"You scared your classmates away," Trace said when he noticed Noelle was repetitively trying to sneak glances at this hands.
Noelle looked at Trace's face for long. It seemed like she was searching for something. But when she was unable to find it, she turned away and increased her speed.
"Wait," Trace followed her. "Should I have done anything?"
Noelle slowed down after hearing it but did not stop. She looked back many times on the way out of Lightdeir. After ten minutes, she stopped in front of a Parking lot. It was a big open space in the bottom of a building above.
Noelle then looked towards Trace and led him towards the side. A carriage bigger and expensive than the rest was parked here. It was white with purple patterns. More interestingly, it had the logo of 'Cinpark Carriages'.
An old man wearing a silver long coat was standing in front of it. Despite the wrinkles around his eyes and retracted hairline, his back was straight. He wiped his face with a handkerchief before coming closer to Noelle.
Before the old man could say anything Noelle dismissed him with a wave of her hands. And invited Trace inside the carriage. Trace looked at the old man before heading inside.
"Will you come back again?" a voice similar to Trace but deeper asked.
"You can change your voices. That's amazing!" Trace's eyes lit up.
Noelle still had her face turned away from Trace. She clearly heard the elation in his voice but her mood only worsened. Soon, her face was resting on top of her hands.
…
"Hello everyone, my name is Noelle Lynn," a little girl spoke standing from her seat.
"Hello Noelle Lynn," the class repeated her name in unison.
"Noelle, Noelle, you voice is like a boy," a kid said.
"Why are playing with girls, come play with us," another little boy said.
An year passed, Noelle played with everyone in the class and became popular. This was the only happy time of her kindergarten but it got buried under the experience of coming years.
"Why are you wearing girl's clothes, Noelle has betrayed us," a little boy spoke loudly.
"Why are you speaking like a boy, Noelle has betrayed us," a little girl spoke.
Being equally known by all, hit her equally with detest. She complained to her grandpa about it. And soon she changed schools.
"Noelle, drink this special tea I made. It will smoothen your voice," Heliio said.
The tea would only work for sometime. And the voice would turn soft only for a bit. But this gave little Noelle new hope. During this time she got interested into Ventriloquism.
"It was Noelle who spoke not me!"
Kids in the class slowly came to know that Noelle could change her voice. On top of it she could speak without opening her mouth? But I only told my special friend about it. Thus, the school was changed again.
No friends were made this time and less words were spoken. Noelle always carried a steel flash with her. But the secret was out again, and school changed.
"It's Noelle, I was with him in kindergarten. He is a cross dresser," another rumor spread.
If you keep throwing enough stones in the sea of conscious, the ripples lessen. Noelle didn't change schools anymore. Instead she worked hard on the path of Sorcery. Ignoring everyone, she trained to reach the second sequence of Level 1. It sparked jealousy and the harsh comments thrown at her increased again.
"What the cross dresser reached sequence two?"
"Will he try to change his vocal cods and expand his chest, pfft."
A few hidden admirers were praying for success, for the cross dresser was just too cute. While other loathed even the thought of it. But no one heard the changed voice of Noelle, neither saw any change in her physique.
…
"Let's meet tomorrow if you are not feeling well," Trace said.
Noelle nodded with her face still in her arms. She wanted to say something but was unsure of how to say it. My only goal is to reach Level 2 Sentinel, she repeated in her mind. The carriage door was closed by the old coachman.
Next day, Noelle and Trace met at the same spot. They randomly moved around the streets of Lightdeir. The fortune teller had told she would meet a Level 2 Sorcerer and accompanying him would greatly help her. Addition to it, he also gave a warning.
"Do you know want to eat something?" a heavy voice said.
Trace looked around before looking a Noelle. The voice was different than before. He put his hand inside his pocket and counted the number of coins.
"No, I am okay," Trace said after sometime.
"I will pay," a different voice said.
Trace was looking at Noelle but he didn't see her mouth move. This is so cool, he thought. It was his first time accompanying someone other than his master to eat outside. Noelle directly led him to a big restaurant.
On seeing Noelle, the waiter directly led them to the upper floor. The huge space was divided into small private cabins for the customers. In the small space was a table with sofa on both sides. The waiter bowed and closed the door when Trace and Noelle entered.
Trace saw on the fluffy sofas that sank in just the right amount. He shifted towards the big glass window at the other end. Looking outside, the streets with people and carriages could be seen.
"This is a special glass, people from outside cannot see us," Noelle said.
The voice was again different than before. Trace looked towards her and nodded merrily. He made himself comfortable on the sofa and looked towards Noelle. Master wanted him to accompany this person for more days.
"Order what you want, I will pay," Noelle said again, in a different voice without moving her mouth.
Trace looked at the big menu card. There were a total of four such cards. He randomly picked one and started reading its contents. But the weird whirling font made it difficult for him to read the words that were already impossible to pronounce.
"La-Kzu-ige-Wer," whirls of air left Trace's mouth.
Noelle laughed in a heavy voice. It must be difficult for people to believe that he is a real Level 2 Sorcerer, she thought. See moved her body forward to check the menu.
"I will order it for you. Do you like its name?" the voice was again different.
Outside the door, a waiter was patiently waiting. He heard footsteps of someone approaching so he prepared himself to greet the customer.
"Is Miss Noelle inside?"
The waiter was shocked to see the person who spoke. Miss Noelle was indeed inside but she was with a boy. Would it be rude if I let him in? The waiter pondered over the matter while bowing.
"Sir, she is indeed inside. Would you like me to ask for her permission to let you in?"
"No," the man said abruptly.
"Is there anyway I can see what is happening inside?" the man added after a few seconds.
"Sir, the upper cabins are made to protect the privacy of-"
"This is an emergency! Did you forget who I am?!" the man said angrily.