Chapter 17
The Evaluation
Facing each other across a long table in his dining hall, Kyle kept his eyes down on the plate in front of him. The table had been made up pretty decently. A long, powder blue table runner had been set down over an oak wood table. On top, silver plates were laid out with different metal goblets and tall glasses of water beside each one. He'd also left out a pitcher for water, serving platters and extra napkins. A tall candelabra had been lit in the middle of it all, burgundy wax already starting to coat the base. Kyle's eyes shifted sheepishly in my direction when a question raised in his mind and he cleared his throat to grab my attention.
"S-so..." He stammered. "How was the journey here?"
"Fine..." I spoke, taking a sip of liquid from the goblet set on my end of the table. It was an overly sugary beverage that actually made me choke for a moment to swallow it down. Terribly cheap. "Ahem! Ugh..." Quickly, I sipped the other beverage instead. Tasted like water from the tap.
"No surprises, right? Or is this part of the evaluation?" Kyle asked me suddenly. I raised a brow.
"What are you on about?"
"When you said no one else was showing up...did you truly mean that? Is the Headmaster coming?"
"Ja, Kyle. I was the only one who voted to give you another chance. No one else is here to grade you but me."
Kyle fiddled with his fingers. There was clearly a thought on his mind. I leaned back in my seat and raised a brow to him, wanting him to just come out with whatever he had to say. After a moment, he did.
"You're grading me specifically on this evening, right? Not based on our personal relationship?"
"I'm grading based off the criteria I was provided with. I'm not immature, I'm a member of the board. I take my duties seriously."
Picking my satchel up from the floor beside me, I pulled out the envelope Merlin had sent me with, opened it and took the documents inside out. It was a few pages held together with a paperclip. The first page of three was a checklist of behaviors that had to be met whilst I had dinner with Kyle.
"You're aware of the criteria I'm speaking of, ja?"
"Well, yes. I was informed before you arrived. The Headmaster called—which is why I'm surprised he didn't show up."
"It was just a formality." I answered, conjuring a quill feather and ink. I set both aside on the tabletop with the packet. Kyle's eyes followed the papers before snapping back up to meet mine when I spoke again.
"So, this dinner? What are we having?"
"O-oh, yes! Of course!" Kyle squeaked. He cleared his throat and raised his hands in the air, clapping rather obnoxiously suddenly. It actually made me jolt. "ELVES! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"YES MASTER! WE'RE ON OUR WAY MASTER!"
It took everything in my power to keep the laughter back and somehow, I managed to do it. Even when the boys appeared from out of the archway of the kitchen, I kept my composure. I wasn't sure how long I'd last, but I'd go along with the show if that's what Kyle wanted to present to the board. The tall one and the short one came to the table, setting down a large bowl of salad and a gravy boat. The two items didn't exactly compliment one another.
"Hey, Kyle..." The tall one muttered under his breath. "I thought you asked us to set the table for more guests. Is uh...is this it?"
"Why don't you mind your business and deliver the rest of our dinner, ELF?!" Kyle spat through gritted teeth.
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The Rise of Sigmund the Sorcerer
Fanfiction"That day, I became one of few in my family. My life would never be the same. Never. I made my father proud and he made me what I am today. Thank you, Father." The story of Sigmund's rise from a family of secluded farmers to a famous, youth prodigy.
