Episode 202 - The Whimsical Wizard

The smell of burning incense filled the darkened classroom, soft illusory lights danced near the ceiling. In the centre of the room a sleepy looking Professor Kagner, surrounded by a semicircle of her students. Her eyes snapped open as she felt the building shake, though her students remained asleep. Soon, a loud crashing sound echoed across campus. The Professor jumped up and pecked through the window blinds, watching the Divination Tower collapse, tentacles reaching into the sky, the beating of massive wings through a cloud of dust.

A few days later, Mira, Serinepth, and Integrity, were sat in the stone seats that overlooked the Evocation Field. Some other students and faculty sat around them. The grass in the field had yellowed over the winter, upon which councillors and professors sat on a wooden stage. Standing at a podium was Headmaster Crowe, dressed in all black with a grim expression. In front of him lay two stone caskets, with flowers around their bases.

The surviving members of SWIM also wore black, Integrity and Serinepth looked like they hadn’t sleep in days. Delnys sat next to Mira, their hands loosely intertwined as they waited on silence. After a moment Crowe spoke.

*“Students, faculty, staff of Wildcliff. I speak to you today of a great which had befallen us four days ago… There was a terrible creature which lurked beneath the school for an unknown amount of time. You may have felt its presence in your own minds, or in your daily lives. That creature, caused the death of two young men this past Wednesday…*

*Two students, at this school, these two died keeping an ancient darkness away from us, a sacrifice that this school will not soon forget. They were not alone in protecting us, of course, and to our living stewards we are thankful, but we are gathered today to mourn the deaths of these two young men. Winsler Wallaby — second year, top of his class — and Bailey Blue — a fourth year, in his final year of study — both taken from us well before they ought to.”*

A few whispers filled the stands. Talk of the Autumn’s End duels, of the fight during the debate.

Crowe continued, his voice shaky. *“The legacy that these young men are leaving behind will exist around us, forever. The campus’ safety itself, the ability for you students to continue your daily lives, free from any harm which would seek you out. Even the golems which preside over our paths and simple problems at campus, are a remnant of Mr. Wallaby’s own mind. A legacy left behind, a token of their impact upon this world.*

*They will be returned to their families tomorrow morning. But until then if you wish to pay your respects to them, their caskets will remain here in the field, watched over,  it if you would like to pay your respects to them…”*

Crowe paused for a minute. The councillors around him wore various expressions of grief, with The Lady of the Woods seeming disconnected from the ceremony while Ythriax looked genuinely distraught.

*“Though it is a painful time to bring up the minutia of daily life, it is necessary to tell you all — our students in particular — of one final outcome of all of this. You may have seen posters, or heard from friends, that the event planning committee was to hold an election today for its new president.*

*With the death of Bailey Blue, the former president of this committee, we the administration have opted to shut this organisation down. Both to honour Mr. Blue as the final president of this committee, as well as just remove any opportunity to wander off the path of study that might present itself to students.*

*Our campus administrator, Mr. Kenneth Horsewangler, will take over the duties effective immediately, and there will be a small suggestion box outside of the Dining Hall, should you wish to submit a request for some sort of event or club meeting. I once again apologise for bringing this up today of all times, but this is to honour Mr. Blue as well as to uphold his legacy.*

*Thank you everyone for gathering here. You will no doubt notice the absence of a few classmates of yours who are recovering, or who have returned home for some time to… process the events of the last week. It is my duty to inform you that there will be no classes for the next week, as we mourn these two students. On behalf of Wildcliff, I am here to say these two men will live in our memories for all time as heroes.*

*Thank you everyone.”*

Crowe turned away from the podium, walking through the administrators. Slowly the gathered students and faculty dispersed. Integrity stood up and gestured to her remaining friends to join her at the coffins. They all walked onto the Field, Delnys stayed back to give them space, and up to the stage. The leftmost casket had the name “*Bailey Blue*” etched into its lid, while the right read “*Winsler Wallaby*”. The students stood next to them and paid their respects, starting with Integrity.

*“You are one of my absolute best friends, we’ve gone through so much together and I’m so sorry there was nothing I could do for you. We’re gonna miss you so much.”*

Mira bowed her head. *“Winsler, you were one of, if not the best person I know. It’s really hard to— I just— The way that everything was better, just any conversation, anything by having you around. I miss you so much, and I’m so sorry, and I don’t know where you are right now but I hope it’s somewhere peaceful and okay.”*

She looked to Bailey’s casket. *“Bailey, you really didn’t deserve what happened to you, and I’m so sorry.”*

Serinepth was twisting the few rings on her fingers. *“I… don’t quite know what I’m supposed to say. You were so nice, and you did so much to just bring people together. I’m so sorry that… I’m going to get stronger, wherever you are I hope you’re happy, and I promise that I’m going to protect them better.”*

Integrity walked over to Bailey’s coffin and crouched down. *“I know that I said that I would save you, that we would save you, and I failed badly at that. I know you are not a bad person, people when they’re desperate tend to fall and try to gain as much power as they can, even when it’s from a really bad source… You are the last warlock that will die on my watch.”*

The students walked back to the breezeway. Kurt had vanished very soon after the speech ended, however they saw Yog standing and looking quietly towards the caskets. Serinepth went over to them. *“Hey Yog.”*

They didn’t turn away from the Field, and their voice shook as they said, “*Good morning, is there anything that you need from me right now?”*

*“No, no. I was just checking on you, how are you— how are you doing?”*

*“Very uncertain. I am not sure how I’m supposed to feel right now. I had some understanding that I would outlive my creators, I did not expect that to happen so soon.”*

Mira joined them. *“He really cared about you, Yog.”*

Their head lowered. *“Thank you very much. I think I will stay and watch over him, until they send him away.”*

Integrity put a hand on their shoulder. *“I think that he would enjoy that very much, he was so proud of you.”*

The students left, Delnys going with them. Serinepth invited them back to her room for some tea. They sat for a long time in silence, then Mira spoke.

*“It didn’t really feel real until the speech, you know? Like, hearing someone else give that felt so final.”*

Serinepth agreed, “*Yeah, I just kind of expected… Like yesterday morning when people were going for— I kind of just expected to go into Dining Hall and see him sitting there, but he wasn’t there.”*

Integrity put her cup down. *“I mean this entire time I was just thinking ‘Oh, he’s back at the farm, so of course we won’t see him there.’ But I totally agree with you there that having someone else say that he’s gone, seeing the casket… it just made it real.”*

Mira said, *“Yeah, I have some notes from that Demonology class we were taking. I never look back at my notes, but I kept thinking I can’t throw them out because Winsler needs them, what if he’s gonna study, what if he wants— and I know, but I still feel like he needs them.”*

Serinepth tested her hand on the book next to her. *“Because he needs this stuff, right?”*

*“I mean, we had so many things planned out. We were gonna do a lot together, a bunch of research, a bunch of experiments, and frankly at this point I don’t care about the results of those, but just…”* Integrity struggled to think of the right words. *“Not getting to hang out with him.”*

*“Yeah, you know what I always liked?”* asked Mira. *“I liked when he would say ‘y’all’, and then his eyes would light up because he was so excited to have friends.”*

The students laughed slightly and Serinepth said, “*I mean It’s not like he didn’t have any other friends besides us. Come on, he was a really likeable person.”*

*“Yeah, he was so fucking likeable.”*

Integrity grinned*. “Remember that time when we were trying to open a door, and he had rinds in his pocket!”*

*“Pork rinds yeah! And we ended up setting the grease on fire!”* Mira laughed again. “Do you remember the first time, Integrity, when we saw Wiggles, and I couldn’t believe there was a cat in school and he— How did Wiggles even fit in his pocket I thought because he was so small and he was just petting his fur and it was…”

*“He may be small, but he’s out there ready for a fight. Even single time that we went into a dangerous situation, and he felt we needed more hands, he just animated everything. He animated croissants, he animated like the paddle he got during—“* Integrity started laughing again.

*“It was like he wanted everything in the world to be his friend.”*

*“Friggin' lemonade stand,”* muttered Serinepth. *“There were so many times, watching you work a stand… That was the most fun I’ve ever, just seen in that place. Like the line of people—“*

*“I honestly don’t know how he kept up with my shit you know? Like I feel like I would have an idea that’s so stupid and so dumb, then Winsler’s like ‘Yes let’s do that, I have the tools for that’, and I want him back.”*

*“Yeah… me too.”*

Integrity asked, *“Do you think that there’s a way to get him back?”*

Mira sighed. *“I don’t know, I really don’t know.”*

*“It’ll probably be something really crazy and stupid. It’ll come back and bite us on the butt and then…”*

*“But I mean, if anything he would be the most worth it, to try and get back. What if… You know how Ferdinand got out of the afterlife? Do you think Winsler can do that?”*

*“If anyone can do it, Winsler can,”* said Mira. *“It’s Winsler, he’s so fucking smart, and so fucking tenacious.”*

A long silence descended over the room, until Integrity asked, *“Can we get him back?”*

Serinepth thought for a moment. *“I mean you guys got out of the mirror. The hell thing where we got separated in Nebulosis.”*

Mira said, *“I don’t even know where he is is the thing, you know? There’s spells that can let you travel to other planes, but I don’t know if…”*

*“I mean he is missing part of his soul, could you bring someone back with only part of their soul?”*

*“I don’t know. I don’t know if it would even be fully them you know? What if there were parts missing?”*

Integrity suggested*, “Do you guys know anyone who would know the afterlife and all that works?”*

*“The only people off the top of my head right now, are the people who got in trouble bringing the students back.”*

*“Do you know where Professor Allaro could be?”*

Mira said, *“I know that she was fired, and I know she said we shouldn’t be bringing people back.”*

*“I mean we could just ask questions and not tell her what we’re doing.”*

Serinepth shook her head. *“The last time we tried to do something like that, it didn’t really go very well. I mean we still got Artis back but I mean…”*

Delnys had been quiet for most of the discussion, but spoke up then. “*I mean, when push came to shove she did help you.”*

Mira sighed*. “Why is there always a cost, can’t people just stay.”*

“*I don’t think that’s how the world’s supposed to work.”*

*“I know.”*

Integrity suggested, “*We could probably go to Seltie?”*

*“I mean, she was very adamant about getting something from myself and Mira.”*

Mira nodded. *“Maybe she would know where the rest of… him… went.”*

*“Like, again I don’t know if she would… give—“*

*“Of course not, she’s not just going to give Winsler away, but she’s always been someone who, with the right price, can do something.”*

Serinepth asked her cousin, “*Can you imagine what she would want to get back part of a soul? She got part of a soul, for a scale that I don’t even know where that is anymore.”*

Delnys said, *“You could just take it from her.”*

Mira agreed, *“Yeah… we might be able to figure out where the rest of it is.”*

*“We would have to be so careful about… This is Seltie.”*

Integrity said, *“Again, I think that if we try to see her and try to meet her, we need to have something that is valuable in exchange for a part of Winsler, to either get him or find the missing part of him.”*

Serinepth sighed. *“I mean, we don’t have classes next week, we know where she lives, she generally likes to hang out in Isathil.”*

*“Is that what we’re doing?*” asked Mira. *“Find Seltie, find Winsler?”*

Integrity nodded. *“That’s the— I’ve never felt more strongly. I— I can’t— I know death typically is the finale of things. They say that you shouldn’t do anything about it, just let people die. But I know the part that I’ve played in all of this, and it just doesn’t sit right with me to let that happen.”*

*“I know what you mean.”*

*“One fourth of us is missing, I don’t feel complete.”*

*“Isathil it is… but tonight can we just, be? Can we just remember Winsler? Tomorrow we can plan and make it happen.”*

*“Yes, I— I need rest. I know that this is a crazy thing to think about, but the past four days, I’ve lost sleep just thinking about it.”*

The students agreed, spending the rest of the evening in Serinepth’s room and remembering their fallen friend. When the night started to creep in, they returned to their own dorms and tried to sleep. Serinepth cleaned her room in the now deafening silence, now feeling incredibly lonely. Mira returned to Allena snoring, Angelika propped against the wall in the corner. Integrity’s mind was consumed with thoughts of warlocks, of Bailey, of Winsler. With great difficulty, the three students finally fell asleep.