Arcadius-The Black Crystals

A big thank you to all those friends and loved ones whose commends made a huge difference in writing this book. Also, a huge thank you to Mark Preston and his lovely daughter, Millie, for the last-minute comments.

Finally, I would like to mention that although the cover art is entirely my work, the fonts I used for the title were created by Annastasia Samsonova and Jovanny Lemonad.

An Odd Bakery

Arcadius, wake up! I am not going to say it again.

Arcadius opened one eye knowing his mother was not kidding this time around. Finally, he pulled himself out of bed and rubbed his crusty eyes looking at the window. A soft, hazy light covered the world outside. He walked towards the round window of his attic room and looked at the rooftops sticking out of the thick smog. Dark clouds were looming in the sky. Not a very good day for a first day in school this year, he thought.

Ionius, think we are going to have an early snow this year? he asked the small automaton, sitting on the windowsill.

How should I know? What am I, a meteorologist? replied Ionius. His voice was like a tin can scraping on the pavement.

Arcadius smiled. Ionius, was just one of the numerous mechanical creatures inhabiting the city of Ephemeria.

Gosh! You're so ignorant. Sometimes I think you’re just a waste of cogs, said Arcadius.

As usual, Ionius didn’t take the joke very well.

A waste, huh? I would very much like to know who would keep you company if it weren’t for me, you spoiled brat!

It was Arcadius’ turn to snap. Stupid automaton, he said smacking softly Ionius on the head. One of these days, I am going to tell dad to send you to the scrap yard.

Although not a real threat, this was something no automaton in Ephemeria would ever take lightly. Especially in September, a high season for spare parts in the city. So Ionius decided it was better to drop the attitude.

I think it’s too soon to start snowing. Probably it will start raining first, he said.

The smile returned on Arcadius’ face. He rushed to the bathroom where once again he tried to tame his wild red hair. He tried to make it look as plain as possible and when he finally realized the battle was as always lost, he gave up and walked mopishly to the kitchen.

Come on Arcadius, hurry up! Your milk is getting cold, said his mother and almost immediately was followed by his father.

Listen to your mother, Arcadius, he said, staring behind his thick glasses and the pages of his morning newspaper.

Yes, Father, he muttered grumpily and forced himself to pick up the glass of warm milk.

Arcadius truly hated warm milk and unfortunately it was only part of his morning torture. Pretty soon, two thick slices of tasteless bread with equally tasteless butter and honey landed in front of him. Mortified, Arcadius stared at the rest of his breakfast. All these things and many more, were products of the FOE, the Factory Of Ephemeria. It was the city’s only factory but it produced practically everything, from food and clothing to machinery. It was also the place where his father worked, along with half the city’s population. And while his father was quite satisfied with what emerged from the FOE, Arcadius thought everything coming out of that place was simply horrible. Especially the food which had a strange taste, a kind of bitterness and though most of the time it was barely noticeable, it was still there dancing on his tongue.

Come on, stop starring and start eating. You'll miss the school bus! said his mother.

With a frown, Arcadius waited for the right moment and when his mother turned her back, he quickly grabbed a paper towel, wrapped the two slices and stuffed them into his satchel.

Well, someone woke up hungry today, said his mother starring for a moment at the suddenly empty plate. Want me to make you some more?

Arcadius immediately shook his head. No thanks, Mom. I'll miss the school bus, he said and grabbing his satchel, he rushed out of their apartment before his mother had time to say anything.

A few minutes later and after leaving his breakfast on the curb (a treat for the city’s ever hungry pigeons) he reached the bus stop.

Ephemeria’s nightly smog still shrouded everything like a dirty sheet and a grey morning light fell upon the street and surrounding buildings. It was a bit difficult for Arcadius to tell where exactly his apartment building had shifted today.

There were a few more kids waiting at the bus stop. All were familiar, faces he had seen before but never exchanged a word with them. Arcadius was a solitary soul, or that’s what he liked to believe.

He looked across the street and spotted a strange shop. Above the door he made out a sign with the number 449. Wonderful smells drifted from the shop, making Arcadius’ empty stomach growl. After some brief thinking, he decided he had enough time to cross the street and quickly check out this weird shop.

Ignoring the other kids’ raised eyebrows and inquisitive looks, he ran towards the large window and tried to see through the steamed glass. Unfortunately, he could only make out vague shapes and after another moment of hesitation, he opened the front door and stepped inside. Immediately he was taken aback by the warm wave of strong smells. He looked around and saw wooden shelves overflowing with loaves of bread, pastries and candy, and he finally realized he was in a bakery. But not like any other bakery he had seen before. By the smell alone, he could tell those loaves of bread had nothing to do with the bread he was being fed every day.

At first it looked as though he was alone in the bakery, but then he noticed a hat, a bright red fez bobbing behind the counter and small hands placing even more loaves of bread on shelves there.

Um ... sorry, he said. The fez froze and then, slowly, a large moonlike face emerged from underneath. The face had a rather impressive moustache and a set of beady eyes. For a moment, the little man looked startled and then, as if he remembered something, he smiled and climbed on something behind the counter.

Oh ... hello Effendi! Welcome! My first customer, what a joy! What can my humble little bakery offer you, Effendi? Something sweet? A delicious loaf of bread? Maybe a cinnamon bun? said the little man.

Arcadius blinked.

The little man smiled. I suppose, this is the first time, Effendi meets a dwarf, am I correct? said the baker.

Arcadius’ jaw dropped, but his rather dumb expression did not seem to bother the dwarf. His smile became even broader and his thick mustache tilted a few inches upwards.

I see, Effendi is going to school and I suspect his breakfast was not very satisfactory, am I right? Would Effendi allow me to suggest something strengthening? Something that will keep his vigor all day long? said the dwarf.

Still startled, Arcadius nodded and the baker clapped his hands. Perfect, perfect! I have exactly what you need. Something special for a long day at school. Yahla! Yahla, bring me a date pie! he shouted.

A huge crash of pots and pans came from the back of the bakery.

Oh, what have you done this time, you pestering creature? cried the dwarf-baker. Then, as if he had just remembered Arcadius was still present, he said, A thousand apologies, Effendi, my assistant is… somewhat graceless.

A sudden puff followed by a wisp of yellow smoke, made Arcadius jump. The bright cloud dissolved, revealing a strange woman whose lower half was made of yellow swirling mist. She was scantily dressed and her creamy skin was decorated with intricate, red lines. Pearls were woven in her dark hair and a gleaming jewel, like early morning dew, adorned her left nostril.

How many times do I have to say it? You know my nerves are super sensitive and your screaming doesn’t help at all! Look at my hands she said. Golden bracelets jingled on her slender wrists. See how they tremble? If you keep on doing this, you will simply send me to the afterlife. Well, if there is an afterlife for poor genies like me.

Oh, stop with the babbling and complaining, Yahla. This is embarrassing! Don’t you see we have a customer? Bring me a date pie! demanded the dwarf.

Yahla turned, saw Arcadius and her almond eyes took a reproachful expression. Ewww... Is that a child? Why is it here? she said raising an eyebrow.

Close your mouth! He is a customer, our first customer since we arrived here.

Yahla turned towards the dwarf. I curse the moment you brought me into this miserable place. Nothing but dampness and fog. I can’t even get my hair straight. And I’m a genie! Not to mention every morning you have to guess where you are in this dreadful city. I truly wonder, how you intend to keep a steady clientele in conditions like these? One day the shop is here, the next there and then somewhere else, she said.

My professional decisions are my own. Should I remind you of our agreement? said the dwarf.

Yahla snorted. Professional decisions! she said. What a joke!

The dwarf’s cheeks turned to ripe strawberries. The date pie, Yahla, he said.

Yahla muttered something incomprehensible and held out her hand like she was offering something to the baker. The next moment, Arcadius heard the puff again, saw another wisp of yellow smoke and there it was; a small plate with a piece of pie on it.

Thank you, said the dwarf-baker and snatched the plate.

Yahla threw another scornful look to Arcadius and disappeared leaving behind a trail of yellow smoke.

What... what was that? said Arcadius trying to understand what exactly had just happened.

A thousand apologies, Effendi, for the rudeness of my assistant. Of all the genies in the Equinox Desert, I found myself the least cooperative. She’s all whining and bickering. Better should’ve married, said the dwarf wrapping the piece of pie with nimble fingers.

Genie? What is a genie? asked Arcadius.

The baker eyed him like he asked the stupidest question in the world. They’re spirit-servants, of course, he said sliding the wrapped piece of pie towards Arcadius. Two coppers please.

Arcadius paid the dwarf-baker using his daily allowance and was ready to ask more questions about genies, dwarfs and the Equinox Desert, but then the dwarf said, Thank you very much, young Effendi. Perhaps you should make haste, I think your school bus is about to arrive any minute now.

Arcadius remembered school and grabbing his pie, he stuffed it into his satchel and ran towards the door.

Good day, young Effendi! cried the dwarf behind him.

Arcadius waved in response and ran back to the bus stop. Moments later the smog parted and the school bus with its groaning locomotive, arrived like a red beast.

Insomnia

Burgus, the bus driver glared at Arcadius. Come on kid, get on bus, we don’t have all day, he said.

Arcadius lowered his eyes and hopped into the bus.

And don’t let me catch you making any fuss back there. That’s if you don’t want to find your own way to school.

That was a serious threat. Next to professor Gnomonius, the city’s drivers were the most prominent in Ephemeria. All members of The Drivers Guild possessed the mysterious ability to easily find their way around Ephemeria’s ever shifting maze. All the steam-buses, steam-taxis and rickshaws of the city were operated by that mysterious group.

Arcadius skulked towards the back of the bus and took an empty seat. He glanced at the opposite side and saw a strange girl with long golden hair sitting there. She seemed to be his age, but she was wearing an old fashioned blue dress that made her look like a large doll. Then Arcadius noticed scratches on her knees, like this girl had a habit of falling on rough ground.

As if feeling his gaze, the girl turned and stared back with green eyes. And her mouth quirked. It was an alarming smile. None of his schoolmates ever smiled to Arcadius (unless of course they had a nasty prank underway) and in general, nobody ever smiled during the first day in school.

As if to annoy him further, the girl made her smile wider. And Arcadius became more self-conscious. Not wanting to encourage some odd-looking newbie, he turned his head towards the window and after a while his thoughts drifted back to the amazing bakery.

Little by little, the school bus filled with students and around eight forty, just before the bell started ringing, it parked in the huge courtyard of the GEI.

The Grand Educational Institute (or GEI) was huge in width, length and height and, mirroring Ephemeria, it was mazelike. From afar it looked like a big stack of boxes carelessly left in the middle of a room. And when you crossed its imposing front gate, the first thing you noticed was the Avenue, possibly the largest and longest corridor in the world. In fact, it was larger than most of Ephemeria’s streets, hence the name. Like a sharp sword, it divided the GEI in half, leading to a towering inner gate, which in turn led to the stuff’s quarters. Numerous secondary corridors and winding staircases led to classrooms, laboratories and inner courtyards. Everything in the GEI was chaotic and labyrinthine. So much so, professor Gnomonius, the headmaster, had asked for guiding signs to be installed at every corner. The building was so disorienting there was a rumor that a long time ago, before the signs, a girl was lost there and was never found. They even said her ghost still wandered the dark corridors of the GEI, trying to find her way back.

Along with the rest of the students, Arcadius was herded to a vast reception hall. Most of the teaching staff were waiting there. The professors had formed a line with headmaster Hector Gnomonius, the greatest inventor of Ephemeria, standing in the middle. He was a gaunt man of about sixty years old, with grey hair, round spectacles, a black suit and black shoes so polished, they reflected the solemn daylight like mirrors.

Quiet! Please be quite! shouted professor Hipati, trying to put some order to the huge flock of students. Unfortunately, her squeaky voice seemed to be lost within the echoing racket.

Silence! thundered a harsh voice and immediately everybody fell silent. Professor Leo Stronghold was renowned for his roaring voice.

Thank you, my dear friend, said professor Gnomonius nodding and professor Stronghold proudly touched the hook-like edges of his enormous moustache, nodding back.

Professor Gnomonius turned to the students. His keen eyes sparkled behind the spectacles balancing on his beaky nose. He smiled, crossed his hands behind his back and began his usual welcoming speech in a soft fatherly voice.

Dear students, I and the rest of the teachers would like to welcome you in the Grand Educational Institute of Ephemeria! We would like to welcome the oldest of you, hoping you will perform yet another year according to the high standards and expectations of your city. Be obedient and diligent and rest assure a bright future awaits you in Ephemeria. As for you, who enter the gates of this esteemed Institute for the first time, I want you all to know that your teachers will be there for you. They will be there to show you how to become useful citizens and people dedicated to the city’s laws.

Professor Gnomonius made a theatrical pause and added the last sentence of this speech.

I wish to all of us, teachers and students alike, a productive and enjoyable year.

The crowd broke into applause not so much for the encouraging and reassuring words, but more for the fact they would soon stop standing in the cold reception hall.

Out of the corner of his eye, Arcadius noticed the strange girl from the bus still smiling. And it kind of irritated him. His first time here, he was feeling miserable and all he wanted was to get back to the safety of his attic room. But this girl not only looked perfectly fine, she also seemed to be enjoying the whole thing.

Suddenly Arcadius felt a sharp pinch on his left arm and when he turned, he found himself looking at the maliciously smiling round face of Kratos Jumphop. Kratos was Arcadious’ worst nightmare, a bully who divided his schoolmates into two distinct categories: those who served him and those whom he tortured mercilessly. Unfortunately, Arcadius fell into the latter one.

Hey, Carrot, get ready to have your bones grinded this year, whispered the burly boy with the scruffy black hair and the cold blue eyes.

Arcadius acted as if he heard nothing, but the sad truth was his heart sank right down his feet. And once more, he wished he could get back home.

At that moment, professor Hipati started reciting her long list of student names and the classes they were supposed to go this year. And thus, Arcadius learned that the strange girl’s name was Augustine Hydrogold and that they would be in the same class, a fact he was not happy about. The girl looked like trouble.

When Hipati finished with the names, they all formed small groups and headed for their classrooms. Arcadius and fifteen other boys and girls, crossed dark corridors, rusty metal bridges and long stairways all the way up to the small and dusty classroom 12G.

It looks like a prison cell, Arcadius heard someone saying. He turned and saw the girl standing next to him.

Oh, great! She’s stuck to me like a tick, thought Arcadius. The last thing he wanted, was to be seen with a girl. If Kratos noticed that, he was doomed. He would spend the rest of his school days being a laughingstock.

What did you expect? he said tersely.

I don’t know, but certainly not this. It’s stuffy and it smells bad, she said.

All of you, please sit quietly. I’ll call you one by one, to come and collect your books. Am I being clear? interrupted professor Autoclytos with a stern voice.

Yes, professor, chanted the students and moved to the wooden and uncomfortable desks.

Arcadius glanced at the huge stack of books under the blackboard. Who knows how many boring books I’ll have to carry this year, he thought and turned to find a place to sit.

Most of the students had already rushed to form couples and occupy a spot. Arcadius did not have a best buddy so every year he ended sharing a desk with one of the other outcasts. While looking, he heard Augustine say, You want to sit there? She made the question as if Arcadius had already agreed to their partnership.

Look, I don’t know where you came from, but here boys sit with boys and girls sit with girls, he replied hopping that would put an end to her annoying presence next to him.

Why? she asked instead.

Because! he said angrily and turned his back on her.

And then with a sudden rush of dread, Arcadius realized that almost all the desks had been filled and only two spots remained available. One was next to Onufrious Fragrancius and the other would have to be shared with that girl.

Onufrious, unlike his last name implied, was a stinky boy with a rather dumb look on his face. Plus, like Arcadius, he was one of Kratos’ favorite targets. Arcadius was facing a true dilemma. Which was worse? Spending the rest of the year next to stinky Onufrious