4

Jimmy laughed, thinking that someone would jump out anytime soon and tell him that everything was all a joke.

But what he still couldn’t understand was the unicorn and snake looking lady.

‘’Are we really in a different world, Lambert?’’ Jimmy suddenly asked.

Lambert placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘’I know that everything is happening so fast, but yes. There are far more things in this world that Monos can’t even begin to imagine. I am sorry you weren’t brought up the way you should have, but with time and training you will start to understand.’’

Jimmy suddenly wondered about Tom, who knew he was all along.

‘’I was attacked by a dragon yesterday. Do you think it’s because of who my father is?’’

Lambert froze. ‘’You are one lucky kid.’’

‘’I wouldn’t say that. Now my mother is dead.’’

After getting all his school supplies, Lambert pushed Jimmy out of the store quickly before Mr. Griffen could say something more degrading about him.

‘’And time for the most important thing,’’ Lambert said before leading Jimmy across the road to a store that was painted fully black.

‘’This place looks…’’

‘’Yes, I know what you mean. But that’s because the place houses wands.’’

‘’Wands?’’

‘’Yes, you’ll need them to help you control your spell casting.’’

‘’Oh.’’

Mr. Griffen had already beaten Jimmy and Lambert into the store, and there he was complaining about Lambert and his son able to afford things and he wanted to know what spell he used to gain such fortune.

While looking around, Jimmy came to a stop before a wand that made him feel ill all of a sudden. Then another caused him to feel scared, and it felt as if there was a weight on his chest.

He felt strong arms pulling at him.

‘’Sorry, those two wands are in prison and should be transported to Rotten Creek so they can be destroyed.’’ The store keeper explained.

‘’What happened to them?’’

‘’Well… just as how you have bad witches and wizards in this world, you have bad wands. But these wands weren’t like this before, the users had corrupted them, and we thought that a new user could helped to rehabilitate them but sadly those people who have tried either had been driven mad or died.’’

‘’So, these wands are alive?’’ Jimmy leaned his head to the right.

‘’They have a soul and is what will protect the user from dark magic and any evil creatures trying to harm them.’’

‘’That’s incredible.’’

‘’I think so too, but why don’t you take a look around? Seek out the wand that speaks to you the most.’’

Jimmy did just that, then stopped after hearing a whisper. He followed the sound only to see that it was Mr. Griffen.

‘’Foolish boy,’’ he sneered.

Jimmy turned to walk away but he gripped his shoulder tightly.

‘’Tell me boy, where did you get that platinum bank card. It is only exclusive for people of… people like me! And even I still don’t even have a card like that because I am not so rich.’’

Jimmy cracked a smile. ‘’Must be maddening to know that a child was richer than you.’’

Mr. Griffen balled his fists. ‘’Where did you get the card!?’’

‘’None of your business Valz, now leave the boy alone.’’

Lambert inclined his head and Jimmy hurried away to look around for his special wand.

Suddenly, he felt a feeling of warmth. It reminded Jimmy of having a real thanksgiving or even Christmas, maybe spring time with new hope.

Jimmy followed that feeling to a wand that was the only one in the case and sat upon a golden pillow.

It made Jimmy smile from the feeling of being hugged, and he placed a hand on the glass case.

‘’Are you my wand?’’

‘’That one is very special, made from unicorn’s horn.’’

Jimmy had a horrified look and the man laughed.

‘’Don’t worry, the unicorn had volunteered for its body to be used before it passed away. And what made this wand or better yet, alicorn truly special is because it also came with other… well. Let me show you.’’

At this time, Mr. Griffen grew envious and gazed down at his son with hate, because he wanted it to be Petar who was called by that wand so he could have all the magical and powerful items for himself.

‘’Everyone wants the alicorn, but this special wand will only choose a kind hearted person to be its master. It will not call anyone who wishes to do harm to others and remember how I tell you that your wand will protect you from dark magic. Well, unicorns are seen as guardians, and I guess you get the drift.’’

He gave Jimmy a look. ‘’The only enemies of your wand are those two,’’ he said in a dark tone, then more cheerfully. ‘’But no need to worry, you will never have to go up against them.’’

The store keeper presented Jimmy with a golden trunk then opened it and named off all the items and their use.

‘’Unicorn’s mane, it will grant all your wishes, but they have to be pure of heart. You can’t wish for riches, for someone to die or anything illegal. Ground unicorn bones heal any and every illness. And lastly, the skin made into a coat. Also known as the most effective armor in the world.’’

Jimmy thanked the man after paying and left.

‘’Oh, elves socks!’’ Lambert hit his forehead with his hand.

‘’You need a familiar and messenger bird.’’

‘’What are those?’’

‘’Your spiritual guide and as the name suggest, a bird that carries messages. Trust me, it’s the fastest courier service in our world, and maybe even the Monos worlds. Come to think of it, I don’t know much about Monos. What are they like?’’

Jimmy shrugged. ‘’Just like you, but without magic.’’

Lambert scoffed. ‘’I can’t imagine living without magic.’’

The entered what Jimmy hoped to be the last store, because his feet were starting to hurt and he was hungry as well, because he never had much before Pong dropped him off.

‘’Right here we are,’’ Lambert announced and just as they entered the pet store, a white and grey cat came and rubbed against Jimmy’s leg.

Jimmy bent over and patted the cat’s head; it flipped over on its back and began to purr.

‘’Well, would you look at that. I never thought she would ever get adopted, nasty little thing she was. Always scratching and hissing at my customers, though I don’t know how she keeps getting out of her cage. No matter the spell I cast on the thing, she is always acting like my shop was her kingdom.’’

Hearing that, Jimmy picked up the cat and rubbed his face into her soft fur. He had always wanted a pet, and the only time he had come close, Mr. Wall killed the rabbit, cooked it then forced him to eat the meat.

‘’Well, just your messenger bird then.’’

But by the time Lambert had said it, Jimmy was already tapping his finger gently against a wooden cage that had a raven in it.

The bird slowly woke up and opened its eyes to look at Jimmy.

Jimmy immediately recognized it as the raven that frequented his window.

‘’I want this one.’’

‘’Very well,’’ the store keeper said with a nod.

Finally, it was time for Jimmy to get his ticket to get his ticket for the train.

‘’Regular, V.I.P and exclusive?’’ Jimmy questioned after looking at the board with the prices.

‘’Oh yes. The train ride to the school will take no less than three days, maybe four, depending on anything that might happen on the railways. I suggest getting V.I.P. You will be comfortable, though you would have to share the area with other people.’’

‘’And exclusive?’’

‘’You have your own space, a bed, free food and get to shower.’’

Jimmy asked the bird looking woman behind the glass window for the exclusive ticket.

‘’Well kid, this is where we part ways. Good luck on your first term.’’ Lambert waved his wand and Jimmy’s belongings appeared.

The only thing he was actually caring all that time was the cat, the raven, his alicorn and a sum of money he had withdrawn.

Unexpectedly, Jimmy hug Lambert.

‘’Thank you Lambert, for all your help. I don’t know what I would have done without you. You have been so kind to me, I hope to see you again.’’

Jimmy then pulled out two hundred thousand crimson kogude and gave it to Lambert.

‘’Wha- I can’t accept this.’’

Jimmy nodded. ‘’Please do.’’

‘’But this is even more than I make as a month’s pay. I was only doing my job and helping kids who don’t normally have anyone to bring them around.’’

‘’And that’s why you deserve it.’’

Lambert looked at the stack of colorful paper money in his hand.

‘’Thank you.’’

Usually, Lambert would get only one or two crimson kogude, which was equivalent to five hundred dollars in the Monos world.

After loading all of Jimmy’s luggage into the carrying area and added a special tag to it, Lambert told Jimmy to go to the front and show the conductor his ticket.

‘’Bye Lambert.’’

‘’Bye kid.’’

Lambert thought how life truly was funny, he wasn’t initially assigned to Jimmy but another kid by the name of Klaus. But the greedy helper took the information out of his hand, simply because he thought Klaus was rich and he would get something nice from him.

Now, the money he got. Lambert could finally buy a proper house, have a whole year of grocery and maybe even a second-hand car.

While moving up in line which had only five kids his age, Jimmy could hear the conductor telling a woman that all the regular seats were gone and if she wanted one she should have gotten there earlier with her son before the ticket booth had closed.

Jimmy looked back and sure enough the place was closed, with a sign that stated that ‘if you need tickets, ask the conductors.’

‘’What to do now mom?’’ the boy with long pitch-black hair and green eyes asked.

Oddly he was taller than his mother, his skin was deathly pale and though he had a loud booming voice, his face held kindness.

‘’The only place available now is exclusive cabin, can you please move out of the way so the others can pass?’’

‘’But I don’t have any money for that,’’ the woman sounded desperate.

‘’Move out of the line then, there are other students who need to board.’’

‘’But—‘’

‘’I’m afraid your son will have to try again next year, and maybe you will get here earlier.’’

A few people who were waiting around to wave their children off, laughed in mocking tone at the woman and her son.

Jimmy did some calculations in his head.

‘My train ticket was twenty thousand crimson kogude and seven hundred silver fluant.’

Jimmy then held up the cage with Syrinx and then the carrier with the sleeping Harriet.

‘Three thousand crimson kogude and one hundred and fifty-one silver fluant. And my wand, fifteen thousand crimson kogude.’

‘And all my school supplies along with clothing.’

Then Jimmy calculated and saw that he had only spent five hundred thousand crimson kogude and eight hundred silver fluant. Which wasn’t much to him, but for most witches and wizards, they wouldn’t even see that much money in a life time.

Just as Jimmy was about to offer to pay for the boy’s ticket, someone pulled the conductor aside and they whispered together.

‘’Ok, the agreement is that he will be admitted into the exclusive cabin. But all amenities will be excluded, he will be treated as though he is still in the regular cabin.’’

The woman nodded eagerly and paid the money she had.

‘’I’m sorry Marcel, it’s a good thing I packed your food.’’

She kissed him and gently pushed him inside the train.

The conductor shook his head in a disgusted manner.

Jimmy showed the man his ticket and he gave him a smile.

‘’Welcome a board young sir, I think you will find the exclusive cabin quite comfortable and not as loud as the other cabin. When you are settled someone will come around with menus, the food and beverage is included in the exclusive package. You will also have a private sleeping area. Please, enjoy your ride with us.’’

The man then held out his hand and Jimmy gave him a confused look, not knowing that he was asking for a tip, even though he hadn’t done much.

‘’Uh, thank you.’’

Jimmy could hear him mumbling about not getting any tips and thought that maybe if he was being kind to everyone then he would have.

As he walked through the train, moving from regular, Jimmy saw why Lambert suggested going for V.I.P.

Though he wasn’t judging, Jimmy thought the regular cabin had a rowdy bunch and they were already even throwing food about the place.

There was also a fight, and he was glad he wasn’t stuck inside the overcrowded area.

He quickly saw that the V.I.P cabin wasn’t much better, just with fewer people.

‘’Move along!’’ a boy yelled at Jimmy then closed the door in his face.