“Hoods off, please,” Enchantress Higgins called to the rogues. “We don’t want anything blocking our mental pathways.”
Earl, in the motion of tilting his head back with his arms extended as he took a deep breath, still managed to grab Dagdron’s hood and pull it from his head.
“Do the exercises,” Earl said. “Your dad can do magic, so I’m sure you’ll be able to.”
Dagdron made a breathy sound to appease Earl, and continued looking around the chamber. Once the breathing exercises were finished, Enchantress Higgins chose the groups herself, fitting one of each type of adventurer together wherever possible. Earl and Lita smiled at one another when Enchantress Higgins sent her over. Elloriana and an enchanter with glasses and a long, pointed nose joined them after. Dagdron didn’t pay attention when Elloriana introduced the enchanter to everyone, so he didn’t catch his name, but Earl and Lita shook his hand vigorously, excited to make a new magic-user friend.
After all the groups were set, Enchantress Higgins passed out a scroll to each one, more often than not placing it in the hands of the enchantresses.
“Today we are all going to learn the very basic aura spell,” Enchantress Higgins explained. “A natural spell caster learns this instinctively at a very young age without the need of a scroll. However, that’s no reason for the warriors, lady warriors, or rogues to worry, because every person is different. Some of you may feel a strong magical aura within yourselves, while some of you might feel very little at all. If you do sense a powerful aura, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can learn a lot of spells, but it could be an indication that you can use magic as a supplementary option during your quests. That being said, we’re not here to make full-fledged magic users out of you, but to give you an understanding of magic that will serve you well in many of your adventuring encounters.
“Now, I have asked the students holding the scrolls to lead their groups. All you need to do is read the scroll, and the spell will be seared into your brain, but in a painless way. After that, the enchanters and enchantresses will guide you on how to properly cast the spell to detect your own personal magical aura.”
There were more excited rumbles around the chamber than had been present at the warrior and rogue classes, because other students tended to be a little more curious about magic. Elloriana slowly unrolled the scroll of their group.
“You go first, Dagdron,” Earl encouraged.
Dagdron whisked the scroll out of Elloriana’s hands and looked at it. There was a form of a faceless person surrounded by blue mist. Across the top was the word “Aura.” As Dagdron read it, he felt warmth enter his head. He shrugged and tossed the scroll back to Elloriana.
“How was it?” Earl asked eagerly.
“Tickled my brain,” Dagdron said.
“Here we go,” Earl said, rubbing his hands together before taking the scroll from Elloriana. As soon as Earl looked at it, he cried out in pain, dropping the scroll. He placed his hands over his face, pushing on his forehead with his fingers as he groaned with agony. He stumbled around dizzily, tripping over his boots and falling to the ground.
Lita knelt in a rush at his side as Elloriana bent over to see if he was okay.
“My brain is scorched,” Earl said as Lita lifted his head. “I have never felt such immense pain in my entire life.”
“Maybe you should take magic a little slower,” Elloriana said.
“I think you’re right, Princess,” Earl said, getting up with Lita’s help. When he was back on his feet, he draped his arm around Dagdron’s shoulder to steady himself.
Lita, more wary, read the scroll next, but she just felt a warmth coursing through her brain.
Elloriana and the long-nosed enchanter demonstrated casting the spell.
“Take this position,” Elloriana explained, lifting her hands in front of her. “Then you visualize the spell inside of yourself as you saw it on the scroll. You will feel the magic sensation almost bursting out of you.”
Dagdron, still believing magic was an iffier form of adventuring, put his hands up and visualized the aura spell. He was surprised when he felt his chest warm up, but it wasn’t anything amazing to him. Lita and Earl did the same. Lita pounded on her chest after, clearing her throat. Earl moved his hand all over his chest, searching for a hot spot.
“I think I feel something,” Earl said.
“Good job,” Elloriana said, quickly looking away.
“Give up your sword,” Dagdron said. “You’re an enchanter now.”
“Stop it,” Earl said. “I love being a warrior, but I would like to be well-balanced too.”
Dagdron glanced at Earl’s boots. Well-balanced wasn’t something his friend would ever be, he thought.
By the middle of February, Dagdron hadn’t seen Byron, Gordon, or Landon do anything suspicious. He checked the snow entering the forest every night, but never found any footprints. Under Elloriana’s pressuring, he also broke into Landon and Gordon’s room a couple of times a week. Dagdron never found out anything else, and the gems he had left in the box were all accounted for.
Cross-over classes and the suspicions surrounding Byron and his lackeys had made it easy not to think about the Shrine of Avooblis, but Wendahl’s sphere brought it back to the forefront one night at the end of the second week of February. Dagdron and Earl woke up when blue light was shining onto their faces. Both boys, yawning, got up and made their way groggily to the basement of the classroom tower.
“Sloths,” Mazannanan said when they entered. It was the first time he had been out of the arch waiting for them. “What season is it?”
“It’s still winter,” Earl said with a yawn. “February isn’t even over yet.”
“There is no need to wait further,” the wizard said. “The fuzzfiests should be awakening from their hibernation. Bring me the fur of one, then I will continue the history of Avooblis.”
Dagdron, seeing no reason to go back to their bedroom, wadded up his cloak and fell asleep on the floor. Earl lay down on the bedding Elloriana and Lita had left behind and was snoring soon after. The Wizard of Avooblis glowered at them, but returned into his archway.
The next morning in their cross-over class, Dagdron and Earl let Elloriana and Lita know about the next item the wizard had requested. Unfortunately, Elloriana had never heard of a fuzzfiest.
In front of the statues of the enchanter, rogue, and warrior, Enchantress Higgins had placed a pile of wood, a pile of rocks, and a small, square cage.
After breathing exercises, during which Dagdron kept his arms at his side and observed all the enchanters and enchantresses, deciding which ones he would like to slice with his dagger, Enchantress Higgins called Elloriana and the long-nosed enchanter forward.
“Oh, good,” Earl said to Dagdron. “They’re going to give spell demonstrations.”
“Who cares?” Dagdron replied. “We’ve been attacked by every spell.”
“I know, that’s why it’ll be nice to see them in a controlled environment.”
Dagdron didn’t continue the conversation as Enchantress Higgins indicated for Elloriana and the enchanter to hold their hands out and then make a slight pushing motion to cast flame spells. The orange fireballs shot out, igniting the pile of wood.
Earl stood on his tiptoes to see better as Enchantress Higgins explained that blast-bolt spells were used to create a stronger burst. Dagdron, bored, drew his dagger and pointed it at Elloriana. She pretended not to notice him as Enchantress Higgins instructed her and the enchanter to make a more forceful motion with their hands to cast the blast-bolts. The blue balls shot forward, crashing the rocks from the pile.
For the next demonstration, Enchantress Higgins cast an open spell, sending the tiny ball to the lock on the cage. The door opened and a squirrel peeked out. She led Elloriana and the long-nosed boy in beginning with their hands as fists, and opening them, spreading all five fingers as they pushed their hands forward. Purple stun spells shot out as the squirrel made a break from the cage
. The mild spells let off a short flash as they shocked the furry little creature.
For the final presentation, Enchantress Higgins herself held up her right hand with her fingers curved slightly in a claw shape, and cast a lightning spell at the cage. The yellow ball crackled as it hit, sending magical currents through the bars of the cage.
“Good job, Princess,” Earl said when Elloriana came to stand by them after the demonstrations.
“Why didn’t you cast a lightning spell?” Dagdron asked before Elloriana could thank Earl.
“Because lightning spells are extremely difficult to cast without scorching your own hand,” Elloriana said haughtily.
“They can’t be that hard. Rance casts them all the time,” Dagdron replied.
“Well, Rance is a crazy enchanter. Everyone knows that even Headmaster Gwauldron prefers not to cast lightning spells.”
“Dagdron, listen,” Earl said, interrupting the conversation and pointing.
Enchantress Higgins was inviting any rogue, warrior, or lady warrior who desired to make an effort of learning a flame spell under her supervision to come forward.
“You should try it,” Earl told Dagdron, sounding disappointed. Earl, though excellent at the breathing exercises, had never shown an ounce of magical ability in any of the cross-over classes. "We can both make fire quickly with our blades, but it could be useful if we ever need light in a pinch.”
Dagdron, convincing himself he was doing it for Earl, stepped forward along with Cort, one other rogue he didn’t know the name of, and two lady warriors. The other fighters had speedily lost interest in magic, claiming it was for weak people who couldn’t fight, but Dagdron knew that was mainly because none of them could cast any sort of spell.
Enchantress Higgins passed around a scroll with a fire on it and “Flame” written above it. Dagdron felt the spell burn into his brain, understanding a little more why Earl had been in such pain if his head hadn’t been able to handle any type of magic. The magic teacher then instructed the group on the proper hand movement to make in order to cast the flame spell. Dagdron, ignoring her, just held his like he had always seen his father do. Enchantress Higgins disapproved, but a small flame ball appeared from Dagdron’s hand. He felt mentally drained from that one spell, so he went back by Earl while the teacher continued working with the other students.
“Wow, Dagdron,” Earl said. “You did it on your first try.”
“Let’s ditch the rest of class. I want to look up what fuzzfiests are.”
Earl, though appearing tempted, refused. He was anxious to get back to adventuring in the warrior capacity he was used to, Dagdron knew, but they stayed in class until it was over.
Elloriana and Lita joined them in the magic-user library in the classroom tower after but, even with all four of them researching, they didn’t find any mention of fuzzfiests.
After two additional days in the library, Dagdron decided he and Earl should head to Bodaburg and ask Grizzard. The old rogue was in his winter position, scrunched under his cloak close to a pile of burning charcoal. He smiled at the two boys when they arrived.
“Old Grizzard was starting to think you two had frozen up there at the old academy,” he said.
Earl jumped into the details about how busy they had been with cross-over classes. Grizzard listened, grinning at Earl’s enthusiasm.
“Old Grizzard is sure you’d make a fine rogue, rich sonny,” he told Earl, who beamed. “A change of clothes would be called for, though.” Grizzard cackled as Earl glanced at his warrior attire.
“Anything going on in Bodaburg?” Dagdron asked.
“No, sonny. All’s been calm since the carnival.”
“You ever heard of fuzzfiests?” Dagdron asked.
Grizzard shook his head.
Dagdron gave the old rogue a stack of coins before they left, and Grizzard thanked him with a cackle. Earl led Dagdron out of the alleyway, anxious to get some warm cider. As they turned onto the main street, a young man was coming out of the tavern. He glanced in Earl and Dagdron’s direction, and then turned and ran.
“Hey!” Earl yelled, running after the boy.
Dagdron, though not recognizing the guy, sprinted after Earl. They gave chase along the streets of Bodaburg, catching glimpses of the boy just before he turned corners ahead of them. The last sight they saw of him was turning onto the street leading to the graveyard. Dagdron and Earl ran, planning on entering the cemetery but, being distracted by the luxurious house they passed, they skidded to a stop.
“Mercer’s house is exposed,” Dagdron said.
“I bet Headmaster Gwauldron did it as a punishment for causing such trouble with the academy and its students,” Earl said decidedly. “Where’d he go?”
“That wasn’t Mercer,” Dagdron said.
“I know. I swear it was Grady Solloughby,” Earl said. “I’d recognize his face anywhere.”
“He stayed in Bodaburg?”
“The Valoringtons have always had a rivalry with the Solloughbys, but something really fishy is going on. He must be staying with Mercer. They’re planning something else. I know it.”
The boys, finding no other sign of Grady Solloughby, returned to the Bodaburg Tavern and sat at their corner table. There was only one table with a group of Bodaburg men, dressed in heavy coats, but they were making enough noise as they drank that it sounded like the tavern was packed. Earl lifted two fingers when the bartender scowled at them, and he brought over two mugs of hot cider. Dagdron gave two coins to the man. The bartender turned to leave, but Earl stopped him.
“Do you know who that guy was who just left the tavern before we got here?”
The bartender stood there scowling at Earl. Even Dagdron’s rogue attitude couldn’t figure out the bartender. Why he had been so nice to them when their parents had been there was beyond Dagdron, because he always treated them roughly now that they were alone again.
“He’s not from Bodaburg,” Earl continued. “You have to know who I’m referring to. He has a red face and lots of freckles.”
The bartender maintained his glower. Dagdron took out two more coins and set them on the table. The bartender grabbed them.
“I don’t know who he is, but he started showing up after the carnival. He always sits alone and never talks to anyone else.”
The bartender returned to the bar before Earl could ask any follow up questions.
“I know it was him,” Earl said. “The Solloughbys are up to something.”
“We’ll track him down,” Dagdron said, putting his hood on so he could sip his cider in peace.
* * *
Elloriana was concerned about the Solloughbys as well but, when the third weekend in February arrived, they hadn’t seen another sign of Grady or found out a single thing about fuzzfiests. Dagdron and Earl had met Elloriana and Lita under the quest tree on Friday night to discuss their options. When they had only been out there a few minutes, Wendahl walked around the side of the academy. He was wearing a much thicker magenta cloak made out of wool.
“Sorry to bother you,” Wendahl said. “And I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a grand entrance, but this snowy weather is getting me down. That’s why I need your help fulfilling a quest.”
“Really?” Earl said, full of emotion.
“Yes,” Wendahl said. “Though the thaw is still a way off, there is a climbing plant that sprouts magenta flowers. The plant is usually one of the first to sprout, so I think we might be able to find the starters of one. If I can get one growing sooner in my room, my farmer attitude will carry me through the rest of the winter. I would get them myself, but they grow high up sometimes. I could reach them with my hoe, but sometimes I’m a little rough and I don’t want to risk scorching them.”
“Of course we’ll help you,” Earl said, and Lita and Elloriana nodded in agreement.
Dagdron, with no desire to collect more plants, didn’t respond, but Wendahl stared at him expectantly.
“I guess I’ll go,” he said.
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“Wonderful!” Wendahl said, a smile breaking on his face. “Meet me at the gate tomorrow morning.”
Earl, Elloriana, and Lita were all abuzz the following morning.
“Finding a plant for someone does not count as a quest,” Dagdron said. “That’s like counting each thing we’ve brought back to Mazannanan as a quest.”
“Retrieving an item to help cheer up a depressed citizen definitely falls under the duties of an adventurer,” Earl said.
Wendahl showed up before the argument could escalate, and he led the group down the valley trail and to the right of Bodaburg. The enchanter stopped every once in a while, looking around the forest, but always started again, walking as if he knew where he was going. They arrived at a spot where a riverbed filled with snow had cut through the terrain, creating a ten foot wall of forest dirt on both sides. Wendahl walked along the edge until he found a place to climb down. He observed each of the young adventurers lower themselves before leading them upstream. They eventually came to a dead end where a waterfall was frozen against the wall.
“Here we are,” Wendahl said, pointing up to the left where the dirt wall curved outward in a short overhang. The snow had blown against the wall, piling up partway. The top half was still visible, where a few traces of green showed in the dirt. “If there are any sprouts, they would be growing out of the overhang.”
“I’ll get it!” Elloriana said before anyone else could.
“Take care,” Wendahl said, stepping back to give her room.
Elloriana straightened her robe and held out her arms. Her hands glowed as she cast a levitation spell. She floated up easily enough but, when she was almost to the overhang, a vicious snarl sounded from the wall, distracting her concentration and she fell back to the ground, landing waist deep in a pile of snow.
“Did you see that?” Elloriana exclaimed.
Dagdron, Earl, and Lita looked at the wall. They had definitely heard the growl, but hadn’t seen anything.
“It was a furry creature with sharp teeth,” Elloriana continued.
The Shrine of Avooblis Page 20