“Yes, I remember them.” Lily answered at one, “Almost of them was grown here.”; “Agrimony, an ancient herb of healing, restoration, and benevolent protection. Alfalfa – good fortune, money magic, healing and cleansing infusions. Angelica – warding and banishing, angelic magic, summoning strength. Astragalus - vital energy, protection (shielding), promoting health, mental clarity, concentration. Basil the herb of blessings, love, money, and happiness…” She said fluently the names and the uses of herbs.
“Another great person, you can remember both their names and their uses.” exclaimed Heracles, “I and Gwen event can not manage to remember names of them.”
“Because I taught her.” a high pitched voice spread out. Both Heracles and Gwen turned to Dai.
“Really?” Heracles spoke up.
“Yes, I am. I know all of plants in this place.” said Dai proudly, still swung his feet.
“Dai knew a lot of herbs here. He has taught me much as we worked together. His knowledge is excellent. He’s as like a professor.” gently Lily gave Dai praises. Dai’s cheek went red at one. He stopped swinging feet, raised his hands up, put on cheek. He smiled contentedly. “Don’t tell that. You are also great.” said Dai. His voice got higher. He’s ashamed. That was the first time Heracles and others saw he behaved like that. They burst in laugh.
“Look in yourself, Dai. You also feel ashamed.” Gwen said loudly.
“You – you – stupid Gwen.” said Dai sulkily. He turned to the window.
“Come on. I’m just kidding.” said Gwen. He hurriedly walked toward then poked him by his finger. “Dai,” said Gwen. Dai turned then ignored him again. All people smiled in silence. “Come on, Dai.” said Gwen again, continued poking on him. “Stop – stop - Don’t do it.” Dai spoke up. His body squirmed. He couldn’t force himself not to laugh. “So will you forgive me?” said Gwen. “Okay – okay – I forgive you – stop it.” said Dai loudly. Gwen stopped then Dai also stopped squirming, breathed shortly. After few seconds, he got again his breath. He turned to Gwen, glared at him. “You are stupid Gwen.” he said. Then promptly he leapt out the pile of books, left the table, got on the chair then the wooden house’s floor and ran toward the door. “I will remember it.” his voice echoed back. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda remained with Lily there. They kept staying conversing in minutes. All around Lily’s life in there and about rules in Hippocoon. Later, they left. Lily brought them to the nursery’s door, opened it for them. She said goodbye to them then turned in latched door again.
Heracles, Amelinda and Gwen left the nursery at late afternoon and before the dinner. They walked straight to their dormitory right after that then found the way to their family canteen. Got simple meals, they kept staying there conversing. Almost people had left after the dinner. There canteen was rather deserted at moment. The sounds of wings flapping appeared in the room. A white shadow swooped down and zoomed around their heads. They turned and realized a white owl. The white owl dropped a rolled parchment on table, between their food trays then it also landed down next to the parchment, glared them by its rounded eyes and uttered a hoot. “What’s this?” said Amelinda, taking a look on the owl. It tilted neck, kept staying blinking its eyes at her. Amelinda turned to the parchment and took it then she unrolled. It’s a letter.
“Dear my friends, Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda.
I feel so sorry because of my mistake I have put you all in danger. I myself should have expected everything as you sent me the letter and asked me how to buy magical stones. I should have stopped you. However, instead of it, I encouraged you and let you know where you could get the items. I’m really stupid. If you were not extremely lucky and brave children, you would have died and I would have not able to sleep peacefully for the rest of my life. Though you all returned healthy, my fault can not disappear. I deserve to be punished. On other hand, you are children. You are curious about everything. You want to explore the world. That is youth. You deserve a chance to remake. It will be secret that you three have created a shifting-circles and come to the scary place. I have come to Principal Finn and convinced him to keep secret the thing. In return, I have to leave Hippocoon. Honestly, I am expelled. However, I’m willing to do it for you to stay in Hippocoon. Don’t feel sorry to me. By someway we will meet again. I feel it.
“Uhmmm, I must be long time or maybe forever I can not turn back my wooden house. It will become dusty. Please help me take care of it. I send you the key. See you soon.
Your dear friend,
Roger.”
Amelinda stopped. This was the end of the letter. She raised head, looked on Heracles and Gwen who were siting opposite. “So, it’s why everything is so quiet. Roger has convinced Professor Finn to keep the thing in secret.” she said.
“And he is expelled. We can not see him in Hippocoon more.” Heracles spoke up.
“He even sent us his key.” said Gwen. He reached forward, caught on the owl which stood still for him to touch. He took it up. An old fashioned copper key was tied on its one leg. The owl hooted lowly. Heracles besides him untied the key then Gwen released it on the table. It uttered hoot, fluttered then flew away. Heracles took the key. He turned over it watching. “Let me have a look.” said Amelinda. She quickly got it from Heracles. She watched it awhile then returned it to Heracles. “I think you and Gwen should keep it.” she said.
“I will keep it.” said Heracles, turned to Gwen.
“Let keep it Heracles.” said Gwen, grinning.
Heracles put it inside his pocket at one. All people except them had left canteen and it’s quite late. “I think we should leave. It’s also late.” suggested Heracles.
“Okay, I may come to our family library awhile. You can go with me if you want.” said Amelinda.
“I think I and Heracles will turn back our room, right Heracles?” said Gwen at one, watching on his friend. Amelinda’s eyes turned to Heracles.
“Uhm, we will turn back room.” said Heracles.
“So I will go to it alone.” said Amelinda. They all stood up. Amelinda rolled Roger’s letter again, held it in her hand then they all made the way left canteen. That was the second year in Hippocoon they were transferred to the fifth floor to make room for the first year Zeusias at the sixth floor. “Ahhhhh,” Amelinda cried up as they were on the staircase leading from the third floor to the fourth floor, “Do you both have books to study. You have to go to library to borrow them by yourselves.” she added.
“We don’t have but we will borrow later.” said Gwen at one.
“Do it soon or you will got trouble with professors.” squealed Amelinda.
“Don’t worry. We will remember it.” said Gwen, grinning.
Amelinda glared at him. She didn’t tell more, kept walking up. Heracles and Gwen stopped at the fifth floor, found the way to their room while Amelinda continued going up to the seventh floor. Her footstep subsided then disappeared. Heracles and Gwen also got in their room. Heracles took off his shoes then got on his bed. He sat while Gwen made his way climbed up to his place. They shared a two-story bed. Gwen got on his bed and lied on his chest. He bent down. “So it will be keep confidential.” said Gwen.
“Yes, it will.” said Heracles.
“That’s good. We don’t need to worry more.” said Gwen. He turned in his bed, rolled his back down.
“We don’t but Roger,…” said Heracles. He stopped at halfway.
“It is not necessarily a bad thing for him.” said Heracles. He yawned. “He is not a person bound by anywhere.” he added.
“You may be right.” voice of Heracles replied. Gwen yawned again then he turned in silence. He seemed to fall in sleep. Heracles was not sure but he didn’t reply him so he also didn’t talk more. Suddenly, he remembered to something. He groped and then took out Roger’s house’s key from his pocket. He raised it up above his face and watched it again. The key looked normal, like any other key. He observed it awhile then put his hand down, slipped under his pillow and laid the key there. He reached on curtain aside his bed, pulled it out. He also slept.
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