The Apple of My Eye: A Collection Of Short Stories

Magic and Misery

The air was thick with fairies, pixies, and a shimmering cloud of pixie dust, dazzling the Elven Prince's vision. His frenemy flailed wildly, head jerking in all directions, gasping as he tried to dispel the enchanting haze.

"Goddamn fairy dust! Totally lame!" spat Cartman. 

Kyle swung his hand back, 'accidentally' striking Cartman across the face.

"Whoops, sorry fatass," he snickered back. 

Cartman clenched his jaw, jabbing his index finger onto Kyle's nose tip.

"You better be sorry before I blast you with my staff!"

A resounding thud reverberated off the wooden desk. Kyle clutched his ears, teeth clenched, as the intensity of the noise pierced his hearing.

"Not paying attention, are we now Mr. Broflovski?" Professor Baba Yaga hovered above the young misfits. "It would be a shame if Miss White were to find out that her newest group of exchange friends were nothing but trouble. How that would tarnish her reputation."

Kyle let out a quiet sigh, wanting to avoid any further confrontation. Baba Yaga drifted back to her desk, and as she settled, a piece of chalk lifted into the air, scribbling across the board at the front of the classroom. Kyle slipped on his red glasses, sharpening his focus on the chalkboard to decipher the day's lesson: The Magic in The Land of Ever After.

 "Today we will be learning the different types of magical properties. The main types are fire, earth, water, ice, light, and dark. Generally, each person who is magic-sensitive will fall under one of those categories."

A book floated before Baba Yaga, its pages flipping to the current lesson.

"Like myself, most witches or sorcerers are rooted in dark magic," she declared.

The chalk sketched a diagram on the board, connecting various elements with lines to form a chart.

"For your assignment, use to the spells in your thronework packet to help you identify your magic category."

'So, the magic here does follow a formula then,' Kyle pondered.

Recalling his own magic, Kyle remembered that his spells typically involved air, which wasn't listed by Professor Baba Yaga. 

Kyle gestured emphatically. "Professor Yaga, what about air?"

Baba Yaga whirled to face him. "What about it, child?"

"I specialize in air-based magic, but I notice it's missing from the elements on the board."

The witch touched her chin thoughtfully, her fingers tapping together as she pondered deeply.

"Air is a rare element, one of the most potent among the six. Without air, fire cannot grow, ice cannot freeze, water cannot dance, and earth cannot bloom. It also serves as a protective barrier against the intense waves of light and the chilling waves of dark magic. Air is the foundational element that enables the others to function in our daily lives."

Cartman slammed his hand on the desk. "That's not fair! Why does the freakin' ginger get a rare element?"

That's because he has main-character syndrome.

"That's not helping, Narrator," hushed Kyle.

Baba Yaga darted her head back, "What was that, Kyle?"

Kyle shook his head in retreat. "Nothing..." Baba Yaga let out one of her infamous annoyed sighs before the bell rang for dismissal.

"Before you leave, Kyle, I suggest you practice these spells to understand how your air magic can enhance them. A hero's journey is about testing their boundaries," he was advised.