Twilight Shadows

Chapter 44

Grunting as I trained with the Headmaster the next morning, I tried my best to heal the twelfth withered flower in a row. Suddenly, the flower bloomed and regained its usual colour.

Wiping the sweat off my brow, I asked the Headmaster, "If the Tree is dying, and you still have your power... Come again, how does that make sense?"

Headmaster Dyson smiled. "I am, after all, the Headmaster. Headmasters know almost everything, if I must say so myself."

I nodded, not wanting the question the topic further. So far, I had not fallen unconscious, and my healing powers had become stronger and faster. I had healed twelve flowers in less than thirty seconds.

"Well, I know everything," A grinning Derrick said beside me. 

I distinctly heard Headmaster Dyson mutter, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," and continued on. "Stephanie, you may do the pleasure of knocking the teeth out of Derrick's mouth and healing it."

I rubbed my hands together and smiled wickedly. "Ready?" I teased Derrick.

Derrick crossed his arms over his chest. "If you must," He shrugged. "This is a horrible example of bullying, my fair warrior. And I thought you were fair, as in equal." Derrick smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "In past adventures, I never fought fairly. And I won't this time either; no mercy."

Derrick sighed and waved his hand. A wall of flame erupted between us, getting higher and wider. Surprisingly, the grass and the trees around us didn't seem affected by the fire.

"Magic," Derrick said from the other side.

He stepped through the wall of fire, unharmed, and the flames died away.

"Okay, that's enough, you two." Headmaster Dyson said. "Stephanie, back to training. Derrick, you and I have a few things to talk about. That's why you were sent here from your kingdom in the first place."

Curious, I peered at Derrick. No emotion. He swiftly walked over to the Headmaster, and they began to talk in hushed voices.

I turned my attention back to the remaining three flower pots, each with a dozen wilted flowers. Sighing, I lazily restored all 36 of them in one clean flick of my wrist. Throughout the morning, my powers had gotten stronger, and now I could basically heal anything.

"Headmaster Dyson," I called out to the pair of them talking under the shade of a tree. "I'm done with these flowers. What next?"

Headmaster Dyson walked over to me, Derrick in tow.

"Well, let's see you try and repair - " The Headmaster was cut off shortly by Derrick.

"Try and fail," Derrick nodded his head. "Continue, Headmaster." He grinned.

" - The school." Headmaster Dyson ignored Derrick's comment. "We'll start with the part facing the east, which is where most of the damage was caused."

~💖~  

I stared up at the pile of rubbish caused from the Hell Hound. Giant pieces of stone crumpled, furniture, rugs, and doors piled on top of it.

"Um, Headmaster?" I said, unsure. "I don't think I can do that."

"If you can't do that, and you fail, always learn from your mistakes." Derrick winked at me. I wanted to puke, quickly swallowing the bile that was making its way from my stomach to my throat.

"Stephanie, believe in yourself. Trust me, the Obsidian Tree is way worse than this. Once you get through the Tree - " Headmaster Dyson was cut off by Derrick.