A Time for Magic

by Jessa Ford

  It was her mother who responded first, with a hug instead of words. She kissed the top of Cora’s head. “We would never erase a single hint of you from this home.” Her father joined them and rested his hand on Cora’s shoulder and echoed, “We don’t expect you to be anything but our daughter.” “But my Reading? People will talk,” Cora argued. “Let them,” her father’s voice was stern. Cora couldn't help it when the tears began to flow again. She sat crying into her parents’ loving embrace. “There doesn’t have to be just one path in your life,” Cora’s father picked up his glasses and smiled at his daughter. “In a way you’re lucky,” her mother offered, “you have options, whereas your father and I have been placed in our vocation since our 18th year. We never knew any different.” Cora heard their encouraging words, but did not take them to heart. It was a kind attempt at making her failure seem like an open door to possibilities.

  THREE

  The next weeks passed slowly, but Cora’s start at Starbury Academy crept closer with each passing day. Instead of feeling the nervous anticipation of beginning a new school year, Cora was filled with apathy. She would be studying all the gifts, barely skimming the surface of each, in hopes it would spark something. Otherwise, she would be studying practical skills meant to assist anyone who stayed unreadable in obtaining a job. In Telgria, Unreadables worked what many considered “lowly” jobs: serving tables, trolley conductors, custodians, store clerks, or anything that didn’t require a specific gift. It not only affected one’s ability to access gainful employment, but it also drastically limited their social prospects. For once, Cora was grateful for her lack of friends. At least she wouldn’t have to watch them drop her one by one.

  The only thing that kept Cora from retreating to the darkness in her mind was Willem. Her dear friend managed to stop by almost daily to occupy her time. Whether it was just to talk, to run errands for Cora or Willem’s mothers, or to go on walks, Willem treated Cora as if everything was the same. She was grateful for this, and for a short time allowed herself to pretend everything was as it should be. Sometimes Cora wished the four weeks would last forever.

  ✽✽✽

  The week before everyone was to depart for their new school assignments, Willem knocked on Cora’s door. As always, he looked as if he had rushed to get to his destination, but he smiled upon seeing her. “What shall we fill our agenda with today?” Cora asked as she moved about the sitting room, tidying up the stacks of books she’d amassed from the previous days. “Today is a surprise,” Willem smirked mischievously. “A surprise?” Cora feigned disinterest, “I’m not convinced it’s better than staying in and getting a head start on my school reading.” She gestured to the books laying on the table in front of her.

  Willem sighed impatiently, “We both know you’ve probably already done your school reading. This is our last chance to do something fun before we have to go, and I promise you’ll like it.” “When have I ever liked surprises?” Cora stood with her hands on her hips. Willem rolled his eyes and pulled her toward the door. Cora groaned as she agreed to leave, but she was secretly excited. She grabbed a book, closed the door behind her and followed him down the street.

  They walked to the trolley stop without saying much. Cora still wasn’t sure how to completely feel like herself after their Reading. She imagined everyone knew what she was now. They rode the trolley to Telgria’s northern gate and Cora perked up. “We’re leaving the city?” She raised her eyebrows. “Sort of,” Willem jumped down from the trolley and held out an arm for Cora to descend. Ignoring it, she jumped down next to him. “Can you give me any clues?” “I could…” Cora waited with her arms crossed and Willem grinned, “but I won’t. Come on.” He led them through the north gate and toward a path leading away from the city.

  The warm midday sun was a welcome break from the typical cold Telgrian weather. For few weeks each year, the coldness lifted and allowed for colors to spring up and flowers to bloom. Cora noted the slight change in the terrain as they left the city behind them. After walking for a short time, Willem stopped. They had reached the foothills of the Wendian Mountains. Telgria was built near the mountains, it’s first inhabitants hoping to benefit from runoff snow and water. Much to their dismay, the cold climate only offered such gifts during the few weeks when the sun’s rays broke through the perpetual grey clouds.

  Cora noticed many tracks on the trail as they pressed forward. The brown dirt path was well-travelled and wound in a serpentine pattern up the foothills of the mountain. As they continued to climb, the sun shone brighter. Cora removed the light sweater she was wearing and tied it around her waist. Thankful for her pants instead of a heavy skirt, she rolled up the bottoms to feel the breeze on her shins. Willem, too, was sporting his undershirt by the time the sun was directly above them. Finally, the duo stopped next to a steep ridge and Willem pointed. Covering every last inch, as far as the eye could see were Valley Blossoms.

  Cora had never seen a Valley Blossom, as they only bloomed for mere days during this time of year. Her eyes were wide as they took in the vibrant blues and purples of the flowers below. “I remembered you told me once you were going to come see them,” Willem spoke softly to her right, “so I thought why not today?” He stepped forward and began to clamber into the field of flowers. “What are you doing?” Cora didn’t dare leave the edge, but she marveled at how the blossoms seemed to sway toward her in the breeze as if upon request when she bent toward them. “Don’t you want to get a closer look?” He grinned and set off.

  Minutes later, Willem bounded back up with a bouquet of flowers in hand. He held them out to Cora who eagerly snatched them up. She breathed in deeply and smiled. They smelled like honey and sunshine. She took one and pressed it between the pages in the book she carried in her bag. Willem laughed, “Only you would bring reading material on a hike.” “In my defense,” she shrugged, “I had no idea what we were going to do. I needed a second option in the event you’d planned something truly terrible.” Willem shook his head and stretched out his arms, looking out at the view.

  The city wall was visible in the distance and the buildings inside the wall were the size of toys. “Can you believe next week we’ll be leaving?” Willem remarked. Cora looked at the ground and her good mood instantly diminished. “It will be another adventure for you…” she trailed off. “You’ll make it an adventure, too.” Willem stepped closer to her, “I know it will work out.” He brought his hand to Cora’s face and moved her hair behind her ear. She felt like her stomach would leap into her throat, but she held her composure. He tucked a blue valley blossom behind her ear and stepped back. “How can you be so optimistic?” she asked, looking up into his kind eyes. She would miss seeing his face every day. “Because you’re Cora. You’re smart, and clever, and you’re good at everything in school. You’ll see.” He picked up Cora’s bag and grabbed her hand. “Come on,” he pulled her down the path, “there’s one more surprise today.”

  They followed the twisting path until it forked, and chose the path leading back around toward the city. Cora didn’t dare think about how Willem had not dropped her hand. They walked in silence until Cora heard the faint sound of water. To their left was what appeared to be a shallow pond. It was filled with runoff water from the river which ran through the mountains above them. The pond was shaded on one side by a giant tree. The branches hung lazily over the water below and cast shadows on the pond. Willem dropped Cora’s hand and raced toward the water, but Cora stood looking up at the mountains. “Cora.” She felt droplets of water hit the side of her face and her arms.

  Willem was standing in the pond. “Come on, we’re going swimming. It’s the last item on your to-do list if I recall,” he dove in and submerged himself in the water, which was much deeper than it appeared. For a moment, Cora considered running back to the north gate and going straight home. She was terrified of water, but didn’t want to seem childish by leaving. Cora removed her shoes and climbed to sit on one of the lower branches of the tree.
She watched as Willem floated in the pond below. He radiated happiness and Cora realized she too felt unburdened for the first time in weeks. Perhaps, she allowed herself to think, perhaps he was right. She may make an adventure out of Starbury Academy after all.

  Cora leaned back on the trunk of the tree, took out her book and began to read. She made her way through only a few lines when she was interrupted. “What are you doing?” Willem splashed water up toward her again. She dangled the book in front of her face.” “No, no, no,” Willem got out of the water and climbed up next to Cora, “no reading today.” Cora shook her head and sighed, but gave in and followed him back down to the ground. Willem stood in front of her, his hair dripping water droplets down to his shoulders. Cora sat her bag on the ground and turned to look at her friend. “What is so important I can’t continue reading?” She put her hands on her hips. Willem gestured toward the clear water in front of them.” Cora shook her head and began to back up. “I don’t think so. You know I don’t swim.” “Not until now you don’t. Remember how many times you swore you were going to learn? You say it every year and then you make up excuses so we avoid going.” She rolled her eyes. Every year during the warm weeks Cora promised Willem she would learn to swim so they could visit a swimming hole, but they never did.

  Willem quickly hopped behind Cora and put his hands on her shoulders, nudging her slowly toward the water. She inched her way forward, feeling the water as it covered her feet, then her ankles, then higher. She felt the smoothness of the stones that made up the base of the pond and what little traction they offered. They moved forward slowly, Willem never taking his hands off her. When the water was waist deep for Cora she stopped. “I think this is enough for me,” she said slowly. Willem shook his head, “This is wading, not swimming.” Without warning, he picked her up and walked them deeper into the pond.

  Cora thrashed in protest, but Willem set her down gently in the water, holding onto her arms. Cora breathed slowly, and she felt fear creeping into her bones. She kept her eyes closed and focused on Willem’s hands holding her upright. The water around her moved and her eyes darted open. Willem, laughing, pulled away slowly. “Kick your feet,” he instructed her. She moved her feet slightly, feeling a small amount of resistance from the water as her muscles tensed. “Good,” he nodded, “now move your arms at the same time, but slowly. When I let go you should stay above water.” Cora’s pupils were huge. “You can’t let go!” She lunged forward and clung to him, propriety be damned.

  Willem’s laugh echoed in the silence around them. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anymore move faster in my entire life,” he wiped water out of his eyes and grinned. Cora could see light freckles dusted across his nose and tried to count them to regain her composure. “You’re really that scared of the water?” He looked at her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Cora just bobbed her head. Willem wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear, “It’s okay, I won’t let you go.” Cora’s heart was pounding so loudly she was sure Willem could feel it when laughter interrupted them and tore their attention toward the edge of the pond.

  “What a scandalous scene,” Tiegly Montmon and a few other girls from their old school appeared on the path above the pond. “It looks like we got here just in time.” She and the other girls laughed louder as Cora’s face turned bright red. Willem moved them back to the depths where Cora could touch and she shot back as far as she could, but still held his arm for balance. “I was just teaching Cora to swim.” Cora was sure she detected annoyance in Willem’s voice. “Is that so?” One of the girls snickered. “I um...I never learned,” Cora stammered and made her way toward the edge of the pond. She got out of the water wringing out her pants and walked toward the sunshine to dry off. “I guess you can just add this to the list of skills, or should I say gifts, you don’t have.” Tiegly looked downright evil, her perfect golden curls tied up in two perfect spheres on the top of her head, and her lips pressed together as she sneered. Cora’s face lost all color and she froze.

  Tiegly slowly entered the water. “You didn’t think people knew? Oh, everyone knows. It’s a shame, really.” She sounded innocent, but Cora didn’t miss the malice in her words. “Care to stay and swim with us?” She lay back and floated in front of Willem. “Sorry, we were just leaving,” he pushed past her and left the pond. He walked over to Cora, and draped his arm around her shoulder stating, “Let’s head back. It’s a little crowded here.” Cora didn’t look back, but didn’t miss the girls laughing as they exited.

  On the way back to Telgria, Willem attempted to lighten the mood. They laughed about old jokes and he told her his plans for the School of Building. When the trolley arrived back at their stop they slowly made their way toward Cora’s home. “I’m sorry about what Tiegly and her friends said,” Willem broached the subject first. Cora groaned internally. She hoped he wouldn’t mention it. “It’s nothing,” Cora shrugged. She couldn’t force herself to look him in the eye though. “You aren’t any different than before,” he offered. “Thanks,” Cora sighed, “but I know that’s not true.” “Well, I don’t see you any differently.” They finally arrived at Cora’s front door as the sun was setting. “Thank you for today.” Cora stopped in front of her house and turned to face Willem. She still stood a few inches shorter than him, despite standing on the doorstep.

  “I’m going to miss having a friend in school.” “We can write to each other,” Willem offered. “You hate writing,” she laughed. “I do. But for you, I’ll write.” He held his hand to his chest and bowed, causing Cora to laugh harder. “Okay,” she smiled, “we can write.” “I guess this is where we part until our first school break.” Willem looked somber at the thought of it and continued, “I’m going to miss you, too.” He leaned forward and kissed Cora’s cheek. Then he winked and stepped off in the direction of his home. Cora bit her lip to keep from grinning and quickly went inside. Perhaps there were still a few things to look forward to.

  ✽✽✽

  The last few days with her parents felt relatively normal. Cora continued her course readings, but forced herself to leave a number of chapters for Starbury Academy. Her mother fretted about, packing and repacking Cora’s trunk for school. “I’m only going to be gone for a season,” Cora offered as she sat on the bed watching her mother. She knew better than to interrupt. “You’ve never been gone so much as a week. A season is half a year.” Her mother threw her hands up, “You’ve got to be prepared.” “I’m sure I can manage the trolley ride back here if I forget something,” she offered, but her mother just glared at her. Cora conceded and pointed to things for her mother to add to her trunk.

  Each night Cora ate dinner with her family, grateful for the normalcy that continued in the Vaunderly household. Her parents, for their part, rarely mentioned school. They asked Cora about her reading material or how she spent her days with Willem. Cora noticed her mother usually nudged Cora when asking about Willem, which caused her father to frown and abruptly change the subject. Cora soaked in every last minute with her parents as her departure neared. She had a feeling once she went to Starbury, nothing would feel the same.

  On the day she was to leave, Cora awoke before the daylight broke the early morning haze. She sat up and looked around her room, the wardrobe nearly empty and the bookshelves still filled to the brim. For a moment, she gave into the dread that always threatened to eat away at her in the back of her mind. Today should be when her life began. She thought of her old classmates, of Willem, and their families off to celebrate the next phase of their lives. Cora pulled her knees to her chest and fought back the last tears fighting to escape. She wouldn’t let herself be a sad heap for the next two years; she was determined to fly through the reading and learn everything she could about all of the gifts. After all, she only had to wait five more months to request a second Reading. She would not fail twice.

  ✽✽✽

  Starbury Academy was on the opposite side of Telgria from Cora’s home. Though every school was wit
hin an hour trolley ride, Cora had to switch trolleys near the center of Telgria, which made her trip slightly longer. Unlike the other schools, Starbury Academy did not offer an admittance ceremony, so her parents would not need to accompany her to her destination. They embraced Cora when she walked into the kitchen and offered her words of encouragement. “We’re very proud of you,” her father stated. Cora rolled her eyes in response and sank down into the chair next to him. “Cora,” her mother slid a plate of food in front of her, “think positively. This isn’t a death sentence.” “Isn’t it?” Cora raised her eyebrows and took a bite of food.

  Both her parents shook their head and began to eat. “I hope to have my new school placement before I’m back for school breaks,” Cora said in between bites. “That’s wonderful.” Her parents looked at each other briefly. “I can ask for a Reading in five months and after the breaks I can transfer to my new school. If it’s the School of Healing I won’t even be behind. I’ve already read most of the first-year material,” Cora said matter of factly. Her parents simply smiled and continued eating. When they finished, Cora collected their plates and set them in the sink.

  Her father left to retrieve Cora’s trunk and her mother stood to hang up her apron. It would be their last meal together for the foreseeable future. “Well,” Cora’s father placed her trunk by the door with a gentle thud, “I wish you could stay longer, but I don’t want you to miss the trolley.” Cora’s mother handed her daughter her coat and hugged her tightly. “Don’t forget how amazing you are,” she whispered. Cora smiled. “I expect you to write us often.” Her father pointed to their letter box. “I will,” Cora hugged him. She promised to write as soon as she arrived and rolled her trunk out the door.