Chapter 08
FallacyCarter's POV:"Mr. Wister!" Call from the professor.
I did not realize the time that I slept in oblivion in my chair, waiting.
I quickly raised my head, stood up and saw everyone looking at me, and they were all waiting for a response.
"Present, Ma'am! Err... Sir,"
Most of the students laughed in derision at my error. I immediately removed my hood, unplugged my earphones and confronted the professor with vigilance.
"How about you? If you were given a chance at a superpower, what would it be?"
What? I don't understand...
I scratched my head, suddenly disturbed by a question that was far more beyond reality.
I thought it was some sort of boring classroom lecture about history or something.
Wait, am I in Hogwarts or what?
Or is this just another dream?
Or perhaps I've lost my mind.
"Sir?"
The professor folded his arms, beat his shoe to the ground, and the expression of his face was apparently waiting for a response.
But some of the students volunteered, actively lifting their hands to answer, but the teacher shushed them, leaving their mouths motionless while waiting for me to answer.
I couldn't think of anything else, and the only thing that came off my mind was...
"Replicating the magic of someone else. Sir?" I doubtfully answered.
"And why is that? Don't you want to have your own particular ability?" asked the professor curiously.
It was getting strange that I was being asked a question like this, but as we got into this, I thought it would be interesting to participate.
"Well, it is a special ability, Sir. You can easily learn new abilities and replicate them instead of focusing on to one power."
The professor was satisfied with the answer I gave. Just by looking at his face, I could already see the answer in his face. After that, his expression shifted. He marched towards the desk and erased all of the writings on the board.
"Okay class, if you're getting confused, I would just likely want to remind you... We're not in some prestigious school of magic." Said the professor. There were a few titters coming from the students.
"Why I asked you this is because we are going to tackle Literature and Mythology. Well, isn't that interesting, eh?" The professor added.
I laughed at myself for thinking that maybe I was actually in some kind of sorcery class learning magic. It was a stupid idea that came out of my head that might have been because of my sleep deprivation.
Or maybe I guess I was just affected by what I saw last night. About Lincoln, who just jumped into the well. I still could not get it out of my mind.
***
Finally! I can go home.
The sky gradually darkened as the clouds came together. The trees were swaying back and forth as the wind increased in strength.
The feeble rain began to fall strongly. The sky began to roar, the thunder slowly extending through the vicinity, and the lightning flashed quickly before my eyes could even see it.
Unfortunately, I did not bring an umbrella and I was standing in the shed, waiting for the school bus to arrive to pick us up and take us home. Ricky was by my side. I picked him up from his class right after mine.
Soon we saw the light of the bus coming toward us. The shower became even more obvious because of its bulb that projects its luminous beam. The door opened and Sandra was standing on the doorstep.
"You shouldn't be waiting here. This is for preschoolers!" She giggled. Sandra then took us in the bus.
"I know. I went to pick up Ricky."
We went inside the bus and sat in our usual seats. I began plugging in my earphones, covering my head with the hood of my jacket, tucking my arms into the sleeve pockets, and looking out the window at the rain and the passing street lamps that shone their light on the road.
She took a headset out of one of my ears and asked me after we sat on the chair. "So, how did the first day of school go?"
"Fine, as usual." I responded clearly.
"You think I'll be convinced in the tone of your voice, eh?" She asked again with a tone of sarcasm.
He nudged me in the spleen. "Don't pretend." And grin, "I know you."
She then narrowed her eyes, casting a suspicious stare at me.
"Ouch! That hurts!" I flinched.
I fondled the bottom of my rib where she hit me. I looked at her in a scornful way and slapped her arm back and said, "Hey! What was that for?"
Sandra just snickered at the puzzled look on my face. I rolled my eyes and glanced back at the window. I took my earpiece back from her hand, reinserted them into my ears, and flipped back the hood of my jacket to cover my head.
But before I could finally pull the hood to its extent, I slowly removed it again.
In an abrupt turn and twist of fate, from the window glass of the bus that was full of raindrops, I happened to see and recognize Lincoln wearing a dark long robe covering almost his face with the hood, hiding behind a large tree trunk.
What? That's impossible! In a blink of an eye, I can't go wrong!
I'm certain he threw himself into the well of our garden!
Our eyes crossed while the bus drove by. I got up from my seat even though the bus we were riding in was still running and I wanted to get off the bus to chase Lincoln.
But Sandra caught and held my arm and then asked me, "What's the problem?"
"I saw Lincoln." I replied in an unrestful response.
"What? Maybe you were just seeing something else." As Sandra suggested.
"No, I'm sure it's him." I spoke with great belief.
I took my hands out of Sandra's grasp and quickly got off the bus to catch Lincoln.
"Carter, Wait...!"
Chapter 09Call for an AdventureCarter's POV: The minute I got off the bus, I ran and chased Lincoln. Upon my arrival, he vanished. He was not there and I was not able to find him or any trace of his existence. He just magically disappeared out of thin air like a bubble. Did he just teleport himself out to escape? Not only was it just to think about as a blink of an eye, but I'm certain it was Lincoln! First, he took Ricky's key that he found in the woods; second, he jumped into the well from the garden; and now this? Jeez, I no longer know what to think! I don't know what Lincoln was planni
Chapter 10The Siblings' SchemeCarter's POV: "The unknown awaits and its calling for us, so let's delve into the depths of the mystery, unfolding the secrets that lie beyond our sight. I reckon," she answered in a sinister and poetic tone. "Now that is what I call fun! We have a mission! Yipee!" said Ricky with a cheerful voice. He jumped hysterically, and his enthusiasm was greater than I imagined."Uh, What did you just say?" I was taken aback by the confusion."There's no denying that you're as curious as I am. You wouldn't let a day go by with no answers. Would you, Carter?" said Sandra.She then smirked, raised her left eyebrow towards me, indicating a sign to seek my concurrence with what she was trying to determine."What's going on up there? Come down for dinner, children!" Mother ca
Chapter 11Entering the World of Encrest Part I: The Magical WorldThird POV: Ricky and SandraThey found themselves on the cold ground. As they became aware, their minds were instantly filled with questions.They got up in the middle of a big sigil with unfamiliar scriptures around them.They observed that the naked room they were in appeared old and primitive. It had a medieval architectural design."Where are we?" amazed Ricky.While they were looking around the place, a short ray of sunlight touched the part of Sandra's pale brown eyes.Only a small quantity of light could pass through the allocated spaces which came from the mysterious black door.As they came near the door, they heard the murmur of the crowd making an indistinct noise.Ricky opened the door, and they were astounded by what they saw. A bustling crowd of foreign entities encompass
Chapter 12Entering the World of Encrest Part I: The Sky Harbor of SalnorThird POV: Ricky and SandraThe lady's plume of crimson hair was coiled and braided in two, with tiny red ribbons attached at the end.She was wearing vintage pilot goggles with sparkles in her silver eyes, her ears were as sharp and pointy as an elf, her skin was like fresh strawberries dipped in milk.Her lips were cherry red and plump, and she wore a long and thick copper gingerbread gown made of wool cloth with a tucker tucked into her flat chest.The woman stopped while she was looking at something in between."Hmm, Natousak gna abi, ta ilagu agm gnabiakak, egnat agm golib..."(Hmm, Round ears, exquisitely odd chimerical personalities, and an unprecedented sense of fashion...)The siblings gave a sudden blank expression and both of their brows rose. They looked at each other for a few sec
Chapter 13Entering the World of Encrest Part II: The Village of MirhanCarter's POV:I began to worry while Ricky and Sandra were engulfed by this blue flame and immediately disappeared.For the sake of my two most cherished siblings, I fought my fear. Trembling with trepidation, I ended up forcing myself into the old abandoned well.I can't stand around here doing nothing as if it never happened!I could see that the entrance over me was progressively diminishing. The light from above gradually diminished as I descended further down into the well.I felt the weight of the air. My lungs deprived of oxygen as the terrible odor of sewers entered my nose. I scarcely breathed, trying not to inhale the foul stench of poisoned air.When I reached the very end of the well, even though I couldn't see much of the floor I was stepping on, I felt the wet, spongy ground underneath the heels
Chapter 14Entering the World of Encrest Part II: The Rainbow ForestCarter's POV: "Noyagn nayid oyak ibat!" (Get out of here, now!) A creature shouted from far away. It sounded masculine and a bit deep. He was wearing a long black robe. A hood covered his head and I couldn't see much of his face hidden behind. At first, I thought it was Lincoln because I noticed the long robe he had on, but it turned out to be a different person. I did not understand what he was declaring, but it drew the attention of the many that caused the people to flee headlong in panic. A sudden unreasoning terror permeated the place. All began to leave from their respective places. The hooded man was running at a brisk pace toward my direction while he was being chased by someone. I was dumbfounded when he disappeared from my sight and reappeared at the nearest distance possible. He immediately caught me, and we fell to the
Chapter 15Setbacks DrawThird POV: Ricky and Sandra "How come you live under here?" asked Sandra. "If I were to answer your question, I am an outcast," Amarra responded. She then opened the door and entered her home and started packing. "You see that place over there? That is the Ministry of Encrest. I always wanted to join the Academy..." She pointed her finger out the window to indicate where she was saying. "But anyway, too bad we ain't staying here for long. I forgot something to bring with me," added Amarra while forcefully pushing some of the items in her bag and satchel to fit in. "We just got here, why are we leaving too soon?" asked Ricky. "I'm setting out on an adventure," Amarra replied. "That sounds fun! I love adventures, too! Can we come?!" Ricky gasped in excitement. His eyes were brimming with enthusiasm after hearing the word 'adventure'. "I am sorry, but I will take you back to where you
Chapter 16The Downhearted FollyThird POV: Ricky and Sandra "Oh no..." Amarra gasped. She then hurriedly ran to a burnt house and went inside. Amarra's pace of running drew Ricky and Sandra's attention, and they changed their focus on her. The inside of the house was in disorder. The thrown pieces of paper, dust layers and disorganized carpets were scattered on the floor. Even the furniture, shelves and ornaments were in disarray.An old man was seen reclining on the floor. He looked thin and pale with his body covered in red ribbons running along the inside of his thighs. There were scratches and wounds everywhere on his bloodsoaked body. He was coughing out blood and breathing hard. Amarra rapidly approached the old man and knelt down at his side. She appeared devastated and saddened by an old man's appearance. Her spirit was depressed. Tears rushed down her face and a drop fell from her chin onto the old ma