Chapter Text
Three days later Gilbert still felt the effects of the fairy trap. In the beginning it was stinging headaches, dizzy spells and vomiting. But Dr. Yao's medicine took care of the symptoms easily.
In that time he couldn't attend any classes and his friends came by daily to look for him. Antonio came to bring food for him, his way of being worried. And Francis sat with him to chat and deliver the sad news of homeworks. Ivan, who lived right next to him through thick stone walls, didn't make a sound. Which was good, Gilbert argued, because he didn't want to hear him barf.
Dr. Yao as the replacement for Professor Kirkland was at first a interesting idea, but as Francis described it it was like listening to a Alien describe the most advanced technology to worms. Apparently the doctor would become excited to teach for once and as the lesson went on he lost himself several times ranting in what sounded like Chinese. The thing that made him laugh was that he addressed the class as if they understood.
Ludwig also came to see him multiple times a day. For short visits but more than anyone else. He also brought homework. But he also brought him the best news he'd heard yet.
With monotone joy as he could muster it, he presented him a pamphlet with a floating dragon and his rider on it. The letters TOURNAMENT were enflamed and warm to the touch.
"You got one for me?! Holy shit Ludwig! You're the best!", Gilbert yelled as he bounced in his seat. He jumped and gave his brother a strong hug and kiss on the forehead, which Ludwig discreetly wiped off when Gilbert looked away to read the invitation.
"Of course. You always get one even when you can't enter. And I knew this time would be no different. I wish you good luck on competing for the first time. Make sure you train a lot.", Ludwig said, apathetic to the tournament but glad to see his brother so excited.
"You don't have to tell me twice! I'm going to start today!"
"No.", Ludwig said and held out his hand to stop him, which amused Gilbert greatly.
He was going to leave regardless of what Ludwig said. As soon as he was left alone Gilbert snuck out to the main hall, because it was time for dinner. And he wanted to eat with his friends as always.
"What's with that face, Francis? Why is it so long?"
Antonios misunderstanding of the language made Francis smile despite the given long face.
"I'll tell you why. That witch Kirkland is going to fail me! Could you believe she left a note with Dr. Yao to give to me for that?"
He held up a letter by his pointer and middle finger, written in iridescent green ink with yellow paper. It was a signature quirk for the teacher.
"What? You're her best student! You ace all your potions! Sometimes you make them even smell better! Did she give you instructions? It doesn't sound like her to be that vindictive."
At that moment he stopped and looked up, because their white haired and red eyed, vampiric friend had finally come out of his room.
"I was looking for you guys!", Gilbert jogged the remaining few meters and sat down.
"¡Buenas, Gilbert! You're finally with us again! How are you?"
Gilbert shrugged his shoulders, not really wanting to discuss his injuries further.
"Present and aware? If that's what you're asking."
"Yes, it was! You looked kind of depressed for a few days right after the fairies got to you. Dr. Yao said it would go away but I was still worried."
He couldnt help but blow raspberries.
"Are you kidding? I eat depression for breakfast!"
The boys went and got their food and just settled to eat when Francis unsubtly brought up his thoughts.
"So, it looks like you and Michael Myers have finally made up. And all it took was a life threatening situation."
Gilbert looked up to see Francis eyes slit like a feline. He tried to smile to underline his next words, but he had a feeling it wouldn't mean anything to Francis and so his words came off as doubtful.
"Yes, totally. Maybe you should go on a adventure with Ivan too."
"Don't make me laugh.", Francis said, not even smiling.
"While we were trapped in the forest, Ivan helped me out. I mean, I know he's weird. But now that I know him better I kind of get why."
"You have to turn off the children's channel. I don't get why you're defending him. It was his fault it happened to begin with. What business has he 'exploring' our dungeons?"
"He is kind of a nerd.", Gilbert said but Francis shook his head No definitely.
"But it's true.", Antonio spoke up to his dismay, "Not to sound mean but he kind of is! He is your only rival in potions. Maybe he can help you?"
"Help me? Antonio!", Francis touched to his chest, dramatically offended.
"What? What did you do this time?", Gilbert asked.
Francis threw his hands up in exasperation.
"Nothing! Why do I have to have done something? She is going to fail me if I don't impress her by the end of the year!"
He unfolded the piece of paper and slid it over for Gilbert to read for himself.
"To Francis Etienne Bonnefoy. I wanted the opportunity to say this to you in person, to avoid embarrassing you in front of the class. But unfortunately I'm incapacitated at this moment and that is why I'm leaving this note with Dr. Yao. Attached are this year's lesson plans and I urge you to study them carefully. The end of the quarter is closing in and if you cannot provide me with proof of your knowledge, I will fail you. While your talent is remarkable, talent alone is not worth much outside of school, if you're planning your career around potion making. Anyone respectable to take you as an apprentice will want to see good grades. You must learn the curriculum if you want to graduate and that is final. I'm giving you this ultimatum because I know you are capable. Impress me. Best wishes, Alice Kirkland."
Gilbert pushed the paper back to it's owner and smirked at his rebellious friend to get a taste of consequences.
"Wow, it sounds almost nice when you don't hear her say it with her mouth. So you have to study more, big deal."
Francis scoffed and snatched his paper, mumbling under his breath about disrespect.
All of a sudden Antonio sprang from his chair and waved, loudly calling out to Ivan as his friends heads snapped around to look in surprise.
He had seen him in the library before and left him alone because Ivan also still looked shaken. With sunken eyes but his usually unresponsive attitude. But now, when Antonio called out to him, his eyes lit up for a moment and he naturally steered towards them.
"Ivan! Are you better?", Antonio asked for the whole group and when Ivan hummed a yes he beckoned him to sit down next to him. Ivan sank in the chair as if his legs needed the rest.
"What are you doing out?", Gilbert asked him.
"I heard you leave your room. And then I realized it was dinner time. So I followed you."
"Nice. I was hungry too.", Gilbert held casual conversation while Francis couldn't believe nobody thought this was a weird answer.
"Ivan, you and Francis should study together!", Antonio excitedly interrupted any upcoming smalltalk.
"Antonio! Comment osez-vous!", Francis snapped and flushed from getting put on display without permission. But Ivan as well didn't seem excited by the idea.
"Of course.", he answered to Francis horror however.
"No! I don't need studying! I'm a potions prodigy!"
"Нет, you don't like studying but you need to practice any skill youre good at or else you will be overtaken by somebody. But you seem mostly fine in class.", Ivan identified honestly, "Why do you need help?"
Francis sputtered speechlessly. Unsure of whether to take the bait or not.
But Antonio helpfully explained the situation to Ivan, who looked at the yellow paper with some recognition and amusement.
"Okay.", he said to Francis, "It's not so much studying you need to do. You just need to memorize the element tables and read one long story about the first discovery of dragons. Other than that you will be fine during finals. And she likes when you quote her in your papers. I have some notes I can share, да? I will duplicate them for you."
"Seriously!", Francis laughed because he couldn't react any other way and he looked overwhelmed from the supposed simplicity. He first glared at the Russian and then shook his head, relenting finally.
"Fine. Help me study, since you have such a special relationship with Professor Kirkland."
Ivan blinked tiredly and smiled.
"Did I offer?"
The immediate shift in tone was felt. But then Ivan chuckled and waved it off.
"I was joking. Of course I can help you. "
Francis did not take too kindly to the joke. But after all he had observed how Ivan earned himself a easy ride by playing by the professors protocol. Or kissing up, as Francis described it. If there was some strategy to this and Ivan had it, it could be worth something.
Ivan bridged the silence to round off his point.
"It is actually very nice of her to give you a heads up instead of letting you run yourself into the ground."
"I have to agree, brother.", Gilbert spoke up, "Maybe it'll be easier than you think."
Francis scoffed in response: "Oh please. Such a waste of time to just sit and read and write away your life.
Professor Kirkland has this magical ability to make everything she touches boring. She would probably make dragon racing boring if she could."
It takes no second of consideration for Gilbert to nod along with that statement.
"That's perfect. I happen to be very good at reading and writing my life away.", Ivan said.
"Okay, let's stop talking about me failing the one thing I like doing in school. Toni and I haven't been able to get drunk on fairy juice and we have to get to herbology next."
Francis rolled his eyes as he said it, leaning towards Gilbert and hushing the words "Doctor Yao again." as if the doctor was infiltrating all other classes as well.
"Is there any teacher you don't have a problem with?", Gilbert teased him back.
Francis thought for a moment as if he'd actually considered a answer , then shrugged.
"Mrs. Héderváry is kind of hot?"
To that he received two punches to his shoulders, one by Gilbert and one from across the table by Antonio.
They parted in good spirits however, leaving Ivan and Gilbert behind at the table. With no obligation to head to class, Gilbert leaned back and watched the other students file out of the hall.
"Are you trying to get Francis to like you?", he remarked with his eyes scanned to the door.
"You caught me.", Ivan said with a smirk and poked at his food, "No, not really. I just want to show him I'm not a bad person. Just weird."
"Ivan you're not weird.", Gilbert said and laughed, "Not any more bananas than most students here."
"What is Bananas?"
Gilbert brought his attention back to his foreign friend and gestured to point out the fact.
"And you're not from Germany. You don't even know why you're bananas."
"Because I am sweet?", Ivan deduced and they had a chuckle.
"Just don't expect Francis to become nice to you. I'm surprised he was that civil with you just now. He's not good with opening up to other people. I don't want to get into his history, that's his story to tell. I just don't want you to be disappointed."
Ivan still merely poked his uneaten food with his head low in thought.
"I think I'll find we may have a lot in common, Francis and Me."
He said it half intentionally, Gilbert noticed, because Ivans eyes shot up for a second as if to grab the sentence and put it back where it came from. But that was not how sound worked. Gilbert let it linger for a moment, but the curiousty that had been building for a long time, finally trumped his manners.
"I bet your parents are more on the conservative, annoying side. Like mine."
"I don't know what to tell you. My parents, well, my father is just not very present in my life. That's all."
"Well, someone has to have raised you.", Gilbert kept pushing his luck.
There was a tear in the fragile glass bowl that Ivan had figuratively handed him back in the forest and he only noticed it now as Ivans face fell and he looked pale as death for close to a second.
"I have no reason to tell you this. My mother is gone. My older is too. My father isn't interested in me and Natalia. But he keeps food in the house, so she will be fine."
And Gilbert did regret asking.
"That sounds heavy."
"It is heavy." , Ivan said and smiled, "I work hard because I want to care for my sister when I'm older. She is still so young and she will still be young when I graduate."
"Wow. You're a good brother.", Gilbert said, adoring his resolve to take care of a vulnerable sibling.
It soothed Ivan to hear this as he had looked and found the honesty in Gilberts words.
After a moment of considerate silence, Gilbert put his hand to the table and declared:
"Hey, I have an idea. Let's pack our lunches and go for a walk. I want to show you something."
They bundled their leftovers and left the castle properties. Against meager protests by Ivan of not wanting to get into trouble.
But Gilbert was elated by the good news of the tournament. After hearing his bird had come to lead their rescuers and long before that he'd had it in his mind to visit. But most importantly to introduce Ivan to Gilbird.
He made them track through a field and partly up hill before he let Ivan sit on a boulder to recover. The whole time he didn't tell him what they were going to do, but Ivan knew as soon as he saw their destination ahead.
A steep incline lead to the opening for the massive aviary inside the ancient Lindwurm cave. Gilbert stood on the emerging rock formation that reached out perfectly as a perch for something massive, and he whistled.
Despite expecting the bird Ivans heart froze for a moment when the same creature he'd seen in the forest shot out of the opening and circled the sky with the weight of a cabin. The same skull that sat impossibly attached to a full, feathered and functional body. The animal looked blind from its hollow eye sockets and the exposed bone sat on black skin. It crowed joyfully, exposing a black throat and tongue.
Ivan watched its beak as thick as Gilberts head gently nibble through his hair with just their tips after hopping up to him. Gilbert laughed and explained: "He's extra cuddly today! I bet he did that flip because he's showing off to you."
Ivan stood a few feet away, cautious. It was like Gilbird felt his hesitation and it focused on him.
He saw within what looked like a hollow socket one small beady eye close as it tilted its head. As moved closer, Ivan moved back instinctually. Gilberts reassurance that he was nice and didn't bite was nothing to him.
"I don't want to meet him.", Ivan said, stumbling over his feet to escape. There was a treble in his voice.
"Forgive him! He thinks he is eagle sized. He wants to be a shoulder bird so bad."
Gilbert had to gently dissuade the bird from pushing Ivan to the ground with it's whole weight.
He was looking at the bird with a mixture of curiosity and fear. It was acting like any bird, perhaps too submissive to a being twice smaller than itself.
"He trusts you very much. You must be a powerful wizard.", Ivan said as he watched Gilbert coddle the giant animal.
Gilbert looked over still laughing.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"How else would you be able to dominate the animal?", Ivan argued, "I've seen your prowess. You can't tell me you don't use it to tame a creature."
Gilbert cocked his head and wore a strange smile that made Ivan feel pitied.
"I never use magic on animals. Well, except for self defense. But Gilbird just liked me. I guess I'm just blessed that way."
As he stroked the corvids iridescent feathers he sat on a thought he never wanted to share. It was an admission of weakness. And barely anyone knew, but since Ivan opened up about his family, Gilbert felt it just right to offer something in return.
"Believe it or not, my magic doesn't always show up for me. It's like I'm always fighting myself to do it right. Most of the time I can hide it somehow but I know when I'm feeling bad, my magic could just explode or not do anything at all."
He couldn't bear to look to see Ivans reaction and just kept on speaking into the birds feathers.
"Opa had my mom take me to Dr. Yao when I was a baby. The uncontrollable magic wasn't the only reason though. I was just kind of weak due to a birth condition. It's called Albinism and it's a thing humans get, but wizards can have it too. All that is why I was homeschooled the first two years."
When Ivan still didn't say anything, Gilbert dared to have a look. He seemed to listen intently, with his hands folded in front of him and his gaze still fixed on the bird, truly expecting it to lash out at any moment. After Gilberts words settled Ivan felt compelled to comment.
"I've been wondering about that. Why haven't you fixed it?"
It stung that Ivan had to ask the question with these words. Gilbert reflexively smiled wide and laughed.
"I decided not to! Dr. Yao gave us a potion once. I would have to drink it every day to maintain that look and I just didn't care to do that. It's funny. When I tried it, it made me look just like Ludwig. I would be blonde with blue eyes. But it didn't feel like me. Makes sense, right?"
He didn't need Ivan to confirm anything. His large friend was still listening and nodding, but he had a feeling Ivan simply decided not to weigh in his opinion.
"I had other ailments too. I got sick often, the sun burned me badly, my eyes were so bad I needed thick glasses to see. I used to get bad headaches as a baby too because I couldn't bear any brightness. That's just a few things that happened. I'm still drinking potions every week so I can live normally. My parents always treat me like I could dissolve in water. But I don't mind it anymore. I'm just glad I found good friends that accept me as I am, you know?"
This time when he looked over Ivan was looking at him with a strange intensity.
"Why are you telling me all this? Why bring me here for that?", he accused him.
Gilbert answered his question with a shrug. Then he walked over, got Ivan by his hand and led him back to his familiar.
Ivan tried to pull away, shaking his head profusely. Before he could slip from his grasp, Gilbert grabbed both his hands and forced him to look at his face.
"Ivan, I won't lie to you. Do you trust me?"
"I don't know.", Ivan mumbled as their eyes met.
"I promise nothing will happen. I swear on my life that Gilbird is nice. Touch him once and then you never have to do it again. Okay?"
"No.", Ivan pleaded, his hands balled fists around Gilberts.
"You can close your eyes. Just hold up your hand like this."
He relented and let Gilbert position his shaking hand.
"I can tell that you're scared. I'll prove you can trust me!", Gilbert said with deep conviction. Then for a second all Ivan felt was the approach of a large and looming presence that almost made his knees buckle. He jolted as his hand touched warm, porous bone. His heart fluttered anxiously but he commanded himself to keep in place.
His pale finger tips sat on the bridge of its beak as he looked, the glinting eye in its socket closed reassuringly upon meeting his eyes. Ivans face flushed with anxiety and embarrassment from being so scared of a bird. Then he moved his fingers to scratch the bone.
Gilbird cracked its beak and purred like a dove, drawing a nervous giggle from Ivan.
It made Gilbert smile with pride. The giant corvid sank to the ground to let Ivan explore more of the skulls surface.
For a while the boys would continue to pamper the bird with ruffles and scratches between the shafts of its feathers. It finally took off on its own, attending to important birdly business.
"I have to say this. I was worried you were going to sit me on that thing."
"Thing!", Gilbert scoffed loudly and punched Ivans shoulder. The other recoiled confused before he realized it was meant affectionately.
"Don't be rude! No, but I did think about riding him for you. To show you what he can do."
"Didn't the doctor order you to rest?"
"Would you?", Gilbert smirked.
"Да, because I am not a fool like you."
"It's because you're a different kind of fool.", he murmured and pulled the pamphlet from his pants pocket to show Ivan. Grinning ear to ear, he tapped at the motion picture with the white dragon and it's bulky, black haired rider.
"This is going to be us on the pamphlet next year!"
"You and Gilbird?", Ivan said as he took the paper and read it.
"No, I will be riding a horse. Of course me and Gilbird! That's what we always train for!"
Ivan read the paper, an amused smile when he saw Gilbert had preemptively written his name and nothing else on the fly.
"A triathlon? That sounds horrible to me. Are you also a survival duelist and spelunker?"
Gilbert thought about their involuntary adventure and said: "I am getting there.", but it didn't register with Ivan.
"So, you've done this before?"
"Not like this. Every year theres a local tournament that invites all German, Swiss, Austrian and Belgian schools. But since 1999, every four years, the largest most influential schools attend the global tournament to compete. This is going to be our first year with the United States too, because Mr. Jones works here. Opas school is sort of young in comparison to most that have survived the medieval era."
"It sounds dangerous."
"Man, give that back.", he snatched the paper from Ivans hand and shook his head, "You're not worthy."
"Good.", Ivan said unimpressed, "I hope you know what you're doing. You may be good with animals but you fell badly for the fairy trap. I don't want that to happen to you again."
The pamphlet was folded crudely and put back into his pocket. Only then did his words reach him and Gilbert gave him a bemused look with his eyebrows raised.
"You're worried about me?"
Ivan held Gilberts attention and snorted.
Back inside the school, walking side by side through empty halls was a rare treat reserved for illegal night dwellers. But since the students were stuck in class they had the whole of it to themselves. Except for the occasional teenager with their head down in a book, or all the way on the table for a missed class nap.
And Mr. Jones whom walked with his head held high, his glasses glinting in the electrical lights that had just sprung to live as the sun started to set. He saw the two boys wandering around together and quickly lit up for joy. It was endearing to see two once bickering boys now be friends and took him back to his own days of school.
"If it isn't my favorite pair of troublemakers!", he called to them with a perfect, pearly and symmetrical grin.
"It seems you're well enough to be walking around at last."
"Yes, one hundret percent!", Gilbert lied and Ivan nodded quietly.
Mr. Jones laughed.
"Well, if that is truly the case then you two are stronger than your Professor. And that is impressive!"
"Where is Professor Kirkland?", Ivan asked, oddly concerned.
Gilberts smile drooped into a sympathetic frown. It was mysterious to him how the professor was affected like this.
"I feel kind of guilty.", he expressed to his teacher.
But Mr. Jones shook his head, his pose settling into something more relaxed to spend time explaining.
"Don't be, Gilbert. Unfortunately she needs this much time off to be able to bounce back. Professor Kirkland has a long history with meddling with the fae folk and many other consciousness afflicting magics you guys couldn't comprehend yet. The reason she is affected this badly is because it figuratively reopened an old injury of hers. She will be fine. I guess you get older no matter what you do or how powerful you are.", Mr. Jones eyes wandered thoughtfully, "But Dr. Yao has her on a medicinal potion that mitigates the effects of her hallucinations, it also makes her incredibly fatigued. That is why she is unfit to teach at the moment."
Gilbert lowered his gaze and felt in him this incessant need to rectify the situation. He knew it was neither his doing nor his fault but regardless was tired of finding himself in the middle of it as the reason she had to sacrifice her health.
"I have to tell her that I'm thankful. Like, really, really thankful for saving my life."
"Me too.", Ivan joined.
Laughing gently, Mr. Jones took off his glasses to crudely polish with his necktie. For him to wear his glasses was a trait Gilbert admired in him, as well as his general human- like attire and attitude. The only teacher that made him feel normal in pants and a dress shirt.
"I will make sure she hears it. Honestly, the best you could do for her would be doing well in the classes she is teaching."
He winked at the boys, bid them farewell and sauntered on in his delighted gait.
"He is awesome.", Gilbert quietly confessed as he watched his elder march off, "And so cool. Did you know Mr. Jones is half human?"
When Ivan didn't answer, he looked and thought he saw him frowning for a moment.
"I was informed before I came here that there were humans teaching at this school. His brother does not possess any magical abilities at all. I've met him at the library."
He spoke so softly it sounded like he spoke through a veil. The library was a perfect place for him, Ivan thought, in a sense that he had purpose there.
"He seems meek in comparison. But I like him.", he finally said as he remembered the many hours he spent in nooks of the library, alone with the librarian.
Gilbert didn't know what to say to that. His first instinct was to agree, because it was true. But it felt like betrayal to his beliefs. He tried not to dwell on it.
As they rounded the corner Ivans eyes fell on Francis, who was sitting on the other side of the atrium immersed in a object concealed within his hand. He stopped to let Gilbert know he wanted to speak to Francis alone.
"I would like to try and apologize to him. And offer to help him study for Professor Kirkland's class again. I've been thinking about it and I came to the conclusion that it would be better if I found a way to befriend him."
Gilbert smiled half doubtfully, half relieved to hear that.
"I think that's awesome but don't have any expectations. He will probably still try to mess with you."
"That's exactly what I expect.", Ivan said reassuringly, which made Gilbert laugh.
They parted their ways and Ivan walked into Francis view. He felt his ocean blue eyes dissecting him before he even arrived.
Francis put down the rectangular device he was holding to face him off properly, but he wasn't bothered to get up or even turn his body.
"Hello Francis."
"What do you want?", he demanded. Ivan couldn't help but smile.
"I wanted to tell you that I apologize for what I said to you. I'm sorry I implied that you sleep around."
Francis laid his head back and laughed quietly, something Ivan couldn't guess the reason for.
"And you should be. It's true but it's none of your business.", he chided Ivan and sat upright to look him directly in the face, making sure there was no way Ivan would misunderstand what came next.
"You know I'm only accepting your apology for Gilbert's sake. It doesn't mean anything to me and I don't understand why he likes you."
Whether it was real or a false smile on Ivans face, he thought Francis was weirdly entertaining. His uncomfortable bluntness and confidence irritated Ivan but he had to admit that he also admired it in a way.
Ivan clicked his tongue theatrically.
"I will pretend you apologized too, for Gilbert. Thank you Francis. I guess we're even."
"You're welcome.", said Francis graciously.
He pulled his bag up to his lap, revealing a book with many sticky notes protruding from the sides, that read "Potions Vol.VI". It looked thoroughly used with dents and bumps, watermarks and ears.
Ivan pointed it out before the opportunity could pass.
"It looks to me like you shouldn't have a problem passing potions. This book has obviously been read a lot."
Francis hid his bag away with an annoyed sneer on his face.
"I mostly just look at the pictures.", he explained, "I wish we could have online forums to talk about stuff like that, but it's all full of white girl magic. Which is conceptually the same but kind of useless. I wish we could use the Internet for actual magic advice. Could you imagine how cool that would be?"
"You can do online?", Ivan asked him, interested.
"Not here unfortunately!", Francis scoffed , fully accepting Ivans curiosity, "The school barely gets reception. There's better connection in the library in town. It's probably some hocus pocus to keep the school hidden that we can barely use it here".
"The online?", Ivan asked again.
"What?"
He turned from Francis and shook his head, trying not to embarrass himself.
"Nothing."
In a rare gesture of humility Francis picked up the phone that was resting with its screen down by his side and held it out to Ivan.
"Do you want to see it?"
Ivan took it carefully, as if handling it wrong could make it explode. He turned it in his hands. The screen displayed the time of day which he thought was very convenient. On the side were indents and when Ivan pressed the button down, the screen lit up with the picture of a ratty, white dog.
Ivan exclaimed in surprise: "How did I do that?"
Francis took back his property with a genuine smile. Ivan reacted like a small child or a grandmother at his first time holding a phone.
"I can't believe you don't know about this stuff. Most wizards at least kind of know about it. Phones have been around for a long time, Ivan.", he teased him.
"These are strictly forbidden at my school and my father didn't want me to own something like that."
Francis looked down at his lap, considering if he wanted to say something mean, but he resisted. He tried to be the bigger man, given that Ivan was also trying to make good with him.
"I have a proposition for you then. I will get you one and I'll show you how to use it. And in return you can help me pass Potions."
His eyes lit up in a way Francis had never seen in Ivan before. He seemed so excited at the idea, his hands shot up and moved aimlessly in a feeble attempt at expressing it somehow.
"Yes, I can tell you exactly what Professor Kirkland wants from you!", he declared as if it were the easiest trade in history, "You just have to please the teacher's taste. She is actually very easy if you can quote things she said in class."
"Which I'm obviously not doing.", Francis sighed dramatically.
"Good thing that I take notes.", said Ivan with a superior smile.
"If you want my honest opinion, you'll be fine.", Ivan continued, "She has it out for you a little bit because you're such a nuisance in class. But she can't really do anything because you're also good. That's why she's trying to nail you with this right now."
It flattered Francis. He smiled at the obvious reading Ivan gave him on his work ethic.
"Maybe I wouldn't be such a nuisance if she was a little more pleasant to be around. She always smells odd, like dust and moth balls and her hair is hard to look at for someone like me.", he shook his well conditioned hair, "And then she has the gall to be rude on top of all that!"
"Maybe you could find people are more likely to be nice to you if you are nice to them first.", Ivan more so mumbled, unsure if there was any meaning in saying it.
Francis slapped his knee as his body jolted upright.
"Oho, look who is lecturing me!", he got up and countered Ivan.
Although this gesture, his tone and his words had all this intensity to it, Ivan felt no vitriol coming from Francis this time. They simultaneously chuckled at the absurdity of the situation.
Gilbert in the meantime went on to find Antonio by the blackboard. Staring up at the different flyers hung to recruit students into clubs alongside miscellaneous. Toni stood face to face with the flyer for the broom sport, which had a picture of the team. In the upper left corner smirked the prideful grin of Lovino.
Not to point out the obvious, Gilbert greeted him normally.
"Hola Toni. Buenos días. ¿Qué tal?"
Antonio turned with the easiest smile on his face.
"You're using my words!", he cheered and left his difficult decision to make for later.
The two of them walked together back towards the main hall. To Gilberts questions about class, Toni told him about how the doctor evidently taught Professor Kirkland's grade by mostly speaking about his adventures of curing wizards throughout life and wars.
"One time they told us about injuries they've healed during world war two. They had soldiers with a rotting hex on their shoulder. And one time because it was close to the heart Dr. Yao said they had to "improvise " and basically vanished the part that the hex was spreading on before it reached a fatal level. They were definitely bragging the whole time, but that story is too crazy! I don't know if I want to believe everything they told us."
"Wait. What do you mean by vanish?", Gilbert chuckled, "Did they just take off the whole arm?"
Antonio looked at him with a strange incredulousness that was rare for him.
"No, they did this."
He stopped him right in front of the main halls doors. Antonio drew the outline of a circle over a random spot on Gilberts shoulder and put his hand flat on the spot.
"And then, they said they just lifted the skin and tissue and bones including the hex. And vanished it out of existence."
Gilbert saw in his eyes that he didn't want to doubt the Doctor.
"Just gone? I don't know how that would work."
"And they did it just with their hands!", Toni added with emphasis.
Gilbert couldn't help but smirk as the memory of the forest came back to him, where Ivan had also used his hand to light a fire. It annoyed him to think of Ivan as this powerful, if this wasn't just some secret technique.
"You know what? I kind of want to know if that is even possible. Let's go to the library and ask Mr. Matthew."
Surprised by the sudden interest, but intrigued by such a rare suggestion, Toni agreed. They moved on to the library on the second level.
The first room of the library was a round and narrow space. The ceiling was high and the walls behind the counter were filled to the top with books that were most commonly borrowed.
Mr. Jones' illusive brother lingered in the corner, his unremarkable appearance almost blending in with the background.
When he looked up at the boys he welcomed them with a shy greeting.
"Can I help you find something?", he said with a smile and a glimmer of recognition behind his glasses. He very much looked like a twin to the extroverted teacher.
"Hola Mr. Matthew! How are you? We have a question.", Antonio took the opportunity.
They relayed Dr. Yaos story, acted it out in front of a man that never could use magic. And to their surprise, he nodded and stood up with a destination in mind.
"I think I know what you want. Follow me!"
Behind the counter and through the small door, the room opened up into a massive library. There were seats, chairs and tables scattered throughout, ceiling high windows poured light over the students. Gilbert noticed the pendant to it, a corner that was dimly lit with warm lamps even during the day. Dark, comfortable and hidden. This was where the librarian took them.
He produced one old and well read book from the shelves by climbing the ladder like a regular human would, without comment.
"I wish professor Kirkland was here to help answer that question herself! But I suppose you wouldn't have had that question if Dr. Yao didn't teach today.", he chuckled and handed over the book.
"I don't want to spoil your discoveries. But let me just tell you that it is possible.With lots of time and practice.", he winked at them and Gilbert wondered if the librarian never felt envy or sadness at the fact he couldn't conjure. When he left them with the book, they settled in the sun and flipped through.
"He didn't lie.", Toni concluded, "But now we know that Dr. Yao is way older than he looks."
"But that doesn't make sense for Ivan.", Gilbert thought out loud.
Antonio looked at him with a questioning expression, waiting for an explanation but Gilbert was too distracted to notice.
"What does Ivan have to do with that?"
"I guess I didn't tell you guys. I don't know how he did it without a wand but he lit a fire with his hands when we washed up on the shore. But if what were reading here is true then that is not possible, right?"
"I don't know.", Toni said, looking at him the same way he had doubted the doctor's story.
"Like, you don't think Ivan is actually hundreds of years old?"
They sat together in silence as the implications piled up in their heads, neither daring to keep festering further conspiracies about Lazarevs intentions. Gilbert didn't want to assume Ivan had lied to him, not after they'd just found equal grounds.
In the end they opted not to involve the librarian for more questions and thanked him as they left with the book secured in their bags.
Antonio seemed satisfied with this new piece of information, assuming an innocent explanation for Ivans supposed prowess.
"I think he was just showing off to you somehow.", he explained, "Maybe just ask him how he did it?"
And Gilbert vowed to himself to do just that.