A magic school story

Chapter Fourteen:

He was already sprinting to the exam hall. He wasn’t that late. They may not have let Gwen into the exam but surely if he begged enough they would let him in?

He accidentally bumped the duffel bag with the imp into a wall once on his sprint. The second time he did it was to get it to stop swearing. He finally reached the exam hall, skidding slightly on the marble as he brought himself to a stop. He scoured down the hall with several large doors with shiny silver plaques above them, and then he saw one shiny silver plaque in particular:

Exam room 29. Fourth years: Charms- Paper One (Theory)

The door was shut, and there didn’t seem to be a back entrance. Ugh. He knocked on the door twice. Nothing happened after three seconds. Eh. Guess it was all for nothing. He just had to accept it.

Nah.

This time he hammered on the door three times. And this time it swung open furiously. And a tall skinny man with Urkel glasses and two towers of Frankenstein hair shooting in opposite directions, stared at him bewilderment.

“Young man, you’re disturbing the exam!”

Jess would have liked to point out to Urkelstein that he could just come into the hallway and close the door to chat, because yelling at Jess from inside the hall was the real disturbance causing the hundred or more kids in there to turn and stare.

“Sorry. I just wanted to write the exam.”

“The exam has already begun! Surely you can see the disturbance you’re causing.”

Jess glanced inbetween the professor's shocks of hair at the class. Most were staring at him: some in bewilderment, some laughing, some smirked and mockingly enjoying the latecomer embarrassing himself. The smart ones were busy asking around for answers from their friends.

“So, it’s too late to come in?” Jess asked.

“Much too late.”

“Please?” Jess asked, trying his luck to see if that would work.

The professor stared at him and fixed his glasses. “You’re not in my class.” He said trying to recognize Jess.

“Not yet, I’m new.” Jess answered.

“A troublemaker then.” He said, and then the professor suddenly stopped and bent over and peered at Jess’s duffel bag. A sudden chill ran through Jess- a mix of fear at being caught with Brainrot, and alarm at the professor’s serpent like spine. The professor's legs were planted firmly straight without a bend at the knee, but the professors entire upper body moved like a snake, twisting between a C and S shape.

The professor spoke, and for some reason Jess expected a hiss:

"I smell a rodent."

“Chihuahua. But you're close.” Jess dared.

“Chihuahua.” The professor said, but suddenly his neck twitched back at the class. “Flitwin! Long! Aberly! Velmore! Failed! No cheating in an exam! And you can thank…” The professor said, turning back to Jess.

“Jess Goldwyn.”

“Goldwyn…” the professor said, straightening his spine and standing even taller than before. Then he cast a glance to somewhere in the exam hall- Gwen. Who was staring at Jess in a mix of fury and disbelief. “I see that tardiness runs in the family.”

And at that comment Gwen reddened and some people sniggered, and the group laughing the loudest all sat around Maizley, who surprisingly didn’t join in the laughter. He couldn’t help but give her a smile for that- if the smile was flirty it certainly wasn’t his intention at first. But that smile seemed to only anger the professor. But before he could yell anything, Jess’s duffel bag started writhing uncontrollably as Brainrot started barking shrill high pitched barks.

“Woof! Woof!”

At that point the class lost it and laughter erupted, and Jess heard other doors open behind him. And in alarm Jess saw professors peering out furiously to check the cause of the disturbance.

“I’m really sorry.” Jess said, shame and embarrassment starting to set it. “I really never meant to-”

But the professor closed the door on him, and Jess was shunted back into the hallway. The other professors seemed to guess what happened and returned their heads to their classrooms.

And suddenly, Jess was alone in the hallway as silence erupted around him.

**********************************************************************************

He flopped down on his dorm bed, and pain shot through his ribs again and he groaned in annoyance as he lifted himself up.

He reached down and finally unzipped the duffel bag and Brainrot leapt out.

“I smell mages.”

“It’s a magic school, Brainrot. If you get caught, you’re going back to hell. So act like a dog.”

Brainrot sniggered and let drool splatter as it laughed. “The mage has to protect me now, till I get to kill the fat boy.”

Jess sighed and flipped the imp on its back. “You’re a chihuahua now. I can step on you.”

The imp-dog grinned at him and then slowly lifted its hind leg.

“Don’t you dare.” Jess hissed.

Thankfully it seemed like the chihuahua took over the body again and lowered its leg in favour of licking itself. Jess sighed.

Guess he might as well have a look at that grimoire now.

He dug around in the trunk and pulled out the notebook. It had a good design, it was a lot slimmer than the older ones. It had a soft but firm blue-grey cover and when you opened it up, it opened up to the centrefold which blended so well together the pages could lie perfectly flatly and it would look like one larger sheet of paper.

Ink started blotting up on the pages.

Welcome, Jess Goldwyn

Oh. Looks like it already came loaded with his details. He found a quill to use, and tapped the page and the next block of ink appeared with a whole host of things on the left hand side:

Jess Goldwyn 4th Year

Cancer dorm

Class rank: N/A

~Timetable

~Admin

~Notes

~Personal

~Mail

~Ronin

~Other…

On the right-hand side of the book a timetable had sprawled across the page:

Well, he’d already missed today’s exam, but according to the timetable he had one the day after tomorrow: History of magic. Okay, well that probably wouldn’t be too bad, right? He’d just have to swat and know some general knowledge. He could manage that. He read through the menu on the left again… Ronin, what the hell was a Ronin? He recalled the Grimoire Voices been called Macedona. Grimoire voices were basically assistants in the grimoire that you could write to to help you make notes or use the grimoire, and Macedona was some famous librarian lady. Maybe Ronin was the school's version of the assistant?

He ticked next to the word Ronin with his quill.

And all the ink disappeared, to make way for new words to appear:

‘Good afternoon, Jess Goldwyn.’

‘Hi, so what exams do I have?’ Jess wrote.

‘You’re registered for one more exam: History of Magic at 10am. I noticed you haven’t made any notes for your class yet, would you like to open your notes?’

“Hell no.” Jess muttered.

‘Understood, Jess Goldwyn.’

Jess shivered, when did grimoires start understanding words? Well… Might as well use it.

“Ronin. What’s coming out in the exam?”

‘I am not privy to that information, Jess Goldwyn. Would you like some tips on how to study instead?’

“Nooooo.”

‘Understood, Jess Goldwyn.’

“Hey, Ronin. Can other students see my class rank?”

‘A student’s class rank is always public. Class ranks are reset each semester. A students class rank is determined by their performance in their electives and extracurricular achievements.’

Well, at least no one would see Jess’s class rank till next semester.

“Hey, Ronin. How do you heal some broken ribs?”

‘Heal runes might be insufficient for instantaneously healing broken ribs. The school healer’s office is available to students at all hours.’

“Where’s the nurse?”

‘The school nurse is located on the first floor of the East wing of the Blackbane building.’

“Where’s the east wing?”

Suddenly both pages filled with ink as a map plotted itself onto the pages with the nurse’s office circled- of course. Of course, it was the on the furthest side of the campus.

Jess groaned.

“Anything else heals ribs?”

‘Try resting.’

Was that it? Wait, when did these things get sarcastic? Well, rest wasn’t a bad option. He was sore and exhausted from the day. But he wasn’t tired yet. Maybe he could…

“Hey, Ronin. You got any erotica stories in your notes?”

‘Please note that inappropriate actions on the grimoire are recorded.’

“That’s kind of creepy, Ronin.” Jess said, closing the grimoire and letting it slide out of his hands and to the floor.

So one exam left… Today was a disaster, but at least he had one exam left to make up for it- he suddenly rolled over on his side in embarrassment and flinched in pain. He didn’t mind too much if his classmates thought he was an idiot. He knew he had a good reason for why he was late today. He’d saved his friend. He looked like a fool today, but it didn’t bother him. The only thing that did bother was that he’d made so many promises and assurances to everyone- including himself. The headmistress, his dad- even Maizley counted. She probably counted more seeing as how he insulted and challenged her. He didn’t like that he was already betraying his own promises. He’d probably get called in soon and have to face Headmistress Lenden, just hours after she went out of her way for him.

But, thankfully his thoughts didn’t keep him up too long and when he woke the next morning, the pain in his chest, ribs and back had lessened considerably but he found as he woke up and stretched that sharp movements were still very much a no-no. He woke up slowly from bed and his head felt twice as heavy and he nearly fell over- only just managing to catch himself against the dresser. What the hell was this? He took another cautious step and heard a squeal and yelp and then pain seared through his ankle as the little imp bit him furiously.

“Sorry! Sorry!”

“How dare you step on me! Filthy mage! How dare you use your feet on me!”

“SORRY!” Jess hissed. At least the pain from the bite woke him. But then it hit him, he hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

“After I slaughter the fat boy-”

“Shut up before I eat you.” Jess snapped at Brainrot. Somehow the dog took over again and started growling at him.

Breakfast.

He still hadn’t showered either- no food first. Food first. He slathered himself in deodorant and then dug in his duffel bag for-

“You little shit!” he yelled at Brainrot.

All his clothes were ripped to confetti. But it was the dog now and all it did was stare at him and then relieve itself in the corner of the room, so Jess couldn't even yell.

Jess laughed in disbelief, the hunger pangs were making him deluded. He was talking to a dog the size of a hamster rat thing. Was there even a demon inside? Was the Chihuahua just plain evil? That was certainly a possibility.

Back to clothes… he couldn’t wear yesterday’s outfit because it was marred by sweat and dirt and some blood. The school uniform was clean, and he still had some clothes he’d brought on the first day- they were all gone too. THAT DAMN DOG.

It was all chewed through. There was a pair of black jeans that survived but the bottoms were a bit chewed on. He dug in the chest for whatever he dumped in there:

A vest. And a bathrobe that he didn’t notice under his uniform. The bathrobe was a faded pink colour.

Vest and a pink bathrobe.

School uniform.

Vest and a pink bathrobe.

The uniform had too many layers. That would take too long.

He grabbed the vest and robe and was out the door already.

At least it was clean. Somehow as weak as he was, the thought of food pushed him to the dining hall. The doors swung open as he approached and of course the hall was full. Not one of the few hundred students noticed him at first but as soon as the robe started flowing, a few sniggers started and heads turned to look and laugh.

'Maybe he did care what people thought?' He realised, as he hung his head down. Luckily though, he spotted Raj sitting at a table of unnecessarily short first years. He didn’t recall being that short at that age. Must be all the processed foods and lack of exercise these days. Did kids even play outside? Did kids- did Jess forget he wasn’t even 16 yet? Amazing how different kids were each year. Even at his last school he barely understood some of the stuff going on with middle school kids and freshmen.

“Hey, Raj.” He said, sliding into a vacant chair. The hall was packed yet somehow this table had a few free spots. There were only five kids here total. “Wazzup, kids.” He greeted doing his best Michael Scott impression. “Wazzup.”

For some reason they weren’t biting, and they all stared at him except for a cocky kid who stared at him with a condescending smirk. He’d gotten the same looks in the exam yesterday and in here. Raj looked taken aback as well but still friendly.

“Good morning, Jess.” Raj said.

“Morning, Raj.” Jess said, grabbing a menu. Oh ho ho! He really was at a fancy school now! The smirks just now reminded him but-

“Look at this menu, Raj!” Jess exclaimed. “Our dorm is so shit I forgot this place was fancy. Bacon and egg platter, assorted cereals, croissants- chocolate, butter, almond, fresh cream.”

They had sets of food for order but you could customize or order individual things too. It even had sections and options!

Menu

Cereals:

Oats. With honey, milk, butter, cinnamon.

Rice puffs. Chocolate, bubblegum, iceberry, strawberry, toasted.

Breads and pastries:

Croissants. Chocolate, almond, butter, fresh cream, strawberry.

Toast. Brown, white, wholewheat, low Gi white.

Pumpkin pie.

Waffles.

Pancakes.

Dosa.

Fruits:

Citrus platter.

Available at request.

Request yoghurt or cream.

Hearty:

Bacon rashers. Fried, honey glazed.

Eggs. Scrambled, white only, boiled, whole, omelette.

Breakfast soup.

Shakshouka.

Hash browns.

Vegetable frittata.

Miso soup and salmon.

Jess grinned and his stomach grumbled appreciatively as he started ticking random things on the menu and flung the card back into the stack.

Again the heads of the tiny first years followed him: watching him tick, then throw, then watching it land. Like dogs following a treat in their owner’s hand.

“What are you having, Raj?” Jess asked

“Eggs and toast,” Raj said. “But let me introduce you to everybody. Everyone, this is Jess Golwdyn. Jess, this is Greg.”

Boy with glasses, Jess noted, as Raj presented Greg.

“Holly.” Raj continued.

Girl with glasses.

“Billium.”

Smirky boy.

“And this is Everki.” Raj finished.

Boy with good eyesight.

Everki actually managed a squeaky hello.

“Nice to meet you,” Jess said, borrowing a slice of Raj’s toast.

“Did you get everyone’s names?” Raj asked.

“Oh, I’m never going to remember all of that. Mm. This is good toast.”

“Is this your first time seeing food?” Smirky boy asked.

“It’s my face time seeing food in two days.” Jess said, brandishing the toast at smirky boy. “I’m hungry.”

“Goldwyn…” the boy said, slowly and maliciously. “I know that name. Your grandfather used to work under my father before he was locked up. What a bottom rung family. No wonder you’re so excited to see food.”

“Jesus Christ, it’s not even nine.” Jess laughed. “Why so hostile, kiddo?”

“Don’t kiddo me, Goldwyn. Do you want my father to hire you, just like old times? There's no way you’re affording all that food now.”

“Ask him to hire you some friends. You’re sitting at the losers club you know?” Jess said.

“You’re sitting here too you know?”

But before Jess could respond, he felt a hot breath in his ear and incredibly strong grip on his shoulder.

“Don’t we look nice all pretty in pink?”

Jess looked up to see a boy a bit older than him. With medium length hair, and a handsomely worn brown uniform. Whoever this was seemed fond of the sarcastic grin they were wearing. Whoever this was, they were trying to be as intimating as possible. Now what even was the point of all this? It was too early for this nonsense. Well-bred but playing thug for some reason. ‘His real names Clarence’ suddenly popped into Jess’s head and he laughed before he could stop himself.

Raj and the rest of the table seemed to want to disappear.

“I didn’t know I was that funny.” The stranger said, not amused.

Jess took another bite of toast, ignoring the lingering pain in his shoulder from the strangers grip.

“Enjoying the joke?” the boy asked.

“I’ve heard better.” Jess said, swallowing his toast.

The stranger put his hand on Everki’s chair, and in a smooth motion the stranger lowered himself and sat just as Everki abandoned his seat and hid at the furthest end of the table.

No one was really watching the table anymore, Jess noticed. Guess whatever was happening was normal. But suddenly Jess felt two other people behind him. Clearly friends of the stranger.

“I heard you’re the new member of the Cancer dorm. I just came to give you a friendly welcome.” the stranger said, in a pleasant sounding tone.

“Oh, brilliant.” Jess said, seeing a huge tray of food floating toward him.

“I’m glad you agree-”

But Jess didn’t really hear what the guy was saying because he had grabbed the tray and was piling all the dishes around him.

“Hey, Raj.” Jess said slowly. “This isn’t all the stuff I ordered? Will they send the rest out later?”

Raj didn’t nod but sat lower in his chair. Eh, whatever. Jess could wait. He tossed a piece of toast back at Raj, and picked up a bowl of chocolate cereal- didn’t want that to go soggy. He grabbed a spoon, shoveled some more sugar on top and ate a huge mouthful.

“Sorry, man.” Jess apologized to the stranger. “I haven’t eaten in like two days. It's nice to meet you.” He said spilling some milk down his chin. “You also in the Cancer dorm?”

“The proudest member.” The stranger grinned. He was quite attractive actually, like he’d had plastic surgery for his jaw and cheeks and eyes and nose without actually having it. “I’m Brentley.” He said, stretching out his hand.

Oh.

This was the psychopath of the cancer dorm. Man, this guy was going to grow up and dump in lakes or fund Epstein Island visits. He just had that air about him- no he didn’t. There was nothing malicious at all about him. The only reason Jess could tell, was because he was a damn good liar himself and so he knew there was nothing friendly in Brentley’s smile right from the start. And of course, the little kids shrinking in fear was a good sign.

“Listen man,” Jess said. “I’m not in the mood right now. I’m just hungry.”

“No harm, no foul.” Brentley smiled, retracting his hand. “Oh, but I’m disappointed I didn’t meet you first. Did they even welcome you into the dorm, buddy?”

“Barely.”

Brentley dragged hic chair closer to Jess.

“I can tell. You’re starving and sitting at a first-year table. But we'll fix that. Jessie, have you been to a midnight feast yet?”

“Nopeff.” Jess managed, through a mouthful of bacon and waffle.

“You know, all the dorms have their little traditions, we’ve got our own too.”

Jess cast a quick glance at Raj. And Raj who finally moved, simply shook his head.

That was enough for Jess.

Jess probably wouldn’t care what Brentley did to him and how often. But it seemed no one else cared what Brentley did to anyone. Just at that moment, Jess’s second tray of food came floating to table.

Right

Above

Brentley’s head.

And before he could stop himself. He heard the spell echo in his head and the tray fell and upturned over Brentley.

And this time the entire hall turned to stare, and the little hushed whispers and giggles behind hands turned to laughter, and then turned into pure exploding wheezing laughter. Brentley shot to his feet, slathered in eggs and milk and syrups and- oh my… The miso soup all the way down his uniform. And Jess didn’t recall ordering yoghurt, but there it was in Brentley’s hair.

“Well look at that.” Jess said, softly. “Scary how often accidents seem to be happening.”

He brushed of a soggy pancake from Brentley’s shoulder and somehow it landed smack in the face of the smirking first year, Billium. Look at that! Jess actually remembered their names. And he couldn’t help but delight that even the first-year table of Raj and his friends couldn’t contain their laughter either.

But then Brentley grabbed Jess by his gown and pulled him forward, and the hall seemed to tense. And every student was watching now.

And Brentley’s two cronies were right there behind Jess. Waiting.

“What’s going on Buddy?” Jess asked innocently. “You wanna borrow my gown? Not your colour but it’s still dry at least.”

“I’m almost impressed.” Brentley said, quietly. “I knew you had bite to you, Goldwyn... This childish for my taste though.” He said, pointing at himself covered in mushed food. “But you and I could have been friends. This was stupid.”

Jess was a good liar, so he knew Brentley was being honest. And that haunted him. That Brentley had found him interesting, a friend or equal.

Although, it was also terrifying because Brentley was about to hit him.

“Hey!” A voice called and the gathering crowd parted with boos and laughter and Jess understood why when he saw who had come to his rescue.

Gwen!

“Put him down!” she said, and honestly that was damn brave of her. Brentley was twice her size and holding her cousin by his neck.

Brentley stared at her and realised attacking her would probably finally turn the crowd against him. And thankfully Brentley lowered his hands, and tapped Jess’s cheek.

“See you at the dorm.” Brentley said, only loud enough for them to hear. With that, he left with his cronies behind him.

Phew. Jess breathed a sigh of relief.

But…

“Gwen!” he exclaimed. Hugging her despite her protests. “Thank you! He was going to kill me!”

“Get off me!” She said, pushing him away and uppercutting his nose. “What’s wrong with you?” she spat at him.

Some of the crowd oofed, but most of them didn’t seem too interested in this fight.

“Do you just love attention? You humiliated that boy for no reason!”

“He had it coming.” Jess drawled.

Gwen just shook her head then suddenly reddened in embarrassment realizing how many people were staring at them. She got even more flustered and muttered something at him and pushed her way through the crowd. Jess shrugged, and turned back to the table now that everyone was at theirs.

At least he could finally eat now.

He sat down at the table and pulled a plate of pancakes. Everki’s lower lip was trembling.

“You okay?” Jess asked.

“THAT WAS AWESOME!" Everki exploded. "YOU’RE SO COOL! No one’s ever done to Brentley before!”

“That was so cool!” Holly breathed as well.

Smirky didn’t seem so impressed, nor did Raj.

“Why would you do that?” Raj asked.

“He had it coming.” Jess exclaimed. “You told me he did.”

“He’s never going to forget this!”

“So?”

“You don’t get it,” Raj said in disbelief. “You’re not supposed to fight back.”

Jess chuckled. “So you’re saying don’t stand up for yourself.”

“Not against people like that.” Raj said. “You think you proved a point by dropping cereal on him? He’ll hurt you and he wouldn’t get in trouble. You shouldn’t ever fight, you don’t know what other people are capable of! Or what their morals are. What happens if that girl didn’t save you just now? If you fought, then what?”

Jess shrugged. “Dunno, he probably would have knocked me out or something.”

“So you think the fight ends when someone's knocked out. That doesn't mean Brentley does.” Raj pointed. “What if he was trying to kill you! The last person who got in fight with Brentley didn't never came back to school and had to spend a month at Lord Fenning's hospital.”

“I-”

“He’s going to take it out on all of us now.” Raj said. "He'll be mad."

“We’ll see.” Jess said, but is voice was a lot more unsure.

Raj cleared his plate and woke up, and the others followed him.

He’d messed up hadn’t he? Jess realized.

Jess grabbed some plates of food to take back to the dorm.

He hadn’t meant for so much to happen, but he couldn’t help himself. It wasn’t really his fault was it? Ah whatever, he thought as he left the hall. But as the doors shut behind and he was alone in the hallway, he felt even more guilty for the exam incident yesterday and how he humiliated Brentley today. He didn’t even give the guy a chance. Jess started that fight. And suddenly the headmistress’s words echoed in his head. It really does get easier and easier. Jess didn’t even have to try to be a prick anymore.

Some food fell down from the plates in his hand, but he didn't seem distressed by it. He wasn't hungry anymore.