Training
𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍
𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫
“So are you ready?” Seth exclaimed afar as we already rode our brooms in the air.
I looked at the goals where Orpheus was, as Seth said earlier, he was now the newly recruited Keeper of the Aero House Quidditch.
I don’t know when or how he recruited the boy but it definitely got me a little annoyed.
It’s just because the boy thinks he’s all that.
Then I glanced at Seth who was carrying the Bludger on its arm and a bat.
I have other things to worry about and it’s getting hit by that.
“I just have to get this Quaffle by the hoop right?” I said quite a little confident. I mean Orpheus is just a boy and younger than me so he can’t be able to block a throw by me.
“Yeah,” Seth smiled, “Well also not getting knocked out by me too.”
With determination fueling my every move, I zoomed towards the goalposts, the Quaffle clutched tightly in my grasp.
Orpheus, the new Keeper, stood firm, his eyes fixed on me with unwavering focus.
With a smirk, Seth swung the bat, sending the Bludger hurtling toward me. I veered sharply to the left, narrowly avoiding the heavy ball as it whizzed past my ear.
"Nice try, Seth!" I called back, my heart pounding with adrenaline.
Focusing back on the task at hand, I gripped the Quaffle tightly and soared towards the goalposts. Orpheus was stationed in front of the hoops, his eyes scanning the sky for any incoming threats. As I drew closer, I could see the determination etched on his face.
But I wasn't about to let a first-year get the best of me.
As I closed in on the hoops, I could see Orpheus calculating my every move, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
With a swift motion, I aimed for the right hoop, hoping to catch him off guard with my speed.
But Orpheus was quick to react, diving to the side with lightning reflexes, his hand outstretched.
To my dismay, he managed to block my shot with a deft maneuver, sending the Quaffle ricocheting off his palm.
"Nice try," the first-year called out, a smirk playing on his lips.
Shit…
With renewed focus, I circled around for another attempt, eyeing the goalposts for any opening.
But before I could make my move, Seth unleashed the Bludger once again, aiming it straight at me with deadly accuracy.
Reacting quickly, I swerved to avoid the incoming projectile, narrowly dodging it by mere inches. But the distraction was enough to throw off my aim, and Orpheus was ready, his keen eyes following my every move.
With a flick of his wrist, he deftly intercepted my next shot, blocking it with ease and sending the Quaffle spiraling away from the goal.
"Nice block," Seth called out, his tone filled with admiration.
“I think I’m getting hung on this Keeper role!” Orpheus grinned.
I forgot that I never have done this before and I really was never athletic.
As frustration gnawed at me, I reminded myself to stay calm.
Orpheus's confidence only fueled my determination to prove myself.
With a deep breath, I refocused on the game. Seth continued to zip around on his broom, poised to send another Bludger hurtling in my direction. But this time, I was ready.
Anticipating Seth's move, I swerved to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding the menacing ball as it whizzed past me. With a sense of relief, I turned my attention back to the Quaffle, which was now back in play.
Determined to break through Orpheus's defense, I surveyed the field for an opening. The young Keeper watched me like a hawk, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
I knew I had to come up with a strategy, something unexpected that would catch him off guard. Suddenly, an idea struck me.
With a burst of speed, I flew towards the right hoop, drawing Orpheus's attention. But at the last moment, I performed a swift mid-air spin, changing direction and launching the Quaffle towards the left hoop instead.
Orpheus reacted quickly, diving to block the shot.
But this time, I had outmaneuvered him.
The Quaffle sailed past his outstretched hand and through the hoop, scoring a point for me.
"Nice shot!" Seth cheered, his voice filled with excitement.
I glanced at Orpheus who gave me furrowed eyebrows and finally, I could give him the same gesture he did to me.
I stick out my tongue at him.
He clicked his tongue.
I grinned, a surge of adrenaline coursing through me.
—-------------------
"Whew~” Seth whistled in amazement, gesturing to the impressive display of skill between Orpheus and Anderson. "Orpheus blocked five times, and Anderson shot it five times! You two are tied!" He cheered while cradling the Bludger in his arms.
I could tell Orpheus really wanted to do better than me, but I didn't understand why he felt that way.
It seemed like a matter of pride for him, a drive to prove himself as the best.
In Aero House, lots of students are really competitive.
Not everyone is like that, but most are.
"This will be the final round," Seth announced, effortlessly manipulating the Bludger with practiced ease. It never ceased to amaze me how adept he was at handling it.
But then again, Seth Choi was no ordinary wizard.
"Whoever scores next wins for the day!" Seth declared enthusiastically.
As the game progressed, I found my confidence growing with each maneuver. Despite Seth's relentless onslaught of Bludgers, I adapted quickly, evading them with increasing agility.
Orpheus, however, proved to be a formidable adversary. His reflexes were razor-sharp, and he seemed to anticipate my every move.
But I didn't let it get me down.
With each missed shot, I gleaned valuable insight, refining my strategy and sharpening my skills. And as the match wore on, I could sense Orpheus's frustration mounting at my tenacity.
But just as I prepared to take another shot...
Before I could react, the Bludger collided with me, sending me crashing to the ground in a whirl of pain and confusion.
Seth rushed to my side, their voices a distant blur as I struggled to remain conscious.
"Ouch, that looked painful," he said without sounding too worried.
"He's injured his arm," Orpheus observed, his tone tinged with a hint of triumph. "Does this mean I've won?"
I shot Orpheus a defiant glare. "No, it doesn't. I can still—"
Seth interjected, shaking his head. "Nope! You need to go to the infirmary, Anderson. Let's call it a day for training."
I sighed, assessing the damage. My arm was broken, and I could feel the sharp ache of potentially fractured ribs. I might even cough up blood soon.
"You don't need Orpheus to carry you, right?" Seth teased, offering me a hand up from the ground.
Glancing at the first-year who studiously avoided my gaze, I replied, "No, I'd rather not have a first-year carry me. He might not be strong enough," eliciting a frustrated gasp from him.
Seth chuckled as I gingerly stood up. "Take care out there. Make sure you get to the infirmary without any mishaps!"
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, exhaling deeply.
Getting to the infirmary was a pain.
It was way up on the fourth floor, while the Quidditch field was on the ground floor. So if you got hurt during practice, you had to trek all the way through the huge castle to get help. It was a bit of a hassle, but at least it meant you could get patched up pretty quickly. Still, the school was so big, it felt more like a fortress than a school, which made the trip kind of exhausting….
Upon finally stepping into the Infirmary, I found myself in a spacious, well-lit room with lofty windows that flooded it with natural light. Traditionally adorned with portraits of esteemed Arcane healers and significant figures in magical medicine, the walls added an air of reverence to the space.
Rows of plush hospital beds were neatly arranged, though noticeably unoccupied, suggesting a lack of recent injuries among the students.
It was only the second day of school, after all, making it likely that I would be the first to require treatment.
Each bed boasted crisp white linens and privacy curtains, ensuring comfort and seclusion for patients. Additionally, scattered throughout the room were cozy armchairs and tables, offering areas for visitors to converse with the recovering or engage in study.
At one end of the Infirmary, a desk typically served as the domain of the resident healer or mediwizard, flanked by shelves stocked with an assortment of potions, remedies, and medical supplies. However, Madame Evergreen, the school nurse, was conspicuously absent from her usual post. A fireplace, present to provide warmth during colder seasons, remained dormant.
"Madame Evergreen?" I called out carefully, knowing Madame Evergreen could get pretty grumpy, like a strict mom.
Yet, there was no reply.
With a sigh, I made my way to the nearest bed and settled down, cradling my injured arm. Healing the broken bone would require more than a simple spell
I thought Seth could fix it for me, but I also think he might have wanted me to teach him a lesson after what happened yesterday.
"Henry?"
The sound of Daphne's voice interrupted my thoughts, and I glanced up to see her approaching with a tray of medicines, her bright blue eyes reminiscent of her siblings.
The Choi family's striking similarity in eye color made them easily identifiable.
"What happened to your arm?!" Daphne exclaimed, her expression one of concern as she hurried to my side and set down the tray. "It's broken?! How did this happen?"
"I was playing Quidditch with Seth and... with someone else," I replied vaguely, choosing not to mention Orpheus.
Daphne reached for her wand with a light-hearted giggle, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Looks like my brother really got you, huh?"
Her expression softened into a small, affectionate smile while she spoke fondly of her brother, Seth Choi. It was evident that they shared a close bond, though I hadn't observed much interaction between them since yesterday's Sorting Ceremony.
In fact, it seemed that she was distant not only with Seth Choi but with all her siblings.
But that wasn't my concern to dwell on.
My attention shifted to her wand as she delicately took hold of my injured arm. "Where's Madame Evergreen?" I inquired.
"Attending a teacher's meeting in their office," she replied. "I've been assisting her here since early this morning."
I hesitated, apprehensive about her use of magic. After all, a simple spell from a first or second-year student wouldn't suffice to heal my arm, and a botched attempt could potentially worsen the injury.
Daphne noticed my uncertainty and offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Ah, of course.
I momentarily forgot that she was just like her siblings, a Choi, and therefore skilled in magic.
"Alright, go ahead and do as you wish," I exhaled deeply, feeling thoroughly fatigued by the training and everything that had transpired up to this point.
With a pointed wand and careful incantation, she cast the spell "Brackium Emendo," and a gentle glow of light blue emanated from her wand.
In an instant, my arms were restored, and my bones remained intact, indicating that the magic had worked flawlessly.
"See? Everything's back to normal now!" Daphne exclaimed cheerfully.
"Thank you— that's truly remarkable. You executed that spell perfectly," I remarked with genuine admiration.
She waved her hand nervously, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "It's not that remarkable, really. My siblings could do it too! I'm just like them!"
See? Seth could have easily healed me on the field.
He really made me walk all the way from there to the fourth floor.
As I flexed my arms, testing their strength, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for her timely intervention.
"Well, I'm still grateful," I insisted, offering her a smile. "And besides, just because your siblings can do it doesn't mean it's any less impressive when you do it."
Daphne's cheeks retained a rosy hue, betraying her lingering embarrassment, yet a faint smile danced at the corners of her lips. "Mhm… Thanks, Henry. I'm just relieved I could be of assistance."
She’s blushing again….
"My ribs are still aching, though," I grumbled, feeling the persistent discomfort.
Concern furrowed Daphne's brow as she turned her gaze to me, sympathy evident in her eyes. "Ah! I'm sorry! I had no idea! Let me take a look."
With gentle hands, her expression focused as she carefully examined my ribs for any further injury.
I winced as her touch grazed the tender area, the pain lingering despite her earlier healing spell.
"It appears there's still some bruising," she remarked softly, her tone filled with concern. "I could attempt another spell to help alleviate the pain if you'd like."
I nodded gratefully, placing my trust in her expertise.
Daphne whispered an incantation under her breath, her wand emitting a gentle glow as she cast the spell. A comforting warmth enveloped me, easing the ache in my ribs and bringing relief.
"Feeling better?" she inquired, searching my eyes for any lingering discomfort.
I nodded, offering her a warm smile of appreciation. "Much better, thank you, Daphne. You truly are a lifesaver."
Her cheeks flushed slightly at the praise, a subtle pink tinting her complexion.
After watching her more closely, it seemed like she really liked getting compliments.
Oh… maybe it's because she told me her parents hardly ever praise her.
From what I recall, her mom really liked her older brothers and sisters but didn’t pay much attention to her.
If that's the case….
Manipulating her would be remarkably easy, wouldn't it?
*Ahem*
"Am I interrupting something?" Orpheus's voice sliced through the atmosphere, drawing my attention to the door where I spotted the first-year Aero student leaning casually against the frame, arms crossed.
Daphne straightened in her armchair, furrowing her brow at Orpheus. "No, you're not," she replied.
"Why are you here?" I asked, sitting up now that my broken bones had healed.
"Seth wanted me to fetch you. He said he had something else to show you…. Uh…. some kind of lessons…..?" Orpheus explained, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"Okay," I responded, rising from the hospital bed, understanding Seth's intentions.
I needed extra guidance on navigating relationships within the school before diving in headfirst.
"Also, I need to talk to you, Daphne," Orpheus added, walking toward us.
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
There seemed to be tension between the two of them.
Are they classmates?
They appeared close, but not in a friendly way.
Nevertheless, it wasn't my place to pry or get involved.
"Why are you still here?" Orpheus glanced at me. "Seth is waiting for you."
"Ah, right..." I muttered, realizing I had been lingering for a while.
"Goodbye, Daphne. Thank you again," I said, offering her a small wave, which she returned with a smile.
"Take care," she said as I stepped out of the infirmary.
The day is nearly coming to an end, which means it's probably almost dinner time at the Great Hall.
I'll have plenty of time to learn more about this world with Seth guiding me through my relationships.
I just need to make it through until Christmas break.
It shouldn't be too difficult, especially since it's only the beginning of the fall semester, starting on September second.
Just 107 days...