The Notice

"Ouch! What's this? It hurts so much!" The man's complaints reverberated through the room, his face contorting like a wizard trying to master a new spell. There I was, carefully dabbing mystical pain-relieving potion on his battle scar. He clung to the ice bag on his head like a troll guarding his treasure stash. It was like watching a grumpy ogre try to dance the tango – awkward and oddly mesmerizing. It was high time for a close encounter of the enchanted kind.

I stared at him, my eyes wide open like portals to another realm. Despite the frowns and the grumbles, he exuded an aura of rugged handsomeness that could tame even the wildest of chimeras. And that scent! It was like he had bottled the essence of a thousand enchanted roses and sprinkled it over his aura, leaving me wondering if he was wearing cologne or just emanating pure charm.

Ara's abode was our magical haven for now. Her aunt was off gallivanting in far-off lands, allowing us to provide sanctuary for the valiant Phelan. Thankfully, he wasn't as damaged as a cursed tome, or perhaps his fortitude rivaled that of a stone golem, enabling him to keep up his constant yammering even with my healing salve on his face.

Looking back, this guy was like a regular denizen of the dean's office, always making appearances like a mischievous spirit. He had even danced on the precipice of doom in a skirmish outside the castle walls. I couldn't help but wonder if he had finally exchanged his chaotic spells for a more serene incantation.

The man possessed features so captivating, it was as if a guild of master sculptors had designed him as the poster child for enchanted grooming products. As my gaze wandered down his form, I noticed the perfect symmetry of his upper body and limbs that seemed to stretch towards the horizon like ancient enchanted trees. How tall was this enchanter? Six feet or soaring higher like a phoenix in flight? No wonder modeling guilds were courting him like wizards seeking rare spell ingredients. His rugged allure and chiseled physique could give dragons a complex. His girlfriend must be in a constant state of defense, warding off a legion of admirers.

But his monologue shattered my daydream like a broken crystal ball. "What's your enchantment with my body? Keep your gaze on the wound, not the wilderness!" he grumbled, sensing the direction of my wandering eyes.

Why indeed was I studying him like an alchemist deciphering arcane symbols? When did I become an investigative sorceress, scrutinizing every detail as if I were divining hidden messages? What sorcery had befallen me, rendering my skin dewy like morning dew and my heart racing like a startled phoenix? I navigated our spatial coordinates like a magical dance, avoiding his contact as if our touching would result in a cataclysmic spell mishap.

Literally.

Since when did I become a cautious conjurer around this guy?

"Are we done brewing our elixirs, or shall I summon a magical symphony?" he interjected, his eyes drilling into mine like a questing basilisk, as if he had deciphered my every incantation.

My voice hiccupped like a potion gone wrong, a concoction of nerves and stammers. Drat! Verbal spells had abandoned me! This guy was a wizard at making me tongue-tied!

"I must transform my attire. I won't leave this castle looking like I just battled a horde of cranky goblins," he declared, vanishing behind me in search of the fabled bathroom. "Where's the wretched loo, anyway?"

Silence enveloped the room, as I channeled my inner absent-minded scholar, faking interest in an invisible quest. Where in the name of all enchanted creatures was Ara? She had zoomed upstairs to retrieve spare robes for our wounded knight, yet time ticked on, and her return remained but a mirage. I felt my heart pounding like a drummer in a gnome parade, all thanks to the presence of this ogre-like character, his surliness matching even that of the most fearsome dragons.

"Oi! Direction to the restroom, anyone?" he called out again.

I turned to face him, my eyes widening like a spellbook falling off a shelf, only to be greeted by a sight that would've made a basilisk blush. There he stood, clad in nothing but enchanted boxers, as if preparing to enchant them off too, only stopping when he noticed my gaze. My jaw dropped like a trapdoor, and my cheeks burned like a potion boiling over.

He smirked, his grin more mischievous than a pixie prankster. "Like what you see, or should I perform a strip charm for a better view?" he teased, flexing his muscles like they were auditioning for a magical pageant. "Chop-chop! My bladder's ready to launch a mutiny. Bathroom, wherefore art thou?" he growled impatiently.

"Great Grumpy Sorcerer Syndrome!" I blurted, darting away to pretend to search for something, anything. "You're about to create an indoor rainstorm!"

"What? Will you show me the royal chamber, or should I christen this space as my own?" he sighed in exasperation, his voice trailing off before he paused, seemingly in mid-spell. "Hey, bookworm! Cease thy prodding, for my reservoir is on the verge of an eruption!" The tone was solemn, as though he weren't joking, a wizard on the brink of a magical explosion. He looked like he was clutching his wand, summoning all his power to hold back a gushing torrent.

"By the enchanted woods! Prevent a deluge here!" I exclaimed, racing toward him. I grabbed his arm, brushing against the very area he had been clasping.

His eyes widened like enchanted orbs, surprised by the sudden move. But in the blink of an eye, his expression shifted from surprise to annoyance, as if I had cast a charm of slow-motion on myself.

I tugged him like a determined siren pulling a sailor to his doom, leading him down the mystical corridor toward the bathroom. I stationed him before the entrance, giving him permission to enter. And without so much as a wizard's salute, he reached for his weapon, aiming with the precision of a marksman targeting a phoenix feather. Oblivious to my presence, he embraced the moment with all the solemnity of a knight performing a sacred ritual.

I realized I was witnessing an event as rare as a unicorn sighting – a man in his natural habitat, releasing his potion into the wild. I was a mix of shock and curiosity, as if I had stumbled upon a secret elixir recipe and was witnessing its creation from start to finish. I even had to suppress a laugh as he gave himself a little shake, like a wizard shaking off the effects of a drowsy spell. So, this is how the other half spells after a nature call.

Simply enchanting!

My laughter erupted like a mischievous imp's prank, a cackling potion that broke his concentration. He turned toward me with a glare that could turn a pumpkin into a toad before slamming the bathroom door shut. I didn't dare venture closer, fearing he might cast an anti-laughter charm my way. He resembled a disgruntled dragon retreating to his lair after a misadventure.

"I'm not finding this castle to my liking. The privy is cramped, and your cleaning spells seem lacking. Nevertheless, thank you!" he pronounced with the impassivity of a stone statue. And with a wave of his wand – or in this case, a turn of his chariot's key – he vanished from sight.

Ara and I exchanged knowing glances, our eyes shimmering like twin enchantresses sharing secrets. Hers gleamed with the excitement of a potion brewer ready to concoct a new formula. Ah, the trials of having a friend who's a master of magical gossip! But I held a few mystical artifacts close to my chest, mysteries meant only for her ears – our shared secrets, the gems of our sisterhood in this world of incantations.

***

As the clock struck eight in the evening, I found myself standing before the mansion. Bypassing the gate, I noticed Friedan's car already parked in the garage. My heart raced, every breath I took seemed to tremble with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Countless excuses raced through my mind, yet none felt substantial enough to outwit the discerning scrutiny of my strict guardian. Fate would have to guide my thoughts, I whispered, taking my first steps towards the towering wall on the left side of the house. From that wall, I would spring onto the terrace, spanning a gap of seven meters. It was a leap I had tried and failed at before, the night I defied Friedan's curfew.

My initial attempt was marked by failure, my fear having overwhelmed me. I had barely covered half of the seven-meter distance, crashing into the garden shrubs and breaking my ordinary leg.

And now, a second chance presented itself, years having elapsed since that failed endeavor. I hoped this time would be different. I was ready. Years of training, numerous wounds, fractured bones, and pain had transformed me into a complete Crowned. The struggles I faced then far surpassed the current challenge.

Balancing atop the wall, I cast a swift glance to check for his presence. A single pebble drop or the faintest rustle could easily alert him. He was a pillar, attuned to every move I made. All I needed was swiftness and agility.

Friedan wasn't on the second floor.

Drawing a deep breath, I focused my strength in my legs. Relaxing my upper body, I pushed my foot firmly against the wall. On the third count, I propelled my body with force, feeling the power surge through my legs. I hung suspended in the air momentarily, gauging my proximity to the terrace railings. Anticipating my landing, I positioned my arms and hands. With swift precision, my hand gripped the railings, my hold secure. Shifting my strength to my arms, I lifted my body, guiding it into a graceful spin upon landing. My legs spun in the air as I clung tightly to the terrace railings. Just before my feet met the cement, I pushed with my hands, executing a fluid landing.

I did it!

A moment of weightlessness filled me before I swiftly pulled a hairpin from my hair, manipulating the doorknob. After a series of turns, the lock yielded. The second lock followed. The hairpin in my hand nearly snapped as I struggled with the hidden metal inside the lock, my fingers grappling to find purchase. My hairpin broke. I reached into my pocket, procuring a sturdier hairpin. As I prepared to insert it into the keyhole, the lock on the terrace door turned on its own accord.

Crap!

The door swung open with speed. And that's when I realized, Friedan was standing before me. Panic surged through me, and I knew I was in trouble.

"I heard you from five hundred meters away. You were so far from home, yet you hailed a taxi. Why didn't you ask for a ride?" he asked, his tone calm but his eyes revealing something more. Dressed in a white tank top and gray sweatpants, he exuded a certain magnetism that was impossible to ignore.

"I-I was, I was—" My words faltered, my nerves tangling into a mess. What was I even saying?

"You skipped your classes and you're here with Phelan Vargas. And then?" He shook his head slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. There was a hint of something in his eyes—jealousy, perhaps?

"I'm sorry." My voice barely carried my apology, and I stood there, guilt written across my face, waiting for the inevitable reprimand.

"You're sorry you were with another guy?" His words held an edge of calm amusement, before he turned away, allowing me to enter. He turned back to me, handing over a black envelope bearing the "U" seal—a LOU seal.

Stunned, I stared at the envelope, my gaze shifting between its sleek black surface and Friedan's composed demeanor. The envelope remained unopened, and I couldn't shake the suspicion that it held a summon from the pillars. Maybe the urion leaders were calling me in after the encounter earlier, or perhaps there was another reason entirely.

"Have you eaten? I cooked a generous batch of buttered shrimp," Friedan interrupted the heavy silence, his tone gentler now. When I met his gaze again, he had already moved away.

He cooked my favorite, buttered shrimp? He wasn't angry despite my late return? He didn't show any irritation even though he knew I was with Phelan? It was puzzling, his behavior a mixture of contradictions. What was in this envelope that had seemingly shifted his mood? My heart raced as I hastily tore open the black envelope. Inside, a beautifully crafted gold card awaited me. As I read the words inscribed upon it, astonishment and a new sense of connection swelled within me...

League of Urions

Crowning Event

@the Underground City, Diamond Hills

August 02, 2016 6:00 p.m

Urions to be CROWNED

Kelvin Sefino -Gorgos

Rumina Aguirre- Polar

Kiera Roberts- Lucy

The details of the coronation were still inscribed on the card, but I hesitated to read any further. Excitement and nervousness intertwined in my heart, creating a whirlwind of emotions. At last, the moment I had been yearning for was drawing near. I could hardly believe it. The start of my grand adventure was on the horizon, and with it, the realization of my dreams. Soon, I would be stepping into the unknown, becoming a crowned urion, a title that both thrilled and unsettled me.