• THE JUNGLE ISLE, CORYNTHIA
A great ship full of merchants anchored by a small river north of the island. Officially to sailors, and the natives, the isle was called Lakewood. But Aya Naamah, Rosamunde, and Rafel all called it Jungle Isle.
"It's here. It's here! The merchant ship is here."
Ravenna came running from the silver beach, through the green woods to the Abbey. It was their second week living in the holy parsonage, and Rafel was having the time of his life with the girls. It was a most wonderful vacation away from the rigors and politics he once dabbled in at the Eldorian Capitol, now Titans Landing.
Sekhmet and Dr. Shetty had made a damn good argument to convince him school was the best option to level up, and reclaim soul coins again.
Discover adventure at m-vl-em-py-r
But not just any school. The infamous Institute of the Dark Arts, the most exclusive private boarding college in all the continent; parents started bribing to save a spot for their children from the moment they were born. It was the Witch Academy! And it's three new admitted students were:
[Ding!]
[Miss Rosamunde Spears]
[Miss Aya Naamah]
[Master Israfel BlüdThïrste]
The gold letters of invitation with the black crow seal had arrived just this morning on the back perchs of the most dutiful, and trained snow eagles. [Miss Ravenna de Vries] was a returning student and didn't get any letter. She didn't scoff over it. She was happily a Second Year.
A Sophomore, and according to the Fourth Years, the best time of college life.
"I'm so excited to show you guys around the [C. A. W]. It's the most beautifully Goth place I've ever seen. An Academy full of all thriving magical factions; sirens, Gorgons, werewolves, vampires, half-bloods; an inclusive arcane society. AND THE HEADMISTRESS ISN'T A BITCH!" Ravenna had said, fawning over her beautiful friends.
It wasn't that Rafel hated school—after all, he loved books and had aced home education. It was the idea of school he disliked. . .bullies and busybodies, and beer and hormonal teens, and social circles, and fuck! Everything he was too precocious for.
'Wouldn't it be nice to finally act your age?' he remembered Sekhmet's words.
At least, he'd get to see leggy Jailbaits in pleated miniskirts and schoolgirl braids!
This was how Rafel came to find himself being pulled to the silver beach of Lakewood island in hand by an excited Ravenna. He had being healing nicely, and could walk without the cane now, but he figured he'd keep it.
The beach was now full of a crowd, a spectacle to conversing and bargaining, weaving in and out of tents on the seashore. More Islanders paddled in from nearby isles to the trading ship which was now a mini port city of itself.
Rafel was shielded from the rosy winter sun by a makeshift bamboo roof as he sat in a recliner in the largest boutique on the ship's deck. Linens and sparkling apparels filled his eyes from everywhere.
At least he had money to spoil the girls.
It was the one thing Mephistopheles hadn't taken from him: hard Eldorian currency.
[???? LOYAL – Major Lazer ft. Kizz Daniel.]
"What do you think?" Ravenna turned this way and that in a fitting gold kaftan.
Though a huge, standing mirror was beside the smiling modiste assistant, the girls preferred Rafel's eyes.
"Too flashy, try another," Rafel suggested.
Rosa also walked out and paraded in front of him.
"Really? Baggy camos?" Rafel tried not to laugh.
Rosa bowed her head. Pouting, she dove back under the veil into female dressing room. When Aya walked out, Rafel beamed.
"Finally! You look ravishing, my dear."
She had on tight blue rockers, a halfcut blouse, and thigh-high boots. Both Aya and the assistant blushed crimson under his hot stare. Ravenna peeped her head out the curtains. "Uh, I wish I had your fashion sense, Aya. Come help us, please. Rosa's nearly fainted over the lingerie section."
She met Rafel's gaze and giggled.
"Don't worry, daddy. We won't get too naughty."
She slapped the curtains shut. Rafel shook his head with a smile. A silver-haired, tattooed septuagenarian walked barefoot out the inner dressers. "We're ready for you, sir," he said. Rafel rose from the recliner and went in to be fitted.
By the time they were all finished with their shopping, it was dusk. Rafel had a small inkling of the millions he had spent, but he didn't care. He still had several holdings in Titans Landing and owned a literal army. He was fine. As the sun dipped down past the ship's red sails, he rented a stately carriage that ferried them and all their new boxes and paper bags to the parsonage.
Sekhmet stood outside the Abbey, in a wonderful golden qipao with a long slit. Her curves made the dress a tight fit. And Rafel wished he could take her to school with him.