Dean Hawthorne: Headmaster of a Magical Academy, page 20
“I meant to ask,” I started, her head lifting from my shoulder. “The ‘Clashing of the Wands’ will be held in a week at the academy. Would you like to come? There will be booths built and manned by the students of the academy and of course the tournament is fun to watch.”
“Are you asking me to walk the festival with you?” she asked, turning her body a bit toward me, my phrasing not making my intentions clear.
“I am.” My gaze drifted out the window, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious and wondering if the invitation would be taken the wrong way. “Luna will be there, too; she wants to see you as well,” I added in an attempt to lessen any pressure she felt from the question.
“I’d love to.” She smiled. “Whether with just you or with Luna as well.” She nudged me softly.
“Wonderful. Say mid-morning?”
“Perfect! I’ll see you then.” She agreed, our next meeting planned.
Darkness had set in around us, so I knew it was time to return home, not wanting to overstay my welcome. I said a long goodbye to Evelyn as she saw me to the door. I walked the entire way out of her shop, waving to Lara as I left, not wanting to stir up any of the clothing or other merchandise by using my magic in the building. Once outside, I pulled out my wand, knowing there wasn’t much time before I would see Evelyn again, the festival fast approaching.
As dean, there were plenty of things to do before we would be ready for the big day, and now I had even more reason to want to make the event as special as possible. For once, I felt motivated to get back to work, but that work would have to wait for the morning. With one final glance at ‘The Sparrow’s Thread,’ I teleported back to my room at the academy, ready to rest for the remainder of the day.
Chapter
Thirty
HEXEREI ACADEMY - JEREMY BISHOP
With only one week to go, things at Hexerei were just a little chaotic. Classes seemed more of a chore to the students, who were intensely focused on making their class’s booths stand out among the rest. While most chose to dive headfirst into the project, others set their sights on the title of ‘Clashing of the Wands Champion’ for their grade level.
Jeremy had no interest in his classes’ projects, doing the minimum amount of work required of each individual student. His first class, which was also considered his homeroom, determined the group he was required to work with for the festival preparations, his being herbology.
This specific class chose to focus on crafting specialized drinks utilizing the healing herbs grown in the greenhouse connected to the classroom. Jeremy had helped by planting the seeds and tending to the plants. As for the construction of their booth, he let the others handle that.
While he admitted to being more interested in the tournament itself, he did not hold the unrealistic goal of becoming the winner for his grade level. Since deciding to stash his enhancement powder and focus on improving his magic capabilities the natural way, he had improved noticeably from his skill level at the entrance exam, although not to the degree that would blow away the other competitors.
His goal for himself was to not be eliminated in the first round of the challenge. While Jeremy decided that the powder was too risky to use, choosing to rely on his own strength in the tournament, the same could not be said for those he chose to share it with initially. After he made the decision to hide the evidence, he slowly began trying to collect the rest of the magical enhancement powder, knowing that if anyone was caught with it, the dean was sure to suspect him after what happened with Todd.
He managed to collect a few of the pouches he distributed, but in truth, he didn't remember all those he had shared it with, the amount of people who requested it having been more than he intended. Many of the others admitted to using it, yet none had a reaction even close to Todd’s.
This reassured him that utilizing the enhancement powder didn’t always mean the user would go out of control, allowing him to breathe a little easier as he worked to collect the remaining pouches. For now, his main focus was retrieving the powder from those he could remember distributing it to, Richie being his top priority, a boy who was supposed to be his friend. Despite the supposed bond, for some reason Richie was avoiding Jeremy, making up excuses why he couldn’t hand over the powder each time Jeremy asked for it in the past.
“Richie!” Jeremy called out to the boy, hoping today would be different.
The last class of the afternoon had just ended, and the students were exiting their rooms, rushing to whatever it was they did after their work was done for the day. Richie paused for a moment, a jerk reaction, but continued walking almost immediately, pretending he didn't hear the call.
Richie quickened his pace, mixing in with the other students as they flooded the halls, leaving Jeremy staring at his disappearing figure. His pause didn’t go unnoticed by Jeremy, his face scrunching in response, his friend’s reaction making it clear he was avoiding him. He couldn't just let him get away, not again, especially with the tournament so close at hand.
He rushed after Richie, disregarding the others in the hallway as his shoulder clashed with theirs, the boy pushing through the crowd to make his own way through the hall.
“Richie!” He tried again, but the sound dispersed, drowned out by the hum of the students’ chatter.
The boy disappeared into the wave of students, leaving Jeremy with only one other option: to wait for him at his dorm room. Accepting that Richie wasn’t responding to his call, Jeremy abandoned his mission of chasing the boy down, heading instead to his room to wait. He leaned against the wall beside the door, determined not to leave until he had spoken with his friend.
The late afternoon hours ticked by with no sign of Richie, but Jeremy refused to leave his spot, even skipping his evening meal in order to monitor the doorway. Finally, a half hour past the last call for dinner, Richie came slinking back to his dorm room, his eyes downcast, focusing on his key ring. He froze in place when he looked up and saw Jeremy waiting for him, surprised to see him standing by his door.
Jeremy perked up at the boy’s arrival, ready to have a serious discussion, but once again Richie took off in the opposite direction once he registered the situation, sprinting down the hallway with reckless abandon. Jeremy refused to lose sight of him this time, and with no students crowding the halls, catching up to the boy was much easier. He ran at his full speed through the halls until he was close enough to reach out and grab him by the hem of his shirt.
Richie managed to travel quite far in his attempt to escape, the two boys ending up in front of the school garden, the seamless glass windows showing off the darkened foliage, the natural light required to illuminate the space having faded with the setting sun. Jeremy slammed Richie against the glass, his fists gripping the boy’s collar, holding him in place.
“Just talk to me!” he growled inches from Richie’s face before he pulled back on his clothing and slammed him against the glass one more time, trying to stop the constant squirming.
Richie's eyes looked everywhere but at Jeremy, still seeking a way out, his hands naturally shifting to Jeremy's clenched fist as he tried to pry his clothing from the boy's grip. Realizing this was not a struggle he would win, Richie's body relaxed, his eyes focusing on Jeremy, the boy’s demeanor changing entirely.
“Fine,” he huffed, conceding when there seemed to be no other option. “What do you want?” he spit out, his lip curling up in disgust’
“I don't understand what's going on with you.” Jeremy admitted, his grip loosening slightly.
He, Richie, and Todd had been friends long before entering the academy. Although to the outside world the two appeared more as Jeremy’s followers, he did enjoy being the leader. Jeremy cherished their friendship—even if he didn't always show it.
“You know what I want. Just return the powder I gave you, and I'll stop bothering you for it.”
“And if I refuse?” Richie stared down Jeremy, his body remaining very still.
“I don't see why you would. You saw what almost happened to Todd and to me. If the dean catches wind that you're using a buffer, it won't just be you that goes down. He'll connect the dots, Todd will be blamed in his summoning case, and then there's no way he won't assume I started everything. So do us all a favor and throw that shit away.”
Richie stayed quiet, seeming to contemplate Jeremy's words, but after a brief moment he tensed up, delivering a hard push against Jeremy’s chest. Not ready for a sudden retaliation, Jeremy rocked backward from the force, releasing his grip on Richie’s collar in the process.
“Well, I don’t wanna. And you can't make me!” Richie taunted as he brought his wrist up to his mouth, opening a slot on his silver bracelet before he dipped his tongue inside, some of the powder having been on his person the whole time.
After scooping some of the drug into his mouth, he secured the cover and dropped his hand back beside him, seeming to take great satisfaction in his swallow.
“I’m sorry that Todd was so stupid when using the powder…I mean, why would you take it all at once? Ha, idiot. Still, his stupidity won't be a reason I'll give it up. For the first time, I feel powerful, and do you know what? I’m not afraid of anyone, especially not you. After all, you’re just some lowly viscount’s son.”
Jeremy let out a breathy laugh. “Do you think this is power?” He waved his hand over Richie’s body, highlighting the slight tremble in his gait. “It's not. You may feel strong, but as soon as the powder wears off, you'll be right back to your normal, pathetic self. The magic it amplifies isn't real—it isn't yours.
“So sure, you can march around here thinking you're hot shit, but when that bracelet of yours is empty, which I'm sure it will be soon, then what? Everyone will see you for what kind of sorcerer you truly are: weak and weak-minded for choosing to depend on something like an enhancement powder. It's beneath you, Richie, and I’m sorry I didn't see that sooner.”
Richie gritted his teeth, unable to simply brush off Jeremy’s words, but as the powder coursed through his body, the increasing power strengthened its influence on his mind. His thoughts began contending with one another, half-recognizing Jeremy's words as the truth, the other half disgusted by the boy’s very existence, screaming to get rid of the problem.
When Richie didn't respond, Jeremy took a few steps closer, reaching for the bracelet that housed the magical buffer. The moment his fingertips brushed the smooth metal, Richie snapped back to the present, a new fire in his eyes that seemed to overshadow his previous personality. Richie gripped Jeremy's wrist with enough force that the boy winced before Richie shifted his body, hurling Jeremy at the glass window behind them.
Jeremy’s back collided with the windowpane with a resounding thud, the thick glass absorbing the blow. A groan escaped his lips from the impact, his body sliding back down to the floor. Richie wasn't done with him yet. The boy pounced on Jeremy, his fist reared back, shooting forward as he descended toward his former friend. With barely enough time to realize what was happening, Jeremy shuffled to the side, his eyes shutting tight when Richie’s fist made contact with the ground beside him.
“What’s wrong with you?!” he barked, glaring at Richie, whose focus remained on his own fist now flush with the academy floor.
“What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? You have access to such power and yet you don't want to use it? You've gone soft. It’s pathetic. If you're not willing to embrace the powder’s effects, its offered strength, you should just give the rest of it to me. I know you have more. So where is it?” Richie fixated on the thought of acquiring more of the magical enhancer, his head turning slowly to meet Jeremy's glare, a twisted smirk distorting his features, sending a chill down Jeremy's spine.
“This isn't you!” Jeremy scrambled to his feet, never imagining the powder would have this type of influence on anyone.
It hadn’t been that way for him, and even Todd’s effects were mild in comparison, so how could he have known how Richie would react? After all, it was his father’s suggestion in the first place…did he know this could happen?
“You're right, this isn't me. This is a better me!” Richie confidently exclaimed. “I’m no longer the little boy you used to push around anymore. And I don't plan on going back to that pathetic self ever again. So get used to it.”
Jeremy had begun taking steps to the side as Richie spoke, attempting to put some distance between him and his obviously unstable friend, but Richie wasn't going to allow that.
“Where are you going? If you want this so bad…” He showed off the storage compartment of the bracelet he wore, “Then fight me for it!” He lunged at Jeremy, grabbing him by the wrist once more before the boy could evade.
“I’m not going to fight you, Richie!” Jeremy held his ground even as he pulled back on his wrist, trying to break free of the hand that held him, refusing to start the battle Richie was aiming for.
“Ha! Of course not. So weak.” His grip tightened, and Jeremy felt a crack, a wave of pain shooting up his arm.
He gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out, knowing that, in Richie’s current state, it was exactly what he wanted—he would enjoy seeing him suffer. Despite Jeremy's attempts to hide his reaction to the damage, Richie had felt the moment his wrist broke too, a sick grin twisting his expression.
Richie looked ready to throw a punch at close range, his aim to do even more damage, when the sound of footsteps froze him in his place. He dropped his arched fist but kept a hold of Jeremy's wrist, assuming the boy would flee if given the chance. He wasn't wrong. Jeremy had long accepted the defeat, and now he only wanted the confrontation to end, afraid of pushing the friendship to the point that it wouldn't survive even if Richie returned to normal. Although it may already be too late for that.
“Jeremy! And Richie!” A voice greeted them, approaching from the nearby hallway.
Prince Ellis emerged from the darkened hall, an illumination crystal in his hand, his first-year prefect armband in clear view, the boy having been assigned the evening watch.
“Is everything okay here?” He glanced between each of the boy’s faces then down to the grip Richie still held on Jeremy’s wrist, his confusion causing Richie to release it.
Removing the pressure of his grip only caused more pain to shoot up Jeremy's arm, but he feigned a smile, knowing that one word from Prince Ellis could get them both in trouble. If he happened to report that they were fighting, all of his efforts to improve by his own strength would be for nothing.
“Everything’s fine,” he lied, placing a light hand on Richie’s shoulder, trying not to jar his wrist too much from the motion.
“Yeah, that's right,” Richie joined the farce, his words sounding more strained than friendly.
Prince Ellis stared at the two a little longer, knowing something was up, but also recognizing that he wouldn’t be the one they would confide in, the three never having much of a relationship past the fact that he and Jeremy shared a mentor and a couple classes.
“Alright, well, it's almost curfew, so I suggest you both head back to your respective dorms.”
“Of course! We were just about to do that,” Richie jerked Jeremy toward him, his arm around his shoulder, trying to dispel the prince’s interest in their interaction.
With Richie’s attention on the prefect, Jeremy seized the opportunity to unclasp the boy’s bracelet, slipping it into his pocket before untwisting himself from Richie’s hold. He made a swift exit, and using the excuse of being a student dedicated to following the curfew, he waved as he backed down the hall.
“Goodnight, both of you!” he called out, turning to face the direction he was headed, his destination now his dorm room.
Prince Ellis seemed satisfied by his immediate reaction to his suggestion to abide by the curfew, letting him rush off down the hall. Jeremy knew it wouldn't be long before Richie would figure out that he’d stolen the bracelet, so he walked with haste, keeping his movements as inconspicuous as he could while moving swiftly down the hall.
His body relaxed slightly when he heard Prince Ellis address Richie, wanting to ask the boy a few more questions, inadvertently stopping his pursuit. Jeremy couldn't afford to lose the opportunity presented, so he continued at his quickened pace, fumbling for the key to his dorm with his good hand as he moved.
Reaching his door, Jeremy quickly unlocked it and slipped inside, slamming it after a quick look down the hall to make sure Richie wasn't in sight. In the safety of his dorm room, he immediately crouched down by his hiding spot, pulling up the floorboard. He placed the bracelet alongside the variety of other storage items and sachets within the space, ranging from necklaces to bracelets to small pouches like his own, each full of the powder he had collected from the student’s he’d decided to share it with.
His own pouch resided at the bottom, the collected trinkets on top, but even with the handful of items gathered, he knew there was still more out there. He slid the floorboard back in place, sighing heavily at the realization that he really didn’t know the full extent of what the powder was capable of. The search for the remainder of the product wasn’t over yet. With new determination, he scanned his room for something to wrap his injured wrist.
The limb had already started to swell, a purple-and-red indicator blatantly showing up on his skin in the shape of Richie’s hand. Finding nothing quite right for the job, he settled on a handkerchief, wrapping the soft material around his wrist several times before tying it off with a knot. While not a permanent solution, it would have to do.
Chapter
Thirty-One
HEXEREI ACADEMY - JEREMY BISHOP
The day after Jeremy succeeded in taking back some of the powder from Richie, he woke up as normal, stopping at the health room before the start of his first class. Luckily, he found Professor Blake still in the room, having yet to start her own classes that morning. Although she didn't ask many questions about the injury, choosing instead to get right to work on healing him, Jeremy fed her a lie about falling down the stairs, swiftly eliminating any curiosity that may have developed.
