NOVEL NEXT Chapter 83: Sour Candies
It has been a pretty busy day for all of my mentors when the time has come for them to submit a copy of their monthly account expenses in their respective departments since September is on its way to an end.
As a result, Lancelot was forced to cancel the training for the day, leaving me with all the time in the world to be with my friends later after class.
First thing before I enjoy my temporary freedom later, I have to endure this repetitive routine of being inside Gilead Academy and attending our classes for the day.
"Fire is a strong element. One should learn to control his or her temper the moment he or she begins to use this kind of element in dealing with his or her foes in the battlefield."
Mr. Pumpkin demonstrates to us the proper way of flickering a flame on his finger and palms for us to know what he means with what he is discussing right now.
"Because if he or she wasn't able to learn the art of controlling one's temper…" he continued, eyeing each one of us with all seriousness. "The drawback from misusing this element is greater and fatal to the caster above all other elements present."
The memories of my carelessness the other day where I burned myself with this element during my magic training sessions with Alex flashed back in my mind all of a sudden. It seems I can immediately understand what Mr. Pumpkin is trying to say to us.
Something had caught our adviser's attention so his eyes instantly shifted someone right behind us and immediately called out his attention.
"Yes, Mr. Wilson... " he said in a business-like tone.
Well, that I shouldn't be surprised hearing his name because as far as I know, the class president has always been attentive to every discussion in every subject. That's how academically competitive he is.
"I think I would have to disagree with you on that matter," the latter said with so much confidence reflecting in his tone right now. He is the only student who could say those words directly at our adviser, or to any of our teachers that is.
"Emotions… or temper, as you said, play an important role in the fire element. Rage, for example, can be a tool for any wizards whose basic element is fire. It could be their instant fuel in making large fires and annihilating their enemies if they want to."
I can't help but be surprised at how true his statement is. Both statements from our adviser and our class president make sense which confused us on the neutral side.
"A strong point you got there, Mr. Wilson," our class adviser pointed out, rubbing his chin as he said those words. "Though it may be true that rage adds fuel in the fire element, if not handled well… the caster would end up being consumed with his own rage and with his firepower."
Mr. Pumpkin then paused for a moment, his gaze focused on the lad he is addressing this statement at the moment.
"I hope you also get what I mean in our discussion, Mr. Wilson."
My eyes then shifted from my teacher towards the class president, who is still calm as ever. He casually heaved a sigh and threw Mr. Pumpkin a bored look.
"Very well then, Mr. Pumpkin." he finally said. "I guess there is no use arguing to a teacher whose knowledge is purely based on books."
I almost gaped at his words and looked at our class adviser with a tensed look plastered on my face.
William, you idiot!
He is arrogant, alright. But I couldn't imagine he could actually speak his mind out in front of a teacher!
But seeing our teacher is still poised and calm in his place, that actually eased the tension inside me a bit.
"There is really no point arguing to a teacher," Holy crap. Our teacher is currently smiling, but the kind of smile that could send shivers down my spine.
"Because your future lies within our hands, is it not?" Mr. Pumpkin added.
And with that, the class president can't do anything but do his best to behave and take his seat like the well-mannered child the teacher expects him to be.
Later that day, our classes had finally ended for today with loads of homework from five of our subjects.
However, the work doesn't really need much time since I have a royal library to rely on later on, so I took this rare chance to be with my friends after classes since I don't have training for the day.
In addition to that, Cailin would be joining us today for the very first time, so whoever made the schedule for the officials to submit their monthly expenses record, I really thank him or her from the bottom of my heart for this great timing!
"I think it is best for us to go to Central Town," Ariella suggested and looked in my direction. "I heard that the candy shop you love to visit has a new variety of candies to be released this day."
That immediately caught my attention. When it comes to candies and any other sweet treats, it would never fail to spark my interest.
"Really?" I said, as enthusiastic as I could. It's as if my eyes are literally sparkling at the moment that Maggie and Cailin find it funny to see me in this kind of state over some candies.
"Yes," Ariella confirmed for me. "So, shall we go there?"
"Let's go!"
The trip going to Central Town had only been a quick one when the stallion of the carriage we had a ride with was as fast as the speed of light. I took my time to catch my breath first after I finally had the chance to go out of that cursed carriage that made me lose my mind earlier.
"I thought for a second I would literally die," Ariella said, panting, as she also took her time to breathe.
"That horse sure was fast, I must say," Cailin stated the obvious.
"Agree," we all said in unison.
It has been more than a week since I last stopped here, but it is still the same Central Town. Lots of shoppers are gathered around a corner where the famous stores are arranged. A bunch of trees that are now covered in snow are planted on the corners of the streets to still provide fresh air for the consumers. And that amazing and delicious smell is filling my nostrils right now.
"Oh, I truly missed this place," I blurted out of nowhere the moment we began walking towards the candy shop that Ariella mentioned to me a while ago.
"Though as much as I would love to shop here for the things I want to buy, I must save the money that I earn from my part-time job for emergency cases that might happen in the future, though I also wish no such things will happen someday," I added.
"Nah, don't worry. We won't really spend much time here," Maggie chimed in.
In the next couple of seconds, we finally arrived at the Sweet Factory, the name of the candy shop that I visited once and where I got the sweet treats for my mentors. I was actually thinking by now whether I would also purchase the new varieties of candies for them... or not.
Who knows what they have done to the treats that I first gave them before.
"Oh my, this looks delicious. Can I have some?" My eyes sparked seeing multi-colored gummies displayed in one corner of the shop.
The ever-polite store owner scooped a handful of those, stored it in the bag, weighed it in before finally giving it to me. Being excited as always, I immediately plunged my hand inside the bag, pulled one gummy out of the bag, and ate it.
"These are called Sour Candies," the store owner started explaining while I continued eating it, a name that is so well thought off, I see. Anyway, I already paid for them earlier.
"Err... I would recommend not to eat too many of them, especially more than five in a row, as these sweets actually have a high alcohol content in them which would cause an effect in a matter of minutes or hours.
I stopped eating my seventh candy the moment I heard her explanation, eyes widening in the process. Why on earth would she explain something so late in the first place!
Gulp!
"Are you alright Kris?" Maggie asked me with a hint of concern in her tone.
"Y-yes. G-good thing I didn't eat that much, ha ha ha." I quickly responded, forcing a laugh.
I immediately stopped eating the candies and shoved them back inside my backpack as we continued strolling Central Town. Until then, when we decided to return home, thank goodness I was able to remain sober for as long as I could remember.