Creature Changers

Well, school is still biting at my heels, but I decided to throw away that horrible Chinese homework and work on this. Of course, the teacher will probably Down me like how the Doom Dragon Downed my Garet, but I don't really care right now. Call me rebellious; call me rash... I seriously don't care.

Quote a friend: Strumming my pain with my fingers, moaning my life with these words... Killing me softly with homework, killing me softly...

Somehow, I seem to be complaining way too much.

Disclaimer: Shiny, shiny Golden Sun! I don't own that pretty one. Up on Mount Aleph so high, like a round ball in the sky! Shiny, shiny Golden Sun! I don't own that pretty one!

Uhhhh...

Piers: ... Do you need some medicine...?

Sorry.

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Chapter 17: The Book

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One was of a young man, sleazy and fat. He had dark tousled hair that stood up everywhere, and red pimples dotted his face. Double chins nearly covered the collar of a scruffy, grey shirt. Put simply, he looked like a typical spoilt brat that lost his parents' fortune.

Isaac did not take much notice of him; what caught his attention was the other photograph, for an extremely familiar yellow monster stood agressively in it.

The cyclops.

"This Creature Changer entered Fern Mansion, which had belonged to the late magician Davis Silvermeadow, two days ago. He brewed a concoction known as the 'Changertract Potion'. Now, let us have Professor Analyzo tell us ahout the Changertract Potion."

The screen moved to show a dark haired, dark eyed man in a laboratory. He sat in an armchair, surrounded by tables filled with jars, beakers, test tubes, flat-bottom flasks, round bottom flasks and evaporating dishes, many of which were filled with unknown substances. Every now and then, a deep red liquid in one of the flasks would emitt red vapour, which rose towards Professor Analyzo, giving him strange red hues around his body. As he spoke in a foreign tongue, waving his hands around, another voice pitched in, translating what Prof. Analyzo was saying into English.

"The Changertract Potion is the result of a failed experiment of the late Dr. Kintobor. Dr. Kintobor, a Changer-hater, had wanted to create a potion that would make Changers stay away; that is, to find the potion so repulsive they would never go near the smell. This failed experiment did exactly the opposite; for a Changer that breathes in the fumes will be attracted by the potion. Another side effect is that the Changer will be under a 'trance'; he will seem as if he is half-asleep."

"What exactly makes Changers attracted to the potion?" an unseen reporter asked. A small microphone held by a white glove was seen near the bottom of the screen as the camera moved.

"Scientists are still trying to work it out. We believe it has to do with a Changer's blood," Prof. Analyzo's translator said.

"Do Changers have different blood from normal humans then?"

"Normal humans...? That's equivalent to saying that Changers are abnormal!" Dora protested loudly. Both Kyle and Isaac shushed her at once.

"We are still looking into that matter."

"What are the ingredients of the Changertract Potion?"

"It's made by mixing and heating garlic, onions, flour, soy sauce, rubber ducks, mushroom soup, sheets of newspaper, purple dyed silk threads, sardines, gingerbeer and strawberry milk."

"Why didn't Brett Marshall get affected by his potion, then?"

"Well, look at that creature. It is a cyclops, an ancient creature of the old myths. It is possible that he can neutralize the powers of the potion."

"But if it has to do with the blood, he shouldn't be able to do anything," the still unseen reporter said. Here the professor shrugged and wagged his hands about.

"We have no idea. There is, of course, also a possiblity that Marshall could not breathe in the fumes because..."

The picture of the cyclops appeared as the translator and Prof. Analyzo paused. When they continued, a red arrow pointed to the middle of the cyclop's face.

"... He has no nose."

Dora, Kyle and Isaac each raised one eyebrow. Their jaws dropped.

"He has... no nose?" Kyle repeated.

"T-thank you, Professor..." The reporter seemed to have been caught off guard as well. The camera moved to show her slightly chubby face at last, and she still looked stunned. "Back to the topic..."

And back to the first news reporter. The one that looked slim and willowy.

"Brett Marshall attracted many changers in Crystalia with his potion. His aim was to gather as many changers as possible and then defeat them to gain their abilities. This is something proven by scientists from Weirsri Laboratory. Marshall is currently under the watch of policemen, and will be arrested as soon as he recovers from his wounds. For safety purposes, he has been force fed coca-cola. Should he attempt to escape, he will be arrested immediately."

Here, the reporter paused and glanced down at her notes.

"Marshall heavily injured altogether sixteen changers at Fern Mansion. Of these sixteen, five stood up to Marshall and managed to knock him out. These five, all minors from the Crystal School for Creature Changers, sustained heavy injuries themselves, and had been recuperating at the Henry Nun Hospital. They have been interrogated, and found not guilty of assault, as they have attacked only in self-defence."

"You mean they actually thought of accusing you guys for assault?" Kyle interrupted. Dora and Isaac shushed him. Even the djinn had flown down, and their eyes were firmly fixed on the blaring screen of the television.

"Fortunately, none of the changers that Marshall attacked are in any danger, and all of them are recovering. We have, however, received news that the five minors who fought Marshall have been released from the hospital for some reason. The hospital's director, Dr. Philip Canterville, has refused to comment on that. Anyone with information, please call one-six-nine-nine-zero-eight, or send your information to The Incident underscore Fern Mansion at Crystal News dot com."

The reporter's next words were dronings on how the people of another country had learnt how to cultivate duckweed from perfume.

Both Kyle and Dora had already questioned their son about his quick recovery. Isaac had thought that Jenna wouldn't mind, so he had explained about hers and Mia's healing abilities. Flint and Ground were both clueless about that, and they looked inquiringly at the three.

"Imagine if Jenna hadn't stopped us from telling the doctors. It'd have travelled to the media," Isaac said, shaking his head. News travel fast, indeed.

"You'd never have been able to leave the hospital," Dora agreed. "But really, Isaac, maybe it would have been better had you stayed at the hospital and received proper treatment."

"Mom, I'm fine. Mia did a great job with my body, seriously," Isaac assured her. Kyle grinned.

"Oh, really?"

Both Dora and Kyle grabbed a maroon pillow from the sofa they sat on and smacked him on the head.

"It's not like that!" Isaac said, looking exasperated. He stomped up to his room, mumbling about bed and rest.

"Kyle, our son is only sixteen. You can be a big idiot sometimes," Dora said. Rising, she also left the room.

"What? I was only teasing!" Kyle defended, spreading his hands. He received no reply.

"Would someone please fill us in?" Flint asked. Ground nodded in agreement. Kyle stared at them.

They stared back at him.

"It's complicated." Kyle also left the room.

Flint and Ground turned towards each other.

"Humans," said Flint. "They're all like that."

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"Remember, Clubs will start this week, so new members, be sure to check the noticeboard outside the canteen for the dates and times of your meetings or practices," Kraden said. "You are now dismissed... Eh?"

Isaac tried to crane his neck to see what the small commotion in front was about. Too many people were in the way. He could only see Kraden covering the microphone with one hand as he bent over towards someone.

"What do you reckon's going on?" Garet asked, poking Isaac from behind.

"Your guess is as good as mine, if not better," Isaac said rather crossly. "You're taller than me, you know."

Garet simply grinned at him.

Kraden straightened and took his hand off the microphone.

"Er... sorry, wrong announcement. The Principal would like a word with all of you, so please remain seated."

Immediately, chatters broke out amoung the students. The principal rarely spoke, and one could only guess what he wanted.

"What's the principal want?" Garet asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Isaac repeated. "If everyone would keep quiet, we'd find out sooner.

Evidently, Kraden thought so too.

"Silence!" he ordered sternly. Isaac could tell that he had no idea what the principal wanted, and was eager for the students to be silent so that he would be able to listen to the principal.

Eventually, the students did quieten down. Kraden stepped away and the principal took his place.

He looked almost exactly like how he looked the first time Isaac had seen him. Neat, pale grey hair, emerald green eyes. Wrinkle-less, both on the skin and the clothes. A grey cloak was the only difference; it covered everything below his head. And as usual; no expression. As he looked around the gathered students, his glance seemed to fall on certain students.

One of whom was Isaac.

Unnerved, Isaac broke eye contact and looked away. When he turned back, the principal began to address the school.

"I'm sure many, if not all of you, have heard about the incident at Fern Mansion three nights ago," he said in his deep, clear voice. Isaac shifted uncomfortably. Even if Kraden hadn't told him that Isaac was involved, he must have discovered that somehow.

"Our special abilities should not be used for greed. Everything that the gods give us is given so we can benefit others and live happy lives. Even our changing abilities. Rather than using them to harm others, we should be using them to perform good deeds. Not neccessary great deeds, but things that put a smile on someone else's face."

The principal glanced around. Several students around coloured up.

"Kindness should be put into consideration when you change. To be sure, combat is a large part of our syllables. But this is the result of riots in the past between changers and non-changers; some non-changers attack us with no reason now. Though sparring can be fun, it does not mean that too much violence will be tolerated. It's best if everything can be solved verbally, rather than physically."

"I hope all of you understand what I am saying, for nothing good will come out the desire to destroy. Think over what I have said. May the gods be with you."

Two hands were stretched out, then brought together as the owner bowed.

I never asked what this was about, Isaac thought suddenly, remembering that the principal had bowed in the same way the previous week.

Nearly all the other students rose and performed similar bows. Confused, Isaac stood up and watched.

"What's this about?" he asked Garet as the principal retreated.

"The principal believes heavily in the gods," Garet replied. "This is supposed to be some... prayer thing, I think."

Isaac didn't think that the principal was the type to make random prayer bows to gods for no reason.

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"Today, we're going to start work!" Mr Mil said cheerfully. The class predictably released groans.

"Can't we have more ghost stories?" Amber asked hopefully. She had short black hair pulled back in a ponytail, which was always escaping.

"You guys wanna hear ghost stories?"

Nod nod.

"... Well... OKAY!" Mr Mil scribbled the words 'Pythagoras' Theorem' over the whiteboard.

"I thought you said-!"

"Ghost stories!"

"Don't interrupt me!" Mr Mil warned. "I'm not done talking and you interrupt me!"

Pouting, he turned and began drawing. The curved lines resembled a...

"Oh no! My triangle turned into a riceball!" Mr Mil cried. "DIE!"

"We value our lives, thanks!" Garet yelled, shaking with laughter. Mr Mil stared at him.

"Too bad," he said simply. Holding out both hands, he exclaimed again. "DIE!"

Turning, Mr Mil erased the curved lines and drew a perfect right angled triangle. Below one horizontal line, he wrote '5km'. Next to the vertical line that started from the right end of the horizontal line, he wrote '6km'. On top of the diagonal line that ran from the left end of the horizontal line to the top of the vertical line, he wrote 'hypotenuse'.

"Now. A woman was running in a graveyard once. I don't know why she was there, but she just was," Mr Mil said. "Suddenly, something white that resembled a human on a mule jumped up. She ran across the graveyard to avoid the ghost. See!"

Mr Mil traced the line 'hypotenuse'.

"If you can tell me the distance that the woman ran, I'll tell you what happens next in the story. Deal?"

"But you're supposed to be TEACHING Pythagoras' Theorem!" Rachel protested. "We don't KNOW how to solve it on our own yet! That's not fair!"

"Too bad!" Mr Mil said gleefully. "We'll get back to that later. Open your textbooks to page 16. Be careful that the were-termite that exists in every single book doesn't jump out and bite you! I don't want to have to deal with incurable poison. Okay?"

"Okay!" The class chorused.

"Okay okay?"

"Okay okay!"

"Wrong answer. When I say 'okay', you say 'okay'. When I say 'okay okay', you say 'all right square.' Okay okay?"

"All right square!"

"Vely kood."

9A burst into uncontrollable laughter.

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"All right, 9A! Settle down quickly!" Miss Sesabiant trilled, smiling. "I will be your science teacher this year!"

Nearly no one paid any attention to her.

"I must tell you, I don't care about your scores. So whether or not you're listening to me, is none of my business. I teach, and if you listen, good! If not, I won't repeat. So, this is known as a learn-to-swim-by-watching-the-instructor-without-using-floats class. Do I make myself clear?"

The smile on Tira Sesabiant's face as she rattled out the base for her teaching method made her seem like a sadist. Which she was.

Immediately, the class keep silent. Miss Sesabiant's smile widened.

"Good children. Please remove all unneccessary items on your tabletops except your Science textbook and your stationary. I give you 10 seconds!"

Her instructions were carried out in 9 and a half.

"Veeery good. Can anyone tell me the topics we will be touching on first?"

Rachel raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Seesaw?"

"It's Aishaw. Scalar and Vector," Rachel replied, twitching an eyebrow.

"Excellent."

"How does she know?" Joash interrupted.

"It's in the textbook," Rachel replied with a matter-of-fact tone.

"That's right. I expect all of you to read ahead of lessons. If you understand by just reading, marvellous! If you don't understand, then pay attention to me. If you still don't understand after that, then you should ask for a tutor," Miss Sesabiant announced. "Now, I need a demonstrator..."

Miss Sesabiant picked up a file with the class register inside and peered at the names.

"Hmm... Hmmm... Isaac Gaia!"

Oh, crap. Isaac stood up uncertainly. Miss Sesabiant grinned.

"Come up to the front, little dragon!"

Isaac froze. The rest of the class looked from him to Miss Sesabiant, wondering what was going on.

"Don't worry, it's just a nickname!" Miss Sesabiant said, still smiling. "How about 'Demi-Dragon'? Sounds good?"

"How about Dumb Dragon?" Joash suggested. Isaac grabbed Garet's eraser and threw it at him.

"Come now, class, stop wasting time!" Miss Sesabiant said. "Demi-Dragon, come here!"

Reluctantly, Isaac moved in front of her. Miss Sesabiant then wrote 'Scalar' onto the whiteboard.

"A scalar quantity means a quantity of magnitude. Magnitude is nothing but a fancy name for size. So scalar contains only size," Miss Sesabiant explained simply. "For example, there are differences in the sizes of force if I do this..."

She tapped the surprised Isaac's cheek.

"... And this." She slapped Isaac lightly.

"OOOOOOHHH." The students made noise. Again.

With a 'wha?' expression, Isaac stared at his teacher. She beamed at him, then turned and wrote 'Vector' next to 'Scalar'.

"A vector quantity has both quantities of magnitude and direction. For example, this-"

She slapped Isaac again.

"-is different from-"

Placing her hand on Isaac's cheek, she moved her arm backwards away from him, hitting the globe behind her.

"-this."

Isaac rubbed his slightly red cheek as he tried to absorb what was being taught. Sniggers still filled the class.

"So even though I may have hit Demi-Dragon and the globe with the same force, it is different because I moved in different directions," Miss Sesabiant said. Raising her hand, she slapped Isaac again. "See, if I do this, he dies of pain. Yet if I do this-"

She smacked the globe again. "He dies as well."

Huh?

"He dies of laughter. 'Ahahah, Miss Sesabiant can't slap!'."

It was the class that died of laughter.

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Break after one and a half hours of science gave the students a chance to sigh and complain.

As well as run off towards the hall.

"Isaac? Where are you going?" Garet demanded, running after him

"I'm going to see Kraden!" Isaac replied, slowing down.

"You're always seeing him!" Garet complained. "Are the two of you an item or something?"

"Wha-! NO! What on earth are you thinking!" Isaac smacked him with his school diary.

"Hey, it's true. You're always running into the hall when it's not your changing lesson. Let me play gooseberry today," Garet joked.

"Idiot!" Isaac said with a laugh, knocking on the hall doors.

"Creature Creature."

"Changer Changer."

Kraden opened the door and grinned.

"Come in, both of you!"

Hopping in, the two saw Jenna, Mia, Felix and Piers putting down their bags on the stage.

"Honestly, Isaac, you keep on turning up when it's not your lesson!" Jenna said. "Are you dating Kraden or something?"

Garet let out a howl of laughter as Mia, Felix, Piers and Kraden coughed. Isaac clenched his teeth as he climbed onto the polished stage.

"I could always throw a flowerpot at you," he said.

"Go ahead and try!" Jenna challenged. "You wouldn't dare. I just recovered from a faint, you know."

"Enough!" Kraden said, still coughing. "What's the matter, Isaac? Is it about the Fern Mansion thing?"

"Yeah."

"What about it?" Piers asked.

"Oh yeah, you two weren't around." Felix began to give both Piers and Garet a brief summary of what had happened.

"Then Mia and Jenna healed everyone, and fainted."

"I slept until this morning," Jenna said.

"And she's still tired," Felix added. "Don't try to deny it!"

"Me too," Mia agreed, smiling faintly. "I was nodding off in class all the time..."

"Such a big thing happened to you guys?" Piers looked appalled.

"Yeah! Why wasn't I involved?" Garet demanded. "It's not fair!"

"That's not the point! It was dangerous!" Piers said, glaring at the red headed changer.

"Hey, danger's my middle name," Garet said with a grin.

"You wouldn't have wanted to be there, Garet," Felix said. "Injuries hurt."

"Injuries healing... eh?" Kraden scratched his head thoughtfully. "I never thought much about that... No animals do any healing, and you students are the first mythicals of this school. I haven't been able to study other mythicals, but I certainly have never heard about recovery powers."

"But you think it's one of the abilities of our creatures?" Jenna asked.

"Yes, indeed. I think that Sheba was right about your mermaid, Mia. This is what probably happened. Mia didn't have enough energy to heal Jenna completely, because Jenna's wounds were extremely serious. So she fainted from sheer exhaustion. Jenna's own healing powers were somehow activated by Mia's, and began to heal her reflexively. Later... Um... when Jenna got worked up... She was worried about the rest of you! So she wanted to protect you guys just then, and her healing abilities started up!"

It was a long rant in one breath.

"Kraden, ever thought of doing tongue twisters?" Garet commented.

"You're probably right," Jenna said, pushing Garet aside. "Should Mia and I try healing again?"

"Right now, I wouldn't advise it," Kraden said. "Both of you are probably still near exhaustion, and besides, what is there to heal? I think you two should spend today's lesson sleeping. We'll see how much energy healing saps from you."

Nodding, the girls jumped off the stage and obediently sat down to rest.

"Garet, Isaac, you're having recess now, am I right?"

Both students nodded in reply.

"Well then, go to the library and search for the book called 'Old Legends'. It's not in the library database for some reason; it must have been a long time since anyone checked it out. Come back for your Changing lesson in half an hour's time," Kraden instructed.

"What kind of a book is that?" Garet asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've seen it before," Isaac replied, slinging his back over one shoulder. "Come on, let's go."

As he headed for the door, he glanced at Jenna and Mia. Both girls were trying to find a comfortable position on the chairs to sleep in.

Hope they feel better soon...

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"We've searched and searched AND searched," Garet moaned. "Are you sure it's here?"

"Positive," Isaac replied, pushing a pile of books to the side of the shelf. "I checked it out the other time, but Rachel returned it. And the librarian says that she shelved it somewhere."

"And forgot about it."

"Yup."

"You do realise that our Changing lesson is supposed to have started?" Garet said.

"Kraden won't mind." Isaac moved on to the next shelf. "This book could be really important."

"In what way?"

"Ivan said..."

Would it be all right to tell him what Ivan said?

"Who's Ivan?"

"Nothing," Isaac replied hastily, walking over to another shelf. Fortunately, Garet did not pursue the matter.

"I tell you, I'm sick of all these books. Tell you what; I'll head for Changing first, and inform Kraden, all right?"

"Okay. I'll follow in a few minutes," Isaac said vaguely, scanning his eyes briefly across the book spines.

With Garet gone, the library seemed very quiet. Patiently, Isaac searched the shelves for the book. Glancing at his watch, which read 11.13, he decided to search one more shelf before he went back to the hall. The scent of mahogany could be faintly smelt as he moved to scan through numerous books.

Autumn Winds, What a Swan Does, Titles and Names, Old Legends, Drama and Tales...

Old Legends?

Isaac whipped the book out of the shelf. Familiar gold lettering shone on the cover.

It was The Book!

Turning it around, Isaac stared at the short paragraph behind.

'Megaera's Study'. Megaera...? Isn't the author supposed to be Thor?

Then a hand descended on his shoulder.

Isaac froze.

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There! I'm really, really satisfied with this one

Okay, maybe not extremely satisfied, but at least I managed to write between tests and homework!

One thing though. School can be useful! (points above) The section on Scalar and Vector were taught to me only a couple of weeks ago! And oh, I don't own Tira Sesabiant's um... way of teaching. XDDD It belongs to my Physics teacher Mr Faaiz!

Isaac: ... You got her to slap me.

Don't worry, she can't do any damage. At least, not enough to kill. Yes, I'm a sadist, and I torture the cast.

Until next time!

Daidairo