Riveildian tales

The Legendary Jo'r beast

Riveildia is a land filled with marvels, wonders and mysteries. But not all of its wonders are spectacles for all to see, some are mysteries, hidden from all but those who seek it. Those who dare to face it.

It was just past noon in the Riveildian institute and the beginning of the midday break. While most students prepared to have lunch, some just spent their time resting with their friends. The grassy school grounds had many spots that allowed such leisure. Like the pleasant bower a cherry tree created in the middle of the school grounds. Here, four friends sat discussing anything and everything they'd deemed entertaining enough to pass the time.

"Wait, so if I understand correctly, in some way, your mother still cooks for you." Amice said with a confused look in her eyes. Luciana tore a piece of the bread she was eating and said;

"Well, I always use the allowance Professor Adeline gives me to buy the ingredients I need. And mother always guides me through the cooking and preparation process." Amice, Oliver and Thomas looked amazed from this. Luciana's mother had died years ago, but being a witch, she cursed Luciana with a spell that kept her ghost around. Being a witch also, Luciana had no problems sensing her presence when no one else was around. It amazed the three friends how Luciana could still talk to her mother as though she were still alive. "She thinks I'm still unprepared to cook for myself." A sentiment Oliver could relate to seeing as his mother hardly let him in the kitchen.

"How do you hear her?" Oliver asked,

"Well, it's a bit complicated," Luciana said, softly. "Being haunted means I have to watch out for the signs." She threw the last piece of her bread in her mouth and leaned against the tree, for someone with social anxiety like hers' Luciana had come a long way with this group of friends. "Sometimes it may be a chilling wind whispering subtle words to you, sometimes it may be the clanking of my silverware to warn me that I'm doing something wrong, one way or another it just happens."

"Wouldn't it be faster if she just possessed you?" Thomas asked, Just then a shadow cast on both Amice and Oliver's face.

"It's extremely uncomfortable." Luciana said, and the slight nod Amice gave indicated that she agreed. An awkward silence filled the air, it seemed that aside from Thomas, these friends had memories of Luciana's mother's possessions that they would rather forget.

"In other news..." Oliver said wanting to change the atmosphere, "I learnt something interesting a while back." The other three looked at him as he gave a satisfied smile. "Turns out, Click-clacks knows everything."

"I don't understand," Thomas said, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, he knows basically...everything. It's like an all-knowing bestiary." Oliver leaned back with a cunning grin and continued, "I've been having it do all my homework for the past few days now."

"Wow, I feel it would make more sense if Professor Adeline made it a talking book rather than a clock then." Amice said. Luciana stroked her chin for a while and said;

"Do you think it knows about the beast: Jo'r?" Thomas eyed her as though she had said something crazy,

"You really believe it's real?" he said with a scoff. Luciana looked away trying to cover her embarrassment, suddenly Thomas felt awful for laughing at her,

"Well," she said forcing herself to look at Oliver, "if Oliver is right then we have a way to find out now." She said, Both Amice and Oliver didn't have the slightest clue about what Thomas and Luciana had been talking about.

"What is the jo'r beast?" Amice asked, Thomas and Luciana exchanged glances before Thomas said;

"It's a beast rumored to exist somewhere here in Riveildia. It is said to be so large that if it were enraged, all the lands of this kingdom would tremble along with it."