Way of The Wand

The cafeteria was one of Chidi’s favourite places in Airad, and not because it was where they served food.

He loved this place because it was where he’d first met Jira, no, where he’d first talked to her, with her.

He’d seen her a few times before that, but this was where he’d garnered the courage to approach her and strike up a conversation.

How different things were back then. How different she looked back then in those black Airad robes and hair tied back in a pony tail. It was hard to imagine that Jira was the same as the one that had now become a full-fledged witch.

As for food itself, Chidi didn’t exactly have a special interest in it. He liked food the way one liked water or air, just things needed for sustenance.

If he could somehow survive without eating, Chidi wouldn’t bother with food at all.

But that was impossible. Magic could do a lot of things, but there was no magic spell that would free a person from the necessity of eating.

So, once again, here he was in the cafeteria, lining up to have his portion moi-moi, dodo, slice of mango, and freshly pressed orange juice served up to him.

Once served, Chidi picked up his tray and scanned for a place to sit.

He found a free bench by the east window directly overlooking the Rakha residence and plopped down. Then, out of the blue, a body slammed down beside him. Chidi almost jumped but calmed down when he realized it’s only Kano.

“You scared me,” Chidi said, placing a hand on his chest to relieve his fright.

Kano’s presence in the cafeteria was unusual. He always took his meals at home in the Rakha residence. If Chidi’s mother was the principal of the school, he’d be doing the same.

“Did you give my black letter to Jira?” Chidi’s asked, his nervousness leaking out through his voice.

Kano patted him on the back and nodded. “I did.”

“And?”

Kano smiled. He found Chidi’s nervousness slightly amusing. “And she wants to see you.”

Chidi’s shoulders slumped, his disappointment apparent in his deep scowl. “You know I can’t sneak out to see her anymore.”

“I know,” Kano replied. “And Jira knows it too, which is why she decided to sneak in and see you for a change.”

“Huh?” Chidi inclined his head to one side as his eyes widened in shock. “Are you…are you being serious right now?”

Kano got up from the bench. “The riverbank behind our mansion. You don’t have much time.” He patted Chidi on the back again and took a step, only to stop abruptly and turn back. “And oh, good luck.”

He walked out of the cafeteria and disappeared out the corridor, leaving a still shocked Chidi trying to process what he just heard.

When it hit him, Chidi jumped to his feet, abandoning his food and raced out the cafeteria. He raced through the corridors, down the twelve flights of stairs to get to the ground floor and didn’t stop running until he got to the riverbank behind the Rakha residence.

True to Kano’s words, Jira was right there, sitting on the riverbank, her back turned to him and her gaze focused on the river.

Chidi shook his head in disbelief. He took a breath and walks over gently. Jira heard his footsteps as he got close and turned her head to face him.

“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” She joked.

Chidi laughed softly as he sat down beside her. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, his voice thick with disbelief.

Jira pinched him below the shoulder, causing Chidi to cling to his arm in pain.

“Ow what’s that for?” He said, laughing.

“To prove to you I’m not a ghost,” Jira responded, joining Chidi in his laughter.

After their laughter subsided, Chidi tried to open his mouth to speak but Jira shushed him, suggesting they just sit together in silence for a while.

Just then, a new set of footsteps echoed from the distance. The couple turned their heads and saw Daila approaching.

Chidi shot to his feet in fear. “Daila!”

Jira noticed his anxiety and told him to relax. “Chidi, do you mind giving me a moment with my sister?”

Daila shot Chidi a threatening look. Chidi gulped, nodded and excused himself, leaving the two ladies alone.

“I didn’t come here to look for a fight,” Jira said, opening with a surrender. She was not in the mood for another battle between sisters.

Daila’s stern face melted at her sister’s words, making her relax her own tensed shoulders. With a sigh, she said, “I’m not in the mood for a fight either.”

Jira raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Well, that’s a first,” she said, unable to keep herself from making a snarky comment.

Daila’s stern face returns. “Jira,” she said in a warning voice.

Jira raised her hands in surrender. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.” She waited until Daila got to where she was before asking, “What are you doing here?”

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?” Daila said.

“I came to see my boyfriend, because you forbade from coming to see me.”

“It’s against the rules to leave the school premises without permission. I’m sure you remember,” Daila said.

“Fair enough,” Jira admitted, “but it’s not against the rules for me to come see him.”

“It kinda is,” Daila corrected. “Last I checked, Airad didn’t allow conjugal visits—”

“It’s not a conjugal visit,” Jira protested, blush reddening her cheeks.

The two fell silent for a moment, until Jira broke it with an unexpected admission.

“I miss the time before we fell out. We used to be really close.”

The admission brought a smile to Daila’s face, but also a deep heartache, so much so that tears kiss the edges of the older sister’s eyes. “I do too. We used to come out here a lot and stare at the water together, imagining what Dad was doing out at sea.”

“I know you won’t believe me, but I do miss the place.”

Daila took her time before responding. “Then come back.”

“You know I can’t.” She shook her head. “I’m not meant to be a wizard Daila.”

“You keep saying that,” Daila retorted, “but I watched you as a kid Jira, and you possessed more raw talent than either me or Kano. You could become the greatest wizard Edoh has ever seen, and you insist on throwing it away.”

“Maybe,” Jira said, “but I’ll settle for becoming a good witch.”

Daila sighed. “You’re still as stubborn as ever.” She started walking away and paused. “Jira—”

Jira looked up at Daila.

“You think you’re making the right choice by abandoning wizardry, but you’re wrong. I’m going to beat your little student come our little match, and then you’ll be forced to return to your studies here. I know you’ll resent me for a while after that, maybe even years, but someday, you’ll thank me.”

With that off her chest, Daila called out for Chidi to return and told him, “You have one hour”, before leaving the two alone.