Chapter Three – Celestria (Tuesday, August 30, 1994)
“And he calls that ‘upped’ training?” I cry out, popping a green grape into my mouth.
“He might have been holding back, Anya,” Celestria tells me.
“Then why bother tell me that our training sessions will be tougher?”
“The both of you were beaten up pretty badly,” she comments. “Also, both of you have gotten better in combat.”
“It’s only been a few months, though. It’s not like these skills come naturally, right?”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes?” this came out more of a question than an answer.
Today is my afterschool study with Celestria. Of course it didn’t start that way and I’ve yet to study anything yet. As soon as I teleported in, I handed Celestria some grapes that I had left over from lunch.
We’re in a small library that holds around five hundred books, mostly back-ups and journals from the past. There are a few books on spells, potions and alchemy as well.
“You’re right, it’s only been a few months since Ozma, do you want to talk about it?” Celestria asks.
“You were there,” I say dryly. “What about you?”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s your story? We’ve been popping in and out of this place but we really don’t know much about each other.”
“You really want to know?” Celestria asks, with a puzzled expression.
“Duh, that’s why I asked.”
“Okay, I’m a bookworm, that’s about it.”
“Oh no,” I sit up in my chair. “I’m the anti-social one so that position is taken. Spill it.”
“If you insist,” Celestria sighs and adjusts herself in the wooden chair before beginning. “I was born in Georgia in ’74 and I’m the oldest of three kids. I was a nerd in school and I kept skipping grades, which caused a few of my peers to be angry with me. I was fourteen when Ozma’s men took me from my home. I didn’t know how they knew but they called me Celestria from the very start instead of Melina. They gave me books to read and study and if I refused they would go after my younger sisters who were eight and four at the time. Of course I did what they told me but then they started to bring me prisoners and threatened to kill them and have me revive them if they didn’t talk. Even in my early stages of remembering my past life and learning what I can do, they wanted me to use my magic. Sadly, even after I warned them, I wasn’t able to revive some of the people that they brought to me. Even when they brought you in, I was worried that my powers wouldn’t work.”
“Have you been back home since?” I ask.
“No and I know its better that I don’t. For all my family knows, I was kidnapped and never found. I’m afraid if Ozma finds out that I went back to my family, that she will do something bad to them. I haven’t even had proper grapes until today.”
“Don’t worry, once Ozma has been taken care of you can see your family again.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you think it was wrong of me to return home?” All of a sudden I feel guilty for living with my dad while Celestria lives underground to protect hers.
“Yes, but you’ve made your mind up. I think it’s even more risky that you’re living at home.”
“I’m fourteen going on fifteen, I don’t think I can convince my dad to get a place of my own just yet.” My guilt begins to lead to a worry feeling. “Is there any way you can cast a protection spell on my dad? Just in case?”
“I’ve been reading on spells that deal with protection and how to cast several layers but I’m not sure if I can do it, not just yet anyway. Miles’ protection spell is visible plus you can’t do anything while in the bubble, so that’s out. I will see what I can do.”
“Thanks,” I say, standing. “Well, I had better get home.”
“Wait, we haven’t started your studies yet!” Celestria protests.
“But it’s getting late, I need to get home. I have a lot of homework to do.”
“School just started— what homework?”
“Not much but my drama class just gave of us a monologue that we need to remember and stage next week, so there’s that,” I wave. “So I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I doubt I can get Celestria distracted from lecturing me again but it was nice to listen to her today about something other than magic, history or potions.
