The school of Bermuda - Volume 2 - The Sea Monster

-16-

The Bermuda School
September 1991

The magic classes had started a week ago. In the park, immersed in a book of history and legends, Eloïsa Poussin listened amusedly to the comments of her friend, Sara Harisson.

"Look at those two," remarked the Tahitian girl, pointing at two third-year boys. "Aren't they cute?"

"Not really my type," replied the redhead, lifting her nose from her book to see what Sara was showing her.

"Not for you or me, Eloïsa. I'm talking about their behavior, they would make a nice couple, don't you think? Do you think they're secretly together?"

Eloïsa couldn't help but laugh. Sara and she had met on the platform while waiting for the boat, and the mixed-race girl hadn't stopped imagining couples as soon as she saw boys together, even jotting down little stories about them in a notebook or discreetly taking their pictures.

She even took out her sketchbook, quickly drawing the faces of the two boys, and then writing.

"You can write that one later," Eloïsa said, putting her book away. "We have a botany class now."

Sara pouted but followed her friend without making a fuss until they reached the greenhouses.

At eleven years old, Sara was of average height, but Eloïsa was smaller. With an angelic face and bright green eyes, whenever she smiled, one couldn't help but follow her.

She was chatting happily with Sara when she bumped into someone and fell painfully.

In front of her stood a boy in the same blue uniform, but until now, he hadn't spoken to many students, despite the adoration most girls had for him.

Eloïsa knew him well, they had been in the same primary school, although she had never known where he lived. He was a boy as much of a joker as he was a loner, who had repeated his first year at the Bermuda School, so he was a year older than her, and she had been in love with him for a long time, but had always contented herself with observing him from afar. Sara, on the other hand, imagined him with one boy or another from the school. Amos Butter was very popular, but it seemed to bore him.

"Well," scolded Sara, "you could apologize!"

"She crashed into me," Amos replied.

Angry, Sara stomped on his foot as the old professor opened the door to the greenhouse.

"What's going on here?"

"Nothing, sir," Sara replied with a smile.

Another boy, blond with round glasses, reached out his hand to help Eloïsa up. It was Donatello Tant, a very talented young student, the son of two non-wizards. In the classroom, he went to sit next to Amos.

"Honestly," he whispered. "Be nicer."

"I didn't call for you," his classmate replied.

"You really don't make any effort. You could at least apologize, I thought you were in the same school before."

"That doesn't mean I was friends with this crybaby."

The teacher called them to order and began his class.

At the end of the day, Sara, Eloïsa, and Donatello settled in the park. As they chatted without paying attention to their surroundings, someone called out to them.

"Poussin, did you lose something? Look up."

The three friends looked up, noticing Amos, holding Eloïsa's bag in his hand. He let himself fall from the branch where he was perched, landing easily and in perfect balance.

"You left it in the greenhouse," he said, handing his classmate her bag.

"You came all the way here to give it back to me?" the redhead asked, standing up.

"No, no, I was dying to read Sara's crazy stories... Of course, scatterbrain!"

He flicked her forehead.

"The day you forget your head, don't count on me to bring it back to you.

"You see, when you want," teased Sara, "you can make an effort with our little goddess. Are my stories really interesting to you?"

"Of course not."

Amos joined them, not speaking to them more than before, but he got used to staying in their little group. He usually sat next to Eloïsa in class. He joined the elected officials' team with Donatello and Sara.

One evening in December, after their day of classes, he invited Eloïsa to follow him. Taking their brooms, he led her to the roof of the castle, covered in snow.

"But why did you bring me here?" the girl asked, rubbing her arms.

Amos put his cloak on her shoulders while signaling her to be quiet.

"Look."

He pointed to the forest, from where they could see the chimeras coming out to sniff around the school in search of tender flesh.

However, when they got too close to the castle, they seemed to be suddenly repelled with force and ran away.

Leaning slightly, Eloïsa noticed that different creatures were stationed around the building to protect it. These were the invocations of the school staff. The teachers, the caretaker, the nurse, the cook, the farmer, the detention supervisor, all their invocations were there. So this was happening every night?

Without a word, Amos tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to the edge of the forest. As most of the chimeras hurried back into the trees, chased away by the invocations, a few shining unicorns ventured outside.

Eloïsa watched them, her eyes sparkling. This time, the protectors of the school let the white animals wander freely near the walls, until a low growl, sounding nothing like a chimera's, echoed in the night. A dark silhouette, vaguely humanoid, with an impressive mane emerged from the woods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lili jumped when Alonzo let go of her, he seemed out of breath.

"What's happening?" the girl asked.

"Not enough energy," he replied. "I'm sorry, I can't show you everything at once. But it's already not bad, right?"

Lili nodded silently. What had seemed strange to her was the unrealistic feeling that Amos' feelings for Eloïsa were strong... and sincere.