Nevermore Music Hall
(Applause)
In a large hall with wooden floors and big windows, on the main stage surrounded by two red curtains, William stood holding his violin on his shoulder, giving a performance for the whole class at the request of the music teacher, Mr. Forte.
William finished his piece, bowed slightly, and prepared to leave the stage. He walked right past Headmistress Weems, who was standing near the doors. She seemed to have enjoyed his performance.
"That was a magnificent performance, William," was the first thing Larissa said to William. She was a lover of classical music.
"Thank you very much, Headmistress Weems," said William.
"I disagree a little, Headmistress Weems. William certainly plays excellently, but his music lacks feeling." Professor Forte also appreciated William's performance, but as someone who had dedicated most of his life to music, it was not enough to impress him.
"Feeling?" Larissa raised an eyebrow in doubt. It was true that William's music was missing something, but it was still splendid to listen to.
"We could also call it passion. William plays the notes like a perfect machine, all at the exact moment and with the necessary intensity, and there is beauty in that, but I prefer my students to explore their talent" (Forte).
"I'm sorry I didn't meet your expectations, Professor." William finished packing his violin into its case.
Professor Forte smiled at him and walked over to his students to end the class for the day, but not before giving them a talk about "passion" for music.
"Leaving that aside, here you are, William, the key to the place I promised you." Principal Weems handed William a set of keys.
"Gurt has brought everything your family sent you and has made some repairs."
"Thank you. Would it be a problem if I shared it with someone else?" William asked, somewhat hesitantly.
"It's yours now, William. You can share it if you want, as long as you don't do anything illegal. You shouldn't worry," replied Larissa with a smile and a little joke at the end, or perhaps a warning.
After finishing his remaining Science, Arts, and Math classes for the day, William kidnapped Xavier from Bianca's clutches, caught Ajax in the cafeteria, and took them with him to the outskirts of Nevermore without leaving the grounds.
"So, what do you want to show me? I thought you were spending the rest of the afternoon with Enid," Xavier said.
"Enid is busy with the Dance Club," William continued walking through the woods.
"So we're your substitutes?" (Ajax)
"Your second choice," Xavier continued, hugging Ajax's shoulders and saying in a hurt tone.
"What? Are you jealous? I didn't know you were so attractive," William received two punches to the arms.
"Narcissist" x 2 (Ajax) (Xavier)
"Thanks" (William)
"It wasn't a compliment" (Xavier)
The trivial conversation between the three continued until they reached a wooden building, which looked like a shed only much larger. After opening the padlock with his key, William handed one copy to Xavier and another to Ajax.
"I'll only use half the space, you can use the other half as you see fit." William entered confidently and threw himself onto the huge cushion in the room. He would occupy the back half of the shed, with all his tools, the microscope, a small safe, a filing cabinet, and his work table.
"Really? Director Weems gave you this space as a reward and you want to share it?" (Xavier)
"You need a place for your paintings, don't you?" Ajax didn't think twice and lay down on a sofa.
"That reminds me, here, I'll lend it to you." William threw him some keys, and hanging from them was a small silver medal, the "Medal of the Goblin Queen".
"You got another wound last night." William had seen some of his wounds, small scratches.
"Another one of those things from your paintings again?" Ajax got up again, wanting to see how bad his friend was.
"It's nothing." Xavier rolled up his shirt sleeve, revealing his arm. A large scratch covered most of it. It looked ugly, but it wasn't serious, just a cut in the skin.
"Wow, mate, I didn't know you could regenerate," Ajax exclaimed as Xavier's wound closed at a visible speed.
"What are you talking about? I can't...!" Xavier was also surprised before turning to look at William.
"It's the medal. It allows you to heal your wounds as long as they're not fatal, I think." William began leafing through some documents, manufacturing orders that had accumulated during his month in Nevermore, and there were many.
"Can I have one too?" Ajax asked excitedly.
"Impossible, I only have one and I don't know how to make more. I'll lend it to you if you're about to die" (William)
Xavier quickly threw it back to William. It was expensive and valuable at first glance, and his wounds had healed completely.
"Then I'll accept your offer. Come on, Ajax, you'll help me get my things from the art room," Xavier said.
"Me? What about William?" (Ajax)
"William has work to do. I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow." They both left after saying goodbye to William, who was already ready to start work. He put on his headphones, donned his leather apron, and laid out his tools.
A complete set of tools made of a material similar to silver, only much more resistant, were handmade and custom-made for William. His father had said they were necessary for his work and had commissioned them from a "Da Vinci" acquaintance of Uriel's, whose skills were first-rate.
(I don't even want to imagine how much these things cost.)
William had always carried them with him in his backpack since he arrived in Nevermore, or left them in his dormitory. They were very sharp and delicate.
After an hour, William's first piece of work was complete: a delicate, elegant silver bracelet designed to hold the "Goblin Queen" medal and any others he might earn in the future. He placed it on his left wrist, opposite his rings on his right hand.
"Now let's get to work."
William continued like this all afternoon, until Xavier and Ajax brought all their things, then they spent the rest of the time playing cards and eating snacks.
"You guys are cheating, right?" Ajax was getting tired of always losing.
"The psychic is cheating" (William)
"You've won more games than me, and why are you wearing sunglasses at night?" (Xavier)
"Fashion?" (William)
Ajax took William's glasses off, revealing his eyes. William had turned his eyes into those of an eagle and was able to see which card each of them had.
"Innocent until proven guilty, and we should go back to the academy." William stood up after looking at his watch. It was already late at night.
Caliban Hall William's dorm room
"I forgot to ask you this afternoon, what did that heiress do to you?" William was drying his hair on his bed.
"I threw away the original, but I took a photo of it first." Xavier handed his phone to William. The photo was of a sketchbook, showing a large black figure walking down a dark road. The figure was hidden in the darkness, and its appearance could not be fully discerned.
"What do you think it is?" William was curious about Xavier's vision.
"Whatever it is, it's big and has sharp claws." Xavier didn't seem very willing to talk about it.
Octagonal Courtyard, Nevermore Academy
"So you and that older girl from Puck Hall had an argument, she ripped your amulet off, and now you can't find it anywhere."
William was drawing an object in his sketchbook, with Bianca sitting right in front of him.
[I can't talk without my amulet. I'll have problems with my choir team if I can't sing with them]
Bianca, Xavier's acting partner, communicated with William via text messages. She couldn't speak without unleashing her siren charm.
"Do you want me to make you a new one?" William stopped his hands.
[Would you do me that favour? I'll pay you back. I know it's a lot to ask, but I can't live without that amulet.]
"You don't have to pay me. Do you have any idea how you want it to look?"
William owed Bianca a favour, and a simple medallion that restricted her mermaid powers would be easy to make. The plans already existed in the Stone family records; they made dozens of them every year.
[Make it look pretty. I'll leave the design up to you. Xavier told me your designs are very pretty.]
"Give me about thirty minutes and I'll have it ready."
[Thank you. I have to go now.] Bianca gave him a quick hug and ran off to her mermaid friends.
"Someone will suffer the wrath of the self-proclaimed queen bee." William could see that they were planning something.
"Why did Bianca Barclay just give you a hug?"
Enid asked, standing with her arms crossed in front of William. She had arrived just in time to witness the end of the conversation.
"She had a problem and wants my help."
William pretended not to see her annoyance, hugged Enid, and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.