Creation Mischief Part 5

Something was digging into my shin and I shifted to ease my discomfort. The ache persisted; so I looked down to eliminate it. I removed a sharp stone and glanced back to the spot where I had sprinkled the powder.1

A minute movement caught my eye and I was drawn to the ground. Sitting with a small seed grasped in tiny pink paws, was a gray mouse. 2

I gasped and it scampered away. I was always surprised when one appeared. It seemed the animals showed up when I was not looking. Some distraction always took away my attention.3

I was satisfied that this last part of the creation was running smoothly. I stretched my cramped body and thought about the academy, then jumped.4

~~~~~~5

Sunlight pierced my eyes as I settled on the grassy courtyard. Around the circular lawn perfectly trimmed trees and shrubs bordered the jump space. I waved at one of the landscape artists that was raking the trimmings as I ran out the opening into the bustle of everyday life in the academy. Groups of all ages passed me us I searched for Kyle. Grabbing a child in the green of a first year, I asked, "have you seen Kyle Greenly?"6

The boy shook his head and slipped from my hands. It was then that I heard my name being called.7

Kyle was standing in the open door of the living quarters of the boys. He motioned me over. I picked up pace, kicking dust as I went. My mouth felt dry and gritty. I was in need of water "Here," Kyle said as he pushed a cup into my hands.8

"Thanks."9

"No problem. Have you checked in with Master Brock yet?'' He asked over a crowd of giggling girls. 10

I shook my head as I swallowed the cool water. I could feel it washing the dirt from my throat. "No, I just jumped back. The last world was a breeze."11

As he nodded, blonde bangs shadowed his eyes. A knowing smile passed his lips. "I like those kinds, but once you become a fourth year Mastercreator Ruben doesn't give you the easy worlds anymore."12

"What is that suppose to mean?" I didn't like what I was hearing.13

He took the cup from me and turned towards the common kitchen. As he walked away, he said over his shoulder, "Master Ruben sends a fifth year, close to graduating, to scope out a newly formed world. He assesses the terrain and then makes his report directly to Master Collins who then decides which level can handle it."14

I followed after him as he snaked his way through the crowd of students hurrying from the dining hall.15

"There's Master Brock." Sitting at the head table surrounded by other instructors, sat a stocky man shoveling stew into his large mouth. His pink, baldhead reflected the candlelight from the chandeliers above him. Fingers like small sausages gripped a wooden spoon. Over a bulky frame he wore a plain dirt colored brown robe, like those worn by a holy man.16

Kyle grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front of room. In our haste I stumble into the tray of a kitchen helper, spilling the contents on the floor.17

The whole room fell silent as the dishes crashed onto the stones.18

"What's all that racket?" Boomed Master Brock, standing from his table. 19

I scrambled down on my hands and knees to help the girl pickup the dishes that had clattered to the floor. Bits of broken pottery and food had slipped under the benches the other students were sitting on. All eyes were on us as Master Brock stomped down the aisle toward me.20

He yanked me up by the collar of my dress and demanded once again, "What is the problem here?" Bits of food and spittle flew into my face. His breath smelled strongly of garlic and I wrinkled my nose in disgust.21

"I, I, I'm sorry, sir," I stuttered. "But I ran into this girl here and knocked her tray over.” 22

"Get it cleaned up and then report to me later.” He set me back on my feet and stomped out of the room. 23

I started stacking dishes on the fallen tray as Kyle bent down to help. "What was that all about?" Kyle whispered in my ear.24

"I don't know," I replied under my breath. "I haven't done anything lately that would get that kind of reaction from him. And if you hadn't been pulling me I wouldn't have run into the servant. Anyways I usually report to Master Ruben for punishment." 25

Around us the students resumed talking and eating. We gathered up the rest of the dishes and the girl scurried off. I followed Kyle out of the dining room.26

The sunlight was bright after the dimness of the hall. Across the courtyard in a stone building unadorned with decoration was Master Brock's study. Like him the building was large, but unlike Mastercreator Ruben’s work area, his was not cluttered with books and scrolls and loose pieces of paper. No bits of vegetation lined the shelves. It was clean, with the scent of lemon in the air. No clutter, no vials and no papers anywhere, except for only the gleaming cherry wood desk that sat in the corner beneath the window. Quills and pots of inks were lined neatly at the top of the desk with one sheet of paper sitting in the middle.27

We found Master Brock sitting behind the desk, systematically checking his list. Kyle stood by the door as I walked in and cleared my throat. "You wanted to see me sir?"28

Master Brock looked up from the list. "So," his voice roared. "I see you have just returned from Deter Fourteen. Why have you not reported to me before this?”29

I shifted from one foot to another. I took a stray strand of hair and twisted it around my fingers. "I was trying to, when I had that unfortunate accident in the hall."30

"Uh-huh. And how did the world behave?" 31

"It was quite easy," I said quickly.32

"Good, good," he said nodding his head. His double chins quivered with the movement. "And what of the unknown specimen that is now swimming, most comfortable, in the lake in the valley that You created this morning?"33

My mind went blank. I could think of no response. My eyebrows rose in surprise. The wrinkles on my forehead deepened from the strain. "I'm sorry,” I stuttered again. “I don't know what you are talking about-" I figured taking the ignorant route would be best.34

"Oh, you do not remember taking the multi-colored scale from Mastercreator Ruben's workroom?"35

Kyle shifted by the door and inhaling in surprise.36

"You do not remember slipping that same scale into the merry little brook on Deter Fourteen?" His voice rose an octave. His cheeks took on a reddened appearance like someone that had been in the sun too long.37

I knew then that I had been caught. It was like the cook had walked in when I was searching the kitchen for something sweet. I hadn’t even told Kyle about taking the scale.38

"But sir, how could you have known?" I was completely stunned.39

"Did you think that the absence of the scale would go unnoticed, that he, and I mean Master Ruben would not know that his experimental scale was missing?"40

I silently cursed myself for taking the irresistible scale while scanning the weathered floor.41

"That he would not know who was in his workroom minutes before the scale went missing? Come now girl, do you think we are that unaware of what goes on around here?"42

"But, when I put it in the water nothing happened." I confessed, biting my bottom lip.43

"So you did take it?" His bushy eyebrows rose.44

"When Troy went to check your progress he spied a huge underwater beast, swimming lazily just below the surface."45

“You mean the scale really developed?" This was wonderful. I had wanted that mesmerizing scale to be something no other world had.46


Master Brock shook his baldhead as Kyle stifled a laugh behind me. "You are to report to Mastercreator Ruben’s office as soon as we are done here."47

Kyle shifted at the door attracting Master Brock's attention. "You boy, wait outside."48

Kyle looked at me as if waiting for my permission. I nodded, not really comfortable with the lecture I was about to receive.49

Once Kyle had closed the door, Master Brock came out from around the desk. His bulk bumped into the corner of the desk causing it to tremble slightly.50

"You my dear, have been a distraction for most of the Masters here. Masterplanter Root says that you learn at the rate of a fifth year. The landscape artist wants to recruit you. And Mastercreator Ruben is talking of--" He paused there as if he had already said too much. 51

I stood very still, afraid to move in case Masterkeeper Brock took more notice of me than he already did. I could feel a thin bead of sweat snake its way done my spine.52

"You are a distraction." He whispered more to himself. A huge index finger slid across the spine of the books on the shelf on the wall. "Please report to Master Ruben, now."53

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