Chapter 2

A few moments before

He is beaming with energy, unphased about falling. The naivety of childhood, not grasping the situation. The child is focused on being suspended in mid-air, to him, it was like magical indoor skydiving. Ester doesn’t know how to react. Yes, he is a child, but she wonders, is he being serious?

“What’s your name?” she asks.

“It’s Reese, ma’am,” he replies.

Ma’am? “I don’t think I’m old enough for ma’am yet... The name’s Ester.”

“My mom told me to always have good manners,” a polite boy.

“Hey, isn’t your mom worried about you?” if she wasn’t before, his mother would be now. The sun is setting and her son is, apparently, not afraid of heights.

A grin on his face, mischief, “She doesn’t know I’m out here. She’s asleep,” sneaking out isn’t mannerly.

“Show me where you live, I’m taking you home,” It’s best to get the future daredevil back home before he does something else daring. As expected, the suggestion is met with disapproval and whining. He uses his cuteness, a sad pout, to try to persuade her to let him stay.

Ineffective, but he doesn’t give up.

Snap of a twig, the back and forth stops.

A woman, around Ester’s age, lost. Curiosity has taken over and Reese is no longer next to Ester. He is merrily dashing to the forest. This mysterious person is far too fascinating, but what is fascinating often is not safe. Ester chases after him.

It’s startling to have such a mesmerized reaction to your appearance. “She’s pretty!” Reese is star-struck.

Ester approaches them, finally catching up, “Hey, haven’t you heard of stranger danger?!” stranger danger be damned. It’s time to see who they’re dealing with.

Eyes of the finest green hues. Red, rose bright and vibrant, coloring her hair. A simple dress, but because she’s the one wearing it, it appears to be more. What stands out, especially, is a ring. Gold, flowers engraved in its design, a sword piercing its frame. Power, dormant. The woman is beautiful, ethereal.

Reese cleans his clothes and extends his hand. Whoever she is, she is important. “Hi, miss. My name is Reese!” he introduces himself, you have to make a good impression when dealing with famous people. The woman is uncertain, this is a lot. Not foreseeing that others would be here.

He stares, wanting to say more, but, “What happened to your manners kid?” he’s interrupted. Ester can tell the woman is apprehensive. An overly enthusiastic child has her cornered, and Ester surely must give weird vibes herself. “Sorry if he scared you.” she’s apologetic, please may she not appear to be too creepy.

Awkward silence, feeling like an eternity. “Uh- Do you need help getting back to the ferry? I think I memorized the path.” Ester says.

And to her surprise, “I-I would appreciate your help…” the woman accepts, graciously, with a slight bow. The theories and guesses of her identity becoming more elaborate.

“Is she a princess?!” Reese asks, but he already has an answer. Royalty would be fitting. She must be from another country, although, her accent is Eastwynnean. Eastwynne, and by extension, the country it's in, New Creighton, doesn’t have a monarchy. They wonder if she’s under protection. It’s the bow, unusual, so maybe she really is a-

“I’m not a princess.” she interjects, not wanting their imaginations to run too wild, will they believe that?

“But you’re so fancy, you gotta be!” they don’t.

“Alright, alright, chill a little. Let’s get you home.” Ester, the pacifier. Whether she’s telling the truth or not, it’s obviously a touchy subject. “I hope you don’t mind a slight detour.”

The woman shakes her head, not bothered by the change of plans. Reese grabs her hand, smiling, showing them the way to his house.

“I’m Ester, by the way.” she wonders if there’s a point in introductions.

“My name is Sye.”

Sye.

Someone of importance, but a name that rings no bells.

* * *

Did you know the green bugs with the purple dots are stinky? And the birds don’t like eating them? Or the brown bugs have 10 bajillion legs, it’s true, Reese counted them himself. He knows this forest in and out.

Ester has become a third wheel, trailing behind them. Reese is stealing the show, Sye’s personal tour guide of the island. The absurdity of being envious of a child is not lost on her. Ester doesn’t have the courage Reese does. So freely striking up a conversation.

But being a third wheel is worse, “Hey, so uh. Are you in college?” Ester asks, thinking, it beats asking about the weather.

“Not currently.” Sye answers.

“Damn, aren’t you lucky? What about high school? Which one did you go to?”

“I was home-schooled.” figures.

“Wow, I never meant a homeschooler before. Was it something you decided or your parents?”

“My family thinks it’s the best form of education. No distractions from anyone else, just learning in solitude.” solitude, isolation. Lonely.

“Maybe it is better? You don’t have to show up for class, can take unlimited naps, and play video games til morning. What a dream.”

“I didn’t have those luxuries... My tutors were very strict.” To Ester, Sye speaks in an old-fashioned manner, reminiscent of someone who is older and proper. Without exposure to regular people. She can assume the strictness of Sye’s upbringing.

“Jeez, that sucks… Well, hey, if you ever want to experience average college life, there’s East U-” Ester’s sentence trailing off, worried she seems pushy and desperate. “Uh- I heard it’s a really good school. Top in the city or something.”

, “I don’t know if I could handle being around all those people.” Sye replies, unsure, but it does sound nice, average college life.

Ester understands, “I know the feel... I like to hide out in the shadows- Not like a creep or anything! Just to get away from the crowds, you know?”

“I would probably do the same.” Sye nods, in total agreement. So she also lacks social fortitude.

A tug at her hand, “Heeeeeeeeeeeeey, why isn’t anyone talking to meee?” Reese grows tired of being ignored. How is he supposed to be the guide if he’s not the center of attention? Cute. His behavior is amusing, enough so, that a smile appears on Sye’s face. They’re not entirely bothersome to her.

They enter an area that looks like any other populated with trees. Reese lets go, walking ahead. Turning around to wave goodbye, then stepping back- into nothingness.

He’s gone?

Only trees in sight. He wouldn’t be able to conceal himself without Ester and Sye seeing. Where could Reese have gone? Confusion causes them to explore, and examine where he disappeared.

Nothing-

No, there is something. A haze, a filter. It makes you want to rub your eyes to adjust your vision. It’s in front of them, altering the scenery if you focus on it. Ester puts her hand through the film, and her limb disappears.

“That’s some serious magic.” Ester in awe.

“Incredible… It’s a barrier concealing what’s actually here. Whoever did this is a very skilled mage.” Sye explains. Hiding an area of this scale requires power and ability. Reese’s life creates questions.

Ester asks herself, what to do? Leave it be or-

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“Should we take a peak?” Ester’s interest overrules better judgment. She moves before Sye can answer.

At least Ester tries to move, but can’t.

Wait! Wait… wait… wai… w…

A force halts her, it’s unnatural. No authority over her body.

“I don’t think so... We shouldn’t invade their privacy.” Sye is holding Ester’s arm.

Then, it’s gone. That force.

Was she just imagining things? “You’re right, but damn am I curious.” Ester steps away from the barrier. Leaving it be for now, they go, but unable to shake a strange feeling.

Ferry horn booming, back in Eastwynne proper, at the pier. The day was an interesting one, “Thank you for leading me back.” that gracious bow.

“Seriously, it was nothing- If you keep doing that I’ll really think you’re a princess.” Ester jokes, but she is somewhat serious.

A tinge of concern, “I-I have to go.” Sye hasty.

“Sorry, did I say something wrong?” Ester worries. It was a comment made without thought when things are delicate.

“No, not at all. It’s just I shouldn’t be staying out late.” Sye’s closer to the ramp leading to the upper level of the street. She once more, “Thank you again.” thanks Ester.

“Don’t mention it...”

And like that, Sye has left. Ester can’t help but blame herself for her leaving so abruptly.

* * *

The front door shuts, the TV heard in the hallway. Ester was trying to clear her head but instead feels worse. Up the stairs, she goes to forget and, uncharacteristically, go to bed early. If she stays awake, she’ll just think about the awkwardness.

“You’re back late. I can only hope you were doing something productive.” She was halfway to her room, but never underestimate the ears of a mother and thin walls.

Ester grips the railing, “Yes, yes I was. In fact, I took your advice and joined a club.” the truth, a bit blurred, but it is the truth.

“Oh? What club?” Velvet is genuinely intrigued. Ester actually listened to her? No more slacking off? What club could it be? What club?

“The mathletes.”

Velvet, disbelief personified. Her eyebrow raises, Ester going from barely passing calculus to the mathletes.

Anything is possible.

“Yeah, you know, Y equals M C cubed.” but this is not, “Goodnight.” Ester sprints up the stairs.

“Hey-” the slam of a bedroom door, Velvet unheard.

* * *

September 9th, 2021

The campus’ many courtyards are busier than before. Booths planted on the grounds. Cloaks of invisibility, energy drinks guaranteed to increase intelligence. Fantastical merchandise as advertisements are being given out in goodie bags. The smell of food- delicious foods. Ester peruses the event, not a clue as to what’s going on-

“Come try our famous chicken kabobs! You know you want to!”

“Don’t mind if I do.” but she will help herself to some samples.

She hops from stall to stall.

“Hey interested in joining our club?”

“That depends on what you’re offering.” If it’s free, it’s for the taking.

“Hey! You can’t just take all the samples.”

“Who says?”

She stops, or rather, is stopped. Familiar faces are seen, the combat club has a booth of their own. It’s basic, made of wood, lacking that wow factor the others have. Aged training dummies and boxing gloves hanging from the awning, this is the decor meant to draw people in. No member seems to be a design or art student.

“Faye, good to see you.” Ash, the club president.

“Hey, Prez.” Ester, still eating what she has left of the samples.

“You sure don’t waste time.”

“As they say, if it’s there for the taking.” that saying is serious to her., “Any chance you know what this event is?” Ester is a bit unique compared to most of the students here and, arguably, society. She doesn’t keep up with the happenings of her college, by choice. It’s her 3rd year and she’s never learned of this recurrence that has taken place on the same day for decades.

“You’re not involved much in school are you?” you could say Ash is impressed by her disregard., “Well, it’s the most important event of the year for clubs, the Fund-Fundraiser.”

“The Fund-what?” it is a name.

“The Fund-Fundraiser, dumb as hell name I know. Basically, a bunch of potential investors show up to survey all the clubs East U has to offer. The ones they like the most get the money they need to keep running, while the others wither away.” Ash explains. Let it not be mistaken, this school is the definition of wealthy. There would be no struggle to fund all extracurriculars and then some, but where is the challenge in that? The drama? The extraordinary attend, constantly trying to prove their worth. To prove they’re better. The outside world wants to see that too.

“I didn’t know things were so high stakes.” Ester says. It sounds silly. She at least knows the school is rich.

“Especially, for us this year... As you can guess, we’re very niche and not that many people are into this kinda thing. One year we struck gold and found a very willing investor. Unfortunately, she’s no longer with us.” Ash continues.

“I’m sorry, R.I.P…” The mood has gotten dark.

“Oh- No, she’s not dead just out of the country.” There are thoughts among the members questioning if there’s a difference. Since the sponsor is not here, she may as well be dead. Ash can detect their pessimism, “Calm down, I’m sure the mascot will save us like it did last time.”

Leaning against the booth table is a mascot that looks like an animal. It is Dirty and clearly frayed. Mischievous eyes staring at Ester, she is the noobie after all.

What is that smell?

The mascot is juvenile, yes, but that’s what makes it memorable. Egos run high, so to see one take themselves a little less seriously is different, though you need more than that. Ester has not attracted any attention by just standing there with her “Join Now!” sign.

“Everyone, come see the combat club, woo! Get all that pent-up frustration out! When class has got you down, all you need is a punching bag around.” mumbling and crickets. She’s not a saleswoman and is using all her social reserves. She remembers the end goal, to save the club, this awesome club… Repeating in her head. “Come on this is pathetic, let’s up the ante.”

The sign is thrown into the air. A performance in 3 acts.

Act 1

Front Walkover

Back Walkover

Act 2

Roundoff

Front Aerial

Act 3

Front Pike

Front Layout

Crickets.

Still, no one has approached the mascot reenacting the Olympics.

Ester points, patience gone. it doesn’t matter who she’s pointing to as long as someone notices, “Hey you! Bet I could kick your ass, easy.” a threat like that coming from a costume is not easily ignored.

The crowd is massive, you never outgrow the want to watch a fight on campus, especially one as random as this. The brawl has yet to begin.

“This is one way to attract attention. Sure this won’t end badly?” a club member asks. The club was watching from a distance, so they couldn’t see all that was happening before Ester started a fight.

Her opponent is warming up. Hitting the air as if he’s replicating a scene from a movie, it’s poor form and Ester is disappointed. This is not going to be a good fight.

“We’ll bail her out if things get too cra-” Ash stops talking, finally getting a glimpse of who she’s challenging.

“Holy shit, she’s fighting Danny. If this goes south, the club’s gone for good- and maybe us too.”

“Let’s wait it out, if she loses maybe he’ll pity us.” Ash hopes, silently praying to the gods.

Ester is unaware of any impending doom that could arise from her fighting Danny. He’s just some guy who’s wasting time, “You ready? Or are you gonna warm up forever?” a taunt.

It’s effective.

Time no longer wasted, he lunges at her. Magic flowing from his legs, amplifying his speed. Ester steps back, dodging the first punch. Another step, dodging the next. She waits for the perfect moment to strike. They move in a circular motion, a 360 degree rotation around the grassy fighting ring. Danny continues to attack, and she evades the barrage. Effortlessly.

Ester pauses, she stops moving. Danny should’ve asked why, but arrogance got the better of him. He smirks and punches again, this time it actually connects. The mascot's head glides off, long black hair flowing out. How quickly the smirk turns to horror, when Ester counters, a punch tenfold the strength and Danny’s body flying backward. The crowd moves out of the line of fire, not wanting to be hit by a mage cannonball.

Danny touches the ground, rolling for some time. The awes and silence. Is he dead? Ester looks at her fellow club members, proudly. She did just save the day. A show like that is bound to have secured funding, right?

Compared to Danny, the members may be even more horrified, “We’re fuc-”

The student council office, a place that has rarely been more depressing than this. Spirited yelling can be heard from the adjacent room while the combat club waits in the main.

“You make me put on this stupid mascot costume, I attract a huge crowd probably worth a bazillion dollars, and that’s somehow not good enough?” Ester’s anger pouring out.

“Ester, you don’t understand that was Danny you launched into the stratosphere.” Ash bordering on exasperation.

“Danny? Who the flip is Danny?” he is just some guy to her.

“You have got to pay more attention. He’s Danny, aka trust fund Danny, a

huge contributor to the school. I’m talking buildings in his name, paying the deans’ salaries, hell there’s even a statue of him in the art hall.” a university that doesn’t need money, but gladly accepts it. “He’s probably trying to get us expelled.”

“Okay, Okay. I get it. You’re bluffing, trying to scare the newbie. First the embarrassing costume, now getting expelled. Good one, really.” Again, it’s silly, and ridiculous, but it’s real. It’s a world built on power and using it, haphazardly. It’s highlighted by the fact that everyone else is utterly defeated. A brawl of no rhyme or reason has led here. Ester is defeated. She has messed up, badly, and will have to face her mom.

The other room door opens, a woman walks out. “Obviously, it’s not looking good for you all, nor me, if I have to keep listening to this guy.” if indifference could talk it would sound like her, devoid of any care and emotion. “I can’t believe blah blah blah- She damaged my blah blah-” she mocks Danny, his status no concern to her.

“Please, I can’t be expelled. I’ll shine his shoes, clean his statue, do his assignments for a year. Please!” Of all the things Ester has begged for, staying in school was never one.

The woman doesn’t spare a blink, “I don’t care what you do. I’m done with this. Good luck or whatever.” she heads toward the main exit, reaching for the handle, but it opens before she can, “I was this close...” she sighs displeased.

“Jude, my favorite student council V.P.” a voice that causes the stunned reactions of the club members, except for Ester.

“Vincent Knight? What’s a noble doing here?” Ash mumbles, expecting the worst now. Vincent’s probably here to further their punishment. He and Danny are of, somewhat, similar standing.

Whatever the reason for his appearance, Ester is thinking of their previous encounter, “Awkward. Awkward. Awkward.”

“Let me guess, he’s demanding expulsion?” Vincent asks Jude.

“You know how he is, please don’t make me go back in there.” she pleads, slightly.

“I won’t, but maybe you could do me a favor and just not do anything? I’ll talk to Danny boy myself.”

“And then I’ll have to hear his tortuous, ode to whine, afterward? You ask so much of me.”

“I’ll make sure you’re free from the fallout.” Vincent smiles, charmingly, at her.

“I guess.” his charm might have worked. Jude leaves him to do what he wants.

There’s confusion in the room, are they being absolved of their misdeeds?

“Hey, long time no see grandmaster.” Vincent approaches Ester.

She cannot run this time, “H-hey, you remember that huh? Was hoping I was already a forgotten memory.”

“Impossible, especially after today. Remind me to never get in a fight with you.”

“Sometimes I don’t know my own strength.” she laughs so forced.

Another question circulates: Ester is friends with a noble?

“You took off before, so I didn’t get to introduce myself. I’m Vincent.”

“Ester and yeah sorry about that… I had to uh- do something at home.”

“Let me guess, play Union of Fables? How else will you become mega grandmaster?”

“Ah, death, so soothing a thought.” Ester’s face, a mix of demoralized and embarrassed.

“Alright, alright. I’m sorry, please forgive me.” Vincent decides to stop the teasing for now.

Jaws are practically on the floor as Vincent faces the others, “I guess I have you guys to thank for that wonderful show?”

Ash changes his manner, “N-no, well yes sir. You see we just wanted Miss Faye here, to bring some traction to the club. We definitely didn’t mean for it to escalate to violence.” becoming much more polite.

“I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but I’m glad it did. As a thank you, I’ll make sure you guys aren’t expelled.”

“We definitely don’t deserve your kindness, sir. We’ll make sure to repay you one day.”

“What’s with all the formalness?” It’s not just the happenings on campus that Ester is oblivious to.

* * *

Ester and Ash are alone in the office. The club, miraculously, has survived. This occurred both because of Ester and was also fixed by her.

“And I just ran up to him all nerdy, calling myself a grandmaster? I’m an uber-nerd, I’ve got nerd oozing out my pores.” Ester understands now, really understanding who Vincent Knight is. Greater than your typical celebrities, the favorites of the mage goddess, Genesis. America has its presidents, England its kings and queens, and the Commonwealth of Magic has nobles. They operate above all rules, bending them at a whim. The highest authorities, “Please end my suffering, seriously.”

Ash’s exasperation turning into exhaustion, “No, end mine.”