Aelfheim – Page 5
by AndyOH! from on (#41K53)
Jinsoku looked at his unopened lunch box. "Bogus. I didn't even get to eat yet."
* * *
Hans gave Jinsoku a ride home after school. Jinsoku lived with his uncle in an apartment over what had originally been his grandfather's dojo.
A dojo that Hans and Jinsoku had spent many hours in, almost from the first day they had met. What had originally started out as playing "ninja" had evolved into the regular practice of Kendo, with Jinsoku teaching Hans what he learned from his uncle.
"You're not coming in, Dude?" Jinsoku seemed disappointed. "You're getting good enough, you might win tonight."
Hans made a one-handed shrug. "Jin-kun, I call it good when I can just score a point on you. Why is it that I have to be the one that competes? You're the best of us."
"It's not appropriate for the sensei to compete."
Hans pursed his lips. "I'm your only student as I recall. Anyway, I don't have time tonight, or this week. I need to study for finals. And I want to put some finishing touches on my history paper. It is due tomorrow."
Jinsoku shrugged. He never had to study and could produce lengthy, error free papers, references and all, literally on demand.
"Alright Dude, but you're gonna train double hard once school's out. We've only got the summer left before you head off to college."
* * *
Hans parked outside the house he shared with his father and walked inside. Hans noted yet another raven, his school was too far for it to possibly be the same bird. It practically looked him in the eye before flying off.
"What is it about this town and ravens anyway?" he thought.
His father was already home, reading a book in the living room. An arched eyebrow, a shrug, and a subtle smile told each that all was right with the other. They would talk later. There was always later.
Entering his room, Hans tossed his books onto the bed and sat in front of his computer desk. He reluctantly looked over at his grounding plate, a piece of sheet metal with a wire leading off from it. Unfortunately it was necessary if he didn't want to have to spring for yet another computer. He reached over to it and got a big, fat, blue spark as a reward.
A rare curse escaped his lips. That one hurt, really hurt. Biggest one since, who knows when.
Still waving the tingling fingers of his right hand, he powered up the computer and monitor with his left hand. It started coming to life, only to suddenly go dark and silent.
Hans arched back, his hands on his forehead, "No, not now."
The lights flickered and went out. Sparks arced everywhere. As Hans backpedaled in his chair, a ring of electricity, big as his desk, formed between him and his computer.
The apparition floated in place. Thinking it would be a good idea to run, Hans stood up and inspected it closely. It seemed remarkably stable, front and back.