Fantasy Howl's Flying Castle (Finished! ---Whoo! (*＾▽＾)／)

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

Renee bit her bottom lip, her wing folded tightly against her head. If this book is telling the truth and it's not a myth then..."Sunny...why did you let me do that to you?" She muttered, her heart heavy with guilt. Closing and putting the book in her bookshelf, the winged teen stood up from her stool and walked outside. She could see the stars and moon with a bit of clouds floating by.


"The other Manna trees must have noticed their friend is gone...with the lack of Manna flowing out of Paroosia city...Augh! There's got to be something that I can do, but what?!" Renee yelled out, hating on her uselessness with the whole thing.


"Maybe I can look for more information on the manna trees. Dragons too...but knowing the twins, they must have only copied the parts that they felt important, so any other info is either the same thing or not important enough." So visiting the library is a silly idea...then she remembered a point in the story, something that made her question it.


"How did the dragons disappear in the stone wall before? It never said how, did it? I wonder why..." All night, Renee pondered, sitting on the rich ground while staring at the night sky. The white haired teen didn't move from her spot for the whole night, writing down ideas and theories on the ground as the sun rises up in the sky.


She wants to talk with the twins about this...see what they think.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

​

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 18px]T[/SIZE]he next day the twins didn't see their siblings off as they woke up with stomach aches for having too much cake. James laughed at their plight, but left two healing potions on the floor by their bed where they had to reach forward to get them.


"Are they going to be alright, James?" asked Johnny as they stepped out the door after an early breakfast of bread and cheese.


"They won't die." said James, uninterested, he was still annoyed after learning the twins have been spiking his drinks.


They summoned their guardian spirits in the front yard of House 44 and James' ethereal silver white stag cantered out of a puff of cloud. Frey was very beautiful in the light of the rising sun, like a winter spirit of light, shining like ice fringed with the morning ember glow.


"Morning, you." said James quietly, petting the stag's nose. Frey closed his eyes lazily, enjoying the touch.


"Good day, Butters!" yelled Johnny affectionately pinching the giant ram's cheeks. " You, flubbly, wubbly --- mmm? What's wrong?" he added after seeing the look James gave him.


"Nothing." said James, mounting his stag.


"James, my dear fellow, one does not simply talk to their guardian spirits in a normal voice." said Johnny airily. 


@Katsuya

OOC || Characters || Interest Check
​

 
​

 

[Katsuya]

Early in the morning, Renee finished making lunch boxes for Echo, Johnny, James, and herself. She even made a herbal remedy tea for the twins to take if they still feel terrible. Though she surprised the twins by giving them a kiss on their foreheads when she mentioned it, not really minding the silence they gave her.


She wore something different today; having a navy blue tunic that reached down to her thighs, revealing her back and held up by a silver collar with the same pink gem in the middle. Her legs were covered with black leggings with dark brown boots reaching up to her knees. Around her waist is two dark brown belts that has small pockets on the sides, a silver belt buckle holding it up. There's even a white skirt part under the tunic and her arms covered with loose white sleeves and held by silver arm binders. Her usual solar gems on top of her hands.


The reason behind the new clothes is that she had enough with ripping them by transforming. So for now, she'll wear backless shirts and tunics until she can transform without ripping them apart in the process.


Yawning quietly, the white-haired teen packed her stuff and walked out of the castle. Dark rings under her eyes are very noticeable once light hits her face. Her hair was a mess and her wings folded awkwardly on her head. Overall, the white-haired teen regrets not sleeping since she felt tired.


"Go-good morning, Frey. Butters. James. Johnny." Renee nuzzled into one of Frey's shoulders, sighing before looking up to her brother. She passed their lunches, muttering that she made their favorites and patted the buck summon. "Is...Is it okay that I ride with you, James? I'm not up for a walk...or a flight." If she flies right now, she'd probably hit a building for not paying attention or fall in midair.


"Please? I promise I'll get off and start walking once we see the school is nearby..." The white-haired teen pleaded quietly and rubbed on one of her eyes.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 18px]"N[/SIZE]o problem." said James. Frey bopped Renee's forehead affectionately with his muzzle and kneeled so that she could mount properly. "Thanks for lunch. Here, hand me your bag."


Johnny was looking at his lunch box as if he's never received one before. "Renee, thank you." he said properly, not stammering for once and not red. Then he paused and his old shyness slowly came back, but he strode forward and muttered, "Erm, Renee, a-allow [SIZE= 12px]me to [/SIZE][SIZE= 11px]carry [/SIZE][SIZE= 10px]your bag[/SIZE]."


"Whoa, you touching a girl's bag?" teased James, surprised.


"B-bags are alright!" said Johnny, going red again.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

"You're welcome...and thanks, James." Renee smiled warmly, mounting on Frey and patted the buck appreciatively. She was about to pass her bag to her brother when Johnny spoke up and paused in shock. Well...this is new...usually, he wouldn't even want to speak with her unless it's proper etiquette. So for him to even want to hold her bag....


Renee's wings fluttered happily as she passed her bag to Johnny. "Thank you...that's real sweet of you." Courageous is the better term, but the white haired teen didn't want to ruin the rare moment by saying anything about it.


She leaned on James' back a bit and closed her eyes. She wouldn't sleep yet, not until lunch time when she meets up with Echo again. For now, she just wants to rest her eyes a bit.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

​

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 18px]T[/SIZE]hat fine morning, James and Johnny went about their apprenticeship duties in the academy. Just like the class yesterday, the other batch of sixth years learning intermediate summoning for the first time had only managed to summon a handful of will-o-wisps and none of them could control the little fire spirits either.


James walked between the practicing students teaching them how to master their feelings. Will-o-wisps were mischievous spirits and needed a firmer resolve to control. As he had much practice with the twins who were much worse, James knew that dealing with mischievous creatures had something to do with boredom and lack of stimulation.


"Give it something interesting to burn, like  copper sulfate from potions used to kill plant roots or borax from laundry detergents." said James to one girl whose wisp was having fun burning her hair. "It will make a nice green flame, and your wisp will like you more."


"I think it likes me too much already." said the girl, successfully unsummoning her wisp.


At lunch time James just grabbed some toasted bread from the mess hall and went straight to the library to figure out why he couldn't summon a boar hound; Johnny didn't go with him and ate a salad at the same table that faced one of the outdoor gardens reading a newspaper.


The newspaper was from the Daily Oracle and featured a moving black and white picture of an aerial battle under the headline:

[SIZE= 14px]"Black Dragon Defeats Royal Army, [/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]General Leo Withdraws his Forces from the state of Leor."[/SIZE]
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​

[SIZE= 18px]L[/SIZE]ast night, the Royal Army suffered defeat in the Bresha Valley when its forces attempted an ambush aerial strike against the dragon nestled in the ruins of Paroosia. The manna bomb they dropped, "had no effect" according to the words of one dismayed spellblade who survived the ordeal. "It seemed to actually like it." 


Not much is known about dragons, as all knowledge about their existence are based only in myth and fanciful legend. Because of this some effort is now being directed into research and kingdoms all over the world have begun funding researches on the creation of weapons and spells that will be effective on the dragon.


Until now it is uncertain why a dragon, long thought extinct, has appeared out of the blue and destroyed the city. Those in the battlefront have ascertained that it is intelligent and capable of speech, but has so far not made any demands. One thing for sure is, it has not left Paroosia, but seems to be patrolling its borders. There are rumors that it is guarding something, but as of now, authorities refuse to comment.


In other places, monster attacks have become more frequent and a new type of creature has been encountered more and more by adventurers. These creatures seem to be made of shadow, or are monsters warped by shadow and dark magic. They are calling them, "Shades", and their appearance seems to be linked with the black dragon. Scouts report that there is an army of them wandering around Paroosia. There is speculation that the dragon has either summoned or created them by corrupting other creatures.


The dark storm that appeared over Paroosia since the dragon's attack has not disappeared and is spreading. Arcane researchers are now convinced that it is not a natural storm, but one made through dark magic. People are fearing that perhaps the dragon is establishing its territory in human lands, and many have already begun evacuating to other countries . . .

@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

Renee has been staring at the clock for a while now, wanting to go to lunch already. She wasn't paying attention to what plants she was using nor was she aware of how her potion was turning colors and bubbling erratically. Once the big hand reached the smaller hand, the white-haired teen cheered and ignored her shaking potion as she prepared to leave. Then she heard glass breaking and ducked down when the potion exploded, her classmates yelling in confusion and shock from the pink and yellow smoke. "Oops...not again..." She muttered, flinching when her professor was screaming at them. Luckily, she managed to escape her professor's wrath by crawling out of the door with her bag and ran as quickly as she could.


All day, Renee was distracted in class. She wanted to see Echo and know how she was doing. Once she reached the nurse's office, she knocked on the door and came in. The white haired teen froze at the door. Her wings tensed up as she noticed the vine leaf-like burns decorating on her friend's shoulder and back. The red head must have taken a potion to heal faster and put soothing lotion on top of the burn for her skin to be shiny like that. Mrs. Pomona made her move her arm and saw Echo winced at a certain angle. The she smiled and patted on her head. "Okay sweetie, it seems you are fine now. Just stretch your arm and shoulder in five minutes each day and you should be able to move like before."


With that, Echo stood up and thanked her before spotting Renee and waved cheerfully. "Hi Ren!"


"Hi Echo! I'm glad you're okay now!" Renee hugged her friend tightly before walking out with her, smiling wide.


"Me too and I see you haven't slept. Any reason why?" Echo asked, walking to one of the gardens to eat. Renee shook her head.


"It's nothing, just theories upon theories. You know how it is for me." The red head nodded, her replanted pots moved with her head. Her winged friend tend to stay up and write down theories for the most random of things. Then she perked up, turning her green eyes at Renee. "Oh! Have you read the newspaper yet? It's insane!"


The two talked about it. Echo was telling her everything the paper had said and Renee listened, frowning in agitation. Did the royal guard not read her notes about it eating manna trees, which are practically filled with manna? DID THEY NOT REALIZE THAT THEY PRACTICALLY HELPED THE DRAGON WITH IT'S CAUSE?! Of course, the dragon is guarding something; It's guarding the egg that's the size of a huge city. Then again, she guessed the royals didn't want to cause a panic with the citizens by not telling them about the giant egg...Then there's reason behind the dragon still being in Paroosia. She thought with Sunny, it would leave already. Did the egg not hatch yet? That must be it...Though it could be hatching soon, with all the shades walking around...


'If only there was a way to take away manna from the dragon...instead of giving it more...' Renee thought, remembering about how the dragons from the myth left to the stone wall...


With Renee in deep thought, she hasn't realized that she stopped in front of Johnny or that her friend was hiding behind her small frame. The red head timidly waved at the frozen teen, stuttering in her embarrassment.


"He-hel-hello, Joh-Johnny...How are you doing today?" Echo's deer ears twitched, her cheeks turned apple red and she smiled at him shyly. Renee was staring at the newspaper without really looking at it's contents intensely, frowning.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- Johnny Caprice -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 18px]V[/SIZE]arious expressions played on Johnny's face in an instant. At first he gulped, shocked that the girl who had touched him yesterday was talking to him again. Then it was overshadowed by curiosity as to why she was acting shy around him --- and then a look of realization dawned on his face.


"Erm, James isn't around if y-you're looking for him. H-He's in the lib --- library." he stammered in a high pitched voice obviously wanting Echo to leave, but was trying not to seem rude. "A-Also . . . I-suffer-from-somnambulism-so-I-have-a-tendency-to-raid-people's-pantries-and-eat-all-their-left-overs, I-also-fart-a-lot-and-am-very-boring." he said very quickly.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

Renee snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Johnny's stuttering and raised an eyebrow at him. Why did he say that? That was so random. Then she peeked over her shoulder to see Echo hiding her face on her back again and sighed. 


"I feel...like I just missed something here...thanks for letting me know where James is, Johnny." Renee said before pushing her friend out of her hiding spot and passed her lunch to her. "I'm sure Echo can help with your...farting  condition since she knows about herbs better than I do." 


"What?! Renee! What are you-?!" 


"Well it's true. Your dad suffered the same thing before." The white haired teen shrugged her shoulders before leaving the pair alone, not realizing what she has done. Echo stood there, mouth gaping at her friend's dismissal at her plight before turning to Johnny....


Only to look away, blushing."Um...if you're having problems with that, then it might be better if you stopped eating from other people's  pantries. The food might be causing that. I suggest eating less beans and the likes too, if you want to continue to eat from leftovers. If that doesn't work, then...I could...make something for you."  


Echo didn't know what to say. Her friend left her alone with a guy she's nervous around! 


"Um...I'm sorry. I'll just leave you alone now. Again, I'm s-sorry." With that, Echo quickly ran off the opposite direction Renee took, feeling flustered. 


Meanwhile, Renee walked to the library and searched for her brother, wondering if she should even bring it up. James would just scold her for even thinking about it, but...there's a chance that their parents and Rhea and Markl and the witch of the waste are alive...they just can't get out or the shades are keeping them trapped.


If that was the case, then she wants to try to convince her brother again about looking for the aged author.


@Zer0 (OOC: I died laughing from reading Johnny's response. XD)

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- Johnny Caprice -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Mess Hall, Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

'[SIZE= 18px]O[/SIZE]h no, this actually backfired,' thought Johnny seconds ago, ' --- oh, wait, she left . . . hahhh.' Johnny sighed in relief and scratched his head. Echo liked him, he understood that . . .  and he was feeling weird, no, flattered? . . . she did have fluffy ears . . . He watched her retreating back deep in thought.


There were some students nearby who had laughed at what he said earlier, "Somnambulism, I'm gonna' use that next time some weird girl like Echo tries to pick me up." sniggered one of the guys slapping Johnny appreciatively on the shoulder.


"She's not weird." said Johnny, surprised at the comment.


The guy, a good-looking white haired sixth year with a somewhat arrogant face, looked him over. "Right . . . not weird for you."


"Everyone has something they do that people won't understand. It's not obvious all the time because they're afraid of what people will think, but it's there. Don't you have one?"


" . . . I like to cut my nails as a whole so that I can pick them up and just throw them in the trash can." said the guy, interested in the conversation. " People just usually cut their nails and let the pieces fly everywhere."


"One of my sisters does that so that she doesn't have to sweep the floor." said Johnny.


"Exactly." said the guy, now taking a seat beside him. "It saves more time. The name's Seifer, I'm an arcane archer." he extended a hand to shake.



"Johnny, summoner." they shook hands. " By the way, do you know that girl, Echo?" asked Johnny. "Or what her major is in the academy?"

 
​

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Library, Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 18px]J[/SIZE]ames had his glasses on and was pouring over books at the west wing of the library right below a skeleton of a baby sky whale that was hanging from the ceiling. The library was lonely at this hour as it was lunch time and only a few students were out and about, usually those cramming for a test or hastily finishing an assignment.


He was in deep focus and was scratching away with a handsome scarlet quill. He seemed to be re-drawing his spell circle for the boar hound summoning and had a lot of books on the subject propped open.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

It didn't take Renee long to find her brother who's under the baby sky whale skeleton. It took a minute or two for her to gather up her wits and walk up to him though. Her wings fluttered nervously as she sat across from him, wondering how to catch his attention.


The white haired teen peeked at the books that were open and realized that James was drawing a summoning circle. Oh...he's busy....she didn't want to bother him when he's studying about summons nor does she want to cause him stress for even saying anything wrong while he summoned some creature....but she wants to tell him something...maybe she can start off with something casual?


"Um...Hi James, did you see the newspaper today? It...the soldiers are not helping...they're making it worse." Yea, no. That's not casual; that's jumping to the subject and now Renee might have her hands full for even saying anything while he's studying.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Library, Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

"[SIZE= 18px]H[/SIZE]i, sis. I haven't read the papers, but I heard some students in class talk about it."  said James distractedly. He looked up from his work, noting the hesitancy in Renee's voice. " . . . So?" he pushed up his glasses in expectation wondering what this has to do with anything important. He still had much to do today.


The state of Leor was far from Kingsbury, It was two months away by boat, and ten days away by air. Calcifer had already moved the flying castle to one of the safer states so they were far from danger.


In the peaceful hustle and bustle of school life here in the fortified capital city, the threat of the dragon and the darkness seemed very far off to James.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

Her wings folded tightly on her head as she nervously bit her bottom lip. Maybe this was a bad idea after all...but she already put it out there. Might as well finish what she started. Though she'll just ask him about the Manna part. "Um...I was wondering...if there's a way to...take away Manna from someone or something?...I thought I should ask you in case you know something about that since you use it more than I do." Which is true, he does use Manna more.


She just hopes James doesn't start something for even asking this or realize what she's trying to do. Which is fishing for ideas and possibly passing it to the twins for their inventions. "Oh and um...well, it seems the dark clouds are growing more each day...so..." Renee could already tell that she's walking on a land mine but she has to let him know-! "...there's a chance that it might...spread to here..." Or well that's what she thinks based on the newspaper.


James can believe all he wants that they're safe, but she knows that is not the case. It's only a matter of time when those dark clouds reach where they are and it'll be too late if they don't look for the Aged Author soon. Merlin, she's too nervous to even mention anything about this to James or even discuss it since he's studying-! Renee looked away and frowned, twiddling her fingers.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Library, Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

"[SIZE= 18px]T[/SIZE]he army will take care of it." he said, waving a nonchalant hand and going back to work. "There are manna burning spells that take away a warlock's manna and at the same time burn them with their own energy . . . and there are manna syphoning spells too . . . The army will take care of it." he added reassuringly and a bit firmly.


He gazed at her sideways for a moment and there was slight knowing look in his eyes as to why Renee was so nervous talking about this with him.


There was only one reason why she'd be so nervous talking about the dragon. Had it been about their parents, she would probably speak openly with worry or sadness, or if it was for research she'd speak openly about it too, but if it had something to do with something he wouldn't like, something she'd hide from him, then she'd be nervous. And the only thing between them that James didn't like when it comes to the dragon, was about Renee doing something dangerous about it.


This was one difference between the twins and her, Renee was a nice girl who never had much reason to lie and so she wasn't very good at it, thought James. He didn't want their relationship to get to the point where she'd have to lie because he was stressful to talk to, and wondered for a bit how his mother or his father would talk to Renee about this. He missed them.


James didn't seem angry when he gazed at her, just patient and a bit annoyed looking.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

Well there goes that idea of taking away Manna from the dragon...


He hasn't exploded yet. Good...maybe she can actually say it this time. Renee breathed in and out to calm down, sitting up straight. Her orange eyes looked back at her brother and she almost flinched when she notice her brother was staring...but he was waiting? Patiently?


"James...I still want to go look for the Aged Author, but not just because of Sunny..."


Her wings folded tightly as she admitted quietly. "I...I know you believe that we're safe since we're not close to it and there's the army, but...James, they just gave manna to the dragon...the same creature who eats manna. I don't think the army is able to stop the dragon or the shades and I doubt they're even considering the notes the Madam took from me...."


"...and I think Mom and Dad are stuck in Paroosia. I know that we can't kill the massive fire breathing thing, but if Mom and Dad are stuck there, then I want to look for the Aged Author. I want to ask him or her if they can get rid of it..." She does not like the idea of enjoying school life when something that will cost their lives is slowly coming to their way. Nor did she like thinking that her parents are alive but suffering because of being stuck in the abandoned city.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Library, Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

"[SIZE= 18px]R[/SIZE]enee . . . mom and dad are dead . . ."


James didn't look at her when he quietly said that, but just stared straight at his parchment, his dark hair overshadowing his eyes.


It hurt to say that. Especially when their mom was so close to him when he lost her. They had been riding Frey together, and then the dragon suddenly rammed into the manna tree and it fell down with a horrible, deafening, earth shaking crash. Next thing he knew, the ground was lifted up with the houses, trees, him, everything, and he did not know where up and down was. All he could see was dust and all he could hear was destruction, and then something hit him and he passed out.


When he woke up, the spellblade carrying him said his mom was lost. Probably crushed and buried in the debris . . . and suddenly James realized why he couldn't summon a boar hound. He didn't want to be part of the rescue team in the army, he wanted to destroy that dragon for killing his mom, dad, Markl, the Witch of the Waste. But all this time he had been thinking about Renee and the twins and keeping them safe . . . violence was not in his nature, but now that he thought about it, or rather now that he allowed himself to think about it. He did want that dragon dead. Only . . . he didn't want his sister to die. Wanted her to have a happy life while others dealt with this.


 But she was so stubborn. Just like mom . . .


"Tell you what, let's settle this. I'm planning to join the tournament next month," James looked Renee dead serious in the eye with that steely gaze of his as if she was an opponent he would take down if he had to, "if you've made up your mind about going on this ridiculous quest, then show me you can handle yourself out there. If I lose to you in the tournament, or if you last longer than me, then I won't stop you."


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

"Mom and Dad are not dead. Just because the Spellblades couldn't find them doesn't mean they're dead." She muttered before tensing up from James' proposal. Renee did not see that coming, especially from James. The elder Pendragon never liked to be part of something violent, so to hear this from him is very...weird.


This could be her chance to prove that she can make it out there.


She stood up from her chair and slammed her hands on the table, leaning over it with a grin. Her wings excitedly fluttered. "Alright! You're on." She's going to have to tell her professor that she's not going to be able to join the medical team for the tournament after all. Professor Grandiflorus will understand...hopefully.


Renee was about to leave the library to prepare when she remembered something. "Wait, what would happen if you win then?"


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Library, Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

"[SIZE= 18px]Y[/SIZE]ou drop this whole thing with the dragon, the manna trees, the aged author, everything," said James, "and just leave it to the professionals."


Her resolve had surprised him. He didn't expect that kind of confidence, her leaning forward in challenge. But in a way it reassured him. Had Renee backed down just from his steely gaze, then how would she fare against a real enemy? There was fire in her eyes, like the one he saw in their father's, and that made him all the more determined to win.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

She nodded in agreement, grinning at him. "Alright big brother. So I'll just win our bet and then we'll go search for the aged author." Renee could see that James is riled up too and that made her excited. He's taking her seriously.


"Hmm...I wonder if we should let the twins in on this too..." She wondered out loud, not realizing the horrors the twins might cause on the both of them.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Library, Sorcerer's Academy, Kingsbury "[/SIZE]
​

"[SIZE= 18px]I[/SIZE] said I won't stop you if you win, I didn't say I'd go with you." said James solemnly. "I'm staying here, Renee."


He crumpled up the parchment with the spell circle and started anew. He was going to embrace the lightning salamander, and no longer attempt to summon a boar hound.

***
​

Back in the castle, Sen and Seth sneezed in unison as they once again continued copying pages from nine books James hid under his bed.


"Bless you." said the twins to the other. "Thank you." they said together and then grinned. Speaking in unison was something instinctual between them, as if they were one person instead of two. People sometimes thought that they could read each other's minds, but no, they just knew each other very well.


"Someone must be talking about us." muttered Seth, scratching his nose.


"Must be one of our new guild members." said Sen, scratching his buttocks.


James and Renee's potions and herbal remedies lay empty on the bedside. They were cured of their stomach aches and were spending their free time either copying the books or checking out Johnny's things. Their new guild had fifty members now, all not very good ones or novices as they didn't have enough money to pay for real warriors yet.


The twins had sent five of them on a quest in the forest outside Kingsbury to gather "Hallow tusks", but haven't heard from them since this morning. They were supposed to send a letter by way of messenger hawk or owl every three hours, but haven't done it since.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Renee Pendragon-
​

Renee frowned a bit and nodded. She understood if he doesn't want to come along...but she knew she'll miss her brothers once she leaves. "Fair enough...Well, I better go before class starts...Good luck on your summoning circle."


The white-haired teen left her brother alone, leaving the library and went to look for Echo. After all, she did leave her with Johnny of all people. There's a chance of a very flustered fawn and a very scared Johnny for being near each other. By the time she did find the red head, lunch time was about to end and she could only ask her to help with taste testing.


Which she did say 'yes', though very afraid of what might happen with Renee's experiments.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

​

[SIZE= 18px]- James Pendragon -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" North Courtyard, Sorcerer's Academy, 3 Days later "[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 18px]A[/SIZE]nd so the game was on.


For the next few days James had been coming home late smelling like smoke with his hair singed, and going to school early with his bag bulging with healing potions to tame the lightning salamander, as only the school had powerful enough barriers and the stone gargoyles to keep it in check.


He had decided to name the lightning war beast, Spark, and Spark did not like James. Probably because of their first meeting. And what's more, the lightning Salamander was arrogant and seemed keen to establish its superiority in their relationship by breathing lightning at him, a most painful and terrifying experience. James swore he was starting to be deaf in one ear from the thunder of the bolts.


At first his master helped him by casting a lightning shield charm, but it seemed to lessen the lightning salamander's respect towards him and made it more disobedient. And so James bravely summoned it for the third time without a shield, and next thing he knew he passed out from the first lightning shock.


On his seventh summon after class on the third day since he and Renee began their competition, Spark stopped running away from him since the lightning salamander had now understood that James could not stand up against the lightning shock, and just paraded around his fallen electrocuted, twitching, form with such smugness that James was overlooking the aching pain all over his body because he was so grumpily irritated.


"Fissss! Fisss!" hissed the lightning salamander haughtily, slithering in a perky dancing motion.


James looked up from where he was lying on the dust and gave the salamander the steely eye.


"Fiss!" hissed Spark, annoyed, and shot a small needle bolt at his face. It was magically deflected off.


"That's enough for today, James." said Professor Magnus, who had his wand out.


The lightning salamander hissed its displeasure at the master summoner, but knew better than to challenge him. Spark was unsummoned and Johnny who was now training his Boar Hound whom he had named, Meatballs, took a break from teaching it how to sit and helped James up.


"All right?" asked Johnny


"What did you say . . . ?" groaned James.


"I said are you alright?" chuckled Johnny helped James on to one of the stone benches; Meatballs, who was as big as two cows, was frolicking around wagging his giant tail and chasing butterflies.


"No . . .  This isn't working." said James, gingerly sitting down. "At this rate, Renee is going to beat me."


He had told Johnny about the contest. Johnny was surprised that Renee took the challenge, but it was a good way for her to see what it was really like in the real world with all its monsters and bad guys. The Warlock Tournament was a serious competition what with the bullion prize money. And the contestants were sure to be experienced witches and wizards tempered by past battles with their own victories against mighty foes.


Professor Magnus came over with some healing potions. "James, your not ready for a tier three war beast. I suggest you choose another creature to summon."


That was discouraging, coming from his master, but no, a tier two war beast just won't cut it in the tournament. "Master, I can do this." said James steadily. Professor Magnus observed him with an emotionless expression for a few seconds.


"Very well, but if you start getting second degree burns, or if a shock causes your heart to fibrillate just once --- it is over. Am I understood?"


"Yes, master."


"Good. That's all for today. There will be no summoning tomorrow, you will use that time to put more effort into practicing the lightning shield charm I taught you. Your lightning salamander won't look down on you if you cast the charm instead of me."


When their master left, it started to rain. Students ran indoors shielding their heads with their bags, but James stayed outside. Johnny stayed outside too but was holding an umbrella that had sheep horns and was just watching Meatballs play in the mud with Butters. The giant ram and the boarhound had become fast friends. Johnny offered to share the umbrella, but James gave him a look that said: 'That's ew. Guys don't share one umbrella.'


Johnny just shrugged and they sat their for while in peaceful silence. The monotonous pitter patter of the rain was calming to James' ears. And the cool water running through his wet hair and robes was soothing to his aching body.


"James . . . I think I fancy someone, only she's a girl." said Johnny.


" . . . Why do you always assume the worst in girls before you get to know them?" said James giving him a quizzical look.


Johnny had no answer for that. He knew it was ridiculous, but he just couldn't help it. His chest would tighten every time a girl comes up to him, and his heart would start beating fast in panic and then he'd get a stomach ache. All the time. All the time. Except of course with Renee, as he had understood that she was actually quite nice especially after the lunch box she gave him three days ago.


"I have no idea." said Johnny finally.


"Who is it?"


"Echo."


James looked at him in surprise. "What?"


"I know." agreed Johnny, his sheep ears flattening in embarrassment. "She's got fluffy ears."


James clapped a hand to his forehead, laughing. "Okay. You like her because she has fluffy ears? You are incredible."


"Yes, and it's not just that, I like the plants hanging from her antlers. And . . . well, she likes me and she's pretty, so there."


"You're not afraid of her?"
 


"I am, but then at the same time it's okay. Like, the kind of scared that makes you worry about what she thinks of you."


"Oh, I see . . ." smiled James. "Have you talked to her?"


"No." said Johnny lamely and hung his head embarrassed. "I keep thinking she'll laugh at me."


"Why do you come up with these negative thoughts all by yourself? Jeez, you're so difficult. I hope Echo doesn't give up easily on a stressful guy like you."


"Am I really that bad?" asked Johnny gloomily.


"She offered to make you lunch, why don't you agree? So that you wouldn't suffer somnambulism." James laughed.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

​

-South Courtyard, Sorcerer's Academy-
​

It's been three days since she accepted James' challenge and Renee has trained in her transformation and herbal recipes with the help of Professor Grandiflorus.


The woman is vicious! When Renee told her about going in the tournament instead of working in the medical team, the blond not only grinned like an imp. She got excited and gathered all of the different recipes to create poisons, traps, elixirs, and forced Renee to train with the larger man-harming plants the school has. Like the large whomping willow tree that's near the south courtyard. No one goes there in fear of that evil tree trying to decapitate them, so the south courtyard is abandoned...until now that is. For the past three days, after classes, Renee trained with the whomping willow tree and it is beyond difficult! It's insanely painful.


The white haired teen panted as she flew upwards, dodging a swing from the tree's club like branches and out of it's reach. Once she's up in the air, she grabbed a medium sized brown ball that looks like it's covered in leaves, out of her pouch and tossed it down on the tree. As expected, the violent tree hits the ball only to be covered in a bright pink goo-like substance and have two of it's many branches stuck together. Good, less branches to worry about.


The winged teen flew downwards and tries to grab that one item her professor tossed to the tree: a silver bell that's ringing this whole time. Only to miss when the branch that has the bell moved and another almost hits her side. Renee rolled her landing and moved far away from the agitated tree, hearing the bell ringing. She felt like the tree taunted her with it. Glaring heatedly, the winged teen swooped in closer and grabs onto one of it's swinging branches. Without a moment to spare, she jumped off the branch and grabbed another in time to see that branch hit the ground. It's trying to pound her against the ground-!


Renee jumped from branch to branch, dodging and evading the powerful swings of the whomping willow. The angry tree destroyed some of it's branches whenever she grabbed onto to it and that made her react a lot more quicker. With her talons, she managed to climb up to the tallest branch and grab the ringing bell. In time for one of the other branches to swing and scratch her arms with thinner branches. Renee hissed in pain, flapping her wings to fly upwards and out of it reach again. She then tossed the bell to the ground, in front of her professor who was watching on the sidelines. The harsh professor clapped once while grinning like a loon.


"Very good! We'll stop for today, so get your rest. You're going to need it for tomorrow." Renee cooed in relief as she landed near the gazebo, where Echo was sitting in. She can hear her friend walking towards her as she transformed back, sitting on the ground to rest her aching body. She took off the heavy weights that were around her ankles and rubbed the chafed skin. The blonde suggested to wear these whenever she trained. It's to help with her speed...or so she believes. Her professor picked up the silver bell and tossed it back to Renee.


"Keep it. Make it as reminder of what you can do when you put your mind into it." With that, Professor Grandiflorus left to the main campus. The white-haired teen could only imagine what other training techniques her professor is planning to make her do later on the week. Then Echo hugged her, squeezing on her purple bruises and red scratches.


"Oh Renee! Thank goodness you're okay! I thought that tree was going to kill you!" Echo exclaimed, not noticing Renee's cringing face when she squeezed tighter. She patted her friend's arms.


"Okay! Okay, Echo! Please let go! That really hurts-!" The red head gasped before letting go and examine her bruises and cuts. Renee sighed and grinned a bit.


"It's better than the first time, right?" Echo frowned at her. The first time Renee had to go against the whomping willow, it managed to hit her and break her bones. Only reason why she continued was because the professor had potions with her. "Renee, don't you think this training is a bit much? I mean, it can kill you-"


"I know that. That's why I want to keep going." Renee watched her friend's green eyes widened at that.


"You want to die?"


"What? No! I mean I want that experience. More like I need it if I have to fight against experienced fighters, right?" Renee reasoned. "That's why I'm not complaining to Professor Grandiflorus."


She never was a fighting type, but to win in James' bet, she needed to do this. To grow faster and experience how it would feel like in a fight. With the whomping willow, an enemy that will take any chances to attack someone viciously, it's a good training method. An insane one too, now that she thought about it.


Then it started to rain. Echo pulled her up and helped her to sit under the gazebo. "Renee, I know that you want to prove your brother and all, but still. It's only a bet. Why would you need to-"


"It's because I want to take this seriously. James believes that I don't understand how harsh life is, but I do. Not all of it, but I had a taste and it's bitter and cruel and-! and-! There's too many words to describe it, but it definitely sucks." Renee interrupted, sighing at her friend's confusion on her goal, and sat down on the stone benches. She watched the goo on the now still Whomping willow's branches be washed away by the rain.


"Honestly, he thinks everything I do or say is just too optimistic and not real. Like for example, he believes our parents are dead. I don't because the Spellblades said that they couldn't find their bodies. For all we know, our parents could still be alive somehow. I need physical proof that they are dead. I just can't believe it otherwise."


"And if they are dead? Then what?"


"Then I'll grieve, accept it, and move on. It sounds simple, but I know it's not. It's painful to even say my parents are dead, but it is what it is. Besides..."


"Besides, what?" The red head questioned.


"I'm not that scared of James' summons."


Echo tilted her head at that, her pots clanging against each other.


"How come? I know I'm scared of it."


"It's because I already faced the most terrifying thing imaginable and James...James is not scary compared to that dragon." Renee had to grin, though it's rather grim and somewhat forced. She is still terrified of that dragon and it's flames. The same flames that could take her breathe away and kill her. She already experienced how dangerous that dragon really is and it's only because of Sunny that she's still alive and well. The white-haired teen isn't stupid of how dangerous it can be, but that doesn't mean she couldn't do something about it.


Which is why she needs to find the Aged Author: To get that dragon out and find her parents' bodies if they really are dead. Same with Markl and the witch of the waste and Rhea.


Echo could only sigh at her stubborn friend. "Well...if you're set on it, then I'll support you as much as I can." Renee smiled at her.


"Thanks...So~ I heard that you tried to help Johnny?"


"I-I! Well! That is to say-! Um-! Renee! Don't change the subject!" Renee grinned mischievously as her friend's face turned bright red. "Aww~! But it was so cute that you tried to help with his sleeping problem-!"


"Shut up! Shut up!" The winged teen laughed, leaning back and stretched her arms and wings. "It's true though. That's rather cute of you. If you want, I could even help you with the cooking part. I still have the recipe for his favorites too!"


The red head could only groan and covered her red face with her hands. Her ears folded back and flattened. "Renee! Stop! I-I don't want to bother him-!"


"But I bet he would like you more if you gave his favorites~! and wear fluffy clothes~!" Renee teased.


"No! Renee, quit it!"


She laughed again, her wings flapping in joy. "Alright, alright. I'll stop for now...." Renee heard Echo sit next to her and she moved closer to be warm. The rain is giving her a chill, especially since she's wearing a backless shirt. She didn't want to be sick.


"...Renee...I hope you can prove James wrong..."


"....and I hope you can go on a date with Johnny."


"RENEE!"


The winged teen laughed again as her flustered friend tapped her hooves on the cement ground, yelling that even if she did get a date with him, she would probably embarrass him or something terrible will happen and he would never like her again.


Seriously, Echo needs to have a bit more faith in herself.


@Zer0

 

[Zer0]

[SIZE= 18px]- Johnny Caprice -[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 14px]" Sorcerer's Academy, One day . . . "[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE= 18px]O[/SIZE]ne day after class, Johnny was lounging about with a group of students who were watching Renee train. Word had spread that there was someone who's been taking on the ferocious Womping Willow and now many interested students have been coming daily to watch, bet, and talk to Renee who was slowly getting more popular.


But Johnny wasn't here to watch Renee, he was here gathering his courage to talk to Echo with a look as though he was readying himself to storm a fortress.


"Baa." bleated Butters in confident encouragement at his nervous master, and butted Johnny forward gently with his great curly horns.


"Woof!" barked Meatballs for no reason and just sat on his haunches panting absentmindedly.


Johnny gave them both the thumbs up and walked to where he saw Echo was with her back facing him; some students cheered as Renee performed a fancy dodge.


But as Johnny came closer, he felt his legs get more wobbly and wobbly until he had to stop and lean on a tree for support. 'Buggers, I cannot do this!' he thought nervously. His legs were like marshmallows and he was already in panic mode. Maybe he could wait another year before seriously considering talking to a girl and having conversation with them. But then as James had said earlier:

---- Flashback ----
​

''You know, it's not everyday you meet a girl with plants hanging from her antlers who accepts the way you dress," said James exasperated, "You're just going to go there and talk to her, it's no big deal."


"But I have four ears, is that not strange, James?"


"She knows already and she apparently likes you anyway! Listen, a perfect girl isn't just going to fall from the sky, you can't let this opportunity just pass you by, unless you're not really into her after all? You're always arguing against my encouragements, do you really want to get to know her or not?"


"I-I do."


"Then just talk to her. For three minutes. I've had four girlfriends, Johnny, and none of them worked out because we did not match. It's hard to find a girl who matches you, and I think that she matches you. You'll be happy if you find out she does, trust me. It's wonderful to have someone to take care of and who takes care of you."

---- End of Flashback ----
​

"Excuse me, are you alright?" said a concerned girl suddenly from the crowd.


Johnny flinched, going red. "Er, [SIZE= 11px]yes, [/SIZE][SIZE= 9px]I[/SIZE] ----" he gave Butters, who was far away, a look that plainly said, 'Help me!' . Butters bleated and cantered forward and Meatballs for some reason followed chewing on one of his horns.


"Are you sick?" approached the girl, now very concerned now at his reddening face, then touched his forehead.


That did it. Johnny fainted and there was a sudden commotion behind Echo as the concerned girl was trying to shake him awake, and was calling people for help and to get the nurse.


@Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

-Echo Muses-
​

Echo sat under the gazebo again, watching her friend train, and hearing the other students making bets and cheering her on. Somehow, the student body heard about Renee taking on the Whomping willow and more students came by to see her, even talk with her after she finished training. Though, the red head could tell with all the cheering and groaning from the spectators, that Renee is having a hard time now more than ever. The loud noises from everyone nearby made the tree angrier than normal, which in turn made it more harder for Renee to dodge and grab that bell again.


She sighed in relief when the tree barely scratched Renee's wing as she made a fancy dodge and continued to worry for her safety. Then she heard a commotion happening behind her. The red head had to take a look to make sure everything is alright. Her green eyes widened when she spotted Johnny on the ground with a girl shaking him and calling for the nurse.


Echo stood up and quickly walked to where they were, urgently calling for her winged friend. "REN!! GET THE NURSE!" The white haired teen flew out of the willow's reach, hearing her distressed friend and spotted why. She squawked in worry before flying towards the nurse's office window...again.


Echo sat down on the ground next to Johnny, checking if anything was amiss. "What happened?" She asked, smiling patiently at the nervous girl as she gently stopped her from shaking him anymore. The girl's voice trembled when she explained. The red head checked on his forehead, his pulse, his breathing and found that his heart is beating too fast. Strange, what made him freak out and faint?


"Don't worry, he'll be fine once my friend gets here with the nurse." Maybe one of her plants could wake him up? Echo looked at her plants and spotted one that she needed to wake him up. She pulled three leaves from that specific pot and rubbed them between the palms of her hands. As soon as she did, a strong smell of mint, cinnamon, and something weird came from her palms and she placed them near Johnny's nose. With the scent, he should be able to wake up, though a bit groggy.


Echo got close to Johnny's face in anticipation, her wide green eyes watched for any signal that he would wake up soon....


@Zer0