Trash: Chapter 144 Crow Mouth (Patreon)

Chapter 144

Crow Mouth

(A Week Later)

The faint rumbling of the metal-on-metal gliding and grinding its way through connected portions of civilization are the main sensation I feel, as I ride ever eastward on a surprisingly well-maintained train car.

“It’s okay, you will get used to it,” Luna states from my left. Her words a minor comfort, as I feel a constant wobbling sensation rolling and rocking from beneath me. I would almost be squeamish if it wasn’t for Luna’s constant support next to me.

“It will?” I asked, a note of hope filling my words.  As soon as our eyes lock, I feel a wave of relief fill me as for the moment I am distracted by almost everything except for how soft her eyes look. Only to have my moment of zen broken by our fellow cabin mates who are also traveling with us.

“Actually, probably not,” Lucia responds directly across from me in our four-person compartment, her words causing me to turn my head left and away from Luna. An act that causes my head to spin as the car chooses that moment to violently shift to the left. Seeing my state, Lucia shifts tones and tries to be somewhat nicer with the rest of her response, “but on the bright side we only have two hours left.”

I just close my eyes at the comment and focus through all the minor jostles and shifts from under me, all while trying to focus on calming thoughts.

However, it seems my mind is more distracted than I would want, as my mind apparently assumes the closing of my eyes and the quick eye movement from me rolling around is an attempt for me to interact with my status page. Because everyone loves trying to read while being thrown about violently.

Catarine Bloom’s Team Page:

Current Team Status: Captain/Healer

Team members:

Attack Members (2/4): Luna Paraisthisi, Lucia Brack

Auxiliary Members (1/2): Junior Acevedo

*Team acquired due to contract-oath from Mentor Anastasia Bloom.

Current Obligations:

Get accepted as a Healer Candidate for Unity University (Complete: verified by Florence Livanathan)

               -Multiple subtasks required (all completed)

Complete Unity University Graduation Requirements: (Ongoing)

               -First Step: Register at Unity University (in Process)

…

Seeing my newest status page, I am instantly reminded of just how crafty Madame Bloom, aka Anastasia, is. Even now, I still wonder how I got here. I half think it was my insistence, but she also had to offer me not one but two more new Skills. This is in addition to the one Mana Circulation Skill of unknown ability that she still owes me from our prior contract.

For a moment I was concerned with her approach, for it all seemed to be too perfect. Even now, thinking back to the moment it all happened, how I got stuck on this rickety old train, I am still confused by a few things.

It began, with dozens of minor moments that all culminated in the one paralyzing thought that Luna would leave me. Well my mentor too.

This all began a week ago. I remember clearly meeting up with Luna and Lucia right after the trial ended, well once we got back to the Bloom Estate, which was its own undertaking.

As I walked off the stage, I found myself joining the other healers who clustered together. At which point we were cut off from view by the public thanks to the dozens of Royal Order of Watchers who were present, each raising a banner or country flag. Once the flags and banners were up, we were all jostled about, moving in random patterns trying to hide where we were from the watchful audience. This was when Madame Bloom found me and grabbed hold of my hand. How could she find me, as we looked like a mob of black spirits gliding about in the shade? Simple, as I was still the only healer who had half her face exposed thanks to a slash from an evolving Death Eater.

Grabbing my hand, Madame Bloom guided me out first and took me to a dressing room. After which we just took off our gloves, and ceremonial robes to emerge from another door, where we entered our waiting cab. Mr. Stevens, ever the gentleman, was down from his seat and guiding us inside the carriage cab quickly. Then a few minutes later we were joined by Said Flornce Livanathan, and her assistant.

This was likely when the first step was achieved, the one where I was accepted as a Healer Candidate for Unity University, but I only realize that now, thanks to the gift of hindsight.  A quick and simple exchange took place, but as always Madame Bloom was working threads of fate far further in advance than anyone could predict.

“Well then Lady Livanathan, I take it that you were reasonably convinced by the efficacy of my Apprentice and her capabilities as a healer?” Madame Bloom asked, no greetings, no pleasantries to begin, just one quick jab of information. There was a pause, as everyone seemed to be confused for a moment by the sudden abruptness of her comments.

Finally, Florence nodded her head in subtle agreement before she spoke, “yes, your Apprentice is a fine addition to any Healer ranks she joins.”

From there the trip back was mostly in silence, though I could see a glimmer of light showing in Florence’s eyes as she would steal glances at me from time to time.

That was the first memory of how I ended up here heading to Unity University. The next came less than a week later when I was practicing my dancing while fighting, focusing on moving my feet and maintaining balance all while swinging a sword under Mr. Yi’s watchful gaze. While I spun, slashed, and thrusted I felt like a rhythmic gymnast from my old world. Focused more on the artistry and the movement of my body, while trying to find and maintain my balance through each movement that I almost missed the moment that guests joined us.

Only a faint knowing head nod from Mr. Yi acknowledging that others had gathered pulled me out of my intense practice and caused me to see who had joined us. That’s when I saw Madame Bloom standing behind Lucia and Luna, who were all at the very edge of the practice field not quite ready to join me. Seeing that I stopped, Madame Bloom gently pushed Luna forward, and I swore that I saw her give a reassuring wink as she did. Then Lucia too also gave a very emphatic nod and smile.

“Go talk to them, as I have matters to attend on my own,” Mr. Yi’s commanding voice pulled me from the spectacle before me and helped me realize that I was still technically at practice. But before I could protest, Mr. Yi had already turned away and began walking off the field, a gesture that meant he was done for the day. Seeing that he was leaving, I turned back to see a very flustered Luna coming towards me.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she was blushing as her already dark cheeks looked bright red despite the dim lighting from the setting sun. Seeing her, I made a few paces towards her and was about to ask if she was okay, but she cut me off with something else entirely.

“I wanted to say, that it has been a pleasure knowing you, and I wish that I had more time,” Luna began, and like that I felt something shatter within me.

“Yo-you? You’re leaving?” I managed to stammer out.

“Yes,” Luna replied, she opened her mouth as if trying to say more but then bit down on her lower lip in a most adorable way. Then as if looking for more guidance on what to do or say, she turned over her shoulder and looked at Lucia and Madame Bloom, both of whom were giving her signs to continue. Madame Bloom made a subtle hand rolling gesture that I instantly took to mean for Luna to continue. Meanwhile Lucia was all but jumping with excitement as she emphatically waved her hands for Luna to continue. Seeing the gestures, Luna turned back and seemed to freeze in fear once our eyes locked. I get that a lot, my pinkish purple eyes are scarry, and have apparently gotten even darker in color since I interacted with my ancestral statue. But she had seen my eyes before this point, which made this even harder to understand her sudden fear. Seeing that she was captured in fear, I decided to ask my own questions.

“Where are you going?”

“I,” Luna began, but then turned and faced Lucia to include her, “we have been accepted to Unity University, and will need to leave here shortly.”

As she spoke, I nodded, as I think I had heard rumors of that, likely from them and the others but I didn’t realize it was all happening so quickly.

“Already?” I ask.

“Yes, all three of us will be going,” Luna quipped, then I swore I saw a glint in her eye as she turned back to lock gazes with me. This time she was not afraid, and that’s when she continued, “that is, unless we can find someone willing to spend the next four years with us in Madame Bloom’s stead.”

I opened my mouth, to ask more questions, but Madame Bloom used that moment to disrupt my thoughts. “Come along now Luna, we must get to packing.”

Luna, hearing the command suddenly shifted, an odd hesitation to her body as she seemed like she didn’t want to leave, that she wanted to do more, but instead turned back to Madame Bloom and called out, “coming.”

Traveling about three paces, Luna stopped and turned to face me, before saying the phrase that would not leave my mind, “I really do hope that our paths will cross again.”

I watched her run to join the others, leaving me alone in a training field that was suddenly very empty. Looking around, I saw that all the other Bloom staff members were gone, even Pierre, and the others who often stayed behind to watch my practice were also missing.

That’s when I realized that, without Madame Bloom being here to run interference for me, to protect me, I would be on my own. That’s when I began looking for her all around the house, only to find her thirty minutes later in her study. A place that I had already looked before, but somehow missed her sitting there in plain sight my first time through.

Seeing her sitting there, calmly reading, not even worried about packing, I knew something was off.

“Shouldn’t you be packing?” I ask, as she picks up a cup of tea with steam still rising, showing she just sat down.

“Actually, I was thinking about that,” Madame Bloom began, and then carefully moved the hot beverage in front of her lips. I just stared at her, and seeing that she had my full attention, she continued. “I think I am too old to go back to University.”

Hearing the obvious trap, about commenting on the Madame’s age I just nodded in agreement.

“That is why I was thinking I could offer you a trade to take my spot instead—”

***

And somehow, that is how I ended up here, somehow having made another binding contract with Madame Bloom that required me to receive two more Skills related to either Earth or Light attuned Skills, in exchange for taking her place here.

“Hey, I think that’s the University there—” Junior’s excited cries called out as his words pulled me from the somewhat slumbering state I had found myself in. Opening my eyes to see him, I was again reminded of how he managed to join our group.

“Before you go, let me take you to your favorite confectionary shop,” Madame Bloom began. Then when we pulled up Ronaldo was there, happily holding the shoulder of Junior who just so happened to have his bag packed as if he was ready to leave for a long time.

“What is this?” I ask, seeing what was clearly more of a set up.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have enough time to do this the slow way anymore as you all are leaving tomorrow,” Madame Bloom stated.

“Wait, why Junior?” I ask.

“Trust me, wars are won on the stomachs of their soldiers, nothing is more important than having a capable cook on hand.”

***

“I’m surprised nothing happened during the trip,” Junior commented, and as he did, I saw the faintest thread of dark and purple energy roll out of his mouth and fuse to the words. I was so captivated by the sight of mana types I had never seen before being added to words that I almost missed what it all meant. Fortunately, reality was there to show the effect of those words and this odd power immediately.

For as if the gods themselves were shaken awake and reminded of their graciousness, a loud bang erupted from further up the line. Followed by a rupturing popping sound, as the train that had been moving relatively well up until now suddenly jerked wildly, to a halt, all momentum stopping immediately.  Leaving me with that gentle residual shaking motion, as if I had been stuck in the water for too long, but I know it was just my mind expecting me to continue to vibrate slowly, forever.

As one, we all turned to face Junior who suddenly cringed in on himself, as he violently covers his mouth with both hands. Seeing the gesture we all look at him quizzically, but Lucia is the first to read more into his actions.

“You have some type of curse tongue Skill?” Lucia asks.

Holding his hands over his mouth, Junior forced his mouth shut as he just nodded his head, not wanting to activate his powers. Seeing him like that, I felt something else click within my head.

“And that’s why you were allowed to be homeschooled?” I asked, only realizing how terrible the question sounded after I asked.

Yet, Junior nodded, confirming the comment, before finally feeling that he had control over himself and his odd power.

“It’s my personal Skill, called Crow Mouth.”Yet, even as he spoke, I could tell by the look of pain on his face that there was more.