Enchanted High Book I
Chapter Thirty-Five: Villagers

‘Can I help?’

Robbie looked up from the steaming pot of food to June. ‘Of course you can,’ he said. ‘Pass me the chilies.’

June rummaged through a box of ingredients until she found what she was looking for. She handed it to him and he poured it into the simmering concoction.

‘After allowing the fire to burn for three minutes,’ Robbie narrated, ‘we add the herbs,’ he took a handful of the Taste Bud Tingler; the yellow herb, and tossed it into the pot. An aroma filled the air. ‘Now we add the main ingredient,’ he reached into the ingredient box and scooped a fistful of something black and squirming.

‘What is that?’ June asked.

‘Don’t worry,’ Robbie said nonchalantly. ‘They’re dead. I’ve left them overnight to soak into a mixture I prepared myself.’ When he tossed that into the pot, there was a wheezing sound, before the mixture began to bubble. June looked at it with distaste, not sure whether she wanted to eat it.

‘Are they bugs?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ Robbie said. ‘They’re also indigenous to this island, just like those berries. Very nutritious.’

Nicole’s eyes widened. ’We’re going to eat the bugs?′

‘Of course we are,’ Robbie nodded. ‘You’ll see what I mean.’

He placed four bowls in June’s hand; it was weaved with thick, long leaves, curled into the perfect shape for holding something. She aligned them on the table, as Robbie brought the steaming pot and poured a spoonful in each bowl. June stared down at her bowl, it was sizzling, still squirming at places where the bugs were cooked.

James took his seat, observing the meal before him. He raised the bowl, wondering whether he would rather eat it or let himself starve.

Robbie sat, rubbing his palms together excitedly. ‘This is so exhilarating,’ he beamed. ‘I haven’t eaten with a crowd for nearly fifteen years now. My, my, that is quite a long time ... go on, try it.’

The enthusiastic expression that he sent June was what gave her the courage to bring the bowl up to her mouth and take a gulp. A hot liquid, like a soup that Audrey used to make, toppled onto her tongue, engulfing her taste buds with a new flavor, sweet, spicy, and most delicious. She drained the remains of her bowl as her hunger kicked in.

Robbie was laughing. ‘Want some more?’

‘Yes, please.’ Next to her, James was getting used to the taste, and Nicole still seemed a little skeptical. June sipped through her second bowl, watching Nicole’s expression twist and turn as she swallowed the substance. Finally, she looked satisfied.

‘You know what,’ she said, ‘it’s not that bad.’

Robbie smiled brightly. ‘I told you you’d enjoy it.’

‘Hey, June,’ said Nicole, ‘you think you could share the recipe with your aunt to sell at Lush Mermaid?’

‘Yeah, of course,’ said June, ‘if Robbie wouldn’t mind.’

He frowned quizzically. ‘What’s Lush Mermaid?’

James sat up straighter. ‘It’s a restaurant to serve the magic folk,’ he said, his eyes gleaming. ‘We have one of them in Emeraldholde. In fact, there are tons of them near where I live.’

Robbie blinked at June. ‘Audrey, she – she works?’

June nodded.

Robbie set is empty bowl down. ‘I’d like to meet her sometime.’

‘Then why don’t you?’ June asked. ‘I’m sure you’ve done enough research on this place, or at least enough for you to leave and re-join the outside the world. A lot must’ve changed in fifteen years.’

Robbie seemed thoughtful, but refused to reply, and that’s when June decided not to question him anymore.

After another round of the strange, yet delightful meal, June felt more satisfied than she could have expected from being stranded on an island. It had begun to rain heavily; thick droplets splashed into the roof, which surprisingly had no leaks, creating a loud racket outside. Nicole had found a journal that contained Robbie’s other ‘leisurely research’ about mechanisms that he wished to work on someday. June lingered in the living room, hearing the sound of clicking metal as Robbie continued with the watches.

She gazed around, and spotted James, outside. He leaned against the wooden railing, staring out into the cloud covered sky. Silently, she walked out too, the rain fell on her without any feeling, and stood beside him.

For moments, they were silent. Then June decided to break it. ‘What are you thinking?’

James shrugged. ‘I don’t know exactly. There are things in my head, but I don’t want to hear them. I can’t hear them.’

It sounded poetic to June, like he was quoting one. Before she could think of something to say, Nicole called from one of the rooms.

‘Oh I found something!’ She barged into the living room and slapped something onto the wooden desk. ‘Its Villagers, right?’

Robbie nodded. ‘Why, yes. I thought I lost that in the flood three years ago. Where did you replace it?’

Nicole looked apologetic. ‘I was in attic ... I hope you don’t mind?’

‘Not at all. I’m quite glad actually.’

June and James walked back inside; James ruffling his hair from the water. She looked down at the object on the table; it was a flat box with a label written in curvy black writing: Villagers. ‘What’s this?’ she asked.

Nicole looked surprised. ‘The game? Don’t you know?’ it seemed to dawn on her slowly that June was not raised in the magical world. ‘Oh right ... uh, it’s sort of a board game that you’d get in the human world. But it’s for us magic folk.’

‘How do we play it?’ June asked.

Nicole slid open the lid as James sat opposite them on a wooden stool. ‘I remember, we have to sign ourselves into the game ...’ Inside the box, was a rectangular board, with no shapes of writing on it to indicate that it was even used.

‘It’s bare,’ said June.

Nicole shook her head. She lowered her head and whispered to the board: ‘Begin.’

A black spot formed from the center of the bare page, curling outwards like vines. They looped themselves over each other, turning dark green, some even sprouted little yellow flowers. In the midst of all the shrubbery was a perfectly black circle.

James and Nicole hardly flinched, but June was practically gnawing on it. She had never seen that happen before, not with her own eyes.

‘Ok,’ said Nicole to June. ‘You first.’

‘What?’

‘Place your thumb on the circle.’

June did so; her skin contacted with the smooth of the paper and when she let go, a fresh voice erupted from between them.

‘Player one,’ said the voice. ‘Enter a name.’

June looked at Nicole astonishingly. ‘It’s the game speaking,’ James explained. ‘Now you name your village.’

‘Umm,’ June stuttered in thought.

‘Ummville,’ said the game.

‘No, no,’ said June, ‘that wasn’t it.’

‘You can’t change it now.’ Nicole placed her thumb neatly on the circle.

‘Player two,’ said the game. ‘Enter a name.’

‘Foxland.’ Nicole announced. ‘Your turn, James.’

James dabbed a wet finger on the paper.

‘Player three,’ said the game. ‘Enter a name.’

He shrugged carelessly. ‘James Valley.’

Moments after, the weeds and flowers and circle disappeared and the board neatly divided itself into three; each positioned in front of each of the players.

The voice continued; ‘Ummville’s turn.’

A small cube emerged from the paper and spun with amazing speed in the air. It halted abruptly, and June saw that it was a dice; the side facing her was glowing with three dots.

‘Three,’ said the game. ‘Choose a house design.’

Images of differently designed houses with different window shapes and colors appeared on June’s page, inking themselves with an invisible hand. Each house was different from the other, and below it, was labeled with a price.

‘You have to choose one of the houses from here,’ said Nicole. ‘You can only afford a normal.’ She pointed to the top corner of June’s page where, next to a money sign, was the number one thousand. ‘That’s how much you’ve got to spend to start up your village.’

‘Oh,’ June breathed and looked at the houses. It was true, she could only afford the normal house, which was priced at two hundred Creselts; the others were nine hundred and above. June tapped the image of the first house. The other options disappeared while her choice remained behind, alone on the blank paper.

‘Foxland’s turn,’ the game continued. The ‘dice’ spun in the air again and suddenly stopped; the glowing side was facing Nicole.

‘One,’ the game said. ‘Grow a plant.’

Images of plants and trees appeared on Nicole’s board. They moved realistically, swaying as if there was wind. Where some had magical abilities, snoring or weeping, they could hear the sounds it made.

‘Hey,’ said James, ‘there’s the plant we ate today; The Heart Petal Plant.’

‘Yeah, I think I’ll buy that, it’s only fifty Creselts.’ Nicole tapped the image. ‘I might be needing food soon.’

‘James Valley’s turn,’ the game said.

Once again the dice spun in the air and stopped.

‘Six. Select a river.’

Pictures of rushing waterfalls with long flowing rivers appeared on James’s board, with lifelike sounds when it hit boulders and knocked stones over.

James snorted and selected the river priced at three hundred.

‘Ummville’s turn.’

The dice spun. ‘Two,’ said the game. ‘Choose a gate for your village.’

Images of metal, brick and stone gates appeared before June. She picked a metal gate with a strong golden lock and hedges on either side. Seventy five Creselts was taken away from her total amount.

‘Foxland’s turn.’ They watched the dice whiz around in a blur. ‘Six. Choose a river.’

Nicole purchase a similar one to James; June identified the choconut trees that bloomed around it.

‘James Valley’s turn.’ The dice landed on five. ‘Five. Choose an animal.’

June was amazed at the sound of animals hooting and croaking and chirping and roaring all over James’s board.

‘Mmm hmm,’ James tapped his chin.

‘Just buy the unicorn and get it over with,’ Nicole urged. ‘You’re going to lose when we get to the next level anyway.’

‘Excuse me,’ said James, ‘but I will decide whether I lose or not.’ Making his decision, he tapped the image of a white bird.

‘Excellent choice,’ said the game. ‘The Transformer is a small white bird that can transform into any other bird species, making it a valuable asset to your village in the time of war.’

James shot Nicole a smug look. She rolled her eyes.

The game continued in this manner.

James collected all the fancy objects that Nicole was dying to get and June played seemingly innocently. When Nicole was left with fifty Creselts, James had seventy three and June had sixty two, the game made an announcement.

‘Congratulations. You have completed level one.’

‘Woohoo!’ James punched a fist in the air.

Nicole gritted her teeth. ‘You didn’t win.’

‘Yeah,’ said James, ‘but I have more money than you.’

‘Begin level two, Ummville’s turn.’

The dice spun and June landed a six.

‘War.’ Said the game. ‘Begin by choosing an army.’

‘An army?’ June repeated.

‘Yeah,’ said Nicole, grinning. ‘This is where it gets interesting.’

James smirked. ‘Don’t worry,’ he told Nicole, ‘I’ll bring your tiny village down quickly.’

Nicole ignored him and pointed at the options of June’s page. ‘This army has three thousand soldiers, and is the only one you can afford for sixty Creselts. Which means you’ll only have two Creselts left. You can earn more next time when it is your next turn by challenging an opponent to a duel.’

‘Right,’ said June. She tapped the army with the blue uniform.

‘Foxland’s turn.’ Nicole waited as the dice spun in the air. It stopped and the side with the number three glowed. ‘Three,’ the game said, ’you do not have enough Creselts. Would you like to enter one of your inhabitants to a duel?

Nicole’s smile was deadly. ‘Yes.’

The names ‘Ummville’ and ‘James Valley’ appeared on Nicole’s board. She pretended to be thinking hard about her choice.

‘We all know you’re going to choose my village,’ said James. ‘Just go ahead.’

Nicole raised her eyebrows. ‘Since you insist.’ She tapped the page.

‘James valley, prepare for a duel.’ The game said.

James picked out a worthy opponent with enough sword skills for Nicole’s soldier and the winner was to be rewarded with five hundred Creselts. The loser would lose their soldier.

‘Three,’ the game counted down. ‘Two, one.’

Immediately the tiny people on the paper charged towards each other and began brutally injuring themselves. Nicole’s soldier was armed with several daggers and he used it to snip off pieces of clothing from James’s warrior; biting off bits of his flesh as well. James’s warrior used his sword to shield him from the point of Nicole’s warrior’s dagger and then ran backwards tripping over clumsily. He fell head first onto the ground as Nicole’s warrior aimed the sword onto his chest.

James’s soldier vanished from the page.

James looked aghast as Nicole shoved her victory in his face.

‘How does losing feel?’ she grinned.

‘Having fun?’ Robbie called out from his work.

‘Yes!’ Nicole cried.

‘No,’ James sulked.

Robbie laughed. ‘Oh don’t worry,’ he stood and walked to them. ‘I have something that might cheer you up.’

June bolted up and took the watches from his hand. ‘You’re done with them?’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Now they are in perfect working condition.’

June scavenged through his old, blue eyes. ‘Thank you,’ she wrapped her arms around him in a heartwarming embrace.

He tapped her back lightly. ‘Oh, hey, no need to thank me,’ he said. ‘I feel obliged to help anyone in need. It’s what any good soul would do.’

June handed it to the others and slipped hers onto her wrist.

‘And I modified it a bit too,’ said Robbie. ‘Let’s just say, you can now swim with it on.’

June chuckled. ‘Thank you, a lot.’

Robbie nodded. ‘So,’ he cleared his throat, ‘are you going to be leaving now?’

June’s heart sank. They could leave, they had to leave and finish what had begun. They could go back home, to their families, to their school, if they manage to complete their mission. But Robbie ... he was bound to the limits of this island. If only there was a way he could escape with them too.

‘Well ...’ she looked at Nicole and James’s solemn faces.

‘Yes, yes,’ said Robbie urgently, ‘you should go now,’ June thought she heard his voice quiver. ‘Can’t delay you anymore, can I?’

There was silence.

‘Alright then, go on,’ said Robbie. ‘Grab some food, some water, any other supplies you might need before you leave.’

‘Oh,’ said June, ‘no, Robbie. You’ve already done enough –’

‘Please, I insist.’ He walked to his room and returned moments later with the black bag that Charlie had given them. ‘I’ve put in all the necessary things you’ll need in there. Oh, I almost forgot –’ he disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a lunch box. ‘There, this is a portion of the amazing lunch we had.’ He slipped the bag onto June’s shoulder.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered to him.

‘My dear,’ said Robbie. ‘I would do anything for you.’

I would do anything for you. It was strange that he had said that; he was a good person yes, but he didn’t know her well enough to say something like that. Perhaps it was because she was Audrey’s niece ...

‘We go the volcano, right?’ Nicole asked.

June snapped. ‘Yes.’

‘Can you remember the picture?’

June nodded. ‘Yeah.’

They stood side by side before Robbie. He was smiling, his eyes shining. ‘Bye,’ he said. ‘And good luck with your mission.’

June’s throat was stuck. ‘Goodbye, Robbie,’ she heard herself say but her voice sounded far away. She felt the dizzy feeling she hadn’t felt in a while as she was being sucked through the air to the next destination.

It came as a surprise to me when my boss called me once, and she was sitting at the dining table, with the Villager’s game spread out before her. It was an amazing game. I won - don’t worry, it came as a shock to me as well.

Love from all the fur on my back,

--THUG.