Spellbound

After dinner there was an ‘Inquisition’ by Nathaniels parents as to the validity of entering a test from a Wizard who owned a talking bat and after much deliberation matched with serious discussion Nathaniels parents agreed that it would be ok if he tried out for the test as long as he didn’t get hurt. This made Nathaniel very happy, so happy in fact he almost waltzed back into his bedroom closed the door behind him and whispered as softly as he could.......

“yeeeeeeesssssssssssssss”

Now it was just a waiting exercise till the full moon came out and his invitation was delivered most likely from Nibbles. Nathaniel was so excited at the prospect of sitting the test and seeing Azadarin again. It was going to be like having a quest thrust in front of him. He also knew that if Pen was entering as well he would have his work cut out for him because she was wicked smart at everything she did and just a bit cheeky as well. He liked her a great deal. It took a while to admit that to himself...but he did. It was most likely because they had the same kind of sense of humour and intellect and were often at the library at the same so they could chat about stuff from school without people listening in.

While most students went to school because they had to Nathaniel and Pen went because they were thirsty for knowledge and had a sense of personal development that was years ahead of their classmates. Henceforth they always caught up with each other at the library, studied hard, then usually hurled cheap insults at each others intelligence till they broke out laughing. There was a nice friendly bond there that Nathaniel hoped would still be there after the up and coming test.

At the completion of school the next day all of the students dispersed and went to their homes, their friends houses or to the river but not Nathaniel and Pen. They both walked out of school and straight into the open doors of library next door and began revising everything they had been taught for the day by hurling questions about each subject at each other, as quietly as they could. This was a way of firmly cementing what they had both learned by testing each other with questions. After they covered the whole days tutorials they stopped firing questions at each other and Pen spoke up about something she noticed.

“Nat have you noticed that Mr Morkas is a bit weird now towards us?”

“What do you mean Pen?”

“I mean since you told him about the test with Azadarin he has been watching you and I like a hawk watches food it is about to eat” said Pen is a serious tone of voice.

“Well Pen...we are the brightest in the classroom...” and having said this Pen grabbed her note book and hit Nathaniel over the head to make him concentrate on what she was saying more.

“Ouch” exclaimed Nathaniel in shock at being hit in the first place then he giggled at her and when she didn’t giggle back he had to come back to some sort of seriousness...quickly.

“Nat, I have looked up a few times from what I am doing in class and he is staring at you...I have seen him stare at me as well...it feels a bit creepy to me...like he is waiting for something to happen or knows something more than he is letting on and he is nervous” said Pen in all seriousness.

“Nothing gets past you does it Pen...I have seen him watch you as well but it is only for a short time then he goes back to being just plain old Mr Morkas” said Nathaniel putting his work books back into his pack.

“There was one time I looked up from my work to kind of ‘test out’ if he was staring at me and he was and his face looked really angry then he looked away quickly...I think something is up with him Nat and we should be careful about this test and take it very seriously wouldn’t you agree?”

“If you think that this is what should happen I will pay more attention to it Pen...we still have a two days till the invitations arrive and tomorrow in class I will watch him and see what he does just so we are sure about things with him?” said Nathaniel getting up to leave with Pen.

He opened the library door for her and they walked out on to the village street talking and laughing about nothing in particular but all the time they talked they were completely oblivious to the fact that they were being watched.

Nathaniel said goodbye to Pen and watched her as she walked away and he waited until she was almost out of site and she turned and looked back towards Nathaniel and waved.

This was big for Nathaniel because he hoped beyond hope that she would do just that...and she did. He waved back then turned to head for home...all the time being watched by someone from a close distance away but Nathaniel was completely oblivious to it, he was more concerned with the growing feelings he was now having for Pen.