Mage Academy

Too Many Lies

"So?" Max looks at me pleadingly.

For most of my life, I have felt different. It's horrible, hiding such a large part of yourself, I know that...

But in this case, letting everyone see this part of my life, would be ten times worse.

I bow my head in agreement, and Max sits up, relieved. "Good."

"So what does it all mean?" I ask, a little more despairingly than I would have hoped. "Why are we connected to this thing?"

At that moment, nurses walk into the room, and I know our conversation must end. Max lowers his voice.

"I don't know--"

"We have to find out." I interrupt quietly.

Max nods, and speaks quickly as the nurses advance. "Meet me at one in the morning," he says. "on the roof of the third tower. Don't tell anyone." and with that said, he gets up and walks away.

***

"What third tower? Does Mage Academy even HAVE a third tower?" Gibby says, baffled. We are walking through the empty hallways, my shoes click-clacking on the smooth wooden floors. The nurses inspected my cut, and gave me the OK to leave. They took the plaster off and everything, and the only thing left to show that the cut was even there is a small, fading scar. Apparently magical medical practices are very prompt. I'm glad I could leave, but I'm also nervous to face everyone. It's time for dinner now, and everyone should be on their way to the dining hall.

"I guess we'll have to find it." I shrug.

"This mansion is uncomfortably big."

"So you agree with Max, Gib?"

"I think so. It's best that we find out what's going on, before we let the world unleash their imaginations. Also known as; them thinking you are a fated evil Sorcerer."

I let out a long breath. "It's not going to be easy lying to Lydia. Or Oliver, or Guy. But mostly Lydia." I close my eyes, and Georgina comes to mind. The friend I was stripped the chance to get really close to because of keeping a secret. "I wanted to make friends here."

"You can be friends with Max."

"Max is a great guy, don't get me wrong... but I don't know if we can ever simply be "friends". Everything is just too intense when I'm with him."

Gibby jumps on my head, then over to my other shoulder. "They say that the more intense a situation, the better friends you make."

"Who says that?" I laugh. "That's awful."

"I don't know who says it--geez, kill a ghost for trying."

I snicker. "I guess it's true though."

I can hear a lot of voices now. Everyone's crowding into the dining hall, full of chatter. I hope it's not about me. Oh gosh, what if it is about me?! What if they are all staring at me as I walk up... I am not one for being the centre of attention...

I turn the corner and face the crowd, bracing myself. But no one stares; people barely look. I feel a wave of relief, and then Lydia sprints up to me, and folds me into a bear hug. Gibby wheezes as he is caught in it too. Lydia lets me go and looks at me with wide, concerned eyes. "Are you alright?!"

"Yeah, I'm fine now." I smile back gratefully.

"Oh my god, you really freaked everyone out! There was this whole search for you and everything! You two, Max and Blue, vanishing in that forest... no one knew what happened to you."

I blush. "We were lost in this dark part of the forest--"

"The Shadow Forest!!" Lydia exclaims. I raise my eyebrows. "It's the magical part of the forest. That spell that keeps humans away from Mage Academy? It unleashes magical properties, which means that all beings from Moonbeam can come here... even ones without a special Portal Pass like your mum." Lydia, who seems to know everything, continues. "that part of the forest--the Shadow Forest-- is restricted for Students. It's too dangerous, anything could be lurking in there."

I avert my gaze. "Oh. I never knew."

"My Croft forgot to tell us. So he was extra frantic when you two disappeared." We walk into the dining room and find an empty table. "We just kept waiting and waiting, and Mr Croft got more and more agitated. It was pretty funny, but we were worried too. Eventually Mr Croft had to tell Master Plato, and there was this search party--"

I groan. "That's SO embarrassing!"

"Well, Master Plato wasn't searching herself. It was Ms Fan and some other Teachers. We were told to hang around the Academy. Nobody minded-- it was fun. I explored the beach with Oliver and Guy, and we had a laugh, but you two were always in the back of our minds. Sorry we couldn't help find you. I heard you were in a pretty bad state when Mr Croft found you both."

"I feel bad for freaking people out. We got lost, and both of our Sticks got destroyed--"

"Yeah, how did that happen? Those Sticks are so strong!"

Max sat down at the table, and was looking at me. "We were going too fast... it was a big impact." I look down, the guilt settling in. I hate lying like this, but I know I have to; if Lydia found out about all of this, there was the chance that she wouldn't want anything to do with me. But deep inside, I doubt it. Anyway, I agree with Gibby; It's best to figure this out first...

"That must have really hurt!" Lydia exclaims. "I'm surprised you didn't get any injuries, Max."

"I was lucky." Max says, still looking at me.

Oliver and Guy slide onto the table, and the same questions come up. I reply similarly, feeling my neck grow hot.

"Why did you even go into the Shadow Forest?" Oliver questions, tucking into his lasagna. "It's like a black hole. Creepy."

"Lauren didn't..." I trail off, and people look at me expectantly. I realise that, other than Max, nobody knows about Lauren pushing me into the woods. They all assume that we flew in there on our own. I feel the anger rise. That selfish, vindictive girl knew where we were the entire time, and didn't tell a soul. I close my eyes briefly, calming myself. I don't want any more Lauren drama. I have enough on my plate.

"Lauren said she saw you fly into the Forest." Guy says, his brows scrunched up in confusion. He peers at my face, trying to figure something out. I speak up before he gets the chance to.

"Oh, yeah, that's what I meant," I explain hastily. "Yeah. I just flew in. It... made me curious."

"All that blackness?" Oliver shudders.

"And you flew in after her." Guy says to Max, although it's more of a statement, like he's been trying to figure this out all day. Max nods.

"You two are weird," Oliver says, shaking his head. "Is it a Fire major thing?"

"You have no idea." I sigh.