9: Etherdale

Nolan.

"Ugh! This persistent cold weather is getting worse," Luke complained, rubbing his nose. It seems like the seasonal flu has made its way to Etheria, affecting some students.

The biting cold weather persisted, prompting Luke to voice his discomfort while rubbing his nose. It seemed the seasonal flu had infiltrated Etheria, with students falling prey to its clutches.

As Saturday was designated a rest day for all Etherian students, we found ourselves with free time. Today, our agenda included a visit to Etherdale for the necessary supplies for our Potion and Powder class. The familiar quartet—Me, Ana, Allison, and the ailing Luke—made our way to the town, bundling up against the chill.

Etherdale, a compact town near Etheria, boasted everything one might need. My personal favorite spot was Bernie's Tavern and Tap, renowned for its heavenly pumpkin drinks and irresistible berry scones. The mere thought of those treats fueled my growing hunger.

"You should consider the Anti-Flu Potion, Luke. My eczema isn't letting up either," suggested Ana, adjusting her mittens. Everyone was bundled up today, given the colder weather. Allison, the ever-athletic one, seemed impervious in just her hoodie.

Amidst our trek, Allison raised a pertinent question about how we planned to visit the tavern Eldryn had mentioned without skipping classes. Leaning in, I responded, "I guess we'll have to save that for our holiday break. Keep your voice down; let's not draw unwanted attention."

Reaching the ark, we entered the shop and inquired about the necessary materials for our class. While perusing the shelves, a voice startled me. Looking up, I spotted none other than one of the House of Viguier rascals, Leon. Memories of our last encounter, post-Elemental Duel, flooded back, and I wondered how he had been faring after his defeat.

Leon's countenance revealed a mixture of defeat and bother. Turning my gaze to Raven, the other half of the Viguier duo, I locked eyes with her. Firmly, I confirmed our purpose of buying class items and questioned the whereabouts of the others. Raven chuckles and gazes at me once more. "Why the concern?" she mocks, saying, "Leon and I simply opted for a date, nothing significant." My eyes widen at her statement.

"A date, huh?" I smirked at Leon, expecting a reaction, but his expression remained impassive. The wizard arrived with our materials, and the Viguier duo bid us farewell. "Your companions are beckoning," Raven noted, pointing towards them. I departed without uttering a word. "Farewell," Raven concluded with her final remarks. Confused and intrigued, I joined my friends.

Exiting the shop, we stuck to tradition and headed to Bernie's. Glancing back, I noticed Leon's cold expression while Raven clung to him. An inexplicable sense of foreboding hung in the air, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this seemingly casual encounter held deeper implications.

"God, it seems like the rumors about them dating are finally adding up," Ana remarked casually, glancing over her items.

"I mean, Raven does come from a well-known family," Luke added as we strolled towards Bernie's.

"I heard the Valois have an elimination process to choose the partner for the next heir," Allison chimed in as we entered Bernie's. This conversation about Leon was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. "Can we just not talk about Leon and carry on with our day?" I suggested.

"By the way, Nolan, didn't you have a little crush on one of their seniors? What's his name again?" Allison asked, trying to recall the lad's name.

"You mean Randall Wriostheria?" I confirmed. "That guy," Allison acknowledged. I couldn't deny it; I did have a crush on Randall. As a football player, much like Allison, his cool demeanor and prowess on the court made him irresistibly attractive. My gay self couldn't help but admire him.

The four of us found a suitable table and took our seats. Naturally, we ordered our favorites. As for me, it was the comforting pumpkin warm drink and delectable berry scones. The others opted for a muffin, cake, and pie. We all indulged in our chosen treats while discussing and planning our trip to 'Happy Ending.'

"So how do we get there?" Allison inquired as we indulged in our meals. "Let's discuss this as quietly as possible," Luke reminded us, and we all nodded in agreement.

"According to the history of the late headmaster, he was born in Italy, in a small town called Varenna. He spent his early years there until he received his acceptance letter to Etheria, prompting his move," I shared, recalling what I had researched.

"Italy? That's not here, right?" Luke sought clarification.

"No, it's in the charmless world," I clarified.

"Then, how are we going to Italy then?" Allison pressed, and Ana promptly responded, "Leave that to me. I have relatives living in Italy. I'll talk to them about it." Ana reassures us.

"Won't the Government of Magic notice us?" Allison raised a valid concern. I took a gulp of my scone before responding, "They always notice us. Remember last time."

Whenever anything unfolded, the Government of Magic was always involved. It felt like they had eyes and ears everywhere, working discreetly yet efficiently. Despite their silent presence, the newspapers always emphasized that they were diligently at work.

"Any updates on the poisoning? They claimed to catch the culprit, didn't they?" Ana inquired. We exchanged skeptical glances.

"The headmaster mentioned it was the work of a group, and for the Government of Magic to catch only one culprit is a joke," I informed them. "At least our headmaster doesn't hide the truth," I added, continuing to munch on my scone.

In all the years I've spent living and studying here in Etheria, one thing has remained constant—the Government of Magic's penchant for secrecy. No matter the mysteries I've managed to unravel, they're always lurking in the shadows, ready to sweep away any mess. My skepticism towards them began to take root in the third year, following the Fountain of Death incident.

It was a dark time. A conman professor managed to deceive the entire Etheria, wreaking havoc in his wake. Unfortunately, not all students emerged unscathed. The four of us took it upon ourselves to put an end to the malevolent agenda of this wicked man. Yet, despite our efforts, the Government of Magic was, predictably, too late to save everyone. Year after year, someone falls victim to the dark side due to their incompetence. It's a grim reality we've come to accept, a consequence of their secretive and often ineffective approach.

Yet, credit where credit is due. I must acknowledge their strength and reliability when it comes to apprehending the most deranged wizards in our world. I earnestly hope that they will remain steadfast, never turning their backs on the responsibility of maintaining peace in this realm.

As my thoughts about the Government of Magic spilled out into the air, I found myself contemplating their actions aloud. Just then, the waiter approached our table, placing a plate of enticing berry scones right in front of me. Confused, I looked up, and he simply stated, "It's on the house," before walking away.

"Well, at least it's free," I remarked, proceeding to finish my first scone. The four of us continued discussing our plans, strategizing how to convince our parents to allow us on this trip while fabricating a story about engaging in something innocuous.

I savored the scone, reveling in the burst of berry sauce in my mouth. Grabbing a tissue from the plate to wipe my mouth, I discovered a note hidden within.

"Meet me after you're done."

I recognized the handwriting immediately.

As time ticked away, my friends and I continued our planning and casual banter until it was time to leave. Standing up, we exited Bernie's, but I halted in my tracks.

"You guys go ahead," I told them, and the three turned to look at me. "I still want to study something," I fibbed. Unfazed, they bid their goodbyes and continued walking. I watched them until they were far enough away.

Taking a deep breath, I pondered: What could he possibly need this time? After days of silence, his sudden need for contact intrigued me. I knew exactly where to find him.

Venturing into the forest just behind Etherdale, I made my way through tall trees and across fields, feeling the cold breeze against my face. Hugging myself for warmth, I continued until the abandoned cabin came into view.

This cabin, built by a wizard for the study of flowers and herbs, had become my secret hideout for moments of solitude. I thought I was the only one who knew about it, but, of course, he had discovered it too—Leon.

Entering the cabin, I closed the door behind me. It was growing dark. The chimney was already lit, indicating he was waiting.

"Lumire," I chanted the spell, and lanterns illuminated the space. Shedding my coat and hanging it on the entrance hooks, I walked into the living room. There he sat, in front of the fire, attempting to ward off the chill. Approaching silently, I stood behind him.

"You're late," he remarked in his deep voice.

"I was discussing something very important with my friends," I replied. Adding a log to the fire to make it brighter, he said coldly, "Whatever you guys are planning, don't do it."

I moved closer, standing behind him. "Why? Do you know something about what's happening in Etheria now?" I questioned. He looked at me, saying nothing.

Pulling away, I groaned, "Are you seriously still bitter about what happened?" I asked, taking a seat on the sofa. "That's in the past," he responded.

"Then, why do you need me here?" I inquired. Rising from the fire, he sat beside me and looked directly at me. "I heard what the four of you were talking about," he said, pulling something from my shirt—a surreptitious eavesdropping bug.

"What the heck?!" I exclaimed. "I asked Raven to put it," he explained.

"That's just wrong," I scolded. He cleared his throat and apologized before continuing, "The poisoning happened because their motive was to find the whereabouts of the forbidden book."

"How do you know that?" I asked skeptically. "My family is also trying to come up with their theory. It seems like everyone is on board after all. It's a bluff that they have captured the culprit."

Listening intently, I absorbed every word he spoke. "My cousin was the one who told me. They poisoned Etheria during the Welcoming Party, hoping to find the book, but failed. The Moonlit Festival is also relevant in their agenda, and it seems like they're planning to revive..." Leon paused, and I leaned in, waiting for the revelation.

"Who is it?" I pressed. He swallowed before answering, "Lucain the Wicked."

My eyes widened at his response. "Lucian? The leader of the Sinisterians?" I sought confirmation, and he nodded, exhaling.

Lucian, an evil wizard who wreaked havoc and chaos in the wizarding world, had been defeated and died almost five decades ago. Why would anyone attempt to revive him now? And I didn't even know he had followers.

"This is getting more confusing. Why would they revive him?"

"Why are you telling me all of this? Didn't you hate us?" I questioned, and he looked at me. "I do hate you. Ever since I first saw you, it's just that I happened to learn what you guys were talking about," he confessed.

"You were eavesdropping!" I yell at him.

Leon and I avoided eye contact for a while. Breaking the silence, I said, "Your uncle visited Etheria after the duel, you know." He seemed unfazed.

"I know," he replied. Turning to face him, I rested my head on the sofa. "He said something," I continued, and he looked at me, awaiting my revelation. "He mentioned something about your dad."

He sighed. "It's not like I'm hiding it. Everyone would find out sooner or later," he said, laying his head on the sofa as well. Looks like he already know what I was talking about. He looked at me, and our eyes met—my green eyes locking with his majestic blue ones. It was this gaze that drew me to him, the deep observation of his eyes captivating me from the first time I noticed them.

"Do you know your dad?" I asked, our eyes still locked. "I know him," he replied.