Boiling Isles: The Next Generation - Act I.

Chapter IV. - Mentor

It's been a month since Lucia started her first year at Hexside. Looking back, the brown girl felt that her first month was quite a variety.

First of all, there were the potions lessons. Although she managed to master the basics, the advanced level potions were already more difficult for her, considering that she had to use magic there, which of course Lucia did not have. On such occasions, Professor Filtrum herself helped Lucia if Paulina was not there. The brown-haired girl was grateful to the professor for that, but it didn't escape her notice that a few of her classmates, including Celeste, felt very bad that she was being singled out.

Then there was Celeste. Although the pink haired girl no longer wanted to set her on fire and was mostly cooperative with the potion when they worked as a pair, she still made Lucia's life difficult. This was mainly manifested in the fact that she liked to say that Lucia was not good at magic and that if it were up to her, people like Lucia would avoid school by far. Of course, she did all this when neither the teachers nor Lucia's friends were around. This wouldn't have bothered the brunette girl if she hadn't once witnessed the fact that quite a few of her classmates agreed with what Celeste had to say. Lucia didn't tell anyone about this because she didn't want to burden her friends and family with it.

And the beast keeping classes were a bit humiliating for Lucia. Principal Bump did say that certain measures were being taken, but Lucia didn't think they would be so drastic. While the other students were learning about normal beasts, Lucia could only study harmless, tiny creatures like the silkworm or the ice salamander. Lucia tried to prove to the beast keeping teacher, Professor Everette Fera, that she could handle more serious animals, but he refused Lucia's request every time. So the brown-haired girl could only watch her classmates' activities with envy.

And finally there was Axel. At first, Lucia thought that Axel would not really get along with her friends, but to her greatest surprise, the girl's circle of friends accepted Axel very quickly. Axel seemed to fit in well with the others. For example, he played the human gaming machines with Kevin, played music with Zelmira or helped Paulina with her homework. On the other hand, Lucia had a very strange relationship with Axel. Lucia herself didn't know why, but when the boy smiled at her or laughed at her jokes, she got strange feelings. Her heart beat faster and she felt as if butterflies were flying in her stomach. It happened more than once when Axel appeared, Lucia was able to fall and pick up quite a few bruises. Of course, Paulina healed her wounds immediately. Lucia had to admit that the treatment went very well for the ash-blonde girl, and she even saw signs of improvement in all her friends.

And that was exactly what Lucia was afraid of. While she brewed the basic potions and dealt with the small animals, her friends mastered the advanced level charms in a neat row. The more spells the others learned, the more Lucia desperately searched for ways to keep up with them. Of course, she quickly realized that she was unable to advance on her own and since her teachers did not help her, she needed a person who was outside the school's authority. And Lucia already knew which witch she had to turn to.

***

On Thursday afternoon, Lucia walked the streets of Bonesborough alone. Earlier, she had told her parents she had to do research work for a school project, so she wouldn't get home until late in the evening. Lucia didn't like lying to her mothers, but she knew very well that if she had told them what she was up to, they would have stopped her for sure. However, she was definitely going to stick up for her friends and she didn't care what kind of danger this might entail. However, all her plans may come to naught if her future mentor refuses to teach her. So, with some fear in her heart, she stopped in front of the shop she was looking for, which was called the Blight's Brew Bazaar.

Shortly before Lucia's birth, Edric and Eda opened a potion shop together, which surprisingly did quite well. Although Eda retired from making potions some time ago, Edric carried on the business alone.