New Generation

Spells and Counter-Spells

((Max's POV)) 

        After Dawn left, Sam came and got us, showing us to our rooms. I have my parents old room, and Alice is across the hall in Sky's old room. Indy was given Deadlox's room, and I couldn't convince him to trade. I want to know more about that ghost!

        I'm surprised by how dark it's getting already. I know we walked pretty far, and had a lot of random people run up and talk to us, and got lost once when getting to our rooms, and I've forgotten where I was taking this... 

        Dad has a huge collection of books, amazing books, books that you could read a hundred times and they'll never get old. I open one of them and smile. Call me a bibliophile, because I sure am one. I love the sound of old pages crackling, or new pages softly turning. I love the smell of ink in new books and old paper in old ones. I love the look of them, and of course, the stories. Blame dad. 

        I light a candle by my bed and open to the first page of The Little Prince. Scrawled in messy handwriting on the first page, is a note. 

        "Seto, happy birthday. Things are tough, but they will get better. I got you this book, t's about an artist that meets a little prince that changes his life. Just like us :) I love you always~ Brice..." I trail off, kinda sad, but also kinda happy. Sounds like my parents alright. I open to the first page, and only just finished the first chapter when I hear a knock at my door. 

        "Max? Can I come in?" Indy's voice whispers from the other side. I get up and open the door, smiling at him. 

        "What's up? Did you see the ghost?" Indy shakes his head, and takes a deep breath. He's acting nervous. Since when has Indy acted nervous. 

        "I wanted to say something. I know Alice won't understand, but you might. I need your help getting me out of here unnoticed." I frown. I admit, I had kinda been hoping he was here for a different reason, but that's just me being... me. 

        "Why? You helped us get here, you actually seemed to like us." I get out of the doorway and sit down on my bed, gesturing for him to sit as well. He walks over kinda awkwardly, and sits down. 

        "I do like you, a like you both, and that's why I need to leave. I have a bad feeling about something... I can't explain it, I don't want you both to hate me. You can tell if there's magic energy on something, can't you?" I nod, wondering what that has to do with anything. 

        "Yes... Why? Is there something you want me to check for hexes for something?" He shakes his head. 

        "Yes... and I wanted to confirm the fact that you liked me." My face must be amusing, because he laughs. 

        "It wasn't hard to tell. Kids are always going on dates and stuff back at the tree, I know what it looks like to have a crush. You defend me to much, poke fun at me to get my attention, gave me nicknames to get on my nerves, but over all, you forced yourself not to notice the obvious." Well, this is one of the strangest situations I've ever been in. Part of me is asking How he figured out I liked him before I did, and part of me is asking what this has to do with anything. Then, it clicks. 

        "Magic. You have some sort of spell, hex, or curse. How did you know I was blocking it? I didn't." He shrugs, tugging at the bandages on his arm a bit. 

        "Spell. A tracking spell. Not one that can just be undone, either, but you grew up with magic, right? You know how things work. There's only one thing that could make it so I can stay, which is another reason I came to you. If anyone can undo it, it would be you." I nod, and focus on finding magical energy. Of course, I can feel it immediately. Was I really blocking that? Wow, good job me. Weird, there seem to be two different spells... a starter and a counter. 

        "You have a counter spell, as well. Did you know that?" He nods, and starts to untie one of the bandages. 

        "Yeah. When Mitch and Jerome first took me in, they started to get attacked a lot more. When they figured out it was me, they got some kid sorcerer that lived with them to find something to counter the spell. So she just grabbed the closest thing." He starts to unravel the bandage, and hands me part of the fabric. 

        "Counter tracking spell. Why does the bandage help? Most of the time, a spell is placed like a shield, or a magic bubble. If there's a physical object that can cover up a spell, the spell's sourse is physical as well." Indy stops unwrapping the bandage.

        "...yes. One more thing before I show you this, though. I need to know something, about you." Huh, okay. This is one of the most awkward moment filled conversations I've had yet, I wonder what this next question will lead to? 

        "I said, when we met, they you wern't human. I stick by that, there's something... off about you. Then when we were traveling, you didn't sleep for three days straight, and you don't look tired now. Do you know what you are?" Oh, great. I feel angry, then I calm down. This is exactly what Alice puts Indy through every single day, and he's just asking me once. I can stay chill. 

        "No, I don't. Until I met you, I was pretty sure I was just your normal sorcerer kid. My parents always told me they adopted me. When we save them, I'll ask them. Then, I'll find you, wherever you are, and tell you. Promise." He frowns slightly. 

        "But... You said you would try to stop whatever spell i had, right?" He sounds a little panicked, and that makes me sad. He trusts me, but I know more about magic than him. If the spell is actually a part of him, like, in his skin or something, I can't undo it. 

        "I'm sorry Indy, I really am. I wish I could... I don't want you to go, but if you're in danger staying in one place, then I can't tell you to stay. Can I see it, please? Just to make sure I can't..." He nods, and finished unwrapping his arm. My heart sinks. There's no way I can undo that. His arm has runic letters etched into it, and they seem to glow blue. That must have hurt when they were put there.

        "I'm sorry. The only way that is getting off is if the person that put the spell on either takes it off-" 

        "No happening. They'd kill me first." Indy mutters. Huh. 

        "-or the person that did it dies." He nods, and starts tying the bandage up again. Then, he stops for a second and looks at me. 

        "Just so you know, you're not so bad looking..." he mutters. I smile, and he gets up, and leaves the room awkwardly. 

        I'm going to help him get out of here, and I'm going to find who did that to him. I'm guessing something we did triggered the spell to act stronger, and because I can't undo it, I'm going to make whoever did that undo it. I wonder how hard it is to track a tracking spell...

Sorry if this seemed a bit like a filler chapter, the next one is much more interesting! Calm before the storm, ya know?