Magic As We Make It (Book 1 COMPLETE)

Chapter 4

Olhos was a medium sized port city at the tip of the Damaris peninsula. It was a huge exporter of timber and beef, and received many tourists yearly. The buildings that made up most of the docks quarter were boxy, and made of white or grey stone with colorful painted doors and multiple balconies. Strings of flags hung at every intersection and walls were painted with kaleidoscopic murals—decorations in celebration of the annual festival. Overlooking the harbor and next to the docks, pushed right up against the waves, was Sabrine Bastion, the grandest building in the entire province. In the distance, so far out into the ocean that no one dared to swim it, was the Olhos Lighthouse, its red and white stripes presenting for all to witness. It stood against the tides as a beacon of hope, a watchtower against evil, for all of Olhos' citizens.

On the first day of the history trip, the students had a guided tour of the War Museum, followed by lunch, and then a visit to the Marine Veterans Hall. It was a slow day for the students but a chaotic time for the chaperones as they organized groups, arranged food, and made final touches to the accommodation they'd acquired. At the end of the day, a quartet of double-decker tour buses took the students to where they'd be staying for the next two nights: Le Victoire, an impressive hotel located in the Cloud Corridor.

Le Victoire had three main floors, a basement, and a service floor. Two towers protruded from the cream-colored stone facade, covered in vines, with a nature inspired, columned portico between them. Each window had a false balcony with a sunshade and a box of flowers. A small lake sat at the back of the hotel, with a large weeping willow tree drooping over it.

Once the sun had set, the students were free to roam as they pleased. The school rented out the entire second floor so everyone could stay close—they didn't account for the chaos it would cause, as students ran the length of the green carpeted halls, going from room to room in excited gaggles that only a school trip can induce. The grounds were lit up with crystal bloom lamps, their glow like lost souls on the lawn from inside as Amelia observed out her window. Norah called from the washroom but the magus couldn't hear, her gaze so intent on the little blue orbs of light. Norah stuck her head out the door and said, "Amelia, are you listening?"

Amelia turned to her friend. "Huh?"

Norah smiled. "Are you thinking about your date with Cst. MacIntyre tomorrow?"

Amelia immediately looked away, hiding her warming cheeks. "It's not a date."

"Right, investigation. Anyway, for the bastion tour tomorrow, Mrs. Chelle said we're allowed to group up with other classes so Jones and I thought it'd be great if we could group up with Corey and Elaine. What do you think?"

"Why're you asking me?"

Norah hesitated. She hung by the washroom door, her hands lingering along the frame. "Well, I know you don't really get along with Elaine, so... I guess I'm just worried. I want you two to hit it off."

"She's the one who doesn't like me."

"She thinks you're going to take her spot or something, take us away from her. It's ridiculous—I know—but she's just really insecure. About a lot of things. Her family... they don't expect much from her. Can you imagine what it's like to have the closest people to you actually be the farthest? To have no one believe in you?"

"I do know what it's like, actually. If that's all it is, then I understand her very well. A shitty family, shitty upbringing, aren't excuses."

"Amelia..."

"She gave Avery my health report. There's no way she didn't know what he'd do with it. As far as I'm concerned, that makes her just as culpable."

Norah didn't know what to say so she said nothing and returned to the washroom.