Wiggin Academy and the Forbidden Curse

Mako, Penelope and Aiden were seated in Professor Calum’s classroom. Their teacher stood in front of everyone with a goblet of water sitting ahead of him on the table. A similar goblet was also seated in front of each student before they had arrived.

“What I’m about to show you is an old practice that our ancestors used to use in order to detect dark alchemy,” Professor Calum explained.

“But that just looks like a cup of water,” remarked a very thin, clumsy boy named Carter who was an earth alchemist.

Professor Calum removed his metallic robe off and draped it on the long chair. “It is water, Carter,” he said. “But this particular glass and the ones in front of all of you has been purified for three months by the new moon before winter.”

“How do we know if the water is real?” asked Damian. “None of us have seen dark alchemy before, you could be lying for all we know.”

Professor Calum grinned. “You’ll see, young fire alchemist.” Professor Calum moved the silver goblet in the centre. They all eagerly waited for the demonstration with their eyes wide-open, with no desire to blink, so they wouldn’t miss anything.

“Isn’t this like what Yaga showed us yesterday?” murmured Penelope.

Aiden nodded. “It’s the same idea,” he whispered back.

All of the student’s eyes watched Professor’s manicured and elegant hands. He pulled them out of the goblet after coating them thoroughly in the purified water; one was clean and still proper. The other hand however, was almost turning a darker shade of indigo. Thin purplish veins crawled up his wrist along his fingers.

“What is that, Professor?” inquired Belladonna.

“My right hand has been doused in dark alchemy,” he said.

“Shouldn’t you, I don’t know, be…dead,” Finley declared nervously.

Professor Calum laughed. “A little bit won’t hurt me,” he said. “But this trick was created after the great war when the air was polluted with dark alchemy.”

“How did we fix it after the war?” asked Mako.

Professor Calum wiped his hands with a cloth. “A sage discovered a river that was able to create medicine,” he explained. “No one knows how the sage was able to purify the air. It’s very old and complicated spells.”

“Where’s the river now?” asked Thorne.

Professor Calum shook his head. “It has disappeared,” he believed. “No one can find it, almost like it was ripped out of the ground and taken away.”

Mako remembered Yaga’s Oasis pond that healed them in seconds. It left her wondering if Professor Calum spoke of the very same waters.

“Now, it’s your turn,” he said. “Dip both of your hands in the water goblets.”

Each student did as their Professor instructed.

Mako, Penelope and Aiden dipped their hands into the water. Aiden pulled his hands out and then they followed, when the most peculiar event occurred. Their hands started glow blue. Mako and Penelope gaped at their hands, but it looked like no one could see this, even Aiden had no idea.

“Why are we glowing?” asked Penelope quietly but panic was viable in her voice.

Mako shook her head. “I don’t know,” she looked over to Aiden. “Do you not see it?”

“See what?” he asked.

“Our hands are glowing blue,” she told him.

Aiden gaped. “Mine too?”

Mako nodded. “Yeah.”

Once kids started pulling out their own hands, Professor Calum gasped because every kid had the purplish marks crawling up their hands.

Mako, Penelope and Aiden knew what those marks meant. “We need to find Professor Wiggin,” said Mako. “Neo has gotten to all of us.”

“Do not move from your seats,” warned Professor Calum. “I need to get the headmaster.”

Mako and the rest of the class silently stayed in their seat after Professor Calum rushed out to fetch the headmaster.

“Are we all going to die?” asked Finley, he was clearly alarmed by the turn of events.

“I don’t know,” said Ava.

“Didn’t you hear Professor Calum earlier, this much dark alchemy shouldn’t hurt,” said Thorne.

“How did dark alchemy even get to us?” asked Lucy who was clearly horrified like the rest of them.

“Maybe it was the forest,” suggested Rose and everyone believed her. But not Mako, Penelope and Aiden, since they knew the truth.

At that moment, Professor Calum returned with the headmaster and Professor Grimaldi by his side. The headmaster’s eyes viewed all of the student’s hands that were turning purple. But then, his sharp eyes landed on Mako, Penelope and Aiden who were glowing blue.

“Get the kids to the medical bay,” instructed Headmaster Caden.

“Yes, sir,” said Professor Calum. “Come on, kids.”

They all got out of their seats and followed Professor Calum and Professor Grimaldi to the medical wing. But then, Headmaster Caden blocked the path of the three suspicious kids who were at the back of the line.

“You three have been touched by the Oasis pond,” he alleged. “Did my brother perhaps take you to see Yaga?”

“Yes,” answered Mako. “Yaga cured us of our injuries and the dark alchemy that was in us.”

“Hmm. Can you three bring my brother to the medical wing?” asked Headmaster Caden.

Mako nodded. The three kids dashed out of the classroom and went straight to Professor Wiggin’s study. Mako banged on the door and they eagerly waited a response.

“What?” Professor Wiggin’s annoyed voice boomed before he opened the door and saw their paled expressions. “What’s wrong?” he asked sternly.

“Our classmates have been infected by Neo,” said Mako alarmingly. “Everyone is in the infirmary.”

“Headmaster Caden called you down as well,” said Aiden.

Professor Wiggin ran pack in his room and strode out with a small pouch. “Let’s go.”

They followed their professor to the infirmary, which was bustling with nurses to help Mako’s classmates. Professor Calum and Professor Grimaldi stood watch over the children as Headmaster Caden waited for his brother.

“Caden,” Professor Wiggin called out for the headmaster.

Headmaster Caden turned and found the three kids he sent straggling along with his brother. The headmaster tried to pull his brother aside to have a private discussion, but the three kids stuck to their teacher like glue.

“A forbidden spell has been used on these kids,” said Headmaster Caden.

“I know,” said Professor Wiggin. “I’ve been suspicious of this for a while now.”

“Did Yaga give you any news about this?” asked Headmaster Caden.

Professor Wiggin nodded. “Yaga gave the antidote,” he held out his hand that had the small pouch. “And I already checked, only this class has been affected. Every other year is fine and well.”

“Who could have done this?” asked Headmaster Caden.

“Give me more time,” said Professor Wiggin, “I’m working it out.”

Mako wondered why Professor Wiggin hadn’t told the headmaster that Neo was behind all of this. She didn’t intervene because she assumed that Professor Wiggin knew what he was doing. Maybe it was for the best. But all of her classmates were spread out on infirmary beds, effected by some forbidden spell, she couldn’t help but doubt her teacher’s decision.

Headmaster Caden took the pouch from his brother and entered the infirmary.

“Why didn’t you tell the headmaster that Neo was behind all of this?” she asked Professor Wiggin.

Professor Wiggin sighed. “That intern would have bolted if everyone found out,” he answered Mako. “We need to catch Neo red-handed and alone.”

“But what about until then?” asked Penelope. “He could hurt more people.”

“It’s a risk we have to take,” said Professor Wiggin. “You kids need to keep a close eye on your classmates. Make sure Neo doesn’t go near them or you.”

Mako nodded at the instruction. “But what will you do?” she asked.

“I have to find out what he’s after at this school,” said Professor Wiggin. “Neo didn’t just come here on chance.”

“He needs something,” said Aiden. “Something valuable, that’s why he risked coming here.”

Professor Wiggin was interrupted when the three kids gazed into the infirmary. All of their eyes landed on Neo who was helping Headmaster Caden heal the very kids he harmed.

“I need you three to act normal around Neo,” instructed Professor Wiggin. “He shouldn’t get the slightest idea that we’re on to him.”

All of their classmates had been restored back to full health. The Oasis water Yaga provided, healed all of their injuries and wiped out all of the dark alchemy. Neo couldn’t get to these kids now, even if he tried his hardest.

Mako and her class lined up behind Professor Calum to head to their next period.

“Where is Neo going to now?” asked Penelope.

Mako looked back and her eyes observed the intern with much suspicion.

“Stop looking,” said Aiden, “you two are not discreet at all.”

“We need to know where he’s heading,” held Penelope.

Aiden crossed his arms. “We’ll follow him after class is over,” he suggested.

Mako noticed Neo disappear behind the bell tower door. “We’ll lose him by then,” she whispered. “We need to go now.”

“And if we get caught,” forewarned Aiden. “What excuse will we give him.”

Mako contemplated for a second. “We’ll think of something later.” Mako and the other two were standing at the end of the line like usual, so it was easy to escape from their teacher.

They stuck low to the ground and on the side. Neo was briskly walking through the castle grounds, he timely looked around him for any followers or unwanted eyes. But he never caught Mako, Aiden and Penelope.

“What do you think he’s looking for?” asked Penelope.

“I don’t know,” mumbled Mako.

“We do know,” remarked Aiden. “Remember in the bar back at the Square. He was telling some scary man about a book.”

“You think that book is important?” asked Penelope.

“Well it is to Neo,” said Aiden. “We should find that book and take it to Professor Wiggin.”

“How are we going to do that?” asked Mako.

Aiden shrugged his shoulder. “I didn’t think that far.”

“We steal it,” said Penelope.

“How are we going to steal it?” asked Aiden. “Neo probably has it hidden away or locked in a safe.”

“Why would he?” asked Penelope. “Neo has no idea that we’re suspicious of him. As far he knows, we’re just some kids going to school.”

“The book could just be in his office,” agreed Mako.

Aiden nodded. “Let’s go look for it then.”

“Look for what?” A voice startled them out of their shoes. Those odd loafers and white jacket gave away who it was. “What are you three doing out here?”

Aiden and Mako froze. “We were just-” stumbled Mako.

“I was-” Aiden fumbled over his words too.

“We were looking for Professor Wiggin,” said Penelope quickly. “You haven’t seen him, have you?”

“Professor Wiggin?” asked Neo. “He must have returned to his study.”

“We checked, but he wasn’t there,” said Penelope. “We came out here because he likes to smoke on the open terrace.”

“Oh,” Neo nodded and bought Penelope’s lie. “Well, don’t stay out here too long.” Neo walked off after he almost caught them before they could do anything.

“Good thinking, Penelope,” praised Mako.

“You two have never lied in your life, have you?” Penelope chuckled.

“I don’t make a habit of such thing,” said Aiden.

Penelope patted his shoulder. “When you have a mom like mine, you have to stay on your toes.”

“This isn’t going to work,” said Mako. “He’s going to find out soon enough if we keep failing.”

They heard the bell of the tower remind them that their next class was about to begin.

“We should head to class,” said Aiden. “We’ll make a better plan tomorrow.”

The day was long and tiresome. Mako and Penelope returned to their dorm rooms when their classes had ended and they ate dinner with their entire class in the great hall. They didn’t attempt to spy on Neo again because they couldn’t find him anywhere, and whenever they had he was with another teacher.

In her pyjamas, Mako turned on the mattress for the umpteenth time because of her stiff back. All of the students in her dorm were fast asleep, so she was the only one counting stars that were scattered like big clusters in the midnight blue sky. The crack in the window glinted as the moon shined directly on it. She regarded the silver crack that reminded her of lightning, when she remembered the Guardian. Mako closed her eyes and called out for the Guardian inside of her.

“Oh, so now you want my help,” remarked the deep voice that always sounded annoyed or even bored.

“I had a mission and I thought you could help,” she said. “But never mind, if you don’t want to.” Mako was just about to leave.

“Wait,” he called out for her. “I know what mission you’ve been doing. Spying…on that useless fellow.”

“Neo,” she gave him the name.

“Whatever.”

Mako could almost imagine the Guardian rolling his eyes…if he has any, she didn’t know.

“I can help you spy on Neo,” he said. “But I need you to go alone because I can’t hide your friends.”

She nodded. “Okay.” She opened her eyes. Penelope was stretched out on her bed, like an octopus with a half-eaten chocolate bar still in her hand. Mako slipped on her sneakers and made her way outside her dormitory.

“You don’t need to be careful,” said the Guardian inside her conscious.

“I have to be, otherwise I’ll get caught,” whispered Mako.

The Guardian snickered. “Our black smoke put you inside of another vortex,” he said. “No one can see you in the cover of our smoke.”

Although the Guardian informed her that she would not be seen, Mako still creep through the school like a mouse. The hallways were dark and the torches were lit brightly, the light danced on the bricks walls because of the cool breeze of the night. Mako has walked through these halls many times during her classes, but at night, the school felt eerie and somewhat alive.

Mako made her way up the staircases and towards the infirmary where she knew she would find Neo’s office. She passed the big infirmary doors and found herself in front of Neo’s office. The door was left open and it was dark inside, so she knew he wasn’t there. That was when she heard a hissing whisper creep through the other corridor. She leaned her head over the side wall and found Neo.

Neo was facing the corner of a wall where the torches couldn’t shine their light. “Kids are getting weaker and their parents and the teachers are all concerned,” he spoke to the threatening shadow that was confined in the corner. “We can’t keep going like this, otherwise we will get caught.”

The shadow grew substantially scaring Neo away. “Get the black smoke girl,” the darkness hissed.

“I can’t get to her,” Neo snapped. “That Wiggin brother has ruined my entire plan.”

“The girl can save me,” hissed the darkness. “I need her power to come back again.”

“John Wiggin protects her,” said Neo.

The black shadow grew quiet, when Mako got a sudden chill down her entire body. She quickly escaped back to her dorm before Neo or anything else found her watching. Mako returned to her bedroom as quietly as she could and laid back down under the sheets. The Guardian subsided and she pondered over what Neo was plotting all night before she finally fell asleep at the crack of dawn.

Mako, Aiden and Penelope were in the study hall to practice their review sheets before their exam tomorrow. They were huddled together over the same table with Professor Grimaldi supervising all of them.

“So, what did Neo say after?” asked Penelope.

“He said that Professor Wiggin is protecting me,” whispered Mako.

“Who was Neo talking to?” asked Aiden.

“I don’t know,” answered Mako secretly. “There were too many shadows to see his face. But he’s weak, looking for power and for some reason I can help him.”

Aiden frowned. “Is that why Neo’s taking our alchemy powers,” he observed. “Neo must want to revive someone.”

“Is that even possible?” astonished Penelope.

Professor Grimaldi appeared behind Penelope. “Is there a reason why you three can’t seem to keep your mouth shut for more than two seconds?” she asked rhetorically.

“Sorry, Professor,” said Aiden.

Penelope and Mako groaned and went back to work.

“We should tell Professor Wiggin,” continued Mako as soon as Professor Grimaldi went to another table and was far enough away from them.

Aiden shook his head. “We still need to worry about our marks, remember?” he remarked. “Let’s wait until our exams are over.”

Mako didn’t like it, but she couldn’t disagree. “Fine,” she said. “But after exams, we go after Neo ourselves.”