Standing here in front of Victor is a lot to take in. For sure he is beyond handsome and kind. But the words he just spoke to me, sent my head spinning. He's just waiting patiently there, waiting for words to escape my lips. But I can't give him an answer right away. "Teach you healing magic? Why me?" I say in a hushed voice. I mean all I've really healed is animals. So I don't know why he would want my help. Plus, handsome smart guy asking for quirky dumb girl for help seems so odd an out of the ordinary.
"Yes you, and because you did exceptionally well in class. I really could use some help. But I can put in a plus side," he smiles widely. "If you teach me healing magic, I'll teach you offensive magic. More than I'll teach anyone else. What do you say, buddy?" The last sentence he whispers closer to my ear.
I guess having my buddy already hasn't sunk in yet. Victor and I are the 1 in 100 to find their buddies right off the bat, which almost feels suspicious to me. Like it is somehow planned by the universe or something. I smile back at him, and wrap my bag over my shoulder more tightly. "Count on me!"
With those words, we walk out of the classroom together. Going through the halls, I can't help but glance around for Jin. She usually seems to show up right as I leave class, or during class change. During lunch even, she's always lingering by, like she's waiting for an opening to come and talk to me. But why would she need an opening? All she has to do is walk up to me. We are friends after all. Right? At least I hope we are.
We come up to the small pond on campus, and our lessons begin. "Great wind, I command thee, form thyself into a blade. Acious Ventos." I say this as my first attempt. But instead of making my magic for offense, the trees and leaves around us seem to laugh at my failure, and my wand seems to backfire out of my hand. "What did I tell you Victor? I'm terrible at any other kind of magic." I feel my whole self-esteem fall in rapid drops all at once. The confidence I had coming into this private lesson seems to leave in the blink of an eye.
"It happens Freya, don't worry. Everyone is bad at something. It seems your something is offensive magic." His face shows amusement as he teases me, but I'm sure my face is full of embarrassment and frustration. "Don't worry about it too much. If you keep up the practice, you'll get the hang of it." With that, Victor pats me on top of the head. This time, my cheeks ignite for an entirely different reason, and my heart leaps out of my chest.
"Plus Freya, I'm completely hopeless at healing magic." His laugh is soft, and means to hide the embarrassment he obviously feels. But he takes a step back and peers down at me. "But the spell you tried to cast, that is meant to hurt people, not heal them." He scratches his head awkwardly, and looks down at his own feet. Strange how we both have magic we aren't good with, and one that we are excellent at. But in a way, we also compliment each other in our differences.
"Don't you think that makes us perfect buddies?" I finally say out loud after a long moment of silence between the two of us. "We both make up for what the other one lacks. I mean, I'm pretty good with healing magic," Victor coughs out a couple words. Understatement. "But maybe this is destiny and we are meant to be buddies." Victor plops down on the grass, and looks up at me. I can't help but feel insecure as he looks at me, almost like he is analyzing me.
"Sit down. Let's take a break." He lies back onto the open patch of grass we are in. Surrounding us though is a field of flowers blooming brightly and covering the ground with a purple luminescent shine. I take a seat next to Victor and take in a deep breath. Seeing him lying here with his eyes closed, makes my heart skip a beat once again. But then my eyes seem to drift off, looking at the flowers around me.
I immediately start picking flowers, and I can't help but take a glance at Victor as he gives me a curious look. "What're you doing?" He says as he props himself up on the ends of his elbows. Seeing his collar bones makes me flush. "I wanna make a wreath for my hair." My childish behavior stands out to Victor and he lets out a chuckle of joy? Maybe even amusement? Or maybe he's even teasing me?
"Don't worry, it'll look cute on you for sure." I turn all the way around from him so he can't see my face. How can he just say I'll look cute so casually? It's not fair. "I used to make these when I was younger. I guess a part of me still has fun making these." I continue to collect and craft together the flowers till they make a wreath. I turn and show him, but before I can get a word out, he snatches it out of my hands.
"Here let me help." He places the wreath gently on top of my head, then pushes a strand of my hair behind my left ear. He smiles at me, and that's when I notice how close his face is to mine. I don't know how much more my heart can take from this. I slightly push away and clear my throat so I can try and show off the crown. I make small silly faces and pose while I sit like a lady on the grass. Victor ends up bursting into laughter, and I follow him into laughter.
"Well, let's continue with practice." He stands up and dusts off the grass from the back of his pants. He then offers me his hand, and in the process of doing so, his hair again glows in the sunlight. Almost as if there is a fire above me, floating in the sky. I take his hand and stand up next to him, feeling like a small elf or fairy.
"So the uh - next spell that's healing has to do with - uh - water," I can't help but fumble over my words as my face grows hotter as Victor watches me closely. I can still feel his hand on my head, his hand in my hand. All I want is for him to keep holding my hand, keep holding me, looking at me in any way. Wait what? What am I thinking... Am I really in love with... Victor? This just can't be. I've only known him for like three days. Can one really fall in love so fast?
I clear my throat and straighten up my back to look more confident than I feel. "This'll be my first time as well, but I think it should go well." Victor pounds one fist into the palm of his hand and a challenging grin crosses his lips. "After you, teach." His words make me smile. His reassurance brings back my real confidence, and I lift my wand into the air. But suddenly, a strong wind begins to blow, and the clouds shift quickly through the sky. My flower crown blows off my head and away in the wind before I can hold it down.
"What's with this wind? Is it going to rain soon?" I turn and look at Victor, and all I can see is a man on his guard, almost like he's about to be attacked. "Vict-," before I can finish my words, he cuts me off. "Sorry but I think we should wrap up here. I just remembered some business I've got to take care of. Let's do this again some other time." Before I can even ask him what is wrong, he is already hurrying away and I am left standing here by the pond all by myself while the wind blows like crazy.
Don't go…
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