Wiggin Academy and the Forbidden Curse

The loud cawing distracted all of them from the hasty cracks of twigs and careless rustle of leaves, as they lifted the branches out of the way, a tall cloaked figure came into sight. Mako nudged Penelope, and she did the same to Aiden, they quickly followed her across the trees and behind the grey stone. Mako didn’t know what else to do but hide. Suddenly, the crows began to relax, like they had been hushed or scolded for their behaviour.

A nasty groggy cough was released from the figure. “I know you’re there, dark one,” his raspy dry voice startled them, but they didn’t move from behind the rock.

Mako’s hands began to sting and quake as a black mist oozed out of her palms, she groaned because she didn’t need this right now. Abruptly, everything around them stilled, the leaves on the trees didn’t rustle and the wind didn’t howl. She looked at the other two and stiffly nodded, they all simultaneously stood up peaking over the silver rim of the boulder. The cloaked figure had vanished, they all let out a weary sigh of relief.

“That professor knew we were here,” said Penelope.

“He didn’t see our faces,” said Mako.

Penelope groaned. “You think he’ll tell on us?” She asked while strapping her bag closer.

“I guess not,” said Mako.

“Guess again,” said Aiden.

The cloaked figure was standing between the arched trees, watching as still as night. When suddenly, it began running their way.

All three of them zipped back through the arched gate they entered from, but when the warm sunshine blinded them, they all toppled over one another and landed on the rough rocky path; the cloaked figure had disappeared.

“What the hell,” gasped Penelope. Mako and Aiden stayed quiet but begged for air to pass through their tight throat.

“What are you doing here?” Another voice made them jump out of their shoes. They sighed when they recognized the white bandages. It was only Bard.

“Er-” Penelope stuttered, “walking.”

Mako groaned. “We were just-”

“You know you’re not allowed to be here,” interrupted Bard. He moved passed them and began to unroll the bandage swallowing his hand and wrist. They all gasped when they spotted red markings flaming up and hiding underneath the wrappings, the markings were angry and proud as they bore into his pale rough skin. Bard suddenly, lifted his hand and began to mumble under his breath, they moved back with a start, when they noticed the tree on his hand begin to burn a bright blue.

Mako noticed the translucent sheet that glistened with multi rainbows as Bard ran his hand along over it, she quickly spotted the slight tear in the sheet that was beginning to wilt off like a paper when set aflame, there was a great tremble through the dark trees before the sheet began to connect again.

“Come on.” He waved them ahead of him and followed their slumped shoulders to his cabin. “What were you doing near the border of Ajorian?” He asked.

“What is Ajo-” Mako faltered at the foreign tongue.

“Ah-Jor-Ian,” interrupted Aiden. “The border of light.”

“I better not see you kids near that area,” said Bard. “I don’t want you getting in trouble.”

“Why aren’t we allowed to go there?” Mako asked.

Bard sighed as he picked up a rusty old axe. “You’re just… not,” he said. “Now run along, I have work and lunch is almost over.”

“We saw someone in the forest,” said Mako.

“What,” Bard’s eyes widened. “Who?”

“We didn’t get a good look,” said Penelope.

“He had a cloak on,” said Mako.

Suddenly, Bard knelt down on one knee and faced them. “I need you kids to get back inside, and stay there,” he said. “I will inform the headmaster of what you saw, alright.”

Mako nodded, but when her gut wrenched and coiled, she knew she didn’t like the look of concern on Bard’s face.