Chapter 1
I started my morning as I usually would, wake my always loyal yet sometimes goofy dragon Duke Duncan; grab my robes and armor and head to the river outside for a bath. Oh yeah, my name's Chris Dragonblood, I'm an adept sorcerer who's been enrolled at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts for three years. (Technically nine counting summer session classes and taking double classes) After finishing my bath I put on my Prestigious Armor, which was green with white trim. Now it's off to the stable to feed my griffon, Jack, before hopping on him and riding over to my garden to check on my two ninja figs, deadly helephant ears, and my fickle pickle. I checked my watch and realized I had five minutes to get to Alhazred's classroom in Krokotopia or I would be late for art class.
RING! I sat in my seat just as the spiral bell sounded letting all of the wizards in the spiral for Summer Session (including me) that our first class is starting.
"Good morning class," Alhazred said, "today we are going to watch an hour long movie on the history of art in Krokotopia. And as a reminder art class will be in the Nightside on Wednesday so we can practice painting dull and gloomy scenes."
I raised my hand.
Alhazred said, "Yes, Chris what do you need?"
"Sir, your DVD player is on fire," I said plainly. I could hear snickering in the back so I figured it was my friend Alex Firefist, he's been at Ravenwood for four years, but counting triple classes it becomes ten. Some thaumaturges put out the blaze while Alhazred huddled in the far corner of the classroom.
"K- Kids please exit in an orderly f- fashion," Alhazred stammered. We all stood on the krokosphinx island watching the smoke pour out of the entrance where we had climbed out which made it look more like a chimney than an entrance to a classroom.
After an exciting art class, history class with Professor Wu was a long drag, but my brother Alex Dragonblood and I spent the time hitting the chalkboard with spit wads. Meanwhile, Alex Firefist was on a fieldtrip with Professor Balestrom to try new battle tactics on the Kraken (lucky duck).
"Chris, what event caused the end of Spiral War One?" Miss Wu asked.
"The bombing of Hiromooshi," I responded quickly.
"That is correct," She mooed, "now can you tell me what you and your brother have under your desks?"
"Ummm… nothing," I said. As I slid the spit wad launcher up my sleeve while everyone else tried not to giggle. (Detention followed after that incident)
Today's Tuesday, so there aren't any classes. The way that works is for Summer Session we have class from 10:00am to 1:00pm every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Alex (my friend) and I were walking through Olde Town when Susie Gryphonbane runs up and hugs me in front of everyone and she says "It's been forever since I saw you last cutie."
"Um, Susie I thought you went home for the summer, what are you doing here?" I asked.
She simply replied, "I missed you so much I contacted Headmaster Ambrose and he said I could join for the rest of Summer Session."
Now I realized that I had missed her too, our relationship started my second year at Ravenwood when I tripped down the ramp in Triton Avenue when I was going to battle the Kraken. She helped me up and used a pixie spell to heal me. We fell in love when our eyes met with pixie dust in the air; we kissed and have been together since. (Cheesy isn't it?)
"Headmaster even gave us the same classes; we're both even studying star magic!" Susie said cheerily. Now I was really happy to see her because Alex is studying sun magic and I could use some help. (Let's just say I have a short attention span.)
Then I gave Susie a kiss on the cheek and some of the novices and apprentices turned away and said things like 'eww' and 'gross'. Then Susie and I kissed for real causing even more rude comments ('Get a room' was among them) but we didn't care.
"PDA, take it somewhere else," Professor Drake scolded us. Susie said she had to go so she left and Alex and I headed to the Commons to meet Alex D. for a quest. We had to find Grubb and collect an item to prove that he is real for Professor Drake.
We made it through two of the gates in the dungeon and then Headmaster Ambrose called to Alex F. and I. Apparently we were needed immediately so we left Alex D. behind. I'm not sure if he finished the quest.
"Boy's I need you to do something important," The Headmaster said, "Maliestare has been spotted in Mooshu and I want you two to check it out."
"Okay, we'll get right on it," I said.
"I can't go to Mooshu yet," Alex said, "how am I supposed to get there?"
"Alex, here are the spiral keys to Mooshu and Marleybone," the Headmaster said as he gave them to him, "Now go!"
We raced to Ravenwood and entered Bartleby. Reaching the World Gate we put the key in for Mooshu and stepped through into Jade Palace. We talked to Su Lee, the cow standing at the entrance to the World Gate, and she told us to head towards the remains of Hiromooshi. Then I blacked out with a sharp pain in my head. The last thing I saw was Su Lee's hooves.
When Alex and I awoke we were tied back to back on a pole in Hiromooshi.
"Whoever did this is definitely a skilled knot tier," Alex said struggling to break free, but it was to no avail.
"It's useless, by looks of it this is a double strength, heavy-duty, industrial, triangular box-knot," I said glumly.
"How do you know that?" Alex asked.
"I took knots 101 during my first Summer Session," I replied.
"Then you know how to get us out, right?" Alex asked hopefully.
"No, of course not. I didn't take undoing knots 101," I said as if answering a stupid question.
"Wait. Maybe I can burn through the rope, it shouldn't bother us, because we have armor on," Alex said.
"Alright, give it a try," I said. Alex rubbed his hands together to warm them then put them on the rope.
"I can smell smoke," I said.
"That's a good thing," Alex said, "the ropes have just burst into flames!" Alex was getting jittery, and, boom the ropes loosened and we were free. The freedom didn't last long though, two ninja pigs ran up and attacked us. The battle circle appeared showing Alex's health and my own are half gone. . We both cast zero rank spells to do a little damage. The next round we cast pixie to boost our health while the ninja pigs casted myth blades. Alex gained a power pip to cast sunbird so I casted a Balance Blade on him to boost his attack. The boosted sunbird took out the first ninja pig. (Go Team!) Then I casted a Kraken spell taking out the last ninja pig.
"Well, that was weird," I said after drinking a potion to refill my heath and mana, "those pigs came out of nowhere."
Alex drank his potion then with purple potion juice on his upper lip he replied, "At least we defeated them."
"Now we can get a look around," I said.
"Wait! Where are Lord Midnight and Duke Duncan!?" Alex cried desperately.
End of Chapter 1
