The Garden of Shadows

“Oh, you’re in trouble now,” Salamander remarked, amused by the strange turn of events.

I was trying desperately to nudge Toad and get his attention, but he was too busy scoring affection points from Prof. Alice to pay attention. For the past few months, he had been acting like a puppy around the professor who was either too dense or too good at acting dense to notice his actions.

“Let me get that for you, Professor. I insist.” He offered to carry Prof. Alice’s luggage.

“Toad, look in front of you,” I whispered.

“Not now, Remina.” He didn’t even bother looking. This boy is hopeless.

Although it was indeed the one and only Leslie Willows standing there just metres away, she didn’t act like the real Leslie at all. I found it rather odd that she was smiling sweetly like Emma Sweetblossom and looked around like she was seeing things for the first time.

“Ms. Sweetblossom, could you please come here for a moment,” Prof. Ariston called.

“Yes, Professor.” She hurried to his side. I carefully moved as close as I could, just enough to eavesdrop on them.

The professor explained, “Ms. Willows is currently suffering a mild case of amnesia. Her parents have requested to have her spend time with her peers in hopes that her memory will return. Could you please watch over her during her stay with us?”

Emma smiled. “Of course, Professor. I’d be glad to help.”

“Let’s see… You’re supposed to be in the same room as Ms. Ravenfire. I’ll request a larger room with three beds. Help yourselves to some drinks at the café. This might take a while.” Prof. Ariston walked over to the receptionist’s desk to request a room.

“Good luck, Remina. You’re going to need it.” Salamander gave me two pats on the shoulder while wearing an annoying smile.

“I may have to think of a contingency plan,” I said as I stared at Leslie like she was a maggot to be crushed.

“You’d better think of one quickly because the moment she remembers, you’re on your way to getting expelled.”

Elliot suddenly appeared in front of Salamander holding up room keys. “Apparently, we’re roommates.”

Salamander picked up his luggage. “At least I don’t have to put up with Toad for a month. Let’s go.”

The two boys left the lobby and climbed up the creaking wooden stairs to their room on the second floor. After everyone else got their room assignments and keys, the once crowded hotel lobby fell silent save for the sounds of lightly colliding ceramic coming from the café.

“Come, Remina. Sit with us,” Emma invited me over to sit at a table with her and Leslie.

I walked towards them cautiously while carrying my luggage, still wary about Leslie.

“Do you remember anything about me?” I immediately asked Leslie as soon as I took my seat.

Leslie happily nodded. “Yes. You sat in front of me in the Principles of Magic class.”

“Anything else?”

She stopped to think then shook her head. “Sorry. I can’t remember much about my time at Blackthorn Academy. I do remember a few names and faces, but that’s about it.”

“Don’t worry, Leslie. It will all come back to you,” Emma assured her.

I certainly hope it won’t. I must make sure of it.

As Emma and Leslie were discussing hobbies and interests that didn’t match my own, I was deep in thought, counting the methods available to me that would ensure that Leslie would never reveal the truth of what happened. Straight up murder was off the list. It was too risky in a city. Blackmail was also not an option, not when a simple spell could easily reveal me. I would have to do it covertly with not a single witness.

“Remina?” Emma’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

I looked at her, pushing aside my morally-questionable thoughts. “Huh? Oh, sorry. I was daydreaming.”

“We were just wondering if you read historical romance novels too.”

“I can’t say I do,” I replied.

“You’re missing out. You should definitely try reading Love in Bloomfield Manor. It’s really popular right now. The romance is absolutely adorable! Mr. Audley is such a gentleman!” Leslie talked excitedly. She really must love that book.

Emma nodded enthusiastically. “If you’d like to give the genre a try, I’d definitely recommend it as your first.”

After the two spent another five minutes fawning over the ever fictional gentleman, Mr. Audley, our hotel keys were finally given to us and we went upstairs to our room on the third floor.

After having our lunch at the café, we were then sent off to our places of apprenticeship to have an orientation. I found myself on a rather isolated street with more residential buildings than shops lining it. It wasn’t hard to find the book and antique shop, Luceafărul. It easily stood out like a sore thumb with its beautiful displays of old clocks, creepy dolls, ageing leather-bound books, and an ungodly amount of fountain pens.

As I stepped inside, the little bell sitting atop announced my arrival, but nobody came forward. The only greeting I received was that of an old phonograph playing Vittorio Monti’s Csárdás. I navigated my way through the displays until I reached the shop counter. Behind it was the shopkeeper, asleep on a chair with a book on top of his face. I rang the bell on the counter to wake him up.

“Ms. Ravenfire?” He sleepily rubbed his eye and placed the book on top of the counter. I couldn’t help but notice that he looked almost exactly like Bartholomew, except for the eyebags and messy appearance. His hair needed combing and his clothes could use some ironing as well.

“Alistair? Bartholomew told me to give you his best regards… and he wants his book back,” I said, glancing a few times at the ceiling to check for any tentacles.

“Of course. I held on to it for too long.” He pulled out a book from the shelf behind him and placed it on the counter for me to take. “I suppose you’re here for the apprenticeship. I was told that you wanted to work with magical devices.”

“That is correct. Before I attended the academy, I was an apprentice at my uncle’s repair shop. I’d like to learn more about applying magic to machinery.”

“That’s perfect then. I mostly repair antiques here, but I do build things from time to time such as locks, special Focuses, and enchanted items. Have a look at my blueprints and see which ones you’d be interested in building.”

As Alistair explained to me the blueprints of his various inventions, I noticed a raven perched outside the window, peering into the shop. I paid it no mind and continued to listen.

When I returned to the hotel, I was surprised to find Salamander and Elliot having coffee together at the café. It was still strange to me to see both of them interacting after months of them barely exchanging any words. Elliot saw me and waved.

“How was your first day?” I asked when I sat with them.

“It went pretty well for the both of us,” replied Elliot. “The museum was relaxing. They had me assist in a few tours.”

After giving Elliot a nod, I looked at Salamander. “So is the Department of Criminal Investigation as exciting as you thought it would be?”

Salamander took a sip of coffee before answering, “It was a little unexpected, but nevertheless interesting. You hear a lot of headline-worthy cases there.”

“Are you allowed to share any of them?”

“I suppose there is one I can share. It didn’t seem confidential.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “There is a rumour flying around that they are investigating. There appears to be plans to steal one of the exhibits during the opening of the new museum.”

“Which exhibit is it?”

“I don’t know. They’re still interrogating suspects for more information. Whatever it is, it must be very valuable.” He leaned back and took another sip of coffee. I suppose that was all the information I’d get about it for now.

“Would you like some coffee, Remina?” Elliot asked.

I checked the time. We had two hours before we were required to show up for dinner. It was just enough time to pay a visit to Bartholomew’s contact.

“Maybe later. I’m going shopping for a bit,” I said and stood up.

Salamander finished his cup. “Why do I have a feeling that whatever it is you’re planning to buy, it’s something that will potentially endanger us all?”

Elliot also stood up. “Can I join you? There’s something I want to buy, but I’m not confident at navigating the city on my own.”

“I might as well join you to make sure neither of you get hopelessly lost. Navigating this city can be a bit of a pain in the arse with all its carbon-copy avenues.” Salamander gathered his belongings, preparing to leave the hotel as well.

I took a deep breath. I did not anticipate this sudden acquisition of shopping companions. “Alright. Both of you can come along as long as you promise to keep everything that happens during this shopping trip a secret.”

Elliot nodded. “Sure.”

Salamander was immediately suspicious of me. “I knew it. You’re up to something.”

I placed a hand on my hip and gave him a look. “Do you want to come along or not?”

“Fine. I’ll keep your secret… whatever it is.”

The three of us then left the hotel and went straight to the address indicated on Bartholomew’s note. It led us to what looked like an old inconspicuous pub, definitely a good place for conducting illegal activity.

“What business would you have at a place like this?” Salamander asked with a face of obvious concern.

I looked at the two boys seriously. “I need both of you to stay silent and let me do the talking. Alright?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” replied Elliot obediently.

“Alright, but if things get messy, I will have to break the silence,” Salamander said. I never expected him to stay quiet anyway.

When we entered the pub, we immediately drew the attention of the people inside because of our school uniforms. I went straight towards the counter while the two boys maintained a short distance behind me.

“Go back to your school, little miss. This place isn’t for girls like you,” said the bartender, a middle-aged man with a beard and visible scars on his face.

I folded my arms while keeping a serious face. “You must be Mr. Hemlock. Bartholomew said you were looking to buy poisons?”

He was shocked. “You’re the poison dealer he mentioned?”

“I brought my stock if you’d like to browse them.” I opened my bag and unloaded several vials of poisons extracted from the plants I grew at the greenhouse. It was only then when I realised that I really did make way too many extracts.

He looked over each vial with scrutiny. “Not bad. Quite the selection you have here. I’ll give you a grand for all of them.”

“A grand and two hundred,” I haggled.

“Deal.”

We shook hands. Salamander’s jaw dropped while Elliot was just looking confused as we made the exchange.

I walked over to the two boys. “We’re done here. Let’s go.”

Right after we left the pub, Salamander immediately exclaimed, “What the hell was that?”

“Just gathering some funds,” I replied calmly.

“Funds? You just sold poison to a shady man!”

I ignored him completely. “Elliot, what did you want to buy?”

Elliot looked a little embarrassed. “There’s this bakery that sells cinnamon rolls. I overheard some students talking about it. I’d like to try some.”

“The cinnamon rolls are my treat. Lead the way.”

“I’m not completely sure about its location.”

Salamander sighed and gave up on questioning me about the shady exchange. “The White Rabbit Bakery? I know where that is. Follow me.”

“Why do you know your way around?” I asked curiously.

“I’ve been here before.”

Salamander’s expert navigation skills got us to our destination rather quickly. I bought each of us a cinnamon roll and we sat at a table inside the bakery to eat them. After a few minutes passed, a tall girl with wavy blonde hair wearing a cream-coloured empire dress entered the shop and immediately had her eyes on Salamander.

“Aidan? Is that you?” She approached him.

Salamander heaved the deepest sigh I ever heard. “Hello, Cornelia.”

Cornelia?

“I didn’t expect to run into you here. Are these your friends?” She looked at me and Elliot.

“Yes.” He frowned.

The mysterious girl kept her smile anyway. “Well, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

A look of suffering was on Salamander’s face as he was forced to make the introductions, “This is Cornelia, my older sister. Cornelia, these are Remina and Elliot, my classmates at the academy. Now that you are all properly introduced, might I suggest that we all carry on with what we were doing prior to your unexpected arrival?”

“It’s a pleasure meeting you.” She shook hands with each of us politely, completely ignoring his words.

I decided to play nice. After all, it was rather amusing seeing Salamander suffer. “Your brother told me you’re fond of ballroom dancing. He is a fine dancer.”

I suddenly felt a vicious kick on my leg from under the table. I tried my best to pretend all was well despite the pain.

“Oh, did he now? I always thought he hated dancing. Perhaps I should invite you along to a dance party sometime. The parties here in the city are simply marvellous.” She smiled then turned to Salamander. “Now I must get going. I promised Father I’d be home early. You should pay us a visit. Mother misses you.”

It was only after she left when Salamander was able to relax. He looked as if a giant boulder had just been lifted from his back.

“I’ve been here before,” I mimicked his earlier line. “You basically lived here.”

He frowned. “I never lied, if that’s what you’re implying.”

“She seems like a nice person,” Elliot said as he finished the last of his cinnamon roll.

Salamander lightly slammed his hand on the table then looked at us sternly. “My sister is a manipulative, selfish, and extremely vain girl. You would do well not to trust her.”

“You really don’t like her, huh?”

“I’ve had to live with that girl for most of my life. You have no idea what she’s capable of!” He took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Let’s return to the hotel. I’d like to avoid running into her again.”