The wizard's words haunted Carri's dreams. Sitting up in her bed, drenched in a cold sweat she felt tears streaming down her face. These stupid dreams are really starting to get the best of me. Oh, how she wished it was all just a dream. Reality checked in, however, when she noticed she had her mud covered boots on her feet. So it was real? I'm a monster who can't control her magic and can't get rid of it. Even a seal wouldn't help. Glancing to her bedside, she noticed a stack of books. Mentally making a note to read them after taking care of Selice, Marley and Addie, she set off to do her farm work for the day.
After harvesting all her crops and preparing the soil for the next season, Carri took some quality time with her animals. It had been a while since she had actually had the time to sit down and play with them. Sitting in the green grass while watching her chickens graze was peaceful, but what really topped off the relaxing feel was her german shepherd, golden retriever mix laying her head on her lap while next to her. "Ya know, Addie, I've been so busy lately running errands for everyone and trying to spend time with everyone that I forgot how nice it could be to just take a day off." The beautiful mut nuzzled into her owner as if she understood. "Maybe, I should just take a break from it all. No social interactions, no festivals, no anything." After letting the animals back in, Carri trekked back to her cabin. Changing back into pajamas and not planning to do anything else for the day besides eat and read, she plopped onto her bed and opened the first book and read until sleep overtook her.
The next week passed swiftly and she maintained mostly the same routine. Feed the animals, spend some extra time petting and playing with them, then forage and visit Rasmodius. Though they had decided on Wednesdays and Sundays to be their days for practice, Carri found herself longing for more information.
"Rasmodius, look! I did it!" She wore the grin of a child who just learned a new trick as she held out her hand for him to view a small flame dancing above the surface of her skin. With the other hand she directed its movement and growth before closing her hands together and suffocating the flame completely.
"That is quite the start. Not even a week, and you have managed to create and control the flame to a degree. I'm impressed, young Carrissa. Next we will start with the ice, and maybe even teach you a basic spell or two."
Carri smiled at the praise, but that smile faltered when he phone began to vibrate. Maru. "I'm sorry, I have to take this call." Nodding in response, the wizard stepped away and began sorting his things. "Hey, Maru." Yeah, act like you haven't been avoiding her or EVERYONE for a week.
"Carri!" Her excited voice flooded through the receiver. "Are you okay? You haven't been around in a while, so I started to get worried. I went by your house to check on you a few times, but you were never home."
Carri paced as she spoke. "Y-yeah, sorry. I've been spending a lot of time foraging." It's not a full lie. I have been foraging. "Just needed some space to sort some stuff out."
"That's fine. We all like to be alone sometimes, but next time at least check in!" Maru sounded like a scolding parent whose child had just moved out. Carri shook her head and giggled, trying to muffle her laugh. "Anyway, I called to ask you about tonight's festival! Are you coming to the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies?"
Carri inwardly cringed. The last "dance" she had gone to, she felt like an outsider invading town. No one knew her well enough to want to dance with her, and they all had their cliques. "Um… I really don't know if I'm up for another dance."
"This one isn't really a dance. Lewis sends out a boat with a lantern on it, and a bunch of jellyfish approach the docks. It's beautiful. Even moody Sebastian likes this festival. Everyone in town comes to this one. Even the hermit who lives in the woods comes out for this one."
Carri held back her laughter as she shot a side glance to the Wizard. "A hermit in the woods, huh?" That caught the man's attention, and he raised an eyebrow. "I guess I will have to come to meet him. Can't be part of the town without getting to know everyone."
Maru chuckled. "Good luck with that. I've never seen him speak to anyone but maybe," she hummed as she mentally counted the people, "Lewis, Marlon, and Linus. You really should come though. Everyone's missing you. Sam and Abby asked about you when they came to see Sebastian not too long ago."
Giving it a moment of thought, Carri smiled and agreed. "Yeah, I'll be there. It'll be nice to see everyone." Well, some of them anyway. Still upset with Sam for not understanding, she could care less to see him. Not until her powers were under control. I do miss that sunshine boy though.
Maru's voice broke her out of her trance. She shook her head and tried to quell the flushing of her cheeks. "So I guess I will see you there! Bye, Carri." A click of the phone and a sigh from the farmer, summoned Rasmodius to her side.
"So, you go to the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies?" Curiosity got the best of her. "Sounds a little odd for you to break out of your 'hermit' shell."
"I go to observe the Lunaloos… Or 'Moonlight Jellies' as you call them. They possess an unusually potent magical aura for an aquatic life form." He stated matter of factly before donning a mischievous grin. "If you plan to attend, you better go prepare yourself. I doubt you want to go in charred clothing from your failed attempts this morning. I doubt that would impress your love interest."
"M-My what?!" With deep crimson blush, Carri turned, refusing to face the wizard as she gathered her things. "He's not my love interest. He is just a friend. Though, I haven't seen anyone in a week, so coming like my home was set ablaze is probably a bad idea. I will see you there." With that the witch in training, ran from the tower all the way to her cabin. When she arrived she made sure to let Addie out while she showered.
Stupid Rasmodius. He's not anything like that. I mean, he means a lot to me, but no way! We are just friends! Damn it, Carri! You're a freak. Why would he or ANYONE want to be with a freak? Depression settled back in, like an uninvited family member, overwriting all of her progress for the day. Forget makeup. I'll probably just cry it off anyway. She reached for her clothing when her shower was over and her body was deemed dry. Sliding into her faded slightly torn blue jean shorts, a pair of black sandals, a black tank top and her red and black checkered flannel overshirt tied loosely at her waist she deemed herself ready. Setting her signature red sunglasses atop her head, she was ready and walked out her front door to head for the beach.
Carri arrived just before midnight and made sure to talk to all the town folk aside from Sam and Sebastian. She was happy she showed up around the same time as Abigail, knowing the goth girl would join Sam and Sebastian shortly before the event started. Carri couldn't help but feel a little bad over avoiding everyone for a week. Everyone asked about her. Jodi wanted to make sure she was eating enough, Robin said if it had anything to do with Sebastian she would handle it, and even Vincent was excited to see her again, going on and on about how cool the jellies were and how he wanted one as a pet, but Sam wouldn't catch him one.
And that was when the mistake was made, the farmer glanced across the docks and saw Sam staring at her. She could tell he wanted to approach her, but she wasn't ready to see him yet. Turning quickly on her heels and heading the other way, she approached Rasmodius who shared history of the Lunaloos with her. When midnight struck, Lewis sent off his boat and not even a few minutes after he did, the water was filled with magnificent lights approaching the docks from all over. A specific large green jellyfish caught her eye as it approached and stopped directly before her. "They can sense you are destined for great things, young adept. Take it in stride as you continue your arcane and elemental studies." The jellies danced in the water before the townspeople, but as swiftly as they came, they began their retreat back to the ocean depths.
Maru was right, this festival was absolutely beautiful.
A/N: Thank you again for reading! Feel free to leave me a review and let me know what you think! Thank you to all those who have followed Life's No Fairytale!