The Windmill

4: The Windmill Project

The feelings of partial shock and expressionlessness (as for Helewn's case) and disbelief with a little bit of excitement filled Madam's office. But Connie's question remain unanswered.

"Um, Madam, is this project confidential information." Connie asked. Madam Priscilla rubbed her forehead.

"Yes, you three aren't allowed to show anything to anyone, but the school will still know that this project is uncancelled, they only won't know who will be working on it. Hypnosis it is. This is to avoid panic and sabotage. Making the windmill is more like building a war machine. I hope you guys can give full effort and commitment for this project because the future of the school depends it. Sort of, because I think Paracelsus won't actually want some hormonal teens to save the school." Madam Priscilla said. Farine gave a little bit of chuckle behind Connie, which made her flinch.

"And yes, that Tyler boy can't be helping you."

Connie huffed. How could she be doing it with some snail fanatic and a stoner. She really needed Tyler. As well the idea of having her name in the wooden nameplate at the hallways always sounded superb, she would do it for the school too. For the people. For the sake of astrophysics application that Tyler, and I, love.

"So about the fundings, $ 1 000 000 has been sent to the Top Wizard Safe, Miss Hallgold, please retrieve it by evening. Miss Trelawney, research. Mr. Farine, material hunting. The storm is estimated to be coming in mid-semester like it has been in the past few years. So, do your best and be prepared. If there are no questions, you three are allowed to leave and start what you should." Madam Priscilla said. Helewn took a few steps back before picking up her cat. Farine grabbed Connie by arm out but she hesitated.

"Wait, you'll be going first. I have something to talk with Madam, research, remember?" Connie said. Farine took a last glance at her and left. Madam Priscilla shifted on her seat.

"Take a seat."

Connie sat down, her hands fidgety at her sides, nervous.

"Why you didn't leave the project cancelled?" 

Madam Priscilla took breath and sighed. She switched on a hologram map, dragged a projection in front of Connie.

"This is an astronomy map, comparing star positions of different sizes. So?" Connie said.

"This is the one that you gave me with the paperwork, your proofing. As Director of Windmill Project, I took this to Branch Heads meeting. Even though head of Astrology, Mr. Zachary, was very hesitant about this charting of yours. But then you can see, Astronomy is what that really show the interactions of matter." Madam said.

Connie was a little confused. She didn't give her any map.

"Why was it so hard to detect the storm this year? Like using Astrology since the beginning has proven to work-" 

"This year's is not the usual storm. You and Tyler were right about proposing this." 

Connie glanced at the desk in disbelief. She fisted on the desk.

"So you should've called Tyler too!" 

Madam Priscilla didn't respond to Connie exclamation, instead, she took out a cardboard box from under her desk. She took several bottles out.

"Samples of debris, each of the past storms, Alchemy department. They showed traces of aether. But observations and anecdotes from Paracelsus' says that this new storm, I dub as the novel storm, is a black storm." Madam Priscilla.

"You mean dark matter storm?" 

"Whatever the term Movement people call them."

Madam Priscilla laughed a little bit when she returned her cardboard box. Connie was about to stand up when she glanced at Madam.

"Will it be worse than before?" 

"Acoording to some prophecy, it might be. But we are expecting something way different." 

"Aight then, see you later, Madam." Connie said as she pushed her seat and left.

#

"A new storm." Connie monologued as she walked to the library with her journal. She found Tyler who was building some contraption behind their usual spot. He spotted Connie and stood up.

"So Madam's opening Windmill?" Tyler said. Connie accumulated guilt but she had to speak up.

"Us three got in. And this year's is a new novel storm. I can say, a bit more spacey." Connie said. Tyler wasn't so disappointed as she expected. But then he sighed.

"Good for you then."

"I guess you could change the school with it. Movement style." he continued. Connie sat down.

"And there's flourboy and Helewn. Nothing could possibly go wrong right?" Tyler was wiping some chrome part of his contraption.

"Tyler! I'm sorry. But then it was the administration's decision." Connie defended. Tyler didn't look up.

"You know I wanted this project so bad, the storm won't be annual." 

"Why would you even wish for a disaster?" 

"Disasters are chances, chances to prove myself to the administration. I was the late Headmistress Quarkton's freaking son, Connie! The Philosophy Union fired her, for being in the Movement. Your phony science blabber!" 

Connie was so enraged that she slammed her journal on the table and caused an echo of shushes to be released.

"Tyler! the Movement was my parents' legacy. I believed in it and Paracelsus' real science. If you are here to be mad at me for some science project and you want to hate real science, you don't have to be studying astrophysics and taking side classes with me! Just go learn conventional syllabus!" Connie said and left.

"Yeah go have fun with Farine!" Tyler said. Connie ran away from their spot and to the main door. Tyler wasn't giving any reaction.

#

Connie was already outside the library. Suddenly, Helewn walked near her.

"Connie, meeting." 

Helewn pulled Connie to the Top Wizard room. The two was greeted by an unseen President Angel. On the table was a blueprint. Then, Connie realized that her project was confidential.

Angel was actually nowhere to be found at first. Then he came out from the pantry with a coffee. Helewn sat at the table and grabbed the blueprint. Connie walked in. 

Angel came near her. She felt a point on her back. She turned around and saw Angel.

"Fighting the storm using Movement magic, huh?" 

Connie pushed him away. 

"It's real science. Precise mapping of the universe will work better than some chantings." Connie said. Angel laughed.

"If you hate the syllabus that bad, why don't you just burn down the school. I'll get my way with the Windmill." Angel said and pushed Connie aback by his wand. 

"I don't want to burn this school down, I want to change it. How much I don't quite like what's the Union putting down to teach students, why would I even burn Paracelsus' legacy." Connie said. Angel looked at her in disgust.

Connie heard a chair shuffle.

"Tell me what's this blueprint." Helewn muffled.

Angel released Connie.

"You won't make it, Connie."