MENTOR

I hate it when you just can't fool yourself to be someone else.

***

After Applied Magic Class---in which I haven't really done anything significant yet thanks to the lack of knowledge of using a my own wand-- Nat, Beau and I managed to have dinner peacefully. After the delicious meal we ate, the Headmaster approached me. His long white beard shining under the light of the chandeliers.

"Miss Sterlings, how's your first day?"

When I failed to answer, the old man furrowed his eyebrows, examining me closely. Soon enough, he let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, of course! Do not worry too much, child. I'll have one of my most trusted students be your mentor this evening. You need to learn the basics. I believe your wand is still in one piece, eh?"

I smiled and slightly bowed my head as a symbol of respect. "Thank you, headmaster."

Headmaster Liondalle waved his hand dismissively, "No need to formalities, Aza. Just call me..what's that word? Ah, yes.. Grandpa."

Seriously? The Headmaster wants me to call him Grandpa?

"Uh, grandpa?"

"I've heard that's what Minic children call their elders. I've always told myself to 'feel free' in exploring different cultures." The headmaster said.

I awkwardly nodded my head and excused myself. When I reached the entrance of the Great Hall, Nat and Beau were waiting for me. "What did the headmaster say?" Natalina inquired as we headed up the stone  stairwell towards our dormitory.

"Nothing. He just asked about my first day and said something about a mentor." I answered and proceeded climbing up the invisible stairs up to our dormitory. Natalina muttered the password and we were admitted inside the grand Nickerfoxes Common room.

Beau spoke, "Wait, what? A mentor? Did the headmaster say who it is?"

I shook my head and slumped down the sofa. "No. But whoever it is, he or she better give me pointers on how to use this thing," I fetched out my unused wand and stared at it, "it's already a bad thing to miss out a whole school year's learning."

Natalina sat down beside me and grabbed the wand from my hand.

"Well, if that's the case then you just better wait for that mentor of yours, Aza... Cool! Does your wand really have fox carvings on it?!"

Beau leaned down and took a closer look. "Those are rare carvings indeed. I wonder what this means?"

That made me frown, "Why? I thought that's just a normal things.. I mean, aren't those carvings a part of being a Nickerfox?"

Beau and Natalina exchanged worried looks.

"Actually, the only identification we have for our house is our Nickerfoxes  tattoo. We all have special carvings on our wands, though, but they're just some random patterns." Nat explained and handed back my wand. I ran a finger down the carvings and felt it's intricate design on wood. What does this mean, anyway?

I stood up and turned to them with an apologetic smile, "I'll be in my room. If someone looks for me, just summon me using that summoning spell or somthing." I tried to lighten up the mood before running upstairs.

The moment I closed the door, my senses perked up when I felt someone staring at me. The lights were off and I can't see anything! I gulped and hurriedly grabbed my wand. Well, I don't know how to use a wand but he doesn't know that! Besides, I could always use it to poke someone's eye out.

"S-Show yourself!"

Silence. And then,

"Hoot..hoot!"

"What the heck?"

I fumbled for the light switch and once the lights were on, I face palmed. The small, gray owl cocked his head to the side as if it were staring at me with pure curiosity. The owl was on my bed, a letter attached to its leg. I sighed and lowered my wand. I got the letter and started reading its contents:

Aza,

I'm sorry for not being able to visit you tonight, dear.. I'm a bit busy with some work. How's your first day? Oh, and this owl is yours. You'll be using him for transporting important documents like letters and such. This little guy is a smart one, so take good care of him!

Love,
Auntie

PS. He doesn't have a name yet.

I sat on the side of my bed and let the owl jump on my lap. He was staring at me curiously. Those big, mystical eyes are hard to resist. It hooted and nibbled on my finger affectionately. So what am I gonna name him?

"Hoot..hoot!"

I was surprised when the owl suddenly stretched his wings and flew out the window. When I checked where he was heading, I noticed the dark forest outside the gates. Getting to my feet, I grabbed my wand and wizard robe. He can't go there! Who knows what predators are in that forest? I ran out the dormitory, ignoring Nat and Beau who were both asking me where I was going

I pushed the heavy front doors. The deadly chill of the night breeze greeted me with open arms as I ran out the dark pathway towards the gates. When I made sure it wasn't locked, without any second thoughts, I sped out the gates and ran towards the direction of the vast forest that looked scarier than usual.

The owl flew overhead, into the shade of several large trees. I was about to follow him when my eyes caught something else moving along the forest. When the moonlight coming from the Twin moons glimpse upon it, I was more than terrified to see a black fox staring back at me.

I felt my hands were shaking uncontrollably, and my heart raced the longer our eyes came in contact. A fox? Before I could even move, it turned and ran deeper into the forest. I made a reckless choice and ran after that fox. Aza, you're seriously getting yourself into so much trouble!

I have no idea how far I am from Liondalle. My mind lost tracked of my sanity. My eyes focused on the black figure that swiftly danced with the wind infront of me.

"STERLINGS!"

Someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of my reverie. I reeled back and gasped when Matt Clintwood's piercing gaze fell upon mine. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I.. I.." Now that I thought about it, where am I going?

"Hoot! Hoot!" I jolted at that familiar sound. Behind Matt, my little gray owl emerged. It hooted happily when it saw me. I crouched down and picked it up, smiling when I saw a streak of silver lining his wings.

"Never leave the gates, Sterlings. You wouldn't be prepared for what creatures may kill you in this forest."

I glared at him. "Fine. It won't happen again, Matt."

And then we started walking out of the forest. I heard him chuckled mockingly. "Since when were we on first name basis? Or does that hint that you have a crush on me?" I chose to ignore his childish taunts until we reached the gates. I glanced at the owl in my arms. Matt must've noticed it.

"He's a Magnesian Silverwing.. I haven't seen one of those in a long time. That one's probably the last of his kind. It's a shame he looks useless, though."

I stopped in my tracks and snapped at him.

"So, you're an expert with owls now? A few minutes ago, you acted like a jerk. What's with the change of specialty?"

I saw the troublemaker frowned at my words. "You're too irritating, Sterlings. Don't talk like you know me again, or else I'll hex you."

I tore my gaze away from him, knowing that this immature argument wouldn't take us anywhere. Instead, I followed him acrossed several corridors. At first, I was so sure he was leading our way up the dormitory, but when he suddenly took a wrong turn, I caught up with him and blurted out,

"Where in the name of Beenie weeds are you taking me, Clintwood?!"

He smirked and swished his wand to open a door.

"To the training rooms, of course. I still need to put a curse on you and make it look like an accident, Sterlings." He said.

"If you're trying to be funny, I'm not buying it."

I heard him sigh.

"You're lucky the headmaster approached me himself. If not, I wouldn't even bother with you in the first place."

My eyes widened at his words. Headmaster? The headmaster approached him, too? Oh, no..

"Y-You're my mentor?!"

And Matt Clintwood shrugged.

***