Lixorth
Mathias

    It was my tenth day wandering around California, occasionally staying at Uncle Billy's, occasionally visiting my little friend's house. Yesterday, I got a message from Uncle Billy about Alison's whereabouts

he managed to get into the academy. At first I didn't think it would happen. But at least Alison was not banished to Norway. That's more than enough.

    Lately, Father and Mother in the midst of busy with the American Magic Union, they also several times asked my whereabouts to Uncle Billy and lucky uncle can really keep a secret well. It was also thanks to Father and Mother's work there, they were busy of course my existence might be the umpteenth priority they could think of.

    My goal is to be free. I know well the way of the witches' lives. After graduating from school, we were required to enter the witch academy. Every continent in the world has its own best academy. There, our magic power and talent will be honed even more. If we manage to graduate with good grades, we will decide if we are able enough to work in the American Magic Union and the rest take care of the security of the wizarding world and the human world in order to go hand in hand peacefully.

    And I don't like that. I love freedom. I want to practice my magic freely without rules and punishments, without textbooks, and without serious threats. That's why I purposely failed the entrance examination of Lixorth Academy. I planned that and ran off alone, but I really didn't expect that Alison would fail either.

    It was all beyond my estimation.

    I want to find the Witch Explorers Community. Uncle Billy knows some information about the witch community, which is why I came to him. But, all this time Uncle Billy didn't tell me in detail about the community and instead told me to just take a vacation in California.

    I flew in the middle of the California night sky, drifting across cities, beaches, and housing from Los Angeles and San Diego to San Francisco or vice versa. Uncle Billy once said that the Explorers Witch Community usually does some kind of night tour of the sky using a broom on certain days. Lucky for me, if the tour took place today in California.

     “Mathias Bancroft.” Someone called out in the middle of the California wind. I floated around looking at a man in a mustache, his long hair tied up, he was wearing a brown checkered vest that was in tune with trousers, and he sat on a broom researching me. “Cute me.”

    I was confused at first. But, when the man swooped down I hurriedly flew after fearing losing track of whoever he was. The man landed in an alley between two flats in the slums. I didn't get to see the streetboard in the part of California where exactly the man landed.

    The man turned around while holding the handle of the broom. “You looking for us?”

    I raise an eyebrow, “We?”

    “Community Witch Explorer.”

     I'm sculpting.

    Waw. I didn't think I didn't need to look for the Witch-Injury Community, it was precisely those who found me.

    “I heard about you from Billy.” Said the man, his voice was raucous. He then examined me with a look of wonder. “Why don't you go to school?”

    I shrug, “Do not want.”

    “Only that?” ask him a little bit of disbelief. “Magicians who are not graduates of the academy do not have a bright future, you know?”

    “Not really care.”

    He chuckles, “I didn't expect the son of a Francis Bancroft, the elite of the American Magic Union, to decide to drop out of school.”

     “First in history,”

     “I Desmond Oswin, by the way.” He patted his chest.

     “Mathias Bancroft.” Reply I try not to show too much excitement.

     Desmond pointed at the end of the dead-end alleyway with his index finger. “Disana. Where the Witch Explorers Community resided during our stay in California before going to Peru tomorrow morning. You can meet Silas, but before that I have to make sure of something first.”

    “What is it?”

    “Francis and Lindsey Bancroft? They're not hunting you?”

     I stared at the ceiling trying to find a reasonable reason to answer that question. But, instead of me thinking deeper, I immediately shook my head in confidence. “No. They know I'm missing, but they don't seem too interested in what I'm going to do out here.”

    “You certainly know that they can track you, right? They are powered by United.”

    “If they intend to lock me up, I should be waiting for my fate in prison now.”

    Desmond was silent in his mind, “Then, Alison Bancroft?”

     My senses became aware when my brother's name was called. “What's wrong with Alison?”

    “Where is he?”

    “He entered the academy.”

     Desmond tilts his head, “And you don't?”

     “I don't.” I'm definitely more assertive.

     I don't want to smile at hearing that. It'sgood. I can't believe this escape is going any better than I thought.

    Desmond turned around and walked slowly to the end of the dead-end alley. A few steps before we hit the wall, Desmond raised his hand and stretched it forward. I saw Desmond's right hand go into an invisible hole in front of the wall that was as high as his chest. The man acted like he was unlocking from the inside and then I could see the black hole there.

    “Come,” invite Desmond to relax. He patted me on the shoulder and then went in ahead. I cleared my throat, my excitement overflowing. I even had to hold back from suddenly smiling like a fool in front of one of the members of the community.

    It was like entering another world. One step earlier I was in the slums of a bunk house with clothesline bars that were connected from every window up there, the next step I was in the middle room of a villa with black shades.

    People were sitting at the bar table sipping drinks and laughing after they told a joke, some were relaxing on a living room couch with two crispy pizza boxes on a coffee table in front of the couch.

    Desmond pulled me away from the living room forcefully because I was sure he caught my flabbergasted expression. Stand with sparkling eyes. Alison had to hit me in the head a few times if I was too happy and amazed like this.

    “Come.” Grouse Desmond. He dragged me through the kitchen and bathroom in a hurry like my whereabouts shouldn't be seen by the people there. “Nah, now log in.”

    We were standing in front of a shiny brown sliding wooden door. Desmond pushed softly telling me to go in immediately without asking much.

    Of course, I did what he told me.

    “I suspect you are Mathias Bancroft?” Silas greeted me first before I even opened my mouth. Clumsy, I entered and closed the door and carefully approached Silas, who was eating a variety of sushi at the long dinner table.

    “True.” I'm trying to be confident. I sat opposite Silas at the dinner table and examined the room at a glance. It's like the private dining room of a top-star restaurant.

    “Why are you looking for us?” Silas did not look at me when he spoke. He was busy choosing what sushi he would eat next.

    “I want to get away from both my parents and the rules.”

    “What is wrong with the rules made by Francis?”

    “I...” My voice swallowed automatically. A flash of memory just flashed through my mind and I hated it all.

     Silas suddenly laughed with his mouth full of breaking silence between us. I looked at him confused.

    “I understand, Son. It must be hard to live in the shadows and perfection of Francis and Lindsey Bancroft. But, I still can't believe that you're planning to rebel at this young age. Though your magic is rare and powerful.”

    My throat was suddenly dry. Want to not want me to squint my eyes annoyed mixed with wonder. What does this guy know about me?

    Silas laughed again, this time more like mocking. “Don't be surprised so. I have an acquaintance who works in the Magic States of America.”

    “They also don't know my type of magic.” I said fiercely. I clenched my palms together and felt my magic energy rising. If anything happens now, I should be ready to attack.

     “Of course they already know now, so does the magic of Alison Bancroft.”

    All of the magic energy I had sensed was unraveled just like that. My forehead shrinks. Alison's? Is my brother hiding his magic talent just like me? I did keep my natural magic talent a secret, not least to Alison as well. I'm sure that if Mom and Dad knew of my magic talent from a long time ago, they must have been noisier and continued to boast about me in the States. Perhaps, I have been told to bring out my magic talent as an attraction in front of his friends.

    Oh, naw. Just think about it I'm nauseous.

    “What's wrong with Alison?” ask me curious. Does this mean my twin brother has a great talent for water magic? Or does he have other talents like me?

     Silas developed his smile while putting chopsticks on the pecan where he poured the soy sauce. Silas leaned back and crossed his legs. “Oh, his talent is really interesting. Just like you, but I don't think you need to worry about Alison. He is under the supervision of Riggs and all the teachers of Lixorth Academy. Better, we're talking about your magic. Are you sure you don't want to follow in your brother's footsteps?”

     I exhaled a sigh of relief. Silas's right. At least, Alison is under the scrutiny of many people. Although it may be possible that Father and Mother will try to use Alison with her talent that I do not know at all, but Alison can take refuge under the rules of Lixorth Academy. So, Mom and Dad couldn't pull Alison around.

     My gaze turned to Silas's ashes. I'm shaking. “I told you, I'm not interested in Lixorth Academy. I want to be free.”

    Silas nodded in satisfaction with my answer or whether he was planning something else. He just smiled a little. “Alright, to me the most important thing is that you are not a fugitive of the United States. Your father and mother don't even care about your whereabouts. It'sit's okay. After all, you might be able to thrive with our community.”

    Did ya? I'm sure my eyes are glittering with pleasure.

    Silas rise, “For a while, I will accept you. Come, prepare. Tomorrow morning we will go to Peru.”

*