Chapter 2 Part 4

The rest of the day went slowly as did the several weeks to follow. Dylan was reassigned to work in the storage building and supply room cleaning shelves, sweeping floors and washing windows. He missed working with the books, but his new team supervisor, a yellow tunic initiate named Jerry, was a pleasant person to be around.

Dylan quickly discovered that Jerry was not one to invent things to do. If everything was clean and there was no task in which Dylan could help with, Jerry would let him study or occasionally leave early.

In addition to Dylan, Jerry was over five other boys. They, all being older than Dylan, spent most of their time counting the number of items on the shelves, fetching things that people needed and subtracting what was distributed from the inventory.

Dylan learned a little bit about the task each day. He knew that every afternoon Jerry would compare the requests for supplies with the list of things removed from storage. And that if anything was incorrect, Jerry would not let the initiate responsible leave until either the error was corrected or the initiate's tutor came to get him.

Dylan also knew that once a week, Jerry directed them in a complete count of every item. In this Dylan was allowed to help, as the task was very time consuming. Jerry would then compare the count to what he calculated should be in the warehouse and report the results to one of the Academy staff.

Dylan and Cindy spent their free time at the hidden pool talking or just reading in the peace and quiet. Dylan did not see the mysterious mage again and things began to settle into a comfortable routine until a new initiate was billeted in their room.

It was when they were returning from one of their late afternoon frolics in the garden that they discovered the spare bed in their room was no longer empty and that a young boy about their age was seated upon the bed talking quietly with Mally. When they entered, she nodded to them formally and introduced their new roommate.

"This is Eric," she told them. "He's my master's newest pupil and is here at the Academy to study magic." The last bit she added to hint that in some way their new roommate deserved extra respect. "Eric, like most of the students of magic, completed the Ritual of Meditation very quickly." She added that last statement as a hidden insult to the other two initiates.

Knowing fully well Mally's intent, Dylan chose to ignore it. "Welcome to the Academy," he offered.

"You've got an excellent master," Cindy agreed.

The boy's initial reaction was to accept their greetings and make friends, but a cold glance from Mally ended the gesture before it could be carried out. Neither Dylan nor Cindy missed the rebuke. Dylan recalled how he felt after completing the Ritual of Meditation.

"We were about to go and get something to eat," he told Eric. "Would you like to join us?"

Mally answered for him. "We'll get something later," she assured them. "Right now, we have to go over what is expected of us as students of magic."

Cindy's thin lips stretched into a forced smile. "Okay. Until later then," she said as she spun about and headed back out of the room. Dylan waved and then hurried to follow her.

"She isn't going to give us a chance to make friends with him," Cindy muttered as they proceeded down the hall. "She's already started brainwashing him into thinking that he's superior and not to socialize with us."

"Maybe we can wear him down a little over time," Dylan suggested.

Cindy agreed. "We can try."

Over the next two weeks, Cindy and Dylan carried out a private little battle against Mally with Eric as the prize. Whenever the older initiate was not around, either one or both of them would engage the new student in friendly conversation.

Their plan appeared to be working, as very soon Eric was sneaking away from Mally to join the other two at the little pool in the garden. The bonds of friendship were quickly being formed until Mally and two other initiates who were studying magic interrupted their private little party late one afternoon.

They called Eric away and the boy reluctantly left with them. After that, Mally kept very close to Eric when Dylan and Cindy were around and Eric's attitude changed radically. He was cold and courteous, but no longer friendly. He had become one of the students of magic.

The atmosphere in their room was tense and chilly. Dylan and Cindy resented Mally for her actions in turning their friend against them. Then something happened that would change the mood in the room drastically.

Dylan had been at the Academy for five months when one afternoon while he and Kayla were practicing multiplication, Gage entered the study.

He whispered briefly to Kayla who suddenly smiled and nodded. Gage then interrupted Cindy's reading and asked her to follow him. There was a look of confusion on her face as she glanced at both Dylan and Kayla. The apprentice nodded indicating that she was excused, and Cindy left the room behind the journeyman.

"What's happening?" Dylan asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Not at all," Kayla beamed. "Master Tesron’s very pleased with Cindy's progress and he's also received good reports of her work. So he has nominated her for a green tunic."

Dylan's face lit up with joy. His best friend was being promoted. He wanted so much to tell her how happy he was for her when slowly it dawned on him that the occasion also had a bitter side to it. Possession of a leader's tunic carried many responsibilities, and with those responsibilities came some minor privileges. One of those privileges was the semi-private billeting. That meant that Cindy would be moving out of his room and into another, slightly larger, room that she would only share with one other person. That would leave Dylan alone with Mally and Eric. And without Eric's friendship, he was about to become very, very lonely.

When Dylan returned to his room after his lessons, he found Cindy packing her things. On her cot were three fresh new green tunics.

When Dylan entered, she turned to him trying to think of what to say. It was apparent that she could not put the bittersweet event into words as she stammered and struggled with the awkward situation.

Dylan helped her out by giving her a big hug. "Kayla told me," he said to her. "I'm so proud of you." Then he turned to face her bed so that she did not see that his eyes were misting up just as hers were. "Here, let me help you pack your things."

It was not that she was leaving the Academy or anything, but as a task leader, she would be far too busy for walks, casual trips to the dining hall, or sneaking into town. They may pass and exchange smiles in the hall, but for the most part that is all they would be able to do.

Cindy's bed stayed empty for almost three weeks before another initiate was assigned to their room. And as fate would have it, the new initiate was also a student of magic. This time Dylan didn't even attempt to make friends. He simply went about his studies and worked hard to try to keep from getting lonely.

Before much longer, though, Dylan's first year came to a close. In truth it had sneaked up on him unawares, and he was caught by surprise when Master Tesron summoned him one afternoon after his lessons.

When Dylan entered the master's quarters, he exchanged a brief greeting with Robert, who he learned was very near the time for his Trial of Acceptance, the test in which students complete their terms as initiates and either depart the Academy as educated men and women or become apprentices.

"Good morning, Dylan," Tesron greeted the boy.

"Good morning, master," Dylan replied in kind.

"It's been a long year, hasn't it?" The mage sat at his desk reading a paper. Dylan could not make out the words, due to the distance, but he could see that his name was written across the top of the document.

"I hadn't realized that a year had passed, sir," he replied truthfully.

"Be assured that it has," Tesron said as he folded the paper and placed it to one side. "I want you to know," he continued, "that I'm very pleased with your work and your studies, but I'm concerned with your well being. It seems that work and study are all you seem to be doing these days. That isn't good for you."

Part of Dylan wanted to tell Tesron that he was lonely, but how could he do so without it sounding like he was complaining about his roommates.

Tesron leaned back. "I think that you need a small vacation." He saw the look on Dylan's face and quickly added and explanation to ease the fears. "As I said, I'm very pleased with your work. This is not intended as punishment of any kind. On the contrary, you've advanced far ahead of schedule. Your reading level and mathematical skills are almost a month ahead of what we expected of you." Dylan was not aware of that. It almost made him feel proud.

"I have a letter of achievement for your here," Tesron continued as he passed the folded document to his student. "It's addressed to your parents." He also placed a small bag of coins on the desk. He counted out ten pieces of gold and passed them to Dylan. "This money should be sufficient to book you a seat in a wagon on the next caravan that will be going south and passing near your home. It also contains sufficient funds for your lodging, food and the return trip."

The master then smiled. "If you spend it wisely," he added, "there will be a little extra for you to purchase a small gift of some sort to give to your family upon your arrival."
Dylan's smile broadened as he examined the paper and the money.

"I expect you back here in two weeks," Tesron told him as he turned his attention to another set of papers. Dylan stood there for a few seconds until it was apparent that the interview was over. Then he departed the master's chambers meeting Gage in the process.

"Are you heading home for a spell?" The elf asked.

"About a week or so," Dylan answered cheerfully.

"It is a well deserved vacation," Gage stated in confirmation that his being sent home was in no way a form of punishment. "In truth, you were nominated for a green tunic," he confided quietly placing a hand upon the youth's shoulder. "Unfortunately there are no positions available for you to fill."

Dylan thanked the journeyman and returned to his room to pack his bags. Mally, Eric and the new boy, Ferrial, watched him with interest for the first time.

"Are you going somewhere?" Mally asked.

"Home," Dylan told her.

There was a very slight look of triumph on her face. His failure, she believed, was further evidence that only those who studied magic should be at the Academy. In a rare state of compassion, she attempted to console him. "There is no shame in failing," she told him. "It is the attempt that is important."

Dylan seriously considered letting Mally continue to think that he had been expelled, but before he could reach a decision, Cindy burst into the room and gave Dylan a big hug. "Now it’s my turn to be proud of you," she exclaimed jubilantly. "Do you know how rare it is for an initiate to progress so quickly? A whole month ahead of the curriculum!" She embraced him once again.

"When do you come back?" Cindy asked.

"In two weeks," Dylan replied taking satisfaction in the look of astonishment on Mally's face. He would bet that she had never advanced that quickly.

"I'll miss you," Cindy assured him quietly as they gathered his pack and departed the room.

"I already miss you," he told her pointedly. "I know that you’re busy, but can't you find just a little time to go to the stream and sit on the warm rocks with me?"

Cindy blushed. "I don't know," she answered, and Dylan knew that something was wrong.

Dylan put his pack down and stood in front of her. "Okay," he said forcefully. "Something's up. What is it?"

Cindy stared at the floor and shuffled her feet. "I don't know how to say this," she began. Obviously it was difficult for her.

"Try using words," Dylan goaded.

Cindy's mouth turned upwards in a hint of a smile. For a moment things were back to normal, then almost as quickly she glanced away, her eyes full of guilt.

Dylan was tired of the game. "What is it," he said in a voice that indicated that he was losing patience.

"I met someone," Cindy answered sheepishly. "I met a boy."

"So?"

"'So!?'" Cindy exclaimed with a dangerous lilt. That was obviously a warning to Dylan. He had made a mistake there and if he didn't rectify it quickly Cindy would soon be venting her wrath upon him.

"I mean that surely you can tell me more about this guy other than the fact that he's a boy," Dylan elaborated. "I mean if he has you this whacked out, he must be something special indeed."

Cindy's eyes grew distant. "That he is, Dylan. His name's William and he's thirteen. He works in the butchery part of the kitchen and is studying to become an animal healer and caretaker."

Dylan frowned. "How odd that someone learning to heal and care for the injured would take part of his training in a butchery."

"He's very gentle and sweet," Cindy became defensive.

"How sweet," Dylan asked quietly. Somehow that last question pleased Cindy more than she wanted to admit. Dylan was obviously jealous of her new friend.

"He kisses very nicely," she told him innocently.

"Kisses?"

"And when he holds my hand, it makes me feel all funny inside," she continued.

"Kisses?"

"And he tells me that I'm pretty and when he gives me hugs, he's so strong that I feel so warm and cozy."

"Kisses?"

Cindy glanced at her friend sideways. "Are you turning into a parrot? That's the third time you've said the same thing."

"Kisses?"

“The fourth."

"Are we talking about kissing, as in on the lips?"

"How else?"

"On both lips? At the same time?"

"Dylan, are you okay?"

Dylan nodded and stumbled down the hall. Cindy watched him go. Just as he neared the door leading down into the main floor, he paused and turned around and glanced back at her. "Kisses?"

Cindy waved a farewell and then turned to return to her room, thoroughly pleased with herself. Dylan was terribly jealous, and she felt that comforting.