Wizards: Tales Of Arcadia

No More Magic

"Fine!" Tobias exclaimed, giving up the fight for that Gaggletack that had been going around school. "We'll do it later." The bell rang and Jim was distracted enough for Tobias to grab it from his hands and throw it at Strickler's feet. His shoes almost touched it.

Jim quickly apologized before going to retrieve it, however, Toby moved his arm in front of his tall, lanky friend, stopping him in his tracks. "Uh, mind picking that up for us, Mr. S?" Stickler scoffed, expression unreadable.

"And waste such idle hands as your own, Mr. Domzalski?"

"Our backs. Coach Lawrence put us through the wringer this morning," Jim chuckled. He must have deemed it OK enough to check, if only to put Tobias' worries to rest. Smart, but so was Stickler. He was also keyed on to the pair of eyes watching the interaction.

"Here you go, Mr. Strickler," Claire said, saving him the trouble of navigating picking up the Gaggletack. "Here's your horseshoe back."

"Thank you, Ms. Nunez, but that belongs to Mr. Lake," Strickler evaded, careful to not make it obvious that he was backing away from the 'horseshoe'.

"Oh. Well, that would explain the flying horseshoes. So not going to ask." She handed the horseshoe to Jim and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as he let out a chuckle. Strickler came to his side - mocking him. Claire raised her eyebrow at his actions, so he worded his sentence carefully.

"Take care of your back, Young Atlas. Such is the danger of carrying the world on one's shoulders." As he left the Trollhunter and his friends to their devices, he let his eyes train on the culprit of his being watched feeling.

She was on her phone now, easy to miss the frantic way that typed. It was in her body language. She looked 18, but she held herself like she was accustomed to being around those this age, but a different way. A wisdom beyond her years it seemed.

"Hey, Douxie?" She said into her phone, making a call though the school day was still ongoing and 7th period was starting. "I think- I'm coming home. Right now."

. . .

She teleported again, this time to her room. But she didn't get much further for a long while due to an onset panic attack. That made three within a week. What was happening? Why was she so weak? Archie insisted that wasn't the case when he came to help her but she just absently pet him.

"Angel? Angel? Oh, Fuzzbuckets." Douxie had come in, the keys jangling after the door closed. It was a mundane but comforting sound. Her attack was nearly over now, but the feeling was still there. It was just like all the times before. "Are you ok, what happened?"

"She had another panic attack," Archie answered, Angel giving him a smile in thanks.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here," Douxie apologized.

"I don't even know what's triggering them," Angel scoffed, her voice strained and eyes red from crying. Strands of hair were stuck to her face with the wetness; Douxie moved them away, cupping her face in his hands as he touched his forehead to hers.

"We'll get through this, love. Promise."

"If I may," Archie spoke, adjusting his glasses. "I have a theory as to what's causing them." Douxie sat down next to her, pulling her to his chest. It only took a little nod from him for the familiar to continue. "The first time this happened, you were teaching her a new spell. And with that, you told her to focus on her fear to help it work, which is what she feels during her attacks."

"Bleeding Balroths, I never-"

"Don't do that," Angel and Archie said together. The wizard had wide eyes during Archie's words, immediately feeling guilty about the whole thing.