Chapter 12
Julika stared back at me with wide eyes, hands hanging in place, almost as if they were frozen in place.
She blinked after a couple moments and asked in a harsh breath, “What?”
“No. I refuse. I don’t want to be a part of this Hogwarts bullshit.” I couldn’t have made it more painfully clear.
Merula nodded her head dismissively. “Hm, very well, very well, thank you for stopping by, Hal.”
I didn’t even bother correcting her as she turned and shuffled off towards her small library. I honestly didn’t know if she was doing that because she was upset or because she was actually senile.
Everyone watched in confusion as the mighty mage just excused herself. Julika, her mouth hanging open with words hitched in her throat, swiveled her head back and forth between me and Merula, split on which unforeseen circumstance to tackle first.
She set her gaze on me and pleaded. “P-please, you can’t”
“Really?” I said with a faux chipper tone. “I was under the impression I was being given a choice. Are you telling me that’s not the case?”
“Y-yes––no, I, we––”
“Because I’m telling you.” I leaned forward and uttered slowly, “No.”
I tore myself away from her and brought a hand over my eyes and took a few deep breaths, keeping myself from boiling over. My hand slid away and I stared straight up at the ceiling, admiring the metal traceries that held the panes of glass in place.
“I’ve almost been killed by monsters, stabbed in the gut by some evil wizard, brought back to a strange land, got attacked by another fucking wizard, and now some ancient, old-bag is telling me I’m the holder of some mystical power. And you,” I growled, whirling around and jabbing a finger at her, “are telling me what I should be doing and planning everything out like I’m just supposed to blindly follow along.”
Her mouth hung open and trembled slightly, second guessing anything she thought of saying. I grit my teeth and turned back away. Julika, and all the other academy members, filled the pit of my stomach with boiling anger, so much so that I felt nauseous. I swallowed back the rage that was climbing up my esophagus and hung my head.
“I lost everything,” I lamented. “You just want me to brush that aside and go along as your grand hero?” I understood how impractical it was to warn an entire civilization on a cosmic war, especially for an ignorant world like mine, but it didn't make it any easier to bear.
“I don’t want to be that character from those old stories. I don’t want to fight. I just want to go…“ The word home almost escaped, and my eyes began to heat up. “I just want to go.”
“Al,” Neepa said quietly, placing her hand on my forearm.
I gave Neepa a thankful nod, then I spared Eva a glance. She watched me, her expression was inscrutable, but her eyes had something to say. They were hard and sharp like the emerald counterparts I like to compare them to. They looked like the first time we met.
I dismissed it and turned my attention to the red-dragon lady. “Ko…leen…,” I started then stopped with a heavy sigh. “I’m just going to call you Koko, okay? Koko, can you take us to the front door of this place?”
She opened her mouth, but stopped when Julika cried out, “Wait!”
The woman scrambled before me with the wooden sword in her hands, but I held up my hand.
“Please,” she pleaded. “Hear me, please.”
Julika’s lips were bunched up and her eyes looked desperate, almost on the verge of tears. It was hard to turn down someone who looked like that.
I sighed and waved her on.
She bowed her head deeply. “Please forgive us. It was very selfish of us to subject you to the Grand Mage’s test without consent. But believe me when I say that no harm was to ever come to you. We just needed to see if and how you were able to call upon the power of the artifact. But do reconsider your choice. From what Master says, you could potentially become very powerful. You could be an invaluable asset. The change you could bring about could sway things in our favor once more. This has to be explored!"
I opened my mouth, but Julika threw herself to the floor and prostrated herself.
“I’m not asking you to make your decision now,” she said with her face to the ground. “Stay within Lucinia for a couple days. Explore the academy, spend time with the teachers and disciples. Take the time to learn what we do. Let us attempt to understand your potential.”
“I’d rather go back to Neepa and Eva’s home,” I replied.
Julika’s head snapped up from the ground and she eyed my companions, her gaze lingering on Neepa.
Julika bit her lip then said, “If you do not wish to part with them, then they can stay as well.”
“That’s––”
“We’ll even compensate them extra for their duty. Thirty gold marks. Each.” Julika couldn’t hide the desperation in her voice.
Bribing? Really? The hell did I stumble into?
From someone who presented herself so proudly in our initial meeting, it was pathetic to see her on her hands and knees begging. I rubbed at my neck uncomfortably and shot a glance to the girls. Both of them still with wide eyes.
I whispered to Eva, “Is that a lot?”
“One gold marks is a hundred silvers,” she breathed out, her jaw slack.
“I don’t know how much your currency is here,” I whispered tiredly.
“Al,” Neepa said in a hushed, but urgent tone. “That’s a year’s wage for each of us.”
Whoa.
That sounded like an extremely enticing offer. I already felt like a freeloader at their home, even more so with Neepa doting over me. Scoring them some coin just for staying around sounded like a good deal.
However, even if they are tasked with watching over me, I didn’t want to make decisions for them.
“What do you think?” I asked.
Neepa blinked several times to clear the money signs in her eyes before she turned them towards me.
“I… don’t mind. Eva?” she asked the blonde. Eva snapped her mouth closed with an audible clack and set her eyes on me. They narrowed for a moment, before she looked away with a scoff. “She doesn’t care,” Neepa said, interoperating Eva’s body language. “But it’s your choice.”
“If I agree,” I addressed to Julika, “you won’t harass me if I still adhere to my first choice?”
“If you stay for three days, yes,” she said eagerly.
I cocked a brow. “I thought you said a couple?”
“There is much to see and discuss at our academy. I’m sure you’re tired from the ride here; today will be yours to relax. The next two days will be spent educating you more on our academy and of our world’s history, if you’re interested. At the very least, speak more with the Grand Mage and myself.”
Truth be told, I was already pissed and a long, bumpy carriage ride didn’t sound very pleasant. And this seemed like an easy way of securing the girls some money.
“Fine, I agree. But Neepa and Eva get paid regardless of my decision. Now, please get up.” Having someone grovel at your feet sounds nice on paper, but actually experiencing it was just weird.
Julika rose and bowed deeply. “Thank you for graciously accepting. If you’ll follow Kokoliniasta, she will lead you to your room.” She gave our aforementioned escort and glance, who nodded.
Before she could turn, the black-dragon lady sauntered over. She came impossibly close to Koko, pressing her well-endowed chest into hers and whispering in her ear. She pulled back and gave the girl a sharp look with an even sharper smile. Koko gave the subtlest of nods and squared her body to mine, her face a blank mask.
“My dear daughter will be your personal servant for your stay here. Any questions, concerns, or needs, she’ll handle it, day or night. She’ll do anything you desire. Anything.” To emphasize that point, Koko clasped her hands at her waist and bowed.
“…Right… thanks. Um, I didn’t catch your name.”
&nb
sp; “Charna of the family Alsoleiah,” she said with a breathy voice. Her eyes, like Koko’s, had a vertical pupil, but were a deep purple opposed to Koko’s red, which surveyed me closely.
“Thanks… Charna,” I said, not liking the way she was looking at me.
She fanned her lashes and gave Koko’s shoulder a brush as she sashayed off and disappeared into the hallway.
“Before you go.” Julika walked up and held out the bokken. “Since we know you can wield it, it’s only natural that you keep it.”
Looking at it only brought back bad memories and made me seethe.
“I’d rather be away from it today,” I answered.
She held the sword close to her chest and nodded.
Emre came up from Julika’s side and gave me a curt nod. “Pardon, son. I do hope that our first encounter won’t sully your impression of me. I was the most suited to test against, and, as a man to another man, I’d never disrespect you by going light.”
His moustache curled as he leaned and whispered, “And I am bound to exercise the Grand Mage’s will, regardless of how peculiar it sounds.”
He pulled back and gave me a warm smile. Nothing but honesty in his words and his face portrayed noble sincerity.
I offered my hand. “No hard feelings. And it’s Al. Not son.”
Addressing myself like that reminded me of Harold.
He hummed in acknowledgement and took my hand. “Emre of the family Helge.” He bid farewell then excused himself to converse with the other mages.
I drew in a slow breath from my nose, then let it out. I turned to our appointed guide and said, “Lead the way, Koko.”
She spun on her heel and began walking, her tail swishing counterpoint to her stride. The girls and I followed.
We stepped back into the glass elevator and the guards lowered us what I imagined were about ten floors down. It was hard to tell, but the crystal lights embedded in the walls were separated in a constant interval of fifteen or twenty feet; the halls had fairly high ceilings so I figured a floor was between those heights, give or take.
The magic elevator came to a stop in front of one of the stone doors. Koko placed her hand on the stone, causing it to part down the middle and slide into the walls. She stood off to the side and ushered us forward. Then, we found ourselves standing in another long hallway just as lavish as all the others I’ve traveled down, but there were a lot more doors on either side. Koko turned right and took us all the way to the end of the hall where it forked. The hall continued a great distance in either direction, but our guide opened the door right at the intersection, letting herself in, beckoning us to follow.
I paused after three steps into the room and gawked.
It looked like a Victorian-style hotel suite fit for the queen of England. The walls were a lighter cherry-wood paneling than the hallway, but there were ornately carved crown molding and baseboard adding an extra special touch of decor. The furniture featured similar ornately carved and curvy wooden features. Two couches were set in the middle of the room facing each other with a large, low coffee table separating them. On the far side, facing me, were two chairs side by side and set at an off angle from each other for stylistic purposes. All pieces featured beautifully curvaceous legs that looked solid, yet fragile due to their intricate nature, and were upholstered in a satin burgundy.
There were three doors; two on the left side of the room, and one on the right. The doorknobs looked like they were made of ivory or some sort of white stone. The metal accents of the doors and hinges looked as though they were crafted by a jeweler.
However, all the ornate and intricate details went out of the window when I saw the actual window. It went from the floor to the ceiling, panes held in place by a latticework of intricate steel that mimicked winding vines. There was even a seamless door to the shallow balcony.
Koko was saying something, but I pushed her voice aside as I walked further into the room and stood in front of the window.
The view made me realize not only how massive the academy was, but how massive Scintillion was. A sprawling city went for miles just past the green fields that separated the school from the rest of the public. The majority of the dense capital was built on flatland, so I never had the elevation to gauge the territory, but I certainly had it here.
The city seemed to continue ad infinitum straight ahead to my left. To my right, miles of buildings continued up until the wall containing the city. Past the wall was a village of sorts like the one I passed near Neepa and Eva’s home, and there were wide green pastures and crops for great stretches.
Past all the farmland was the forest. Only the mountains in the far distance distributed the green washed landscape.
I snapped out of my moment in awe to realize that someone had said my name repeatedly.
I turned and said, “Huh?”
Koko was looking at me, realizing that I hadn’t heard a word she said. Her neutral face faltered for a moment, but she closed her eyes and sighed before opening them.
“The washing room is the door next to the bedroom on that side.” She indicated with her hand. “Is there anything else I can offer you? We have a dining room that is open at all hours, but I can bring up anything for you personally.”
Now that she mentioned it, I was starving. Several hours had passed since breakfast, and getting into a fight with a mage certainly worked up an appetite.
Then I thought of her words. Anything? I doubt they have a cup of Joe or pandoro.
“You girls hankering for anything specific?” Because I don’t know any of your dishes, or care, really.”
Eva was leaning against the wall with her hands crossed over her chest, giving the impression of disinterest. Neepa grew very sheepish once Koko set her red eyes on her.
“Oh, um… I-I’m not hungry…” she murmured pulling on her dress.
It was wrong of me to put her on the spot. I forgot that she only talked to me and Eva on a regular basis.
“Actually, I trust your judgment, so just serve us anything you think we’d all enjoy. Also, do you guys serve liquor?”
“Wine,” Koko answered.
Better than nothing.
“That works.”
“I’ll have it ready right away.” She gave a curt bow.
“Thanks, Koko.”
She peeked up through her red bangs and stared for a second before she closed them again. Since we left the Grand Mage’s room, it’s almost as if she’s been on autopilot. For a brief moment, I saw something in her eyes, like when she slapped me.
As she turned to leave, I said, “If calling you Koko upsets you, I can stop.”
She paused, glancing over her shoulder. “It doesn’t matter.” Then she left, the door closing without a sound.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose in a vain effort to clear my thoughts.
“I wish I had some of your spirits, Neepa,” I said with a groan.
The uncorking of a bottle caused my ears to perk up. I snapped my head around to see Neepa drinking from a small glass flask. After an ample swig, she offered the drink.
I grinned. “I’m really happy you’re here.”
Neepa blushed as I took the flask and took a big gulp. Liquor always tasted better when you’re stressed.
Once I had my fill, I offered the flask to our grumpy third member. Eva stared at my offering for a few seconds before she smacked the flask out of my hand, where it exploded into dozen of shards on the floor, filling the room with a thick scent of alcohol.
I looked fixedly at the mess, then at her. “What the hell is your problem?” I shouted.
Eva growled, trembled, then grabbed me by my collar, spinning around and pinning me to the wall she was leaning on. Her face hovered so close to mine that a few millimeters separated our noses. Her eyes were ablaze, practically smoldering.
“You,” she seethed. “You are my problem.”
“For what?” I asked with a snap.
The scowl twisted her face more. Eva’s grip o
n my collar tightened, then she knocked me back, hard enough for my head to smack the wall.
“Eva!” Neepa cried.
“For what? For what?” she repeated, almost shrieking. “You have this great power that could save hundreds of thousands, make an impact on the war, and you say ‘no?’” Eva trembled with caged fury.
What she said set something off within me. The fear she instilled before faded away. Never before have I ever wanted to hit a woman.
I grabbed her wrists and fought against her restraint. I got into her face and pressed my forehead into hers, matching her seething glare with my own.
“This ‘great power’ is fucking news to me! Not once, not once in my entire life, have I ever felt anything reminiscent of great power. My real parents were fucking street trash and my adoptive parents were just regular people.” The thought them and the dream made me shiver.
“I’m not going to believe some hag who tells me I hold some sort of great, mystical power because of some horseshit deductive reasoning, a glowing rock, and some idiotic old story. From my world, the powerful artifact you found was just decorative, some gift donated from a foreign alumnus. And I’m just supposed to believe it’s a legendary weapon? I’m just supposed to follow this madness? No. I’m not going to be this Resonant.”
Eva stared at me for a good long moment before she rasped, “You ungrateful coward.”
“Eva, please try to understand Al’s situation,” Neepa pleaded, trying to pry the Eva’s hands off my collar.
“Easy for you to understand him when you’re fucking him!” she snapped like a rabid dog.
Neepa froze and all the color left her face, put at a complete loss of words.
Eva sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth and gave me another shove before releasing her hold.
“Coward,” she repeated before storming out of the room, slamming the door behind her with enough force to rattle the frame.
I sagged against the wall and took a moment to digest Eva’s words. They stung more than I expected them to. Dismissing it with a heavy sigh, I looked at Neepa. She was beet-red and was kneading her dress between her thumbs.
“You okay?” I asked.
Heart of the Resonant: Book 1: Pulse (Resonant Series) Page 18
