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Magical Quicksilver: New Quarter Pt. 1 |
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Not too long after that conference with Lady Rose, I was able to leave the snug meeting room and enter right into… a big, empty hallway. Class must be close to starting then.
It’s a rare sight seeing these wide, spacious hallways empty on a school day. And let me assure you, they are spacious for good reason. With so many grades, classes, and such to fit in one building, there’s bound to be many an aspiring mage like myself, and even a hall as grand as this can be occupied in a matter of moments. But if you’re advanced enough in levitation magic, you have a convenient alternative; the hall ceiling is so high, you’d swear at a glance that it actually touches the very sky itself! This is no jest!
And it just so happens that if there is any magic I pride myself in, I happen to be a rather masterful floater! With my added expertise at speed spells, I can glide, even soar through the air through the greatest of ease like a gallant knight in the sky! You have no idea just how often my mastery of flight has kept me from many a hall problem, but I digress.
Luckily, the building laid the meeting room not too far from its related classroom, so all I needed to do was go across the hall and make my way a few doors to the right, and I was right there.
I opened the door forthwith to waste little time to see that familiar 12-desk I’ve come to known for a good long quarter. My fellow classmates were already gathered in their usual groups and talking with each other, except for a few…
“Good Morn, Sir Marco. I see Rose had to give you a good talking to not too long ago…” an all-too-familiar voice taunted from a distance far too close to comfort.
“Nina…” I scoffed.
No sooner had I uttered the wretched girl’s name did I turn to see her face a mere few feet next to me.
This regular nuisance was rather tall, and had long, brownish hair fashioned in a ponytail that hung from her right side. Along with her typically smug grin were a pair of scheming, dark amber eyes framed behind a pair of big, round glasses. As did the rest of our fellow classmates, she sported a long, flowing midnight robe held together by a ruby neck brooch, though while us guys wore a clean white dress shirt with a pair of black pants underneath our robes, she wore the typical white collared dress that girls had to wear.
As a respectable gentleman, I cannot say that she holds an unappealing look; but she is still a personal eyesore for everything I had to endure when dealing with her.
Just now I realized I forgot to describe myself, haven’t I? Please forgive be, but I can say that I have short, light blonde hair covered by my treasured feathered red fedora; a must wear for the distinguished Mage Knight I might add! And my very eyes are of a lighter, brighter, and far more purer amber than that insolent girl’s! The eyes fitting of an ally of justice’s! Eyes that can never dare be compared to that lunatic wench’s!
“You make it sound like I went through a round of verbal abuse with Milady Rose when in fact you are mistaken! Indeed, it was just a “performance review”… just a few words of advice here or there to let me know how I can improve.” I assured her.
And she had to answer with that annoying chuckle of hers.
“She scolded you big time.” She said with an aggravating grin.
“NO SHE DID NOT! SHE WAS SIMPLY ADVISING ME!”
“Are you sure? That defensive tone of yours tells me otherwise, and I’m betting she outright chewed you out. Of course, how would you know actually that? You probably weren’t even paying attention to what she had to say.”
“Lies! All lies! A fie upon you, mad one! I bet all that plant research of yours has messed with your head and caused you to perceive delusions!”
At that moment, I saw my foe’s annoying grin crumble into a foul frown. Much better.
“Why you… LEAVE MY PRECIOUS FAUNA OUT OF THIS!” she shouted.
If there’s anything about this girl that I wonder if it’s remediable, it would be her unusual plant obsession. I swear, when she isn’t sharing a conversation with the blades of grass she snatched out of the courtyard field, she’s likely hugging a fruit tree somewhere. I don’t even know if she’s willing to hold a tea party since having to use the leaves for such a thing could be barbaric to her.
“Oh really? If you dare to defile Lady Rose’s good reputation by assuming her a bothersome nag worse than you, then your bloody plants are fair game.” I told her.
“I respect Lady Rose just the same, maybe even more because I actually listen to her! But you? Ha! I bet….no, I KNOW the precious greens of the world have a far greater intellect than some lousy lout like you! It’s no lie that plants have done the world a far greater service than the self-proclaimed “Great Mage Knight!” They’ve cured illnesses left and right, beautified many a garden, and has even saved many from starvation! And all you want to do is get right in the action and send villains to their early grave with cheap, ineffective lighting spells!”
“I see the madness has spread far enough that it has you believing that plants are smarter than people. And as far as judging my offensive spells, you really have no right to do so without seeing me in action, but once you do, the only claims you’ll be able to make will be nothing but denial. You’ll rue that day when I finally show why you mustn’t doubt the ability of Marco Volphied.”
”Then clearly I must be speaking to the wrong Sir Volphied. Would you kindly introduce me to whom you speak of so I may marvel at his skill? I’ll gladly test my magic against him instead.” Nina mocked.
“I have no interest in meeting this imposter of yours.”
“So you claim that you yourself are not the imposter, sir night?”
“As sure as I am that I don’t waste my time whiffing strange plant smells for the thrill of it.”
The snotty girl gave a scoff and a chuckle, no doubt trying to come up with yet another feeble comeback after the many decisive blows I dealt her.
“…Your thick head always did keep you from knowing what really matters, hasn’t it? Very well. I’ll just have to take my seat so I can take in everything you never could.” She told me very coldly.
Luckily for me, she did as she said, and walked right towards her desk.
“I don’t know about her, but you look like you’d make a pretty decent duelist.” Another voice said from behind me.
It was another voice I clearly recognized, and as soon as I turned to meet her, my guess was right on.
This next classmate of mine had a reasonably pretty face. Her deep red hair was shoulder length and carved outward at the side and ends. Her eyes were sharp eyes were a deep blue and revealed a sort of daring courage that I rather liked about her. As usual, she had that unique grin on her face. It was rather boyish, actually, but not in an unflattering way. This was what really defined her, yet it’s was what I really liked about her.
“Scarlet! Finally, a face I actually look forward to in this class!” I cried.
My fellow classmate held a hand to her face, and her grin grew wider.
“Really? I would have thought your precious princess would be the next girl on your list. And what was that I heard earlier? Are you really falling out of favor with our good friend Rose?” she teased.
My precious princess? She must be referring to Milady Sherri.
“I most assure you that it is not the case! Milady Rose and I still quite on very good terms! This just involved a setback concerning by study habits. Nothing more.” I insisted, “And why should I not show my pleasure to a rival and classmate I have plentiful reason to respect? A Mage Knight’s honor can afford to be generous.”
“Then how about Sir Ketri?”
The name…“Ketri”….Yet another blasphemous character I have to deal with. His formal full name is “Ketrinaugum Au Amore”, and he’s another sworn adversary of mine. The guy does little more than sit around with a cold, grumpy look on his face, and yet he far outranks me in academics! What really confuses me is how girls really take notice at him? Just where is the proof of his superiority to me? And what exactly is so fascinating about him?
“No…” I uttered, maybe even growled under my breath.
“Alright. So a Mage Knight’s honor can be a little exclusive after all… must be jealously.” Scarlet said curiously.
“No! Absolutely not! Just because a bunch of silly girls take a liking to him, you automatically assume such a thing?! Just the mere thought that Ketri’s the sole living creature that Nina loves just as much as her freakish plants makes me even more wary of him! There must be wrong with a boy who just sits there with an expression like without saying a few words! If there is anyone I have reason to envy, it be Milady Rose! But in her case, she’s actually far more decent person than that lifeless cad!”
“Yeesh, calm down! It’s not like every girl out there praises him like the sun.” she remarked. “At least I don’t see him stealing the attention of the great Rose whom you so admire... or your precious princess. Good thing you’re interested in girls that aren’t his type, huh?” she noted.
“Cease, Scarlet. I’m not into that sort of thing. I feel nothing toward girls right now except for a chivalrous duty towards the fairer kind. And even as a good friend, I see no reason you have to exclude yourself. Even with your unusual behavior, you’re a reasonably fair girl yourself.”
And again, I cause her grin to widen anymore.
“Ho… did I just hear you give me flattery?”
Strange. I do not understand what just happened, but I felt a sudden odd feeling swell up in me. What’s worse, I believe I couldn’t move or talk at the moment.
“Wh-wha---“
“Then I thank you, Sir Marco.”
At that moment, I believe I just witnessed her most ladylike moment as she laughed playfully. I remembered that she was starting to have this strange effect on a few other boys, but it was only here that I finally understood. She was never as inspiring as Milady Rose, nor as gentle and dainty as Milady Sherri, yet now she had some unspeakable part of her that actually stood out. Just what sort of charm did she posses?
“F-fine. You’re welcome…” I said aloud when I finally regained my senses.
Then, while resuming her mysterious charm mode, Scarlet gave me a nod back.
“Say, letting your guard down doesn’t excuse you in a duel! Stay focused, okay? When we’re finally experienced enough to duel each other, I want to face you at your best! Don’t you dare let me down!” she threatened.
“Right…” I groaned.
Somehow, I just know she can tell what sort of effect she’s starting to have on others.
“If you will excuse me, I will be taking my seat now.”
“Good call!” Scarlet cried. “From what I can tell, it won’t be long until class starts.”
“Thank you.”
 Chicken Yuki · Sat Jul 12, 2008 @ 11:16pm · 2 Comments |
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