Wizards

CHAPTER 19: Plot Under The Chaos

The class of Self-Defence hadn't been the same since the demise of Professor Valir. His loud and passionate voice that used to shake the grounds in every discussion was replaced with a quiet and lifeless lecture of Professor Eliot Reeve.

     Rei, suddenly finding herself focused on Eliot, yawned. The curriculum has been changed since the Familiar Ball, and while Professor Valir believed in offense-is-a-great-defense strategy — Eliot believed in a more defense-focused approach.

     "The first thing you need to understand about barriers is that its strength relies on your focus — of course, that bodes well too with every spell you cast. It all depends on focus." Eliot took his wand off of his pocket, "Just point your wand forward, and say the incantation clearly . . . Defenda Septum"

     A crystal-like barrier covered Eliot like a dome. As soon as he let down his wand, the barrier collapsed and disappeared.

     "Come down, all of you, and grab a partner. One will cast an offensive spell and the other will cast ward spell. . . . Now."

     Everyone went straight to the circular arena and grabbed their best of friends. Rei watched everyone got picked one by one, their eyes darting at her with disdain. Each partner started doing the task. But for safety purposes, one cannot cast an offensive spell until the other was able to produce any ward. None of them was able to do so for the past fifteen minutes.

     Rei didn't bother to look for a partner — mainly because nobody wanted to come near her.

     "Griffin," Eliot. He pointed his wand to her and said, "Barriers up."

     Rei took out her wand and said "Defenda Septum!"

     A barrier formed to Rei's protection as she faces Eliot's glare.

     "Ready?"

     Rei held her position and clenched her jaw.

     "Ivato!" said Eliot. The barrier shattered and the spell sent Rei flying back and hitting the ground. Everyone laughed.

     It felt like fifty men pushed Rei. She got up and walked out of the arena with a wound on her right elbow.

     "Griffin!" called Eliot, but she kept on walking.

     Rei reached the hallway going straight to the dorms where she found Neil walking opposite her direction.

     "Rei!" he called.

     Rei kept on walking.

     "Is something wrong?" he asked. Rei felt Neil's turn but stopped after the first step — the same moment her head throbbed.

     Rei went straight to Room 400 . . . still empty. She reached for her phone that was safely placed on the bedside table. She dialed. . . . It has been months — three to be exact — since Jovial was sent to his mission and even now he hasn't made a single call.

     There were series of beeps on the other side of the line. Time passed and the sun went down. Rei kept on reaching both Jovial and Brooke for the whole remainder of the day since walking out from Eliot's class. And both haven't called back nor replied.

     Morning came. Rei woke up in a still-empty room.

     "That's right. . . . Tomorrow's Saturday," said Rei, muffled under the pillow. The sunlight went through the window, it warms her skin. Within split seconds she jumped out of the bed and stumbled to shower, mumbling the words "I'm late" along the way — well, not so late. She arrived at Charms almost at the same time as Andrew Brown. And the professor filling in for Eliot wasn't as punctual and as strict as Eliot — lucky Rei.