Cherreads

Chapter 64 - Second year, first day

[scene : Near the gate of the capital, in an abandoned alley, a "gate" opens. Colt and Luna(human form) walk out, the "gate" vanishes, they start walking to the academy]

Luna : "I'm so excited to see Luc and Lea again."

Colt : "Let's hope they won't blow our cover."

Luna : "Stop being so pessimistic, it'll be fine."

Colt : "I hope so."

*They reach the academy, they find Luc and Lea at the gate talking to another girl they've never seen before*

*Lea notices them*

Lea : "Brother, it's Dolion and Laverna*rushes to hug Luna*"

Smart girl.

Luna : "I missed you this summer. How's your Mother?"

Lea : "She's fine, she's happy *whispers* thank you."

Luc [with a big smile] : "Dolion, how have you been?"

Colt [picking his words carefully] : "We've been well, master Luc. Thanks to your grace."

*Luc notices the unusual way of speaking and tone*

Luc [looks at the girl] : "Oh, let me introduce you, this is Anya, my fiancée."

Fiancée?!!

WOW!! Who knew Luc had a life.

Anya [deep brown hair, blue eyes, nodding] : "I am Anya Luminus, please, no need to be so reserved around me. Luc has told me many things about you, he has you in very high regards."

Colt : "It's an honor to meet you, my lady."

She doesn't seem like the "type" but if she's like Diana and had enough time to prepare…

Anya : "Starting this year, I'll be attending the academy. I hope we all get along."

Colt : "Certainly, my lady."

*They all enter, Anya heads to the first years classroom. The others walk to theirs*

Colt [to Luc, speaking in between his teeth] : "What did you tell her about me?"

Luc [getting a bit flustered] : "Nothing, I promise, just that we're good friends."

Colt : "She doesn't know the truth?"

Luc : "No, I promise."

Colt [smiling] : "Knew I could count on you."

*They reach the classroom, after a while Diana walks in carrying four strange devices*

Diana [going over the students' faces] : "I'm so happy all of you are here today. I missed my precious students these past few months."

Could this get any cheesier?

Still the same I see.

*Diana puts the four devices one next to the other*

*Each one is identical to the other, they're composed of a cylinder about 5 cm radius and 5 cm height, on two opposing sides of its diameter lies a pillar. Each pillar is 7 cm tall, from that pillar emerges a small pyramid of iron. The pyramids face each other across the diameter*

Diana : "This is what we'll be studying: magical devices. Each device uses a specific magical formula, which all of you will be memorizing."

Student : "What do they do?"

Diana [smiling] : "So glad you asked."

*Diana touches an engraving on the first device, in the center of the ring, fire forms*

*The whole class gasps in awe*

*Diana touches the engraving again, fire vanishes*

*Diana moves on to the next device, water is formed. Floats for a second and then spills, Diana turns it off before things get too messy*

*The third device generated a breeze of air. Students swooned seeing Diana's beautiful blue hair swaying with the wind*

WOW!!

[a second of internal silence]

They made a fan using magic.

How awesome is that?!!

*Diana turns off the device, silence envelopes the classroom for a while*

Another student : "What about the one left? Is it earth magic?"

Diana : "See for yourselves."

*Diana turns on the last device… nothing happens*

Student3 : "Nothing's happening."

Diana : "Not yet."

*Diana pushes the bars closer... in this particular one, turns out, the bars are movable towards the center, when the bars come in contact, few sparks appear*

Student4 [disappointment] : "Is that it?"

*As Colt sees the sparks, his eyes widen, heartbeat accelerates*

I can't believe this!! It can't be!!

Colt[trying to contain the turmoil within him] : "Ma'am, how are those devices created?"

Diana [as she turns it off] : "It takes a skilled magical device craftsman, 5 mages and a few knights to make a single one, we only know the formulas engraved within them, the rest is a secret."

Student1 : "What was that?"

Diana : "It was a failed attempt from a teacher to create a new formula."

Luc : "You can create formulas?"

Diana : "He tried, the formulas are written using ink imbued with mana, he had one commissioned and wrote his own formula. A commendable effort."

*As Diana starts drawing the three formulas on the board, Colt whispers to Luc*

Colt : "Luc, I want that device, that failure, I need it."

Luc : "Why? It's not even working?"

Colt : "I'll pay you back, but get me that device. Diana wouldn't give it to me... and a commoner asking for it would be suspicious."

Luc : "At least tell me why you need it?"

Colt : "I love those types of failures."

Luc : "But-"

Lea : "Brother, we owe him a lot... the least we can do is not ask questions."

Luc[sighs] : "You're right *to Colt* I'll see what I can do."

[Internal demonic smile]

If that thing is what I think it is…

This... is gonna be fun

*After class as Luc and Lea go talk to Diana Colt and Luna stayed behind*

Luna : "Is now a good time to ask?"

Colt : "About what?"

Luna : "Don't try to act like nothing happened; I haven't seen you this excited since we found the cocoa tree."

Colt : "Alright, did you see that so-called failure?"

Luna : "What about it?"

Colt : "You don't recognize it? Remember the short circuit?"

*Luna eyes widen with disbelief and realization*

Luna : "But you said that even you couldn't make electricity with magic."

Colt : "They did something even I couldn't. How's that for a shocker?"

*They notice Luc and Lea coming back, they leave the academy together*

Luc : "I'll wait here for Anya."

Colt : "What did she say?"

Luc [mentally exhausted] : "I don't know how you could talk to her with a straight face. I can't see her the same way again."

Colt : "It's a good thing you went together then."

Luc : "She said that it's worth one large gold and only because it's a failure, she doesn't mind selling it since it serves no purpose and after many years, no one's interested in a failure."

Colt : "Fine, would you rather gold or diamonds?"

Luc [in shock] : "D-Diamonds?!!"

Colt : "Don't look so surprised, these are rare, right? They're valuable, and you have a fiancée, perfect way of paying you if you ask me."

Luna [smiling] : "Ease up on him, Dolion; he can't take the news."

Colt : "What's there not to understand, it's a simple-"

Luc : "I-I couldn't possibly…"

Colt : "I'm well aware how valuable a large gold is, so no, you're not giving me that device as repayment."

Lea : "But-"

Colt : "No buts, like I said I only did that as a favor."

Besides, it was kinda my fault so…

*Luna subtly holds Colt's hand, their fingers cross, Luna's eyes light up with pride and happiness *

Luc : "This isn't right."

Luna : "Give it up, Dolion is dead set on paying you, so just take it."

Colt [as he's opening his item box] : "Thank you."

*Hands a small box to Luc*

Colt : "According to a professional appraisal, this is worth 15 gold coins, it's a perfect size for a ring, thanks in advance."

*Luc looks at the box then at Colt*

Colt : "Act natural, your fiancée is coming."

*Anya approaches the group*

Anya : "I've been looking for you everywhere."

Luna [smiling] : "We've been here the entire time, my lady."

Anya : "Please Laverna, don't be so formal around me, call me Anya."

Can't tell if she's sincere... Diana was caught off guard, but if this one was ready…

Anya : "Luc, what are you holding?"

*Luc looks at Anya, then the box, back at Anya again*

Luc [flustered] : "This? It's a..."

Colt [trying to clear his smile of any enjoyment] : "It's a gift for you, my lady."

*Luna and Lea barely manage not to laugh*

Luc : "Huh? Oh yeah it is, it's a…"

Anya [taking the box] : "Now I'm curious"

*Anya opens the box, sees the shiny diamond inside*

Anya [touched, takes Luc's arm] : "Oh Luc, you didn't have to *blushes* it's still three years too early."

Colt : "He told me it's a testimony to his love, my lady."

Luc [blushing] : "HUH?!!"

*Luna and Lea quietly giggling in the background*

Colt : "We'd better leave now, until tomorrow, master Luc."

*Takes Luna and leaves*

Luna [laughing] : "Colt, you're evil."

Colt [laughing] : "I know, and it's so much fun."

Luna : "Poor girl, it's a good thing Luc is deeply in love with her."

Colt : "Oh right, I never asked... is she…?"

Luna : "She's pure hearted, and she was so happy."

Colt : "He can't give back the diamond now."

*They reach an abandoned alley, Colt opens a gate*

Colt [as they cross] : "You know? I'm happy Luc found someone good to spend the rest of his life with."

*The gate vanishes*

*Colt pulls Luna close, looks her in the eyes as she regains her form, Luna slightly blushes*

Colt : "That way, he can experience the same happiness I do."

Luna : "Colt..."

*They kiss*

 

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