Luke sat in the dimly lit corner of the boys' room, surrounded by his magic trick items. He had been practising quietly, trying not to disturb the sleeping children. However, his concentration was shattered when Daniel, the youngest of the boys, woke up and caught him in the act.
"What are you doing?" Daniel's curious voice had cut through the silence, startling Luke.
In his flustered state, Luke tried to play it down, mumbling about reading a book. But his choice of words had only piqued Daniel's interest further. The youngest boy had shuffled closer, eyes wide with curiosity.
And now, as if things couldn't get more complicated, the other boys were beginning to stir, their curiosity drawn by Daniel's voice. One by one, they started to sit up, rubbing their eyes and looking around to see what was happening.
Luke's heart raced as he realised the precariousness of his situation. If he handled this poorly, his secret could cause a rift between him and the children or attract unwanted attention from the cathedral's adults. He had to choose his next move carefully.
With the other boys waking up, they began to ask Daniel what the problem was.
"What's wrong Daniel?"
"Luke is reading a secret book," Daniel said, his voice full of curiosity and wonder.
Hearing this, Samuel, the most mischievous one, jumped from his bed and landed right behind Luke. With a quick swipe, he snatched whatever his tiny hands could grab hold of and showed it to the others. To Luke's dismay, the thing Samuel grabbed happened to be a stick. With nothing at all resembling a book, the boys began to question Luke.
"What are you really doing?" Thomas, the oldest, asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
The boys also saw the deck of cards, the coin that looked like their shillings, a tiny cloth, and other items spread out around Luke. He was in a pinch. He could try to lie his way out, but his mind couldn't think of the best excuse. Plus, they were kids; it would be wrong to teach them about lying, right?
With a sigh, Luke reached for the stick Samuel was still holding.
"Watch this," he said, a plan forming in his mind.
With a swift motion, he transformed the stick into a flower. It was a simple trick for him, but to the eyes of the boys, it was something unreal. Their mouths dropped open in astonishment.
"How did you do that?" Andrew asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you one of those special people? The ones with abilities normal people don't have?" Thomas' eyes widened.
Luke set the flower down gently and looked at the boys, who were hanging on his every word and action.
"This is our little secret, okay?" he said, actioning his finger zipping his mouth.
The boys nodded eagerly, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
Relieved, Luke decided to share a bit more of his magic. He shuffled the deck of cards and performed a sleight-of-hand trick, making a card appear and disappear in various places. He pulled a coin from behind Samuel's ear and made it vanish, only to reappear in his pocket. He even used the tiny cloth to perform a vanishing act.
The boys were entranced, their previous sleepiness forgotten. They gasped and clapped in delight, their eyes shining with wonder. Luke's heart swelled with warmth. At this moment, he wasn't just a stranger seeking refuge; he was someone special in their eyes.
"Can you teach us?" Ben, the nine-year-old, asked, his voice full of eagerness.
"Maybe someday," Luke said with a smile. "For now, it's important to keep this between us. Not even Father Wingate and Sister Maria, alright? We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise for everyone else, okay?"
The boys nodded in agreement, their faces serious.
As the night wore on, Luke showed them a few more simple tricks, careful to choose ones that wouldn't reveal too much of his skill. He wanted to keep the aura of mystery alive, to let the boys' imaginations soar.
Eventually, the boys started to yawn, their excitement giving way to tiredness. Luke tucked his magic items away and urged them back to bed. As they settled down, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had managed to turn a potentially difficult situation into a bonding experience.
Lying back down, Luke felt a deep sense of connection with the children. He had shared a part of himself with them, and in doing so, had found a place in their world. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, he was content. He closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips, ready to face whatever the new day would bring.
With the morning rays casting a gentle light over the room, Luke was the first to wake up. He had work to do, and he needed to ensure the boys understood the importance of their secret. As he got himself ready, he decided not to head to the barracks straight away. Instead, he went around the room, gently waking up all the boys.
"Wake up, everyone," he whispered, shaking them lightly. They stirred and groaned, still half-asleep.
Luke needed to emphasize the importance of their secrecy.
"Listen to me," he said softly but firmly. "No matter what, whatever you saw last night, whatever you learned, must not be shared with anyone. Do you understand? If you tell anyone, I will be very angry with you. And you don't want to see me angry, right?"
The boys, rubbing their eyes and yawning, nodded solemnly. Even in their sleepy state, they could sense the gravity in Luke's voice. They promised to keep the secret, their expressions earnest.
Satisfied with their promises, Luke finally let out a relieved breath.
"Good. Now go get ready. I think Sister Maria will be happy to see you all early."
With the boys settling back down, Luke made his way to the barracks. He was a bit late, and when he arrived, he immediately apologized to Eamon.
"I'm sorry for being late," he said, slightly out of breath.
Eamon, understanding the situation, waved it off.
"It's alright, lad. It was my request to have you work with me on short notice. I can't be too strict."
With that, they began their usual cleaning routine. Eamon handled the initial cleaning, while Luke took on the polishing. They worked in a comfortable silence, the clinking of armour and the sound of brushes creating a rhythm to their task.
Around them, the knights were waking up and beginning their morning training. The air was filled with the sounds of grunts, huffs, and the clashing of wooden swords. Occasionally, Luke caught glimpses of Gareth and Sir Carrick among the training knights. He couldn't help but admire their dedication and skill.
Despite the early start, Luke found solace in the routine of his work. There was a certain satisfaction in seeing the dull, grimy pieces of armour and weaponry transform into gleaming, polished equipment under his care. It was a simple yet fulfilling task that kept his mind occupied and his hands busy.
As the morning progressed, the barracks buzzed with activity. The knights trained, the equipment was cleaned and polished, and everything seemed to work as intended. Luke felt a sense of belonging in this place, even if his stay was temporary.
When they were down to the last few pieces of equipment, Eamon looked at Luke and said.
"That's enough for today. You were splendid."
"Thank you, Eamon," Luke nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
"Go on now, get your pay from Sir Carrick," Eamon said with a smile.
Luke made his way to Sir Carrick, received his pay for the day, and then headed back to the cathedral, which had become a second home to him. Upon his return, he was greeted by Sister Maria and Father Wingate. Joining them for lunch, he slipped back into the routine of the cathedral.
As Luke walked his way back to the cathedral, the day's events replayed in his mind.
He had made a monumental decision by revealing his magic abilities to the boys. It was a risky move, one that could have serious repercussions if word got out. However, Luke felt it was necessary. He needed to trust someone, and the boys, with their wide-eyed wonder and innocence, seemed the safest bet.
There were arguments for and against his decision. On one hand, sharing his secret with the boys could foster a deeper bond of trust and camaraderie. They would understand a part of him that no one else did, creating a unique connection. Plus, it was easier to keep the secret among a few who were already inclined to believe in wonders.
On the other hand, children could be unpredictable. Their excitement might lead them to inadvertently spill the secret, causing trouble for Luke. The adults in the cathedral, especially Father Wingate and Sister Maria, might not react kindly to such revelations. It could jeopardize his refuge and the sanctuary he had found here.
Yet, what's done is done. Luke knew there was no point in dwelling on the past. He had made his choice, and now he had to live with it. His focus needed to be on the future—continuing to build trust with the boys, ensuring they understood the importance of keeping his secret and refining his magic skills.