Way of The Wand
Chapter 52

At dawn, Jira’s pupils converged at her house only to meet Timi waiting there for them.

They asked him where Jira was, and he filled them in on Tomi’s kidnapping.

“She said to go to the arena and wait there for her,” Timi said.

His parents, Mr and Mrs Afolabi had gone to the arena ahead of him. They had offered to come to Jira’s house with him, so they could all go to the arena together. Not wanting to make things weird or awkward for the other pupils, Timi turned down his parents’ offer.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this,” he had told them, but now that his classmates looked at him to lead in Jira’s absence, he realized it was more responsibility than he’d anticipated. They bombarded him with many questions at once, asking him when the kidnapping happened, why it happened, if Jira would indeed be able to rescue Tomi and if the rest of them were safe.

The sun was only just rising, and he was already soaked in his on sweat.

“Everyone just stop!” He burst out clutching at his head. “Listen to me. Jira gave me some clear instructions okay? I’m supposed to get you guys to the arena and wait for her to arrive with Tomi.”

Lila gritted her teeth. “And if they don’t make in time?”

“Then we stall,” Timi replied.

“For how long?” Fola asked.

“As long as we need to,” Timi said, “now everyone get your brooms and let’s go.”

The arena was even more packed than during the task for smarts. The audience stands seemed stocked to their full capacity and more and more people were still trooping in.

Timi found himself unable to concentrate and not because he was distracted by the loud noise around. His classmates were scared and lost for what to do. It was up to him to lead them, to calm and reassure the others, but he couldn’t stop his heart from thumping too loud. He tried to hide it, but his worry for his sister’s safety showed through the cracks.

Without warning, he felt another hand clasp around his. Timi looked down at whose hand it was.

“Lila…”

“This can’t be easy for you,” Lila said. “But we need you right now, all of us.”

She squeezed his hand.

Timi sighed and pulled himself together. “Right. Okay, this is what we’ll do. First, we take our seats. And then, I…Gods I don’t know.”

He led them across the bustling arena to their own stand next to Airad’s.

As they were settling down, Timi felt someone creep up on him from behind. His heartrate shot up and he turned around with an expectant face.

His shoulders slumped when he saw it wasn’t Tomi or Jira.

“Chidi, it’s just you.”

Chidi was dressed in his Airad robes, probably for the last time, his cornrows proudly on display for the world to see.

“I know we aren’t that close, but could you at least pretend you’re a little excited to see me.”

“I’m sorry,” Timi said, smiling despite himself.

Chidi gestured to the crowd of teens seated before him. “Can’t help notice that Jira and Tomi aren’t with you. What? Are they planning a grand entrance or something?”

Timi shook his head. “I wish. Tomi was kidnapped.”

“What!”

Timi pressed his finger to his lips and told Chidi to shush. “Keep your voice down, will you?”

“Sorry,” Chidi whispered an apology.

Timi continued. “Jira has gone to get her. We’re supposed to stall till they arrive.”

Without missing a beat, Timi added, “Perhaps you can help with that.”

“What? How? I’m not even supposed to be here. I’m still an Airad student, though probably not for much longer.”

“I don’t know,” Timi confessed, “I haven’t exactly come up with a plan yet.”

While Timi and Chidi talked on in hushed tones Lila saw something that caught her attention— two people standing aloof towards the centre of the arena looking lost.

When the recognition set in, Lila’s jaw dropped, and the surprise moved her to her feet.

Timi reached out and grabbed her by the hand. “Where are you going? We’re supposed to stay together.”

Lila pointed to the two people lurking around amidst the flow of people coming into the arena. “My parents. They’re here.”

It sounded like she couldn’t even believe the words coming out of her mouth.

“I have to go see them.”

Timi let go of her hand. “Make it quick.”

Lila nodded and ran off, ploughing through the traffic of people finding their seats to reach her parents.

They had their backs turned to her when she got to them and Lila tugged on her Mum’s dress to get her attention.

Mrs Orion engulfed Lila in a hug.

Lila pulled away and stared at her parents, the disbelief in her heart telling her if she even closed her eyes for a moment, they would disappear.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

Mr Orion smiled. “You said you wanted us here for the final task.”

“But, your work…”

Mr Orion couched down and cupped her daughter’s face. “About that, we quit.”

“What? Both of you?” Sadness infected Lila’s cheeks as she spoke. “Because of me. You quit because of me. But how are we going to—”

Mrs Orion took her husband’s hands. “Shhh,” she shushed Lila. “That’s not for you to worry about. We’ll get new jobs, and this time, jobs that won’t keep us away from you every time.”

Lila cheered up and threw herself into her parents’ arms again.

She pointed to the witches’ stand. “You can find seats there. I’ve got to return to my classmates.”

She blew her parents a kiss and ran off before they could say good bye.

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