E.C. EDWARDS - The Mighty Antimagic Spell

“Yeah, you guessed right. My family was killed by those creatures we considered friends. All our family, which could now be more numerous, died in a few moments. Only my grandfather and his sister escaped ... because they were late. The rest died. Old people, men, women and many children. Like me and you. So stop laughing! Think about that! If they hadn’t been late, now I wouldn’t exist. That’s fate. I know some would be delighted without…the arrogant Alexander Soimesti. But I am still human ...”

“Alexander, I'm so sorry ... I don't know what ...”

The boy waved the image with that creature in front of the girl's eyes so fast that the girl gave a scream of fear at that moment.

“Do you know what's worse? That they were not caught. And it is said that if one feels the taste of a man's blood, he will seek the blood of those in that family for life! Yes, if those creatures still live, you know they are looking for me too because they need the taste of my blood ... And they live hundreds of years!”

Elizabeth could hardly breathe, a sign that the story really affected her.

“Old people... women ... children,” she mumbled.

The boy slightly moved away from her, turning his back.

“I hope ... I just hope not one of your relatives was bitten by such a creature. Even if it is very likely,” the boy continued. So be careful. Maybe we're both chased by ogres. These thirsty creatures looking for the taste of our blood. I say give up smiling and think about this for real.”

That's what the boy had to say. Elizabeth was flaming red, shivering. Only she knows what crossed her mind at that moment.

“My dear, are you okay?” Miss Harmony got close to her quickly. “Here, have a little water ...,” the woman offered her a glass that came from nowhere in her hand.

“What happened?” the professor asked.

After drinking the water, the girl said in a few words.

“Alexander told me about how all his relatives died ... eaten by ogres. Old people, women and children. Maybe I'll ...”

The woman turned the boy facing her and Elizabeth could see his smile almost disappeared.

“Shame on you, Alexander ...”

The boy started laughing loud, but seeing Miss Harmony’s sharp gaze, stopped and lay down on the grass, a little further.

The woman hugged the girl.

“Don't believe everything you are told. His family suffered nothing. I know his story. He scared a few other people with it. Believe me when I tell you that nothing happened to his family.”

The woman picked up Alexander's book and read to the girl a little:

“Ogres are odious creatures, strong and extremely rare, not seen for more than two hundred years. With little intelligence, these creatures have a single impulse. That of kidnapping beautiful creatures, such as mermaids, fairies, even young girls, to hold them prisoners as well as ... to be their partners.

Some say this is because, as odious as they are, no one spends their time with them; they don’t even spend time with each other.

But some researchers do not agree with this latest theory, claiming that two ogres have never shared the same place ... because there are extremely few specimens in the world. Or they were, because for two hundred years they may have completely disappeared.

Even if it is impossible to see such creatures today, you must know that it is not advisable to try to oppose or fight with such creatures, because as crappy as they are, they believe that eating their enemies’ flesh, they will get their physical look and appearance.

It is advisable to avoid such creatures, as they can be dangerous. They have the ability to turn into different other creatures ... but only if they met those creatures into which they can turn, because some say they are ... almost devoid of intelligence."

Miss Harmony stopped reading. The girl smiled slightly and hugged the woman.

“So they're not as many as rats?”

“From the drains of London? No. Alexander fooled you. And they live less than a man, not hundreds of years.”

The professor gave the boy a new look.

“I told her not to ask me so many questions,” Alexander tried to defend himself, but the same determined gaze of Miss Harmony’s silenced him.

The professor looked at the girl. And she saw her feeling better now when she realized everything was a big lie.

“Now I have to go ... I rush to get to the Magic Consulate. “Alexander, please continue to help her. But behave yourself. If I ever hear about this story again, you lose points. I'm talking to Knudlac.”

Now Alexander's face looked as if someone told him his ogre story and he believed it.

Miss Harmony smiled as she knew she stopped the story forever. She gazed at Elizabeth as dearly as a mother looks at her daughter.

“Alexander gave you a great lesson today. Although he did it in his grotesque way, it was still an important lesson. He showed you once again what it means to not know. This happens when someone doesn’t choose knowledge. They believe everything ... and they can be manipulated anyway. That is why school is very important ...”

“I know, Miss Harmony. Even more than before. Now I really want to know everything. Surely school will help me make the wisest decisions when needed. What to avoid and what to leave as part of my life ...”

“You're so sweet ... and smart. You’re wonderful,” Miss Harmony hugged her again. “When I have a daughter I want her to be like you.”

And the professor kissed the girl’s forehead.

She smiled at Elizabeth, waving her finger at Alexander as a sign for "behave yourself" and walked away.

The two picked their books and read on and ... it was certainly the last time the ogre story was told by Alexander Soimesti.