If You Trust Me - An Onward Fan-Novel

◊ Chapter 5 ◊

Previously on Onward...

A new history teacher named Mr. Vance has a picture of the talisman the Lightfoot brothers have found! So Ian approaches him after class in hopes of finding out more about the mysterious artifact. In addition to learning that it's called the S.S. Medallion and that it was once in the teacher's possession, Ian agrees to have Mr. Vance study the talisman in order to figure out its purpose.

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◊ Forging a Deal ◊

Hours later, Ian's school day finally ended. The teenage elf had planned on walking home like he'd done this morning on this gorgeous afternoon. But as soon as he left the building and made his way down the front steps, he was quick to notice Guinevere the Second parked on the curb just a couple meters away.

"Barley?" Ian questioned out loud to himself. "What's he doing here?"

He had figured what with how many books the older elf had stuffed in his room that there was no way Barley would've wanted to rest until he'd gone through every single one of them. Unless, of course, he did. But the younger Lightfoot didn't know for sure. All he knew was, he'd sent his brother several text messages all day desperately trying to tell him that he had important news to share that just couldn't wait until this afternoon, only to get no answer. Yet, here his brother was now, finally answering him in the form of transportation!

In a matter of seconds, Barley poked his head out of the passenger side window, and waved to his younger brother.

Despite showing up unannounced with yet another generous offer to pick him up from school, Ian waved back to the older Lightfoot with a smile. Then he gladly began to walk over to Guinevere the Second. But as he did so, the younger elf thought he heard someone calling his name from afar.

"Ian! Over here!"

Peeking over his right shoulder, Ian saw that it was Mr. Vance of all people.

The teacher was hanging out in the shade beside the front steps. He leaned back against the brick wall of the high school, all while sporting a pair of sunglasses atop his crazy cool hair along with his usual rectangular shades. He waved.

"Mr. Vance?" the younger Lightfoot asked, confused.

His eyes focused back over at Barley for a brief moment—who sat in the van with his fingers clutching the open window—then they returned to where his substitute teacher was waiting for him. Whatever it was that Mr. Vance wanted to tell him, Ian knew that it just had to be important—especially if it was something that couldn't possibly wait until their meeting tomorrow. A meeting which—now that he really thought about it—felt like a hasty decision on his part. Not that he really had the time to make a thoughtful decision in the minutes he had before his second period. Perhaps more details weren't such a bad idea after all.

So the younger elf turned back and decided to go over to the teacher for a minute and see what he wanted. Plus, as he was now just remembering from seeing Barley in the distance, it was also his chance to let Mr. Vance know that his brother was also a part of the S.S. Medallion's research. There was no way in all the realms that Ian wanted to continue this quest and learn more about the talisman's secrets without Barley right by his side. And soon he would let his older brother know about Mr. Vance and his expertise. Ian figured if Barley was chill about looking through several books that he probably also wouldn't mind letting another expert in on the quest. Particularly if it was someone that had a specialty in magical artifacts.