Legends Of Westbury

Chapter Sixteen

The class should've been the best thing to ever happen to Celeste. After Valerien had shown up at Celeste's door that morning, telling her that he was tasked to bring her to her first class, Celeste was excited. Something that had nothing to do with the fact that Valerien said that her dress was pretty on her. No, Celeste was excited that she'd be learning magic, no other reason whatsoever. After all, no one in her family had ever speculated that the quest to find the stone could involve something like this. Celeste had never even thought that magic was something humans could control. Everyone had always thought that the stone's magic was from nature or something. No one had ever given it much thought. Celeste could hardly contain her excitement. 

As Valerien knocked on a small door, it was all Celeste could do not to squeal. The door opened and Jex stepped out of the room.

"Yes," he said, looking annoyed.

"Your- your mother wants you to- to teach Ms. Celeste and Ms. Kelly," said stuttered Valrein.

"Does it look like I have time to teach two little girls? I have been asked to help the University of Haveni conduct a study on bittersnap," said Jex, glaring at Celeste as if it was her fault that his mom wanted him to teach her.

"I- I know that- that y- you're very- very busy, b- b- but-"

"B- b- but what? Tell Hadley that he should be teaching them," said Jex.

Celeste was surprised. Jex had seemed nice enough last night.

"H- Henley is going to teach them as well. Y- your m- mother just thought-"

"Ugh. alright. I do someone to explain it to. If I explain it to girls then I'll understand bittersnap enhancers even better," Jex said, glaring at Celeste.

"What is an enhancer?"

"A special piece of technology that enhances magic," said Jex, "I doubt that you would understand how it works."

"Why not?" Celeste said.

"because you're a girl and girls can't even begin to understand the things we boys learn at Haveni."

Celeste wanted to punch Jex in the face. Of course, such a self-important jerk would be sexist. Several people in her family's business were just as self-important and sexist. Some of them said that only a boy could be the finders of the stone. Her mom had told her that the best way to fight sexism was to prove them wrong.

"Try me."

<<<:::>>>

An hour later, after Kelly had joined the class, Celeste wanted to bang her head on the desk. Jex had explained how the bittersnap worked, and it was the most boring thing that Celeste had ever experienced. She could understand how the enhancers work all right. She also could answer all of the review questions that Jex asked them. He might have been a grumpy, sexist, jerk-face, but he was a good teacher.

"Why is bittersnap the best way to make an enhancer?" asked Jex.

"Because bittersnap is a natural enhancer of health. With the right nutrients, a bittersnap plant can enhance more than just health. It can create people so powerful, that they don't need training, or, at least very little," said Celeste.

"An acceptable answer. Does anyone have any theories on what would happen if you gave a child a bittersnap enhancer?"

"They would burn the house down?" suggested Kelly.

"No. The enhancer is designed to control abilities just as much as it is to enhance them. I wouldn't expect a girl to know the difference though," Jex said with a smug smile.