The morning is bright but cool. It's just perfect for jogging. I take my normal route toward the village. There are only a few maids going to milk cows on the nearby field. People don't know what they are missing with these early mornings. The birds, the sun, the green forest. It's all at its best at this time of day.
I notice that I jog a bit slower than usually just to enjoy the moment. No sweat-drowning today. Or the whole week. Things are going smoothly for a change. It's good though that I know how to push away disturbing thoughts. There are few problems that are not alleviated by sweat.
I jog past the temple. Merchants are putting up their booths at the market square. I hope no strawberry sellers show up in our town any more. There should be better organised police in this country. How could a merchant slip from their hands like that? They must have missed something, or did not ask the right people, or the right way. I bet the police does not know how to do detective work. Chief Wismuth is not the sharpest pencil in the bag.
Fortunately my detective work is making progress. The file is really informative and opened up a whole new avenue of research. It is good to be respected in the Royal Library. Otherwise they would definitely not lent that file to me. The Great Battle does indeed look different in the new light. It was not just a random act of brutality, but rather a subtle and carefully planned series of actions. Well, even careful planning does not always yield what is expected.
Now that I have been able to make these connections, the history of the Great Battle will get new chapters. The material is rich enough even for a whole book. That is something; new books on such an important topic are not seen every year. Most books nowadays are either frivolous or weak in expression. Could the new book be even taught in schools? That would really be something.
Who would have thought that a young lady from a noble family would be such a centrepiece in this historical chain of events? Nothing like that was expected from her. Well, she was undoubtedly intelligent, but her family was guiding her toward international career. Ambassador's wife, that was his father's plan. And why not? Good manners, fluent skills in four languages - or was it also Flambish, I have to check - and socially active. Oh, young Mr Umbershire must have been thrilled when the families started discussions about engagement. He had already graduated and had his degree in both political sciences and international trade, also an impressive merit at the age of 25. And then this charming girl from one of the most respectful families in the country accepted the invitation to date. With such good support from both families and very positive progress, he must have been devastated when it all failed in such a bizarre way.
I must ask for audience to Mr Umbershire as soon as he visits the country. Although it must have been awful at the time, I am pretty sure that afterwards he has been quite happy that he did not marry Mary Shannon. Although he might not want to talk about those days, I am pretty sure he knows many things about the events of that year, events not described in my file.
Ah, this was good jogging. Food for soul and body. And a new, carefully thought action point to my task list, as should be. And as should be, time for shower.
While combing my hair in front of the bathroom mirror, I notice that my moustache have grown. It must be the age, they grow faster now. It has been enough to trim them on Sundays. I suppose that I'll have to start trimming them on Thursdays as well.
~x~
When I walk to the school, I see a snake curled on top of a boulder just beside the road. It looks like a common viper, but something draws my attention. The morning is still cool, and the rock is on the shadowy side of the road. Vipers are bashful and they only come to visible places to warm up.
"Viper piper sit on a rock.
Turn east and west like a cock.
Tell us fortunes don't be shy
Help us with your allseeing eye."
It's funny how this western children's riddle comes to my mind. The snake is not turning around but lying very still just like snakes do.
The door to the principal's office is open when I walk by toward my own classroom.
"Good morning, Almeron", I say.
"Good morning, Herbert. Remember that it's you turn to present the teacher's digest in the Friday meeting."
"I certainly do. See you then."
I walk to my classroom and organise some books for a group work for the classes. It takes some time to find good chapters about which interesting topics can be given to the students. They are too picky nowadays in my opinion, do not get interested in questions for which they do not see immediate relevance for the present. They do not understand the complex fabric of events and underlying causes. And especially they do not understand the effort of searching, finding, and organising tiny pieces of information and subsequent joy when they click into their correct places. Recently I have had a lot of that joy as my file has been very informative of my new friend Mary Sharon Shannon. The file is a cornucopia of unknown underlying causes of events that have been widely known but not properly understood. It is also remarkable how unpleasant was the way to make such a pleasant discovery.
The students start coming in and distract my train of thoughts.
"Good morning, professor Cole."
Indeed, if we hadn't had that appalling discussion with Osborn Woodsham, I would probably never found out that the famous rebel and sorcerer leader Archibald Rey's widow Sharon Rey was born with the name Mary Sharon Shannon and is a sister to duchess Woodsham, young Mr Woodsham mother. I'm not surprised that the family is taking great effort to keep this information hidden.
~x~
After the class I file the books back to their correct places on the shelves. I also organise some of my papers so that when I have time for research, I can focus on substance rather than cleaning. I go for lunch a bit late and in the front hall it takes me several seconds to realise how unfortunate that decision was. The bulletin board is fully covered with posters of Geltoech's masks. Everyone has passed here before me and seen these. What is this? I rush to the bulletin board and tear all posters down in rage. This must not happen in our school! This must end!
_____________________________________
OK, featuring a new narrator. I hope I was able to answer some questions and open a few new avenues of drama.
Your next topic: club (with two different interpretations)
Dad out.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Friday, June 26, 2015
The Sorcerer, Part 20 - Puzzle
We're heading out for lunch after history class when something catches my eye. There's a big bulletin board in the front hall by the entrance to the dining hall which usually hosts posters and notifications for various school activities and events in town, but today it is plastered full of the same poster over and over again. All three of us come to a halt and stare at them.
"What the..." says Gil. "That's kinda ominous, don't you think? What does it even mean?"
"I don't know," I say. "Not yet anyway..."
"This face though, I feel like I've seen it somewhere before," says Alica, tapping her index finger at the poster. "I just can't quite put my finger on it."
"And what's with the mask, that is super creepy!" Gil says and then leans a bit closer to the board. "Although that is some quality painting right there. I've only ever seen a few people with brushwork like this."
"You're saying someone painted all of these by hand? There's dozens of them!" Alica says, slightly amazed.
"I mean, the masks are. The text is way too neat to be anything but printed."
"What about the edges?" I ask. Gil looks at me and frowns.
"What about the edges?" he asks. I look at him for a moment.
"The... text around the edges? You can see it can't you?" I say slowly. Gil turns back to the posters and feels one between his thumb and forefinger.
"Yes, I can see it, but honestly it looks like it's just a part of the paper's texture. It's not made with any ink I know," he says and shakes his head. "It was probably on the paper before the posters were printed."
"Interesting," I say and pull one of the posters down.
"Why are you taking it with you?" Alica asks.
"I need to figure out what the text says," I say, folding it up and stuffing it in my bag.
"You're assuming it says anything, and is not just decoration," she says, crossing her arms.
"Well, I... I just have this feeling there's more to this," I say. Alica looks at me thoughtfully for a second and I glare at her. Then she shrugs and brushes past us into the dining hall.
"Good enough for me," she exclaims. "Now let's go get lunch."
~x~
We hole up in the library after lunch. I'm browsing through books with ancient runes and other alphabets and Gil is finishing off an animalogy essay due today. Alica on the other hand is sleeping. Friday mid-afternoon power-nap she calls it. Helps her stay up later in the evening. Why she needs to stay up late she refuses to tell us but I can imagine plenty of reasons and it's not like it really matters anyway.
I close yet another decryption book and sigh.
"Nothing?" Gil asks, not looking up from the book in front of him.
"Nothing," I say, leaning my elbows on the table. "I'm starting to wonder if there really isn't anything more to this..."
"Shit," says someone from behind me and I turn around. Percy is standing there with a pile of books in his hands and a expression like he's seen a ghost. His mouth is slightly open and he's staring at the poster I've spread across the table.
"Percy?" I ask and snap my fingers in front of his face. He startles, blinks and looks at me. I raise my eyebrows at him. "You okay there?"
"I... what? Oh, yes." He clears his throat. "I'm fine, yes. But, uhhh, wh-where did you get that.. poster?"
"There were several hanging in the entrance hall," I say slowly. "Didn't you go for lunch?"
"Oh, no, not today, I've been doing inventory since noon, my afternoon classes were cancelled, see, and you're saying there's several of these hanging around?"
"Yes, that's what I said," I say, exchanging a look with Gil. "Do you... know something about them?"
"What? Oh, oh no, not really," he says quickly and lays down the books on our table. He is extremely fidgety. "I just, well, I recognize the mask."
I smack Alica's head and she snorts and bolts upright with a "huh wha".
"You do?" I ask, smile fighting its way onto my face. Gil is at full attention too and Alica squints up at Percy who looks baffled by the sudden attention.
"Uh, yeah," he says "I mean the name is written right there, too. It's the mask of Geltoech, the Allseeing Eye. A deity from an old western religion, apparently gifted with sight so powerful he can see everything, past, present, and future. He used to be a very popular deity, specially amongst, well... sorcerers."
"You don't say..." I say. "Why is everything suddenly about sorcerers?"
"Well, in my opinion, everything has been a long time about sorcerers," Percy says, oddly amused. "It's just been 30 years since anyone in the country has been allowed to be open about it."
"Do you think something is gonna happen?" Gil says. "I mean, between the possession victim and the poisoning and now this weird poster, I get the feeling someone is planning something big and probably not so great."
"Possible," I say. "Though I have no idea what they're trying to accomplish with this backwards plan."
"We do have a puzzle to solve that cold shed light to the matter," says Alica who's apparently finally woken up enough to join the conversation. We all look at her, confused, and she rolls her eyes. "The very reason we came here, remember? To decode the text?"
"Oh yeah," I say and turn to Percy. "Do you have any idea what this means?" I point around the edges of the poster. He looks closer, frowning at first but then he seems to recognize something.
"I uh, I think I've seen these letters somewhere, wait a moment," he says and then he strides off.
"That was easier than I thought," Gil says. "I was sure we would have to persuade him a bit more."
Soon Percy is back with a huge book that has no markings on the covers. I try to peek at the pages but Percy holds the book too high.
"Ok, let's see here," he says and starts to translate.
How exciting, I finally finished. Yeah, yeah, I'm super late again, but I had zero ideas what to write and was doing all kinds of other shit instead. Sorry about that. But hey, here it is, finally, and next time it will be dad's turn to write! Yay. Your topic isssssssss...... "Snake"?
On another note, I am glad to inform all of those who don't watch the news that USA finally legalized same sex marriage in all 50 states! Even Texas! And to celebrate that I whipped up a bit of fanart.. is it called fanart if I'm the original creator? Oh well, have art.
(Wow this is a very picture heavy part isn't it?) It's Oz and Gil! Who could now get married in the US if that was a place that existed in this universe. It's kinda bad and what even is shading but I spent a lot of time on it so I'm gonna put it here anyway. #lovewins and peace out.
Pie out.
"What the..." says Gil. "That's kinda ominous, don't you think? What does it even mean?"
"I don't know," I say. "Not yet anyway..."
"This face though, I feel like I've seen it somewhere before," says Alica, tapping her index finger at the poster. "I just can't quite put my finger on it."
"And what's with the mask, that is super creepy!" Gil says and then leans a bit closer to the board. "Although that is some quality painting right there. I've only ever seen a few people with brushwork like this."
"You're saying someone painted all of these by hand? There's dozens of them!" Alica says, slightly amazed.
"I mean, the masks are. The text is way too neat to be anything but printed."
"What about the edges?" I ask. Gil looks at me and frowns.
"What about the edges?" he asks. I look at him for a moment.
"The... text around the edges? You can see it can't you?" I say slowly. Gil turns back to the posters and feels one between his thumb and forefinger.
"Yes, I can see it, but honestly it looks like it's just a part of the paper's texture. It's not made with any ink I know," he says and shakes his head. "It was probably on the paper before the posters were printed."
"Interesting," I say and pull one of the posters down.
"Why are you taking it with you?" Alica asks.
"I need to figure out what the text says," I say, folding it up and stuffing it in my bag.
"You're assuming it says anything, and is not just decoration," she says, crossing her arms.
"Well, I... I just have this feeling there's more to this," I say. Alica looks at me thoughtfully for a second and I glare at her. Then she shrugs and brushes past us into the dining hall.
"Good enough for me," she exclaims. "Now let's go get lunch."
~x~
We hole up in the library after lunch. I'm browsing through books with ancient runes and other alphabets and Gil is finishing off an animalogy essay due today. Alica on the other hand is sleeping. Friday mid-afternoon power-nap she calls it. Helps her stay up later in the evening. Why she needs to stay up late she refuses to tell us but I can imagine plenty of reasons and it's not like it really matters anyway.
I close yet another decryption book and sigh.
"Nothing?" Gil asks, not looking up from the book in front of him.
"Nothing," I say, leaning my elbows on the table. "I'm starting to wonder if there really isn't anything more to this..."
"Shit," says someone from behind me and I turn around. Percy is standing there with a pile of books in his hands and a expression like he's seen a ghost. His mouth is slightly open and he's staring at the poster I've spread across the table.
"Percy?" I ask and snap my fingers in front of his face. He startles, blinks and looks at me. I raise my eyebrows at him. "You okay there?"
"I... what? Oh, yes." He clears his throat. "I'm fine, yes. But, uhhh, wh-where did you get that.. poster?"
"There were several hanging in the entrance hall," I say slowly. "Didn't you go for lunch?"
"Oh, no, not today, I've been doing inventory since noon, my afternoon classes were cancelled, see, and you're saying there's several of these hanging around?"
"Yes, that's what I said," I say, exchanging a look with Gil. "Do you... know something about them?"
"What? Oh, oh no, not really," he says quickly and lays down the books on our table. He is extremely fidgety. "I just, well, I recognize the mask."
I smack Alica's head and she snorts and bolts upright with a "huh wha".
"You do?" I ask, smile fighting its way onto my face. Gil is at full attention too and Alica squints up at Percy who looks baffled by the sudden attention.
"Uh, yeah," he says "I mean the name is written right there, too. It's the mask of Geltoech, the Allseeing Eye. A deity from an old western religion, apparently gifted with sight so powerful he can see everything, past, present, and future. He used to be a very popular deity, specially amongst, well... sorcerers."
"You don't say..." I say. "Why is everything suddenly about sorcerers?"
"Well, in my opinion, everything has been a long time about sorcerers," Percy says, oddly amused. "It's just been 30 years since anyone in the country has been allowed to be open about it."
"Do you think something is gonna happen?" Gil says. "I mean, between the possession victim and the poisoning and now this weird poster, I get the feeling someone is planning something big and probably not so great."
"Possible," I say. "Though I have no idea what they're trying to accomplish with this backwards plan."
"We do have a puzzle to solve that cold shed light to the matter," says Alica who's apparently finally woken up enough to join the conversation. We all look at her, confused, and she rolls her eyes. "The very reason we came here, remember? To decode the text?"
"Oh yeah," I say and turn to Percy. "Do you have any idea what this means?" I point around the edges of the poster. He looks closer, frowning at first but then he seems to recognize something.
"I uh, I think I've seen these letters somewhere, wait a moment," he says and then he strides off.
"That was easier than I thought," Gil says. "I was sure we would have to persuade him a bit more."
Soon Percy is back with a huge book that has no markings on the covers. I try to peek at the pages but Percy holds the book too high.
"Ok, let's see here," he says and starts to translate.
"'Every sorcerer that wishes to be free
of tyranny come tonight at 8pm to the abandoned barn on the outskirts
of town. Take a mask and be prepared to prove your worth before
Geltoech. Long live magic.'"
Our eyes grow bigger and bigger as he goes on and once he's finished everyone is dead silent.
"Γαμώτο," Alica whispers.
"Well then," says Percy.
"That was..." I say.
"Should we... tell someone?" Gil asks.
"Hell no!" I say. "We need to go see what they'll do. There's no time to organize a proper raid."Percy looks very uncomfortable. "Besides, as long as they're not hurting anyone, why should we stop them?"
"What about the mask?" says Alica. "It said 'take a mask', didn't it?"
"It's probably so that people won't be afraid of being outed as magical," says Percy. "If everyone is masked no one knows who the others are and nobody will be in danger."
"But where so we get a mask?" she insists. We all just shrug. She looks unimpressed.
"Hey, our class is starting!" Gil suddenly says, looking at the large clock above the front counter.
"Crap, you're right," I say and we quickly gather our stuff and get up. "Thanks, Percy. See you later!"
"Bye," says Percy and then we're out of the library.
~x~
To my surprise there's already a letter in the lost-and-found. To my bigger surprise, there is also another one. From someone else. I grab them to go and read them once we're through with all the classes.
My face falls. He's going away, is he? And I had the feeling I was just about to figure him out. Also, patronizing? Surely not. But I am glad that he thinks he's found a cure for Tauria.
I hesitate for a moment before picking up the other letter.
Well then. Guess it won't be quite as boring after all. The boy doesn't have many friends though, and I doubt it's Tauria. Aside from her condition making it unlikely, the tone is much too hostile for her. But Tauria had mentioned someone else, hadn't she? Yesterday, when I went to visit her... Laelia, wasn't it? I scan the student information in my mind. Laelia Salvai, third term. Exceptionally smart, especially for her age. Youngest attendee ever admitted into the Academia, only 17 when she began her first term. Don't know much about her personally though... I better look into her when I get the chance.
There's a knock on the door, which surprises both Gil and me. I go to open the door to find a box. I look down the hall to see that there's one in front of everyone else's door as well. Other people are looking out their doors too, picking up their boxes and looking confused.
"What is it?" Gil asks, peeking over my shoulder. I open the box. "Oh, shit." We look at each other and then back at the box.
There's two masks in it, just like the one on the poster.
________________________________________________________________How exciting, I finally finished. Yeah, yeah, I'm super late again, but I had zero ideas what to write and was doing all kinds of other shit instead. Sorry about that. But hey, here it is, finally, and next time it will be dad's turn to write! Yay. Your topic isssssssss...... "Snake"?
On another note, I am glad to inform all of those who don't watch the news that USA finally legalized same sex marriage in all 50 states! Even Texas! And to celebrate that I whipped up a bit of fanart.. is it called fanart if I'm the original creator? Oh well, have art.
(Wow this is a very picture heavy part isn't it?) It's Oz and Gil! Who could now get married in the US if that was a place that existed in this universe. It's kinda bad and what even is shading but I spent a lot of time on it so I'm gonna put it here anyway. #lovewins and peace out.
Pie out.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
The Sorcerer, Part 19 - Masked
On Friday morning, after a night of Tauria sleeping on flowers, I went to see her at the medical wing.
She looks up at me when I walk in and smiles. I get a moment of unbelievable hope that she actually remembers me now, but then she lowers her gaze and shakes her head.
"Nothing," she says quietly. I walk to her, sit on the bed and take her hand.
"Honestly?" I say and she looks up at me, "We never really thought it would. But right now anything's worth the try. Even if we don't really think it works."
"Yeah, I guess," she says, and smiles a little.
Someone else walks into the room and we both turn to look. It's one of the medics.
"And how are we feeling today?" she asks as she walks to Tauria's bed.
"Not much different than yesterday or the day before that," Tauria says, "Meaning fine, except I can't remember anyone."
The medic nods.
"Well then I have some good news for you," she smiles, "You can go. Get out of here. Back to your classes and to make some new and old friends."
And then Tauria packs the stuff people had brought her and gets into her normal clothes, getting ready to leave. It takes a while, but I'm in no hurry. I walk her out just as the Academy bells start ringing, marking the hour. I turn to look at the huge clock that can be seen from almost anywhere at the campus. Then I turn back to Tauria.
"Look, I'm really super happy that you got out of there," I frown, "But I really have a class to catch. The teachers already hate me for not having paid any attention in classes while you've been in the medical wing. I can't be late for a class as well. I suppose you still remember where your room is?"
She nods.
"I really am sorry," I try to say, but she smiles.
"I'm fine. Really. You need to go to your class," she says. I hug her quickly and head away. I feel guilty, but what can you do. Besides, she's a big girl. She'll find her way.
~x~
After the afternoon history lesson I'm sitting in the courtyard, under a tree. Tauria didn't show up for any lessons yet. I suppose she's getting used to begin outside again. I'm reading the newest letter I found in between my history book.
She looks up at me when I walk in and smiles. I get a moment of unbelievable hope that she actually remembers me now, but then she lowers her gaze and shakes her head.
"Nothing," she says quietly. I walk to her, sit on the bed and take her hand.
"Honestly?" I say and she looks up at me, "We never really thought it would. But right now anything's worth the try. Even if we don't really think it works."
"Yeah, I guess," she says, and smiles a little.
Someone else walks into the room and we both turn to look. It's one of the medics.
"And how are we feeling today?" she asks as she walks to Tauria's bed.
"Not much different than yesterday or the day before that," Tauria says, "Meaning fine, except I can't remember anyone."
The medic nods.
"Well then I have some good news for you," she smiles, "You can go. Get out of here. Back to your classes and to make some new and old friends."
And then Tauria packs the stuff people had brought her and gets into her normal clothes, getting ready to leave. It takes a while, but I'm in no hurry. I walk her out just as the Academy bells start ringing, marking the hour. I turn to look at the huge clock that can be seen from almost anywhere at the campus. Then I turn back to Tauria.
"Look, I'm really super happy that you got out of there," I frown, "But I really have a class to catch. The teachers already hate me for not having paid any attention in classes while you've been in the medical wing. I can't be late for a class as well. I suppose you still remember where your room is?"
She nods.
"I really am sorry," I try to say, but she smiles.
"I'm fine. Really. You need to go to your class," she says. I hug her quickly and head away. I feel guilty, but what can you do. Besides, she's a big girl. She'll find her way.
~x~
After the afternoon history lesson I'm sitting in the courtyard, under a tree. Tauria didn't show up for any lessons yet. I suppose she's getting used to begin outside again. I'm reading the newest letter I found in between my history book.
"What are you reading?" I hear a voice just as I'm finishing the last sentences and lift my head to see Laelia walk to me.
"Uh, it's nothing," I say and stuff the letter into my pocket.
"Didn't look like nothing," she says, "You were frowning."
I blink. Then I shake my head as she sits down next to me.
"Never mind. It's not important," I mutter and continue in a voice that very clearly states we're changing the subject, "So, did you hear Tauria got out of medical?"
"Yeah, I did," she says, following my tone, mocking me, "I had lunch with her, in fact. Ran into her in the hallway on my way to eat. She seems to be doing ok, other than not remembering anyone. Anyway, do you know if there's something going on somewhere at the Academy today?"
"Uh..." I think, "No? What kind of something are you talking about?"
"I was walking in the hallway," she says, "And I saw this guy wearing a mask. I would've gone up to him and asked what the deal with the mask was, but he was a little too far away, and besides he turned a corner and disappeared from my sight, so I figured there's just something happening today somewhere today that involves masks. But I haven't seen anyone else walking around with masks, and that guy kinda looked like he was sneaking around anyway."
She quiets. My mind starts to race. Could this have something to do with all the other stuff going on in the school? Someone sneaking around the campus in a mask, hexing and poisoning people? Or what if the masked guy isn't alone? What if it's a whole cult of people wandering around the...
I stop my train of thought. This is going too far. A cult? Really? That's what my mind goes to? My mind is an idiot. There is no evil magic cult in the Academy trying to... I don't even know what their goal would be.
"It's a big campus," I say and shrug, "Someone's probably having a dress-up party or something. Or the drama class is rehearsing some play they need masks in."
Because those are the actual most likely explanations. I mentally smack myself in the head for being an idiot and jumping straight into cults when someone sees one masked guy in the corridor.
"You're right," Laelia says. At least she's happy with the answer. We sit there quietly for a while, enjoying the sunshine.
"Oh, look!" Laelia breaks the silence and points to a low nearby stone wall, "There's a small lizard napping in the sun there."
I smile at her enthusiasm. She's clearly on a better mood now Tauria's out of medical.
"Did you know that some lizards can drop their tails and grow a new one?" she asks and I nod. "Did you know that some can grow whole limbs back?"
"Ok, that I didn't know," I smile at her, "Did you know, that you can make a potion out of the scales of a kokolhan lizard that..." I stop talking. I just stare in front of me. I have no idea how this hadn't occurred me earlier, in all the hours we spent in the library trying to figure out how to make Tauria better.
"That what?" Laelia asks, drawing me out of my thoughts.
"Can cure any injury..." I'm not sure it would work. I don't even know if it's true. But the thought should've at least crossed my mind at some point. "We were at the library with Tauria, some time at the beginning of the term, looking for fun facts about kokolhan lizards, an assignment for an animalogy class. And she found a book..." I pause again, "She found a book saying you can make a potion from a kokolhan lizard's scales that will cure any injury."
I turn to look at her, my eyes wide.
"And you think that could help Tauria?" she asks, a hint of disbelief in her voice. I pause.
"Well, we don't actually know for a fact that's true," I shrug the thought away, "We actually talked about it, and neither of us really believed it. But what if it is true? We could help her."
She just stares at me for a long moment.
"Ok," she finally says, "It's worth the try. Where do we get some of those scales?"
"I don't know," I admit, "I've never seen anyone selling them. I've never heard of anyone selling them. I think it would be possible to find them further north, closer to where the lizards actually live. I should go and..."
"You should go?" Laelia interrupts me. My mouth is left open mid-speech for a second before I answer.
"You're thinking we should both go?"
"Well, yeah, she's just as much my friend as yours."
"True," I say, "But. One. I have screwed up this term already. I can just as well take off and travel north to find the scales and start all over again next term when I'm actually able to concentrate. You're actually doing well, which I find unbelievable, but so it seems to be. You shouldn't throw that away less than half way through the term.
"Two. Tauria needs one of us to stay. We can't both go. She needs a friend right now, someone who really cares. Even if she didn't remember her herself. And I think that should be you, rather than me.
"And third. Now don't be offended, but I think it's safer for me to go alone than for you to go alone. Yes, because you're a girl," I'm talking fast enough that she doesn't have time to argue with my "you're a girl" -point, "You are the toughest and the most ill-tempered and strong willed girl I've ever met, and I don't doubt for a second you'd make it out there. But other people don't know that. And as much as it sucks, a guy travelling alone is way less a target than a girl travelling alone."
She makes angry eyes at me for a moment, but I know she knows I'm right. She sighs.
"Fine," she says, "But don't be gone too long."
"No way to know. Might be I'll run into some lizard scales back in town and can come right back," I say and pause, "Ok, probably not. I think I'll have to go as far as the mountains. So yeah, it'll take a while."
I get up. She looks up at me from the ground.
"Take care of her," I say. She nods. I walk away.
And that's how it's decided. I'm travelling north. Probably for a few weeks. To try to help my friend remember. I go to my room, pack what little I think I'll need. Some clothes. Some food. I'll need to get a horse once I get to the town. The Academia's ponies won't get me anywhere fast enough. Though they might be great in the mountains. Or I'll have to join some group travelling north with a wagon. That's probably a better idea. I could work for them on the way, get some food and protection from travelling in a group and not use up all my savings I probably will have to use anyway.
I go tell the principle I'm leaving. He asks surprisingly few questions. He wishes me good luck and hopes I get back soon and safe. I'm guessing Tauria getting poisoned was a big deal for the school, and they really want to help too. And if letting me go for a some time without giving me any trouble about it helps, then they let me do it.
I go drop a letter to the lost-and-found telling Omega I won't be around for a while, so it's pointless leaving me any letters for a while. That I won't be much help for a while.
And then I'm on my way.
________________________________________________________________
You told me to stash him somewhere safe while I'm gone. Oh, that's not safe? Oh? Oh. Oh, well.
Take good care of them. Don't screw up the story.
I assume you'll explain dad how he can get anything up here?
I'll be back for part 33. I'll have to write that the day I'm back from Italy, and I hope I'll have had time (=the internet) to read all the bits in between by then. Because writing might be a little difficult if I don't know what's happened meanwhile.
Your topic is Puzzle(s).
Don't kill anyone while I'm gone, ok?
~matu
Monday, June 22, 2015
The Sorcerer, Part 18 - Shirt
I corner Alica as she's heading into the dining hall for breakfast.
"I think it's magic," I say, grinning. She blinks.
"Well good morning to you too," she says and frowns. "What's magic?"
"The strawberry! I don't think it was poisoned, it was enchanted! That's why I didn't get any positive results for any known poisons!"
"That's... quite a leap," she says, crossing her arms. "I mean, it is also possible that your tests simply failed, surely you know that."
"I have accounted for human error, yes. But I did extensive test and came back empty handed... no trace of anything! Besides, I already know that someone in this school knows magic and has used it for unpleasant purposes."
Her eyes widen. "The hexbag! Do you think it was the same person?"
"Who knows, it's possible. I don't have enough data to determine anything with certainty yet..."
She thinks for a moment, rubbing her lip with her finger. She does that when she's concentrating.
"You know, statistically speaking, it's actually pretty likely that there are more than one person here who can do magic," she says. I raise my eyebrow. "Or at least the potential to do magic. And yes, I know it's illegal, but surprisingly many people have magic blood in their veins, so with proper tutoring they could learn simple magic at least. It's the people who can do it naturally without a lot of practice that go on to be great sorcerers and they are a lot rarer."
"Huh, really?"
"Yeah. Some people have really powerful magic in them, but they cannot tap into it like sorcerers can, to make it into spells and stuff, so instead they can posses abilities that seem almost superhuman. You know, stuff like amazing stamina or really good vision or the ability to hold their breath for really long. Ha, maybe your keen eye and deduction skills are a side result of your inability to access the vast pool of magic that rests within you!"
I pause. That's.... interesting. "How do you know all this? Magic isn't exactly an... approved field of study."
"Percy's told me."
"Percy? I didn't know you hang out with Percy."
"Oh, I don't really," she says with a shrug. "He was kinda hitting on me a few terms back, and apparently magic is a real passion for him. Purely theoretically, of course, he kept reminding me every other second. It was interesting stuff, so I humoured him for a while, although I did make it clear I had no intention of dating. I have my hands full with the two of you boys." She grins at me and then looks behind me. "Where is Gil, anyway?"
"He's still sleeping, we had a late one last night," I say. Alica's grin widens. "I thought I'd let him sleep and bring him some breakfast to our room."
"Aww, breakfast in bed!" she coos as we start to move into the hall. "How romantic of you! How come you never bring me breakfast?"
"Because if I tried to come into the girls' dorm early enough to still find you in bed, I'd get detention for indecent behaviour."
"Come on, Oz, where's your sense of adventure? I bet I could sneak into the boys' dorms that early."
"I have no doubt you could."
~x~
Gil is only slightly mad I let him sleep past the alarm, but the pile of food I bring him smooths him over quickly. The classes go by in a flash, the only thing worth even mentioning the relieved feeling I get in my chest as I notice that the boy is at least attending his classes. That means he will find the letter. He should find the letter. He doesn't look too perky though, and understandably so... Seeing his tired eyes only makes me more determined to find the cause and the cure for Tauria's ailment.
With that on my mind we head to the library after classes. I'm hoping to find Percy there, but even if I don't, I do have to get some books on curses and counter curses. He is there though, leafing through a book by the main counter.
"Hey, Percy!" I say as we walk in. His gaze snaps up and he slams the book closed, shoving it aside. Odd. He relaxes considerably when he realizes it's us though. He even blushes a little as he looks at Alica, a barely there red I no doubt would have missed if I didn't know better. I do feel kinda sorry for the bloke, falling for a girl like Alica... What's worse is that he can't know that his feelings will never be reciprocated.
"Hi, guys. You need help with something?" he says, trying to play it cool like he hadn't just had a small panic attack. Makes me curious as to what the book was though...
"I sure hope so," I say, giving him a wide smile. He knows better than to trust it, and frowns. That makes me smile even wider. "I'm sure you've heard about the, uh, poisoned girl?"
He stops, emotions flashing on his face. Surprise, disappointment, panic... guilt? Percy wears his feelings on his face like no one else I've ever met, making him an easy target for casual teasing and practicing expression recognition.
"Sure, I've heard," he says, cautious. "I mean, pretty much the whole school has, it's not something that happens every day."
"True, true," I say. He's wary now, measuring my every move. Gil is standing behind me and I can practically feel him radiating excitement; there's nothing he likes quite as much as watching me confront people. Alica on the other hand likes confronting people herself more than watching others do it, but she let's me handle the situation for now. "Now, as you may have guessed, I'm conducting a little investigation of my own into the matter, and I've come to a... dead end of sorts. See, I tried to determine exactly what the girl was poisoned with, but to no avail. Finally something occurred to me; what if she wasn't poisoned? What is she was enchanted?"
"Enchanted?" Percy wheezes out. Oh, this is too easy. "What does that have to do with me?"
"Well, Alica told me that you are something of an expert on the field. Theoretical magic, of course," I say with an innocent smile. His mouth falls open and then he closes it again, apparently having not expected that, although I why it didn't cross his mind, I can't say. Did he think we were hear to blame him for the poisoning? Did he feel responsible for it? I left that thought alone for now and got back tot he matter at hand. "So, I was hoping that you could tell me if there's any kind of magic that one could put on food that would make the eater fall into a coma?"
"Well," he says finally and clears his throat. He comes out from behind the counter and motions for us to follow. "There are several curses and hexes to put someone in a coma like state, obviously, but something to put on food, now that's a lot rarer... I have heard of one spell that makes the food rot as soon as someone ingests it, but that is probably not what happened here."
"No, that's not it..." I say. We're way back in the library. Most of the books are really thick and old looking, bound in leather with no descriptions on them. "Apparently she collapsed almost immediately after eating a strawberry... I'd give it around 20 seconds after the initial bite."
Percy hums. He drags his fingers over the spines of some of the books and then picks one up. It looks incredibly heavy.
"Well, there is one curse for fast acting, undetectable poisoning," he says, flipping through the yellowing pages of the book. "But that's really complicated magic, and to think that one of the students would be capable of something like that..." He shakes his head. "Besides, it should result in... death."
Oh. "So there's no cure? How did she survive then?"I ask. I had hoped I'd get some answers, but clearly all I'm getting are more questions.
"I don't know," says Percy, handing me the book opened on a page titled 'killing curses'. I swallow. "But I guess it would be possible to counter if you got to her quickly enough. Although I would think in order to do that you'd need magic too."
"Wait, what?"
"You would need magic to get rid of the magic."
I consider this for a moment... Could there be more people in the school with magic? Had someone stumbled across the scene of Tauria dying and helped her? Or was it the boy?
"What if the magic was in her?" Alica chimes in. We turn to look at her. "You know, if it was her own immune system that fought it off?"
"If she had magic," I say.
"Theoretically, I guess it's possible," says Percy. "I mean, some amount of magic is very common in the general population, and the people who can't use magic often develop... abilities that are... boosted by the magic resting in them... She might be one of those people, which means she might've fought the curse off on her own... But this particular curse is a very potent one, so her magic would need to be a lot stronger than it is. Likely."
I stare at the page of text, unseeing. So, someone with magic had to have been involved in the situation she ate the strawberry, otherwise she'd be dead. It might've been her, although it is very unlikely. The boy had told the teachers the two of them were alone, so that means that it was him, or he's covering for someone... Why? Probably to protect the person who saved Tauria's life. I would likely lie if the person who saved someone I care about would be in danger for saving their life.
"Is it possible it's something else?" says Gil.
"What?" say Percy and I.
"Well, I just thought, while all this speculation is great, is it possible that it was some other curse that Percy just hasn't thought of? Something that was meant to put a person in a coma?"
"Oh, yes, I suppose it is," says Percy. He seems a little surprised at the prospect of not having thought of something and is trying to process it. I push the book into the shelf, on top of the other books and walk over to Gil. He looks at me with a face that reminds me of a puppy wagging his tail.
"Oh, Gil," I say, putting my hands on his cheeks. "Oh, Gil," I say, screwing my eyes closed and sighing deeply. "Always here to remind me of human nature and it fallibility. You know what this means, don't you?"
His mouth falls open.
"Aw, shit," he says.
"Oh yes," I say. "Research."
~x~
That night and the next day are spent combing through the surprisingly extensive selection of books on curses and counter curses that the school library has. Percy absolutely forbids us from checking any of them out, saying that they're not really an "official" part of the school's collection, instead collected here from burning piles and old attics during the many years since the anti-magic purge. Apparently the school's previous master librarian had believed that knowledge should be valued and had began collecting any and all books he could get his hands on, even the ones that the government deemed... not quite legal. I don't think the current librarian even knows of the existence of these books and Percy insists it's better that way.
I absolutely love the books though. It's so fascinating, and honestly it's a shame I hadn't known about this collection before this because I would love to get into detail in the books, but don't have time, trying to find an alternative cause for Tauria's condition and, hopefully, a cure for it before it's too late.
Wednesday evening (the boy had skipped the afternoon's sword practice... can't say I blame him) and we've only just begun when one of the medics comes into the library.
"Oh, mister Woodsham, I had hoped to find you here," she says, hurrying over to the table we're occupying.
"Good evening, miss Chaura, what can I do for you?" I ask, trying to figure out why a medic would go through the trouble of finding me in a library.
"Well, I was told by Professor Eclaise to inform you should miss Chand's condition change," she says and I stand up with such force that my chair flies backwards, clattering on the floor.
"Is she..?" I start, a thousand possible situations racing through my head all at once.
"She's woken up!" miss Chaura says, clapping her hands together. "It's truly a miracle."
"Can..." I start. My mouth is dry and my heart is beating in my ears. "Can I go see her?"
"Oh, well, she has just woken up... Perhaps it would be better to let her rest for tonight, you can come by tomorrow," she says. I simply nod. "There is one thing I should mention though... she, uh, cannot recall any of her friends. We assume it's due to the trauma she's been through, should be temporary, but I would be prepared if I were you."
"Alright. Thank you, miss Chaura," I say and give her a smile. It's empty but she can't tell the difference. She gives me a smile of her own and then leaves. Gil puts his hand on my shoulder.
"You okay?" he asks.
"I think so," I say and shake my head. "I should be. This is good news, right? Why do I feel so... empty?"
"You're in shock," says Percy, who decided that we are not worthy of being left alone with his precious collection. "You were so relieved you couldn't handle it and your brain went to autopilot."
"Huh," I say, frowning. "Is that a thing?"
Percy shrugs and goes back to his book.
"Well, if she's awake, we can stop going through all these books, right?" says Alica and stands up. "I'm starving, let's go eat while there's still food."
"It would still be good to find out what exactly happened to her, but I guess it can wait for a bit now that she's no longer in danger," I admit. I take a deep breath. A wave of relief washes through my stomach and I let it pass. A wide smile spreads on my face and I sigh. "Well, let's go get some food."
~x~
I found a letter in the lost and found on Thursday, but didn't have time to read it yet as I make my way into the medical wing immediately after classes. In addition to the main room with several beds for minor cases of injuries and whatnot, there's also the examination room, the head medic's office, the medics' break room and several solitary rooms, for people who have to stay here longer. Like Tauria. True enough I find her in the room in the very back. To my surprise, they boy isn't there. She looks up from her book as I knock on the open door.
"Do I... know you?" she asks, squinting.
"You did," I say and smile. "Well, sort of anyway."
"What does that mean?" I sit on the chair next to her bed.
"It means we'd only just met before your, uh... incident." She makes a soft 'oh' and frowns, trying to remember.
"I'm sorry, I can't recall," she says eventually. She looks sad. I can't imagine what it must be like to not remember anyone at all. I don't want to imagine.
"That's okay, the medics said that you probably wouldn't remember," I say, because she needs to know it's not her fault. I hope she knows that. "You came to get your friend to join you on your trip to the town and he left to change his clothes. I was there and we talked for a bit. I complemented your eyes, you thought I was hitting on you and we laughed it off because I am already in a relationship and you have someone you like." I pause for a second after that, waiting for a reaction. She's not surprised, but... sad? She knows she used to like someone but can't remember who? A little more of my heart breaks. "I wished you a pleasant time at the caravan and you thought I was pretentious."
"Oh my gods, did I tell you you were pretentious?" she says with a soft chuckle she tries to hide behind her hand.
"Well, you didn't say it, but I'm pretty sure you thought it," I say.
"That's terrible!"
"Nah, I'm used to it."
"That's even worse!"
"How so?"
"Well, it means you really are pretentious."
I laugh. She smiles shyly. "Pretentious isn't the worst thing to be, I assure you. And I suppose I kind of am, so..."
She giggles and then sighs. We fall silent for a moment.
"What... do you remember?" I ask. She shrugs.
"I remember most things, I think. I know the date and the name of the country and the academia, and I remember all my studies, but I don't remember... people."
"How do you mean?"
"It's like... I know I have teachers but I don't remember their names or faces or voices, and I know we have a king but I don't know his name or which princess he's married or how many children he has. And I know I have friends, I know, but I just... I can't remember." She sniffles. I take her hand in mine and she squeezes it. "And Knute and Laelia, I know they are my friends, they must be, they were here the whole time and they want to help me remember, but I don't, I just don't remember them, I don't..."
She hiccups, fat tears rolling down her cheeks as she starts to cry and she's clinging onto my hand like she's a child afraid of losing her parents. In a way I guess she is. I sit onto the edge of her bed and pull her close. She cries into my shoulder until there's no more tears and then she apologizes for the mess she left on my shirt.
"Don't you worry about that," I tell her and she sniffs again. "It's just a shirt, I can easily get it cleaned."
"Right..." she says, playing with the edge of her blanket. There's clearly still something on her mind.
"It's not your fault," I say and she looks up. "You know that, right? It's not your fault you can't remember and it's not your fault someone did this to you. And your friends will be your friends even if you don't remember them. You need to know that."
She looks stunned for a moment and then she smiles, happy but tired.
"Thanks," she says, as simple as that.
I leave her be soon after that. On my way out I still stop to chat with the head medic to see if she can fill me in on something about Tauria's condition. She can't, none of them have yet to come up with an explanation for Tauria's selective amnesia. One more mystery to solve... Tauria's anguish haunts me the whole way back to the dorms.
I finally get back to our room and I pull the door open. Gil looks up from his alchemy book on his bed when I slam the door closed.
"What happened to your shirt?" he asks, equal parts amused and disgusted. I don't answer, striding over to him and pulling him into a kiss. He's surprised at first but melts into it almost instantly and he seems slightly breathless as I finally pull away.
"Yeah okay," he says weakly.
"What, no kiss for me?" says Alica from the other side of the bed and I lean over and kiss her as well. I can feel her grin against my mouth. When we break apart and she pats me on the cheek. I walk backwards to the other bed and fall on it, staring up at the ceiling.
"So, uh, did something happen?" Gil asks and I can hear him put the book away. "Not that I mind being greeted like this, it's not really been commonplace and all..."
"I'm just..." I start and pause, taking a deep breath. "I'm just so glad I have you guys."
My view of the ceiling is obstructed by Gil's smiling face as he lays down next to me on the bed. Alica soon joins on the other side and though it is a tight squeeze with three people on one bed it's still the most comfortable place I could be.
~x~
It's around nine in the evening I remember the letter. Alica's already left, saying she has an important assignment to finish, so it's just Gil and me in the room and he's busy with his alchemy homework. I grab my bag from the floor and fish out the paper.
Oh, well then. I guess it was to be expected that he doesn't quite trust me. But... an enemy? Does he think that the poisoning was about him? It had crossed my mind as well, but poisoning someone's friend seems like an awfully inconvenient way to get to someone, unless you wanted to hurt them, but even then wouldn't you stay and gloat or something? The whole thing was just too vague to draw any kinds of conclusions. Of course the boy is a different matter indeed, and has taken the assault personally.
I suppose it's time to tell the boy everything, huh.
I get up from bed, go over to the desk and start writing. I write down all the things that have happened and all the things I think they mean. I include the poisoning. Tomorrow is Friday so I can easily leave it in the book for him to find.
By the time I'm finished Gil's already in bed. I put out the lights and climb in behind him, pulling him against my chest. He stirs slightly, and mutters something unintelligible about octopi and I hush him before kissing the back of his neck. He settles down with a contented sigh and I have the best night's sleep I've had in ages.
Come Friday afternoon everything gets fucked.
________________________________________________________
Yaaay. Finisheddddd. Almost forgot to include the topic completely!
It's so long! So many things happen! I didn't mean so many things to happen! That's not true, I meant for more things to happen, but I could not figure out what happened on Friday so now you get to do it. Hooray! I do have a letter for you, which has things that I think are happening/will happen, so I'm not gonna leave you empty handed. Stash Knute somewhere safe during your trip! (I almost considered putting him in a coma, lol)
I know I'm a bit late again, but in my defense I've had shitty internet and I spent most of the day doing important blog related art. Which you'll get to enjoy hopefully soon for real this time not like all the other arts I've said I've made but never post. This is an actual thing that's actually gonna happen.
But I'm almost out of internet so I need to go now. I think that's everything. Your topic is "Masked". Cheerio!
Pie out.
P.S. I CAN'T GET THIS PUBLISHED ARRGGGHHHHH!!!
P.P.S. Seriously my internet sucks so bad I can't publish this. Sorry it's a Tuesday, not my fault for a change. Good night.
P.P.P.S. Good morning it's Tuesday. Enjoy.
"I think it's magic," I say, grinning. She blinks.
"Well good morning to you too," she says and frowns. "What's magic?"
"The strawberry! I don't think it was poisoned, it was enchanted! That's why I didn't get any positive results for any known poisons!"
"That's... quite a leap," she says, crossing her arms. "I mean, it is also possible that your tests simply failed, surely you know that."
"I have accounted for human error, yes. But I did extensive test and came back empty handed... no trace of anything! Besides, I already know that someone in this school knows magic and has used it for unpleasant purposes."
Her eyes widen. "The hexbag! Do you think it was the same person?"
"Who knows, it's possible. I don't have enough data to determine anything with certainty yet..."
She thinks for a moment, rubbing her lip with her finger. She does that when she's concentrating.
"You know, statistically speaking, it's actually pretty likely that there are more than one person here who can do magic," she says. I raise my eyebrow. "Or at least the potential to do magic. And yes, I know it's illegal, but surprisingly many people have magic blood in their veins, so with proper tutoring they could learn simple magic at least. It's the people who can do it naturally without a lot of practice that go on to be great sorcerers and they are a lot rarer."
"Huh, really?"
"Yeah. Some people have really powerful magic in them, but they cannot tap into it like sorcerers can, to make it into spells and stuff, so instead they can posses abilities that seem almost superhuman. You know, stuff like amazing stamina or really good vision or the ability to hold their breath for really long. Ha, maybe your keen eye and deduction skills are a side result of your inability to access the vast pool of magic that rests within you!"
I pause. That's.... interesting. "How do you know all this? Magic isn't exactly an... approved field of study."
"Percy's told me."
"Percy? I didn't know you hang out with Percy."
"Oh, I don't really," she says with a shrug. "He was kinda hitting on me a few terms back, and apparently magic is a real passion for him. Purely theoretically, of course, he kept reminding me every other second. It was interesting stuff, so I humoured him for a while, although I did make it clear I had no intention of dating. I have my hands full with the two of you boys." She grins at me and then looks behind me. "Where is Gil, anyway?"
"He's still sleeping, we had a late one last night," I say. Alica's grin widens. "I thought I'd let him sleep and bring him some breakfast to our room."
"Aww, breakfast in bed!" she coos as we start to move into the hall. "How romantic of you! How come you never bring me breakfast?"
"Because if I tried to come into the girls' dorm early enough to still find you in bed, I'd get detention for indecent behaviour."
"Come on, Oz, where's your sense of adventure? I bet I could sneak into the boys' dorms that early."
"I have no doubt you could."
~x~
Gil is only slightly mad I let him sleep past the alarm, but the pile of food I bring him smooths him over quickly. The classes go by in a flash, the only thing worth even mentioning the relieved feeling I get in my chest as I notice that the boy is at least attending his classes. That means he will find the letter. He should find the letter. He doesn't look too perky though, and understandably so... Seeing his tired eyes only makes me more determined to find the cause and the cure for Tauria's ailment.
With that on my mind we head to the library after classes. I'm hoping to find Percy there, but even if I don't, I do have to get some books on curses and counter curses. He is there though, leafing through a book by the main counter.
"Hey, Percy!" I say as we walk in. His gaze snaps up and he slams the book closed, shoving it aside. Odd. He relaxes considerably when he realizes it's us though. He even blushes a little as he looks at Alica, a barely there red I no doubt would have missed if I didn't know better. I do feel kinda sorry for the bloke, falling for a girl like Alica... What's worse is that he can't know that his feelings will never be reciprocated.
"Hi, guys. You need help with something?" he says, trying to play it cool like he hadn't just had a small panic attack. Makes me curious as to what the book was though...
"I sure hope so," I say, giving him a wide smile. He knows better than to trust it, and frowns. That makes me smile even wider. "I'm sure you've heard about the, uh, poisoned girl?"
He stops, emotions flashing on his face. Surprise, disappointment, panic... guilt? Percy wears his feelings on his face like no one else I've ever met, making him an easy target for casual teasing and practicing expression recognition.
"Sure, I've heard," he says, cautious. "I mean, pretty much the whole school has, it's not something that happens every day."
"True, true," I say. He's wary now, measuring my every move. Gil is standing behind me and I can practically feel him radiating excitement; there's nothing he likes quite as much as watching me confront people. Alica on the other hand likes confronting people herself more than watching others do it, but she let's me handle the situation for now. "Now, as you may have guessed, I'm conducting a little investigation of my own into the matter, and I've come to a... dead end of sorts. See, I tried to determine exactly what the girl was poisoned with, but to no avail. Finally something occurred to me; what if she wasn't poisoned? What is she was enchanted?"
"Enchanted?" Percy wheezes out. Oh, this is too easy. "What does that have to do with me?"
"Well, Alica told me that you are something of an expert on the field. Theoretical magic, of course," I say with an innocent smile. His mouth falls open and then he closes it again, apparently having not expected that, although I why it didn't cross his mind, I can't say. Did he think we were hear to blame him for the poisoning? Did he feel responsible for it? I left that thought alone for now and got back tot he matter at hand. "So, I was hoping that you could tell me if there's any kind of magic that one could put on food that would make the eater fall into a coma?"
"Well," he says finally and clears his throat. He comes out from behind the counter and motions for us to follow. "There are several curses and hexes to put someone in a coma like state, obviously, but something to put on food, now that's a lot rarer... I have heard of one spell that makes the food rot as soon as someone ingests it, but that is probably not what happened here."
"No, that's not it..." I say. We're way back in the library. Most of the books are really thick and old looking, bound in leather with no descriptions on them. "Apparently she collapsed almost immediately after eating a strawberry... I'd give it around 20 seconds after the initial bite."
Percy hums. He drags his fingers over the spines of some of the books and then picks one up. It looks incredibly heavy.
"Well, there is one curse for fast acting, undetectable poisoning," he says, flipping through the yellowing pages of the book. "But that's really complicated magic, and to think that one of the students would be capable of something like that..." He shakes his head. "Besides, it should result in... death."
Oh. "So there's no cure? How did she survive then?"I ask. I had hoped I'd get some answers, but clearly all I'm getting are more questions.
"I don't know," says Percy, handing me the book opened on a page titled 'killing curses'. I swallow. "But I guess it would be possible to counter if you got to her quickly enough. Although I would think in order to do that you'd need magic too."
"Wait, what?"
"You would need magic to get rid of the magic."
I consider this for a moment... Could there be more people in the school with magic? Had someone stumbled across the scene of Tauria dying and helped her? Or was it the boy?
"What if the magic was in her?" Alica chimes in. We turn to look at her. "You know, if it was her own immune system that fought it off?"
"If she had magic," I say.
"Theoretically, I guess it's possible," says Percy. "I mean, some amount of magic is very common in the general population, and the people who can't use magic often develop... abilities that are... boosted by the magic resting in them... She might be one of those people, which means she might've fought the curse off on her own... But this particular curse is a very potent one, so her magic would need to be a lot stronger than it is. Likely."
I stare at the page of text, unseeing. So, someone with magic had to have been involved in the situation she ate the strawberry, otherwise she'd be dead. It might've been her, although it is very unlikely. The boy had told the teachers the two of them were alone, so that means that it was him, or he's covering for someone... Why? Probably to protect the person who saved Tauria's life. I would likely lie if the person who saved someone I care about would be in danger for saving their life.
"Is it possible it's something else?" says Gil.
"What?" say Percy and I.
"Well, I just thought, while all this speculation is great, is it possible that it was some other curse that Percy just hasn't thought of? Something that was meant to put a person in a coma?"
"Oh, yes, I suppose it is," says Percy. He seems a little surprised at the prospect of not having thought of something and is trying to process it. I push the book into the shelf, on top of the other books and walk over to Gil. He looks at me with a face that reminds me of a puppy wagging his tail.
"Oh, Gil," I say, putting my hands on his cheeks. "Oh, Gil," I say, screwing my eyes closed and sighing deeply. "Always here to remind me of human nature and it fallibility. You know what this means, don't you?"
His mouth falls open.
"Aw, shit," he says.
"Oh yes," I say. "Research."
~x~
That night and the next day are spent combing through the surprisingly extensive selection of books on curses and counter curses that the school library has. Percy absolutely forbids us from checking any of them out, saying that they're not really an "official" part of the school's collection, instead collected here from burning piles and old attics during the many years since the anti-magic purge. Apparently the school's previous master librarian had believed that knowledge should be valued and had began collecting any and all books he could get his hands on, even the ones that the government deemed... not quite legal. I don't think the current librarian even knows of the existence of these books and Percy insists it's better that way.
I absolutely love the books though. It's so fascinating, and honestly it's a shame I hadn't known about this collection before this because I would love to get into detail in the books, but don't have time, trying to find an alternative cause for Tauria's condition and, hopefully, a cure for it before it's too late.
Wednesday evening (the boy had skipped the afternoon's sword practice... can't say I blame him) and we've only just begun when one of the medics comes into the library.
"Oh, mister Woodsham, I had hoped to find you here," she says, hurrying over to the table we're occupying.
"Good evening, miss Chaura, what can I do for you?" I ask, trying to figure out why a medic would go through the trouble of finding me in a library.
"Well, I was told by Professor Eclaise to inform you should miss Chand's condition change," she says and I stand up with such force that my chair flies backwards, clattering on the floor.
"Is she..?" I start, a thousand possible situations racing through my head all at once.
"She's woken up!" miss Chaura says, clapping her hands together. "It's truly a miracle."
"Can..." I start. My mouth is dry and my heart is beating in my ears. "Can I go see her?"
"Oh, well, she has just woken up... Perhaps it would be better to let her rest for tonight, you can come by tomorrow," she says. I simply nod. "There is one thing I should mention though... she, uh, cannot recall any of her friends. We assume it's due to the trauma she's been through, should be temporary, but I would be prepared if I were you."
"Alright. Thank you, miss Chaura," I say and give her a smile. It's empty but she can't tell the difference. She gives me a smile of her own and then leaves. Gil puts his hand on my shoulder.
"You okay?" he asks.
"I think so," I say and shake my head. "I should be. This is good news, right? Why do I feel so... empty?"
"You're in shock," says Percy, who decided that we are not worthy of being left alone with his precious collection. "You were so relieved you couldn't handle it and your brain went to autopilot."
"Huh," I say, frowning. "Is that a thing?"
Percy shrugs and goes back to his book.
"Well, if she's awake, we can stop going through all these books, right?" says Alica and stands up. "I'm starving, let's go eat while there's still food."
"It would still be good to find out what exactly happened to her, but I guess it can wait for a bit now that she's no longer in danger," I admit. I take a deep breath. A wave of relief washes through my stomach and I let it pass. A wide smile spreads on my face and I sigh. "Well, let's go get some food."
~x~
I found a letter in the lost and found on Thursday, but didn't have time to read it yet as I make my way into the medical wing immediately after classes. In addition to the main room with several beds for minor cases of injuries and whatnot, there's also the examination room, the head medic's office, the medics' break room and several solitary rooms, for people who have to stay here longer. Like Tauria. True enough I find her in the room in the very back. To my surprise, they boy isn't there. She looks up from her book as I knock on the open door.
"Do I... know you?" she asks, squinting.
"You did," I say and smile. "Well, sort of anyway."
"What does that mean?" I sit on the chair next to her bed.
"It means we'd only just met before your, uh... incident." She makes a soft 'oh' and frowns, trying to remember.
"I'm sorry, I can't recall," she says eventually. She looks sad. I can't imagine what it must be like to not remember anyone at all. I don't want to imagine.
"That's okay, the medics said that you probably wouldn't remember," I say, because she needs to know it's not her fault. I hope she knows that. "You came to get your friend to join you on your trip to the town and he left to change his clothes. I was there and we talked for a bit. I complemented your eyes, you thought I was hitting on you and we laughed it off because I am already in a relationship and you have someone you like." I pause for a second after that, waiting for a reaction. She's not surprised, but... sad? She knows she used to like someone but can't remember who? A little more of my heart breaks. "I wished you a pleasant time at the caravan and you thought I was pretentious."
"Oh my gods, did I tell you you were pretentious?" she says with a soft chuckle she tries to hide behind her hand.
"Well, you didn't say it, but I'm pretty sure you thought it," I say.
"That's terrible!"
"Nah, I'm used to it."
"That's even worse!"
"How so?"
"Well, it means you really are pretentious."
I laugh. She smiles shyly. "Pretentious isn't the worst thing to be, I assure you. And I suppose I kind of am, so..."
She giggles and then sighs. We fall silent for a moment.
"What... do you remember?" I ask. She shrugs.
"I remember most things, I think. I know the date and the name of the country and the academia, and I remember all my studies, but I don't remember... people."
"How do you mean?"
"It's like... I know I have teachers but I don't remember their names or faces or voices, and I know we have a king but I don't know his name or which princess he's married or how many children he has. And I know I have friends, I know, but I just... I can't remember." She sniffles. I take her hand in mine and she squeezes it. "And Knute and Laelia, I know they are my friends, they must be, they were here the whole time and they want to help me remember, but I don't, I just don't remember them, I don't..."
She hiccups, fat tears rolling down her cheeks as she starts to cry and she's clinging onto my hand like she's a child afraid of losing her parents. In a way I guess she is. I sit onto the edge of her bed and pull her close. She cries into my shoulder until there's no more tears and then she apologizes for the mess she left on my shirt.
"Don't you worry about that," I tell her and she sniffs again. "It's just a shirt, I can easily get it cleaned."
"Right..." she says, playing with the edge of her blanket. There's clearly still something on her mind.
"It's not your fault," I say and she looks up. "You know that, right? It's not your fault you can't remember and it's not your fault someone did this to you. And your friends will be your friends even if you don't remember them. You need to know that."
She looks stunned for a moment and then she smiles, happy but tired.
"Thanks," she says, as simple as that.
I leave her be soon after that. On my way out I still stop to chat with the head medic to see if she can fill me in on something about Tauria's condition. She can't, none of them have yet to come up with an explanation for Tauria's selective amnesia. One more mystery to solve... Tauria's anguish haunts me the whole way back to the dorms.
I finally get back to our room and I pull the door open. Gil looks up from his alchemy book on his bed when I slam the door closed.
"What happened to your shirt?" he asks, equal parts amused and disgusted. I don't answer, striding over to him and pulling him into a kiss. He's surprised at first but melts into it almost instantly and he seems slightly breathless as I finally pull away.
"Yeah okay," he says weakly.
"What, no kiss for me?" says Alica from the other side of the bed and I lean over and kiss her as well. I can feel her grin against my mouth. When we break apart and she pats me on the cheek. I walk backwards to the other bed and fall on it, staring up at the ceiling.
"So, uh, did something happen?" Gil asks and I can hear him put the book away. "Not that I mind being greeted like this, it's not really been commonplace and all..."
"I'm just..." I start and pause, taking a deep breath. "I'm just so glad I have you guys."
My view of the ceiling is obstructed by Gil's smiling face as he lays down next to me on the bed. Alica soon joins on the other side and though it is a tight squeeze with three people on one bed it's still the most comfortable place I could be.
~x~
It's around nine in the evening I remember the letter. Alica's already left, saying she has an important assignment to finish, so it's just Gil and me in the room and he's busy with his alchemy homework. I grab my bag from the floor and fish out the paper.
Oh, well then. I guess it was to be expected that he doesn't quite trust me. But... an enemy? Does he think that the poisoning was about him? It had crossed my mind as well, but poisoning someone's friend seems like an awfully inconvenient way to get to someone, unless you wanted to hurt them, but even then wouldn't you stay and gloat or something? The whole thing was just too vague to draw any kinds of conclusions. Of course the boy is a different matter indeed, and has taken the assault personally.
I suppose it's time to tell the boy everything, huh.
I get up from bed, go over to the desk and start writing. I write down all the things that have happened and all the things I think they mean. I include the poisoning. Tomorrow is Friday so I can easily leave it in the book for him to find.
By the time I'm finished Gil's already in bed. I put out the lights and climb in behind him, pulling him against my chest. He stirs slightly, and mutters something unintelligible about octopi and I hush him before kissing the back of his neck. He settles down with a contented sigh and I have the best night's sleep I've had in ages.
Come Friday afternoon everything gets fucked.
________________________________________________________
Yaaay. Finisheddddd. Almost forgot to include the topic completely!
It's so long! So many things happen! I didn't mean so many things to happen! That's not true, I meant for more things to happen, but I could not figure out what happened on Friday so now you get to do it. Hooray! I do have a letter for you, which has things that I think are happening/will happen, so I'm not gonna leave you empty handed. Stash Knute somewhere safe during your trip! (I almost considered putting him in a coma, lol)
I know I'm a bit late again, but in my defense I've had shitty internet and I spent most of the day doing important blog related art. Which you'll get to enjoy hopefully soon for real this time not like all the other arts I've said I've made but never post. This is an actual thing that's actually gonna happen.
But I'm almost out of internet so I need to go now. I think that's everything. Your topic is "Masked". Cheerio!
Pie out.
P.S. I CAN'T GET THIS PUBLISHED ARRGGGHHHHH!!!
P.P.S. Seriously my internet sucks so bad I can't publish this. Sorry it's a Tuesday, not my fault for a change. Good night.
P.P.P.S. Good morning it's Tuesday. Enjoy.
Friday, June 19, 2015
The Sorcerer, Part 17 - Yellow
I'm sitting at the library with Laelia. Tauria is still at the academy hospital, the medics not wanting to let her go just yet. Tauria's selective amnesia puzzles them, and they're trying to figure out what caused it.
Since they haven't come up with anything, me and Laelia have spent the last couple of days in the library, trying to find anything on either what causes people to forget every single person they've ever met but nothing else, or what makes disappeared memories come back.
So far we haven't found much. So I sit and stare at the page in front of me, running my eyes over the same lines over and over again, none of the words sinking deep enough in my mind for me to actually understand what they're saying.
"How about this?" Laelia asks and turns the book she's reading around so I can see what's written on it.
"Really?" I say.
"Really," she says.
"Flowers. You want to go pick some flowers, make some tea out of them, and then put the rest under her pillow for a mull moon's night?"
"Well, I mean," Laelia begins, sounding unsure, "We're not finding anything else. And this says it helps with amnesia. It's an old book. And, you know, sometimes... old books are more than they seem," she shrugs but gives me a meaningful look.
I look back at her for a few seconds.
"Do you really think it would work?" I ask her after a moment of silence. She hesitates before answering.
"No," she finally admits, "But it's all we've got, and these flowers actually grow around here, and this close to midsummer they're actually flowering, so what the hell. It's not like it'll do any harm to make her drink some tea. And who knows, maybe this old book will surprise us."
I just look at her, not saying anything.
"I said I don't think it'll work," she says, going all defensive, "But I'm getting tired of doing nothing. At least this is something we can try, even if it did absolutely nothing."
I stare at her for a moment longer. Then I sigh.
"Fine, let's go flower-picking," I say, "But not now. I have a calculus class to catch. I'll see you in the courtyard after that?"
She nods, and I shut my books and head out of the library, towards the calculus class. I've been carrying a small note to Omega in my bag for a couple of days, never remembering to take it to the closet with all this going on. Now the closet isn't too much of a detour, so I head there on my way to drop it off.
~x~
Calculus has always been one of my favourite subjects. But today I stay hardly awake, not having slept too well for the past few nights. Finally the class is over and I rush back outside, where Laelia is looking for me. We head straight for the woods. Neither of us speaks. There isn't much to say.
"How long have you known?" she asks after we're already a good way into the woods, alone. I turn to look at her, about to ask what she means, but then I see the look on her face. I turn back to face where we're going.
"Since the beginning of the term, actually," I say after a moment of silent walking, "I had a flashback or something, suddenly remembered how I got some leaves to grow faster, turn green from barely hatched. I was maybe five back then. I never remembered anything like that happening until now. I don't know how that's possible. My mom did get pretty upset, maybe that scared me enough that I never dared to try anything like it again, and I slowly forgot."
Laelia shakes her head.
"It's not something you just forget," she says. I think about it for a moment.
"So what do you think happened instead?" I ask.
"I don't know," she answers, shaking her head. We walk in silence for a while longer.
"So what about you?" I ask, breaking the silence. She turns to look at me, and just stares at me for a moment, like thinking if she should tell me.
"I used to love books when I was a kid. I mean, I still do, but my grandmother had some old books with stories of great wizards. I used to wish I was like them. Then my parents got worried about it, because it's not like you can have a kid running around telling people she wants to be a sorcerer. So they told me the story about the Great Battle, and all that. It scared me. Though not as much as making some water fly around in the air the next day. My parents had literally just told me sorcerers were evil and magic was bad, and there I was, six years old and able to float water. I never told them. Or anyone else. I was too scared. But I've been practising in secret, for years. So now I think I'm okay. I could be a lot better, if I didn't have to hide it."
I nod. We walk a while more in silence.
"Could you show me?" I ask. She looks at me, startled. "I mean, I'm only just getting started, and it would be great to see someone more advanced do something."
She doesn't say anything for a long while.
"I'm sorry," she then says, "I... It's not like I don't trust you, I want you to know that. It's just... I've never done anything in front of anyone. I never ever dreamed of doing anything in front of other people. I never thought I could. I've been so careful, so..." she falls silent for a moment, "I don't think I'm ready to show anyone, even though I know it would be okay. Avoiding anyone seeing is too deep in me. So I can't. At least not yet."
I nod.
"But you did it with Tauria," I note. But it's not the same. I know it's not. We were saving a friend, had no choice.
"That's not the same," she says too. I just nod. I don't want to push her.
"There's a meadow, I think there are some of our flowers," she says after a moment longer of walking.
"Yeah, I think so too. How much do you think we'll need?"
We come to a clearing. A meadow. And she's right. The whole area is filled with bright yellow flowers, the colors intensified in the light of the setting sun. Laelia stops under the last trees.
"I always loved sunsets. How they make everything look more beautiful. More alive. More.... more. You know? All the colors so bright, in the sky and everywhere else."
"Yeah," I answer, "Come on."
We walk into the meadow and begin picking the flowers. Laelia thinks we won't need much, and we soon have our hands filled with flowers and head back towards the academy. There we brew Tauria some tea and bring her the rest of the flowers to the hospital. She's about as sceptic about it as we are.
"Really?" she asks.
"That's what I said," I say.
"It's worth the try," Laelia says. Tauria begins to sip her tea, but stops half way through, lowering her cup.
"Why are you going through all this trouble? It's very sweet, but... Why?" she asks, looks at both of us.
"Because," Laelia begins, "Even though you can't remember anything about us, we love you. And we don't want you to feel alone in this huge school full of strangers."
I can see a tear welling in Tauria's eye. She nods, and raises the cup to her lips. It's not like it's gonna work. But at least we did something today to help.
________________________________________________________
Okay. So I have one more bit to go before I go to Italy. I'm actually a little scared of what you'll do with the story while I'm gone.
But that time isn't quite yet.
Your topic for... Monday? Monday. is Shirt(s).
~matu
Since they haven't come up with anything, me and Laelia have spent the last couple of days in the library, trying to find anything on either what causes people to forget every single person they've ever met but nothing else, or what makes disappeared memories come back.
So far we haven't found much. So I sit and stare at the page in front of me, running my eyes over the same lines over and over again, none of the words sinking deep enough in my mind for me to actually understand what they're saying.
"How about this?" Laelia asks and turns the book she's reading around so I can see what's written on it.
"Really?" I say.
"Really," she says.
"Flowers. You want to go pick some flowers, make some tea out of them, and then put the rest under her pillow for a mull moon's night?"
"Well, I mean," Laelia begins, sounding unsure, "We're not finding anything else. And this says it helps with amnesia. It's an old book. And, you know, sometimes... old books are more than they seem," she shrugs but gives me a meaningful look.
I look back at her for a few seconds.
"Do you really think it would work?" I ask her after a moment of silence. She hesitates before answering.
"No," she finally admits, "But it's all we've got, and these flowers actually grow around here, and this close to midsummer they're actually flowering, so what the hell. It's not like it'll do any harm to make her drink some tea. And who knows, maybe this old book will surprise us."
I just look at her, not saying anything.
"I said I don't think it'll work," she says, going all defensive, "But I'm getting tired of doing nothing. At least this is something we can try, even if it did absolutely nothing."
I stare at her for a moment longer. Then I sigh.
"Fine, let's go flower-picking," I say, "But not now. I have a calculus class to catch. I'll see you in the courtyard after that?"
She nods, and I shut my books and head out of the library, towards the calculus class. I've been carrying a small note to Omega in my bag for a couple of days, never remembering to take it to the closet with all this going on. Now the closet isn't too much of a detour, so I head there on my way to drop it off.
~x~
Calculus has always been one of my favourite subjects. But today I stay hardly awake, not having slept too well for the past few nights. Finally the class is over and I rush back outside, where Laelia is looking for me. We head straight for the woods. Neither of us speaks. There isn't much to say.
"How long have you known?" she asks after we're already a good way into the woods, alone. I turn to look at her, about to ask what she means, but then I see the look on her face. I turn back to face where we're going.
"Since the beginning of the term, actually," I say after a moment of silent walking, "I had a flashback or something, suddenly remembered how I got some leaves to grow faster, turn green from barely hatched. I was maybe five back then. I never remembered anything like that happening until now. I don't know how that's possible. My mom did get pretty upset, maybe that scared me enough that I never dared to try anything like it again, and I slowly forgot."
Laelia shakes her head.
"It's not something you just forget," she says. I think about it for a moment.
"So what do you think happened instead?" I ask.
"I don't know," she answers, shaking her head. We walk in silence for a while longer.
"So what about you?" I ask, breaking the silence. She turns to look at me, and just stares at me for a moment, like thinking if she should tell me.
"I used to love books when I was a kid. I mean, I still do, but my grandmother had some old books with stories of great wizards. I used to wish I was like them. Then my parents got worried about it, because it's not like you can have a kid running around telling people she wants to be a sorcerer. So they told me the story about the Great Battle, and all that. It scared me. Though not as much as making some water fly around in the air the next day. My parents had literally just told me sorcerers were evil and magic was bad, and there I was, six years old and able to float water. I never told them. Or anyone else. I was too scared. But I've been practising in secret, for years. So now I think I'm okay. I could be a lot better, if I didn't have to hide it."
I nod. We walk a while more in silence.
"Could you show me?" I ask. She looks at me, startled. "I mean, I'm only just getting started, and it would be great to see someone more advanced do something."
She doesn't say anything for a long while.
"I'm sorry," she then says, "I... It's not like I don't trust you, I want you to know that. It's just... I've never done anything in front of anyone. I never ever dreamed of doing anything in front of other people. I never thought I could. I've been so careful, so..." she falls silent for a moment, "I don't think I'm ready to show anyone, even though I know it would be okay. Avoiding anyone seeing is too deep in me. So I can't. At least not yet."
I nod.
"But you did it with Tauria," I note. But it's not the same. I know it's not. We were saving a friend, had no choice.
"That's not the same," she says too. I just nod. I don't want to push her.
"There's a meadow, I think there are some of our flowers," she says after a moment longer of walking.
"Yeah, I think so too. How much do you think we'll need?"
We come to a clearing. A meadow. And she's right. The whole area is filled with bright yellow flowers, the colors intensified in the light of the setting sun. Laelia stops under the last trees.
"I always loved sunsets. How they make everything look more beautiful. More alive. More.... more. You know? All the colors so bright, in the sky and everywhere else."
"Yeah," I answer, "Come on."
We walk into the meadow and begin picking the flowers. Laelia thinks we won't need much, and we soon have our hands filled with flowers and head back towards the academy. There we brew Tauria some tea and bring her the rest of the flowers to the hospital. She's about as sceptic about it as we are.
"Really?" she asks.
"That's what I said," I say.
"It's worth the try," Laelia says. Tauria begins to sip her tea, but stops half way through, lowering her cup.
"Why are you going through all this trouble? It's very sweet, but... Why?" she asks, looks at both of us.
"Because," Laelia begins, "Even though you can't remember anything about us, we love you. And we don't want you to feel alone in this huge school full of strangers."
I can see a tear welling in Tauria's eye. She nods, and raises the cup to her lips. It's not like it's gonna work. But at least we did something today to help.
________________________________________________________
Okay. So I have one more bit to go before I go to Italy. I'm actually a little scared of what you'll do with the story while I'm gone.
But that time isn't quite yet.
Your topic for... Monday? Monday. is Shirt(s).
~matu
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
The Sorcerer, Part 16 - Break
We run into two teachers near the campus grounds as we're returning from the caravan. Or rather, they run into us. They are in an awful lot of hurry, which makes the fact that they stop to talk with us even more surprising.
"You three are coming from the town, correct? You were at the caravan?" professor Eclaise asks, without as much as a hello. We stop dead on our tracks, surprised.
"Yes, sir," I say, cautiously. "Has something happened?"
"There has been... an incident," says professor Atwell, the physiology professor, tucking her brown hair back behind her ear. "One of the students collapsed. She had been given strawberries at the fair... We have reasons to believe they had been poisoned."
My eyes widen, the grip of my fingers on the brim of the cup tightening. Strawberries... poisoned? I knew something had been off.
"So, if you noticed anything weird, or maybe saw the man who gave them to her...." Eclaise suggests.
We glance at each other, Gil worried and Alica confused. Alica shakes her head.
"No, I don't think we saw anyone selling strawberries..." she says. Gil and I nod. "It's a bit early for them anyway, though, isn't it?"
"Hmmm, well, thank you for your time," Eclaise says and they move to continue.
"Wait," I say, and they stop. "Who... who was the victim?"
The professors trade a look.
"Her name was Tauria Chand," professor Atwell says quietly. "Her friend, Knute Ferrel, carried her all the way to the hospital wing, the brave lad." She shakes her head and sighs, and we watch them head down the road towards town. My head is throbbing, empty, the rare silence in my mind a welcome guest if it weren't so goddamn painful. I can't believe... Why her? Or perhaps... why him.
"Tauria..." Gil says from next to me, though it feels like miles away. "Wasn't that..!"
I turn abruptly, heading inside the school building, my surprised friends not far behind, shouting my name, but I don't stop. I need to find out who did this, I need to find out what was in the berries, I need to-!
Two hands fall on my back as I try, unsuccessfully, to open the dorm room door. My hands are shaking, I notice. Gil places his hand on mine to steady it and presses the door handle, the heavy door creaking open. I am gently pushed inside by two hands and the door is closed behind us. I try to say something, but there is a lump in my throat. When had the tears started to fall? Why? I don't -
Alica walks me to the bed and sits me down while Gil brings me a cup of water. I give him a smile and take a sip. We sit quietly for a while.
"You knew her," Alica says, not really a question. I nod and clear my throat.
"Yes," I croak out and then clear my throat again. "I mean, barely, I just met her today, but she was so nice and interesting and young. And she was- is, she is, the boy's best friend and if she-"
I stop. No, no I can't think that. She will be fine and I will make my damnest to make sure of it. What I can do isn't much, but I am damn good at it and I will find out what was in those strawberries if it's the last thing I'll do.
"I need to get to work," I say, swiping the wetness off my cheeks with my sleeve and standing up. "Gil, take out my alchemy supplies, while I run to the library. We're gonna figure out a cure."
~x~
I slam the alchemy book closed and groan. I have a great urge to throw all my equipment and the books on the floor but I restrain myself. Gil looks up from his bed.
The teachers who went out to town came back empty handed. Apparently several members of the caravan had already packed up and left, among them the mysterious strawberry salesman. I had talked to them afterwards, asking them to tell me everything the boy had said about the man. They seemed to trust I'd try to help because they told me everything they knew.
A fifth termer nephew... In my mind I had gone through all the fifth termers (all 32 of them) but hadn't come up with a viable option for someone who would have a caravanner family. Greetings from my nephew, he had said... That did imply that the nephew is a part of this, but how significant? Or was that just a way to throw us off his track, make us concentrate on a nonexistent nephew while he gets away with attempted murder? How much can we trust his word? Or was the nephew the true mastermind behind the crime, taking advantage of his uncle by making him give strawberries to Tauria without drawing suspicion to himself? If that is the case, wouldn't he have told his uncle to not mention him?
Not to mention that the boy thought that the salesman had recognized him... So had this been about Knute after all? Why give the berries to Tauria if she wasn't the target? Had she been an innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire? What possible reason would the salesman have for poisoning the boy, though? I still didn't know what in him made me feel the way I did, but I had thought it was just my mind over thinking, just like always... Was there actually something different about him? Or could it be that it wasn't personal at all, but rather about the school? All the weird incidents over the years, the only thing in common was the location: the academia. According to the boy they had been asked if they were from the academia, perhaps they were chosen simply for being students...
Indeed, it was likely the boy had been wearing his school uniform to the town, the academia students got discounts from papers and inks and such, so perhaps...
But no, I can't draw any conclusions yet, I need more data...
The strawberry mush hasn't been too helpful either. It's been two days and I still can't find traces of any kind of poisons in it. None! Something has been done to them, I'm sure of it, but I cannot find any known poisons in them! And if it's not poison, what could it be? It is slowly making me crazy. Gil and Alica both tried to help at first, but they soon gave up trying to stay out of the way. Come to think of it, I haven't even seen Alica since Saturday night... The fortune flashes through my mind; open heart.
There's a hand on my shoulder and I jump slightly in my chair. Gil is standing behind me, concern colored all across his face. I laugh nervously, turning the chair to face him.
"Oz, I'm worried," he says and I duck my gaze. "I understand that figuring this out is important to you, but you've been working nonstop for almost two days. You've been barely sleeping, you payed no attention in class today and I've been trying to get your attention for ten minutes now and you haven't responded."
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry," I say, surprised. I was really caught up, wasn't I... "It's just... There is so much going on right now, and..."
"I know," he says, tenderly, kneeling in front of me, taking the hands resting on my lap into his. "But just wallowing in it isn't gonna change anything... It's late, you should really take a break... just... let it wait until tomorrow." There's a compassionate smile on his face and I feel terrible.
"You're right, of course, you're right," I say and sigh. "I'm sorry."
Gil cups my face, his smile relived if a bit tired, and he pulls me up from the chair. My mind is slow now, the fatigue of the past few days finally having caught up to me as I let go of the obsession and Gil guides me patiently to the bathroom to wash up and brush my teeth and then back to the main room and the soft, inviting beds in the back. He puts out the main light and comes over, his beautiful face filled with fondness as he sits on the side of the bed. I trace the side of his face with my finger, and he smiles brighter, bright enough to light up the whole room. My thumb brushes across his bottom lip and he kisses it, drawing in closer until he's sitting on top of me. I would stay here forever if I could, looking up at his sweet smile and twinkling blue eyes.
He leans over and kisses my forehead, my eyelids, my nose - which makes me laugh a little - and finally my lips. He is gentle, oh so gentle, like he's afraid I'll break under his hands and lips. I wouldn't, obviously, but he knows it and I say nothing. Sometimes gentle is exactly what I need. And Gil always knows what I need.
We fall into a slow rhythm, hands traveling over bodies, mapping the already familiar skin underneath. Gil nips at my ear and my breath hitches. He kisses me, over and over again, on my mouth, my neck, my chest, everywhere he can reach and I close my eyes, leaning back against the headboard. I card my fingers through his hair and whisper sweet nothings into the dark room and everything is as it should be, everything is perfect, everything is magical.
Magical...
I wake up the following morning, Gil's arm thrown haphazardly across my waist and his head resting on my shoulder, with only one thought in my mind:
What if it's magic?
__________________________________________________________________
That, uh. Got out of hand. I swear, I hadn't planned for this to happen at all, it just... happened, but to my defense I've been hinting at it since part 4. I had some... concerns when I noticed where it was going, but decided that I don't care. And with the final realization it does actually contribute to the story... kinda...
Besides, it's not very explicit or graphic, so it's ok, right?
Your topic is........... Yellow. I'm going to bed, bye.
Pie out.
"You three are coming from the town, correct? You were at the caravan?" professor Eclaise asks, without as much as a hello. We stop dead on our tracks, surprised.
"Yes, sir," I say, cautiously. "Has something happened?"
"There has been... an incident," says professor Atwell, the physiology professor, tucking her brown hair back behind her ear. "One of the students collapsed. She had been given strawberries at the fair... We have reasons to believe they had been poisoned."
My eyes widen, the grip of my fingers on the brim of the cup tightening. Strawberries... poisoned? I knew something had been off.
"So, if you noticed anything weird, or maybe saw the man who gave them to her...." Eclaise suggests.
We glance at each other, Gil worried and Alica confused. Alica shakes her head.
"No, I don't think we saw anyone selling strawberries..." she says. Gil and I nod. "It's a bit early for them anyway, though, isn't it?"
"Hmmm, well, thank you for your time," Eclaise says and they move to continue.
"Wait," I say, and they stop. "Who... who was the victim?"
The professors trade a look.
"Her name was Tauria Chand," professor Atwell says quietly. "Her friend, Knute Ferrel, carried her all the way to the hospital wing, the brave lad." She shakes her head and sighs, and we watch them head down the road towards town. My head is throbbing, empty, the rare silence in my mind a welcome guest if it weren't so goddamn painful. I can't believe... Why her? Or perhaps... why him.
"Tauria..." Gil says from next to me, though it feels like miles away. "Wasn't that..!"
I turn abruptly, heading inside the school building, my surprised friends not far behind, shouting my name, but I don't stop. I need to find out who did this, I need to find out what was in the berries, I need to-!
Two hands fall on my back as I try, unsuccessfully, to open the dorm room door. My hands are shaking, I notice. Gil places his hand on mine to steady it and presses the door handle, the heavy door creaking open. I am gently pushed inside by two hands and the door is closed behind us. I try to say something, but there is a lump in my throat. When had the tears started to fall? Why? I don't -
Alica walks me to the bed and sits me down while Gil brings me a cup of water. I give him a smile and take a sip. We sit quietly for a while.
"You knew her," Alica says, not really a question. I nod and clear my throat.
"Yes," I croak out and then clear my throat again. "I mean, barely, I just met her today, but she was so nice and interesting and young. And she was- is, she is, the boy's best friend and if she-"
I stop. No, no I can't think that. She will be fine and I will make my damnest to make sure of it. What I can do isn't much, but I am damn good at it and I will find out what was in those strawberries if it's the last thing I'll do.
"I need to get to work," I say, swiping the wetness off my cheeks with my sleeve and standing up. "Gil, take out my alchemy supplies, while I run to the library. We're gonna figure out a cure."
~x~
I slam the alchemy book closed and groan. I have a great urge to throw all my equipment and the books on the floor but I restrain myself. Gil looks up from his bed.
The teachers who went out to town came back empty handed. Apparently several members of the caravan had already packed up and left, among them the mysterious strawberry salesman. I had talked to them afterwards, asking them to tell me everything the boy had said about the man. They seemed to trust I'd try to help because they told me everything they knew.
A fifth termer nephew... In my mind I had gone through all the fifth termers (all 32 of them) but hadn't come up with a viable option for someone who would have a caravanner family. Greetings from my nephew, he had said... That did imply that the nephew is a part of this, but how significant? Or was that just a way to throw us off his track, make us concentrate on a nonexistent nephew while he gets away with attempted murder? How much can we trust his word? Or was the nephew the true mastermind behind the crime, taking advantage of his uncle by making him give strawberries to Tauria without drawing suspicion to himself? If that is the case, wouldn't he have told his uncle to not mention him?
Not to mention that the boy thought that the salesman had recognized him... So had this been about Knute after all? Why give the berries to Tauria if she wasn't the target? Had she been an innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire? What possible reason would the salesman have for poisoning the boy, though? I still didn't know what in him made me feel the way I did, but I had thought it was just my mind over thinking, just like always... Was there actually something different about him? Or could it be that it wasn't personal at all, but rather about the school? All the weird incidents over the years, the only thing in common was the location: the academia. According to the boy they had been asked if they were from the academia, perhaps they were chosen simply for being students...
Indeed, it was likely the boy had been wearing his school uniform to the town, the academia students got discounts from papers and inks and such, so perhaps...
But no, I can't draw any conclusions yet, I need more data...
The strawberry mush hasn't been too helpful either. It's been two days and I still can't find traces of any kind of poisons in it. None! Something has been done to them, I'm sure of it, but I cannot find any known poisons in them! And if it's not poison, what could it be? It is slowly making me crazy. Gil and Alica both tried to help at first, but they soon gave up trying to stay out of the way. Come to think of it, I haven't even seen Alica since Saturday night... The fortune flashes through my mind; open heart.
There's a hand on my shoulder and I jump slightly in my chair. Gil is standing behind me, concern colored all across his face. I laugh nervously, turning the chair to face him.
"Oz, I'm worried," he says and I duck my gaze. "I understand that figuring this out is important to you, but you've been working nonstop for almost two days. You've been barely sleeping, you payed no attention in class today and I've been trying to get your attention for ten minutes now and you haven't responded."
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry," I say, surprised. I was really caught up, wasn't I... "It's just... There is so much going on right now, and..."
"I know," he says, tenderly, kneeling in front of me, taking the hands resting on my lap into his. "But just wallowing in it isn't gonna change anything... It's late, you should really take a break... just... let it wait until tomorrow." There's a compassionate smile on his face and I feel terrible.
"You're right, of course, you're right," I say and sigh. "I'm sorry."
Gil cups my face, his smile relived if a bit tired, and he pulls me up from the chair. My mind is slow now, the fatigue of the past few days finally having caught up to me as I let go of the obsession and Gil guides me patiently to the bathroom to wash up and brush my teeth and then back to the main room and the soft, inviting beds in the back. He puts out the main light and comes over, his beautiful face filled with fondness as he sits on the side of the bed. I trace the side of his face with my finger, and he smiles brighter, bright enough to light up the whole room. My thumb brushes across his bottom lip and he kisses it, drawing in closer until he's sitting on top of me. I would stay here forever if I could, looking up at his sweet smile and twinkling blue eyes.
He leans over and kisses my forehead, my eyelids, my nose - which makes me laugh a little - and finally my lips. He is gentle, oh so gentle, like he's afraid I'll break under his hands and lips. I wouldn't, obviously, but he knows it and I say nothing. Sometimes gentle is exactly what I need. And Gil always knows what I need.
We fall into a slow rhythm, hands traveling over bodies, mapping the already familiar skin underneath. Gil nips at my ear and my breath hitches. He kisses me, over and over again, on my mouth, my neck, my chest, everywhere he can reach and I close my eyes, leaning back against the headboard. I card my fingers through his hair and whisper sweet nothings into the dark room and everything is as it should be, everything is perfect, everything is magical.
Magical...
I wake up the following morning, Gil's arm thrown haphazardly across my waist and his head resting on my shoulder, with only one thought in my mind:
What if it's magic?
__________________________________________________________________
That, uh. Got out of hand. I swear, I hadn't planned for this to happen at all, it just... happened, but to my defense I've been hinting at it since part 4. I had some... concerns when I noticed where it was going, but decided that I don't care. And with the final realization it does actually contribute to the story... kinda...
Besides, it's not very explicit or graphic, so it's ok, right?
Your topic is........... Yellow. I'm going to bed, bye.
Pie out.
Monday, June 15, 2015
The Sorcerer, Part 15 - Missing
I sit by Tauria's bed for days. I only go to eat, to sleep, to classes. Though going to classes is pointless, since I can't concentrate. Every one of them lasts for years just to be followed by another one. And when I finally get off, I spend my time staring at Tauria, Laelia on the other side of her bed. We don't talk much, not after I went to find her after getting Tauria to the medics. I told the story of what happened few too many times that afternoon. Since then I haven't felt like talking at all. It's all too fresh. It's all too... full of guilt.
The man selling the chocolate recognised me, that I'm sure of now. Have been sure since I ran through the academy campus carrying Tauria. The man recognised me, and gave my friend poisoned strawberries. Poisoned by what, the medics still don't know. But this happened to her because of me. It's the nephew he was talking about. The nephew in the academy. Fifth term. I go through the conversation in my head, over and over. He targeted me through someone close to me. He knows. He knows my secret. And I have made a nameless enemy within the school.
A thought flashes through my mind, again. This happened just a day after I finally answered to the mysterious letters.
What if it's Omega?
~x~
The history lesson goes by agonizingly slow. I have no idea what professor Cole is talking about. And I don't care, to be honest. All I care is for the lesson to be over with, so I can get back to Tauria. And it seems to me the professors don't mind much. A student being poisoned is not something that happens ever, so they all know about it. And they all know it was my friend who got poisoned. So I guess they're cutting me some slack.
"... all for today," I snap back into reality as professor Cole ends the lesson and everyone starts packing. I look around, confused. Right. History lesson. History? Letter.
At the last minute I remember there is probably a letter in between the book. There is. I grab it, stuffing it in my bag.
"Mister Ferrel?" professor Cole's voice comes from behind me just as I turn to leave the room. Oh, crap, he saw me take something from between the book. I turn around.
"Yes, professor Cole?"
"Are you okay?"
I blink at his question. That was definitely not what I expected. I stumble on my thoughts, unable to say anything.
"I heard what happened to miss Chand. I'm sorry. I know you two are close."
"Yeah. It's... tough. But she'll be fine. I'm just tired."
"Just tired doesn't really cover it. Usually you're so attentive in class. I've noticed something's been bothering you this term, but now I don't think you're listening to a word I'm saying."
"Yes, I'm sorry, professor Cole," I'd add something, but can't figure out anything sensible to say. We look at each other for a moment.
"Just take care of yourself," professor Cole says, and smiles. Smiles? Yes, I think he's actually smiling at me. It's getting awkward, so I just nod.
"Thank you. I will," I say, turn around, and walk out the door.
I walk to the dining hall, grab something to take with me and head right to the medical wing. I read the letter there, sitting next to Tauria, munching on what ever it was I grabbed to take with me.
The end of he letter catches my attention. I don't know what your own stance on magic is, exactly.
He said he knew my secret. He said he knew, but he doesn't know my stance on magic. If he knows I have magic how could he not know I'm not against it? Maybe he doesn't know? Maybe he thinks I hate magic, and hate myself for having it? That I'm afraid of myself for having magic? I know magic is a wonderful thing, I've used it. I've felt it. Or maybe, as I have began to assume from the letters, he isn't a sorcerer himself. Maybe he doesn't know how it feels to actually use magic. Then again, if he really helped that girl possessed by the pixie...
The door opens, distracting me from my train of thought. It's Laelia. She stops at the door, looks at me a second, then turns her gaze to the letter I was still staring at a moment earlier. I tuck it into my bag.
"Hi," I say.
"Hi," Laelia says, sitting onto a chair on the other side of the bed.
Neither of us says anything. There doesn't seem to be anything to say.
I stumble back onto the path I was on earlier. Omega. I am afraid someone in this school is using magic for selfish and unethical purposes. It makes me so mad! It doesn't sound like he's the one who poisoned Tauria. But he might be playing me, gaining my trust. For all I know, he might be the evil genius doing all the things he claims he's mad about. But I can't figure out what his end game would be with me. And he doesn't seem bad. But I know better than most looks can be deceiving. Either way, I do need to contact him again. I need to know what he knows. About me, about what's going on in the school. I need to know.
He is right about one thing, though. I hope that you understand that it is not magic that is bad. Magic can be so wonderful. Magic can be wonderful, it can help. It can heal. I take Tauria's lifeless hand. It's warm. I hold it tight. I have to do something. I have to at least try. She's in this bed because of me. I look at her, and hope. I hope so bad. And I try.
My hand starts heating up a little, the already familiar feeling of using magic. I don't know exactly what I'm doing, but I know it's helping her. Somehow I know it is. I couldn't help the pixie girl, but I can help Tauria.
Suddenly I feel something different. Something I've never felt before. Someone else. Someone else, doing the same thing I am. Helping Tauria. I pull my face up, to look at Laelia. She seems to have felt it too, looking at me with wide eyes over the bed. We just sit there for seconds that last forever, staring at each other.
"I won't tell anyone if you won't," she whispers. I nod. She's helping. I know her. She's good. There's no need for anyone to know, just like there's no reason anyone needs to know about me. She stares at me for a moment longer. Then her lips turn up and she gives out a little laugh. The first one in days. I can feel my own lips curling into a smile. I laugh too, and we laugh together. It feels good, after days of silence, after days of grief. I'm not even sure what we're laughing at. I'm guessing it's because it feels good, knowing someone else knows, someone who you can trust. Someone who knows, who understands. Because they're just like you.
Her laughter is slowly turning into crying, and my laughter is dying out. We're still looking at each other. She smiles a little through her tears, and I smile back. She wipes her face with her hand.
"We need to help her," she says. I nod again. We take her hands, squeeze hard. I can feel my magic helping her. I can feel her magic helping her. She's getting stronger.
Her eyes flutter. Just a little. Then she lets out a small sound, and opens her eyes, slowly. She looks around, at the room, at us. She looks confused. I can't blame her.
"Who are you?" her voice is barely audible.
"Do you remember what happened?" Laelia asks her, quietly.
"I remember eating strawberries," she says weakly.
"I brought you here, after you collapsed," I say softly.
"Who are you?" Tauria asks again.
"You don't remember?" Laelia asks, "That's Knute."
"I don't..." she coughs. Not much, but enough that the look on Laelia's face turns into worry.
"I don't know who you are. Either of you," Tauria manages after she stops coughing.
"That's Laelia. She's a friend. And so am I," I say, "You don't remember anything?"
"I remember..." she says, pauses, "I remember things. I know I'm at the academy. I remember all the things," she's starting to look even more confused, "I remember all the things. I just..." the looks on her face turns to scared, "I can't remember anyone."
Me and Laelia exchange looks. Tauria's gaze jumps between us.
"I don't remember you," she says, "I don't remember anyone, not anyone at all."
She remembers the world. It's clear she does. She's not confused about where she is. But her memories of people, all the people she used to know, they're gone.
Simply missing.
__________________________________________________________________
Right, ok, so. Yeah.
Your topic for Wednesday is Brake.
~matu
The man selling the chocolate recognised me, that I'm sure of now. Have been sure since I ran through the academy campus carrying Tauria. The man recognised me, and gave my friend poisoned strawberries. Poisoned by what, the medics still don't know. But this happened to her because of me. It's the nephew he was talking about. The nephew in the academy. Fifth term. I go through the conversation in my head, over and over. He targeted me through someone close to me. He knows. He knows my secret. And I have made a nameless enemy within the school.
A thought flashes through my mind, again. This happened just a day after I finally answered to the mysterious letters.
What if it's Omega?
~x~
The history lesson goes by agonizingly slow. I have no idea what professor Cole is talking about. And I don't care, to be honest. All I care is for the lesson to be over with, so I can get back to Tauria. And it seems to me the professors don't mind much. A student being poisoned is not something that happens ever, so they all know about it. And they all know it was my friend who got poisoned. So I guess they're cutting me some slack.
"... all for today," I snap back into reality as professor Cole ends the lesson and everyone starts packing. I look around, confused. Right. History lesson. History? Letter.
At the last minute I remember there is probably a letter in between the book. There is. I grab it, stuffing it in my bag.
"Mister Ferrel?" professor Cole's voice comes from behind me just as I turn to leave the room. Oh, crap, he saw me take something from between the book. I turn around.
"Yes, professor Cole?"
"Are you okay?"
I blink at his question. That was definitely not what I expected. I stumble on my thoughts, unable to say anything.
"I heard what happened to miss Chand. I'm sorry. I know you two are close."
"Yeah. It's... tough. But she'll be fine. I'm just tired."
"Just tired doesn't really cover it. Usually you're so attentive in class. I've noticed something's been bothering you this term, but now I don't think you're listening to a word I'm saying."
"Yes, I'm sorry, professor Cole," I'd add something, but can't figure out anything sensible to say. We look at each other for a moment.
"Just take care of yourself," professor Cole says, and smiles. Smiles? Yes, I think he's actually smiling at me. It's getting awkward, so I just nod.
"Thank you. I will," I say, turn around, and walk out the door.
I walk to the dining hall, grab something to take with me and head right to the medical wing. I read the letter there, sitting next to Tauria, munching on what ever it was I grabbed to take with me.
The end of he letter catches my attention. I don't know what your own stance on magic is, exactly.
He said he knew my secret. He said he knew, but he doesn't know my stance on magic. If he knows I have magic how could he not know I'm not against it? Maybe he doesn't know? Maybe he thinks I hate magic, and hate myself for having it? That I'm afraid of myself for having magic? I know magic is a wonderful thing, I've used it. I've felt it. Or maybe, as I have began to assume from the letters, he isn't a sorcerer himself. Maybe he doesn't know how it feels to actually use magic. Then again, if he really helped that girl possessed by the pixie...
The door opens, distracting me from my train of thought. It's Laelia. She stops at the door, looks at me a second, then turns her gaze to the letter I was still staring at a moment earlier. I tuck it into my bag.
"Hi," I say.
"Hi," Laelia says, sitting onto a chair on the other side of the bed.
Neither of us says anything. There doesn't seem to be anything to say.
I stumble back onto the path I was on earlier. Omega. I am afraid someone in this school is using magic for selfish and unethical purposes. It makes me so mad! It doesn't sound like he's the one who poisoned Tauria. But he might be playing me, gaining my trust. For all I know, he might be the evil genius doing all the things he claims he's mad about. But I can't figure out what his end game would be with me. And he doesn't seem bad. But I know better than most looks can be deceiving. Either way, I do need to contact him again. I need to know what he knows. About me, about what's going on in the school. I need to know.
He is right about one thing, though. I hope that you understand that it is not magic that is bad. Magic can be so wonderful. Magic can be wonderful, it can help. It can heal. I take Tauria's lifeless hand. It's warm. I hold it tight. I have to do something. I have to at least try. She's in this bed because of me. I look at her, and hope. I hope so bad. And I try.
My hand starts heating up a little, the already familiar feeling of using magic. I don't know exactly what I'm doing, but I know it's helping her. Somehow I know it is. I couldn't help the pixie girl, but I can help Tauria.
Suddenly I feel something different. Something I've never felt before. Someone else. Someone else, doing the same thing I am. Helping Tauria. I pull my face up, to look at Laelia. She seems to have felt it too, looking at me with wide eyes over the bed. We just sit there for seconds that last forever, staring at each other.
"I won't tell anyone if you won't," she whispers. I nod. She's helping. I know her. She's good. There's no need for anyone to know, just like there's no reason anyone needs to know about me. She stares at me for a moment longer. Then her lips turn up and she gives out a little laugh. The first one in days. I can feel my own lips curling into a smile. I laugh too, and we laugh together. It feels good, after days of silence, after days of grief. I'm not even sure what we're laughing at. I'm guessing it's because it feels good, knowing someone else knows, someone who you can trust. Someone who knows, who understands. Because they're just like you.
Her laughter is slowly turning into crying, and my laughter is dying out. We're still looking at each other. She smiles a little through her tears, and I smile back. She wipes her face with her hand.
"We need to help her," she says. I nod again. We take her hands, squeeze hard. I can feel my magic helping her. I can feel her magic helping her. She's getting stronger.
Her eyes flutter. Just a little. Then she lets out a small sound, and opens her eyes, slowly. She looks around, at the room, at us. She looks confused. I can't blame her.
"Who are you?" her voice is barely audible.
"Do you remember what happened?" Laelia asks her, quietly.
"I remember eating strawberries," she says weakly.
"I brought you here, after you collapsed," I say softly.
"Who are you?" Tauria asks again.
"You don't remember?" Laelia asks, "That's Knute."
"I don't..." she coughs. Not much, but enough that the look on Laelia's face turns into worry.
"I don't know who you are. Either of you," Tauria manages after she stops coughing.
"That's Laelia. She's a friend. And so am I," I say, "You don't remember anything?"
"I remember..." she says, pauses, "I remember things. I know I'm at the academy. I remember all the things," she's starting to look even more confused, "I remember all the things. I just..." the looks on her face turns to scared, "I can't remember anyone."
Me and Laelia exchange looks. Tauria's gaze jumps between us.
"I don't remember you," she says, "I don't remember anyone, not anyone at all."
She remembers the world. It's clear she does. She's not confused about where she is. But her memories of people, all the people she used to know, they're gone.
Simply missing.
__________________________________________________________________
Right, ok, so. Yeah.
Your topic for Wednesday is Brake.
~matu
Friday, June 12, 2015
The Sorcerer, Part 14 - Cards
I write a letter immediately after getting back to my room after classes and sneak out the same evening to put it into the cupboard, leaving the key on the outside of the door again. I don't know if the boy will know to check there, but if he doesn't, I'll just take it out and put it between the history book on Tuesday. Until then all I can do is wait.
Sleep comes to me late that night.
~x~
The next day is Saturday and we have another sword class. I am very excited to be practicing with the boy again, but after a few minutes of every conversation starter dying down and getting one too many hits on me, I realise that he is too preoccupied, not to mention irritated, to socialize and I stop trying. We focus instead on the fighting, which he is incredibly good at. Eventually the class ends and we go to hand back our swords. I decide to try to get him to talk to me once more.
"You were really good today," I say with a smile. Nice and neutral, but still complementing to him. He shrugs in response.
"Yeah, well, if you don't try, what's the point of training at all?" he says, voice indifferent, and oh gods is that a rhetorical question or does he want an actual reason? It's probably rhetorical. I open my mouth to say something witty about trying too hard or something but luckily am interrupted when his friend calls his name. I quickly snap my mouth shut.
It's the same dark skinned girl I saw with him on the first day, though I still don't know her name. Her eyes are a deep purple, which is... surprising to say the least. I haven't seen anyone with purple eyes in years, aside the possessed girl but that's hardly the same - it was the pixie that was purple, not the girl. I almost miss when Knute addresses me again, telling me he'll see me next time, and I drag my eyes away from the girl and nod. He leaves, but the girl stays behind. She's looking at me curiously and I blink.
"Hi," I say finally, flashing her my most charming smile and put out my hand. "I'm Oz, Knute's sword training partner. I never did catch your name, miss...?"
"Oh, Tauria," she says and shakes my hand. "Just Tauria."
"Tauria? A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," I say and she laughs, amused but not entirely unimpressed.
"That is such an old line," she says, still smiling. I do get the feeling she's not taking me too seriously. That's probably for the best.
"Doesn't make it any less true," I say. "Your eyes especially are a remarkable colour. I must say, very unique."
She stops at that, mouth falling slightly open. She seems like she wants to say something but isn't quite sure what. Then she frowns, studying me, trying to figure out what I'm after. I study her back with an innocent smile.
"Are you..." she starts, squinting. "Are you hitting on me?"
I burst out laughing. I guess it did come out like that.
"No, no," I chuckle. "I'm not hitting on you. I just live by the belief that when I feel something is worth complimenting, it is always worth complimenting."
"Oh," she says. I smile at her. "Alright then. Not that I wouldn't be flattered, it's just.. I have someone I like, so..."
"Not at all! That person is a very lucky person." She looks surprised for a moment and then smiles, a sweet, small, real smile. I knew it. "Besides, I myself am already in a relationship... of.. sorts." I pause, uncertain as to how to explain the situation, or whether to just leave it at that, but then someone is shouting my name and I turn to see Gil jogging towards us through the courtyard.
"Ah, Gil, just the person I wanted to see!" I say with a bright smile. He's slightly out of breath as he stops next to us and he gives me a quizzical look.
"Really?" he says. I clap my hand on his shoulder.
"Always." His ears flush slightly but then his attention turns to Tauria, and he gives me a quick, quizzical look. "Now, Miss Tauria, this is Gilbert, my roommate, best mate, right hand et cetera. Gil, this is Tauria."
"Hello," says Tauria with a bright smile, offering her hand.
"Hi," says Gil shyly, and takes it. "So, uh, Oz... Did you hear about the caravan? They're going through town today!"
"Yeah, I heard. You wanna go?" I ask and the grin Gil gives me is more than enough of an answer. "Well, I am very sweaty, so we should probably make a pit stop at the dorms. Have you seen Alica today?"
"I ran into her before I got here. Told her you'd likely want to change before heading to town so she's waiting at the dorm already."
"Good thinking," I say and he smiles. I turn to Tauria and give her a small bow. She blinks, surprised. "It was lovely to meet you, Miss Tauria, but I'm afraid we will have to take our leave now. We'll probably run into each other again, if not in the town tonight, then some other time here at the academy. In either case, I wish you a good evening."
"Wow, are you always this polite?" she asks, smile playing on her lips.
"Only to those I deem worthy," I say with a grin, give her a salute and a wink and then turn to go back inside with Gil. I think I hear a huff of laughter as we leave.
~x~
Alica is indeed waiting for us back in the dormitory and after a quick wash and a change of clothes we're off to the town to see the caravan. She's in an amazingly good mood, humming and skipping the entire walk. It's rather contagious and I too have a spring in my step by the time we arrive in the town square. It is filled with carts and tables and people and everywhere we look there's all kinds of items on sale, ranging from fine jewelry to foods and spices to inks and papers and even books. We all let out a collective "woah" at the sight.
"So, what would you kids like?" I ask as I pull out my purse from my bag. Both of them look at me, eyes sparkling. "My parents' treat."
We spend most of the afternoon crisscrossing through the caravan, looking at trinkets and occasionally buying things. It always makes me feel good, when I'm able to get things for my friends they wouldn't necessarily be able to afford themselves. Because let's be real, my family is loaded, way too loaded in fact, and I get to piss off my parents while simultaneously making my friends happy. Win-win! Except for my parents, of course, but they've learned to accept this minor inconvenience in their funds because they know I could be doing much worse things. And it would probably be bad press if it was found out that they had forbidden me from "giving to charity".
There's all kinds of great things to be found, but in the end the items I buy are charcoal and large parchments for Gil and a new dress and a small dagger for Alica. She would've wanted a real sword, but gave up on that idea when she realized she couldn't possibly carry it around with her all the time. I haven't really found anything for myself yet, but I don't really mind, as long as my friends are happy.
"Oh, that place looks interesting, let's go there!" Alica is saying, tugging on my sleeve. She leads us to a tent made of purple and blue fabrics, with golden ribbons and bands and tufts decorating it. There's an eye on top of the entrance. A purple eye... Huh. We duck into the dim tent.
"Welcome, children," says someone from the back. "Here to get your fortunes read, yes?"
A fortune teller, huh. I guess that explains the decor, which is just as mysterious on the inside as it was on the outside, except there's a lot more scarves and stuff hanging from the walls. Alica is already walking to the small table the fortune teller is sitting behind, shuffling a deck of cards in her hands.
"Yes, please," Alica says, sitting down on the small chair. Everything in the tent seems very small, even the fortune teller.
"Very well, young lady," says the fortune teller. "What would you like to know about? School? Family? Love?"
"Oh, I'm all set on the love side," Alica says, waving her hand. The fortune teller looks up at Gil and I, where we're still standing by the entrance. I get chills as her gray eyes bore into me. "But there is a.. project I'm working on, and I would like to know if it'll be successful. Is that possible?"
"Of course it is," she says with a smile, turning back to Alica. "You ask the right questions, the cards will answer."
She shuffles the cards once more and then places her hand on top of them, closing her eyes and bowing her head. She mutters something in a language I don't recognise and then starts to lay down cards of the table in a circular formation. The symbol on their backs is the same eye that was on top of the entrance.
"Now, open three cards," she says and Alica does. I'm too far to see what the cards are, but judging by the look on the fortune teller's face they are good cards. "You will experience some trouble and soon, but once you push through you will succeed with what you try."
"Really? That's great!" Alica says, clapping her hands together. "Thank you so much! You guys have to try this too!" she says to us. Gil shakes his head.
"I like not knowing, thank you," he says. Alica turns to look at me. I shrug. What's the harm? It should be interesting.
"Sure, I'll play," I say and Alica let's out a small 'yay' and pulls me over to the table, sitting me down. Now that I get a closer look at the fortune teller, I can tell that she is indeed very small. Not dwarf small, but still very small, almost like a child. For a moment I wonder how old she is. She smiles at me.
"Well, young master, what would you like to know?" she asks sweetly. I shrug.
"I don't know... Can you do like... a general reading? Big things that will happen?"
"Certainly," she says and offers me the cards. "If you could, please?"
"Oh, okay," I say, taking the cards and shuffling them. It's a lot harder than it looks. After a moment, I ask, "Now what?"
"Now, lay down two cards in front of you, two to your right side and four in the top. Then, one more card, diagonally, on the left side and put the rest away." I do as she says and then give her the rest of the deck. She nods. "Open them, one by one, in the order you put them down."
I open the ones in front of me. Page of Swords and Six of Cups.
"This is you," says the fortune teller, pointing as the Page of Swords. "It represents your person. It is straightforward and knowledgeable. But also can be crude. This," she points to the other one, "means something or someone from your past will be revisiting. Whether good or bad, cards do not tell." I swallow. My past... I think at the book tucked away in a drawer of my nightstand.
I open the next cards, the ones on the right. Lovers and an inverted Hermit. I snigger. What an interesting pair.
"Your relationships change," says the fortune teller and I look up at her with wide eyes. I'm not sure I want that. "You must keep an open mind if you wish to know the Hermit and an open heart if you wish to keep the Lovers. You would do wisely to remember, for it will be hard to go on alone."
I pause for a moment, my hand hovering over the four cards at the top. I take a deep breath and flip them open. Inverted Page of Coins. Inverted Tower. Page of Wands. The World. I wait quietly.
"You go to Academia, yes?" I nod and she taps the Page of Coins with her forefinger. "You do not know who you can trust, there is something wrong with the students. Something wrong with the school. Big change is coming, a change that can make things as they should be. Make things as is desired. A new beginning. But be warned that along the change will come danger and chaos and destruction. You must take action if you want the change and you must stay alert not to let it consume the world. You will get help, but always remember: it is up to you to bring liberation."
"That's... good," I say, a little dazed. "Right?"
"It is not easy," she says. "But it must be done."
I run a hand through my hair. That... is a lot to take in, assuming it's true. She was right about the school being weird, and the first cards, and surely the Hermit means the boy... My eyes land on the final card.
"Open it," the fortune teller says. "It is key to all."
My hand is actually shaking slightly as I place my fingers atop the card and sweep it off the table.
The Magician.
~x~
We leave the town soon after. I still have trouble concentrating on anything other than the millions of questions and thoughts that the visit to the fortune teller brought up. Gil and Alica don't mind chatting together though, knowing better than to expect me to answer when I'm this deep in thought.
What is really going on in the school? And how big is it? She talked about the whole school, didn't she? Does that mean the teachers are in on it too? The headmaster? What even is it? It's been going on for years now, weird incidents and unexplained mysteries, but I still can't pinpoint all of the happenings into one source. At least in a manner that would make any kind of sense. It's frustrating and time consuming, collecting data and comparing and cross referencing and trying to come up with some kind of logical plan behind it all and of course failing because this is too big. It has occured to me that all the incidents could be unconnected but that would be too much of a coincidence and the universe is rarely that lazy.
I shuffle my hair with a groan. I can feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see Gil giving me a lopsided grin. I give him a smile back, though it probably looks tired. I draw in a deep breath and try to relax.
I spot something on the side of the road. Something red.
"What the..." I mutter, walking over and kneeling down.
"What is it?" Alica asks, crouching down next to me.
"It's... strawberries?" I say, disbelief coloring my voice. Why has someone thrown strawberries on the ground and then stepped on them? I look around. There's a small cup next to them, evidently where the strawberries were held judging by the reddish hue on the inside of it. If they were bought from the merchants, why would someone take so long to throw them away? Perhaps they hadn't planned on doing it, but something forced them to drop them... But that doesn't explain why they were stepped on. Maybe there was something on the strawberries...
I turn to the road. There's markings on it, though not too clear anymore. Someone fell down right there and someone else took hurried steps to catch them. Now, if I can only find a stem, that could mean... I scan the grass for anything red. There it is, a little further back! A bunch of leaves with just a hint of red still visible. Judging by the distance between the stem and the rest of the berries it took only a few seconds for the person to collapse after throwing out the stem, and assuming they didn't put the entire berry in their mouth at once maybe ten or so seconds more... Which means whatever was in the berries acted within the span of... 20 seconds, tops.
"Do you think there's something here?" Gil asks as I stand up.
"Potentially," I say. "It could all be nothing, but I find it unlikely anyone would've voluntarily squished those strawberries unless necessary."
"Strawberries are damn expensive," Alica says. "It's a miracle anyone even has any ripe ones this time of the year. Or that they'd managed to bring them all the way here from south before they went bad."
"That too... We should take them with us, check is there's anything in them," I say and pick up the cup. Gil hands me a stick I use to scoop the strawberry mush from the ground and then we continue on our way back to the academy grounds, with one more mystery to solve.
_______________________________________________________
Oh my lord. This was supposed to be a short and easy one. Then I spent way too long reading wikipedia articles on Tarot cards. It's still utter bullshit probably. Sorry, I haven't actually studied divination.
Ahhhh it's so late it's actually early. I got distracted all the time this is terrible. I'm just gonna. Bye.
Pie out.
ur topic is "Missing" or whatever
EDIT: Changed the fortune a bit so it makes more sense now. That's all, bye.
Sleep comes to me late that night.
~x~
The next day is Saturday and we have another sword class. I am very excited to be practicing with the boy again, but after a few minutes of every conversation starter dying down and getting one too many hits on me, I realise that he is too preoccupied, not to mention irritated, to socialize and I stop trying. We focus instead on the fighting, which he is incredibly good at. Eventually the class ends and we go to hand back our swords. I decide to try to get him to talk to me once more.
"You were really good today," I say with a smile. Nice and neutral, but still complementing to him. He shrugs in response.
"Yeah, well, if you don't try, what's the point of training at all?" he says, voice indifferent, and oh gods is that a rhetorical question or does he want an actual reason? It's probably rhetorical. I open my mouth to say something witty about trying too hard or something but luckily am interrupted when his friend calls his name. I quickly snap my mouth shut.
It's the same dark skinned girl I saw with him on the first day, though I still don't know her name. Her eyes are a deep purple, which is... surprising to say the least. I haven't seen anyone with purple eyes in years, aside the possessed girl but that's hardly the same - it was the pixie that was purple, not the girl. I almost miss when Knute addresses me again, telling me he'll see me next time, and I drag my eyes away from the girl and nod. He leaves, but the girl stays behind. She's looking at me curiously and I blink.
"Hi," I say finally, flashing her my most charming smile and put out my hand. "I'm Oz, Knute's sword training partner. I never did catch your name, miss...?"
"Oh, Tauria," she says and shakes my hand. "Just Tauria."
"Tauria? A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," I say and she laughs, amused but not entirely unimpressed.
"That is such an old line," she says, still smiling. I do get the feeling she's not taking me too seriously. That's probably for the best.
"Doesn't make it any less true," I say. "Your eyes especially are a remarkable colour. I must say, very unique."
She stops at that, mouth falling slightly open. She seems like she wants to say something but isn't quite sure what. Then she frowns, studying me, trying to figure out what I'm after. I study her back with an innocent smile.
"Are you..." she starts, squinting. "Are you hitting on me?"
I burst out laughing. I guess it did come out like that.
"No, no," I chuckle. "I'm not hitting on you. I just live by the belief that when I feel something is worth complimenting, it is always worth complimenting."
"Oh," she says. I smile at her. "Alright then. Not that I wouldn't be flattered, it's just.. I have someone I like, so..."
"Not at all! That person is a very lucky person." She looks surprised for a moment and then smiles, a sweet, small, real smile. I knew it. "Besides, I myself am already in a relationship... of.. sorts." I pause, uncertain as to how to explain the situation, or whether to just leave it at that, but then someone is shouting my name and I turn to see Gil jogging towards us through the courtyard.
"Ah, Gil, just the person I wanted to see!" I say with a bright smile. He's slightly out of breath as he stops next to us and he gives me a quizzical look.
"Really?" he says. I clap my hand on his shoulder.
"Always." His ears flush slightly but then his attention turns to Tauria, and he gives me a quick, quizzical look. "Now, Miss Tauria, this is Gilbert, my roommate, best mate, right hand et cetera. Gil, this is Tauria."
"Hello," says Tauria with a bright smile, offering her hand.
"Hi," says Gil shyly, and takes it. "So, uh, Oz... Did you hear about the caravan? They're going through town today!"
"Yeah, I heard. You wanna go?" I ask and the grin Gil gives me is more than enough of an answer. "Well, I am very sweaty, so we should probably make a pit stop at the dorms. Have you seen Alica today?"
"I ran into her before I got here. Told her you'd likely want to change before heading to town so she's waiting at the dorm already."
"Good thinking," I say and he smiles. I turn to Tauria and give her a small bow. She blinks, surprised. "It was lovely to meet you, Miss Tauria, but I'm afraid we will have to take our leave now. We'll probably run into each other again, if not in the town tonight, then some other time here at the academy. In either case, I wish you a good evening."
"Wow, are you always this polite?" she asks, smile playing on her lips.
"Only to those I deem worthy," I say with a grin, give her a salute and a wink and then turn to go back inside with Gil. I think I hear a huff of laughter as we leave.
~x~
Alica is indeed waiting for us back in the dormitory and after a quick wash and a change of clothes we're off to the town to see the caravan. She's in an amazingly good mood, humming and skipping the entire walk. It's rather contagious and I too have a spring in my step by the time we arrive in the town square. It is filled with carts and tables and people and everywhere we look there's all kinds of items on sale, ranging from fine jewelry to foods and spices to inks and papers and even books. We all let out a collective "woah" at the sight.
"So, what would you kids like?" I ask as I pull out my purse from my bag. Both of them look at me, eyes sparkling. "My parents' treat."
We spend most of the afternoon crisscrossing through the caravan, looking at trinkets and occasionally buying things. It always makes me feel good, when I'm able to get things for my friends they wouldn't necessarily be able to afford themselves. Because let's be real, my family is loaded, way too loaded in fact, and I get to piss off my parents while simultaneously making my friends happy. Win-win! Except for my parents, of course, but they've learned to accept this minor inconvenience in their funds because they know I could be doing much worse things. And it would probably be bad press if it was found out that they had forbidden me from "giving to charity".
There's all kinds of great things to be found, but in the end the items I buy are charcoal and large parchments for Gil and a new dress and a small dagger for Alica. She would've wanted a real sword, but gave up on that idea when she realized she couldn't possibly carry it around with her all the time. I haven't really found anything for myself yet, but I don't really mind, as long as my friends are happy.
"Oh, that place looks interesting, let's go there!" Alica is saying, tugging on my sleeve. She leads us to a tent made of purple and blue fabrics, with golden ribbons and bands and tufts decorating it. There's an eye on top of the entrance. A purple eye... Huh. We duck into the dim tent.
"Welcome, children," says someone from the back. "Here to get your fortunes read, yes?"
A fortune teller, huh. I guess that explains the decor, which is just as mysterious on the inside as it was on the outside, except there's a lot more scarves and stuff hanging from the walls. Alica is already walking to the small table the fortune teller is sitting behind, shuffling a deck of cards in her hands.
"Yes, please," Alica says, sitting down on the small chair. Everything in the tent seems very small, even the fortune teller.
"Very well, young lady," says the fortune teller. "What would you like to know about? School? Family? Love?"
"Oh, I'm all set on the love side," Alica says, waving her hand. The fortune teller looks up at Gil and I, where we're still standing by the entrance. I get chills as her gray eyes bore into me. "But there is a.. project I'm working on, and I would like to know if it'll be successful. Is that possible?"
"Of course it is," she says with a smile, turning back to Alica. "You ask the right questions, the cards will answer."
She shuffles the cards once more and then places her hand on top of them, closing her eyes and bowing her head. She mutters something in a language I don't recognise and then starts to lay down cards of the table in a circular formation. The symbol on their backs is the same eye that was on top of the entrance.
"Now, open three cards," she says and Alica does. I'm too far to see what the cards are, but judging by the look on the fortune teller's face they are good cards. "You will experience some trouble and soon, but once you push through you will succeed with what you try."
"Really? That's great!" Alica says, clapping her hands together. "Thank you so much! You guys have to try this too!" she says to us. Gil shakes his head.
"I like not knowing, thank you," he says. Alica turns to look at me. I shrug. What's the harm? It should be interesting.
"Sure, I'll play," I say and Alica let's out a small 'yay' and pulls me over to the table, sitting me down. Now that I get a closer look at the fortune teller, I can tell that she is indeed very small. Not dwarf small, but still very small, almost like a child. For a moment I wonder how old she is. She smiles at me.
"Well, young master, what would you like to know?" she asks sweetly. I shrug.
"I don't know... Can you do like... a general reading? Big things that will happen?"
"Certainly," she says and offers me the cards. "If you could, please?"
"Oh, okay," I say, taking the cards and shuffling them. It's a lot harder than it looks. After a moment, I ask, "Now what?"
"Now, lay down two cards in front of you, two to your right side and four in the top. Then, one more card, diagonally, on the left side and put the rest away." I do as she says and then give her the rest of the deck. She nods. "Open them, one by one, in the order you put them down."
I open the ones in front of me. Page of Swords and Six of Cups.
"This is you," says the fortune teller, pointing as the Page of Swords. "It represents your person. It is straightforward and knowledgeable. But also can be crude. This," she points to the other one, "means something or someone from your past will be revisiting. Whether good or bad, cards do not tell." I swallow. My past... I think at the book tucked away in a drawer of my nightstand.
I open the next cards, the ones on the right. Lovers and an inverted Hermit. I snigger. What an interesting pair.
"Your relationships change," says the fortune teller and I look up at her with wide eyes. I'm not sure I want that. "You must keep an open mind if you wish to know the Hermit and an open heart if you wish to keep the Lovers. You would do wisely to remember, for it will be hard to go on alone."
I pause for a moment, my hand hovering over the four cards at the top. I take a deep breath and flip them open. Inverted Page of Coins. Inverted Tower. Page of Wands. The World. I wait quietly.
"You go to Academia, yes?" I nod and she taps the Page of Coins with her forefinger. "You do not know who you can trust, there is something wrong with the students. Something wrong with the school. Big change is coming, a change that can make things as they should be. Make things as is desired. A new beginning. But be warned that along the change will come danger and chaos and destruction. You must take action if you want the change and you must stay alert not to let it consume the world. You will get help, but always remember: it is up to you to bring liberation."
"That's... good," I say, a little dazed. "Right?"
"It is not easy," she says. "But it must be done."
I run a hand through my hair. That... is a lot to take in, assuming it's true. She was right about the school being weird, and the first cards, and surely the Hermit means the boy... My eyes land on the final card.
"Open it," the fortune teller says. "It is key to all."
My hand is actually shaking slightly as I place my fingers atop the card and sweep it off the table.
The Magician.
~x~
We leave the town soon after. I still have trouble concentrating on anything other than the millions of questions and thoughts that the visit to the fortune teller brought up. Gil and Alica don't mind chatting together though, knowing better than to expect me to answer when I'm this deep in thought.
What is really going on in the school? And how big is it? She talked about the whole school, didn't she? Does that mean the teachers are in on it too? The headmaster? What even is it? It's been going on for years now, weird incidents and unexplained mysteries, but I still can't pinpoint all of the happenings into one source. At least in a manner that would make any kind of sense. It's frustrating and time consuming, collecting data and comparing and cross referencing and trying to come up with some kind of logical plan behind it all and of course failing because this is too big. It has occured to me that all the incidents could be unconnected but that would be too much of a coincidence and the universe is rarely that lazy.
I shuffle my hair with a groan. I can feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see Gil giving me a lopsided grin. I give him a smile back, though it probably looks tired. I draw in a deep breath and try to relax.
I spot something on the side of the road. Something red.
"What the..." I mutter, walking over and kneeling down.
"What is it?" Alica asks, crouching down next to me.
"It's... strawberries?" I say, disbelief coloring my voice. Why has someone thrown strawberries on the ground and then stepped on them? I look around. There's a small cup next to them, evidently where the strawberries were held judging by the reddish hue on the inside of it. If they were bought from the merchants, why would someone take so long to throw them away? Perhaps they hadn't planned on doing it, but something forced them to drop them... But that doesn't explain why they were stepped on. Maybe there was something on the strawberries...
I turn to the road. There's markings on it, though not too clear anymore. Someone fell down right there and someone else took hurried steps to catch them. Now, if I can only find a stem, that could mean... I scan the grass for anything red. There it is, a little further back! A bunch of leaves with just a hint of red still visible. Judging by the distance between the stem and the rest of the berries it took only a few seconds for the person to collapse after throwing out the stem, and assuming they didn't put the entire berry in their mouth at once maybe ten or so seconds more... Which means whatever was in the berries acted within the span of... 20 seconds, tops.
"Do you think there's something here?" Gil asks as I stand up.
"Potentially," I say. "It could all be nothing, but I find it unlikely anyone would've voluntarily squished those strawberries unless necessary."
"Strawberries are damn expensive," Alica says. "It's a miracle anyone even has any ripe ones this time of the year. Or that they'd managed to bring them all the way here from south before they went bad."
"That too... We should take them with us, check is there's anything in them," I say and pick up the cup. Gil hands me a stick I use to scoop the strawberry mush from the ground and then we continue on our way back to the academy grounds, with one more mystery to solve.
_______________________________________________________
Oh my lord. This was supposed to be a short and easy one. Then I spent way too long reading wikipedia articles on Tarot cards. It's still utter bullshit probably. Sorry, I haven't actually studied divination.
Ahhhh it's so late it's actually early. I got distracted all the time this is terrible. I'm just gonna. Bye.
Pie out.
ur topic is "Missing" or whatever
EDIT: Changed the fortune a bit so it makes more sense now. That's all, bye.
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