Embracing Hope

Chapter 3

Whisper Of The Heart 

Karen is sitting at a large desk in the library with a small stack of books. Students are walking around looking through shelves, soft murmuring can be heard around the spacious study room. The Academy offers a few hours of studying for students before the end of the day, giving more free time to students for personal use when in their dorms or in town. She is leaning back in the chair with a book open, reading intently, behind the cover however, is a gossip magazine that peeks out from the book slightly. Rocking back and forth in the chair, her ears perk slightly, hearing the students talking behind her."I think he's super cute, I have thought about asking him to the Ball" a girl's voice says and another replies."Really? Him?? He can't even fly, Yui, what do you even see in him?""I just think he's cute and you saw him yesterday, just running around with his broom, over and over. He's determined and I like that in a guy." Yui says, letting out a soft giggle. Karen turns her head, eyes catching the calico's splotchy fur. Her mind flashes back to the courtyard on the first day of class, watching behind a pillar as Benjamin and Yui talk, before heading to class. The other girl, ablack panther, looks back to Yui to see Karen's stare and nudges Yui a little."Hey that's Karen right, his best friend? Why don't you ask if she knows if he has a date to the Ball? I bet she knows." Yui lets out a whispered hush towards the panther, not facing Karen."W-What? No no, keep it down, I don't know what I would say!"she whispers. Karen smirks, dropping her book with a loud thud on the desk, the magazine she was reading slips out onto the floor, the cover showing a witch being restrained, the title reading Fall From Great Heights: The Tension Name Disgraced By Murder, the sound catching the attention of other students, who look up from their books. Clearly not thinking about the rest of the library, apologetically she nods towards them before getting up, strolling over to the pair behind her desk."So someone likes Benjamin huh? Well I'm sorry to say someone already asked him to the Ball". Karen says sitting on the desk, leaning over looking at Yui, who pouts."O-oh really? Huh...""Yeah, so you should forget about asking him out, it might save you some heartache. Please don't tell him you know about his date, he wanted to keep it hush-hush." She winks at Yui as the panther girl taps her claws along the desk."That makes sense, who would want to admit they are on a date with the worst student at this Academy, I bet it was a dare, right Karen?" The panther girl chuckles as Karen nods, smiling, before leaving the pair, waving. As she walks towards the entrance with her book in hand, she takes a moment to glance back at Yui, who is looking down sadly, but her face not one of a defeated rival.The bell rings across the cavern. Benjamin stretches, walking out of the entrance yawning, looking around past the students trying to see Karen. He decides to walk over to the south entrance of the forest and wait for her. Students filter throughout the hour he waited. He keeps checking his watch sighing and flicking his tail annoyed."Where isshe? Gahhh it's getting cold!"He shivers before a crack from above the trees and a voice yells out."INCOMING! WATCH OUT BELOW!" Karen suddenly falls through the canopy above him and into a bush near Ben who just stares, surprised. Realizing it was Karen he rushes over to her aid, his paws pulling her out. She giggles, brushing herself off as twigs and leaves stick to her fur."I thought you could fly?" he remarks, staring at her as she huffs and shakes her body, getting the debris off her."I thought you could fly too but you don't see me complaining about it!" Ben lets out a scoff and Karen crosses her arms, smirking."Hey that's a low blow even for you!" She just grins, then taking his paw, tugs him into the foliage."Come on! This will be so cool, it's almost time!""Time for what? Where are we going?" "You'll see, scaredy cat", she teases.The trees rustle as Karen bursts through, emerging into a small clearing. A sparkling pool rests in the center. Benjamin gazes over it in awe and she spins around, enjoying the open area."Whoa...this is so pretty". Ben says and Karen nods, putting her paws on her hips proudly."Found by yours truly. I thought you would like it, the trees told me about it and I had to show someone else!""Well the trees must know some really cool places huh?" Ben says walking up to the lake, looking at the reflection. Karen watches him before looking over his shoulder, gazing into the pool."I actually wanted to ask you a favour.... you see, well uh", she mumbles. He tilts his head, flicking his ear, a little curious. Karen moves towards one of the trees, gazing up into the branches, then back towards Ben. "I wanted to combine our powers, I wanted to try mine with yours and use it on the trees!" Ben's eyes widen, he is a little surprised, staring at her. He rubs his arm."W-Wait really?? But isn't that more...advanced magic? We have really barely learned any spells and what if we aren't able to combine? It could be dangerous!" he says, looking back at the reflection in the pool."I just thought it could be fun you know. The trees hearing yourvoice and feeling your magic might bring them happiness, but if you are too scared then we can just go home"."Well I mean I haven't ever really combined powers before so it could be fun to try, but you promise we'll be safe?" he asks nervously. Karen eagerly nods. Her eyes brighten and she pulls out her wand, then places both her paws out in front of her, pads facing up."Keep a hold of my paws otherwise the trees won't hear you, okay?"she saysfirmly. Ben nods, walking up. He places his pawsin hers as voices suddenly fill his ears...no, his mind, whispering and echoescoming from all directions. He reaches a paw into his robe, takes out his wand and looks around, thinking for a moment, his eyes falling upon the lake."The water blue, like the sky above, reflecting ourselves as ugly asit may be, the real selves, the ones we don't want to see" As his song echoes out, Karen closes her eyes and the trees rustle, carrying his voice through their branches. "So let ussee, let us be free, free to be ourselves, and live tonight carelessly".The trees glow as lights appear around the clearing. Karen smiles, looking around, flicking her wand, twirling it, singing as well."Aachnu, maamu sotech, nyeph two kiemphh" "We'll raise our voices, high into the sky".He sings out. Roots begin to grow out of the ground. Karen tugs Benjamin towards the root, jumping up onto it as it grows. The trees moves and grow larger, their branches twisting and turning as thetwo climb higher and higher above the clearing. "To leave thisworld, so far behind, to forget our worries and just for tonight, I can let my power show, let it grow, let it be free", he sings as the trees push the pair higher. Karen keeps a firm grasp on his paws, herwand glowing as she hums with him before the growing stops. They are now standing in a small tree-house-like structure made from the branches and they tower above the forest."Wow...the trees certainly responded to that ha-ha, look how high we are! I can see my house from here!" she smiles, wagging her tail jumping around excitedly, looking out the branch window before the setting sun glows around her. Turning to face Ben she holds her paw out. "Want to be my plus-one to the witches Ball?" Benjamin stares, still surprised about what they have done, slowly registering what she asked. His face reddens and Karen sees his reaction."W-Well..." he stutters."Oh! I don't mean like a date or anything, I mean as best friends, cause since we are both new students and you don't really have many friends I thought it would be nice to go together, no?" She smiles awkwardly.