Tower of Memories

Celica was frowning when I got to Alchemy. Oh no. I sat down next to her and started calculating the best way to phrase the question.

She didn't look at me, opting instead to look ahead at where Gorgon was drawing a runic symbol in the air. Purple energy sparked between his fingers like lightning.

I rubbed my left wrist with my thumb.

Someday. Someday soon.

"Is it hurting?" Celica asked softly next to me.

"No. I'm just…thinking. Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm thinking," she whispered.

I was proud of myself for not wincing at that. Celica being quiet was not a good sign.

To my utter disappointment we were not performing a lab today. We were filling out a worksheet.

Something about the materials being discussed stood out to me.

Charcoal on its own was common in fire-based projects.

At least, I assumed it was fire-related, considering the question about what burns red.

Aluminum shavings was bothering me though. Why would we need them for a project? More specifically, what were we doing with them?

I closed my eyes and sighed, trying to think back to what those things were reminding me of. I couldn't place it yet.

It clicked when I saw a very familiar compound. Alchemic diagrams for compounds were nearly identical to the ones Dad used for his courses. I saw six Carbon, ten Hydrogen, and five Oxygen.

Fireworks! He was prepping us for making fireworks! The proper kind you could fire into the air and hear for miles. We were making these, right? Please don't tease, Gorgon.

Because who in the hells would give a bunch of kids a how-to on making explosives if they weren't going to do something with it?

Fireworks!

Fond memories of night skies filled with bright lights and sparks filled my mind.

I should tell Dad about this. He'll be excited for me. Sure, Mom might be able to shoot sparks out of her fingers at will, but for those of us who couldn't…well, making rockets that explode was close enough.

Plus, when we made them they could be more colors than yellow.

Would I be able to do that? Shoot tiny fireworks out of my hands like Mom does?

I'd better.

Maybe that would be the first spell I tried once this curse is gone. I would have to ask Mom to show it to me properly.

It looked like a bunch of random finger-waving to me, but there had to be a trick to it. There always was with magic.

(*********)

Celica stopped me outside of Alchemy.

"Why don't you like it when we defend you?" Celica accused. I winced at her tone. She wasn't yelling, but she sounded upset. She almost sounded hurt.

Why were people so hard?

I paused before answering. I didn't know how to phrase it. "I just…I don't…I'm not mad at any of you." A poor start. But maybe she'd understand at least that part. I fought the urge to shrink away. I closed my eyes and looked away from her and at the wall next to us.

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Why was it easier this way?

I sighed and tried again. "I just… people make me anxious. I prefer to be invisible, if I can."

Celica rolled her eyes. "It's not that easy."

"I never said it had to be easy," I countered. "I just can't stand it when…I hate being seen by people."

Celica laughed. "People are going to stare regardless of what we do."

"That doesn't mean I want to invite it!" Or any other trouble for that matter.

"You're really going to let what other people think dictate what you do?"

"It's not about what they think or say, it's about the fact that I have enough stress going on right now! I don't need to be reminded at every turn that I do not belong here! But I am here. I passed that exam like everyone else and I'm here now and I…I can't let it all mean nothing."

I was not crying. I would not cry in the middle of the freaking hallway surrounded by everyone.

Was the school always this loud?

A firm grip grabbed my forearm and pulled me away. I stumbled over my feet for a moment before finding myself outside. We were near the front of the school, and since everyone was headed the opposite direction, it was as close to deserted at it was going to get.

"Serafina," Celica said calmly. "Breathe."

I couldn't. Why couldn't I breathe?

"Oh gods. Umm…"

We stood there, silence filled the air despite her fretting and fidgeting. I don't know how much time passed.

"I'm here," Fethris? Why was he here?

"Thank the Fates, save me." Celica stepped back suddenly my vision was filled with deep green.

"Serafina?" Fethris' voice was soft and low. He didn't reach out, didn't touch me. I was thankful for it. "The others are sorry."

I nodded. When had I started shaking? Oh. I was crying. Why was I crying? Right. Breathe. Breathe.

"Russel nearly set the classroom on fire in Elements," Fethris started talking.

What?

"I told him he was putting too much mana in the oculus. But he was certain he had it under control. It exploded."

I let out a laugh.

"And the professor wasn't even mad. I guess she wasn't expecting any of us to be that strong. That or she was amused that I had overloaded mine with water and put it out."

Why were my Towermates the worst? And why did I love them for it?

I started laughing in earnest. "You did what?"

"The professor was impressed with both of us." He sounded proud and smug and it made me laugh more.

"You guys suck," I said between bits of laughter.

"Crisis averted?" Celica asked.

I nodded, "I'm okay."

"Fantastic, we should probably head to the hall now."

(*********)

Angelina looked relieved to see me.

"Sorry I'm a little late. I got held up. Nothing serious," I told her as I sat down next to her.

"It's okay. Stuff happens, I get it."

I sighed and was glad the worst of today seemed to be over.

(*********)

The others were quiet. Too quiet. I didn't trust how quiet they were being.

Were they talking telepathically with their little group chat thing?

Rude.

I sighed, "You know what? I am going to go take a look around the top floor and see if I can find anything related to curses."

I left before any of them could say anything. Maybe that was rude but I didn't have the energy to care that much at that exact moment.

The walk up the spiral staircase was slow and calming. Maybe I was more upset still than I thought. I hated it. I didn't want to be upset. I wasn't mad at them. Why were feelings so difficult?

I was slower still when moving through the shelves. Technically the books up here were aimed at fifth-years but still. It felt like it was worth a try.

Something had to give.

"Well you certainly don't look like you should be up here. What's your story?"

The gods were determined to test me today it seemed.

Hecate give me strength.

"Just looking for something I couldn't find on the lower floors."

"That's all your going to give me? Come on, I promise I don't bite."

Nope. Do not want to interact with you. Go away!

The individual incapable of taking a hint was unsurprisingly a Pegasus. Sky blue coat with a matching badge. Oh goodie, the Tower Representative.

Zeus smite me please. I would rather be a tree than talk to this person.

"You're not going away, are you?"

I got a wide grin that made me want to jump over the railing. It was what, a ten-foot drop? Maybe twelve to the floor below?

Worth it.

"My apologies, I forgot my manners for a moment. I am Lodewick Thoth, representative for Pegasus Tower and head editor of the school paper. Nice to meet you miss…?"

Oh. Oh that guy. I remembered Jarec mentioning him.

I turned around and left in the opposite direction.

"I didn't know Pixies came in cold and hostile." He kept up with me far too easily for my liking.

What was the rule about punching another student in their stupid smug face?

I needed to get away from him. My wrist was starting to ache again. Was it glowing when it did this?

"Come on, don't be like that. Give me your name at least."

Go away.

I sighed and turned to glare at him. "I'm Serafina Stewart. Leave me alone."

The bastard laughed. The pain in my wrist turned sharp, it felt like it was burning. "Of course you are. That explains your lack of Pixie behavior. You're a Dragon."

You are lucky this Dragon can't breathe fire.

"Jarec's not this prickly though. So is your lack of friendliness part of your human heritage or what?"

I clenched my fists. Was I shaking? The burn was getting worse.

"Well maybe if someone gave a shit about the kind of articles he allowed on his paper I wouldn't be tempted to tell him to piss off."

"Ooh. Feisty."

Something crackled in my head. Like getting hit by a bolt of lightning. Dark green flashed in my eyes.

I ran.