15: I'll Take Breakfast with a Side of Friendship Please
1439 Words
I woke up the next morning to see a parcel lying on my night stand. It was more long than wide and was wrapped with a foil; although the foil was silver and not aluminum- I didn’t even know silver foils existed.
I took two steps backwards, remembering the encounter with the skunk- couldn’t be too careful these days, you know.
After having a serious conversation with my courage, I strode up to it and found a note attached to the parcel. It read, It was your father's. With love, Francesca.
I wasn’t sure if I should really trust that note; even if it was from Ms. Firewalt herself. But curiosity got the better of me and I opened the parcel.
Inside laid a sword- I never pictured Oliver for a swordsman- it was long and although had a heavy look, it was surprisingly light to carry; I was sure a child could wield it without any problem. The hilt of the sword looked like that of any other; a golden base and a leather grip.
But that was where the similarities ended. The blade was made of what looked to be an emerald crystal but- don’t be fooled- it was as sharp as any other.
I forgot that I wasn’t supposed to like Oliver and marvelled at the craftsmanship, it was simply... Well, magical.
And then, it hit me. Nobody could have forged such a weapon- even with the help of a machine- unless magic was involved. I turned it to its side and saw the word Breather etched on it; that didn't sound like a fine name for a sword. But then again, who could blame the old man? Magic genius didn't extend to nomenclatures.
I cut the air a few times with it to test its strength and it came back firm; it even began to glow an ethereal green light, no doubt the magic within it reacting to the swings.
I was still staring at the astounding object when I suddenly heard a knock on my door. I quickly placed Breather in my wardrobe and went to open the door. I wasn’t worried about someone seeing the sword, it just didn’t seem right to go and face someone early in the morning with an emerald sword in hand.
I opened the door only to find Jake staring back at me like I had just grown two heads. “Are you not going to breakfast?” he asked me through the look.
And that was when I really remembered what it was that had woken me up to begin with; me sleeping through my alarm.
“Of course, I’m going,” I replied him, “just give me a sec to freshen up first.”
I went in and rushed through the brushing and showering. By the time I came out, Jake had already helped me select my clothes. He didn’t behave like he had seen the sword and I didn’t ask- what would be the point anyway?- He tossed me my clothes as I made my hair presentable— or tried to, considering the fact that I was nowhere near good at styling— and I quickly got dressed. Jake had chosen a white top that had a giant love drawn on it- I didn’t even know I had the clothes- and a deep blue jeans.
“Now come on or I swear I’ll kill you if we end up being late today,” he said as soon as I finished getting dressed. There was no malice in those words and we ended up laughing over it as we raced each other to the dining hall.
The dining hall was barely filled when we arrived there; guess everyone had a late start to the day like I did. We got our trays and served ourselves breakfast as usual; he getting two slices of bread and a cup of tea- Brits and their tea- and me, pancake and a cup of coffee; I did like to keep up energy.
We were still searching for where to sit when Jake suddenly dragged me off in the direction of a particular table. I couldn’t decipher what was so special about that table until we arrived there; a girl in a green cloak.
She had long black hair almost reaching her waist and fringes that curled at the front just above her eyebrows. Good curved jaw, classy black eyes, slim and cute; definitely American.
She didn’t notice us standing there at first; but when she finally did, the look she shot us was anything but friendly.
Seemly oblivious to her reaction, Jake sat on her right side and I reluctantly lowered myself into a seat on her left. It occurred to me that Jake’s plan- whatever the goal was- started and ended with getting to the table- bad strategy, Jake!
I decided to help him but I barely got a sound out before she said, “You guys can’t take a hint?” Her voice was actually sing-song like some fairy-tale bird and so, it was more adorable than threatening.
“Hello, I’m Troy,” I knowingly ignored her previous statement. “He’s Jake and your name is...?”
“None of your business!” she fired back and immediately went back to ignoring us.
Okay, so she was a feisty one. But I already knew someone who would send her feisty back to preschool; and so, I made to power ahead anyway.
But it was Jake who interrupted me this time. “He’s Oliver Sanders’ son, you know,” he said, not that I could understand what good that was supposed to achieve.
And it didn't. “And I’m the daughter of a mage, so what?” she fired back again in her sing-song voice; exactly like I had predicted. “We’re all here to school and that’s all that matter to me right now. Oh, and you two leaving me the hell alone.”
I began to wish I had Vic with me, if only to let her see that there was another crazy that surpassed her own. And what in the world was a mage?— don’t judge, I was still new to the whole magic terminologies.
“Look girl,” I said to her in as much matter of fact tone as I could muster, “we’re good people, even if you’re being too mean right now to see that, and you look like you need some friends. So, why don’t you just bear us for this breakfast and we see what happens from there?” I wasn’t sure if that would work but I needed to get it out then before I had the urge to shout it at her instead later.
Fortunately, it did. “That sounds fair,” she said, smiling for the first time. “I’m Elaine.”
“Elaine who?”
“Just Elaine.” She still didn’t trust us by the looks of things; but at least we could now have a decent conversation.
“I didn’t see you in Miss Swan’s identification class,” I said, choosing to start with a safe topic.
“No, I’m in Caukwiss's.”
Caukwiss Is that name even earthling?
I powered on anyway. “You see, my buddy Jake here is a natural when it comes to identification. I’m sure the two of you can find some ideas to exchange.” I saw Jake’s eyes light up in appreciation; it was no secret he wouldn’t have been able to pull this off alone. Hell, I didn’t know how I pulled it off.
The two of them hit it off really well and very soon, I was completely lost to what they were saying— problems with magic terminologies, remember?- and so, I quickly finished my breakfast and left; much to their obliviousness, actually. They were really lost in that conversation of theirs and Jake was already starting to make some funny shapes with his light at which Elaine laughed.
I rushed in the direction of the classroom; Jake’s first lesson was different from mine. Plus, I still needed to find the meaning of a mage; whatever that turned out to be.
- Writer
