The weekend passed, and it was hard to accept that summer had passed by so fast. Instead, I was at my middle school again, and I didn’t feel any wiser or smarter than I did when I was a seventh grader. Really, it was only like I knew more things. I understood the meaning of the classes, but still, me being smart didn’t make studying any less boring.

I was at my locker preparing for the final class of the day, when my friend Blake stopped to talk to me. She was one of the girls in the group for when we had to babysit the younger girls at the movie theatre.

She looked quite concerned and before she said hi, she wanted to ask me if my mom could also take her home when I would leave school too.

“Of course,” I said without anything else. I wanted to know why she asked me for a favor when it was something small like that. It seemed that for her, getting home was not a big deal. Instead Blake wanted to tell me something, but I don’t think she understood that herself, because she wasn’t very tact about it.

“My mother usually takes me home, but lately she’s been having a lot of dizzy spells. The doctor doesn’t know why, so she shouldn’t drive right now,” was what she added. I didn’t think she had to explain herself, and I didn’t reply to her request demanding an explanation.

It felt like she wanted to me hear that.

“Oh. That’s really bad. I’m sorry about that,” It was scary enough after a full blackout because then I would have suspected something magic related, but the chick guy had already told me that.

“No, it’s probably nothing. Instead, you should tell me when you plan to go home,” Blake said, and like that the school day uneasily continued.

To be perfectly honest, with all the magic tricks he knows, Mr. chick could just give me some way to contact him. Then I could tell him about that strange case and move on with my day. No, I was bothered by it all day.

When I got home I tried to remember the exact details of the conversation with Blake, but I was sure that she only said something about severe dizzy spells. Her mom was pretty healthy too, so I made sure to include that when I told the bird.

After he fizzled into view and after I told him, he pulled out a magical tome. It would be clearer to say that he made it appear. He went through the pages with his little wings, but when I looked closer, he was just fumbling through since it was a touch screen.

“This is an encyclopedia they give every employee. It’s magic, so it has a whole lot of information,” he went through hundreds of screens fairly quickly.

If it was anybody but him I would have asked if he was actually reading. He replaced his sunglasses once he was done, “I can’t find any such magical effect right now. I’ll go through this book again on my own time and see if I can find out anything to do with this case. Anyway, since I’m here, let’s bump up the panic level.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sweetie, this criminal doesn’t care at all about involving normal humans. In fact, that may be why they chose this city instead of simply hiding in the countryside. If it was just an illegal ritual, they could choose a better place. Trust me, I know,” he said with misplaced pride.

“Alright,” I meant what I said, “I’ll do it. I’ll become a magical girl and save the city.”

The mean old bird was changing stances on what he said before, “Hey. That’s a total reversal of your decision. Give it some more time. I used to be a combat magician, and I know that even if I’ll be there to whisk you to safety, accidents can still happen.”

“No. I believe that it’s what I have to do.”

“Seriously. I know you may feel this way because it’s affecting your friend, but it’s not worth the risk. Hey, the other temporary magician is working right now to try to stop some of the symptoms. She’s already ran into few of the criminal’s summoned beasts.”

“What? You need to tell me about that, sir.”

“Well, the other recruiter/magician pair has really stepped up their investigation. There’s no more doubt. That other girl has some real talent, so she’s okay, but for you, even I can’t pinpoint the exact power you’ll have if you accept magic.”

“No, no, I mean about these summoned beasts,” just so he doesn’t get the wrong idea.

“Um, they’re artificial life forms for doing things, and such. Hey, it’s not like they’ve had the luxuriously of writing to me or talking about it.”

Sounds like a bad coworker, but whatever.

“I’m having some doubts too,” said the birdy, “If the traces of magic I was sent to investigate were just the responses of some lost relics, or some the escaped familiar of a novice summoner, it would be fine. But I have reservations about sending you against a practiced magician and an army of magical beasts. On the other hand, the other temporary magician probably can’t keep at it for too long alone. I think what I need to do is to familiarize you with your weapon. I’ll bring that from my hideout tomorrow.”

His hideout? He’s tiny. What could it be, a birdhouse?

“Hmm, sweetie. Now that we’re finally getting started, how ‘bout I get your name. I don’t think it came up during conversation. You can call me mister Rufus.”

“My name is Lillian. Or Lily.”

“Well, Lillian, it’s a pleasure. We’ll definitely get to the bottom of this, and maybe later it might be time to meet the other volunteer. For now, though, you should get ready to spend some serious time during serious stuff,” with this, Rufus left.