Hey hey hey! What do I say? I say that Prologue 2.0 is done and published! You guys should go back and read it-it's soooo much better now. It's not longer the cheesy piece of crap it once was! Yay!
On another note, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 28
I resist the urge to pinch myself. Am I really hearing this? "Really," I said, sounding like I didn't really care, "the way he acts people would assume otherwise."
She snorts, "Assumptions can kill, therefore, one should never assume."
"Interesting thought, but is it really that important? Your trial is in a week, and you need to work."
"And this project is due in three days. Plus, I've been working really hard-I can hold the tornado in place for nearly thirty minutes-exactly 29 minutes and 47 seconds. I would know. I timed it. And I've been studying really hard. I'm getting really pretty good with the history, and with the potions. The only thing that I'm really struggling with is the practical magic in several areas. Wind's getting better, fire never needed work, heat and light go hand in hand with fire, I can do a bunch of random spells that only have personal worth. My only problem is water and ice-there's some sort of block that prevents me, from what I've read about being unable to use certain kinds of magic. I borrowed a book from the library, see?" She pulls a book out of her bag, shows me, grins, and puts it back in her bag, "I rest my case."
She did make a good argument. "As long as you swear to practice, I'll let you off-just this once, do you hear me?" She beamed before springing up and rushing over. She gave me a quick hug around the shoulders from the side. It's so fast that I'm not sure what to make of it. Am I imagining the faint pink in her cheeks that wasn't there prior?
"Thank yooooooou!" She goes back, grabs her bag, and heads to the door. She opens it and stands in the doorway. Slowly she turns, holding up her pointer finger. "And I'd look in a mirror before you go anywhere." She giggles and runs off.
I pick up my wand and use it to conjure up a mirror-like image. My eyes widened when they saw, not only that my hair was covered in patches of really tightly wavy patches, but that my eyebrows weren't singed off-they were the same purple color as my eyes. "FONIX!"
Selene's POV
I laugh as I run down the hall. "FONIX!" I heard his roar and surmised that he's seen his eyebrows. I picked up that trick from Merlin's friend Aaron. It's the best prank joke ever-Aaron likes to develop magical tricks and joke items, and him and and twin brother, Emmet, who are both startling red-heads, plan to open up a joke shop once they graduate in two years (they're about a year older than Merlin). He also gave me a spell that should turn a rat yellow, but it was a dud (he thought it was really funny that I believed him when he said it was a real spell). [[-does this ring a bell, anyone?-]]
I feel like I'm going to pay for that later. Eh, I don't really care. I check my phone-I miss my watch. I do have one, but it's needed a new battery for ages, and as Merlin's the only one who knows how to replace it, and hasn't gotten to it yet, I just left it at home. Despite what people think, watches are easier for constantly checking the time. It's almost four. I told the three that I'd meet them at four thirty-I wasn't sure how early I'd be able to get out of training.
I have just enough time to stop by the library and find another book that might help me with not being able to use water and ice magic-using the big magical book that can magically locate the book you need, like a magically cataloging system. Elias pointed it out to me and showed my how to use it the other day, for which I'll be forever thankful.
…. …. ….
I walked out to the lake. Isa and Alex were already there, finishing up what seemed to be a picnic. The reason we chose the lake is for safety reasons-we figured that if we accidentally set someone on fire, we can just throw them into the lake. I doubt that will happen, though. Fire's the one thing I can control, thank you.
"Hey guys!" I was in a good mood, as per usual.
"Hey!" Isa returned my smile, "Are you hungry? Alex packed far too much food for the two of us-I figured you could just finish it off and prevent waste!"
Yes, my appetite had become legendary amongst my new friends. They were bound to learn that I eat far more than the average person. "Wonderful. All the stuff I've been up to has really worked my stomach up."
I sat down and she handed me a plateful of banana nut muffins, and I fell back laughing. "When I said he packed too much, I was referring to the muffins." She gave me a look that told me she herself was trying really hard not to laugh.
"Hey! There is no such thing as too many banana nut muffins!" Alex defended the muffins he was so obsessed with, for what reason, no one knew. Everyone just sort of accepted it as an antic of Alex's.
"Not when there isn't enough people to eat them, there is." Isa poked his side, making him jab her's in return. She squeaked and stuck her tongue out at him, causing me to laugh again.
"You're sure giggly tonight." And that would be Zave. I opened my eyes and saw him leaning above me.
"Yup!" I grinned so wide I had to close my eyes. "And for good reason!"
He sat down next to me and grabbed a muffin, pulling off the wrapper and taking a bite. "Pray tell." he said once he had swallowed.
"Okay, can you guys keep a secret? Because I won't tell you if you can't-if word gets out it might just cost me my life. Is this understood?" They all nodded, interested, as I sat up. I leaned forward and dramatically whispered, "I might have turned Klaus' eyebrows...purple."
It was a few seconds silence before they all started laughing,and I joined in soon after. None of us could stop.
"I...can't...believe that...you turned...the Emperor's...eyebrows...purple!" Alex gasped between laughs.
I somewhat quelled my laughter, "You should. Because I did. And I'm probably going to pay dearly for it later. But it was sooo worth it. That's what he gets for being a meanie! Next time, I might just singe them off instead of change their color, though. But changing their color is far more funny-hey, now his eyebrows match his eyes! Well, only for about five hours. That's when the spell wears off. But still...his eyebrows are currently purple!" This sent us all into more fits of laughter.
Eventually we all calmed down and I pulled out the little leather bag I was keeping my amulet in. I pulled it out by the chain. The amber charm, about the size of a small, flat (about a centimeter thick) clementine, shimmered in the light.
"That's pretty." Isa said.
"Thanks. I most likely won't be missing any points on appearance-but it's whether it works or not that decides how it'll suffice and not murder my grade. It should absorb the fire that's shot at it, and allow the wearer-if they've magical ability-to use the magical energy like if someone was giving it to them. Any questions?"
"Are we going to start?" Zave held out his hand, smiling. I handed it to him with a smile in return.
We got up and went a little closer to the shallows of the lake, about ten feet away. Zave put the amulet around his neck, and I pulled my wand out of my waistband. I flicked it and sent a little fireball Zave's way. He flinched a little right before it hit him-only, it didn't hit him. It evaporated as soon as it was within a few inches of him. He grinned and pulled his own wand out, sending a little fire ball back at me. I batted at it like a cat, and it went out. "There's your energy back!" He smiled.
One more difference between Klaus and Zave. Zave smiles, Klaus smirks. I'm not sure why, but lately I keep making little mental comparisons between the two.
I still need to give Zave his answer. But now is not the time. I need to finish this up.
…. …. ….
After several more trials, Isa and Alex and Zave taking turns with it on, and taking turns throwing fire at the wearer. I knew what kinks needed to be fixed-it tended to heat up a lot if the magical energy stayed in it for too long, and the chain needed to be stronger-and had a few ideas on how to fix them. It was nearly curfew by the time we ended. I ran off ahead to the dorms to see if I could make it in time to snatch some food. Zave offered to go with me, but I said I could handle it and that he should hurry back to his own dorm before he got in trouble for being late.
I went straight to the kitchen upon arriving, panting a bit, and managed to procure some leftovers. I took them to my room and started my studying while I ate. Amelia had already finished her homework and was curled up on her bed in her pajamas, reading a romance novel. She was so engrossed in it I don't even think she noticed me come in.
I snuck out of my room sometime around ten-I had finished all the homework by this point-took a shower and got in my pjs, and snuck back to my room before drying my hair magically. I turned off the main light (Amelia had gone to sleep sometime while I was gone, and turned my bedside lamp on low (as low as I could and still read, that is). I grabbed from my bag the book I had checked out from the library this afternoon. It was called Unique Magicks of Old and Forgotten Times and when I opened it up, a pretty bookmark floated above it.
"Hello. I am the magical guide to this book. Is there anything you wish to search for?" The voice sounded somewhat feminine.
'Wish all reference books had one of these.' I thought. "Umm...is there anything pertaining to a wizard or wizardess being unable to use certain kinds of magic when they excell in that magics opposite?"
"Let me see." It glowed for a moment before lowering a bit. "There are four sections related to this. Which you like to read?"
"Let's start with the first one."
"Yes." the book opened in my lap and began flipping pages all on its own. I love magic, I really do. "Here is the first section. Let me know if I am needed again." It floated down and inserted itself in a random spot in the book, towards the beginning. I looked at the title on the page. "Tamers" it said.
~`True tam'rs art one of the rarest tipes of wizards. They art able to communicateth with both animals of all s'rts, magickal 'r nay, and with dignifi'd creatures in their owneth language. They art also v'ry talent'd with p'rf'rming spells on livin' things, and bringin' things to life-which is some of the most difficult magicks to learneth if not b'rn with the ability. Oftentimes, these wizards hast troubleth p'rf'rming simple spells on non-living things 'r spells not dealing with animals-p'rf'rming magick on fellow humans may goeth awry, causing them to gain animalistic prop'rties, enwheeling tails, ears, behaviours, and yea total transf'rmation. These wizards art found rarely, and many of the few art not true tam'rs. these non-true tam'rs art not able to naturally communicateth with animals, and hast to learneth to controleth animals with willpow'r-most oft, these types of wizards art thought of as cruel f'r they wilt breaketh an animal's spirit to accomplisheth what a true tam'r couldst doeth without using magick.`~
"As informational and interesting as that was, it's not going to help me." I opened to the page with the magic bookmark, and it floated up again, "Could you take me to the second section under the previous request?" It again replied yes and the book turned to a page titled "Spellsingers and Siren's Song" that was somewhere in the early middle of the book.
`~Spellsing'rs art wizards that doeth not require a wand 'r a magickal tool to useth their magick, something akin to primal magick. They useth their voice to directeth their magical en'rgy. This talent tends to runeth in families, from parent to child. while they don't needeth a tool to useth their en'rgy, they art not able to tapeth into en'rgy from a magickal objecteth 'r useth any typeth of magical objecteth, argal, their pow'rs art limit'd to what they art able to useth with their voice.
Sirens art rare creatures among the m'rfolk. They possesseth unrival'd talents in spellesinging magicks, and human spellsing'rs, especially the longeth family lines of them, art descendants of a Siren and a human. These traces oft goeth backeth hundreds of years, as the magical pow'r doesn't diminish anym're aft'r two gen'rations from the halfling-the first two gen'rations hast a pow'r just less'r to the pure Siren, and aft'r those two gen'rations, it lessens a bit moo 'ere stabilizing and staying the same f'r most gen'rations aft'rwards. Occasionally, if the child of one with Siren ancestry and one with strong magickal ability comes into being, they may hast equal pow'r to that of the first two gen'rations. Most of the timeth, the line of Sirens blood only hath one, at most two, children p'r gen'ration. Unless the two art twins, only one will inh'rit the gift. both twins, on the oth'r handeth, can eith'r both inh'rit this magickal ability, 'r it can skipeth a gen'ration and passeth onto the child of one of the twins.
Thither is a way to useth spellsinging without being a descendant from a Siren 'r a similar magick creature with spellsinging ability-which is far moo rare than yea a siren-through the usage of arias, magick songs that can be v'ry tricky f'r n'rm'l wizards to useth.`~
"Arias, huh...I might just learn more about those, give them a try sometime. But still, not really all that helpful. I'm not a spellsinger." I then had the bookmark take me to the third section, in the last quarter in the book. This one was labeled "Transporters, Space, and Time."
`~These wizards art rare. They art able to manipulateth the floweth of timeth and space, which in turneth allows them to make shift transporteth anywh're in any pointeth in timeth, as well as manipulateth age. These art the most dang'rous of magicks. The only magicks yea closeth to this dang'rous art true necromancy and soul magicks. Not much is known about these wizards, as v'ry few hast ev'r been rec'rd'd. The most well known one wouldst be the wizard Merlin, who us'd his pow'r to helpeth magick escapeth from one w'rld to anoth'r and backeth again. 'Tis said that Merlin still lives, keeping himself alive with his magick in ordereth to aid and teacheth oth'r wizards of this kind, so they doeth not becometh evil-because if they did, they lit'rally wouldst hast the pow'r to destroyeth existence itself. Legends sayeth that Merlin hath made sure that nary a wizard with these pow'rs doeth such, by 'rasing the ones who wouldst. the drawbacks to this typeth of magick art the risks. Time is a fragile thing, and is v'ry easily shatt'r'd. These wizards liveth high-risk lives when they chooseth to useth their magick. They changeth one detaileth and they couldst possible causeth themselves and 'r oth'rs to nay long'r existeth. They art usually unable to useth healing magicks and mem'ry magicks.`~
"Again, interesting, not helpful. I guess I better understand my brother's namesake now." I went to the last section with the help of the bookmark-it was the last several pages of the book. "Halflings" There were several sections-"Giants," "Sirens," "Fairies," "Fae," "Nymphs," and many others. A few, like Sirens, said to reference other parts of the book. The last two pages of the book was for a sections called "Those Of Element"-that looked like it might have something that could possibly concern me. Please say it has something…
Katalina: Didn't you enter that amulet in the Magic Contest later that year?
Selene: Sure did. Got first place in the tools category, and tied for first overall. The other winner's piece was really well written-one of the upperclassmen entered his essay on the truths and descriptions of the phoenixian species.
Zelia: Wasn't that Klaus?
Selene: You bet it was.
Marelda: How did you even read that book? The language is so hard to decipher.
Authoress: It's just old-fashioned. It's easier if you read it aloud, if you're not well versed in it.
Zelia: Authoress! You're back! What were you working on, might I ask?
Authoress: Oh, a friend of mine, Ray, and I are working on a project. I wrote this really long, seven-page poem called "The Wanderer" and Ray is working to illustrate it. It's going to be awesome if we can pull it off. Might enter it in a contest.
Katalina: That's so cool! I could never do something that difficult.
Authoress: Katalina! You could too, if you become inspired. Heck, the whole poem was inspired, which is why I managed to write it at all. Plus, I created you. And your story isn't written yet, so I can orchestrate it how I wish. Who knows, you could be brilliant.
Katalina: But you already know the basic plotline for my story...and it's not even in my point of view!
Authoress: Still! Speaking of your story, I need to start working on that, since it happens at the same time in the first major arc of Elemental, I need to post those chapters at about the same time, and the time in the story is approaching and… (walks off mumbling plans)
Philyra: Poor Authoress. She's got so much stuff to work on, for us and school and such.
Selene (laughing): You think it's bad now? Just wait until next year-she's an 11th grader in Terra. They have a really big test in the spring. Not to mention that she's also going to be taking three english classes. She's really scared that all the writing she'll have to do for those classes will cut out her free-writing time. I think it'll be dramatically reduced, sure, but she'll find a way. Besides, she still has the entire summer to get ahead. And the rest of this semester to boot-as long as she keeps her grades up, that is.
Philyra (*sighing*): Poor, poor Authoress...