The Great Hero is a Schoolteacher

Taiki brought us to the arched main door of a wealthy house. The knocker was shaped like a fat fish. When the boy knocked, an elderly valet in an elegant uniform let us in, welcoming “Master Taiki”. He was human.

Inside, wooden beams crisscrossed on the ceiling and the walls were covered in fabric, with portraits of Tibuns on either side of the doors. The royal palace, with its colorful wallpapers, was more modern, but everything in this hall looked expensive.

The Sapps are wealthy merchants all right.

Taiki introduced us to his uncle Asko and his aunt Kiru. Both were polite Tibuns in their late forties, who didn’t pay much attention to our presence. Apparently, Taiki often brought friends for dinner.

“Oh, you’re staying the night?” said uncle Asko. “This is new. Gario, please, prepare three guest rooms.”

The valet nodded and disappeared in a corridor.

We had fried fish with onions, peas in a creamy sauce, and a vegetable called palgo, which looked a lot like asparagus. No one complained at the stress that four unexpected guests brought on the kitchen staff, but I suspected the menu was simpler on purpose, to accommodate our presence.

After dinner, Taiki brought us to his father’s office, where many maps were kept in a high bookcase, individually wrapped in leather tubes. He found one of Lake Mera and spread it over the desk. The city of Merumo was easy to spot, with its streets and bridges, and the large roads that went east and west. Some villages were spread around the shores, except on the north side, where the mountain was, and more islands dotted the lake.

“There are cliffs over there,” Taiki explained, pointing to the map. “The two main tributaries, the Esonti and the Rudan, enter Lake Mera in the form of waterfalls, here and there. I don’t think we’ll find any house there. It’s too damp and remote for anyone to settle.”

It was time to use my daily power. I closed my eyes and asked Cherub to help me pinpoint the place where a wizard named Turoch Garnet had built his secret lakeside house.

“Granted.”

The location appeared clearly in my mind, and I put my index finger on the map. The area was away from all villages, in-between natural canals created by the countless islands, just far enough from the waterfalls to look inhabitable.

“I suggest we take a look there. I may not know much about this world, but I have a talent for guessing things.”

They all gave me a doubtful glance.

“Why there?” asked Chess.

“Let’s call it a gut feeling.”

Taiki shrugged. “The location makes sense. Al’s guess might be wrong, but it’s as good a place as any to start looking. Does anyone have a better suggestion?”

Catalin and Chess shook their heads in silence.

“You know what?” Taiki added. “I’ll ask aunt Kiru. Gossip’s her thing, so if anyone in Merumo ever knew about a wizard who built a house over on the lake, she’ll tell me. In the meantime, I’ll show you the guest rooms. You make yourselves comfortable while I chat with my aunt.”

Judging by the colorful toys in a corner, the room I got assigned was, or used to be, a children’s room. It shared a tiny bathroom with the bedroom next door, where Catalin would sleep. We decided I’d wash first and she’d take the next turn.

As I brushed my hair in my nightgown, there were gentle knocks on the door. Taiki partly opened it, leaving it just ajar enough for him to talk to me in a low voice.

“Aunt Kiru knows about Turoch Garnet. He was quite famous in his time. But she never heard anything about him, or any wizard, having a house on the far side of the lake, so we’ll try your location first. Sleep well. We’ll rise early tomorrow.”

Having a real bed to sleep in was a nice upgrade from the past two nights, and I felt quite tired anyway. I pulled the blanket over my face, and I fell asleep.

The light was still dim and gray when I awoke to Taiki’s voice at the door. Catalin and I left our rooms with sleepy eyes, while Chess already looked more alert.

“Don’t make loud noises!” Taiki warned us. “My aunt and uncle are sleeping!”

We had a quick breakfast, got equipped, packed snacks for the days, and we went back to the port. I’d lived my share of departures at dawn, usually to catch an early flight for a week’s holiday, and this felt quite similar. I breathed in the crisp morning air, walking among dockworkers and delivery people, while the rest of Merumo was still asleep.

We helped Taiki unmoor his boat, and then, he skillfully avoided fishing boats and larger ships, sailing upstream into Lake Mera.

The sun rose while we were in the middle of the lake. I stayed at the bow and admired how the morning light gave warmer hues to the pink Mera trees. Their unusual foliage was fascinating. As it moved with the wind, part of my mind expected the pink color to fall like snow, or like cherry blossoms, but it didn’t. It was made of sturdy leaves. I could make out a few white flowers, like the one I wore at my neck.

It's Spring, these trees should be covered in flowers, but they’re not. Perhaps it’s why Mera flowers are supposed to bring good luck. They’re like four-leaf clovers. Rare and therefore considered lucky.

The more we sailed, the more the lake looked like some weird mangrove, continental rather than tropical, with colors unseen in any part of my native world. Birds flew from one miniature forest to another, and although I couldn’t see any animals on the islands or in the water, I got a feeling that the place was full of wildlife.

Forget everything, I want to spend a holiday here! Turoch Garnet chose the place well.

After another couple of hours, we had to reef the sails and row along the natural canals, under a canopy that looked like the vault of some surreal pink cathedral. Between some of the islands, the water was too shallow for the boat, so Taiki needed to double-check his map and take detours.

“This is the place you were pointing to, Al,” he said. “Keep your eyes open. These waters are tricky to navigate.”

We tried to follow the shoreline, but the depth of the vegetation made it hard to see where it was. Islands of all shapes and sizes rose here and there, so it didn’t feel like we were on a lake anymore, but on a network of tiny rivers running through an enchanted forest.

This is even more beautiful than the open lake. A wizard could totally spend his whole summer here, or work on a secret project, provided he’s safe from mosquitoes. Are there mosquitoes in Brealia?

“Look!” shouted Chess, pointing portside. “Isn’t it a fence?”

I could barely make out the shape of what did look like a fence on one of the islands, covered in moss and probably quite moldy.

“Don’t row too fast,” said Taiki. “I’m not beaching my baby in the middle of nowhere.”

We slowed down and moved forward very carefully.

When we went past the island where Chess spotted the fence, we discovered what we were looking for: a two-storied house, just a stone’s throw from the bank. Vines grew on the roof, and the small wooden pier that had once allowed mooring had crumbled, only half of its structure remaining above water level. As we approached, we noticed a small sunken boat next to it. By the look of it, it’d been underwater for years.

“Nobody’s been here for a long time,” commented Taiki. “It’s definitely the house you’re looking for, but is it safe?”

Chess took a long thoughtful look at the place.

“The structure looks sound. It’s not going to collapse on us.”

“Well, then, let me anchor the boat. We’ll get our feet wet, I’m afraid.”

It doesn’t matter. The symbol on Kossi’s neck is also somewhere in there, and I want to take a better look at it!

I removed my boots, laced them around my neck, and I jumped first. I had water up to my knees. Shivering from the cold water, I waited for Catalin and Chess before walking up the bank. The muddy ground made the task easier said than done, and I almost fell into the lake before I managed to get out and look at the front facade.

If there had been a path to the main door, it was long gone. The whole place was eerily peaceful. There were green shuts on the first-floor windows and the vine framing the door looked like it was there on purpose. Perhaps it had been, but how could it not overgrow over the course of decades?

There was no sign of intrusion anywhere.

Nobody robbed the house, or even touched it, since its owner left. Is it because it’s so remote? Or is there another reason?

“This is a wizard’s house all right,” whispered Catalin.

“How do you know?”

She reached for my hand. “I sense a magical vibration of sorts. It’s subtle and I can’t quite know what it is, but I know it’s there.” Her ears twitched and her eyes shone with excitement. “I can’t believe I’m standing right in front of Turoch Garnet’s retreat!”

I pulled away from her grasp, as gently as I could, while Taiki walked to the right, where high rocks blocked some of the light. Why go round the back? There was a front door and I intended to use it.

Catalin raised a hand.

“Be careful, Al! I don’t know what magic this is.”

“I will. But if there’s a way to counter the spell that was cast on Kossi, the secret lies in this house.”

I walked two steps, and then I froze. Some buzzing at the back of my mind.

It doesn’t feel right. Is it the vibration Catalin talked about? It feels like it’s warning us. My feet almost want to run away on their own.

“It’s uncomfortable,” said Chess.

“You feel it too?” Taiki drew his twin knives. “For the love of all, is this house threatening us?”

“Don’t do anything!” protested Catalin. “Turoch Garnet was a powerful wizard. If he cast a spell to protect his house, I don’t think he stopped at making trespassers uncomfortable. There must be a real danger out there.”

Anyway, now, we know why no one ever broke into the house.

I sighed. “Okay, house, I didn’t come this far to let you give me the stink eye. I’m a teacher, I’m the one who does this.”

One more step. Nothing moved. As I realized a second later, the whole forest had gone silent, all of a sudden. I could hear the water, the wind, but not the tiniest animal, as if every single living creature around me was holding its breath.

It really wants me to go, but I can be more stubborn.

“Let me take a look, will you?”

Catalin gasped in anguish when I took another step, but I had no intention of touching the door. I just looked all around for the origin of the magic. And there it was, right above the middle of the door, partly hidden by the vine. I pointed to it.

“Do you see it, Catalin? The sign that glows?”

“What sign?” She squinted, but she shook her head. “There’s nothing here, Al.”

But I see it! It looks like the infinity symbol from my native world, with a wave going through it and ending in a question mark!

Chess, then Taiki, confirmed that I was the only one who could see anything above the door. I frowned at them.

“Then what? Am I hallucinating?”

“You may have a special power,” said Catalin. “You know about natural magic, right? Perhaps yours is the ability to see a physical representation of a spell.”

“No, I don’t think…”

But I did.

It made sense. I’d noticed a glowing symbol on Chess’s scabbard at the University, and in Sirit’s kitchen at the palace, and of course, I was the only one who noticed the symbol behind Kossi’s neck. What if I was the only person in the room who had the ability to see it, and Kossi knew it because he’s a Gold Dragon?

And if I could see a spell, maybe I could understand it. Although it also meant that I could never learn how to cast one.

Come on, tell me your secrets. How were you traced? How do you work?

I squinted. Now that I knew what I was capable of, there did seem to be some logic behind this symbol.

“Al?” asked Catalin.

I held out a hand behind me.

“One second, please. I think I can read it, if I may say so.”

The more I concentrated, my eyes watering with the effort, the more the mechanism unveiled before me. First, this curve, then this line, and the door was sealed, ready to strike any trespasser with a deadly blow.

“You were right, Catalin. It doesn’t just threaten strangers. If anyone opens the door, there will be a massive blast, going this way, straight from the entrance to the lake.”

Catalin frowned. “How many blows?”

“Only one. The spell’s designed for a single use.”

She smiled and cracked her joints.

“Then everyone, stand aside. I may only be a freshman at the University of Magic Arts, but I can certainly turn a doorknob at a distance.”