Y/n's pov.
" Why did we leave the horses again? " Rowena asked as we walk through this forest.
" The forest is thick and filled with creatures, if the horses die, we'd take a bit more longer to get back home " Mrs. Zvahl said.
" If this is a dangerous journey why bring us along? " I asked and hop on a log to grab a branch then swing myself on top of a tree.
" It's a part of being mages isn't it?, We're trained to fight " Mrs. Zvhal said.
" Oh " I said and hop to another branch and use my arms to balance my walking.
" How'd you get up there so quick? " I look down at Laurence who's following Mrs. Zvahl.
" I always climb trees back at home just to get lemons " I said.
" Couldn't you just shake the tree? " Garroth asked.
" Are you strong enough to shake a tree? " Katelyn asked.
" No "
" There's your answer " she said.
Mrs. Zvhal chuckles, I hop to another tree and notice it's an apple tree, I pick one and see it's ripe.
" Here! " I toss down and Laurence caught it.
" Thanks " he said and wipe it on his sleeve before taking a bite.
" Give me one " Travis said.
I grab another and toss it.
" Mind if I have one? " Rowena smiles up at me.
I turn to my right where a big branch is with a few apples, I use my dagger to cut it off when it's not that sharp anymore, I then just break it off and throw it to the ground.
" Ah! " Garroth and Travis hugs each other.
" Hey!, You could've killed us! " Travis said.
" You all can have your share now " I said then hop to another tree ahead of them.
" Y/n!, Please get down!, You'll get hurt! " Mrs. Zvahl said.
" Okay " I sit down on a branch and swing down as my legs hook around my legs.
" Boo! "
" Pickles! " Mrs. Zvahl steps back and I laugh.
" Pickles? " I asked as I hang her.
She sighs in relief with her hand on her chest.
" Don't do that again " she said, I smirks.
" No promises " I said.
She walks pass me and see Katelyn and Rowena eating their apple, I swing myself off the tree and land on the ground. I brush some dirt off my sleeve when I felt a small tug on my hair and I look up to my right to see Laurence taking a leaf off my hair.
" Thanks " I said and he smiles.
" Let's go " he gestures his head and I walk with him.
I blow a single strand of hair out of my face and the moment kept repeating in my head of him removing the leaf. The look on his face was just a little cute if I'm being honest. We continue to walk through this forest passing some rocks with moss on them and a few muddy area.
" Ugh, damn it, not my boots! " Rowena whines looking at her muddy boots.
" You'll live Rowena " Mrs. Zvahl said as she ducks under a branch.
I've notice the path we're taking is getting a little narrower.
" Is it just me or we're lost? " Travis asked.
" We're definitely lost " Katelyn said and sputter a bug out of her face.
" We're not " I said.
" How do you know? " Rowena asked.
" We're heading west where the sun sets and if we want to go back just go to the opposite where the sun rises " I said.
" Good job, extra points for Y/n " Mrs. Zvahl said.
" I knew that " Travis said.
" Yeah right " Laurence said and push him forward to move.
Getting through this path we ended up at a clearing.
" We're here " Mrs. Zvahl said.
" Holy shit " Rowena said.
I walk out and keep up to what they're seeing and I couldn't believe my eyes.
" A big cave rock, wow so cool " I lamely said then sniffle my nose.
" It's not a rock dumbass " Katelyn nudges me.
" Ow " I rub my arm.
" It's an ancient cave, look at the top " Laurence points and I look up to see massive writings on the wall.
They seem to be a foreign language.
" These are rare, most of them were destroyed in the war and this is where people used to seek shelter " he said.
" Oh, cool " I said.
" Alright, I'm gonna set some rules " Mrs. Zvahl turns to us.
" One, do not explore further without my notice, two do not touch the walls, these caves are delicate and old, practically unstable, the last thing we want is being entrapped in there, three, watch out for venomous bugs and insects, if your bitten or stung, you come to me right away " she said.
" Understood? "
" Understood! " We all said.
" Now, before we go in, everyone take these " she reaches in her bag then takes out six vials of dark blue liquid that are glowing.
" What are these? " I asked and lift it up to the sun.
The dark blue liquid glows more to a purple like glow and they just dance around in the bottle like a swirl.
" For emergencies only if you encounter a creature, throw it to the ground " she said.
" An explosive potion " I turn to her.
" Someone's paying attention in class " she said then side eyes Laurence.
" Ugh, alchemy is complicated than you think! " Laurence whines as he follows her.
" I don't want to hear it! "
" Mom! "
We all laugh and follow in, as soon as we enter my jaw dropped to see more writings on the wall and paintings.
" Whoa " I said.
" Take notes if you want to " Mrs. Zvahl said and see she kneels down on the ground to a rock with writings carved on it.
I see everyone seem to be interested in a specific area so I just walk to a corridor where I see it's pretty dark and further in.
" Rule number one " I step back and look over my shoulder to Mrs. Zvahl.
She's focus on the writing but I guess her senses are heightened.
" Sorry " I said and step back.
" Y/n, look at this " I turn around to Rowena who's standing by a panting on the wall.
I approach her and see what she's looking at.
" Doesn't that look familiar? " She points at a specific painting.
A shape of a phoenix bird.
" A phoenix bird " I said, she nods.
" You think this cave is related to your family? " I asked, she shakes her head.
" I just want to show you this, our family history is way back before our time, I've seen it many times before, it's just very interesting to see my family is known around the world " she said.
" Maybe in this generation you'll be doing the same " I look up at her.
" It's not something I want to be proud of Y/n " she said, I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
" Why? "I asked.
" My sister was killed last year, assassinated " she said.
Shock just hit me and I put my hand on her arm as a comfort, we both sit down on the ground by this painting.
" Ever since then I was the one who my mother relied on. . .to be a lady " she mocks an old granny voice and I chuckle.
" She doesn't sound like that but when she's old she will " we both laugh.
" Your dad? " I asked.
" He doesn't care, practically spoiling me with his riches " she said, I snicker.
" My dad is more affectionate, he has always been after the death of my sister, everyone in my family except my mom " she said, I smile lightly.
" My sister was killed too, wasn't really my sister but she was " I said.
" Guess we're even, but it doesn't really matter anymore " she said.
" Anyways, you wanna copy this down? " I asked.
" Why? " She asked.
" I think I read something about the phoenix symbol in the library " I said.
" We have plenty of phoenix history in my house, you just haven't been there " she said.
" Well when we get back, summer will be over, invite me " I said.
" Definitely " she said, I smile.
" By the way, I brought my notebook to copy stuff " I look through my bag then take it out.
" Sweet, I brought my own too " she said and she reaches in her bag to see she took out a book which has very pretty cover on it, high quality leather with her name sown into it beautifully.
She then took out a fancy feather pen and an ink bottle, I look away when she turns to me with my plain pencil and plain leather cover book so I just open my book, skipping a few pages.
" Your left handed? " She asked.
" Oh no, I can use both hands actually, I prefer drawing with my left hand and writing for my right hand " I said.
" It's a thing I guess, I can't really ignore each other like I needed it balanced out " I said.
" Your ambidextrous " she said.
" Ambidexteronesaurus-. . .what? " I asked, she chuckles.
" Ambi-dex-trous " she writes down on my my book and she has a pretty handwriting.
" That's a big word " I said.
" It's when your able to use both right and left hand, you should learn to play the piano " she said.
" I think I'm gonna stick to drawing and writing " I said, she shrugs.
" It's up to you " she said and I see she starts drawing the symbol.
I notice there are different other phoenix symbols on the same page.
" Didn't know you could draw too " I said.
" I'm mean but it doesn't mean I don't have a hobby, everybody has a talent " she said.
" Same goes with me I guess " I said then look over my shoulder to Laurence who's helping his mom with the rock thing they're looking at.
I smile then look back down at my page, I start drawing.
~ Time Skip ~
" Umm, excuse me " I approach a man who's sharpening a sword by the stone, he stops the wheel from spinning and put don the blade.
" Can I help you? " He asked.
" Umm, I was wondering if you could sharpen this for me " I take out my dagger.
He takes it and unsheathe it.
" You do know this is a shiv, it'll break easily if I sharpen it " he said.
" I prefer that dagger " I said.
" Would you like me to modify it? " He asked.
" Modify?, It's alright, I like the way it is " I said.
" Relax, I won't change much of it, I'll keep the blade and maybe some jewelry for a pretty young woman like you " he said, I smile and nodded.
" Thank you, I'll pick it up in the morning " I said.
" Will be done by then "
One, don't pick up the phone, you know he's only calling 'cause he's drunk and alone~
Bye!
ฅ'ω'ฅ
~ Mariko