The Kingdom of Arrnok
Chapter 1: Student, Teacher Meetings
The school bell rang loudly that evening, letting everyone know that the end of the day had finally come. The children lined the foot path and talked to their friends while waiting for the school bus to transport them back home. Van sat quietly under the shade of West Maple's oldest willow tree reading a book that he had borrowed from the school's library. The vines of the tree slowly swayed from left to right, like a pendulum. Van lifted his head to see a white plastic bag tumble along the ground; the wind eventually made its way into the centre of the bag and lifted it like a parachute. Van watched as the wind carried the bag across the small river that flowed along side the school fence.
As Van looked back down at his book, his long black hair fell in front of his eyes, obstructing his vision of the small words imprinted in the book he was holding. He sighed and closed the book.
He slowly stood up and dusted himself off. Van started walking to the top of the hill that over hang the large school. Once he reached the top of the hill, the wind became stronger and played with his green cotton shirt. As the shirt flapped in the wind, Van looked down into the school's court yard where a small figure stood waving their arms at him.
"Van!" the person yelled as they started running towards the exit of the courtyard.
"Who is that?" Van asked himself as he started making his way back down the hill.
Van stopped next to a large stone wall and waited for the person to appear, without warning someone ran out from behind the wall and collided with Van and fell to the ground.
"Geez, what happened to you? You promised to walk home with me today." The stranger said looking up at Van
"What are you doing here Marcus?" Van said. "You shouldn't be here."
"Neither should you"
"I have an afternoon interview with my teacher."
"Who? That Andalus guy."
"Yes, that Andalus guy, hurry up and leave. You're trespassing, its after school hours." Van said as he helped Marcus to his feet.
"Ok, ok, no need to for that, I am well aware that I should not be here. You better make sure to leave and get home as soon as possible, alright. You've heard the rumours about the attacks on the townsfolk." Marcus said as he dusted himself off. "And also, if you don't get back home by five thirty, I will have to announce to the whole school that you like Janice."
"You better not, or I'll kill you." Van threatened as he took a step forward towards Marcus
"I'd like to see you try." Marcus said taunting him.
Van grunted and lunged at Marcus, who avoided him by ducking under his arms. Van stopped and turned to see Marcus stick out his tongue and start running in the opposite direction.
"Get back here!" Van yelled as he flicked up the gravel from under his foot as he started running after Marcus.
Van chased Marcus through the courtyard and past the science block; Marcus narrowly missed hitting the tall white flag pole as he jumped up onto a stone wall that curved around the base of one of the school's many gardens.
"Van?!" A deep voice said.
Van skidded to a stop on the loose gravel beneath his feet; he looked over to the suited man, who was standing in front of the large double doors which led into the science block. The man stood quietly as the wind played with his red tie and his short silver hair.
"Umm? Sir… Umm. Just a sec, I'll be with you very shortly." Van said.
Van looked back toward Marcus who was pulling faces at him.
"Marcus, go home!" Van yelled. "I'll deal with you later."
"Marcus, go home. I'll deal with you later." Marcus said sarcastically. "I'll be back at my apartment. Make sure you drop by on your way home, otherwise I might accidently tell people about who you like." Marcus said with a grin on his face.
Marcus turned and started running back towards the tall hill.
"He is such a pain in the neck." Van said to himself.
Van turned back to the suited man, and realised that the man was walking towards him. Van walked forward catching his breath after the chase with Marcus and stopped in front of the man.
"What did you want to talk to me about sir?" Van asked looking up at the mans scar on his chin.
The teacher raised his hand to tell Van to stop speaking.
"Please, call me Andalus."
Van nodded to the request
Andalus turned and started walking back towards the courtyard's entrance.
"Walk with me." Andalus called back as he passed the large round boulder that rose from the ground next to the stage. "We will talk on the way."