Sky Jump

by Anastasia Bolinder

  With a kind smile Livina nodded and put a hand to my shoulder.

  “Often what we see outside is not always what awaits within. I am glad you found good things within these halls.” She said, nodding her head with a cozy, motherly smile.

  We started walking again and came around the door blocking my view and suddenly I could see into the vast booth-filled room. From where we stood, it looked like a maze of booth seats with the main isle taking you to a food bar in the center raised level that looked to be filled with everything from cake to roast beef and everything you could want in a buffet.

  I nearly laughed out a gasp as Harold and Livina were both unaffected by the grandeur of the room that seemed to stretch out for miles.

  Glancing over to Harold I asked,

  “What is this place?” Once again, my jaw ajar as I looked to the ceiling above where hanging lanterns crisscrossed over a black night-time sky that even had softly twinkling lights.

  Harold looked to me with a grin.

  “This is just the cafeteria, nothing special.” he said, eyeing me over.

  I tried to reign in my amazement as I watched a cloud drift over our heads as we made our way to the center. There were some booths filled but it felt bare compared to the number of booths left vacant.

  “Ahh, there you are.” Jean called, waving as she walked over.

  I smiled, and we all stood in a small circle as she nodded to both my chaperones.

  “Thank you both for bringing our early guest here.” she looked to me as they both nodded, “And I’m sorry I could not make it to come bring you here in person, the day before students arrive is always hectic.” she said, taking a breath as if she had just arranged half the semester.

  I nodded, still holding to Harold’s old arm that shook slightly.

  “No worries.” I said, though in this moment I felt like a child who was being coddled which I rather wished not to be.

  “Come get some food and then I’ll show you to the booth.” she motioned to the lines of food tables like the most spectacular buffet you could ever imagine made real.

  Letting go of Harold’s arm I thanked him for escorting me and said my goodbyes to them both as Jean walked with me.

  I stacked a plate of warm turkey with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy adding in a few carrots to appease my SkyJump self that enjoyed them immensely. Holding two plates, one with food and the other desserts ranging from pie to hot fudge brownies, I followed Jean as we weaved through tables and finally came to a large table where faculty looked to sit.

  “Come down here, the principal has been anxious to meet you.” Jean said walking down past Harold and a few other janitors.

  My stomach turned slowly around into knots, I was already nervous about coming to dinner but the principal was back and that would be who I would be dining with?

  Gazing at my plates, my appetite was devoid of joy at the sight of my food as I looked down and then back up to find Jean motioning for me to sit in the bench beside her.

  Looking up I realized an older looking gentleman sat with an older woman who he seemed intent on speaking with, his hair was slightly grey and his face was harder than even I imagined as his eyes hid under his rough brow.

  I suddenly realized as I stood, Jean had already sat down, so I quickly walked forward and placed my things on the table with a slight bang making the principal look to me as well as the older woman next to him. Freezing as his face looked to me, the woman seemed much nicer.

  “This is Equila, principal Septum.” Jean said, as I moved to sit down trying to act more human and less like a robot as my body seized.

  He eyed me over as I looked to the ground,

  “Ahh, yes, Miss Deshion, very nice to see you have made it here well.” He said in a far kinder tone than I expected as I looked to his face that had softened, though something about him still felt too hard.

  I nodded almost forgetting my manners.

  “Nice to meet you too, principal Septum.” I said trying to keep my voice calm.

  What I would give to be running through a field right now I considered.

  “This is my wife, Lara, and you already know my assistant, Jean.” He said nodding with his fork in hand.

  I nodded and brought my napkin to my leg as I tried to work my body to eat though the conversation was feeling easier than I had thought it would from the look of the man across from me.

  “So, how have you liked the school so far, Equila?” The principal asked as he put a very rare looking bite of steak to his mouth.

  I flinched only slightly, beef was not my choice of meat; it might have been attributed to the fact I could turn into a creature with four hoofed legs.

  Regaining my composure as I took a bite of mashed potatoes trying to seem casual I answered,

  “I think it’s nothing like the outside.” I said, with a smile looking up to the flickering lanterns that almost seemed to be floating in midair.

  Both the principal and his wife glanced at one another.

  “That is good, yes?” he asked kindly with a rise of his eyebrows making his dark blue eyes visible.

  I looked up surprised thinking of all the rooms and amazing places I had only just visited and the many more I did not even know about when I realized what he asked.

  “Oh yes, I’m sorry, I just was not in love with the outside of the building and well, I thought It would be like a jail, not an amazing wonderland.” I said truthfully.

  All three at the table smiled.

  “Good, good. I’m glad to hear it.” Principal Septum said with a slight chuckle.

  We ate and made small talk, I did not have to work too hard to keep my secrets hidden while the lies were tangible. Part of me hated lying and I worried what would happen when other teens asked me and I lied.

  Within myself I had always struggled with the idea of lying but as my father said,

  “We are keeping the truth hidden. If we didn’t, our lives would be at stake. Lies are never right, but there are times when other evils are what you must face if you cannot find ways to hide from them.”

  Just hearing my father’s voice in my head made me sigh softly.

  “What classes are you most excited for, Miss Deshion?” The principal asked taking a bite of his blackberry pie as his wife looked to me with a soft grin that felt pleasant, not forced.

  I looked up out of my thoughts and bit my lip, I had protested coming here as if life itself would end the moment I came so I only knew very basic things about what would happen and what classes I would have.

  “I, ah…well I really like learning about magic.” I said looking to my plate as I realized I would need to work on my answers like this by tomorrow when students would fill the halls and classes.

  He nodded and put a hand to his chin.

  “Are you taking magic to learn or just reading about it?” he asked.

  I froze, how much had my father told him?

  “I’m just reading about it.” I said, it wasn’t a lie so I was happy my mouth got the words passed my lips as I pushed back a lock of my wild hair.

  Glancing to his face I noticed how he looked, as if disappointed by my answer.

  How well did my father know him?... I would be sure to ask in my letter as soon as I got my first letter from my father.

  “Well, I think it’s time to turn in for the night, long day tomorrow.” he said as the silence ended.

  I had hardly eaten and my stomach complained making me know I would be starved by the morning as we all stood and walked out of the maze-like cafeteria.

  Standing in the hall, Jean and Principal Septum looked to me as his wife held to his arm.

  “Thank you for joining us.” Lara said with a kind nod.

  I smiled and felt my mind slip for what to say, all these unplanned for situations were getting to me.

  “Do you think you can make it back to your room?” Jean asked kindly placing a hand to my shoulder.

  I nodded and looked behind me retracing
my steps.

  “I think I should be able to.” I said with confidence and hoping I could look around while I made my way back, though my body felt tired and my mind felt completely drained from the day’s drastic changes.

  Nodding, they waved and Jean called as I started down the hall.

  “Since you’re already unpacked and are ready you don’t have to wake up too early but the welcome is in the library at 8:00.” She yelled.

  I nodded and turned back around and the echo of voices bounced down to me, though their words were muffled mumbles once they reached my ears.

  Glancing ahead I started into a slow run and considered wandering over to the atrium but my eyes felt tired thinking about it as I jogged. I was in for a stark contrast to the whole of my life being the only student for my father’s lessons as he had been my only teacher.

  By the time I got to my room I had already stopped twice to glance in an interesting room filled with glowing pools in the floor and at the ceiling in the girl’s wing that I realized was lit up with stars as Harold had told me, though my nerves before dinner had made me forget to even think of looking up much.

  Pacing to my bed I considered unpacking my last few items but with my eyes softly stinging and a yawn escaping my lips I couldn’t help but ready for bed. Noticing my nose looked better but was still red before I left the bathroom mirror behind and slipped onto the spring bed that squeaked lightly at my pressure. After tossing back and forth, I found that laying to the right side of the bed was the only comfy place on the whole mattress if I hoped to find no pain in my side or back.

  Sleep came over me as I glanced around my room, the soft light of the window gave the room an almost splashed with color look as prisms danced on my sheets and cheek as my hair was as wild as my disposition for cantering.

  My eyes caught sight of my camera and guitar as they were the last things keeping me awake. I would take pictures of this incredible place on the morrow and I would play my guitar as I did not have time today. Both things were close to my heart, yet both called to me in a different voice.

  The camera was a friend who loved to capture life around me so I could enjoy it again and remember how to live and my guitar was what my fingers longed to pluck and hear the chords catch within the air and feel as if magic was not only within a mage but found in a hollow wood instrument as well.

  Smiling at the thought as my hand held close to my face, I drifted slowly with a soft plucking melody racing through my mind like the sound of far off hoof beats.

  Chapter 8

  “Late, Fate, Great...”

  Sun bathed my room as I tossed to my side. I groaned hearing strange bangs and clanks as if a herd of animals was racing just outside my walls. Why was my father not yelling at whoever it was to keep it down?

  I blinked slowly as my cheek was slightly wet from my own drool, my hair shrouded my face like a waterfall and my eyes fell shut again as I waited for my father to yell at the noise, that was until it faded and I sunk back down again.

  Something jabbed at my side as I lay. Cringing I tried to find the sweet spot on the mattress as I turned over towards the light again when- “Oof.” I huffed as I flopped to the ground in a roll that felt like I had fallen on a pillow.

  Sniffling awake, I groggily looked around at my room. Stark white, only lit by a sliver of morning sun that danced in vibrant colors on the walls. Blinking, it all came into focus and for exactly one moment I panicked as I jumped up, slipping as I did and flopping back to the ground with my legs caught in the sheets.

  “What in the- get off me.” I said as I started to become fully awake.

  Kicking my legs and pushing the sheets off of myself I stumbled forward and shoved my covers beside my bed. Rubbing my eyes with my palm, my lips curled in a yawn.

  “What time is it?” I asked to the blank walls, shaking my head as a noise of an intercom came from outside my room making me turn aside.

  “The welcoming speech by Principal Septum will begin shortly.”

  My head whipped up and my eyes widened, turning swiftly I looked around and grabbed for the small watch I had set on my desk as my pulse quickened.

  It read “8:00 A.M” in a softly glowing font.

  “OH NO!” I cried and threw the watch back to the desk and ran for the bathroom.

  I splashed water to my face, dabbed cover up on my pimples and rushed back out to put on jeans and a V-neck top as I scrambled for my socks. Nearly falling once as I hit into the wall and bounced back, grabbing my camera and throwing it in my bag before slipping my shoes on as I raced out the door of my blank little room.

  Sliding into the hall I looked left and right, bags were placed before some of the crystal doors but the hall was bare of a single person as I shook my head and started into a run for the main area of the girl’s wing.

  Looking around as I ran, my hair flaying to the sides of my cheek and again not a soul was present as the fountain lazily spewed water and the ceiling looked like a crystal-clear sky.

  I need to get to the presentation! I yelled within my mind as I started into a sprint, my bag slamming into my side as I raced out of the girl’s wing. The crystal door that in my haste must have sensed my magic pulsing and opened of its own accord as I approached and like a fool I said thank you to it.

  My sneakers scuffed as I slid into the hall stopped momentarily, huffing out breaths and looking down the halls that went off in all directions.

  Where was the library?! My eyes softened and had I been younger I would have cried but biting my bottom lip I started off again, there was no crying until I was hopelessly lost in the building, then I might cry. But until then, I would hope I could find it.

  Running like I was in a race against time, as I technically was, my arms swayed back and forth as my legs carried me faster, if only I could turn into a Skyjump beast I would race on all hoofed fours and be there in no time, even if I had no clue where I was going.

  “…yes, I just think,” The voice stopped as I nearly plowed into the two women walking down the hall.

  Looking up in fright, my worries faded as I realized it was the girl’s wing attendant, Livina.

  “Oh, Equila what are you doing out here and not at the welcoming speech?” she asked putting a hand to my shoulder.

  In a winded tone I explained that I had slept in and was hopelessly unaware of where the library was. With a kind nod and soft grin Livina and the maid beside her started into a slower jog than I would have preferred, but nonetheless guided me to the right room. We ran straight, passing no rooms I was even remotely familiar with though I caught a momentary glance at the atrium as we came to a wall with four doors lining it. The old dark wood doors stood open and a voice resonated out.

  “Right in there dear, best of luck with your first day.” Livina said lovingly as she nodded.

  I smiled and was again grateful for the kind staff I had around me.

  “Thank you.” I said, and turning I realized I had yet to meet any of my teachers, what if they were not as nice as the rest of the staff was.

  “…Here at La’ket we are not better than another school but we ask of our students a higher standard of attitude and disposition.” I had no need to see the voices owner as I stepped around the large dark wood doors that faintly smelled of mahogany as Principal Septum went on.

  “This is a school built before the rage of modern technology and its foundation is laid in the protective magic of our forefathers of this great school.” His words resounded around the room and as I walked in I realized I was assuredly the last person to show up at the welcoming speech.

  My mind froze in its tracks as I looked into the immense room, though it did not have another level to it, it slanted into the floor as the seating was cement steps down like an amphitheater with the walls lined in banners of the school’s silver and blue colors.

  I caught a few glances back at me and felt the burn on my neck, knowing the other teens knew I was the only student late for the first morning asse
mbly.

  With a quick pace I walked over to an empty step and sat down still panting as I looked around trying to act normal.

  No books or shelves lined the walls.

  Clasping the strap of my bag as I had yet to cool down from my run to get here, I glanced to the ceiling and did a double take as the principal spoke of why the school was started.

  “No way.” I said under my breath as I looked up and felt a sudden urge to run.

  Along the ceiling were rows, upon rows of shelves filled with books that looked as if one breath made its way to them they would all come cascading down atop the audience presently unaware of their impending doom.

  “It’s just a gravity shifting field.” A smooth voice said to my right.

  My head turned over to the voice and a sudden knot caught in my stomach, a boy maybe a year older than me sat lazily with his satchel to his side, his dark black hair stylishly groomed and his clothing very simple compared to the modern fashions I saw worn by other students.

  Working my mouth to do anything, I finally got words to leave my lips.

  “How?” I asked.

  Fantastic. I had gotten one word to escape my lips... Oh Quil, what are you going to do here? My mind asked as he looked over with a soft grin and nodded with his chin to the ceiling.

  “It’s like a lot of things here, if you look closely you can catch a shift of the magic waver in the right light.” he said with a kind nod, though when his eyes finally looked at me fully he held out his hand, “I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself before I started rambling. I’m Keten Avborn.”

  Nearly in a daze as he smiled softly revealing a dimple to the right of his smile I placed my hand in his and got more than one word to escape my lips.

  “I’m Equila Deshion.” I said grasping his strong warm hand that held mine lightly, though his warmth seemed to travel up my arm.

  I managed three words. If this was how I spoke to everyone I met it would be the end of the term before I had made polite conversation to anyone. Even this boy with soft pastel blue eyes.