Chapter 12: The Heart
Charles stayed the night in Castanet with his niece and adopted son. He needed to speak to the two of them about the school, but ever since Luna's call, he had not been successful in that conversation. Charles was currently sitting with Gale in at his house in Harmonica Town and they were searching for books on Greek mythology. Gale had found three books and he read two of them from cover to cover; he was currently reading through the third book.
"Things have never been the same since my execution date," Charles started the conversation. He knew that Gale would not respond, so he continued, "The school is heavily guarded now and more children are entering the facility."
"Why are you... so distressed though...?" Gale muttered into the book.
"I am getting older Gale, and eventually, I will pass." Charles sighed, "I want to enjoy the rest of my life before that happens."
"You want to... retire?" Gale looked up from the book a bit alarmed.
"Yes, but there are a few things that I must finish before I do." Charles gave a soft smile and thought about the happier times at the school.
"Will you continue to be a headmaster?" Gale noticed the stress that wore on his former master's facial features and the whites in his hairs.
"No," Charles began, but then was cut off by Anna.
"Gale!" Anna rushed through the portal and held a cloth, "It's Luna!"
"Did you mark down the time and day?" Gale asked without looking at the cloth.
"Of course," Anna rolled her eyes, "Now, talk to your daughter!"
Gale sat the book down and walked past the table to Anna. He took the communication cloth from her hands and spoke, "Hello Luna..."
"Hey dad!" Luna chimed, "Have you found anything out about the Harvest Sprites?"
"Which ones have you found...?" Gale walked back over to his spot at the table and sipped on his coffee.
"Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn," Luna glared down and made a kicking sound, "who is soon going to be a dead sprite."
"Neptune is the god of seas and horses," Gale wasted no time in explaining his research, "you were correct about Jupiter, he is the god of lightning and sky... so expect him during a thunderstorm... and Mercury is the god of trickery and luck."
"Is that all you have for now?" Luna took note of his research.
"Afraid so..." Gale frowned.
"Thanks dad!" Luna smiled happily, "That'll help alot! Oh! Mom," She called out to her mother, "I found some goddess ores and the blacksmith here is going to make me a sword!"
"That's wonderful, sweetheart." Anna said, "How's the boy problem?"
Boy problem...? Gale raised his brow at Anna.
"I haven't seen him today yet, thankfully, but he keeps popping up at the most random moments." Luna rolled her eyes and sounded a bit agitated by the thought.
"Give him the arrows like I told you, and he will be head over heels for you in a heartbeat." Anna smiled innocently.
"Mom!"
"Anna!" Gale and Luna both yelled at the same time and Charles laughed in the background.
"What?" Anna kept her innocent nature, "I am just helping you out, Luna."
"Mom, I don't even know if I can trust him!" Luna screamed through the cloth.
"Have you tried reading his heart?" Gale asked his daughter.
"Oh yeah," Luna blinked, "I forgot that you taught me that spell."
"Use it on him... And then follow your heart..." Gale advised her.
"Thanks dad," Luna smiled happily, "You're the best." Luna looked over her shoulder, "I hate to cut you off, but I have to go. Pluto is getting fussy."
"Talk to you soon, Luna," Anna cut the communication spell and raised her brow, "What spell did you teach her?"
"An old one," Gale gave her the cloth back and sat down again, "As you were saying, Charles?"
"Oh!" Anna jumped, "Hi uncle!" She ran over to hug him, "I thought that you left last night!"
"There is some matter to discuss with the both of you," Charles nodded, "and besides, Yolanda's food at the inn is very comforting."
"What does that mean?!" Anna gasped and placed her hands on her hips.
"Charles, please..." Gale stopped the argument before it progressed.
"Ah yes," Charles cleared his throat and continued his conversation from earlier, "As I have already mentioned, I will be retiring and leaving my position as headmaster, and I would like for you, Gale, to take my place."
Gale's dropped the book he was reading, "What?"
"There must be a new headmaster before I leave my position, and I will teach you everything that I know before I leave."
Anna exclaimed, "What an honor, Gale!" She kissed his cheek.
"There's more," Charles continued, "Anna, I want you to become to headmaster of earth."
"Me?" Anna blinked a bit surprised.
"All of the headmasters are leaving, to be frank with you, and it is my duty to find the replacements." Charles asked, "Will you two accept these positions?"
"Charles..." Gale curious, "Why me?"
"Because," He smiled at Gale, "There is no one else that I would want to have as my replacement."
"But... My past..." Gale stammered because he was shocked.
"The past is in the past," Charles placed on hand on both of their shoulders, "and the future is up to the both of you."
"Who are the other headmasters?" Anna pried.
"I plan to ask Vivi to be the headmaster of wind, and if it is alright with you two, I was going to ask Luna to be the headmaster of fire."
"No." Gale answered quickly.
"Gale!" Anna glared, "You know that she would love to be trained under Rafael!"
Gale glared at her, "She does not need to get into this..."
Charles coughed awkwardly, "I will leave you two to discuss this." He scooted himself out of the chair, "I will be at the inn waiting for your decision."
"Gale, Luna is not a child anymore." Anna argued.
"She does not need to get into the politics of that school." Gale flipped through the mythology book again.
"What are you so afraid of, Gale?" Anna frustrated, "You can't keep her hidden forever!"
"I'm not..." Gale never raised his voice, "Just... Give me a day to think through all of this..."
Anna was still flustered, but she was satisfied with his response, "You have one day to think figure your thoughts out, and I expect a yes by tomorrow, Gale." She stormed out of the door.
Gale rolled his eyes and thought, Women...
After their argument, Gale lost interest in researching so he got up from his seat and paced around his house. The table that was used for researching was formerly used as his fortune telling table before he married Anna. That time in Castanet was peaceful; no confusion, no worries, and no concerns. Gale's life was orderly and had structure, but once Anna found him again, everything had been flipped upside down and tossed out of a window. He was happy to have Anna back in his life, but he never expected to be where he was today.
Headmaster of heart... Gale liked the ring of it, and the title did suit him. When he read fortunes for the townspeople, he would read into their hearts and found out what made them happy. His past had been dark and dismal and he did not the purest of hearts. Could he really let that go and mold a future? Gale had always wanted to let it go, but events kept popping up into his life that kept reminding him to look back. Could Charles help him let everything go and start a new? Could he slowly purify his heart?
What about Luna though? Gale's thoughts returned to his daughter. He did not want to put her life in danger, if the past repeated itself, and as he had already said, he did not want to involve her with the politics of that school. After teaching for a few years himself and mentoring his own daughter, he did not approve of the way things were turning out. With him in charge of the school, he could mend some of the tears that occurred in the system, but it would never be the same.
There I go again... Gale was angry at himself. He sat back in his seat, placed his palms to his forehead and his elbows on his knees. He sighed deeply and thought hard about his decisions. If I do take that position... I would never be able to return to Castanet... And I know that Anna will agree with her uncle.. What would Luna do? What would Anna do? Gale opened his eyes, for he did not notice that he closed them, and realized, "Anna would want Luna... To be the next headmaster..." Gale smiled when he came to the conclusion, "Because we'll be together again..." Once decided, he left the table and went to tell Charles his decision.