FictionPress.com - let the words flow| FictionPress.com - let the words flow |
| Home Just In Communities Forums Beta Readers Dictionary Search | Login Register Extras |
She landed her broom gracefully in front of the little secluded cottage in the middle of the forest. Instead of knocking on the door, she went around back. The young woman looked about her for a moment and grinned when she saw the wide old oak tree with three knots in the form of a lopsided triangle. She walked up to it and placed her forefinger and thumb on the trunk. Suddenly the knots and her fingers were connected by a bright white line to form a pentacle.
The glow emitting from the figure shone brighter and spread to the rest of the trunk. She was sucked through the portal, and she grinned even more when she saw the majestically towering castle half a mile up the hilly path.
She put down her heavy backpack and leaned against the nearest tree. She took a cigarette out of her back pocket and lit it as she waited.
“Analani! Sorry I fell behind, but you were flying so fast, and-” A short woman with dark skin and hair had burst through the old oak tree and ran up to her life-long friend.
“Ah, forget it. It’s not your fault. I hate flying slow.”
“You know, you really should stop smoking.” The two were walking up the path slowly, not wanting the last remnants of summer to leave.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m tryin’. You’re not perfect yourself, Lorelei,” said Analani as she put out her cigarette in the dust.
Lorelei pulled a crumpled-up piece of paper from her pocket and said, “By the way, I forgot to compare schedules before we left. What do you have?”
Analani got her schedule out and replied, “I’ve got Mental Powers and Fortune Telling Level 8, Defense Tactics Level 7, Potionmaking Level 8, Advanced Spellwriting Level 3, Charms Level 5, Basic Spellwork Level 9, Transmutation and Conjuring Level 5, and Curses and Other Offensive Magic Level 7, in that order.”
“I have Defensive Tactics, Potionmaking, and Curses and Other Offensive Magic with you,” she paused for a few minutes and smiled, “You know something? Our accents seem to get stranger every time we come here.”
“That’s because we’re only around our families for three months out of the year. We’re around these English-speaking people the rest of the time. Even when we’re back home, we speak English sometimes. I think probably do have the strangest accents in the world. Mexican and Texan with a dash of British, what a combo,” her friend replied as she took one last drag from her second cigarette before she put it out.
They both laughed as the walked through the tall old doors, but stopped suddenly when they saw who had walked through the door at their right. It was Professor Chavé.
Though he was only twenty-four years old, he usually acted so serious that one could hardly believe he was so young. He had black hair hanging in his eyes because he never thought to comb it back. One canine tooth was out of place, but people hardly noticed it; he never smiled.
Luckily, he did not notice either one of them and just walked down the long hallway to another room on the left. Analani and Lorelei let out sighs of relief; Professor Chavé was not somebody one would normally choose to run in to.
Analani was the first to speak, “Come on. Let’s get unpacked. The welcoming supper’s at seven.”
The two walked the familiar path to the dormitory they had shared since they were five: down the corridor at the right of the entrance hall, up three flights of stairs, through the secret entrance behind the headless set of knight’s armor, down the hall at the left, down another hall at the left, up one more flight of stairs, knock on the painting of the Great Old Merlin three times to be able to walk through it, through the Chivalor lobby, down the corridor on the right, and in the farthest door on the left. Most people often got lost trying to find their own dormitories, but Analani and Lorelei were upperclassmen so they knew their way around the huge school.
“Hey dudettes! How’s it goin’, Ana? What’s up, Lor? I can’t believe school’s already starting, what a bore! Hey, at least we’re out o’ here after this year! Dudes, you won’t believe how my summer went! First, I went skiing - skiing in the summer, how weird id that? Oh, and then I went swimming in Brazil - so fun, I went with my third boyfriend of the summer - I had seven in all. And I got twelve awesome bikinis - one for each day I was in South America - oh yeah, I went to Panama and Chile too, by the way. Man, those bikinis drove the men wild; you should have been there! Dude, it was so fun! So, how’ve you two been?” said the energetic young woman who had burst in on Analani and Lorelei as the unpacked.
Wow, I think that must be a new personalrecord for the number of times she interruptsherselfin “one” statement.
“We’re cool. Nothing new,” Lorelei replied, trying not to laugh.
Analani said dryly, “Hello Sherry.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask, how do you say so much so fast without needing to pause for a breath?” Lorelei teased.
“It’s a gift,” Sherry said cheerfully, not realizing she was being insulted.
Sherry began unpacking her expensive clothing, hair highlighting kits, and various styling products into a trunk at the end of the third bed in the room as the other two changed in to their midnight blue school uniforms and robes and left. Once the door was closed behind them Analani asked, “Why did we have to get stuck with her as our roommate when we were twelve?”
Her best friend looked at her sympathetically, “Chica, you would hate anyone taking Lana’s place.”
“I know, but why her? She’s awful!” she said miserably.
“Yeah, but, like she said, just one more year!”
They both smiled and went downstairs. As they entered the large doors at the end of the entrance hall, they felt right at home and sat in their usual spot at the long table on their left.
Analani and Lorelei stopped chatting with Netty Filgin about whether Poison-Spitting Cacti should be outlawed or not twenty minutes later when the headmaster stood up to give his annual welcoming speech. The old man wore gold-seamed robes which changed from midnight blue to a deep maroon (the school colors)when he moved. His matching pointed hat stood tall on his head to draw attention to the long white hair framing his face. He had an unusually large hooked nose holding up huge round spectacles which took up half his face and made his eyes seem eerily penetrating.
“Welcome!” the kind, yet authoritative voice rang throughout the Commons Area, “Welcome to one of the world’s most prestigious schools of magic! When one begins attendance at Chatrabahn School of Magic, one has already faced a moral test in his or her lifetime. I cannot tell you what this test is because I do not know. It is different for reach person, and most choose not to tell others of it.
“This analysis is to place each student in the class which fits him or her best. The Chivalors - brave, outgoing, and loyal - always try to step up and help other, and will lend a hand to a friend in need. The Noviyors - cunning, artistic, and skillful - can get you out of almost any bind, but only trust their closest allies. Both classes have advantages and faults, and they are equal. Even though some of you may not think so, you are all where you are meant to be.
“Core curriculum classes are given at random so you may, for example, have Potionmaking in second grade and not have it again until fifth grade. For this reason, I have asked the teachers to do reviews for the first week of school. You are required to take six core classes, and may choose up to two electives each year.
“A note to all seniors: if you have a 4.0 GPA and are interested in graduating early, come see me so I can tell you about the additional requirements, and we can decide when you might be able to finish school.
“I would like to remind all of you to stay clear of the old astronomy tower. If you try to enter, you may face a terrible death. On a lighter note, Professor Hubblefub eloped with an American architect this June. Our new teacher, Professor Muertenos, will be taking her place. Good luck to everyone this school year. Let us feast!”
Suddenly, everyone’s plates filled with their favorite foods. Lorelei ate her chicken flautas and pinto beans as Analani dug into her fried chicken and cornbread, dipping both in white gravy as she ate.
“Don’t you think that new professor’s name is a bit curious? It sounds too much like ‘muerte’ to me,” said Analani in a hushed voice so only Lorelei could hear.
“It’s probably just a coincidence. Don’t read into things so much.”
“Eew, you’re eating with your hands? Uck, use a fork!” Sherry exclaimed with disgust.
“With fried chicken?” Analani replied with a mouth full of food, looking at the girl across the table as though she was crazy.
Lorelei and Analani finished their meals while talking with their fellow Chivalors and trudged slowly up to their dormitory.
“You go ahead. I’ll catch up in a bit,” Analani bent down to pretend to tie her shoe so she could listen to Professor Chavé and Principal Hysirald speaking privately in a corner. She couldn’t get close enough to hear everything so she only heard bits and pieces of the conversation.
“... rebels... arrested Mundy... protect the students... take over... time...”
“... trustworthy rebels... headquarters...”
“... the weapon... possible... important...”
“... not sure... she’ll be safe... tell her...”
Analani was pondering what she had heard so deeply that she had almost tried to open the door leading to the old astronomy tower. After that, she was careful not to become too absentminded. Just before she turned the corner, she felt a strong urge to look behind her. When she did, she saw Professor Lane standing in front of the forbidden door. The older woman touched the knob, and it began to turn bright red, but quickly stopped. Professor Lane turned the knob and entered.
Analani had a feeling that i she had tried that, it wouldn’t have stopped turning red, and it could have hurt her somehow. She unsuccessfully tried to clear her mind, and she went upstairs to bed.
