Grave Digger Academy II

by c a king

  Crystallized eyes leered through anyone in the near vicinity, never seeming to budge an inch, yet seeing all at the same time. A gust of wind picked up her long black hair, blowing it around messily, and leaving an unnatural shiver running down the backs of those who were summoned.

  “Come, second-years,” the woman called out. “I am Fania. There are two other Crones with me here today to judge whether your helpers will be allowed to participate in the upcoming games.”

  “I thought we were already allowed to bring our helpers, if we wanted to,” Frankie complained.

  “Normally, yes,” the woman chuckled under her breath. “Seeing as the majority of entrants from this particular academy are in their second year, for safety’s sake, we need to ensure you all have full control over your bonds.”

  “Control?” Cali cocked her head. “I thought we had a partnership with them, not control over them.”

  “Of course, my dear.” Fania’s smile left chills in place of warmth. “But you must be able to handle that partnership. If not, magical beasts can be a danger to not only others, but yourselves.”

  “Shouldn’t we be tested by Professor Snailime?” Thomas asked.

  “Consider this your final exam,” Snailime bellowed from a seat higher up in the stands. “If your results are favourable, you pass. Good luck.”

  “Is any instructor going to actually teach us any magic?” Leo grumbled, his tone lower than a whisper.

  “You!” Fania exclaimed, pointing. “Yes, you. The cute one with the brown hair. You are up first.”

  “It’s Cali,” she complained, taking her time heading down the rest of the steps. “What do I need to do?”

  “Summon your creature,” Fania explained. “You do have one, I assume.” She waited for a nod. “Then introduce us to it and show off its abilities. We want to understand how you plan to use it to help you.”

  “All right,” Cali agreed, rubbing her hands together. “Pussywillow!” Nothing happened. “Pussywillow,” she repeated, a little louder. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

  “Meow.” The cat yawned, curling up into a ball on the ground.

  “She sleeps a lot,” Cali said, sweat beading on her forehead. “Cats can be a bit mysterious, but when needed, she really does help.”

  “How?” Fania asked, gasping at the display.

  “She’s really good at finding things,” Cali replied. “I know she’ll help locate the treasures.”

  “Is that it?” Fania asked, exchanging glances with the other Crones.

  “Yup,” Cali replied, lips pursed.

  “Okay,” Fania clapped her hands together. “Thank you, Cali.” She glanced at a clipboard. “Let’s try Thomas next.”

  Snailime smack his forehead. “This should be a boatload of fun.”

  “Hello,” Thomas said, wheezing from the steps. “I’m here.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “You can begin anytime,” Fania offered.

  “Right.” Thomas smiled nervously. “Anytime, now.” A bulge in his pocket moved in a circular motion. Two squirrels descended the stairs, heading straight for his trousers. “I did it! I summoned them!”

  “Those are rodents, not magical beasts,” Fania sighed. “Turn out your pockets, please.”

  “Huh?” Thomas glared back at the woman in charge.

  “Empty you pockets,” Fania bellowed. “You have nuts in them. That’s why they came to you. You might be a wonderful animal trainer, but this isn’t the circus.” She glanced around. “Is anyone here capable with their helper?”

  Makayla’s hand rose. “I am.”

  “And I’m getting fired,” Snailime winced. “It’s all over now.” One hand covered his face. He peeked out from between two fingers.

  “Now. Now,” Mary Meet said. “Keep it together. She has other helpers, not just the imp.”

  “Take the field,” Fania ordered. “What delightful creature do you plan to show us here today?”

  “I have three,” Makayla announced.

  “Three,” Fania chuckled. “Oh my goodness. They aren’t all squirrels, I hope.”

  “Not at all,” Makayla replied. “The first I named Puffer. When we met he was a baby, but now he’s a mid-sized dragon.”

  “A dragon!” Fania exclaimed. “Now, that is exciting. There are very few wizards with the ability to control such powerful creatures. I can’t wait to see how a tiny thing such as yourself fares.”

  Makayla fell to one knee, the tips of her fingers touching the ground. She inhaled deeply, allowing darkness to fill her sense. Her eyes turned a steely grey before opening, matching the swirling smoke in her necklace. “Puffer.” The ground trembled, pebbles falling from cracks and crevices. Large feet covered in glowing orange scales appeared, stomping forward to reveal the rest of a dragon.

  “It’s real,” Snailime gasped. “There was actually a dragon.”

  “Yes,” Mary Meet snickered at his side. “Imagine if she’d done what you asked and summoned something that size into your classroom.” She leaned in to his ear, whispering, “Most of it would have been destroyed.”

  “Did you know?” the professor asked.

  “Of course,” the headmistress replied. “The question is: why didn’t you? This is your class, after all. I would expect at least a little research on your students. Oh. Looks like they are continuing.”

  “What is the status of your bond?” Fania asked. “And where does he reside?”

  Puffer crouched down, his head rubbing against the side of Makayla’s body. “He’s rather affectionate.” One hand caressed the side of his face. “Obviously he’s a tad too big to remain with me at all times. Luckily, he has a good home and a doting mother.”

  “You’ve... met his family,” Fania chuckled. “How unusual. What brought that about?”

  “His mother actually introduced us while he was still palm-sized,” Makayla explained. “She’s helped me out before, too.”

  “So you have a whole family of dragons at your beck and call,” Fania blurted out. “I’ve never heard of that before.”

  “Not exactly,” Makayla said. “It’s rather complicated. I think she helps Puffer out when needed.”

  “Dragons generally don’t like people,” a cloaked woman called out from the stands. “What made these dragons different?”

  “They aren’t really,” Makayla replied. “I seem to be the exception rather than the rule. I’m not sure why, but they accepted me.”

  “I see.” Fania’s brow rose. “And what use is the dragon at the moment?”

  “Intermediate stages for dragons are difficult,” Makayla sighed. “He’s not quite big enough to support carrying me on his back, but too big to do any sneaking about anymore. I was concerned about battle, because his scales are still developing, but I found a solution. Thanks to Professor Snailime’s class, I managed to create a wax made especially to harden dragon scales. It lasts about twenty-four hours per application.”

  “How resourceful.” Fania donned a fake grin. “Let’s move on to helper number two. I hope it’s equally as interesting.”

  “Gargle is a gargoyle,” Makayla announced.

  “Of course,” Fania said through gritted teeth. “Who would have guessed, a student such as yourself would have two legendary mythological creatures in her back pocket? Of course, it’s day so we can’t verify that.”

  “Actually, I can,” Makayla stated. “As you may well know, gargoyles don’t have many weaknesses. In fact, it’s really all about light.” Her eyes rolled. “Turning to stone is rather inconvenient. I’ve been working on a supplement to help with that. Before being called to this assembly, I was about to test the latest version out.”

  “Fascinating,” Fania said, glancing over her shoulder at the other Crones. “Have you tried it before?”

  “Oh yes,” Makayla boasted. “It’s a work in progress. We are almost up to being able to handle three hours of daylight. Obviously, I don’t plan to use it unless necessary. I do
n’t want to mess with natural sleep patterns.”

  “Are you suggesting this is similar to coffee?” Fania chuckled.

  “It pretty much is.” Makayla fell to one knee again. “Gargle.” She stood, grey wings wrapping around all but the front of her face. “He’s rather affectionate, too.”

  “I can see that.” Fania’s upper lip arched, forehead wrinkled. “It’s rather bizarre behaviour.”

  “Have you actually met anyone with a dragon and gargoyle helper before?” Makayla asked.

  “No,” Fania admitted. “I can’t say that I have. They are both quite rare finds.”

  “Then how do you know their behaviour is bizarre?” Makayla asked, motioning for Gargle to join Puffer to the side.

  “Number three then,” Fania blurted out.

  “Romeo!” Thomas called out, a squirrel scurrying down the steps to the arena floor. “Come back.”

  “Don’t tell me it’s a rodent,” Fania scoffed. “That would be a let down after the other two.”

  “Tee-he-he.” A cloud of smoke encircled the squirrel, its body disappearing before it lifted.

  “Ollie,” Makayla said, feeling a tug on her hair. “Say hello to the nice lady.”

  “That’s an imp!” Fania exclaimed, fanning residual smoke from her face. “What is it doing here?”

  “Ollie is my third helper,” Makayla declared. “We only just met, so we aren’t quite as far along in our relationship...”

  “Imps are dangerous creatures,” Fania spoke over Makayla’s words. “They aren’t to be trusted.”

  “Tee-he-he.” Ollie moved to her shoulder, forked tongue wagging at the Crone.

  “I’ve managed to create an anti-venom... poison... I’m actually not quite sure which it’s classified as, but regardless, there is no need to worry about anyone being inflicted with toxins.” Makayla inhaled deeply, biting her tongue.

  “I see you don’t want to listen to reason, so I’ll have to prove it to you,” Fania said. “Imp! I am willing to offer you a seat at my left hand. You’ll have control over all other magical beasts, including devils, and riches to match. I am willing to give you everything your kind desires.”

  Ollie leapt from Makayla’s shoulder, taking a few steps closer to the Crone, head cocked to one side.

  “That’s right.” Fania smiled. “All you have to do is leave her and join me as your master.”

  Ollie stopped, glancing back at Makayla.

  “She has nothing to offer you,” Fania hissed. “Come here now and accept the throne I extend.”

  “Tee-he.” Ollie exchanged glances between the two.

  Makayla sighed. “It’s true I don’t have anything to offer, except my friendship.” She shrugged her shoulders. “But do you actually know what an imp wants?”

  Fania cackled wildly. “Imps don’t bother themselves with friendship. All they care about is themselves. They are loners.”

  Ollie’s head cocked to the opposite side. He retreated two steps, before smoke covered the ground. He reappeared on Makayla’s shoulder, tongue waggling freely at the Crone.

  “How is this possible?” Fania asked, eyes dulled with confusion.

  “Being lonely, even when people are all around is probably one of the worst feelings any man or beast can have,” Makayla replied. “I guess we are kindred spirits in that sense. We understand one another. I admit, I don’t know everything about Ollie, or even what abilities he has or may one day come to have, but I’m willing to find out as we go.”

  Fania rubbed her eyes. “The three students we’ve just witnessed are authorized to have helpers accompany them in the competition. I suggest you be careful of that imp of yours. You’ll be held accountable if he goes rogue. You can go.”

  “Thank you so much,” Makayla replied. “I was hoping we’d be dismissed before the skunk showed off his stuff.” She raced to the exit before anyone could say another word.

  “That girl is a handful,” Snailime chuckled.

  “Yes,” Mary Meet agreed, “but one of the most talented wizards to come through the ranks in a very long time. Funny part is, she doesn’t even realize her own strength.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  It was still fairly early, although, the rising darkness hid the true hour. Clouds rumbled overhead—as always—threatening to unleash wrath on the academy and its students, even in the winter. Bad weather or not, they’d been gathered for a reason and it wasn’t to build a snowman.

  “Roll call,” Ms. Moth bellowed, motioning with one hand for the lot to move in closer. “Raise you’re hand if you are here. Frankie.” She glanced over the group for movement. “Good. Next we have Thomas.”

  “Here,” he replied, sucking on a forever lollipop. He’d made a believer out of most of the campus after purchasing it in town and managing to make it last weeks without shrinking in size.

  “Tsk.” Ms. Moth fanned her face. “Where do I start with you? I asked you to raise your hand, not answer out loud,” she huffed. “Also, there’s no eating during these sessions.”

  “I’m not eating,” Thomas chuckled. “This isn’t food.”

  Ms. Moth wiggled two fingers. “Hand it over.”

  “No.” Thomas took a step back from her. “Not a chance. This candy has way too much life left in it. Besides, I am going for a new record. I can’t let anything get in the way of that. We all need goals, right?”

  “Give it here,” Ms. Moth ordered, moving toward him. “I won’t put up with insubordination or a disruption of this special class.”

  A two-person skit began, childhood memories flashing before the eyes of those watching. Tag, hide-and-seek, there were so many similar games, ones that kept players running about for hours at a time. It didn’t matter how much he wheezed, or hard he breathed, when it came to Thomas, no one stole his candy.

  Lightning flashed, illuminating a vast plot of land ahead. Grave digger shovels sat ominously in a row, waiting to be of use, each one spaced exactly the same distance from the other. Their blades dug deeply into the semi-frozen soil hidden under a newly fallen blanket of white.

  An unusual low-lying fog crept in while no one paid attention. From it a shadow took form—a cloaked figure hovering over one of the end shovels—then dissipating into nothing a split second later. A shiver raced down Makayla’s spine. Was it Woolly, or her mind using memories of the previous year to cast illusions? There was no way to rule out either possibility.

  “Welcome,” the headmistress addressed the group. “If I could stop the commotion for a moment, I’d like to address why you are all here. Consider this an Inter-Academy competition special class. Ms. Moth and myself will be your instructors.”

  Cali jumped up and down on the spot, rubbing her shoulders. “Does it have to be outside?”

  “Yes. It most certainly does!” The headmistress exhaled sharply, her breath freezing instantly. “Need I remind you, there is no way to tell what the weather will be like in your most dire time of need?”

  “That’s a tad overexaggerated,” Makayla huffed. “Presumably, if the temperature was this chilly, we’d finish things quickly and move on, thus avoiding frostbite. What’s this class about, anyway?”

  “Travel,” the headmistress answered, “magically that is. I’m sure most of you have noticed by now there are various types of portals used by wizards. Some are even trade secrets.” She paused, a thoughtful glimmer shimmering in her eyes. “This part is usually a bit more exciting, but most of you dabbled in the art before scheduled, ruining the moment.”

  Makayla nodded. “Grave digger shovels.”

  “Correct!” Headmistress Meet exclaimed. “Unfortunately, we are not giving out prizes here today.”

  “It’s still too soon for a sorry bunch, such as yourselves,” Ms. Moth huffed. “Mark my words. This is going to backfire.”

  The headmistress cleared her throat. “The power of grave digger shovels cannot be accessed by every witch standing on a corner. Normally, it takes years of practice to maste
r the technique, much the same as a wand to a dueller. We are putting you through a crash course.”

  “If you want to win so badly, teach us something a little more useful,” Leo complained. “That duelling sounded promising.”

  “Except we aren’t a duelling academy,” Ms. Moth replied. “We are proud grave diggers.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Leo mumbled under his breath.

  “Settle down,” the headmistress insisted. “I didn’t implement this extra class for the sake of winning...” she turned to her assistant instructor, “...or for pride. This is for the benefit of all of you. The other participants will all know how to access various portals. The lot of you will be sitting ducks without at least one form of magical travel in your back pocket.”

  “It almost sounds as if you are suggesting there is a possibility we are going to be attacked,” Cali chuckled nervously.

  “Of course you will be!” the headmistress exclaimed. “I don’t know why you’d think you wouldn’t be. It’s a valid strategy to remove all players from the game, after all. I had hoped you’d be planning something of your own.”

  “Strategy?” Makayla sighed. “We haven’t actually come together to discuss any plans as of yet.”

  “Well,” the headmistress said, patting her hair at the sides, “you should. For right now, though, I’d like you to use these shovels to travel to the plot on the other side of the campus and then come back. Once you have mastered that, I’ll be happy. I might even throw in a little gift of sorts.” She pointed to several shovels a few feet away.

  Makayla grabbed the nearest handle, foot pressing down hard. Visualizing the other lot wasn’t difficult, considering she saw it every night from her window. Keeping visions of the cemetery by town out of her head was the hard part.

  Just the other side of the campus. Just the other side of the campus. She opened her eyes, exhaling the breath she’d been holding. “Round trip coming up.” Her foot slammed back down on a shovel.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Noise slapped her eardrums where it counted. Expecting complete silence amplified its nonexistence. For a gathering of seven people, they made a loud ruckus, especially being in the academy library.