10. The First Steps
- I was worried you deepshit! - she hissed. - I gave you like ten calls, and all can you do is a freaking text message?
- I'm sorry, I...
She didn't wait for the explanation, instead just punched him in the shoulder, and pushed her way into the room, to drop her backpack on the and sit next to it.
- What happened? I know Joe chased you, but he then returned to the school empty-handed. How the heck did you manage to escape him?
- I-its a long story – he forced himself to smile and closed the door behind her.
- Well, I don't know in what hole you hid yourself, but the fact that you managed to escape Joe is quite impressive. Kids are already making fun of him and Billy. By the way, what was in those sandwiches? Don tell me it was…
- No! It wasn't. I used peanut butter and fart spray.
Liv just started laughing so hard, that she stretched out on the bed, almost hitting the wall with her head. Fortunately, she was too short to reach.
- You've earned some respect, that I can tell you, but they will want to get back on you. Prepare for revenge.
- I'll be fine. I just need to stick to teachers for a while.
- What about before, and after school? - Liv picked herself up back to a sitting position. - They will kill you if they can get you.
Trevor scratched his head.
- I'm not sure - he admitted. - Maybe I'll ask my mom or dad to drive me to and back from school?
- That's not that bad of an idea, but kids will make fun of you, you know that? - her eyebrows moved up.
- They are making fun of me anyway - he shrugged his shoulders.
- Ok, that's actually true – she agreed. - Well, maybe it's good that it went the way it did. Now you can't chase that stupid legend anymore, so things should return to normal. At least somewhat.
- Yes… I can't anymore – he said, and a mysterious smile crawled on his lips.
That surprised Liv. She turned her head slightly to the side, watching him closely.
- Wait… Wait… Should I know about something?
He shook his head, and the smile vanished much faster than it appeared. Trevor knew very well that he can't talk about the library, and he was quite afraid to disobey the rules, just after he barely found the thing he was looking after for so long.
Not to mention the fact that he didn't really understand them, so the best thing to do was not to talk about 'The Grand Library' at all.
- Treeev! - Liv growled through her clenched teeth, squinting her eyes to look angry. - Tell me everything. You know that you can't lie to me.
- I'm not lying.
- I know you, my guy, I know you very well, and something is off here. If you don't want to tell me, then don't, but at least stop pretending. Cut the crap, cause I ain't buying it.
He nodded slowly.
- Yes – he agreed, and then added, whispering: - Something happened, but I can't talk about it.
Her eyes went wide.
- Don't tell me you…
- I can't talk about it – he repeated himself through gritted teeth. - So don't ask me.
- Ok, ok. I won't ask – she shrugged her shoulders.
He knew it was a lie, but couldn't do anything about it anyway. There was no way in the world, she would just let him have a secret. A knocking on the door, just behind Trevor, interrupted their conversation.
- I made waffles – said the mother.
- Oh, I love waffles – said Liv, and immediately got on her feet.
- We are coming – said Trevor, still watching his friend.
This whole thing was too dangerous for him since he didn't want to lose access to 'The grand Library' but also didn't want to be an asshole, and in the process lose his closest friend.
The two of them left the room and joined Mrs. West in the kitchen where a big plate, filled with waffles, was already waiting for them on the table, accompanied by honey, maple, and chocolate syrups. The room was quite bid and was basically made out of two combined areas. The kitchen with all the equipment and an island in the middle, then also the dining area where the table and few chairs were standing. Everything in white and blue colors, with a small chandelier close to the ceiling, and a big window in the front wall of the house.
They sat, and started eating in silence, just exchanging glares. It was obvious that Liv won't just drop the topic. He just had to do his best to avoid the dangerous conversations, because a slip of a tongue could cost him dearly.
- I called the school – the mother informed, as she brought more waffles. - Everything seems fine, but your homeroom teacher wants to talk with me and your father.
The boy nodded, while Liv observed them with the food still in her mouth. Trevor didn't really care anymore. The system changed everything, and even if he was to ignore the school completely to cultivate his magical powers, he could easily return to a new place in the third district as a complete winner thanks to the scholarship system working between the districts. More difficult for him was keeping himself from devouring the food like a wild animal, because of how hungry he was.
- Mom… Can I ask you for a favor?
- Of course sweetheart. What do you need?
- Could you… Could you take me to school tomorrow? And then pick me up after.
The women smiled.
- Of course - she nodded, closing her eyes.
- You are the best Mrs. West – added Liv.
This made the fragile blonde chuckle, as she went back to the kitchen part, to clean up after cooking.
The strange exchange of looks continued, as Liv, despite the promise and keeping her mouth shut, for now, didn't give up on drilling the hole in Trevor to find the truth behind what happened. He tried his best to keep up the poker face, but he know it was a lost cause anyway since she already knew something was off, and wouldn't give up no matter what.
What's even worse the boy heard the characteristical ping sound, informing of a new message, or mission, but the lack of a little bell in his peripheral vision indicated it was the letter.
To the surprise of both the mother and the friend, Trevor consumed almost all of the waffles by himself. Liv left shortly after they were done eating, and then he locked himself in his room, to finally check the mission.
"Open missions", he thought.
A window popped up right in front of him. Except for the old one he managed to complete, there was a new entry titled 'The First Steps'. He immediately focused on it and got a much-needed description.
@@@ @@@
Title: The First Steps
Goal: Increase the value of your 'Energy', and 'Control' to 5.
Description: To increase your 'Energy and 'Control' open the memory pack attached to the mission entry, and follow the instruction.
Reward: Mystery spell.
Attachments: Cultivator's memory pack.
@@@ @@@
- Holy shit – escaped his mouth, as a wide smile slowly crawled on his lips.
Very excited Trevor hesitated for a moment, as chills spread through his body. He sat down on his bed facing the window, with crossed legs, and then took a deep breath to calm himself down. It was a big moment for him, and he couldn't stop smiling. His whole body was itching to check whatever that memory pack was. He focused on it.
It took him by surprise since he expected something more subtle, but the vision hit him like a charging train, making him fall back on the bed, as it attacked his brain, and spread like a wildfire taking over his mind completely. He lost his vision, hearing, and other senses, when they were consumed by the experiences flooding him from the memory pack.
When it finally stopped he gasped for air, as he wasn't able to breathe through this strange and scary process. Panting heavily, he picked himself up back to a sitting position. He needed a minute to calm down, but then he was ready to proceed.
Now his brain was filled with instruction as clear as day on how to collect the power from the air and entrap it in his body, to change it and grow it. It was like planting a seed, and caring for it, so it could grow into a tall and strong tree.
He closed his eyes and proceeded. It was a slow, long, and moreover very boring process, so he didn't even notice when the exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep.