The Hunter Mage

CHAPTER FORTY

Vernon was just about to turn and returned to his cozy spot on his bed when Jay's voice rang out and Vernon would have sworn that someone physically slapped him. He turned towards Jay with a vicious look in his eyes and for a moment it glowed but only for a moment.

Everybody gasped at Jay's words and Dev yelled, "Jay!"

"What? I said the truth…" Jay started to explain but Vernon did let him finish.

"What did my mother do?" He asked loudly and a little too coldly as he interrupted Jay's explanation.

"Go on, Nevil. Tell him. Is that not why you didn't want anything to do with him when he first came." Jay said glancing between both of them, he was surprised at how uncomfortable he felt.

Vernon watched the little exchange between Jay and Nevil and felt himself fume in response. "Go on, Nevil. Tell me what my mother did to you."

Dev looked like he was about to say something but Vernon held his palm up stopping Dev in his tracks. Vernon then jumped out of his bed and quickly made his way to Nevil. "I am listening."

He had left his village feeling small and dejected. Absolutely sad and torn apart that he had been taken away from his parents. His only hope was that he wasn't going to be alone, Nevil was there too; they could both keep each other company.

He had gotten here to get the shock of his life. No explanation, no reason why, nothing just silence. Now, Nevil had the audacity to bring his mother into it. It was annoying as it was unbelievable.

He didn't stop walking until he got directly in front of Nevil who was sitting on the bottom bunk. At that moment, Vernon couldn't remember who Nevil shared the bunk bed with and as the top was empty he didn't think too much about it or rather who.

Nevil seemed to appear smaller and looked at his feet. Neither of them had ever been outgoing. "Nevil!" He yelled, jolting the poor boy out of his trance. "What did my mother do to you?" He asked a little bit too calmly.

"Well, my…" Nevil started to say and soon enough his words started to drone out.

"I can't hear you," Vernon interrupted, his voice thundered in the small enclosed space and he was breathing pretty hard.

He was more annoyed than he thought and he was surprised he was taking it so well. He had never been the violent type but as he stood in front of Nevil, the thought to smack him came down hard on Vernon.

"I said," Nevil shouted. "My mother told me your mother is the reason I got taken away."

A gasp escaped someone else's lips but Vernon still knew he was the only one hearing this for the first time. He was surprised his only reaction was his eyes widening in shock. He swallowed before he spoke his next words. "That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard and you know it." He pointed to Nevil as he spoke.

"But my mother told me." Nevil protested.

"What would my mother ever do that? It isn't like I don't have magic too. It doesn't make any sense. In fact, your mother was the one who called the mage hunters on me, she told us herself." Vernon muttered angrily.

"But only because your mother told on us." Nevil returned but not with as much vigor as Vernon had.

"Yeah, but why would she want me to be taken away too because if my mother had reported you, your mother would have reported me too. Why would she want that to happen?"

"I don't know but she told me. How else would anybody have known I had magic?" Nevil threw back at him.

Vernon could feel himself on the verge of losing it, Nevil was his supposed best friend; he expected him to know better, to know his mother would never do something so horrendous, something that wasn't going to benefit anybody.

However, he was wrong, and not only did Nevil think his mother was truly the reason the mage hunters came after him but he also went around spreading this terrible assumption that could only be made up by his crazy mother.

"Maybe because you always displayed it whatever chance you got. You could not help but do a little magic even in broad daylight, especially when there is a chance somebody might. Of course, neither you nor your crazy mother thought of that."

Vernon's eyes glowed red at his words. He couldn't even believe he had just said that. However, he was very angry and the last thing he was doing right now was thinking.

"Don't call my mother crazy," Nevil said his eyes were glowing too either in response to Vernon's or his own emotion. He immediately stood up, almost pushing Vernon backward. Vernon didn't so much as flinch instead he stood his ground daring Nevil.

"Or else what? She is going to report me to the mages. Well, I am sure she is happy now and so is her son." Vernon yelled into Nevil's ears and pointed at him, making sure to poke his chest.

"Don't touch me!" Nevil yelled and pushed Vernon backward. Vernon staggered backward almost falling but luckily Dev was able to brace him before he touched the ground.

"Whatever! However, you and your mother are liars and you know it. My mother would never do anything like that! Leave me!" He yelled when the other roommates made as if to grab him."

His eyes shone even brighter and the rest of the boys responded as their eyes also glowed. Vernon ran to his bed and covered himself. He could feel himself on the verge of tears, the last thing he wanted was for them to see him cry. He could already tell they weren't on his side. He was fine with that besides he was getting used to being on his own pretty fast.