Creation Mischief Chapter Two

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 were raking the trimmings as I ran out the opening into the bustle of everyday life in the academy. Groups of all ages passed me as I searched for Kyle. Grabbing a child in the green of a first year, I asked, "Have you seen Kyle Greenly?"1

The boy shook his head and slipped from my hands. It was then that I heard my name being called.2

Kyle was standing in the open door of the boy’s living quarters. 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.3

"Thanks."4

"No problem. Have you checked in with Master Brock yet?" He asked over a crowd of giggling girls. 5

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."6

As he nodded, blonde bangs shadowed his eyes. A knowing smile passed his lips. "I like those better, but, once you become a fourth year, Mastercreator Ruben doesn’t give you the easy worlds anymore."7

"What is that suppose to mean?" I didn't like what I was hearing.8

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."9

I followed him as he snaked his way through the crowd of students hurrying from the dining hall.10

"There's Master Brock." Kale pointed as he snaked his way through a small gathering of boys. At the head table surrounded by other instructors sat a stocky man shoveling stew into his large mouth. His pink, bald head 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.11

Kyle grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front of room. In our haste, I stumbled into the tray of a kitchen helper, spilling the contents on the floor.12

The whole room fell silent as the dishes crashed onto the stones.13

"What's all that racket?" Boomed Master Brock, standing from his table. 14

I scrambled down on my hands and knees to help the girl pick up the dishes. 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.15

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.16

"I, I, I'm sorry, sir," I stuttered. "But I ran into this girl here and knocked her tray over.” 17

"Get it cleaned up and then report to me later.” He set me back on my feet and stomped out of the room. 18

I started stacking dishes on the fallen tray as Kyle bent down to help. "What was that all about?" Kyle whispered in my ear.19

"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." 20

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.21

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,-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.22

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?"23

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?”24

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."25

"Uh-huh. And how did the world behave?" 26

"It was quite easy," I said quickly.27

"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?"28

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.29

"Oh, you do not remember taking the multi-colored scale from Mastercreator Ruben's workroom?"30

Kyle shifted by the door, inhaling in surprise.31

"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.32

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.33

"But sir, how could you have known?" I was completely stunned.34

"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?"35

I silently cursed myself for taking the irresistible scale while scanning the weathered floor.36

"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?"37

"But, when I put it in the water nothing happened." I confessed, biting my bottom lip.38

"So you did take it?" His bushy eyebrows rose.39

"When Troy went to check your progress, he spied a huge underwater beast, swimming lazily just below the surface."40

“You mean the scale really developed?" This was wonderful. I had wanted that mesmerizing scale to be something no other world had.41

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."42

Kyle shifted at the door attracting Master Brock's attention. "You boy, wait outside."43

Kyle looked at me as if waiting for my permission. I nodded, not really comfortable with the lecture I was about to receive.44

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.45

"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. 46

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.47

"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."48

***49

Kyle was worried. Lines crossed his forehead like strings on a violin. He was pacing back and forth in front of Master Brock's door as I slipped out. Dust puffed up with every step, gathering by his brown wavy head in a cloud. He didn't notice me at first, so intent on reducing his fingernail to the quick. 50

I stood at the door watching him closely, noticing the long length of his legs and the way his muscles bunched just underneath the fabric of his pants and the way his shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. I shook myself from the direction my thoughts were taking.51

The sunlight felt good against my chilled skin. The stale air and the smell of jasmine climbing the wall of the dining hall hung heavily in the air around us. 52

I cleared my throat. "Kyle?" I waited for a moment. When he didn't stop, I tried again. "Kyle, will you stop that?" I grabbed his arm and got rewarded with a mouthful of dust. I coughed as he finally saw me. 53

"How'd it go?" he asked, taking his finger out of his mouth.54

I shrugged. “Kyle,” I said softly, touching his arm. "Kyle, do you think it’s strange that the volcano erupted when we were arguing on Deter Seven?"55

He glanced at where I was resting my hand. I blushed a little and could feel my cheeks become warmer. I knew he was reading more into the gesture than I meant it to. I wanted him to know how important this was to me. So I used his feelings to make sure he knew. Maybe what I said next would be easier because of it. He shrugged before answering. "I'm not sure. Nothing like it has ever happened before. I talked to Carmen after coming back from D7 and she hasn't heard of anyone else doing it either.”56

"Strange. I wonder if Master Ruben would know. When I talked to him after we returned, he didn't seem particularly upset or interested. Just absentminded, like normal. I wonder?" I let my thoughts drift. 57

I started walking towards the outcrop of buildings where the Mastercreator's workroom was located. I debated with myself on whether to tell Kyle about the scale or tell him about the apple tree. I jumped right in without coming to a decision. "The last world I was on, I was thinking about when I was young and with my father. Somehow, I started thinking of apples. Well, the elm tree next to me turned into an apple tree."58

He stopped quickly, causing me to run into his elbow.59

"Ouch," I yelped and backed away.60

"Sorry," Kyle mumbled. "What do you mean the elm turned into an apple?"61

I started walking again, Kyle skipped to catch up to me. "What I mean is the elm tree's serrated leaves turned into the oval leaves of an apple and apples started to grow."62

Silence descended on us, as if we were in a bubble, but all around us the shrieks and giggles of the students echoed off the stone buildings as they hurried to their next class. Dust gathered at their feel. It looked like an early morning fog had rolled in. The dirt left a gritty feel in my mouth and I longed for a drink. Kyle and I pushed our way through the crowd.63

I watched Kyle's face as he processed what I had told him. His forehead crinkled while taking it all in and his lips thinned out until they all but disappeared. Then his face smoothed out when he wanted more information.64

"So, you influence your surroundings?" He asked as he pulled me to a stop.65

"As far as I can see yes, but I'm not sure I alone can cause a volcano to erupt." I turned from him.66

I heard him take a swift breath before he spoke. "Are you saying that I helped?"67

"I'm not sure. Trees are simple." We were approaching the Jumping Circle and the crowd was thinning out. Along the path, mature Aspen trees grew. Their almost round leaves shaded the two of us from the afternoon sun, as we continued on our way to Mastercreator Ruben’s study. Between the Aspens, white trunks grew saplings, too young yet for me to identify with.68

"Stop." I ordered Kyle.69

Kyle stopped and a small breeze blew stray strands of curly hair across his sun-kissed cheeks. He absently brushed them away.70

I focused my thoughts on a thin limb. As we watched, the willowy stick shrunk while turning a dark shade of green. When it reached two feet, small leaves sprouted from the side and a white multi-petal head peeked out from the green stem.71

"A daisy?" Kyle asked astonished.72

"Yeah, a daisy. I was thinking about the flower box that was just outside our kitchen window when I was little." I sighed deeply. "This is what happens and when our emotions get involved it magnifies."73

"So if I were to concentrate on the daisy with you, what would happen?"74

I shook my head and the movement caused my hair to brush across my shoulders. "I'm not sure. Maybe a lot of daisies or something bigger."75

Kyle started walking briskly again towards Master Ruben’s. "We will figure this out. What else did Master Brock say?"76

I skipped a couple of times to catch up to him. Freshly turned dirt reached my nose and I scratched it before answering him. "He says I'm a distraction and then he started in on what our Master thought of me. It was really strange."77

We had reached the building that held Mastercreator Ruben's workroom. It was as plain as Master Brock’s was, but here there was a lived-in feel to it. Boxes were stacked just outside the entrance so high they threatened to fall over. Miscellaneous branches and sacks of vegetation were laid haphazardly across the entryway and we gingerly stepped over the debris.78

Kyle stopped just outside the main door. “Do you want me to come with you?"79

I thought for a moment. It would be nice to have Kyle’s strong presence standing beside me; but, in the end, I knew I needed to do this alone. "No, I think I'd better see him by myself."80

He squeezed my shoulder gently before speaking, "I’ll be in the second level library trying to find some reference to what you've-we've been doing. Come find me there."81

I nodded slowly, my mind already on Master Ruben.82

He walked away and then turned back before reaching the exit. "I haven't forgotten about the serpent. I will be waiting for the details."83

***84

I stood in front of the solid oak door, fidgeting. I had never felt nervous around him, but now I was—and a bit scared. 85

The pranks I had played in the past had always been harmless. I had even caught one or two Masters chuckling behind their hands. I had gone too far this time. I shouldn't have taken that scale. I had no excuse and knew I was in for it.86

I started to turn and leave the dank hallway, when the door swung open with a crash and Mastercreator Ruben’s bearded face peered through the crack. "Thought I heard someone,” he mumbled, running his fingers through his hair absently. "Well, come in.”87

He left the door and weaved his way through the clutter. As before, there wasn't a clear place on any of the tables that sat in the room. Branches, leaves, and dried flowers were thrown together in piles, while papers were scattered here and there.88

I stepped in and immediately went to my usual spot near the east window. "Masterkeeper Brock said you wanted to see me, sir."89

Turning his back to me, he said clearly, “Do you think you are the first to take an unauthorized scale or piece of vegetation?” He paused as he shuffled through the large stack of loose papers. “I have a list somewhere of others. I just can’t seem to find it.” With each word, he overturned a different stack.90

“Ummm sir-,” I interrupted his mumbling.91

He looked up startled, as if he had forgotten I was even there. “Oh yes, Sabrina?”92

I pointed to a piece of paper that was sticking out of his breast pocket. “Would that be it?”93

Master Ruben patted his pocket, before taking it out. “Oh yes, it is.” He cleared his throat as he glanced at the paper. “Well, would you look at this?”94

I walked to his side. On the paper, a list of names ran the length. Some familiar, like Madara - Mastercook; she is the chief chef of the school right now, Kellin -Masterlibrarian; he just retired, Sunsaray - Mastergardener; legendary creator of the Jump Circle and some unfamiliar, Parker - Masterbookkeeper, Bianca-Mastermagician; retired. One name caught my eye, Ruben.95

“Master Ruben, you are on this list.” I was astounded. The most respected Master at the school was on a list where my name was soon to be.96

Master Ruben smiled down at me, patted my arm and replied, “Yes, my dear. I wasn’t always a Master, you know? I, at one point, was just a student and couldn’t stop learning or getting into trouble.” He touched his gnarled finger to the side of his nose.97

“Not you!”98

His eyebrows came together and lines appeared on an otherwise smooth forehead. “And why not me?”99

“Well, for one thing you’re a master and for another-.” I paused. “Well, I can’t think of another one.”100

He laughed from his belly, a deep rumbling laugh that sounded like it should come from a bigger man. After a slight hesitation, I joined in. He laughed until tears dripped from his eyes. I had stopped a while before that, unsure if I should really be laughing.101

He wiped his cheeks before clearing his throat. “Oh my dear, thank you for that. I haven’t laughed so hard in years. Sabrina, while I don't condone you taking that scale, I can understand it. You are a curious and impulsive young girl. And you are doing some amazing things, but you- we, need to focus on your studies.”102

I looked up from the list to find Master Ruben watching me closely. "Sir, my studies are going fine."103

He shook his head while grabbing my shoulders. "You must focus more. I need you ready." He gently squeezed my shoulders before dropping his hands. Master Ruben turned his back to me.104

"Ready? Ready for what?" I asked.105

"You will take Kyle and go back to Deter Fourteen. You are to observe the serpent, then report back to me. Directly to me."106

He turned to me; his cheeks above his moustache and beard were blotchy red. "Do you understand me?"107

I searched his face for any indication that he was disappointed with me. His eyes were clear blue, so pale you could imagine the polar ice caps paled in comparison. Around his eyes, the worry lines were no more vivid than earlier. The only changes were his cheeks.108

"Yes sir, I understand." I started for the door. "Master Ruben, sir?"109

He glanced up from the list. "Kyle and I, we together, make larger things happen." The words rushed out before I could stop myself.110

He nodded slowly, gray strands of hair slipping down across his cheeks. "This I have noticed. We will talk more about that when the two of you return."111

I shut the door softly, walked the few feet down the cluttered hall, stepped into the sun, and felt it warm my chilled skin.112