The Tower's Magic ― Chapter Two

The girl lay on the floor for a pretty long time. I figured she'd be while, and that I should enjoy my last few hours of peace before she woke up.

Judging by the little missy's lacy dress and pricey jewelry, she was going to be another uptight, demanding brat, just like every other student ever. 

I turned back to my work, a miniature metal dragonfly. Insects were always difficult, especially dragonflies, with their delicate legs and paper-thin wings. I twisted a wire with the utmost care, the steel bending easily into a new wing. Yes, insects were a challenge. That was why I liked making them.

I was almost finished with the wing when the girl finally woke up. She was quite a looker, with brilliant blue eyes and a curtain of waist-length blond hair, though right now she was bleary-eyed from sleep and her hair was in horrid tangles around her heart-shaped face.

She stared at me for a second, confused, and I almost felt sorry for her, but I quickly swept that feeling away. These girls would not break my heart again. I steeled myself and threw up my guard.
The little lady got herself sorted out faster than most, I will admit.

"Might I ask your name?" she asked. She was so sweet and polite that I almost couldn't think of a sarcastic response, despite having had this conversation a dozen times before, so I went for my default answer.

"Finally awake, princess? I was beginning to think you'd just lay there forever." Not the wittiest thing I've ever come up with, but it works in place of an introduction. I try to throw in as much sarcasm as possible to make up for my lame reply, and this seems to shake her.

"Er, well, yes. I'm Margaret. And who might you be?"

"What's it to you?" No no, missy. My name will be disclosed only on a need-to-know basis.

"Well, I'd like to know." But you don't need to know.

"Too bad."

The girl, Margaret, looked aggravated for a second before she composed herself. Good, my tactics were working.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot here. I'd like to know where I am." Margaret told me.

"And I'd like a puppy, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna get one."

"What is your problem?" The little princess finally lost her temper. This wasn't exactly a major outburst, but it was a start. She'd hate me. Good.

"Shall I make you a list?" I gave her my most irritating smirk. I had spent years working on that smirk, and I had nearly perfected it. "Let's see here. I'm sick of working for a bunch of ungrateful, blue-blooded brats, and here comes another one now. I've been in this god-forsaken school for who knows how long now, and the only person I've seen in a week--"

"Shut up! Just- just shut up, alright? I'm tired, and I don't want to be here any more than you do. You're not going to keep bullying me when I've done nothing to you! Just shut up!"

Hmm, that was interesting. Usually the little princesses would shout something about my status, or my appearance, or their daddy's money. This was different. She was getting annoyed though.

"That's the spirit!"

She looked even angrier for a moment, then something changed in her face. She seemed to understand what I meant, which was rare in the girls I had to work with. I grinned, a real smile, not the fake ones I used to push people to their limits.

My work done, I left the room and strode down the hall to the stairway.

Nobody ever survived the Magic Academy without anger. Defiance. it gave them strength. I really did want to be Margaret's friend, but that wouldn't work, not for me, not for her. Most students failed the school, and I knew I couldn't take too much of that. I haven't had a friend since Anabelle. But that was all in the past. Anabelle may as well be dead for all I knew.

I climbed the stairs to the clock tower, my sanctuary. I swung myself out through the window and onto the roof. This was where I came to think things through and work on my metal-craft, if you could call it that. Living in a magic school I was bound to pick up something, right?

Perched on my rooftop, I pulled out the dragonfly I had been working on earlier. It was nearly finished now, just a few tweaks should do it. I held the metal gently in my hands and it bent to my will, the wings twitching slightly as they adjusted. Now for the final touch.

I held out my arm over the dizzying drop from the roof and tilted my hand slowly, ever so slowly, until the little steel insect slid off my palm and plummeted toward the earth. It didn't fall far, however, before it's gleaming wings buzzed and it righted itself in the air.

My new companion returned to me and settled itself comfortably on my shoulder. Together, we watched the sun set over the trees to the west. Or at least I watched. I had no idea what my metal creations thought once they left my hands. It didn't matter much to me I suppose, so long as they seemed happy.

Eventually, it was time for me to return to the room and tend to my new mistress, but I wasn't ready to go just yet. I was still thinking nostalgically of Anabelle.

By the time Anabelle had come around, I had already learned that becoming friends with students was only going to hurt when they inevitably failed and vanished. I had learned to keep my guard up, and not to get too attached to anyone I met. Anabelle didn't seem to care though. She was always friendly to me, no matter how much sarcasm I threw at her. Eventually, I just couldn't keep it up, and we became friends. She was the one who gave me my name. The year I spent with Anabelle was the best of my pathetic life.

She had failed, of course. Anabelle never managed to learn magic. She was too soft, too forgiving. Try as might to help her, the magic just never came.

I didn't know what happened to students who failed. They weren't killed, I hoped, but I never saw them again either, and they never left the school. They just... disappeared.

While I had been sitting, the sun's dying rays had faded from the sky, and the school was now cloaked in shadows. I loved the stars, and the moon, but it terrified me to look down and see the school in darkness like that. Only rarely would I stay out this late. It was time to go back to see the girl. Margaret, I guess.

I dragged myself off the roof and back through the window. Seeming to understand that it was time to go, my dragonfly took off into the night. I didn't know where it would go, but I knew it wouldn't be back. None of them ever returned to the school, and why should they? I'd follow them if I could.

I knew I should really just let Anabelle go, but I couldn't help thinking that she might be alive somewhere, trapped in the school.

Back in the room, Margaret was sleeping again. I slipped over to my corner of the room as quietly as I could so that I wouldn't wake her.

The less I had to talk to her the better.