chapter 2 School
of Pixels & Potions
Thursday morning 5:30AM
Melantha wakes up early in the morning before the sun comes up at 5:30am. Her alarm goes off as it sounds like the world was being under attack. the name of the alarm that she likes and it makes her mom goes crazy it is The Purge. Melantha she sits up As she gets ready for the next day by brushing her teeth and hair, getting dress in her uniform.
“MOM, DID YOU PACK MY LUNCH?”
“No, i did not. As well do not be late for school.”
“Ok mom…” as Melantha rolls her eyes in the bathroom, the water was running while she was brushing her thick poofy hair.
“Ugh why is my hair so thick and difficult to maintain. After she finally get her hair to her liking, she runs downstairs while running downstairs you can hear her footsteps as the stairs with each creek from the boards. She sats the dining room with her little sister, waiting for her mom Poppy made oatmeal for breakfast. You can smell the apple & cinnamon in the air. Her little sister smiles as she plays with her toys in the highchair as her arm flaps in the air and kicking her legs as she enjoys herself.
“You gonna have a good day today?”
“I hope so, this is my first day of school and… oh i forgot to tell you mom.”
“What is it sweetie?”
“I’m obsessed with magical doorways.”
“Magical doorways? How did you find this out darling?” as she was dishing out the apple and cinnamon oatmeal.
“I was bored in one period and the magic that i have for golem creation and BOOM the door open and it showed me some cool places on the other side of the door.”
Poppy says in a concern voice before she takes a bite of her oatmeal. “Please be careful that is all i ask for, i do not want to lose you.”
“I will be careful mom-.” melantha takes a big spoonful of the oatmeal and smiles with glee as she savors the taste in her mouth.
“Mmmm mom this is tast-” as she puts more of thick and rich oatmeal into her mouth.
“Don’t take with your mouthful sweetie.”
“I’m sorry mom but the taste of this oatmeal feels like I’m in fall, it’s so subtly sweet not too cinnamony and i love the the chewiness of the apples.”
“Aww thanks sweetie. Oh shoot sweetie you need to get going to the academy.”
“Shoot i do, thanks mom.” Melantha skerries to pack her lunch and quickly gave her mom and little sibling a hug and kiss.
Melantha makes her trek to her favorite academy, cause she gets to see her favorite orc there. The trek is about an hour going both ways on a good day, other days it takes up to a couple hours just to get there and back. She takes the same path every day excepts for the weekend. On the way there the trees are slowly changing their leaf colors, getting ready for the first day of fall. She can also smell the rain in the air. Everyday on the same path she always passes the mountain sides.
“I can’t believe i get to go to class for what i enjoy.” She walks down the path with her head held high looking for a very good day. Melantha ponders to herself.
“What happens if i peak inside the cave? I hope anything goes south cause i can’t be late for school. I mean a small peak does not hurt right?”
Fifteen minutes later and she reach the mountain side with the big hole on the side. She peaks her head in through the cave with being a little scared. Melantha took off her backpack and unzips it finding her camera as she points the camera into the cave. They snapped a pic with the flash on as she sees this 7 foot beast with horns that curves to one way and points straight up in the air. She gasps with air and trying not to scream while quickly packing her camera back in the backpack.
“What did i saw in there? What is that thing? I just got to keep walking and not look back. That’s all i gotta do right now, just focused on getting to school.”
Melantha books it from the cave and gets on her way to the academy. Half an hour goes by and her thoughts just gets louder about what she saw in the cave. They saw her friend Ragnok heading up the stairs to the entrance of the academy.
“RAGNOOOOK!”
“Oh hey Mel! How are you doing?”
Melantha was panting trying to catch her breath. “I…i s-saw s-somet-t-thing in t-the c-c-cave a-and i-i-i d-don’t know w-what it is.”
“What did you see Mel? What did you see?”
“I took a p-p-photo of i-i-it.”
“Pull it out of your bag and let me see.”
Melantha and Ragnok steps aside in the building from the entrance. She unzips her backpack and pulls out her camera.
“Here you go.”
Ragnok turns on the camera and wondering what Melantha saw.
“Oh oh oh my god, i have not seen this before in my life. I did not know you had a beast that lives close to you in your neck of the woods.”
“Do you know what it is Ragnok?” as she hovers over shoulder and heavy breaths in her ear.
“I need to take this to one of our professors to know what this thing is.”
“Really who?”
The bell rings, the bell was so loud and it only lasted for five seconds.
“Looks like we need to get to class or we’ll be late.”
“Oh yeah lol.”
They both walked to the first class of Golem Creation with Bonny. As both walks into the classroom the room was decorated in fall colors, pumpkins, colorful leaves around the room.
“Good morning Ms. Bonny!” Ragnok and Melantha as they walked into the room.
“Good morning to you too Ragnok and Melantha. Excited to learn what today’s lesson is?”
They both nodded and sits down in their assigned seats. The rest of the class starts to file in and sits down at their desk.
“Good morning class! How are you doing on the second day of school? Let’s go around the room and check in with ya’ll on how you are doing and maybe share one thing that you found interesting on the way.”
Each student shares on how they are doing and when it came time for Melantha and Ragnok to share on how they are feeling, they both got anxious.
“Ragnok how about you, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay i guess, my friend here found something in the side if a mountain of where she lives and i have no clue what it is.”
“Wait what? Really Melantha? You found something in a mountain side, that is cool and interesting.”
“Oh me, i’m still a little bit shaken up by how big the beast is and i wanna know if i should steer clear or it’s ok to keep going on the same path. That i have been when coming here?”
Melantha begins to stims while trying to regulate her emotions and trying to be calm. Ragnok stands up and came over and hugs Melantha from behind and smiles. “Everything is gonna be ok i got you.”
“Melantha and Ragnok can you both stay after class, i think i can redirect you on where someone can help you.”
Both nodded and smiles with a sigh of relief. An hour went by for the class and the teacher got done teaching about Golem Creation and the bell rings for the next class.
“Have a good day everyone! Don’t forget to read the book i assigned to you. Oh Melantha and Ragnok can you come forward.”
Both of them came to the front of the class and she handed her camera to Ms. Bonny.
“Oh what do we have here?”
“It’s the beast that we were talking about in the beginning of the class.”
“Oh that’s right, now i remember lol. I see so many things it all goes bby so fast and sorry i have a short term memory.”
“You are all good.”
“I’ll write hall passes for your next class for saying you are late.” Bonny smiles. After five minutes the bell rings for the next class to start.
“Don’t worry i have a prep period for this period.”
After ten minutes of doing some research and trying to figure out what it is.
“Wow, wow, wow. I never thought to say this, but you should find a different path to school.”
Melantha was half listening to Ms. Bonny, and she started to play with the door from her room. As the door almost all the way to open them again and she repeated that over and over that again. She loves to hear the door creek and she smiles while softly chuckles.
“Ms. Freya are you paying attention to me?” Ms. Bonny raised her voice.
“Oh yeah, i’m sorry. What did you find?”
“So what i was saying is that you should and i mean you SHOULD find a different path to school.”
“What do you mean is this beast dangerous?”
“Yes this beast is dangerous. This beast is known as Krumpus.”
Both of them look at each other at surprised. As their eyes widen. Another five minutes went by as Ms. Bonny tells them about the beast.
“Woah that is alot of info. Thank you so much Ms. Bonny!”
“You both are very welcome! Have a great rest of your day and please Melantha be safe.”
“Will do Ms. Bonny, i’ll be careful and i’m gonna do more reserch when i’m done reading the assigned homework.”
“Melantha see you during lunch and i can help with the research on that gnarly beast.” Ragnok smiles and heads towards a different direction.
“See you at lunch Rag!” Melantha raise her voice and smiles while walking towards her second class. On the way she would use to open doors on either side of her. The hallway has all of the doors open and slowly closing but not all of the way. She does it on repeat until she reaches her classroom.
Sugar got into the classroom and sits down as she fidgets. She gets her note taking supplies out and waits patiently for their instructor. Five minutes later their instructor showed up.
“Good morning students! How is everyone doing on this wonderful day!?” as Eleanor smiles with glee and her tone is very cheerful.
Eleanor teaches the class about the Human Realm and how the people on Siren is cruel.
“Humans think that they are nice but they can be also mean anad disrespectful.” As Eleanor continues teaching the lesson.
“How are they disrespectful? How Ms.?”
The teacher answered their question and continuing teaching the class until the bell rings.
15 minutes later, the bell rang and everyone leaves their classes while trying to hurry to reach their next class in seven minutes. Both Melantha and Ragnok headed to their next class, and Melantha still feels a little shaken up from this morning and is looking forward to hanging out with her best friend. Her best friend Ragnok is an outstanding friend that she has known for a couple days. The bell rings for an hour lunch break every student comes out of their classroom most heads to the cafeteria, some heads off campus and some eats in the hallway to eat their lunch.
Melantha runs towards Ragnok with a smile on her face and shouting her name “RAGNOK RAGNOK RAG. where do you wanna sit?”
“Hey lets sit outside and talk what we are gonna do on this three day weekend.” Rag smiles from ear to ear she may have found someone who she likes as a friend and hope their friendship does not end.
“I was thinking of you coming over and meeting my family and plausible you having a sleepover?” Melantha fidgets and looks down towards the ground.
“That’s great, Mel! I need to ask my parents first, then I will tell you their answer.” Ragnok blushed, her cheekbone hurting from smiling so much. Ragnok brought a thick and hardy stew, that has lamb, carrots, peas and potatoes, with a strawberry smoothie and a peppermint bark. Melantha brought for their lunch is peanut butter and banana sandwich, a chocolate chip cookie and a apple juice. They both devoured their lunches and talked about some plans to do after school.
“I would like to come and sit with you at the park and do a bit of studying of the monster I have found.”
“oh ok, Melantha… can i say something?” Ragnok is nervous and starts taping her fingers together. Melantha looks up at her friend. “What is it friend? I-i-i-is everything alright?” they stutter and plays with their hair.
“I-i-i-i have a crush on you since the first day i saw you in the first class we have together.”
“o-oh is that so Rag i-i-i never thought of that before.” Mel eyes began to water like she was to start crying.
“Hey mel can i tell you something that i have not tell anyone before?”
“Yeah what is up Rag, you can tell me anything and i promise whatever you say i won’t use it against you.”
Ragnok looks around being all fidgety and nervous. “I hope you don’t think of me any different… i-i-i’m transgender male to female.”
“Transgender what do you mean transgender?”
“Transgernder is when you feel like you are in the wrong body and you feel more of the opposite gender than what you are assign.” Ragnok studders and rubs their hands together.
“Oh that is cool! I never had a transgender friend before and i will always be by your side no matter what. As well what is your preferred pronouns rag?”
“My pronouns are pop, rose, dogwood and they.” Ragnok is smiling from ear to ear as their cheekbone slowly gets sore from smiling.
“Oh hey i got an idea?”
“What idea is that Rag?”
“What if we skip school and head over to your place and do a bit of studying?”
“I like that idea. I’ll text my mom right now to let her know that you and i are coming home early.”
“Sweet!!!”
Melantha picks up her phone and starts texting her mom.
Thursday 13:28pm
Melantha
Hey mom, i’m coming home a little early today. My friend is coming over and they are helping me understand this mythical creature.
Mom
How early sweetie and do i need to get the house ready?
Melantha
No you don’t need to get the house ready. Both Ragnok and i are gonna be at the house in about a half hour from now.
Mom
Ok sounds good and please stay safe both of you too!
Melantha and Ragnok both started heading their way to Melantha’s place down in Misthaven. On thursday afternoon it got very windy, where you can tell that the trees are blowing in the wind. Both Ragnok and Melantha’s hair got very messy from the wind. The wind is blowing in every direction making their hair so messy and getting in their face.
Bout 15 minutes into the walk to Mel’s place.
“Have you ever gone out this way Rag?” as melantha’s eyes began to water from the harsh wind.
“I have not been out this far before, i’ve only stayed in my hometown place.”
“Oh that’s cool! What kind of things does your hometown have?”
“My hometown in Oakwood Hollow, has McMeninamums, a few lakes here and there. My area has a coven for witchcraft.”
“Oh that is very cool. I can’t wait to come and visit you sometime if you want.”
“Oooo i can’t wait for you to come down and visit”
-As both of soon to be lovers came to the side of the mountain where Melantha saw this very huge mythical creature inside of the mountain side cave.
“Woah that is different i have never seen this before and i do want to get inside of the cave.”
“Rag, why? Why do you want to go inside of the cave?” melantha starts to bite her fingers in nervesness
“I’m very curious and i know i can be your bodyguard.”
-“Rag please be careful” Mel eye’s widen and she put her fingers near her lips.
“I don’t see anything that i can tell, the cave is pitched black and i don’t see any outline of anything. Well i’m gonna head back to you so we can go and head over to your place.”
Both Mel and Rag is three forths of heading to Melantha’s cottage house. The sky turns to an eerie darkness as the clouds turn the violet sky to almost a pitch grey. This storm is bringing in a monsoon of rain. The rain is a very cold rain and it can also bring in golf ball size hail.
“Mel how much longer do we have until we reach your place? The sky doesn’t look good and… there is no way for me to get back to my place safely, if need be.” Ragnok begins to worry as they stutter trying to get out complete sentences.
“I’d say about five more minutes till we reach my home. It is definitely spacy and you get to meet my little sibling as well.” Mel says with an optimistic outlook and smiles. Striving to remain optimistic despite unfavorable weather conditions. The weather begin to slowly drizzle of snow and every now and then a few big snowflakes would fall.
“Well friend we have made it to my place.”