SWNOVELS Chapter 15: Intern
“I don’t doubt that,” mumbled John. He knew that the kid didn’t know that he was the only one here with the same element as her.
He observed the short kid marching away and disappearing from his sight as she turned a corner with a limp.
“Professor!” A voice shouted from behind him.
John didn’t notice the slightly older man in front of him- that had a few silver hairs rooting at his temples, but he did recognize the shaggy white bandages. “Bard,” greeted John.
“The headmaster told me you were coming for this term,” he said. “If you’d like I could guide you to your room.”
“No, that’s fine,” said John. “But Bard.”
“Yes?”
“We have a Blake-smoke user this year,” said John.
“Only one,” said Bard. “Mako Hawthorne, she’s a nice kid.”
John finally understood why he had to come back this year, usually his powers would guide him to a ditch, but this time his power led him straight to another of his kind, and not just any, this kid was the descendant of Vivian Hawthorne, the last surviving member of the Kuro clan.
“It’s good to have you back, Professor,” said Bard before he took off.
John rolled his eyes and grumbled. “It’s never a good idea for me to be back.”
Mako held her aching tailbone as she got lost in the windy staircases, she tried to go back to the great hall, but ended up in a bell tower turret.
“Are you okay, you look like you’re in pain,” said a voice behind her.
Mako spun around and saw red velvet loafers that had an odd golden button at the sides of each shoe, they looked really expensive. A young man stared at her with big black eyes that kind of reminded of her of a fish, he had a familiar white coat on and his hands were full with heavy textbooks.
“I just fell on my back,” she said. “And now I’m lost.”
He smiled. “Oh well, this is the infirmary wing,” he said. “And do you want an ice pack for your back.”
“Er-”
“Oh, silly me,” he placed the stack of books on the floor. “Hi, I’m Neo.”
Mako took his extended hand. “Hi, I’m Mako.”
“Come on, let’s get an ice pack for your back.”
She followed Neo through large heavy doors to brightly lit room. There were hospital beds lined up neatly against large windows, and crisp white sheets being laid out by a few other people.
“So, you’re a doctor,” said Mako as she finally recognized the lab coat.
Neo shook his head. “Not yet,” he said. “I’m an intern for Sir Franklin.”
“You’re late boy!” An old man came strutting into the infirmary with a concerned frown on his face.
“Sorry doctor,” he rolled his eyes at Mako.
“Do you have the catalogs I asked for,” said the old man.
Neo quickly handed the hard blue and orange book to Dr. Franklin, who quickly scurried off.
“Doctor the keys!” Neo tossed an old pair of rusty keys that had an odd chain attached to it. “He’s always forgetting them, alright let’s get you that ice.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you a first year?” Neo asked whilst handing a bag full of chunky blocks of ice.
“Yeah,” she said as the ice bit through her sweater and stung on her sore ache.
“What house do you belong to?” He asked.
Mako sighed. “To the one that doesn’t exist anymore.”
Neo began tapping his foot with his expensive loafers. “Black smoke alchemist, how fascinating,” he said with a bleak expression.
“I should get going,” said Mako as she pulled her bag over her shoulder.
“Wait,” Neo followed her out the large double doors. “Didn’t you say you were lost.”
“Oh yeah,” Mako slumped. “I’ll find my way somehow.”
Neo chuckled. “It’s fine, I know the school like the back of my hand,” he said. “But I don’t remember there being a dormitory for the black smoke users.”
“I stay at the water dormitory,” said Mako.
“Oh, very well then” -Neo’s smile widened- “right this way.”
Mako followed those odd loafers back through the mazes of staircases and hallways, when finally, her ears perked at the soft noise of crashing waves, she didn’t realize how much she missed that sweet sound until now. “Thanks for helping me find my way,” said Mako.
“I’m happy to help,” said Neo.
Mako jumped through the portal after waving him goodbye.