The Book without Title: SILLY JOKES AND THEIR RESULTS

Chapter seven

Aeron bickered to the twins and spent a lot of time with Justin. Alexandrina often joined them though she didn't know what attracted her to these two young eleves; but something told to her that she should have been near them. The teachers thought all the three to be good pupils. Justin ingested books of elven philosophers one by one, read about history of the magic world at the same time and enlightened Aeron about it.  

They often met Bryan who followed his sister everywhere. He turned out to be a good fellow who was always ready to help both with a piece of advice and with an action; though one should have heeded his words not to say something he shouldn't have. They had understood already - if Bryan flew into passion it was only Alexandrine who could calm him down.  

However Bryan didn't feel as well as it seemed at first. He was fully exhausted by endless fight with strangeness of his own organism. His magic sight hadn't fully recovered as he hoped secretly. The riddle worried him greatly and the teachers couldn't understand what was happening to him. Though Bryan had never heard it he knew that everybody was taken aback and said that he should be replaced with somebody else in the team at least in that season. Though he knew he wasn't as good as he had been before; his pride didn't get better.  

Lady Carma gave them a lot of tasks. They had to learn hundreds of spells by heart but only two or three worked. Once she said that it would be easier when they awoke their powers. Spells were Aeron's cup of tea. The twins thought that Aeron and Justin were her blue-eyed boys as she cut their task rather often (but also gave individual tasks). And the Browns got only doubled task based upon the program.  

Tasks in Magic Gestures were also rather large though the teacher wasn't so strict. But every gesture must be learned perfectly and done automatically - in some situations there was no time to recollect the right places of fingers.  

The two teachers of dancing weren't behind. They seemed to read the proverb “A sound mind in a sound body” some time ago and made a consequence - “A sound mind in a dancing body”. But the point was rather weak: Justin had a sound mind but his movements could hardly be called a dance. The only girl who had enough patience and skill to save her feet was Alexandrine. So they were a constant twosome. Lady Indrah and lord Rabakh who were very severe were very pleased with Aeron as he danced greatly. And no wonder! He was going in for dancing for eight years already. Mr. and Mrs. Piresweek got the rule from their parents: “A well-bred man can dance well”. Both of them were well-bread persons and they wanted Aeron to be too.  

Lord Rabakh and lady Indrah took care of their classes. They taught not only dancing but also etiquette. They began with little things - the rules of greeting and parting, the rules of introduction and so on. But they didn't teach only the rules elves obeyed but also the rules of people and other folks. So it took them two months to learn all these basic rules of little importance.  

Runes had to be learnt in great amounts too; but they didn't use them as they didn't have enough power. Though one of the boys managed to make drizzle which was lasting for three hours but after that lord Kelt couldn't bear to see him.  

They hadn't been accepted to horses on Horse-riding classes yet but they learned the parts of the harness and the anatomy of horses. Justin thought they were scoffing and offered to refuse from “mind-riding course”. 

Aeron manage well with his study but the time they would be selected to the faculties was coming. It gave him some trouble as many of his group-mates had a success with gesture spells and got their elemental capabilities. But he hadn't got them yet. He knew and remembered everything but he couldn't get any results. And it was impossible to make out his Element.  

But the closer the end of the semester was coming the larger tasks the teachers gave. And lady Gaiarah as subhead gave them a lecture.  

“So young lords and ladies you have been living in magic world for two months. Magic as everything in the world has its own rules and laws. And you should know and use them. If you could allow yourselves to walk under the sigh “Forbidden” in nonats' world you must not do it in the magic world. Today I'll tell you about the rules of magic and some of its laws. You can get the Book of Books, the digest of our laws, traditions and rules, in the library though not all of you like to go there. Don't you, lord Brown?” Lady Gaiarah hinted at the story when Jonathan came to the library and asked “Do you have horses?” (they were asked to make a report about horses on Horse-riding). “The Law of Knowledge says: “Understanding gives control. Knowledge is power”. Knowing the depth of magic you must understand it. When you do it you'll be able to control it. It teaches us the twentieth rule - control your magic and emotions. But you can't know your magic if you don't know yourself. It is the Law of Self-knowledge. You must develop yourselves and must not stop on it. It's the tenth rule. And the last Law I'll tell you about today is the Law of Effect. Every your action results a change in your live and in the life of those who are close to you. And now the most important rule you must remember. The first rule is nonats and people must not know about our power…”  

* * *  

“Shertir, 29  

Day by day I'm getting more and more sure that Aeron is a boy of my dream. I must conquer him. But there's a problem. Sandra. I tried to make friends with her but I failed. When I tried to give her a piece of advice - black jeans doesn't become to her - she said she needn't it. But she said it in such a rude way that I don't speak to her any more. Fool. Nobody will fall in love with her - she isn't tolerant to others.  

It turned out that the boy who always follows her is her brother. He has a bad character. Lin, Rina and Isa decided to hook him. I talked to Lin - she (not like some of us) can accept sensible critics and good advice. I've helped her to change her image - now she looks perfect. A new hair style, make-up… I said that she deserves a better boy than he. And she agreed with it. Though…he's an Adventurer. I should think it over…  

Voilet - snake - every day checks if we are dressed in a proper way - it means in uniform - and if all the buttons are on their places. And she always makes to wash make-up out! I'm not a fool to come to a public place without a make-up. And she makes us to wear the uniform on the week-end. The other seniors don't follow their groups as she does -they are dressed as all ordinary people at least on Sundays. Though, ordinary…Ha! Who can dress in such a way?! When I get rid of her - hold on Aeron! - I'll be ready. Oh yes, of course, she is Violet! I had a dating with a boy from the eighth level. So he said she chose a name for herself. And she has an awful nickname - Bore. Though elves run about banal nicknames they gave it to her. She is banality herself. Banality isn't in fashion among elves.”  

* * *  

“Today we'll learn a very serious gesture. The Gesture of Lotus”, lady Rowena began the lesson with these words.  

She didn't like the idea of teaching the gesture that needed so much power but lord Vedwikus said that it was very important. The pupils who wouldn't manage to use this gesture would be given some protection amulets. To say the truth lady Rowena didn't understand why everybody was so excited about the Lightnings of Prophesy. But it was an order.  

“This gesture will form a protection orb around you. It's very strong. The orb can mirror any magic and the gesture is common for all the Elements. I want to warn you that this gesture is takes a lot of magic power so not everybody will manage to use it. First of all you should concentrate on protection. You must gather all your inner powers and imagine that there's an orb around you. This orb can be ruined with nothing. Lotus is a symbol of spirit. The gesture is controlled with spirit. Your spirit must be strong otherwise the gesture won't work. So now I'll tell you how to make it. Join your thumbs. Forefingers and middle fingers should be straightened and joined with fingertips. Cross index fingers and little fingers. Have you put everything down? Make a gesture now. Great. You have only your hands surrounded with an orb to imagine. You have no power to make all the body surrounded with it but it'll be enough for your hands. Good, lord Brown, your orb is bluish. Great, lady McRibbon, you have a glory too. If you practice a little more you will get an orb. Lord Piresweek, it's your turn now…”  

Aeron made a gesture. A second, two… He gathered all his powers and put them into the gesture… It was pointless, there was no any glory. It was a shame. The greatest shame in his life. Lady Rowena after looking at his miserable efforts went away without saying a word. The twins were smiling showing their scorn.  

They hadn't forgotten about that case for a moment. Trying to be witty they had being pained Aeron for three days. And his amulet caused fits of laughing.  

“Oh, Saint! You are a weakling! You can't do even this simple task!” said one of them.  

“Isn't he Saint? He's Faint!” said the other.  

“He's so dummy that can't put his fingers well!”  

Aeron heard all the taunts with calm face, said “Thanks, I've heard a lot of interesting about myself”, turned sharply and went away.  

Justin caught him up.  

“What's up with you? Couldn't you answer them?”  

“I could. But they were right”.  

They went silently along the corridor. Suddenly something kicked Aeron's nape.  

“Hey!” cried he turning back.  

There was a couple behind his back. Its secret name was Mirages.  

“Haven't you got anything to do?”  

“Yes, we've got!” said John proudly.  

“We have Air magic,” said Jonathan. It seemed as if he was bursting by self-content. “We work over the Wind Gesture now!”  

They hunched their index fingers and pressed them to the thumbs… A light double wind came across the corridor again and kicked Aeron and Justin.  

“We didn't learn this gesture”, said Justin to them.  

“YOU didn't! But Paris showed it to US!” It was surprising why Jonathan hadn't died of pleasure yet.  

He wanted to make a gesture again but a bright shining bird which looked as if it was made of fire appeared in the corridor. Its claws were as sharp as daggers and the beak could hole a steel mail. It swooped down to them. It was so unexpectedly that Justin bent down. He couldn't use magic in such a fast way so he preferred nonats' way to protect himself. Aeron hadn't guessed to do it. He screwed up his eyes and was waiting for pain coming… But a kick hadn't come. After opening his eyes he understood that he had made the Gesture of Lotus. And it worked! But he had no time to notice the Element. He saw through sparkling and playing veil that the bird zeroed its claws to the twins. In a second they would turn into bloody mess. “Though they are bustards but they are people… that's elves”, he thought. Without thinking what he was doing he repeated the Wind Gesture after the twins… He was thrown back by a great power… He felt pain in his back and nape… The crack of board… The ringing of glass… Darkness…  

* * *  

“Jus, where is Aeron?” asked him Alexandrine at the dinner.  

“In the healing hall”. He said sadly feeling strange and sucking emptiness inside him as if he had lost an important part of himself. “Haven't you heard the twins' thrilling story?”  

“To be honest I don't listen to everything they tell. The last time somebody of them wanted to appoint a date to me. In a very stupid way. So, what have happened?”  

Justin pictured the matter in a very dry way. He was surprised that every word hurt him.  

“Is it serious?”  

“Yes. He…”  

“Omega, what's the matter with Saint?” asked Brian coming up. He looked worried and anxious.  

Justin repeated his story.  

“So they're deceiving”, said Torch thoughtfully.  

“Yeah…” agreed Justin. “What are we to do now?”  

“Nothing. We must found the way to restore your fame. Neither he nor you will be believed as Mirages have told everybody their variant. I'll try to learn more about these rumours and say something about what have really happened. But I can't guarantee anything. Alexandrine, try to do it too”, and he disappeared in the crowd.  

“Justin, head me to his ward”, asked Nymph looking to her brother's back.  

“What?! Even I haven't been allowed. They say it's very serious”.  

“We must get there in any way. You are to get a plan. Meet me at the ground floor after the retreat time.” And she went away.  

“What a hell!” he thought. “And she's called a real elven maid!!”  

* * *  

“Oh, Sandra, have you heard the least news?” asked Linda as soon as she went into the room.  

There was nobody in the room except them. Julia had a date and Isa and Sabrine also had something to do.  

“No. I'm not interested in stupid rumours”. She was deep in her thoughts.  

“Aren't you? And you're not interested in Aeron?” asked the girl maliciously brushing long golden hair.  

“Oh, what have you done to yourself?” Alexandrine changed the subject.  

“What do you mean?” she pretended that she didn't understand.  

“Your hair…” said Nymph with a pleasant smile.  

“Oh, this… The sensible girl from the second level made my hair longer and another, an aquatic one from the eighth level, dyed it. Is it becoming to me?” wondered Linda asking for a compliment.  

“Yes, very much,” agreed the girl. “But bold head would be better.”  

“So about Aeron. Have you heard?”  

“Yeah”, said Alexandrine gloomily. Her trick failed.  

“And what will you say?”  

“I'll say that Mirages are lying!”  

“No, they don't!” said Lin in their favour. “They are so nice”.  

“Yeah, as nice as hungry dragons”, and Alexandrine went to the bath just for being alone. 

* * *  

“Ilaris, 7  

So I was right - all real men are as dead as mammoths. It turned out that Aeron is just a coward. He got so frightened that he broke the cupboard and fainted. The thigh that scared him was a small fire bird which couldn't do any harm to him. But still he's so handsome!.. But I mustn't go out with him as he's a coward. But Jay and Jay are on the top. They rescued Aeron and his buddy from the bird. Sandra says that the twins deceiving but I don't believe her. She sticks to Aeron as a shadow. John appointed a date to me. I'll go with pleasure.”  

* * *  

When everybody had chattered, argued enough and discussed everything that had happened to Aeron and went to bed Alexandrine slipped under the bed-curtain. Wearing all black and putting black scarf on her hair she rushed downstairs. There was nobody there.  

“Jus! Juuussss!” she called in a whisper.  

“I'm here”, the boy went out behind the marble vase. “What's it?”  

“It'll be harder to recognize”, said she impatiently. “So? Let's go!”  

“Yeah!”  

They slipped to the West Wing and skulked along the halls as shadows.

Suddenly they saw light in one of the rooms. They peeped there being very surprised who could go to the classroom in the middle of the night. It turned out they were faenits came to the future-telling room. They had lit a lot of candles and were dancing dropping sparkling dust from their wings to some light and mysterious songs. And all this luxury was being reflected by glass, crystal and metal. The children passed by the classroom very cautiously as they knew that faenits were very curious.  

“Look here. There are faenits in the ward too. They look after the patients at nights. If they find us…”  

“Jus, of course you're a smart guy but some times you say silly things”, Nymph cut him sharply. “They are all dancing there”.  

“Are you sure? They can tell about us”.  

“Why are you asking me?! Though there may be somebody with him but still I want to get there. One reprimand isn't a catastrophe yet. We won't be expelled from Aref for such a trifle”.  

“You…” the boy got surprised. He looked at her and didn't recognize. Exemplary pupil, always neat and obedient, now she resembled a blustery imp. “Don't you have marluses in your bloodline?”  

“No, everybody was a full-blood elf. And why do you ask?”  

“Horns and am arrow-like tail became to you”.  

“Thanks”, she smiled running upstairs of the next case.  

At last they reached the healing hall.  

“In what ward is he?” asked Alexandrine.  

“Do I know?” said Justin back sharply. “We'll look into all of them”. 

Checking room after room they finally found the ward where Aeron was. They went up to his bed in silence. Alexandrine looked at the boy who laid at it with strangely bounding heart. He seemed pale in the darkness, as pale as the sheets. The hear and the eyebrows were completely black. The bandages on his head outlined as sharp spots. Alexandrine sat down to the chair at his bedside and studded his face thoroughly. She had never looked at him in such an attentive way. Justin stood behind her.  

“Let's go”.  

Alexandrine didn't have time to answer.  

“What are you two doing there?” they heard from their backs.  

They turned round. Lady Medisse stood at the doorway. Her hair were wild and she had a white dressing-gown on - it looked like they had awakened her.  

“We…” stammered Justin.  

“…came to see Aeron”, ended Alexandrine bravely.  

“I see… you worry for him”, the healer smiled warmly. “He needs rest so you should return to your rooms. I'll let you in for fifteen minutes tomorrow”.  

The kids went to the exit obediently. At the door way Alexandrine turned to her.  

“You…”  

“Tomorrow. I promise I'll tell nobody about it”, insured the healer.  

“I've said we would be seen by a faenit”, reproached Justin the girl in unpleasant whisper.  

“It wasn't a faenit”, said lady Medisse at their backs. “I set warning artifacts in the wards”, she pointed at the usual “wind music”. There were plenty of them in ethnic shops. 

* * *  

Several times he rose from nothingness but every time he sank in it again.  

The darkness was pressing…  

Bright light… A white field… Could he be?.. Dead?..  

No, it's a ceiling… A white ceiling was instead the usual grey bed-curtain. He raised his head. How heavy it was!.. To the left… there was a white screen… Then firm and confidence hand pressed him to the pillow.  

“Lay down! It's harmful for you to get up”. He heard a familiar voice. 

“Justin?” It sounded as a moan rather than a question.  

“Hello! How are things?” asked he.  

“Not very well”, he couldn't recognize his own voice. The head hurt terribly. “How long am I here?”  

“It's the fifth day”, was the answer. “You have concussion. It's rather bad. You regained consciousness several times but not for a long time. You were just given the medicine and fainted again”.  

“What happened? I just remember the bird… the Wind Gesture…and nothing else”.  

“The spell threw you to the cupboard. It was crashed into pieces. So you got cuts and broken ribs. The cuts have healed; as for the ribs I don't know. The twins were in shock because of the fear. I didn't know what to do. Happily professor Irhye heard the sounds and came…”, he suddenly changed the subject. “By the way Alexandrine came several times. Together with Brian of course. The twins were punished for using the fighting gesture. But it seems you won't be”.  

“And what's for the bird?” he asked. He hadn't reacted to Alexandrine's name but it got warmer in his soul.  

“It vanished”.  

“What's the matter?”  

“What do you mean?” Justin got surprised.  

“You're holding something back. Tell me.”  

“All right. But don't worry. It's harmful for you. The twins have told everybody about the bird. According to their words you quailed and they drove the bird with the Wind Gesture. Everybody thinks you a coward now. I tried to tell what had happened but nobody believed me. They know you have problems with gestures. Though I saw with my own eyes that they worked. Both the Gesture of Lotus and the Wind Gesture. It seems that you're an aerial.”  

“There's something else…”  

“I'm also thought as a coward. And a liar. There are two of twins and they say one and the same thing; they have definitely ganged up”.  

“I don't care of them”, Aeron waved his hand and all his body was run through by sharp pain.  

“Is it really the same for you that you're considered to be a coward?! They won't let you take part neither in a tournament nor in Elemer!”  

“It's a pity”. His voice didn't express any feeling. “Better tell me what you are holding back”. Aeron tried to get up and grab Justin.  

“All right. All right. But you must lie. Well, when you made the Wind Gesture the strange thing happened… Your hair turned silver and the eyes were light blue; you looked as an ordinary aerial elf. After you rested for an hour your hair got black again”.  

“Where are you going to?” asked Aeron when saw that Justin was going off. He didn't want to stay alone. Though it was vice versa usually.  

“I'll return. But first I should call lady Medisse”, and he run out of the ward.  

For the next two days Arton was in bed and took medicines. The only thing that got him upset was that the Friday was the end of the semester. He would manage to catch up with the class in the holydays. But the selection… He had tried to repeat the gestures but nothing happened. Perhaps it only seemed to Justin that they worked. There was something wrong with his power.  

For the next few days several teachers called on to him. But they glanced at each other with strange expression on the faces when he asked what the matter was with him. When he tried to press he was said to lay still and was given the medicines.  

Justin and Alexandrine also came to see him. They told the latest news to him. It went without saying that Alexandrine didn't come alone. With Brian. Neither he nor she believed to the twins. But Brian said the situation was rather bad. “Honour is very important in magic world”, he often repeated and something joyless and bitter appeared in his look.