If You Trust Me - An Onward Fan-Novel

◊ Chapter 3 ◊

Previously on Onward...

Ian and Barley begin their new quest in figuring out the purpose of the mysterious talisman by going through Barley's books of yore. But they both have a hard time finding anything useful and decide to continue their research in the morning. But Ian's last-minute curiosity leads him to discovering something new about the talisman from putting it around his neck!

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◊ School of Thought ◊

It was a brand new day. The rainy thunderstorm had finally ceased, and it was now a bright and sunny Monday.

As the morning sun rose up from the distant horizon, Ian groggily woke up to his beeping alarm. Much to his annoyance, he knew exactly what this meant—that it was time to get up and go back to school today. The teenage elf knew full well what he would much rather be doing. But regardless, he and his older brother had their plan set in motion for how they would carry on with their talisman research.

Since Barley was still taking his gap year—and therefore didn't go to school—he would continue to check every book he had about magic and the days of yore on his own in hopes of finding any clues about the talisman and its nature.

In the meantime, Ian would consult New Mushroomton High's library and see if any of their books had information on the mystical relic. Despite not wanting to wake up, the younger Lightfoot decided to leave for school early to do just that before he had to go to his classes today.

Opening his desk drawer, Ian thought about bringing the talisman with him. But after trying it on last night—feeling that outlandish chill, then watching his eyes glow white—the younger elf believed walking around and wearing it would be precarious. Especially since he and Barley still had no idea what one could possibly do while wearing it. The pendant also looked quite valuable and precious all by itself. He didn't want anything bad to happen to it.

So Ian decided to leave the talisman behind in his drawer, and take it out again after school when he and Barley met back in the older elf's bedroom to report their findings. Plus, if it turned out Barley found something and needed to see the talisman, the younger Lightfoot figured his brother would know exactly where to find it. Barley was usually one to steal stuff from him every once in a while. But luckily, Ian had surveyed the talisman long enough in the last twelve-ish hours to have a clear image of it in his head. So if there was the fortunate chance that he found a picture of it in any book, he'd be able to recognize it right away.

After quickly getting dressed and packing his things for the day, Ian raced down the stairs and grabbed a quick breakfast from the kitchen. A piece of toast in his mouth, he scanned around the first floor area of the house, looking for Barley. He just had to tell his brother about what had happened before bed last night! But the younger elf couldn't find him. So he returned to the kitchen.

"Hey, Mom, is Barley up yet?" Ian asked his mother, who had just finished making herself a protein shake.

"I don't think so, sweetie. Why?"

"Oh, uh...there's-there's just something I really need to tell him, but..."

Ian glanced behind him at the basement room door—which he now realized was closed—then he rolled up his sweatshirt sleeve and looked at his watch. If he wanted to make time for research before class, he had to leave now.

"Eh, I'll just tell him later. I'm heading out now."

"Wow, already? That's early for you, mister."

But Ian had put on his backpack and was already walking backward towards the front door. "Yeah, well...gotta...gotta get back on the grind. What better way to do that than to get a head start?"