Tale 24: Melida Deigandun & The Chase (2/5)
Tale 24: Melida Deigandun & The Chase (chapter 2 - The Gold Dragon 2/5 ) part 6. Stories of Wizards
Yellow Knight Academy, was nothing like what Melida had imagined. Instead of wearing fairy robes, they had uniforms, and instead of enthusiasts of the enchanted, there were torturous teachers. The homeyness of the dorms, did little to combat her annoying pompous peers. Melida trained hard, yet frustratingly was only given average grades. With no close friends, Melida had to admit she felt lonely and defeated. Everyone around her seemed to be succeeding, but the only compliment Melida got was on her looks. Ignoring her classmates, nearly became a hobby. They taunted fey in class, bragged about how they would slay innocent trolls, use their magic to get away with theft, and much more. It slowly dawned on Melida, that wizard culture was toxic here. She had a lot of work to do if she was change that someday.
It wasn’t just her peers; The coaches and teachers were also disrespectful of magic. Everyone used spells to get their way, cover up mistakes, or hurt fey. Melida watched, in horror and silence, for four years of study. She realized that being a guardian of people and magic, was more complicated then just running into dragon fire. Melida didn’t need to draw a sword to save people, she needed to manage narcissistic hooligans, before they hurt themselves; Which required a different type of strength.
In fifth year, Melida finally noticed something about the prestigious paladin academy, that should have been obvious. The school wasn’t just the best at teaching knights, but also nurses. The Heartman healing program, was the most brutal magic medical education in The Grand West. Paladin students were constantly getting injured, but never seemed to be gone from class. Now, it is safe to assume Melida realised this, after being healed. Perhaps by one of the heartman students, loitering on the sidelines. But this is false; Melida didn’t have severe injuries. Which didn’t, yet should have, improved her grades. Melida noticed what was giving peers good grades, was paying off teachers. But that only applied to paladins. Alas, Melida realized that the magic medics are the silent heroes of the academy, as she walked by them listening to music; All looking worn, overworked, and wilted.
This is where Melida first saw Braidy Moonflare. Though born in a magic house, he is not magic. He was not a wizard, heartman, mage, or paladin. He was a childhood friend of the heartman student Melida walked by. The student commented on her body, just loud enough that she heard it through her music. Like he wanted her to hear it. Melida kept walking; This kind of disgusting behaviour must not be rewarded. Then, Briady punched his friend’s arm, in outrage. Melida stopped, and looked at them. Which resulted in the heartman student bolting, as he knew better then to get caught by his paladin peers. However, unlike her fellow knightly students, Melida wouldn’t have hurt someone over an insult. Mages are often to passive, and preoccupied with magic duties, to quarrel with common folk.
“Sorry about that” Braidy said. “He, um. You know what, I’m not going to defend that.” he sighed. Melida side eyed him, trying to judge his character. But everything about Braidy was contradicting; He wasn’t the most handsome fellow, nor the least appealing. He had red hair, like those in the northlands, and hazel eyes and fairness of the Central North. But his face, height, and build, was that of someone from the Far North. His voice was soothing, yet also on edge. Melida had started starring.
“Where are you from?” Melida blurted. She gasped as she realized she should have asked his name, or thanked him. “Sorry. Melida Daigandun; Fifth year paladin student. I meant to ask your name.”
“It’s ok. I get it a lot. Mixed heritage grandparents, caused me to win the genetic lottery. I used to think I as adopted.” Braidy chuckled. He held out his hand for a good shake. “Names’ Braidy Moonflare; Fifth year high school student, and aspiring physiotherapist.”
“Nope. This place is brutal. My friend lets me in here to eat at the dinning hall. My mom’s cooking is rank.” Braidy laughed. Melida started uncontrollably giggling, as she shook his hand.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you around, Melida.” He said, waving goodbye.
“Wait!” Melida said. She wasn’t going to let the only nice human her age, that actually talked to her like a person, get away so fast. “
“Want to get a heartman teacher fired with me?” Melida asked. “I’ll give you my number!”
“You’re not asking, are you?” Braidy said, walking back to her side. “Give me the dirt. I can spread a rumor like I-” Braidy said. Then Melida grabbed his wrist, and dragged him to her dorm room. She kept food there, as to avoid her rambunctious school mates in the dining hall. It was a really lame first date. Melida had a recording from a hallway, of a parent paying a heartman professor to give his daughter better grades. Braidy copied the file, and reverberated with joy to expose a criminal. Melida enjoyed the satisfaction of actually making a difference.
After the scandal emerged, the school became permeated with unease. School rules were tightened, as the academy desperately tried to regain its reputation. The magic community of the Grand West was so ashamed of their affiliation, they were close to cutting ties. Ties that offered apprenticeship opportunities for students, and gave the school more prestige. Speaking of which, in order to prove that their student’s quality wasn’t proportional to money, the school held a talent competition to make a statement. The Paladins were to perform a non-paladin related spell, one year above their own. Melida laughed when she read the bulletin; Those meat headed magic users must be idiots, if they think a talent show will cover up corruption. The heartman union was going to be questioning the overworked medic students, for further investigation; While the paladins put on a good show. Regardless of opinion, Melida needed to join in, to hide that she was responsible for the fallout, hated her peers, and was aided by a commoner. This show, was now a training opportunity for the other strengths Melida needed; Staying moral, and unwavering in the face of mass idiocy.
Melida did the highest rank spell in the wizard books: Summoning a familiar. She was terribly lonely, and got hints from the dryads of the maple orchard. They liked having a mage around, and gladly helped her. This simple spell, accessible to anyone in a magic house, was impressive and didn’t suggest she was a mage. It just made Melida look really good, and not involved in recent legal matters whatsoever. Better yet, Melida got a new friend to share emotions with; A white Indian cobra she named Myrtle.
“Miss Dawnhill!” her coach clapped.
“Daigandun; I go by the original spelling.” Melida said casually.
“Yes, of course! You have performed the most impressive spell out of all your peers! We will immediately register you for the graduation slaying this year!” Her coach gleamed. Then, Melida put on a fake smiled for a photo, in her fairy robes and with new familiar. beneath her facade, was terror. The Slaying Ceremony, was the most prestigious credit quest in the kingdom; Designed to kickstart a young paladin’s career. The bi-annual tournaments between schools, were nothing compared to being given this opportunity. It’s a nearly one-hundred-year-old tradition. The whole community looked forward to it every year. All except Melida, and a good number of fey rights enthusiasts.
That night, Melida went for dinner with Braidy in the local Westland pub. Braidy heard that Westlanders are proud of their heritage, and wanted to see why. Food is usually a good place to start sharing a culture. Everyone likes food; It’s made with love.
“This is actually pretty good.” Braidy said. They were sharing deer pottage, and day mead. It made Melida really want to ask what he ate growing up. Luckily, she didn’t need to ask.
“If I eat one more preserved meat-seasonal vegetable mash, I’m going to lose it. I’m not the biggest fan of the wolf and winter themed ‘one with nature’ stuff. My family thinks I need to be more Far North, to compensate for not looking the part. I feel like I’m being force-fed cultural purity. I do like my buckskin and the paintings though…” He rambled. Melida laughed.
“How was your day?” She asked.
“Normal! How was yours?” Braidy asked sarcastically. Nothing he could ever say, would compare to the magic Melida was surrounded by each day. Melida Shrugged.
“Nothing happened? really?”
“Well, I guess at the coverup contest at school, one of the sixth-year students lit his pants on fire. I can’t imagine lighting myself on fire. How does someone even do that?”
“Actually, people do that all time,” Braidy shrugged. “What spell did he use?”
“Actually, he was caught smoking dope behind the bleachers.”
“Did you know marihuana can have therapeutic benefits?”
“Like reliving the pain of personal burns?” Melida laughed. Braidy didn’t laugh back.
“Seriously though; What did you do?”
“I summoned a familiar, and am going to do the graduation slaying this year. My parents are coming, but you probably shouldn’t.” Melida said, slouching. Braidy looked horrified. A girlfriend with a snake familiar was cool, but seeing said girlfriend start to tear up was heartbreaking. Melida always had pep, or at least an aura of confidence. Seeing her sob was shocking.
“You’re going to be the one with the honour of slaying a dragon this year? As in, the anticipated public event, that is supplied by illegal dragon trade? The really dangerous, meaningless, traditional ceremony, that is supposed to prove you can be a hero?” Braidy shuddered. Melida nodded slowly. She was now crying. It was starting to catch people’s attention. Braidy gave her his napkin, and held her hand. The
“It’s ok. You have fairy robes, and heart. I bet you’ll win, and get the credits; You’ll be lead paladin in no time.” Braidy whispered. He was desperately trying to cheer her up. Melida shook her head; She couldn’t imagine killing something.
“No Braidy. I’m not scared, I’m sad. That poor dragon! It should be saved and freed. I can’t kill a fey; They’re not malicious, and I refuse to pander to the misguided wishes of wizards. I don’t want to slay a dragon. People like me can’t.” She sobbed. In that moment, Braidy realized that Melida’s othering of wizards, relationships with fey, and wandless spells, might indicate she was a mage. Lacking a mystical education, Braidy didn’t necessarily fear mages, but generally knew what one was, and that they are regarded as criminals; And Melida just admitted it to him.
Braidy kept holding her hand. As a common man, form a far-off land, he was completely helpless compared to any mystical matter. Braidy decided to simply stay with Melida. She was holding back her power, and hurting no one. Mages are rumored to be far worse than dragons; If Melida was a good cuddler, with a good heart, there was no doubt that mages, and dragons, were undeserving of such hate. Braidy was now, also sad. Once the shock wore off, he decided to ask why Melida was so hurt about the opportunity, to be sure.
“Are you a mage? I hear they are dangerous old magic, that is fonder of fey then people. Is that why you don’t want to slay a dragon and hate your peers? You could be killed…” Braidy whispered. Melida, looked at him in horror; She’d been caught. But Braidy wasn’t running, or pulling out a pitchfork.
“Yes, but be quiet,” Melida nodded. “As a mage, I don’t take no sides between men and fey; Therefore, taking any life was tragic. But you’re right; If I don’t do it, I could be murdered.” She added. Braidy deeply wanted to help, now understanding the situation. He wanted to get Melida out of that stupid school, while still giving her a good shot. She held Braidy’s hands tighter, noticing he was also tearing up.
“I didn’t know you loved fey that much too. But why aren’t you scared of me?” Melida said.
“If you’re a mage, based on what you said, you protect everyone; Including fey and those dumb wizards. This whole situation is criminal.” Braidy replied.
