Wiggin Academy and the Forbidden Curse

“What’s next?” Mako exclaimed with excitement.

Professor Wiggin sighed as he pulled out his cigar. “For now, just practice this technique.”

Mako frowned. “If you say so,” she muttered.

“Don’t give me that face,” scolded Professor Wiggin. “Besides, don’t you have mid-terms to prepare for after Halloween.”

“We do,” answered Aiden enthusiastically.

“Ugh, I totally forgot about that,” groaned Penelope.

Aiden rolled his eyes. “I told you this morning.”

“You did?” she murmured.

“Let’s head back inside,” said Professor Wiggin.

They all separated when they reached the inner ring of the school grounds. Mako, Aiden and Penelope headed straight for the library to study for their first exams at Wiggin Academy. They dragged their feet behind Aiden towards the library doors when they were startled by the rush of hundreds of kids and Merlin’s tall form briskly walking through everyone and trying to keep everything in order.

“We can’t study here,” complained Penelope.

“We’re going to have to try,” insisted Aiden.

“I can’t even hear myself think,” remarked Mako. “There’s no point, let’s head back.”

“Where?” Aiden and Penelope asked together.

“You’ll see,” said Mako as she leads the way back to point where they separated from Professor Wiggin.

-John’s POV-

Someone knocked thrice on John’s lonely door, he grumbled from his seat behind the table that was cluttered and wanted to marginally murder whoever disturbed him at this hour.

“Who is it?” He barked. Surely, he thought that his deep voice ought to scare anyone away.

A deeper more dangerous voice snarled back. “It’s your brother, you little goat!”

John rushed out of his seat.

-Mako’s POV-

Mako knocked thrice on the front door of a small cabin.

The door instantly squeaked wide-open and a man with white bandages popped his head out. “Mako,” he sounded astonished to see them at his front step.

“Hey, Bard,” greeted Penelope.

“Hello,” smiled Bard. “What are you kids doing out here?”

“We needed a place to study,” said Aiden.

“The library’s packed isn’t it,” he stated. “Poor Merlin, he probably going crazy at this point.”

“Is it okay if we can study here?” asked Mako.

Bard stammered. “H-here,” he spoke softly. “With me?”

Aiden, Mako and Penelope nodded.

Bard’s smile broadened. “Come in,” he opened the door to a comfortable cabin. There was a massive brown leather chair next to a roaring fire place that warmed the cabin and made it a home. Mako sniffed the air and her stomach recognized the spices that were boiling in the large black pot in the kitchen. She strode inside the cabin and took a seat on the soft but very old rug laid out on the ground. They all surrounded the table and didn’t waste any time before they pulled out their books and notes.

Bard came around from the kitchen and placed three glasses of warm milk and a plate full of roasted almonds and chocolate biscuits, which Penelope devoured fondly.

“The mid-terms are already here,” said Bard as he took a seat on the big comfy couch.

“I’m so nervous I can’t even eat properly,” grumbled Penelope.

Aiden gave her a sardonic look. “Really, I couldn’t tell.”

“Don’t worry too much, Penelope,” said Bard. “The mid-terms aren’t that tough for the first years. But make sure to study Professor Cain’s class.”

Penelope paled. “I didn’t even start his review sheet yet.”

Bard chuckled. “Just study chapters 3 and 5 in your dark alchemy textbook,” he advised. “Professor Cain loves the dark alchemy history section and his exams only covers that part.”

“I think we made a good choice by coming here today,” chuckled Penelope.

“What can you tell us out Professor Grimaldi’s exam?” asked Aiden curiously.

“I only know what the seniors told me,” said Bard. “Apparently, she gives easy exams but a lot of knowledge-based questions. Just make sure to know important dates and timelines and you should be fine.”

Mako couldn’t be more nervous for these exams but that went for everyone. Aiden, Penelope and Mako tried their best to study as much as they could before their first exam.

The shadow in the house darkened and swallowed every single corner that the roaring fire didn’t reach. Mako’s head felt heavy and her arms were sluggish from sitting all day, the crickets outside were chirpy enough for them to be heard through the window. And that family of owls made sure to let everyone know that they’d be hooting all night.

“Why don’t you kids take a break,” suggested Bard.

Instantly, Mako and Penelope dropped down on the warm rug.

“It wasn’t so bad,” commended Aiden. “We got through all the review sheets, so now we just have to memorize them.”

“I don’t think my brain can handle anymore,” winced Penelope.

Aiden chuckled. “You guys did a good job,” he praised. “But I guess we can stop here today.”

Penelope’s head popped up. “I smell pot stew,” observed Penelope. “And fresh bread.”

“Come on,” said Bard. “I made dinner.” Bard opened the small door behind the cabin and revealed a short porch with the vast view of the mountains guarding Wiggin academy. He already set up the round table with bowls of stew and plates of buttered bread, they took their seats and thanked him for the warm food. “Are you kids excited for the Halloween quest?” asked Bard.

“Quest?” questioned Mako.

“You don’t know?” Bard seemed astounded. “It’s the best part of the year, well besides the Christmas feast of course.”

Penelope swallowed the mouthful of stew. “My brothers told me about that,” she exclaimed. “Don’t they take all the first years Trick-or-Treating down to Grimoire square?”

“That’s right,” said Bard. “You kids will also go, right?”

“I never went Trick-or-Treating before,” admitted Mako. She always observed that night from her window, it seemed like a lot of fun and all the neighbourhood kids would always gather to boast about how much candy they collected. The most candy she ever got was from the teachers at school and that would fit in the palm of her hand, unlike the kids who hand pillow cases packed to the rim.

“You never went Trick-or-Treating,” said Bard. “Why not?”

Mako stirred the stew in her bowl. “I wasn’t allowed,” she mumbled the bitter truth.

“What about you, Aiden?” asked Bard.

“I wasn’t allowed either,” he answered. “I never wanted to go in the first place, seems like a bore.”

“No, it’s not,” astonished Penelope. “Alright then, it’s settled.”

“What is?” asked Aiden.

“I will take you two Trick-or-Treating!” she shouted into the night air.

Bard clapped. “You should decide what costumes you’ll want,” he advised.

“We’ll make them,” said Penelope. “I always make mine.”

Mako grabbed Penelope’s sleeve, her friend’s fiery green eyes looked over. “Thanks,” mumbled Mako.

Penelope beamed a smile. “For what?” she asked rhetorically.

“Alright kids,” said Bard. “It’s time for you to head to bed.”

All three of them helped Bard with the dishes before they scurried off towards the school building. Mako and Penelope followed Aiden to his dormitory down towards the basement, and oddly enough the deeper they travelled the hotter it got, Mako wondered maybe because all the fire alchemists resided there that’s why. As Mako inched closer, she recognized the crackling of wood and the smell of ash. They circled the last hallway and entered a gateway that was brightly glowing with shades of orange and gold. In front of them stood a tall wall with an arched door. Aiden reached the handle and pulled it open revealing a barrier of burning flames.

“That’s crazy,” astounded Penelope. “You’re going to go through that!”

Aiden shrugged his shoulders. “What scared of a little fire?” he teased.

Penelope laughed in disbelief. “I’m not scared of anything,” she said. “Except snakes and being alone in a dark place.” Penelope shivered although the burning flames provided adequate heat.

“So, is everything in your dorm on fire too?” asked Mako.

“The school would burn down,” Aiden shook his head. “And how would I sleep on a bed made out of fire?”

“I admit, that was a pretty stupid question,” said Mako.

“Do you have anything ridiculous to add?” Aiden asked Penelope.

“Nope, Mako pretty much covered it,” she giggled. “Well, see you tomorrow. Oh, and make sure to bring extra clothes so you can make a costume with us.”

“I’ll see,” Aiden jumped through the fire.

“Woah!” They both gaped in awe.

Penelope curiously put her hand near the fire and yelped. “That’s really hot!”

“Let me try,” Mako reached out her hand like Penelope, but nothing happened. “That’s weird.”

“Don’t you find it hot?” asked Penelope.

“No,” answered Mako as she inched her hand closer and nothing happened, she didn’t feel the scorching heat of the raging fire.

“What if you can pass through the barrier like you can for the water dormitory?” asked Penelope.

“I rather not find out,” said Mako because if she couldn’t pass the barrier than she could probably die from the flames or feel excruciating pain.

Penelope chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

Mako and Penelope ran up to their dorm room and went to sleep the moment they crawled under their warm blankets.