The Magicians

Chapter 24- A New Friend

I had a short history lecture (it really felt like school now) and then it would be dinner time. I read my paper and it said all newbies had to go to history lectures and such until you learn the basics of "Magician History" or whatever.

I had to find another building and sit for an hour and listen to an old woman drone on about the first 3 magicians. I wasn't thrilled but I was glad to be able to sit and relax.

When I got to the building there were already a hand full of kids sitting in bean-bag chairs and an older woman with gray hair standing at the front of the room.

The room was painted light blue and at the front there was a chalk board and a world map. I moved across the room and sat in the only available bean-bag chair.

The other kids stared at me, probably because I was almost 16 and they were no older than 12. "Well, now that we have everyone, lets begin." Said the woman up front. "I'm Mrs. Newt and I will be teaching you all the basics of magician history.

The older girl next to me mumbled, "I thought we were done with school." I smiled at her. "I'm Rose." I whispered. "I know. I'm Skylar." She whispered back. I turned my attention back to the woman up front.

"Now, I assume you all know about the first 3 original magicians. Can anyone tell me there names?" A couple hands went up.

Mrs. Newt called on a young blonde girl in the front. "Rosalinda Clearwater. Michaelson Blackwood. Jonathan Castor." She said matter-of-factly. "Very good, very good, um?" The little girl answered, "Jenna Lay."

"Well very good Jenna... Now!" And the whole lecture went on like this. Jenna answered most of the questions, and was obviously the teachers favorite by the end of the day.

At one point we had to partner up and I went with Skylar. I learned a little more about her and she learned a little more about me. She was a really smart, funny girl. She was very sarcastic and snappy at times, but in the long run, I liked her.

She had long dark brown hair, tanned skin, and green eyes. She had the element power earth. She seemed none to happy to be at this camp because, "I had a perfectly good life back home. In fact, I had a great life, and some older kid had to come and ruin it by brining me here, to this mystical camp, or whatever."

"I feel the same way, except, I'm friends with the boy who brought me here. He saved my life." Skylar studied me. "So you like him?" She asked, amused. "Why does everyone ask that?"

"Well, you pretty much give it away when you talk about him. The way your cheeks flush slightly, and you say his name like he's an angel. You have to be better at hiding emotions in this field if you want to survive, sweetheart." She said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Who made you the adult?" Skylar smiled. "My parents. My mom is never really home, and my dad doesn't care about any of his kids. I have to take care of myself, and my little brothers and sisters. I had to grow up pretty fast."

My eyes got wide. "How old are you?" I asked. "13, why?" "Well, you said you had a great life, but that life doesn't sound so good."

"Everyone always says that, but you see, it's not that bad. I have one older brother who helps take care of the little siblings. I have one little brother who's 4 and twin little sisters who are 8. I'm 13. My older brother is 16. I know, big age range."

"But anyway, I'm the star soccer player on my schools team, and I got my swim team to the championships. I have a bunch of friends. I get really good grades. I really don't have much to complain about, especially now that my little sisters can do a lot for themselves and my older brother takes care of the 4 year old. I miss that life, honestly."

"Wow. That does sound like a good life. I suppose you already know my story, since it seems everyone around here knew my name before I did." Sky laughed. "Why don't you you tell it to me anyway, I don't think some of the stories I've heard about you are quite right." I laughed too.

"Well, when I was little, my dad left one night and never came home, ever. My mom used to cry on nights on end. I couldn't help her, I was just a little kid. I spent most of my time with my little brother, and my bulldog Winston. I take care of them. I really don't spend a lot of time with my mom now, we're not what you would call "close". Um, I really don't have much else to tell. I had 2 friends, got okay grades... Nothing else really."

Sky nodded. "Well, your simple life sounds way better than being here. I have to share a cabin with 2 snobby blondes and a rat that keeps eating all of our food." "Yikes."

Then an idea sparked. "Hey, would you want to move into my cabin? I'm alone and there are no rats, at least I don't think so." Skylar looked up from the notebook paper she was writing on. "Really?" I nodded. "We have to talk to Mr. Blackwood about it though." Skylar smiled brightly.

"Alright everyone! This hour is up! You are all aloud to go and eat now-" Mrs. Newt started, but before she finished everyone, including me and Sky, were out the door.