A Bull in a Magic Shop

The only thing worse than a bull stampeding through a china shop, is summoning a bull into a magic shop. The corners are tight, and the shelves are lined with various magical knick-knacks, which I’m sure if bumped into, could spell disaster. Seriously, we might be better off playing hacky sack with a ticking time bomb!

I look at the creature I summoned and upon further inspection, it’s certainly not a typical bull. Its body is a deep indigo with star shaped patterns reminiscent of the night sky. The bull has long golden horns that curl upwards, matching the shimmering shade of its hooves. The bovine stares me down, its eyes a glassy silver.

“What is that thing!?” I ask hoping Maddie knows.

“That is an astrological beast. Its scientific name is estrello taurus. They’re big, angry, and incredibly powerful!”

“How do we stop it!?”

“I don’t know, I never got to that part in my books!”

Maddie picks up a book on magical creatures and starts flipping through the pages frantically. Well, I have to try something in the meantime.

I pull the red table runner off of the checkout counter. If we don’t have a magical solution to fight this bull, I guess we’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way. “HEY!” I shout out to the bull and wave the cloth up and down. The creature intensely locks its eyes on to the fabric and brushes its back hooves against the wooden floor ready to charge. Well this was a terrible idea. And when did I suddenly become brave?!

The space bull rushes forward and I dodge to the left just narrowly missing its massive curved horns. Unfortunately, those horns plunge straight into the cabinet of mystical rocks behind me, probably the most expensive stuff in this place. Maybe the shopkeeper can still sell those crystals at a discount?

Just as the thought crosses my mind, the bull starts jumping up and down kicking its back hooves. One hoof catches the lip of a glass elixir which falls to the ground.

BOOM! The liquid in the elixir explodes knocking Maddie and I back against the opposite wall. All the crystals that shattered to pieces earlier? Reduced to cinder in an instant. Yeah, I don’t think the shopkeeper can sell these now. Well. Screw me for thinking positive for once.

“I found the page on Taurus. You keep it distracted while I read!” Maddie shouts back to me with authority.

Easier said than done. The bull sharply turns around with a chunk of the wooden cabinet still attached to its golden horn. If the bull was angry before, now it's pissed. Just as I think of where to dodge next, Maddie begins reading sections of her textbook out loud.

“Okay so the estrello taurus is a nocturnal species whose relentless spirit is difficult to contain. One would highly advise against taking this creature head on. In order to defeat the Taurus one must first rely on-”

“Just skip to the good part!” I shout over my shoulder.

“What?”

“The Spork Notes version please!”

I just barely avoid another charge from this feisty guy while Maddie starts scanning the pages to give a summary. After some time she reads aloud. “Got it, we have to ‘banish the Taurus to the sky’!”

“....”

“Maddie, what does that mean!?”

“I DON’T KNOW!!”

I’m not sure what to do anymore, so I grab the wizard's staff I was using earlier while still holding the cloth in my other hand. I let my guard down a bit as the bull nearly grazes my back. I’m sure getting sick of trying to dodge this Taurus!

“Here!”

Maddie rushes to open the front door of the shop so we can take this fight outside. At least then we won’t trash the place anymore. And maybe someone outside will watch our struggling fight and offer their assistance. Perhaps a handsome knight on horseback like Fern the Fearless. Hey maybe not, but a girl can dream right?

I run outside and the bull busts straight through the frame chasing right behind me. The door goes flying off to the wayside in chunks of debris. The bull pauses for a moment and looks me dead in the eyes. It’s like the Taurus wants to see my soul before taking it.

This brief moment of levity did give me an idea. It’s stupid, but it just might work. The Taurus makes one final huff before his charge forward. I lift the tablecloth high above my head in one hand and clutch the wizard staff tightly in my other.

“Please work. Please work. Please work!”

I try my best to concentrate on the cloth, but the bull is getting closer and closer. I close my eyes ready to brace for impact. Then, the red tablecloth in my hand gracefully floats out of my palm and heads up towards the clouds. Wouldn’t you know it, the bull went up to chase it too!

The levitation spell, it worked! I can’t believe I actually did it!! Maybe it wasn’t such a stupid idea after all. My face feels hot from the excitement! I press my palm to my forehead and watch in awe. Oh no nevermind. That’s just blood.

“I’ve got it from here!” Maddie says as she clenches her staff pointed stiffly at the sky. Her levitation spell casting ability is still way better than mine. She keeps her concentration up to carry that little cloth higher and higher.

God, I’m so glad I’m alive. My face did catch the edge of his back hoof which hurt like a mother, but other than that I’m okay! I fall to the ground and watch as taurus flies above me charging into the night sky trying to catch that stupid tablecloth. When taurus finally returns to his place in the heavens, a string of stars form a constellation framing the crescent moon. It’s kinda beautiful.

“June! Are you okay?”

Maddie seems rather concerned. I continue to feel my face and realize I’ve got a pretty big gash from catching that hoof. Surprisingly though, I feel fine. Is this the rush of adrenaline people get when faced with death?

“Never better!” I try to reassure Maddie with a thumbs up.

“No you’re not. You pushed yourself way too far.” Maddie eases my body lower to the grass to lie me down. Then, she tries to work on my wounds with a healing spell.

I don’t know if it’s true, but maybe we’ve both projecting? I got mad at her even though she’s way kinder than most of my teachers. And when she yelled back at me… I wonder if she had those words used against her before. Despite her best intentions, she may be a bit of a hypocrite. I can’t help but think that Maddie is the one who truly pushes herself too far. She may be her own worst enemy.

Exhausted, we drop to the ground lying side by side. The exhilaration starts to fade. I feel so drained that I let out a deep sigh. And then for some reason, I can’t help but let out an even deeper laugh. The whole situation is just ridiculous and we’re somehow alive! What I didn’t expect was for Maddie’s sweet reserved giggles to join mine before bursting into a hardy belly laugh. I can’t help but think she needed that.

I look over to meet her eyes and once more see a flicker of the old Maddie in her lab coat. This time I noticed the sparkle in her eyes is a bit more dim than usual and underneath, dark circles frame her usually brilliant sapphire blues. From what I gather, she exerted herself to the brink of exhaustion to get where she is today. Sharp as a tack sure, but constantly fatigued and on edge. I never realized how much she tried to hide this side of her.

“I’m sorry Maddie.”

“For what?” She cackles, “That’s the most fun I’ve had in years.”

“No, I'm not talking about the mess. I’m sorry I gave up on you and the whole tutor thing.”

“Eh realistically, if I was in your shoes, I probably would have given up on me too. I worked you too hard cause I thought that’s what teachers were supposed to do. I guess that’s not true. You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I need to say sorry to you. You’re a couple years younger than me, I should have been gentler. Hey, you’ll get the hang of magic in no time! If you still want to, that is.”

Something about what she said stuck out to me. She thought that being tough was what teachers were supposed to do. I can’t help but get the inkling that some of her professors in college might have affected her for the worse.

“Do you… like school Maddie?”

She hesitates to answer. I don’t blame her, it’s a very loaded question. She always seems so perfect and studious, but her real eyes show a different story.

“Yes! Or maybe.. no? I used to like school I guess…”

“...But something changed?”

She nods her head gently. “I… I hate college.”

She’s so smart and really considerate of others when she isn’t stressed. I wonder what could have happened? Although… I guess that stress IS what happened? She probably got so worked up that the whole college experience became miserable for her. High school certainly was an increase in difficulty level for me. Looking at her now is kinda like looking in a mirror. Although, maybe I should hear it from her.

“Do you want to tell me about it?” I encourage her.

She lets out a sigh, but she goes on. “Where do I begin? I loved high school. I had good grades and friends, but when I got to college it was so stressful. The work multiplied and the professors don’t actually teach you anything in class! One of them loves ‘pedagogy’ and it sucks!! I put in so much effort and it’s still not enough. No matter how hard I study, I fail. I… I just don’t know what to do.”

Oh wow she dumped a lot more than I expected, but all her points are valid. I used to love elementary school (not quite the same I know, but hear me out). I was ahead of my whole class by a couple grade levels then. Well, turns out I’m not a genius. It didn’t take long for my classmates to surpass me. Many ended up leagues ahead of me. But it’s true what they say. Comparison is the thief to happiness. I guess I never realized that until now.

“Hey Maddie. This might sound off, but I don’t think education should be a competition or a race. Everyone learns at their own pace and if your professors don’t see how hard you’re trying, well screw them! I know you give it your all in everything you do!”

She fidgets with her fingers and rocks back and forth on her feet before speaking. She kinda reminds me of my friend Christina back in the real world. Always so tough on herself. We butted heads at first, but our differences balanced each other out in a way that helped both of us and I think that’s pretty cool.

“The sentiment is kind of you June, really. But effort doesn’t matter in this world,” she explains. “...Only results.”

“What idiotic professor told you that?”

“My plant biology professor Dr. Newman.”

What are they a doctor in, I wonder. Making people feel stupid and insecure? I know a couple teachers of mine who could earn their own doctorate then!

“Well, they’re wrong Maddie. If only perfect results mattered, we would never learn. Seriously, I’ve tried cooking spaghetti at home like sixteen times. I still haven’t nailed it, but it’s almost edible now!”

Where am I going with this? There's a point here somewhere. Let me just create some awkward silence while I try to find it…. Oh there it is!

“The point is, I would not have gotten this far if it weren’t for those failed attempts. Maybe… maybe you got isekai’d into this world for a reason. Maybe to get a change in perspective?”

Maddie ponders this for a moment. I’m sure the thought has probably crossed her mind at some point, but sometimes having a friend nearby to help you put your thoughts and feelings into words, can help make breakthroughs that are sometimes too tough to reach on your own.

“Do you think you’ll change anything when you get back?” I ask.

“I… I don’t know.”

She seems lost. Is there anything I can say to point her in the right direction? God knows I should be the last person giving out life advice, but she needs something to look forward to. I’d hate for her to go back to the real world, absolutely dreading the future.

“Would you consider changing majors?”

“No, Biology is my passion!” Maddie exclaims.

“Alright then, that's off the table,” What else can she do I wonder? “How about changing schools? Or maybe you can make a request to change professors if possible. Is this Dr. Newman guy the only one giving you grief?”

“...yeah mostly him.”

“Well there you go! Maybe you could also change classes if his isn’t required. Or stick it out if you can and hopefully you never have to see him again. Whatever you decide, you’ve got time to figure it out. And if you need someone to vent to, you’ve got me.”

“Again, I’m sorry I pushed you so hard June,” she adds.

“No, I get it. You're probably used to pushing yourself so far, I just can't keep up! And you are a couple years wiser than me…”

My voice trails off. I should leave it here, but I'm not being fully honest with her. I’m not being honest with myself either. Damn it.

“But…” I let out a heaving sigh, “But, I can try harder. I get a bit lazy sometimes.”

“Ha! I knew you weren't giving it a hundred percent! Okay so next time we practice magic we can work on elemental spells! But…” Maddie cuts herself off changing direction. She takes her time to breathe for her next words, a rare experience for her. “But I’ll try to match your pace instead.”

“So you’ll still be my teacher then? Why thank you Dr. Maddie!”

“Heck no, I'm not cut out for that! From now on we’re just doing magic for fun. If you want instruction from a real qualified professor, you’re on your own.”

“Ah yes of course… thank you Dr. Maddie.”

We start laughing all over again. It feels like I’m a little kid again hanging out with my best friend. Although, if this was a play date we sure made a mess. If my mom walked in on my friend and I playing like this we’d be in serious trouble.

And speak of the devil, while we lie on the grass in front of the magic shop, I hear the sound of loud, lumbering footsteps approaching from behind. I turn to see a tall muscular figure standing in the place where the front door used to be. He takes one of his fingers and taps the bell at the top of the doorframe, a faint jingle ringing out.

So, the good news? That’s not my mom. The bad news? That’s the shop owner.