Page 32 of Akarnae

Bear shrugged. “I don’t—”

“SPARKER! GET BACK HERE!”

Alex turned to see Jordan sprinting towards the dorm building with Finn hot on his heels. The PE coach was waving a pitchfork in the air and looked like a rabid farmer chasing after an errant cow.

Jordan quickly reached the entryway and ducked behind them. “Hide me!” he whispered to their backs.

Alex thought his request was a bit ridiculous since it was clear that he was standing there, but she stayed where she was nevertheless. It was still difficult to resist taking a step backwards when Finn approached them, waving his pitchfork at them.

“Where’s he gone? I know he came this way!”

Alex looked at Finn as if he was crazy. Couldn’t he see Jordan standing behind them?

She could have slapped herself for being so obtuse. OfcourseFinn couldn’t see him. Jordan was probably using his gift and playing the invisible man. Thankfully, Alex had enough sense to keep her mouth closed. Bear, however, took a step towards the enraged teacher.

“Who are you looking for, Mr. Finneus?” he asked, his voice mesmerising.

Finn blinked at him a few times, as though he had to gather his thoughts. “Eh? Oh. Sparker. Jordan Sparker. He was doing detention with me and I haven’t finished with him yet.”

“Sir, it’s nearly dinner time,” Bear said, again using the smooth and captivating voice. “Surely you don’t want to miss dinner?”

Alex found herself nodding. Bear could have said anything in that voice and she would have agreed. It seemed like Finn was facing the same predicament, since he shook his head as if to clear it.

“But—but I’m not done with him yet!” Finn valiantly tried to keep himself composed, but his blazing anger had already cooled enough that he lowered the pitchfork to rest on the ground. “There’s still plenty of light left for work.”

“But surelyyoudon’t want to work anymore tonight?” Bear continued. His words were so hypnotic that Alex wondered if Finn would want to work ever again, let alone tonight. “It’s such a beautiful evening. I’m sure you have plenty to do without having to worry about babysitting a student. There will be enough time for that when he joins you again tomorrow.”

Finn rubbed his stubbly chin thoughtfully. “I suppose you’re right. Plenty of time tomorrow. And Iama bit peckish.” His stomach gurgled and Alex saw Bear smile triumphantly.

“If you see Sparker, tell him he’d better get a good night’s sleep, ’cause he’s gonna have a big day tomorrow.”

“Certainly, Mr. Finneus,” Bear said, still using his charming voice.

Finn nodded to himself and walked away from them.

When he was out of earshot, Bear turned to Alex and said, “And that’s how it’s done.”

Before she could respond, Jordan re-materialised beside them and clapped a hand on Bear’s shoulder. “Thanks, mate. I totally owe you one.”

Bear huffed out an amused breath. “You owe me way more than one, Sparkie.”

“Good thing we’re not keeping count then, huh?” At least Jordan had the grace to look sheepish.

“I can’t believe you just charmed him like that,” Alex said, amazed again at Bear’s gift.

“I told you it comes in handy,” Jordan said.

Alex massaged her temples. “This place is so insane. Nothing makes sense here.”

It wasn’t the first time she’d longed for the simplicity of her own world. Earth—Freya—whatever—might have been lacking on the technological advancement scale, but at least it offered a what-you-see-is-what-you-get reality. There were no unexpected surprises, no strange abilities. Her world madesense, which was much more than she could say about Medora.

“It might be easier if you just embrace the senselessness,” Bear said with a compassionate look.

“After everything I’ve seen and heard this week, I think that’s all I reallycando,” Alex agreed.

“Are you really okay with all this?” Jordan asked, and she was surprised by the genuine concern in his gaze. “Most of the time you seem to be handling it well, but other times…” He trailed off, not needing to finish his sentence.

“I’m not going to lie—it’s messing with my head a bit,” Alex admitted. “I know you said there’s no such thing as magic here, but that’s still what it seems like to me. Where I come from, we don’t have supernatural gifts, let alone all the other stuff. It’s a lot to take in. But people also don’t jump from one world to another through disappearing doorways, so I figure that if I can accept where I am and where I’m from, then I have no reason to deny all the other crazy stuff that happens here. And besides, it’s not like I can just close my eyes, stick my fingers in my ears, and chant ‘la-la-la, I’m in my happy place’ for the next few months until the headmaster arrives. That’s impractical. Not to mention, just plain weird.”

---