Enchanted High Book I
Chapter Seven: Disaster

February flowed into April, April flowed into July and before they knew it, it was the first day of the last term; the first of October. Enchanted High’s corridors and classrooms became more familiar, and June quickly got into a routine.

June enjoyed all her classes, and Friday, after school, she and Nicole would meet Charlie for the next stage of their training. They had worked on how to use their abilities together to their advantage; June had practice cloning herself and Nicole was more in sync with her mind control over technology.

Nicole paid a lot of visits to the swimming pool every weekend and June did all she could to learn everything about Magic Ball. When the time came for tryouts next year, she would be prepared.

The school work got trickier every day; Nicole complained about how she felt like she was wasting her time with ‘menial’ subjects like Enchanted Art and History. June also felt the pressure of homework when she spent an entire Saturday completing a drawing of the heart of a spotted beetle for Beast and Creature Science, while also studying for a Medical science test of a mermaid’s tail, and drawing up a chart for Genie studies of a lamp and labeling its parts. And on that Sunday, she had slept for the entire day, only waking up in time for supper.

The third of June marked June’s fourteenth birthday and she received many birthday wishes from people she didn’t even know. Charlie gifted her a book about advanced water manipulation, which June doubted will be put to use, but she was grateful nevertheless. The only thing that disappointed her was the lack of communication between her and Aunt Audrey. June’s birthday came and went and there hadn’t been a letter addressed to her. June had thought of writing a letter herself, but she just couldn’t find the time.

June and Nicole also met many new people whose names they’d forgotten already. It seemed as if every second of the day a new student had entered through Enchanted High’s gates. The cafeteria was constantly filled with students; the corridors were jam packed and the only time the girl’s loos weren’t completely occupied was at midnight.

Apart from the first lesson, History turned out to be a real bummer. Professor Lincoln would drone on about the past, oblivious to his asleep students. Botany was as interesting as it could get for a first year; Nicole complained about the subject a lot. Sorcery and Medical Science grasped June’s attention from the very first lesson, but the subject she loathed the most was Technology. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t change her attitude to like the subject and to make it worse, the teacher – Professor Colton – disliked her for some reason. There was always that one teacher who could be your worst enemy.

‘Alright class, let’s start with something simple, shall we?’

Professor Smith, the Talents teacher, addressed her class one Tuesday morning. It was the second period of the day and the sun was high up, shining through the big glass windows of the classroom.

‘Everybody in this classroom has the power to manipulate water,’ Smith continued. ‘What I am going to do today is teach you how to be in control of that power.’

She teacher held her hand forward and then brought it closer, as if grasping some invisible item from the air. As she did, a glass cup filled with a liquid rose up from the table and slowly approached her in the rhythm of her hand. Once the cup reached her she emptied its contents in midair and placed the cup on the table beside her.

She gestured to the hovering patch of water. ‘Your task: Manipulate the water blob to move towards you, any volunteers?’

When nobody replied she picked one out.

‘How about you?’ Everyone shifted in their seats to see the girl seated opposite June.

‘What’s your name?’

‘Iona Kinglsey,’ said the girl.

‘Yes you, can you move the water towards you?’

‘I – I can try,’ Iona replied shyly, she lifted her hand, just as the teacher did, and the water began to move in her direction. But she lost control and it suddenly halted right above the head of the boy in front of her. Iona attempted to bring it closer but it began to tremble. Suddenly, it fell with a splash on his head. The class burst into laughter.

‘It’s not a problem,’ Professor Smith interrupted the uproar. ‘After all you are at this class to learn. What’s your name boy?’

He was wiping off the water that dripped onto his face. ‘Alston,’ he said.

‘Right, Alston, please go and dry yourself,’ Smith gestured to a door on her left. ‘That way.’

Professor Smith went on explaining that having the ability to manipulate water can indeed be very powerful. She said that there was a variety of uses and demonstrated a few. June paid very close attention. She had only one thing on her mind ever since yesterday: learning as much as she could.

‘Let’s try the task again, before we go into something that’s advanced.’ Professor reached out her hand, and another cup filled with water drifted towards her. ‘To do this, you need to focus. Clear any other thoughts and picture the liquid doing your instruction.’ She gently left the cup on her table and clicked her fingers, and then more cups with water appeared on each of the students’ tables.

‘Practice with these,’ she said. ‘Remember focus and clear other thoughts. You may begin.’

June tried it. Focus, and picture the cup doing your instruction ... she shut her eyes and pictured it rising out of the cup, hovering above her table. Then she reached out her hand, slowly lifting it up. She felt a tug on her palm, a tickle that spread from her spine to her peripheral nervous system.

Moments later, she heard cheering, for whatever reason, and she opened her eyes to see what the commotion was all about. The class was staring at her in astonishment, clapping.

A blob of water was floating above her head at arm’s length.

‘That’s excellent, June!’ the teacher seemed impressed. ‘Try swaying it from side to side,’ she suggested.

June didn’t have to form an image this time. Wherever her hand went, the water followed.

Moments later, the bell rang.

‘There goes the buzzer,’ said Professor Smith. ‘And off you go,’ she waved at June, who took a quick peek at her timetable; Enchanted Art.

June entered the brightly painted classroom. There was so much to look at that once your gaze embraced the scene, it shifted from portrait to painting to paintbrush to pages. There was graffiti on one wall, abstract art hung from frames on the next wall and a wooden sculpture of a bird of prey stood opposite the teachers table. There were enchanted drawings of people who winked and waved as students walked past; paintings of animals and the sea that made strange sounds if you paid attention.

Professor Francis, the art teacher, was silently observing the classroom settling down in their seats. She was a stunning, tall and thin woman with a tiny waist. Shoulder length curls bounced as she turned her head this way and that.

June was already seated in a single desk conducting an observation herself. There was a rush of students pouring in.

‘G’day students.’

The chatter ceased.

‘Good day, mam,’ the class chorused.

‘Take a seat; we’ll begin with our lesson.’ She walked to her cupboard and pulled out sheets of blank white paper, and then passed it out to them.

’On your desks is a tool box containing some necessary paintbrushes and pencils, erasers, colored pens etcetera. You may use them to draw a picture, anything, but think before you ink. I am sure all of you know that this is Enchanted Art, meaning anything you draw would come to life. So be careful. If you draw a fire breathing dragon, then a fire breathing dragon you will get,′ she warned. ‘You may begin with a simple sketch and then add a splash of color if you will.’

June stared anxiously at the paper, thinking of something harmless to draw. She looked around the class for inspiration. Everyone seemed intimidated by the paper in front of them.

‘Hi.’

June twisted in her chair. The caller was a boy; short brown hair fringed over his forehead. His blue eyes sparkled.

He introduced himself. ‘Hubert.’

‘June.’

‘Sorry?’

‘My name. June Price.’

Hubert nodded. He studied June carefully, making her feel slightly uncomfortable.

‘Where’d you come from?’ he asked.

‘The human world,’ June said. She had gotten used to the shocked outburst of people when she said that. But Hubert didn’t even flinch.

‘I’m from Oceantide,’ Hubert said. ‘You know where that is?’

Pirates, mermaids, water manipulators, said Audrey’s voice. Your parents lived there. I lived there.

June nodded.

Hubert searched her eyes. ‘What will you draw?’

June glanced at her blank page. ‘I’m not sure.’

He tilted his head. He leaned back, revealing his drawing. It was a pencil sketch, but it was so intricately drawn, June thought it was printed. It was a castle, high on a hill, it’s towers soaring through the clouds. As June viewed the beauty of his drawing, she felt his eyes on her.

‘It’s beautiful,’ she said.

He smiled, but June missed it. For a second, she went blind – she saw his face flicker – saw flames around him, a bolt of lightning –

‘Thank you,’ he said.

The bell rang.

June dismissed the image; it was her imagination again.

Hubert stood. ‘What’s your next class?’

‘Sorcery.’

‘Mine as well.’ He did not seem surprised.

‘Good day, young witches and wizards!’

Cazoom yelled out over the din of the classroom. He stood in the front with his arm behind his back, his familiar brown shawl draped around his shoulders.

June found herself seated beside Hubert. She didn’t like the way his eyes scanned her every move. He watched her unpack her bag and lay her books neatly on her table. When she sneezed, he said ‘bless your soul’.

‘Attention class!’ Cazoom yelled again, louder this time.

Everyone immediately silenced.

Cazoom pierced his eyes sternly at each individual. ‘I am aware that you all know the rules of my classroom but I will begin today’s lesson by reminding you of them.’

The class groaned in response.

‘One,’ Cazoom continued, ‘you are not allowed to touch any potions until I have instructed so. Two, you are not allowed to cast any spells that is not within range of your syllabus. Three, most important of all, do not touch the Wishing Tree.’

June sighed. Cazoom had said these words at every lesson of Sorcery that she attended and he kept reminding them of the Wishing Tree; how sacred it was and the danger it could bring. She had not seen any real use for it. If it was so important than what was it doing here, unprotected and in the open? She looked in the direction of where Cazoom was pointing; the miniature tree that floated high above the black board.

‘This tree is considered very sacred at our school. Yes, it does grant wishes, wishes that cannot be granted by even our most skilled and experienced genies. That is why it is hidden from the world because if in the wrong hands...’ Cazoom exhaled and shook his head. ‘Nobody touches the tree.’ he finished dramatically.

There was a frightening silence.

Then, ‘Let us begin.’ Cazoom said, clicking his fingers. A leather covered book passed copies of itself to the class. June read the contents page; Hubert sat, unmoving.

‘These are harmless basics,’ he said softly.

June was about to reply, when Cazoom interrupted.

‘The Levitation Spell is your task for today. Work with your partners. Begin.’

‘You first,’ said Hubert.

June memorized the verse, with him watching carefully. She focused on her pencil, tried to lift it – but it didn’t budge.

‘You said it wrong,’ Hubert said. But suddenly, his eyes shifted to an object behind June.

She whirled around, and it took a second to digest the scene.

A great ball of blue fire bounced from one wall to another and everyone ducked out of its way frantically. There was a horrible scream as the ball of fire shot towards a girl. Desks were being flung around, and the contents of the shelves that lined the walls spilled on the floor. Flames erupted from the spots that the fire touched, but it kept moving – hitting off the walls and desks like a pinball.

Over all the chaos, June could here Cazoom yelling.

‘Which spell did you cast?’ His question was directed to a boy, hidden underneath a desk.

‘I – I don’t know,’ the boy stammered.

‘Watch out.’ Hubert warned; the ball of fire was heading straight to June. She took cover under her desk, Hubert following.

‘Everybody remain calm!’ Cazoom yelled again. But it was no use.

The students were screaming and hiding under desks as the spell rampaged across the class. Cazoom attempted to stabilize the spell, muttering complicated words and aiming it towards the disaster. But an unknown force kept reflecting it, as if some protective shield was around the fire.

‘Get out of the way!’ someone yelled. The fire sped towards a bookshelf, which fell to the ground with a loud thud.

It bounced of the wall and flew straight towards –

‘The Wishing tree!’

June gasped; all she saw was the innocent and helpless tree standing in the path of the spell.

And before anyone could do anything, the ball of fire crashed into the tree.

Remember the growling sound in the attic? I never found the source of it. It woke me up earlier this morning, and again I didn’t find any thing to blame. I mentioned it to Polkadot, she said she’d worry about it when it decides to eat her - if its not doing any harm, let it be.

But, whatever it is, it has been stealing my precious food. I’m incredibly terrified. And knowing my record for looking like a good meal to carnivores, I can take a guess that the creature won’t be deciding to eat Polkadot.

Love from all the fur on my back,

-THUG.

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