Wiggin Academy and the Forbidden Curse
Chapter 24: A Willow

Mako, Aiden and Penelope sneaked back into the school with their head held low and their feet barely touched the stone floor, the halls were dark but the luminescent heat of the torches produced a path for them to follow. Professor Wiggin told them to find their own way back to their dormitories because something else required his attention, which Mako didn’t believe for a second, he was probably too tired to walk them back to their dorm rooms.

Mako followed her friends but she was slightly distracted by the electric sensation buzzing around her fingertips like it was an eerie warning but with all the training she was put through today, she disregarded it as being tired. Although, what worried her was that the area where the peculiar seal was placed burned terribly, nonetheless what did she expect from a seal that constrained her powers to weaken and slowly die off.

“Do these brothers have to be so cryptic?” asked Aiden snapping Mako out of her thoughts.

“I don’t think they can help it,” said Mako answering Aiden’s question.

Penelope was jumpy, and she softly asked them, “how are we going to make it back without getting caught?”

“We just have to be very discreet,” said Mako.

“This school is so creepy in the middle of the night,” said Aiden with his body shivering from the cold night air.

“It’s creepy even in the morning,” added Penelope.

They all tip-toed as their bodied were closely stuck to the dark shadows of the hallways where the torches couldn’t reach. They finally reached the top floor near the library, Aiden quickly scanned all the corners of the corridor before crossing the open foyer to the other side that was connected to the familiar staircases. Mako tried to stay concentrated and alert but the fiery energy beating in her chest distorted her, as they approached the library the feeling got worse and she wondered why.

“Did you hear that?” Penelope whispered.

Mako glanced at her friend who was distracted by the looming shadows near the far arched door that was another exit for the forest. Mako at first didn’t notice what Penelope was getting scared of, but when she heard the hushed whispers for herself, she couldn’t deny her curiosity.

“The halls are clear, let’s go,” said Aiden after the janitors passed by with their massive wooden brooms and drenching mops leaving a trail of water droplets. “Guys, what are you-”

“Shhh,” Mako grabbed Aiden’s sleeve and pulled them towards the voices. Oddly enough, the trail of whispers made her chest burn even more, they bent their neck from behind the wall and peeked around to get a good look at the doorway, and instantly, Mako recognized those stylishly distinctive loafers; it was Neo. He was whispering into a corner that had a greater shadow than most of the other parts in the school.

“The child has awakened,” he whispered frantically.

Mako found the tone of his desperation weird since he was always so calm and joyful, but right now, he seemed anxious like he wasn’t prepared for what was to come his way.

“Isn’t that Neo?” asked Aiden.

“Yeah,” answered Mako.

“Why is he talking to himself?” asked Penelope.

Before any of them could inquire further and investigate what the school nurse was doing, a sharp voice startled them.

“You three again.” Professor Grimaldi stood behind them with her strict posture and scary mood.

Neo ran off through the arched door never looking back.

“Er- Professor,” Aiden fumbled over his words.

“We were just-” Penelope searched for an excuse.

Mako turned last and bent her head back to meet Professor Grimaldi’s inquiring gaze. “We just returned from our training with Professor Wiggin,” she said bluntly surprising her friends and the teacher.

“I’ve been made aware of your circumstances, Hawthorne,” said Professor Grimaldi. “But why are these two with you?”

“They train with me,” Mako said simply.

Professor Grimaldi laced her arms, let out a deep breath and shook her head. “Just make sure you’re not late for my class tomorrow.”

The three nodded and scurried up the long staircase.

“Oh yeah! we scammed that lady good,” gloated Penelope.

Aiden scoffed. “That’s nothing to be proud of,” he said. “We just lied to her.”

“No, we didn’t,” said Mako. “You guys do train with me.”

Aiden mumbled something under his breath. “I’m going back to my room before we all get in trouble again.”

“Do you need me to drop you off to your room?” Penelope teased with a chuckle.

“You know what, Primrose,” Aiden stepped in front of Penelope. “You were scared just like me.”

Penelope nervously laughed. “No, I wasn’t,” she retorted. “I just wanted to make you feel better.”

Mako rolled her eyes and grabbed Aiden and Penelope by their bags, she dragged them both and they all went to the fire dormitory together to drop Aiden off.

-The Next Day-

The morning was bland with more homework thrown at them and an intense lecture of why alchemy should be considered a tool to improve our society.

They were dismissed by Professor Grimaldi; a sigh of relief escaped all of their lips, since lunch-time had finally arrived with great perseverance they pushed through today’s class, when suddenly, the side door opened surprising everyone, the Headmaster waltzed into their classroom unannounced, and all the students froze where they were standing.

Headmaster Wiggin was dressed in a long black-velvet cloak that created a brilliant gold trail behind him.

“Good morning, children,” he said with a beaming smile that didn’t match any of their bewildered faces.

Professor Grimaldi cleared her throat to snap them out of their trance, it took them a few moments to acknowledge that the Headmaster was truly in front of them.

Finally, they all greeted him politely. “Good morning, Headmaster,” they all bowed like they have been taught.

“The headmaster has kindly offered to teach you how to send Willows today,” said Professor Grimaldi.

Mako saw her dad practice the type of alchemy Professor Grimaldi spoke of; a Willow was a way for all alchemists to contact each other no matter where they were. She didn’t know how it quite worked exactly, but only that it was tricky if not perfected.

All the kids silently followed Professor Wiggin’s tall stature towards a lonely turret that stood outside on a small green peak. They climbed the spiralling staircase to the top of the tower and found that there was a square concrete table with odd runes carved around it, Mako couldn’t quite put together what they meant but she did recognize the pentagram.

“This is the Trishula,” said the Headmaster. “You won’t need its power forever, but as beginners it will help you concentrate your energy.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Professor,” said an Asian boy named Magnus. “But how does a block of concrete help us send willow posts?”

“This portal was made by the original alchemist, it was a tool used to create dimensions through time, so soldiers could help places in dire need during the great war,” said Professor Wiggin. “Now, it’s used for what human like to say, emails.” The class chuckled along with the Headmaster. “Alright, gather around,” he ushered them to circle the square as he picked up a bundle of small parchment pieces, he handed them to Mako who was standing closest to him, she quickly grabbed one and handed the rest of the pile to Penelope who did the same.

“It’s very simple,” said Professor Wiggin. “All you have to do is keep your mind focused on who you want to send the willow to, otherwise it won’t work-” he grabbed the last slip and scribbled a quick ‘hello’ on top and said- “for example.” The slip in his hand burned inside a bright blue flame before vanishing in thin air, they waited and wondered, when suddenly, the parchment fell out of the sky in front of Magnus, he caught the slip that wasn’t destroyed by the fire. “See, it’s simple. Now, you try. Send a willow to the person next to you and make sure to keep a hand on the Trishula.”

All the students scribbled on the piece of paper with excitement, some chuckled over their message before attempting to send them.

Mako drew a smiley face and wrote Penelope’s name, she pictured her friend in her mind and summoned her alchemy to the palm of her hand like everyone else had.

Aiden demonstrated first; the crimson fire swallowed his letter and quickly dropped in front of Holly- the shy girl next to him.

“Good work, Aiden,” praised Professor Wiggin.

“Thank you, Headmaster,” said Aiden.

“How’d you get that so fast?” asked Penelope.

Aiden shrugged. “I’ve known how to send willows since I was small, well smaller.”

Damian’s nose flared and he quickly attempted right after Aiden, his fire was green and violent, his letter burnt in pieces but still vanished successfully and landed in front of Aiden- who stood opposite of him. Mako looked over Aiden’s shoulder and saw the scribbled message that wrote, “Disgrace.” Mako threw Damian a nasty glare before Aiden shrugged it off and told her to forget it.

They all continued their training, until one by one, the students succeeded.

“If you’re done practicing,” said Professor Wiggin, “then you can head on over to the great hall. But if you still haven’t been able to send one yet, you can’t leave.”

Penelope attempted again and again, but her parchment would just flop back onto the stone drenched in water.

On the other hand, Mako would completely destroy the paper with her alchemy. Aiden and the Headmaster stayed behind with them and watched them fail miserably every single time.

“Why isn’t this working!” Penelope aspirated and threw her arms up sending shards of icicles through the air.

“Hey, watch it!” yelled Mako as she ducked with Aiden and the Headmaster.

“Calm down,” said Aiden. “You’re not using the portal’s guidance properly. Instead of just summoning your alchemy, you need to hold the chakra long enough for the portal to open and send your willow.”

Mako watched as Aiden demonstrated again for Penelope, he summoned a flare of crimson fire and the letter in his hand vanished without difficulty.

Penelope grabbed the paper he sent to her and tried again, her hand was trembling when she conjured aqua water that had hints of jade glistening like the rich stone itself, the water reformed around the letter, and before they knew it, the parchment vanished and fluttered down from the air into Aiden’s extended palm.

“I did it!” Penelope cheered and threw Aiden a beaming smile.

“So, then what am I doing wrong?” Mako murmured.

Headmaster Wiggin came around the Trishula. “You’re using too much chakra force,” he said.

“I’m still getting used to my alchemy,” said Mako with great sincerity.

“A willow is a great way to start then,” he said, “they’re easy to master and a simple way to concentrate your chakra flow.”

Mako held onto the letter and the same surge of energy electrocuted through her fingertips and shaped into a flickering flame, the letter hovered over her palm, but this time it didn’t disintegrate. The dark flame vanished and so did the willow, a few moments had passed and the willow fluttered down the air like a feather that fell off a bird.

“Good job, kids,” praised Headmaster Wiggin. “You three can head on over for lunch now.”

“Finally,” Penelope groaned. “I’m starving, I can probably eat a whole cow.”

“There is something wrong with you,” said Aiden as he slung his bag over his shoulder. “How do you fit that much food in your small body.”

“Us, Primroses are known for our large appetites,” gloated Penelope.

“I don’t know about cow, but I could use some Chicken Marengo,” said Aiden with a flourish.

“I don’t know what that is,” said Penelope as they all descended the stairs, “but I heard the word chicken and I could really eat some chicken.”

“Your friends are quite unusual,” said the headmaster.

Mako beamed. “Professor Wiggin said the same thing.”

Headmaster Wiggin smiled. “How is the training going with my brother?”

“It just started, so I can’t say much,” said Mako. “But I’ve never had a teacher before, so I’m quite glad either way.”

The Headmaster laid a hand on Mako’s shoulder. “It seems I have made a good choice of assigning him to you,” he said. “You kids head on inside first, I have some work with Bard.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The three kids bowed without complaint and sauntered inside the school leaving Headmaster Wiggin to wander the school alone.

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