Before their serious conversation gets started, Mary and Bella barged in to the covered court. Mary went straight to the spot where hers, Jeremy’s, and Bella’s bag are placed while Bella stood by the opened door.
Amidst the silence, Maureene waved to Bella while smiling. Bella returned the favour then looked down.When she looked up, her gaze went straight to Logan’s and their eyes locked into each other as if destiny is playing with them.
Bella dropped their gaze when she saw Mary carrying three bags at a time, although it seems heavy, it doesn’t look like though with Mary. It’s a piece of cake.
“Hey, you should’ve called me over when you’re going to get these heavy bags.” Bella said.
“It’s nothing serious pfft... These aren’t heavy you know?” Mary replied while handing Bella bag to her. Bella squinted her eyes of suspicious to Mary, grab all the three bags with a playful smile, without saying a thing, and to her disbelief she immediately drop on the floor. Maureene was utterly surprised at what happened and Logan almost run at full speed away from his position, if it weren’t for Maureene’s signal to let them be. Mary, who was now in bit of shock, returned to her senses before bella looked up to her.
“What. the. hell. is in your bags?” Bella asked with astonished face.
“Uh, first of all, my bag is full of paperworks and unfinished pile of documents.. while Jeremy’s bag is full of props for the play and documents to sign for approval.” Mary replied with an awkward smile.
“So how the hell you think this isn’t heavy as it already is?” Bella asked again with grimace on her face.
“Um...” Mary looks left and right and smiles awkwardly “Uh.. because I do daily exercises?” she replies as if to guess the reason while she tries to slowly take hers an Jeremy’s bag from Bella and walks away slowly.
Bella maintains her sour face as she stands up when Maureene call their attention.
“Hey, are you alright?” Maureene asks with a soothing smile on her face. Bella face suddenly lit up and smiled.
“Bella! C’mon, let’s go home.” Mary calls her back from afar.
“Yeah! I’m okay” and she nods at her. Bella looks at Logan for the last time then exits the doorway of the covered court.
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As they walk and reached the school’s lower quadrangle, Mary insisted that her to go home or instead, visit Luke to see how he is doing.
“But...” Bella said as she has second thoughts.
“But what?” Mary asked.
Oh... I haven’t told her that we fought last night... Bella thought while avoiding Mary’s gaze.
“You know... if it’s hard to tell, just keep it to yourself for now. I know you will tell me that later on, I trust you after all.” Mary said with an assuring smile. After saying that, Bella’s mood began to clear and she smiled sweetly.
I’m thankful to have a best friend like you Mary...
Mary smiled all of the sudden in front of her.
“Mary, what are you smiling for?” Bella asked when she felt weird about her best friend’s smile.
“Nothing... It’s just that, look at you now... You’re finally smiling again.” she replied with a smile.
Then all of the sudden they laugh at each other like an idiot out of nowhere. After Bella got into a taxi leading to Luke’s house, Mary turned her back from the school gate and her smile disappeared then became serious while she stayed in the quadrangle for a while.
They fought... What the hell did they fight about? Mary said to herself. She closed her eyes and hold still in her place for good 10 minutes when she suddenly opened her eyes widely and gasped- like she’s gasping for more air, deep inhalation and exhalation. She almost lost her balance and swallowed nervously while looking down at the ground with these thoughts running on her mind.
Heck!
She put her hands on her waist with a frown in her face looking up in the sky
Fudge!
Then she put her hands on both side of her head- in her temple while looking down again
Gosh!!
Then finally, she blurted out while looking on her front,
“What do I do?”
Then after several curses in the span of 3 full minutes that are needlessly to be emphasized, she returned to her problem.
“What do I do?!” while scratching her head with both of her hands while she walks and tries to find Jeremy on the campus.
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Meanwhile at the covered court, the conversation between Logan and Maureene goes again after the best friends went out.
Why are you here? Logan asked.
Nothing... I just want to study here...
Is that really the reason why you’re here? Or do you have any motive other than that? Logan replied.
Suddenly, Maureene walked towards Logan in a very alluring slow pace
“As expected from you, my prince...” she said as she seductively touches his cheek with her right hand fingers all the way to his chin. She slowly tip-toed and leans closer to Logan as she was closing in to his lips with her eyes half open. She was nearly one inch away from Logan’s lips when Logan covers her lips with his index finger and stops her.
“Don’t even think about it” he said with a warning tone in his voice.
Maureene opened her eyes the same time she scoffs at what Logan just said. She removes her hand from Logan’s chin and moved one step backwards.
Why did you do that? Logan asked telepathically.
She crossed her arms. “I thought you’d be a good fiancé to me...” and said that as she smirked at Logan and looks up the ceiling.
Why did you say that? Logan shouted at Maureene. Apparently, he knows that there are five nosy students from his club are listening just outside the covered court.
Maureene look straight to his eyes and said:
For your eavesdropping club members... at least we have to give them some news scoop as the fruit of their ‘hard work’... you know, listening so quietly as if detecting them would be so hard... accompanied by her wicked smile.
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Logan was so seriously but only slightly pissed off. Not just because of the eavesdroppers, but for the fact that Maureene became Filstine Clan’s heiress as well as the fact that she became his fiancée instead of Bella. He closed his eyes, used his enhanced senses to track the exact location of those five student and then he moved away a little bit from Maureene and murmured out some Aghartaean language used in the magic he’s currently performing to whisk them away using the souls around the campus to scare them:
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“Eschtré vien bȗn irvfuoun jleyrda liahir” (T’is thy magic, I cast thee) A magic circle surfaced out of nowhere and illuminated with royal blue light surrounding Logan.
“Zieljeis terazvem dex volzsh irtneham bioure desvux erfiem morjl” (borrow lost soul that flies free) Then the light particle from the circle came together as one, ten meters above his head and then dived down through him and scattered to many directions like a vibration made from a drop of water.
The magic pulsed like a heartbeat repeatedly inside the court as strong winds are emitted from the circle. This time, the magic searches for potential spirits to use for his ‘scare show’.
“Yterria esfluosp fer illenevter sfecihr jluwosver,” (Before the fast relay of gibberish hearsay) said while his hair is being dragged upwards by the force of the wind. And the spirits the flies around the school corridors meet at the covered court then surrounded the magic circle.
It’s a decent display of magic skills though. Because Logan successfully made the ghosts appear and look neat and nice, without the blood, dirt and other stuff.
Maureene’s hair is also dragged in her back by the wind as she stands from afar when she talked to him telepathically. You are enjoying this... with a smile while looking at him.
It’s been a while since I used my magic so... he replied.
“Prinuoast Austruemdt!” (Don’t let my enemy get away!) When he said that, the ghosts scattered and went outside. The magic circle died out and everything went back to normal. They both brushed their hairs because it became a mess when the wind disappeared.
Not even a minute passed when they heard screams and cries of three girls and two gays outside the covered court. Both of them looked at the wall of the covered court like they can see what lies behind it.
“Seriously? You scared them off with just bunch of ghosts?” Maureene says to him with ‘are you kidding me?’ facial expression written in her face while still combing her hair with her hands.
“I don’t want to scare them that much and I don’t want to use such large scale magic on some shallow things. And besides, you looked amused when they screamed out of horror.” Logan replies in a monotonous voice and scoffs at Maureene as they both stopped combing their hair.
Maureene suppressed her laugh while she replied,
“I saw them behind the wall and believe me, it was priceless!” and then Maureene laughed like there’s no tomorrow while Logan just smiles at her thought.
If you will see the two of them now will make you think that they’re so close to each other and enjoys each other’s company. There are only few people who can make Logan smile voluntarily, and one of them is Maureene. Well, it’s because there’s only one thing they both enjoy together; it’s vicious pranks on anyone, if they want to hear them screaming on the top of their lungs.
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After laughing, there’s an awkward silence between them. Suddenly, Maureene snapped her fingers to break the silence and said,
“Okay, enough the awkwardness” as she went to sit on the bleachers. Logan went near where she is, but didn’t sit beside her and just stood there in Maureene’s right side.
“I don’t want to be hostile to you. I respect you as an heiress, as a lady and as a member of Filstine Clan. So as much as possible, I wanna ask you calmly why you’re here. The real reason why you’re here...” He asked without throwing a side glance at her.
Maureene looks up to Logan then looks down the ground when a thought came to her head. And of course, she controls her mind before saying it. She doesn’t want Logan to find out about it.
Kind and Gentleman. Two of the characteristics of his that I like the most. Which is dragging me down, falling hard and fast...
Instead of replying, Maureene closed her eyes and concentrated her magic at the center of her two feet.
“What are you doing?” Logan asked.
“Allurion de Nullificare” she casted the same time she opened her eyes. A magic from her feet expanded rapidly and formed a medium-sized magic circle and imprisoned them inside a ball while the whole covered court is slowly filled with water, its level rapidly rising just like a flash flood during rainy seasons.
Logan’s eyes slightly widens as he observe what she just did. This is magic is one of the powerful magic ever discovered in their history. Its power also increases depends on the caster. He look around the covered court and sensed that the water is only limited to the court. It didn’t flow outside.
When Logan looked at Maureene, he was surprised to see her eye pigment. It’s like ocean blue. Not so light yet not so dark and they sparkle like it’s filled with crystal clear water. Maureene looked up to Logan.
“This one is a high level magic, how did you manage?” Logan asked her, entertained at the thought that Maureene can finally do some high level stunt.
“I have to do it if you want to talk using our mouth. Sometimes it’s difficult to talk in mind and just in case we blurt out some thoughts that are needlessly to say, no one will be able to hear it except you and me” Logan remained silent.
“How did I do it you ask?” said Maureene. “Because I trained and trained for the past decades that you weren’t there in Agharta, where you chose to stay here and watch her grow up into a very fine woman” And I’m talking about Bella...she thought.
“I became strong for the past decades, and luckily before I turned eighteen hundred, I defeated a Council member in a fair fight, a bet which your father, King Djibril- rewarded me the 14th Council Seat, which was supposed to be exclusive only to the Paxton-Lancaster Clan. So as a member of the Aghartaean Council, one is labelled as a caster that is as strong as any council member. In short, all council members are equal in strength and magic.”
“So... What’s the connection?” Logan asked.
“Rusty-brained Prince of Agharta, it’s obvious that I can nullify their mind reading techniques because we’re of the same power and my body is now capable of casting such a spell like Allurion de Nullificare (Flood of Nullification).”
“Allurion de Nullificare is a spell that nullifies any kind of aura, spell or even the most powerful curses in the whole wide world. The First Requirement for a caster to be capable of using it, is that the caster must have a trained and well-balanced body filled with lots of mana and energy. The Second Requirement is that the caster must be of legal age, or it will not work and you’ll break the underage magic law. This spell can only nullify other caster’s spells, curses and auras that are of the same level of your magic and the magic weaker than yours, it cannot nullify stronger ones. The Third Requirement is that your Mana Storage must be in its ultimate form so that it can restore more energy to sustain the ‘life’ of the magic.” She continued.
“It can only be powerful if you’re a powerful caster. But if you’re not, it’ll be as weak as your other magic spells. It acts like it has a life inside it; the magic needs a sufficient and continuous supply of magic, skills and experience.”
“This spell is also particularly special because it marks the caster in different forms for different casters. Sometimes, other’s hair becomes blue. Others are their eyes and some are their skin. And in every trait, it helps them adjust their senses; especially if they’re underwater.” Maureene explains.
“Blue hair can become extra pair of hands. Their hair can fight on their own.”
“Blue skin, it can feel various threats even from afar. And it completely regenerates fast.”
“Blue eyes are the best ocular aide underwater. You can see the detailed features of coral reefs, treasures and corpses at the depths of the ocean floor like they’re under a bright sun light. It can also zoom in and out and can last long observation without blinking every second.”
And as for Maureene, It’s in her eyes that showed the special trait of the said spell.
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“I met the entire requirements to be able to cast this spell. Now you know?” Maureene said after the explanation.
“Wait, we’re both in the right age. If you can do that, why can’t I?” Logan asked out of curiosity.
“So are Mary and Jeremy! And the problem with the three of you is that you didn’t train long enough like me! You have only a little experience in battle and your skills begin to dull! Your Mana storage is as small as the size of the fist of a ten-year old kid!” Maureene replied.
Logan remained silent. Her answer fed his curiosity.
“You all didn’t meet the entire requirement for the spell.” Maureene said.
“Apparently it is...” Logan answered.
Then there’s short silence between them. To make things seem enjoyable, Logan casted a summoning spell.
“Hada Agua” after that, the entire covered court which is now a place full of water, was filled with water pixies playing everywhere.
“How old is she again?” Maureene asked.
“She still seventeen, turning eighteen years old by December 30, 20XX.”
“Oh, right. I’m older than her by merely a month. It’s month August right now so.. After four months she’ll turn eighteen huh?” Maureene commented.
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Then silence filled them.
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“Isn’t odd? The four of us are know that we’re 1,800 years old... while Bella doesn’t even have a single hint that she already lived a long lifetime.” She added.
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Then silence again. A young water pixie smiled and waved at her and she returned the favour. She reached out the water pixie and her hand went through the barrier and offered her left hand’s index finger to shake hands. The water pixie accepted the hand shake then she waved good bye when she was called by her playmates.
“I’ll get to the point Logan... I was sent by the Aghartean council to look at the situation here at Earth... specifically the situation around Bella... I was also sent Queen Catherina to look after you, Bella, Mary, Jeremy, Luke and David.” Maureene said without casting sideway glance at Logan.
“Why are you sent by my Queen mother, not to mention the council?” Logan looks at her and asked.
“Maybe to ensure that she does not fulfil the prophecy again...”
Logan’s right eyebrow arched up. “What prophecy? My father nor my mother told me anything about any prophecy? What is it?”
Maureene’s eyes widened when she realized she said something she shouldn’t have.
“I-It’s nothing! None of your concern as it is also highly confidential.” Maureene tried her best to avoid Logan’s gaze. Before Logan could think of anything stupid, all of the enchantment in place disappeared when Maureene raised her right arm just above her head and flick her finger with the same moment she said:
“Dispel!”
Maureene immediately left Logan cliff-hanged. As she was walking towards her red Aston Martin car, she remembered the details of the prophecy apprehended by the Sorceress Krisztina herself:
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1st Prophecy:
She, who have experienced a misconstrued cruelty,
Shall be the femme fatale in the prophecy.
Euphoria in Aurora
Indignation in Twilight
Melancholia in Dusk
Moments be the price
For the lives doomed in time
The Lady of the House shall take command
And The Soothsayer reversed
As Her ladyship grasp the meaning of the curse
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2nd Prophecy:
She, who have experienced a misconstrued cruelty,
Shall be the femme fatale again in the prophecy.
Euphoria in Aurora
Indignation in Twilight
Melancholia in Dusk
Soul and Blood be the price
For the lives doomed in time
The Miss of the house will take command
And she will know death in hand
What is asked shall be given by Soothsayer
For her sacrifice was to end the existence of the death-bringer
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Disclaimer:
The “magic incantation” performed by Logan in other language which was identified in the story as ‘Aghartaean Language’ is NOT ACTUALLY a language of some sort. It is just random words that popped out of the author’s mind. Some ‘incantations’ may have used some other real international languages.
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