Authors: Diana Nixon
“Looks like you have already thought about that,” I said
to Evan sitting at one of the tables.
“And not just once,” he noted. “Damn all these riddles!
They ruin all my night’s sleep!
“Do you want me to make you happier a little?”
“I’m not alone in my sorrow. Yes, I know that,” said
Evan rolling his eyes.
“Is there any news from Eric?” I wondered.
“Not yet. I hope, however, that his stream of verbal
nonsense won’t stop there. I want to know his secrets.”
A little later we were joined by Eileen and Amanda, who
was still trying really hard to seem angry.
“God, please, help her and Lucas come to understanding!”
I prayed silently. To tolerate her usual perpetual dissatisfaction - is one
thing, but her bad mood - is quite another.
To our surprise we spent more than an hour in the dining
room, and came to our senses only when it became clear that before the second
qualifying test there were just ten minutes left! We went again to the
administration building through the back door, where excited Beatrice was
already waiting for us.
“Tonight we will know the winner!” she sang going up the
stairs. “I’m anxious for that moment to come!”
We sat on the same couch as yesterday, with the only
difference – this time we were joined by Darcy and Lucas. My sister was
ignoring the last one, even though he could hardly hold a smile watching her
hard efforts. I mentally applauded Lucas, who sat next to Amanda making her
even more nervous. All the present noticed that too and now were barely holding
back laughter. Especially Evan, who simply couldn’t restrain himself in the
presence of my sister. However, he succeeded more often recently. Whether it
was due to the fact that now Amanda spent almost all the time with Lucas, or
because their own relationship had changed a lot, I couldn’t understand.
“It begins,” Beatrice announced, making the TV sound a
little louder.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen!” greeted the
Keeper. “Now we are going into the final stage of the qualifying test for the
presidency of Dever. Each of you will be given a picture the meaning of which
you have to decipher. Use your talents and intelligence to succeed in this
test. I wish you good luck. You have one hour.”
Both pictures given to the candidates were shown to the
audience. On the one that was prepared to Lavender, was a couple, sitting on
the stone back to back. At the background there was the sea and the sunrise. On
the one that my father got, was a huge oak tree in the middle of an empty green
field. And above it, at the background a rainbow could be seen.
“Nature, power and magic,” suddenly said Eileen.
All looked blankly at her.
“This is what the picture says,” she explained. “The oak
means power, the green field - nature and the rainbow - magic. Although it’s a
natural phenomenon, but such a magical one.”
We continued to stare at her in silence. Personally I
thought that I would never describe that picture from such point of view.
“She is probably right,” said Evan thoughtfully.
We were all curious to know what message was actually
hidden on the picture. Could Eileen be right? The more I thought about her
words, the more I became sure of their truthfulness. Of course, I stopped being
surprised about the talents of my girlfriend long ago, but if what she had said
really confirmed, it would mean only one thing - she was a true daughter of her
father. She wasn’t just about to get all his powers, she deserved them all.
Meanwhile, Lavender and my father continued to make some
notes in their notebooks, every now and then looking at their paintings. Each
of them crossed something out and wrote again. The time was running out. The
Keeper asked Lavender to make her assumptions first. She read her notes,
correcting her own words a few times. He wrote something in his notebook and
turned to my father who read only one, short sentence:
“Nature, power, magic.”
We all froze. And Eileen was smiling broadly.
“I told you!” she exclaimed jumping up from her seat.
“Patrick is genius!”
“We can’t be sure yet,” told Evan stunned. “The results
will be announced only in a few hours.”
“’I can already tell you that Lavender was wrong. Her
picture meant
“Love experience”.
It's so obvious! Stone was a
“cornerstone”
,
the young couple back to back meant
“a fight”
, and dawn at the
background –
“hope”
, belief that their love can overcome all the tests.”
We were staring at her moon-eyed.
“If she is right in both cases,” I said, “I will make
her every wish come true.”
“Don’t swear off, Christian,” Eileen winked, “you don’t
know what I may wish.”
I smiled.
“We'll see.”
We waited until father came and went to his apartment to
wait for the results. As a general rule, the Keepers started a voting procedure
if more than one candidate showed the best results. We could only guess about
the outcome of these elections. Frederick joined our vigorous debate, bringing
a new prompt from Eric. This time, it sounded like:
“Seven centuries, seven
families, don’t be afraid of height, be brave.”
“
Don’t be afraid of height
?” Eileen repeated.
“Perhaps he was referring to the mountains. To hide the Cup there was a good
idea.”
“Yes, but the mountains are everywhere. How do we know
which one he meant?” Evan asked.
“We must wait for the next prompt,” Frederick said. “Something
tells me that it would be the last one.”
As for the two
sevens
, which were also mentioned,
we decided not to argue. There were even more options than with
nines.
Half an hour before the announcement of the results we
came to the Great Hall, where by that time all the guests and the Keepers had
already gathered. My father took his seat in the front row, next to Lavender
and Caroline. The last one, of course, didn’t expect that she could become the
winner, but still was obliged to attend the gathering. We took a few empty
seats in the second row. The Keepers, who participated in the discussion of the
results, were sitting at the big table in the center of the room, facing the
audience. The same leader, who attended the two trials, was now preparing his speech.
The rest of the Keepers continued to discuss something.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!” in a solemn tone,
said the Keeper. “Today we have witnessed the second and the final test for our
candidates. People heading Dever have always been worthy of such an honorable
status. So today we will find out who will be the next head of this University.
According to the results of the first test Miss Caroline O’Brian was out and we
all thank her for participation. Only two candidates took the second test.
Their task was to decipher some words hidden in the meaning of the paintings
prepared for them. I would like these paintings to be brought here. Look
closely at these works of art and think whether some of you are able to cope
with this task. Those wishing to share their suggestions with us are invited to
come to the center of the room.”
There were not many of them, just four people. Each in
turn said his opinion about the meaning of both pictures. Eileen didn’t want to
share her thoughts. She just sat there smiling slyly.
“You'll owe me for ages, Christian Fairy,” she
whispered.
“Hey, we still don’t know whether you're right,” I said,
though, perhaps, my greatest dream was to spend my eternity with her.
“
You
don’t know, but
I
already know all
about it,” she said confidently.
“And now let us see what the real meaning of these
pictures was,” the Keeper said.
The entire illumination was turned off and the silver
words lit up in the darkness over those two pictures. Over the one studied by
Lavender, it was written “
Love experience”
, and over the one that my
father studied – “
Nature, power, magic”.
The light lit again, and I saw
a triumphant smile on my father’s face. Lavender had failed the test. Just as
Eileen had predicted.
“I'm yours forever,” I whispered, smiling at her.
Evan smiled too, but not to her, just to me.
“Not everyone is lucky to have such a treasure,” he
said. His voice was filled with sadness. I knew I wasn’t wrong, because my
friend wouldn’t mind being in my place. Not exactly next to Eileen, but with
someone like her, a kind, understanding, and, of course, beloved one. Such a
person had already been in his life, but, unfortunately, those days were in the
past.
“Mr. Patrick Fairey, now you become the head of the
University of Dever. My congratulations and best regards on this difficult and
responsible way,” said the Keeper.
After him all the other Keepers congratulated my father.
Not far from us was my mother, with barely noticeable tears running down her
cheeks. I knew she was proud of her husband, because I felt the same thing at
that moment. We both knew that after the previous failure it was important for
him to win this time. I had no doubt that somewhere in his apartment was hidden
a cake that my mom had prepared beforehand. Whatever the outcome of today's
test could be, we still would have arranged a dinner in honor of Patrick Fairey. He deserved our love and respect, no less than to become the head of Dever. For
me he had always been the man I could rely on. Whatever happened, I knew - he
wouldn’t let me down.
When those who were willing to congratulate my father
had done this, we also came closer to him.
“Well done, Dad!” I said, hugging him.
“Thank you, son,” he replied.
“I just knew that you would win,” Eileen admitted,
smiling happily.
“You knew?” asked my father in surprise.
“We'll tell you later what happened during your test,” I
said.
Evan and the guys also congratulated him.
My mom came last. She didn’t say anything, everything
was written on her face - endless pride and love.
That night, nothing mattered except for the joy that
overfilled all of us. As I suspected, there was a surprise waiting for my
father at home - dinner and a huge cake, which Amelia, of course, had baked
herself. We were chatting, drinking champagne, and didn’t think about what
would happen tomorrow. Everything was just the way it should be.
Chapter 28.
Eighteenth birthday (
Eileen)
Just in a few days a lot of things changed in Dever.
Firstly, as it was planned long ago by Patrick, all the students were allowed
to choose the list of academic disciplines. Only a few were considered
mandatory. Secondly, stricter requirements were listed for those who wanted to
enter the faculty of Wizardy. Patrick decided that additional measures would help
to select truly best students of the other six departments. Now being a Wizardy
had become even more honorable. Afternoon training was limited by three
o’clock. And the remaining time students could devote to what they considered
as appropriate.
But the most important change concerned me of course. I
wasn’t assigned to visit usual classes, because due to Frederick and Evan I
managed to get all the necessary basic training in a single month. I was
allowed to visit all the other studies on my own choice. Evan was still my
personal tutor that pleased us both. I liked his lectures, and classes under
his supervision never seemed to be boring or uninteresting. Frederick had also
promised that he would come to Dever to give me some private lessons. He had
already taught me a lot in just a few hours. Now I knew well, or at least had
some idea of what to do in case of strong burst of energy, or the appearance of
previously unknown talents. In order not to upset other students by my
frivolous training, it was told that I would take a more complex education in
accordance with a special program. My friends, of course, didn’t stop scoffing
at the meaning of
“special program”.
Evan once said:
“Of course, who wants to constantly run away from a
crazy wizard thinking he can get all the powers of the earth? No one. That is
why only Eileen could get this part of the
training.”
“No one will waste time to find the Cup of power,
existing only in legends, but our Eileen needs it so much!” Amanda said
smiling.