Algernon’s Flowers

Algernon Gagne was a tall, thin handsome man. He seemed delicate when you looked from far away, but the closer you got to him the more you could see that he was cut from stone. He always seemed to have a pleasant expression that made him easy to approach, yet an air of mystery hung over him like he was as deep as the ocean. Many ladies approached him, but finding out that he was only a commoner, they backed off in search of deeper pockets. Each time the exams scores were published you would find his name at the top of the rankings. Each swordsmanship exam, you would find his name at the top. It was as if he were another Guy de Montfort, many were saying.

Algernon was walking between classrooms one day when he saw the young Professor de la Marche approaching. Algernon didn't know why, but he always felt a weird sort of connection when he looked at this man. Like he was seeing a relative. The professor called out to him, a goofy smile on his face, "Algernon, may I have a moment of your time?"

"Of course Mage de la Marche," He kneeled the way he would for royalty.

Olivier chuckled and then asked, "Have you ever been interested in seeing the inside of the Tower of Magic?" Algernon had a look cross his face that let Olivier know that he thought this was some kind of pick up attempt. Olivier laughed and then said, "Don't worry, you aren't my type." He spoke, "Gate." A silvery portal opened and he said, "Come on then, it's only your future at stake."

Algernon followed Olivier through the gate, and on the other side was the inside of the building with no door. It looked like the inside of a library, filled from floor to ceiling with books. In the center of the room was a great twelve man oak table with six people sitting around it discussing business. At either end were chalkboards. Olivier smiled and said, "You'll remember this board from when you enrolled here. You just touch it and it will display your status." Algernon looked at Olivier for approval. After he gave a nod, Algernon touched the board.

The people sitting around the table nodded one by one. Algernon asked, "May I ask why I have been summoned your excellencies?"

Madeline stood up and walked around the table, she opened a book and said, "Memorize this page and then speak this word."

A moment later Algernon said, "Light." His voice had a strange echo to it which startled him. He had heard the same echo when Olivier opened the gate. Everyone around the table clapped and smiled at him.

Guy stood up and asked, "Would you mind touching the board again, this time read the line that says class, please?"

Algernon was curious, so he touched the board. He saw the words and stammered, "Class: Mage. Does this mean...?"

First Mage Diggory smiled, he stood up and walked over giving Algernon a hearty handshake, "Congratulations boy, you're the Eighth Mage. Welcome, to the Council of Magic."

Algernon fell to his knees weeping, "I'm... I'm really a mage?" Each of the Council came over and shook his hand and welcomed him to the Council. Over the next few hours, Algernon was given the basic rules and taught how to read spells. It only took him a little time to breeze through the basics as he had been in Olivier's class.

First Mage Diggory gave him a hero potion as a welcoming gift and Doreen taught him the intelligence spell as her own gift. Each of the mages brought him a gift, in turn, some were important, others were seemingly weird, like the gift Ella gave him which was a violin. It turned out later, that Algernon had once come to her grandfather's shop to stare at it because he couldn't afford it. It ended up being just what Olivier had told him, his life had been changed. He now had a different future.

*****

Madeline and Guy had gone back to the Ito Conglomerate after their official Council of Magic business. They sat on the top deck of the newly constructed airship, 'The Montfort' which Madeline routinely called, 'The Molester'. It was the ship that was meant to be Madeline's first as captain. "When will we take her out for her trials?" Madeline flipped her hair out of her face and asked.

Guy smiled at Madeline and asked, "Are you busy tomorrow?"

Madeline clapped excitedly, "Do you mean it?"

He nodded, and then asked, "Do you still want to marry me?"

"What?" Madeline looked at him to be sure he wasn't serious.

He looked into the distance and then asked, "I'm serious, I sometimes feel like you aren't in a hurry to have a deeper relationship with me, am I wrong?" He turned and looked her in the eyes.

She smiled thinking he was joking, "Just because I thought we should postpone the wedding?"

He nodded, "It's not the first time, it feels like you keep making excuses. I realize I busy myself to the point you worry about my health, but when I ask you out on dates and when I ask about the wedding, lately, it seems like you push me further and further back on your priority list. I am serious, are just not ready or willing?"

She looked down and thought a moment, "I suppose, if I am honest, I am scared. I am afraid to become like Alicia. I don't want to become a widow before my child is born. Not only that, I am not sure I would be strong enough to raise a child without you. I keep thinking, that what I want, is to fly. The first time you took me up in the air, it was so magical. Each time I have flown since then, that feeling comes back. I love it. I love flying."

He looked her in the eyes and asked seriously, "If I said you had to choose between me and the Montfort, which would you choose?"

She didn't hesitate and said, "You. I would give up my dream of being a ship captain for you. Without a second thought." She smiled and flipped her hair out of her face again, "Before I met you, I was burning with one passion, to prove Prince Andre wrong. Nothing else. I didn't even know what that really meant. I suppose I thought it was winning the King's medal. With you, not only did I win a King's medal, I rose to the level that kings treat me as a superior. You rebuilt my self-esteem, gave me a higher purpose and let me regain my self-respect. Whenever I have felt that all hope was lost, you appeared just in time and saved me. I love you. I don't want you to misunderstand. I love you, I couldn't imagine my life without you. You can take everything from me, but never you."

He leaned close to her and held her, "I hoped you would say that. I have to give the Montfort to someone and it wouldn't be right for me to take it from you if you were set on being its captain."

Madeline looked a little pale, she stammered, "Who do you have to give it to?"

He sighed, "I built it as a wedding present for this girl. It's not a commercial ship. It's a yacht. It's built to hold a family, friends, have parties, cruise around living in luxury. You know, rich people stuff."

Madeline started to look angry, "Oh, and who is this girl that deserves such an expensive wedding present."

He looked out in the distance and then pointed at the bulkhead behind them. She turned and saw the placard behind them, 'To my beloved wife. From the first day we met at the Library to the final day we share a sunrise, I will be your Guy the Molester.'

She broke out in tears and held him tightly crushing him to her for a long passionate kiss, she whispered softly, "They spelled your name wrong."

He shrugged, "I was probably tired."