Wiggin Academy and the Forbidden Curse

Mako lagged behind Professor Wiggin and her friends, it wasn’t because she was entirely tired but she was annoyed at herself. The Vajra proved to be more of a hindrance than she thought it would be. Professor Wiggin instructed her to guide her alchemy and bend it to her will, but she had no clue where to even begin doing that.

“Stop sighing, kid,” disciplined Professor Wiggin.

Mako looked up to find him towering over her. “I just want to be like you already,” she said with a weary chuckle.

Professor Wiggin laughed. “It took me years to get where I am,” he said. “But I chose you to be my student, who knows you might even surprise yourself.”

Mako, Aiden and Penelope stopped in the foyer of the east wing near the infirmary. “Good night, Professor,” they said together.

“Where you going?” He asked.

“Aren’t you going to leave us here?” asked Aiden.

“No,” said their Professor. “I’ll be taking you to your dorms after training from now on.”

Mako found the sudden interest in Professor Wiggin a bit odd.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he grumbled and walked ahead of them towards the intricate staircases.

Penelope came beside Mako and walked beside her whilst Aiden yawned and walked ahead since he learned the routes to the school already.

They all came to halt when Professor Wiggin stiffened.

“Is something wrong?” asked Mako.

“Someone’s coming,” said Professor Wiggin.

“Maybe it’s Professor Grimaldi,” said Penelope. “She’s always lurking about.”

Professor Wiggin chuckled. “It’s not her,” he spoke a while later.

Suddenly, a cold breeze washed in and someone entered through the open courtyard gateway. It was Neo.

“Professor Wiggin,” he greeted with a smile. “Good evening,” his eyes landed on the kids and stayed calm and patient. “Hey guys.”

“Hi,” they greeted him back.

Mako watched as Professor Wiggin interrogated Neo. “What are you doing up this late?”

Neo seemed out of breath. “I could ask you the same,” he retorted, but then answered when Professor Wiggin’s scowl deepened. “I was out on a walk.”

“Can’t sleep?” asked Professor Wiggin.

Neo’s smile never faltered. “No, I’m just always so busy in the mornings that I never get some free time,” he said casually. “I was just doing some exercise then I bumped into all of you.”

“Have you heard of the recent event that happened near the border?” asked Professor Wiggin.

“Yes,” answered Neo. “It was terrible.”

“You shouldn’t be walking around alone,” cautioned Professor Wiggin.

Mako wondered why Professor Wiggin cared so much when he would send Mako and the others off by themselves.

Neo laughed. “I’m not such an easy target.”

“Let me escort you to the infirmary,” Professor Wiggin wasn’t offering, in fact, it was a command. Neo had no choice but to heed his request, so off they went to the infirmary.

“It must be hard working for Dr. Franklin,” said Professor Wiggin. “I know first-hand how much of a perfectionist he is.”

“He’s a legend,” praised Neo. “It’s been a wonderful experience working under him.”

“How long have you known him?” asked Professor Wiggin.

“I met him three years ago,” answered Neo. “But I started right after finishing medical training.”

“Master Orion Spark is a great physician,” said Professor Wiggin.

Mako had a faint idea of who Orion Spark was, she read a news article about the most celebrated doctor of alchemy. Orion Spark was a hero of many great discovers, and if Neo trained with him, that must be a great achievement.

“No,” denied Neo. “I trained with a doctor from the City of Norse.”

“Really,” said Professor Wiggin. “Is that your hometown?”

“I moved around a lot for my training,” said Neo with a laugh. “I barely remember my hometown.”

They reached the infirmary’s entrance.

“Thank you for the escort,” said Neo before he left them.

“There’s something off about him,” said Professor Wiggin as soon as Neo was far enough away from them.

“He seems like a nice guy,” said Penelope.

Aiden laced his arms. “Which person in their right mind wouldn’t remember where they came from,” he inquired. “I also find it peculiar that if he trained with some regular town physician, then how did he meet someone like Dr. Franklin?”

Professor Wiggin seemed taken aback. “Exactly,” he just added after Aiden. “And here I thought you were just a smart-mouth.”

Penelope snickered. “See, it’s not just me that thinks like that about you.”

Aiden rolled his eyes.

They climbed down towards the last level near the basement to drop off Aiden at the fire dormitory. Everyone was walking with ease since Professor Wiggin was with them, they didn’t need to rush or stay hidden from the fear of being caught. Penelope whistled her way up the stairs and it echoed down the empty chambers, but Mako was gloomier than before.

“Come here, Mako” said Professor Wiggin.

Mako quickened her pace to walk alongside her teacher. “Yes?”

Penelope jumped inside the portal first leaving them to talk alone.

“This is just the first step to your training,” said Professor Wiggin. “If you’re having doubts-”

“No,” she interrupted him. “I never had a teacher to train me before. I won’t let this get in my way.”

Professor Wiggin’s frown relaxed. “Good,” he praised. “And for this weapon, visualize the shape and then pull it apart. It’s as simple as that.”

Mako nodded and bowed before jumping through the portal herself.

-John's POV-

John’s suspicions were being proved correct. Something in this school wasn’t quite right but he couldn’t put his finger on it. And he suspected that intern more than anyone. Aiden Phoenix might be a smart-mouth, but he had the blood of the Phoenix lineage and he proved it tonight with his sharp observation of Neo. That intern was definitely keeping a secret, but John didn’t know what it was, and he definitely would figure it out.

John had reached the outskirts of his chambers when an electric current zapped through his body. He knew he wasn’t alone.

John sharply spotted a glittery figure strutting down the hall with a hasty pace. The man had black hair that was raked back revealing the sharp ends to be red, a cast of black smoky ink was around electric blue eyes. It was Professor Blackwood Cain- the infamously tempered warlock.

John’s body stood on alert when Blackwood walked by. “What’s the rush, Blackwood?” His remark halted the warlock. “Can’t sleep?”

Blackwood’s sharp blue eyes glared at John. “I could ask you the same,” Blackwood’s voice was monotone.

“It seems many cannot sleep tonight,” mocked John. “I heard you repaired the tear in the border and added another protective spell.”

“Is there anyone else more capable enough to do so,” he retorted with a cold smirk. “Well, goodnight.”

John didn’t expect much of a reaction from Blackwood, he was always hard to crack even for John.

-The Next Day-

Mako was seated in the great hall as Penelope ate with gusto and Aiden finished another book. She was so tired last night that she couldn’t even read the book she took from the library; her body was still sore from yesterday’s failed attempts at training.

“I’m going to the washroom,” said Mako and she left her friends to relieve herself.

It didn’t take long for her to find the washroom because she made sure to remember the route this time. But when she was coming back, she knew she was lost. Mako rounded a corner and heard a loud thump, she curiously approached the noise and heard it again. Mako strode beside an opened arched door and leaned over secretly.

A beefy robust man that resembled a grizzly bear with big brown eyes. He towered over the tall counter tops, he had a thick bushy moustache which was hiding his big smile and a white tank-top with a matching apron on. He was lightly humming and it seemed to brighten up the kitchen that already had golden light pouring in from the windows. Mako never saw someone so blissful before, she watched as his strong big hands kneaded shiny pink, blue and white dough.

Mako found herself frozen in her spot. The man would lift the ball and then slam it down to knead the sides into a perfect ball, and then he would grab the ball and stretch it apart very simply yet effectively, and it made a long rope of coloured dough.

Professor Wiggin’s voice echoed in Mako’s head; “Visualize the shape and then pull it apart. It’s as simple as that.”

Mako strode into the kitchen. “Good morning,” she greeted.

The beefy man lifted his head. “Good morning,” he replied with a cheeky smile. “What brings you here? Are you lost perhaps?”

“No,” Mako paused. “Well, I did get lost at first but then I found you.”

“You must be a first year,” he observed and turned towards her. “I’m Vigo.”

“I’m Mako,” she responded.

He tilted his head. “The black smoke student?”

She nodded her head slowly waiting for a response. But he gave none. Instead he ushered her closer. She barely reached his hip, so he lifted her gently and seated her on a wooden stool.

“This is taffy,” he showed her the shiny dough he was kneading before.

Her eyes widened “I love taffy,” she exclaimed. “But I didn’t know it was made by hand.”

“Only some still make it by hand, many use alchemy and machines now. But my granddad wouldn’t approve,” said Vigo with a chuckle. “So, what brings you to my kitchen?”

“I just wanted to watch how you made taffy,” said Mako.

“Well, let me show you,” Vigo’s eyes lit up brightly like the old rusty oven in the corner. “It’s very simple,” he said as he grabbed another chunk of the dough. “First, you have to imagine the shape you want it to be. Otherwise it’ll never know what to become.” Vigo in seconds rolled the sticky dough and formed a perfect globe. “And then you pull it apart, but make sure not the break it.”

“How do I not break it?” asked Mako.

“You have to keep the centre strong,” said Vigo. “Whenever I pull the taffy, I can feel it with my hands if it is sturdy enough.”

Mako watched Vigo’s expert hands knead the sugar dough into a ball and then he pulled it apart. It was simple and in his control. Mako knew what to do next. “Thank you, Vigo. You helped me more than you know,” she said.

“I’m glad to be of service,” he said chirpily.

Mako jumped of the high stool.

“Here, take these,” he handed her a clear bag full of different shaped taffy.

“No, I couldn’t.”

Vigo pushed the bag in her hands. “Give some to your friends and don’t eat it all in one day. You’ll get a stomach ache.”

“Thank you.” Mako bolted out of the kitchen and slammed right into a blonde girl. It was Penelope.

“Mako!” shouted Penelope as she landed on her butt.

“Sorry,” Mako helped Penelope onto her feet.

“Where were you?” Aiden asked.

“I don’t have time to explain,” said Mako. “We need to get to our training spot. I think I figured out how to do the Vajra.”

Aiden and Penelope didn’t hesitate before running with her out the courtyard door.

“Where are you kids headed?” A voice interrupted them again. It was Bard.

“We have an emergency,” said Aiden. “We don’t have time to explain.”

“You kids can’t go to the forest alone,” said Bard. “Where’s Professor Wiggin?”

“He doesn’t know about this,” said Penelope.

“Bard just come with us,” said Mako eagerly. Mako ran to the empty spot of land where they always train. Penelope and Aiden grabbed Bard and took him far from her. And the training began once again.

“So, what is she trying to do exactly?” Bard asked aloud.

“Professor Wiggin is teaching her a new technique,” said Penelope. “It seems we found her when she figured it out.”

“A new technique?” Bard questioned. “And why does she have Vigo’s taffy?”

Penelope was already munching on the sticky candy. “We don’t know,” she spoke with a full mouth.

“We should get Professor Wiggin before someone gets hurt,” said Bard.

“No,” said Aiden. “He said we could meet here and that it was safe.”

“But-”

“Can everyone please be quiet!” Mako shouted irritably. “I can’t concentrate!”

“Sorry,” they mumbled before reduced their voices to whispers.

Mako didn’t waste any time, she visualized the cyclone and this time used two hands to hold the shape in place like Vigo.

“That,” Bard spoke again when he spotted the black cyclone in Mako’s hands. “That can’t be.”

Mako remembered how easily Vigo pulled apart the sturdy taffy dough, he had told her to rip it in half you half to make sure the centre was strong. Unlike the dough, Mako was connected to her chakra, she could feel every fibre of it’s being inside the cyclone. Mako gritted her teeth and ripped the chakra apart. To her surprise, it worked. But barely. The bolt grew about arm-length and then burst in her face.

However, she didn’t give up. She tried again and again. Until the sun was behind the trees and the wind was getting cold.

-John’s POV-

John opened his door when he heard loud hectic knocks.

“You need to come with me now,” said Penelope in a rush.

John followed her to the spot where they all trained together. He spotted Mako laid out flat on her back on the boulder he would sit on, she was battered and out-of-breath with multiple bruises and cuts, but she never looked livelier.

“I did it,” she aspirated and got up with the little strength she had left. Mako held up her hand and a lightning bolt was in her small but firm grasp. It wasn’t identical with his and he didn’t expect it to be; Mako’s bolt was black but with blue lightning sparks.

John approached his student. “Yes, you did,” he said proudly and patted her dirty shoulder.

“You taught her the Vajra,” Bard whispered. “That weapon is forbidden and very dangerous.”

“No, it’s not and you know it,” said John with annoyance oozing from his voice. “She needs to learn what her ancestors were born to do, otherwise she’ll never truly master her gifts.”

Bard sighed. “Fine, as you see fit,” he said. “But be careful, she’s just a kid.”