Riveildian tales

Once upon a blue moon (part 1)

It had been hours since the duskbell's chimes rang throughout the lands of Riveildia. Well within the castle walls of the Riveildian senior institute for young minds, Professor Adeline sat in her office concluding the last of her records for the day. Being the headmistress of the Riveildian institute meant a lot of paperwork for Professor Adeline, working beneath a candle light was something she did almost every day. She packed up the last of her papers and stored them neatly in her desk drawers.

Professor Adeline wrapped a peach coloured wool scarf tightly around her shoulders as she exited her office. The hallways of the school were silent. The ends of her days were the only times Professor Adeline witnessed the school completely silent, free of the noise and ruckus caused by students. The entire school was illuminated by many rows of candle lamps, they were each mounted high on the walls of the castle.

"Professor Adeline." A thick voice called from the doors of the school's alchemy lab. Professor Adeline turned to her side. She was aware there was only one more person aside from her that stayed in the school this late.

"Professor Hamphyll, Glad to see you're back to burning the midnight oil again. How are you feeling now?" she said. Gregor Hamphyll was dressed in a long brown robe and a black silk overcoat. Unlike his scruffy beard, his hair was combed neatly, displaying its grey streak as a smooth line running along the side of his head. Aside from Professor Adeline herself, Professor Hamphyll's great big stature allowed him to stand easily above everyone in the school.

"Well I do still smell like timber and leaves from time to time, but I'm fine for the most part." He said with a dry chuckle. Professor Hamphyll is known as one of the best alchemist in the kingdom, but because of an experiment gone wrong, he had accidentally turned himself into a tree for the past few years and was only freed of his self-made bondage of recent by Professor Adeline herself. The two Professors made their way out of the school together.

The night came with a chill, Professor Adeline clutched her wool scarf tight as they exited the school buildings. She looked up at the full moon which spread its glow well across the grassy fields.

"Strange, isn't it?" Professor Hamphyll said,

"It's the fifth night with a full moon." Professor Adeline said, she rose her right hand in the air and waved it gently. One by one, all the candles in the castle began dimming to darkness.

"I've been studying the charts, I think there's an interesting reason for this anomaly." Professor Adeline looked to Gregor,

"What is it?" she asked,

"Based on the length of recent days and the behaviour of the moon, I'm certain there's a blue moon coming." Professor Adeline's eyes widened in shock, she smiled a little before saying,

"When is it supposed to happen?"

"If my measurements are correct, then it should be three nights from now. I've already sent a message to the palace." He said stroking the white streak of his beard. The two continued on their way,

"How lucky I am to witness two blue moons in my life time." Professor Adeline said.

"Can anyone tell me what a blue moon is?" Mr Hamphyll asked the class during an early morning. Only one person seemed to have the answer to his question, or at least was eager to answer it.
"...anyone except for Thomas." Mr Hamphyll added as he glared at the rest of the class. Thomas wasn't exactly a teacher's pet to Mr Hamphyll, but he knew he could always rely on Thomas to give a correct answer to his questions. But Thomas wasn't his only student, he scanned the entire class trying to decide who he'd have attempt the question.