by Wendy Owens
Gabe walked quickly to the door and opened it. On the other side he was greeted by Sophie’s cheery face. “Hey there classmate! Ready for your first day of school?”
Gabe was amused by Sophie’s question.
“I suppose so. Uri helped me get all the supplies together that I need and I have my class schedule, so I guess I’m all set.”
Closing the door behind him, the two walked down the hall arm in arm. “So what does your class list look like?” Sophie asked, pulling her own list from her pocket with her free hand.
Without a word, Gabe handed her his crumpled list. Comparing the two lists, Sophie turned to Gabe and shrieked in excitement while leaping in place.
“What?” Gabe asked, finding himself excited without even knowing why.
“We have three out of six classes together,” Sophie replied, smiling up at Gabe, reaching out and giving him a tight hug around his neck.
“Really?” Gabe exclaimed. He had decided not to share Michael’s concerns about their relationship. “That’s awesome! Please tell me we have potions together.”
“We do, why?” Sophie questioned, furrowing her brow.
“I’m a little worried about potions class. This summer we really focused on my casting. I don’t feel like just reading books has given me a strong enough grasp on the basics of potions. I suppose I’ll simply have to pick it up as I go. Having the smartest girl in class at my side will certainly help.” Gabe grinned as he ran one hand around Sophie’s waist and pulled her close.
“Oh, Gabe,” Sophie said looking down as she blushed.
“You know I’m right, and I am so into brainy chicks.” Gabe leaned in with lips puckered.
“Stop it!” Sophie squealed through laughter as she broke away. Catching her breath, she turned and continued towards their first class. “Besides, I wouldn’t worry. Professor McFarland’s one of the nicest teachers. I’m sure she’ll be very patient with you. And of course, like you said, you’ll have the smartest girl in class at your side.”
The two looked at each other and smiled in a mischievous way. Gabe thought of Michael’s warning about Sophie. He was sure Michael was completely wrong about their relationship serving as a distraction. He would just have to prove to him how valuable their relationship was.
The two approached the classroom, hands locked tightly together. When they entered, Gabe looked around the room. The old stone walls kept the room feeling cool like most of the rest of the manor, but as they moved through the room there were pockets of warmth given off by small desk burners that had cauldron like pots on top of each one. The flames under them gave off a blue and white hue.
The tables were high, at least chest level. As the two chose a desk and took their seats on the stools, Gabe thought it looked like a science lab in any high school throughout the country, if it were in a medieval castle. They both watched as students filtered in, taking their seats. Raimie and Dina grabbed the table next to them. Gabe felt thrilled to be surrounded by friends in this new and foreign environment.
At last the remaining desks were filled. The class watched as Professor McFarland entered from a door at the front of the room. Gabe assumed it was her office she came from.
“Good morning, class!”
“Good morning, Professor McFarland!” the class bellowed back in a harmonious rhythm.
The woman was tall and lanky. She had glasses as thick as the bottom of coke bottles that magnified her eyes ten times over, making her look almost comical. Her hair was dark and wiry, which she kept wrapped tightly in a bun at the nape of her neck. She wore navy colored robes that appeared to be covered in patches of shed animal hair. Gabe wondered if this was standard issue for all the professors.
“Pardon me … Ma’am …” a boy of small stature and a face covered in adolescent acne squeaked from the open doorway.
“Yes, what is it?” Professor McFarland asked, motioning the boy inside.
“I have a note for you,” the boy replied as he walked quickly to the front of the room, handing a crumpled piece of paper to the instructor. She unfolded it. Holding it a good distance from her face, she peered down her nose at the words.
Folding the paper back up and slipping it into her pocket, she searched the faces in the room until at last stopping when her gaze reached Sophie and Gabe’s table. “Yes, now, you there, Sophie,” Professor McFarland said. “Please gather your stuff and follow this young man here.”
Sophie and Gabe looked at each other puzzled. After a moment Sophie did as she was told.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you in a little bit,” Sophie whispered to Gabe. A few awkward moments passed and Sophie was out the door.
“Hmmm … now, where were we?” Professor McFarland said, trying to organize her thoughts after the distraction.
“Oh, yes,” she continued. “You, Gabe, I suppose you can move and join, umm … yes … let’s see,” Professor McFarland said as she walked over to her desk, glancing down at a list of names. “Raimie and Dina. We now have an odd number, so you’ll have to be a trio.”
Though Gabe was relieved to be placed with friends, he was still curious as to the reason why Sophie was called away. He was worried something might be wrong, but he couldn’t imagine what it might be. If it were anything extremely important, he was sure the entire group would have been called together, including himself.
As quietly as possible, Gabe picked up his pack and scooted his chair to the end of the neighboring table.
“All right, everyone,” Professor McFarland said, flowing right into the lesson plan. “I’m sure you’re all very excited about your field assignments starting this year. It is a big step in a Guardian’s life.”
As Professor McFarland spoke, Gabe couldn’t help but think about his conversation with Michael once again.
This wasn’t a step Gabe was going to experience thanks to Michael. Gabe felt overwhelmed with self-doubt that their leader thought so little of him. Michael had rescued him months earlier and now he actually thought Gabe would be a danger to his friends.
“One thing you should always be in the field is prepared,” Professor McFarland continued. “Let’s say, by chance, you’re taken by surprise and injured, God forbid. What do you need? Speaking potion wise of course.”
Gabe watched as Dina raised her hand. Professor McFarland jerked her head around wildly like a chicken. “Yes, dear?”
“A healing potion,” Dina replied confidently.
“Yes, very good!” Professor McFarland replied. “A healing potion should always be tied to your side. It's the quickest way to be back on your feet.”
“Most agonizing way, too,” Raimie mumbled under his breath just before Dina gave him a quick, sharp elbow to the side.
“Oof!” he let out a gasp at the assault.
Gabe looked over at Raimie, eyebrows raised to ask him silently to confirm that healing potions are painful. Still wincing, Raimie nodded as if he understood Gabe’s quiet gesture.
“So who can tell me where we begin with a healing potion? What’s the primary ingredient?” Professor McFarland quizzed. Gabe looked around as several students in the class began flipping through the pages of their textbooks. “Mr. Harwood, how about you? Can you tell us what the primary ingredient is in a healing potion?”
Gabe frantically flipped open his book to look for any mention of a healing potion, but after several moments of fumbling through the pages he answered, “Sorry, Professor. I don’t know.”
“Right. Well, how about we make this more interesting? I want each group to whip up a healing potion and we shall see who comes the closest. Sounds fun, right?” Professor McFarland intoned.
After a few moans and groans from the class, all books were open and the students were fast at work making their potions.
“The winner shall receive, oh I don’t know, let’s see …” Professor McFarland tapped her chin repeatedly with a single finger as she tried to think of the perfect reward. “Yes! I’ve got it. The group that come
s up with the best potion will get to choose any potion I brewed from my private stock.”
Raimie looked over at Gabe. Beaming a huge smile he said, “No worries, Dina’s an old pro at healing potions. This will be a piece of cake.”
“You know, Raimie, it wouldn’t hurt you to actually learn how to create a few potions. Then you wouldn’t always be relying on me to mix up whatever you need,” Dina snapped in an annoyed tone.
Gabe thought how odd it was to see the two of them bicker. They were always the picture of lovebirds until recently.
“Why would I do that when I know how much you love to make my potions for me?” Raimie replied with a mischievous grin. Dina simply rolled her eyes, choosing not to respond.
Wanting to lessen the tension, Gabe decided change the subject. “So what do you think that was all about with Sophie earlier? Do you think everything is all right?”
“No clue, man. Kind of weird huh?” Raimie replied.
With another swift elbow to Raimie’s side, Dina chimed in with a more comforting response. “I am sure everything is fine, Gabe. They probably needed her in the library.”
“Oh yeah, you know all those library emergencies they have,” Raimie added sarcastically.
“Oh just shut up already, Raimie!” Dina snapped.
“How are we doing over here?” Professor McFarland said approaching the table, sensing the hostility.
All three students quickly looked down at the pages of their text. “Fine, Professor McFarland,” Dina quickly put in.
“Excellent. Let me know when you have it,” she responded, walking away from the small group.
When the professor was far enough away, Dina looked over at her two potion-mates. In a hushed tone, she urged, “Let's just get this potion done, all right?” The two boys nodded as the three continued their work in awkward silence.
As Gabe walked to his next class, he took comfort in knowing Sophie would be there. In a few minutes all of this worrying would be for nothing, he thought. Walking into the classroom, he looked around for the comforting smile of his beloved Sophie, but alas, she had not yet arrived.
Gabe glanced over at the tiered seating in the lecture style room. He took a seat on the outside of the third row, placing his books on the seat next to him to secure it for Sophie. Gabe had been looking forward to this class almost more than any other. History. It was funny to him. Had he been asked what his favorite subject was when he was part of main stream schools, he was certain his answer would not have been history.
Gabe had learned a massive amount of information over the summer about where his ancestors had come from and what his abilities were, but to actually sit down and be taught from a textbook the history of the Guardians was quite exhilarating.
While Gabe waited for Sophie to arrive, he pulled out his textbook and flipped to the opening chapter. “Immortality Lost.” Gabe read the bold letters across the top of the page just under the words, “Section One.” Intrigued, he read on.
When the Guardians were brought to Earth, they were told nothing of a conditional mortality. As the years passed, Jeremiah, one of the first Guardians, began to grow weary with loneliness. Being separated from Heaven, the other angels, and the God he loved dearly was beginning to takes its toll on him. With no end in sight of his duties to protect the earthly realm, Jeremiah set out on a journey to try and come closer to God.
On his journey he met a human female named Deborah. She was quite beautiful and was spellbound by Jeremiah’s stories. Jeremiah felt a strong desire to stay near her so he lingered. In the time that followed, he came to know Deborah deeply. At last, Jeremiah came to the conclusion that what he felt for her was love and he wanted to call her his wife. No angel had married before, so trusting in his feelings, Jeremiah returned to the other Guardians to ask for permission to marry Deborah. At this time, they had no knowledge their immortality was conditional.
As Gabe read the last line of text, he heard a voice behind him, sweet and soft, “Is this seat taken?”
“Yes,” he replied without looking up from the pages at first. “My girl –”
Gabe’s response trailed off as he peered up from the pages to see a girl with raven black hair hovering over his shoulder. Her eyes were big and brown, her slender nose came to an end in a small, yet adorable rounded tip. Gabe stared at her rose-colored lips as they turned to a frown in response to his words.
Gabe glanced around. With Sophie nowhere in sight, he gathered up his books and added, “I was expecting a friend, but I suppose you can have a seat.”
Once the words left his mouth he realized how upset Sophie might be once she found out he had given her seat away. Quickly he added, “You might have to move if she arrives.”
“Oh,” the girl replied hesitantly. “Well, I wouldn’t want to put anyone out.”
“Of course not. Have a seat,” he insisted. “I’m Gabe.” He offered an extended hand.
The girl looked at the empty seat again, still unsure if she wanted to take a seat that had been reserved for someone else. Her eyes shifted to Gabe’s smiling face, in that moment she knew she didn’t want to sit anywhere else in the room except next to this handsome young man.
“Hi, I’m Neru,” the girl replied with a smile. Taking hold of Gabe’s extended hand, she shook it vigorously.
“Neru,” Gabe repeated. “That’s a very unusual and pretty name.”
The girl blushed slightly before explaining, “My mother was Native American. It was her great-grandmother’s name.”
“I see,” Gabe replied. “Very cool.”
Neru sat her books on the table top and took her seat next to Gabe. When at last she looked up at Gabe, her brow narrowed and she began to look as if she were studying him. Then suddenly her brows lifted as a look of surprise filled her face.
“What?” he questioned, feeling self-conscious.
“Are you him? What I mean is, you’re ‘the Gabe?’ The protector?” Neru stammered through her words.
“Well, I suppose I am. But I don’t really go by 'the protector', my friends just call me Gabe,” he chuckled as he responded. Neru quickly looked forward, embarrassed by her starstruck behavior.
“So, you’re a third year?” Gabe asked, not wanting the sudden silence to linger.
“Not exactly,” Neru said smiling.
“Wait, what?” Gabe asked, looking at the girl, baffled and confused. He wondered, is it possible she was a late comer like me?
“Officially I am a second year, but I suppose I am an overachiever. I doubled up on classes which made it possible for me to take several third year courses this year,” Neru explained.
“Oh, I see. Well, that makes sense.” Gabe responded, a little disappointed that he was still alone in his unique student status.
“My friends and I watched your tests.”
“Oh yeah?” Gabe replied, trying not to reveal his embarrassment.
“Of course, who didn’t watch it? Quite impressive. Although I have to say I can’t imagine facing those monsters myself. I am somewhat relieved I don’t qualify for field duty since I am not officially a third year.”
“It really wasn’t that big a deal,” Gabe said dismissively, remembering Michael’s words when he stripped him of the ability to go on field assignments.
“Are you at all nervous about your field studies?” Neru asked.
Gabe remained silent, uncertain how to answer. He didn’t realize how humiliated he was until this moment. Gabe felt he was tasked with defeating three monsters and he had completed the task that was set out before him. Now for Michael to take the right that all other third year students possessed away from him was not fair.
“I’m sorry, if you’re uncomfortable talking about it you don’t have to,” Neru assured, sensing his discomfort. “I know I personally would be really scared.”
“I’m not scared!” Gabe snapped.
“No, of course not. That’s not what I meant,” Neru pleaded, wishing she had kept her mouth shut.
“No, it’s fine,” Gabe replied, regretting his rash response. “It’s just … for now Michael thinks it would be wiser if I didn’t go on any trips in the field.”
“Oh, well that makes sense. I am sure you’re being tracked by every demon in the underworld. Can you imagine? The protector. I can’t even think of how many demons are trying to track you at this very moment.” As soon as the words left Neru’s mouth she thought better of them. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me to say.”
“No, really, it’s fine. I am starting to get used to the idea, sadly enough,” Gabe replied, realizing there was some truth to the statement.
“So what other classes do you have?” Neru asked, genuinely curious as well as wishing to change the uncomfortable subject.
“Hmmm … let’s see. I just had a potions class. That was interesting I suppose,” Gabe answered.
“Yeah? I have that later today. I have to admit, I am pretty excited about that one.”
“It was decent, they had us brewing healing potions on our first day so that was kind of fun.” Gabe thought about the tenseness between Dina and Raimie, at least the brewing part was fun.
“No way!” Neru exclaimed. “In second year potions we only discussed herbs and theories. I can’t believe they had you brewing on your first day.”
“Yeah, it was kind of cool. Later today I have Elementals, Magical Creatures, Artifacts, and Incantations,” Gabe explained.
“Wow. You’re carrying a really full schedule, Gabe.”
“I wouldn’t know, I didn’t choose it, the classes were picked for me. I suppose whoever is in charge figured I have some catching up to do,” Gabe replied.
“That must be so weird,” Neru said, leaving Gabe puzzled.
“What is?”
“Oh, just coming to the manor so late. It’s hard to believe they didn’t find you for so long. Really, it’s more amazing you weren’t dead,” Neru continued speaking without much thought about her words. “Really, it has to be some kind of record for a Guardian to be on the outside for so long with no training, and stay alive.”
