A Boy, a Dog Girl and Madam VanVeer's Academy: Part Four

Zack tried hard to pay attention in class. He heard the teacher, a portly man with wriggling neck flab and bottle glasses, talk about how the Erd family united the western territories five hundred years ago. Or something. He couldn’t bring himself to care about history class back home. But now…

He kept glancing at Honey.

No more fur. All she had was a look of utter concentration.

The fur had gone away after around half an hour. Zack sat with her in the empty classroom the entire time as she looked like she was about to cry, holding her hairy hand.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Stop saying you’re sorry.”

“But I am.”

“You did nothing wrong.”

“Then why do I look like a dog again?”

Zack didn’t have an answer.

“I don’t want to be a dog again.”

Zack didn’t have a response to her fears.

A tone chimed out through the room. The students began to gather their books into their bags. Zack looked at the bound book of paper and saw he hadn’t written anything. “Crap…” he sighed.

“I took notes, sweetheart,” Honey said. Zack looked at her looping handwriting.

“War equals bad. People died. This general reminds me of Zack.”

“Good notes, huh?” Honey beamed at him.

“They are, but we should probably rely on Chista for the test prep,” Zack said. “Speaking of…”

“Hi guys. You survive Mr. Gooley? He talks so slow and careful with exact pronunciation of each word,” Chista said, doing her best imitation of the teacher, getting a giggle from Honey.

“Did you hear about the…”

“No, Zack, nothing has changed since this morning. Getting the results of your tests back takes until the end of the day. And no, nobody knows why Honey grew fur.”

“Can’t blame me for asking. Man fights an imaginary wizard and his roommate grows fur, he wants answers,” Zack grumbled.

“You mentioned a word earlier. Animal bus or something,” Honey said, her eyes wide and curious.

“Animagus. It’s like a were creature. But what you did…it’s not normal animagus behavior. They’re either in complete control or cursed by the moon. You are neither.”

“Think it’s because of the whole us being remade over here thing?” Zack asked.

Chista was quiet for several long moments after Zack’s question was asked. They arrived at Zack and Honey’s next classroom, chalkboards covered with formulas inside.

“This is you. Math. I’ll see you guys at lunch and…”

“Quit being a coward.”

Chista stared at Zack, whose eyes had grown hard as he stared back.

“I don’t care what other people think about you. I don’t care if you’re partially responsible for us being here. You’re my friend now. So act like it and trust me with what’s wrong.”

“Zack…” Honey said softly. Zack grabbed her hand, pulling her into the classroom.

“See you at lunch,” Zack said before turning and walking in. Chista stood in the hall, watching them go, students moving around her, alone in the thriving crowd.

*

The rest of the school day was mostly uneventful. Lunch was kept light, with no heavy topics breached. Zack made sure to allow Chista any opportunity she wanted to talk. It wasn’t only for her benefit. He knew something she was hiding dealt with Honey’s transformation. Still, it was her secret to keep or tell.

There were a few more classes. Literature where Zack and Honey discovered a heroic ballad they needed to interpret, an arts class which left Honey covered in clay, music where Zack impressed the class by going nuts on a guitar like instrument. The final class, gym, left him standing next to Baltz on an obstacle course.

“Hello, other worlder,” Baltz said.

“Hello, generic rich bully stereotype,” Zack said.

The whistle went off. Zack and Baltz began running, leaping onto a log, balancing over it before jumping between alternating boards.

“You’re better than I thought!” Baltz called out as he climbed the rope net at the turn.

“Thanks! You’re still a dick!” Zack said.

They crested the platform and swung on a rope to a parallel course. Sliding down a slick slope, they quickly regained their footing, hitting multiple hurdles before coming upon the last obstacle. A wide pit stood in their way. Baltz hit his leap with confidence, but Zack stumbled, his jump falling short and causing his to slam into the edge of the pit, barely hanging on.

A hand reached down and lifted him. Baltz pulled and got Zack onto his feet.

“Why?” Zack asked.

“Because I’m not a dick. Sometimes calling someone a failure isn’t cruel. It’s the truth. Ask Chista’s father,” Baltz said, jogging confidently to the finish. Zack rubbed his side, confused.

*

“Subject is recommended for warrior or athletic career paths,” Zack read. Madam VanVeer’s office was colored in afternoon orange, the shadows stretching long.

“Stop imagining swords, young man. In my opinion, you are far too dumb to be a warrior. You’d self sacrifice yourself in an instant. Though with your limited magic abilities, relic usage shouldn’t be a problem. Runeball would be the perfect sport for you in a few years,” VanVeer said over her steepled fingers.

“Yes!” Zack shouted, pumping his fist. “What did you get, Honey?”

Her brow furrowed. “Wizard Rank S. What does it mean?”

“It means…you may be one of the most powerful magic users I’ve ever seen,” VanVeer said.

The room stood eerily quiet.

“But…she’s never used magic,” Zack said.

“Her, no. Whatever furry beast is inside her…” VanVeer sighed. “Her fur was part of an altered state she can attain when under stress. This form represents her deep mental wants. And those seem to be tied to you, Zack.”

“What the heck did you see in your vision, Honey?”

“The man…your father…he was hurting you. I saved you like before, but there was…light…it was scary…” Honey hung her head low.

Zack held her. She was apparently a hidden ball of power. But to him…

“You’re still my Honey. Nothing will change it."