SWNOVELS Chapter 13: River of Red, White and Gold
“Well, that was weird,” said Penelope.
Mako splayed her palm in front of her eyes and noticed the black smoke that had oozed out of her skin vanished without a trace. She puzzled over how it was even possible for her element to react like that in these odd moments, well what did she expect, she had the most gruesome element, so for it to act out didn’t surprise her.
“You’re the black-smoke user right?” asked Aiden.
Mako sighed. “The one and only,” she remarked.
“Oh,” he mumbled.
“Come on, let’s head back to class before we get even more in trouble,” said Penelope.
They entered their next class before midday and let out a weary yawn simultaneously, the class was warm and bright. The long benches climbed up the room for all the students to sit comfortably, when suddenly, a massive figure strode in. Everyone jumped in their seats. He had the majestic head of a wolf and the horns of goat right above his floppy white ears. He looked terrifying, no matter how long you stared at him.
“I am Professor Gregor,” he said with a deep, exhilarating voice. “And I will be making sure that all of you are training alchemy. Every. Single. Day.”
Mako’s gut wrenched.
“I also make sure that your abilities match your grade,” he said while his glaring gold eyes scanned the room. “As you all know, every element has it’s own personal trainer,” said Professor Gregor. “Today, I will be taking you to your training rooms, where you will freely learn to utilizes your powers. I need everyone to get in a single-file line, right now” -he motioned to the front of the class- “hurry up, don’t be shy.”
Everyone shuffled out of their seats, except Mako. She silently went to the mountainous form and pulled on his thick cloak. “Professor,” she called out. “I don’t think I have a trainer.”
His brow arched, but he glowered. “Are you Hawthorne?” He asked.
She nodded.
He pierced his lips, and itched his furry neck with long sharp claws. “Alright, you can head back to your dormitory, for now,” he ordered. “I’ll make sure to ask the headmaster about what to do with your… situation.”
She nodded and packed her bag, Penelope vigorously waved at Mako before disappearing behind the corridor with Aiden. Make strapped her bag on her shoulders and strolled towards the hills outside the courtyard, when suddenly, she heard a low thick voice dancing through the soft misty breeze. The voice was beautiful, even all the birds had silenced to hear the melody. Mako sat on the grey stone near the stone arched gateway, when she got a better look at the view, she noticed Bard sitting on the steps of his porch having a sword fight with the burning wood. The halls were quiet and empty, so she wiggled comfortably on the boulder and listened carefully.
We marched along rivers,
holding nothing but graves,
Our hearts heavy but strong grew weary,
As the dungeons sang the songs through burning wood.
We marched along rivers
of red white and gold.
Our heroes head dropped,
but our hearts did not stop.
The ancient battle roared and soared through mighty swords.
We marched along rivers of red white and gold, holding nothing but soiled bones.
Mako’s eyes burned with a great sting, as her mind raced through the words of the folksong. Terrible flashes of dark dreams entered her thoughts, she couldn’t help but imagine the war Bard sang about. However, why did this song feel so sad for her? she puzzled...
The green fields wet by the misty rain from the northern mountains, they stood facing a thunderous threat, but Mako hazily glanced from each end with her hands burning greater than ever, the electrifying pain shot through her hands up to her heart. Suddenly, a loud ring blared from the sky, alarming all the people.
Mako looked to the dark grey skies that showed no sign of letting sunlight escape, but when the mighty force of the beast that sang in the air, flapped its wings; the clouds danced around it. The golden armour shined with praise, as the golden beak glinted with doom, it was a hawk.
The hawk landed perfectly on its strong talons that clinked together like swords, it screeched loudly warning everyone of the storm that would consume them if they moved from their spot.
Abruptly the hawk’s wings began to flap at a rapid rate as a mighty flash of blue cut through the thick clouds, and the distant rumble grew louder and louder.
Mako felt a tremor crawl up her spine, and her eyes snapped open. Her bag was on the old grass and her palms had gotten all sweaty. Her gaze drifted to the boulder, when she noticed thin black lines striking through the grey like the lightning in her dream.
“Why aren’t you in class?”
Mako jumped at the intrusion that broke the silence, her small body tumbled off the rock landing straight on her tailbone. “That hurt,” she groaned. Mako turned around and didn’t recognize the man, was he a professor? She wondered, but the giant sword strapped to his back and his cigar made her think otherwise.