewalt wants to discuss something very important in the middle of the night so let’s come around” meeting were already present so, who could still be missing?
Without any warning, I heard someone suddenly burst into the room shouting, “I’m so sorry I’m late, Ms.Firewalt,” and instinctively, I turned, almost having a heart attack at the sight of the person I came face to face with; it was Kendra.
- Writer
