The Magic Underground

[Blop]

Lucas scurried across the yard. It was roughly 5 o’ clock on a Friday morning in the grand city Angelas. Naxis, like most every other citizen, would be asleep at this time. At an hour such as this, Lucas was hunting mischief, and he tried to keep a quiet element to his sneaking about. Though the magical people known as Mystics lived underground, their light matched that of the surface. Of course it didn’t come from the sun, it merely mimicked it. Crystals in the earth’s crust above the city would glow brightly as the surface of the earth was heated. So, as there was day and night above, there was day and night below. Lucky for Lucas, the city was fairly dim this morning, and his sneaky trip to Naxis’s house would go unnoticed.

Naxi’s house was among the larger in the small community they lived in. It had to be to fit all those brothers, and her parents were certainly considered successful, at least that’s what rumor and appearance said. Of course Naxis’s bedroom window had to be on the second story. Lucas had made his way across the yard. With a skip, and a hop he leaped into the air. Using his control over the air, he gave himself a boost of wind. It propelled him high enough to reach the window sill. The noise he made hitting the wall energized the thrill of being caught. Lucas got that excited smile he got when he was being a trouble maker. Clinging to the wall with expert acrobatics, Lucas tapped on the glass and kind of giggled. He had snuck over to Naxis’s house before, but every time was just as fun as the last. He tapped softly again on the window pane. He whispered to call his friend’s name, “Naxis. Wake up! Let me in!” The excitement was overwhelming for him.

[deadlyfairy13]

It was surely too early to be bothered by tapping on her window. Naxis tossed and turned making grumbling noises until she heard the voice she was so used to calling her. Slowly she reached her hand out to her lamp and pressed the button filling the room with a dim light. Naxis sat up and rubbed her eyes before fixing she pajama shorts. She bit her lip then swung her legs over the bed to stand up.

"You seriously better have a good explanation for this," she grumbled as she slipped her feet into her slippers then made her way over to the window. It was rare for Naxis to get up early unless she had to. Norally she was the type that chased people out of her room when she was sleeping but Lucas was the aception to her anger. He was her partner in crime and the one that seemed to make her move out of her comfort zone. It was amazing how she gave all her trust to this tall funny looking boy.

She opened her eyes and looked at him as she stood in place. "Did you bring me food?" she breathed then lifted the window up for him to come inside. "What did you need this time? To borrow something or drag me out for a stroll?" Nax turned around then walked over to her bed to sit down. That boy was all over the place most of the time so she had no idea what he was thinking this this crazy morning. Either way she would go along with his plans.

[Blop]

A light excited Lucas’s attention. Naxis was mumbling something, but even as Lucas put his ear to the glass it wasn’t distinguishable. He oriented to look at his friend with a snickering smile as she stood at the window. He knew he was pushing buttons coming by this early, but the two were inseparable friends; Lucas could handle annoying Naxis. She might even suspect he enjoyed annoying her.

Naxis opened the window and Lucas tumbled in rolling onto his back. He laughed quietly at the noise he was making. It was a dangerous game to see how much noise he could make without waking the rest of the Rain household. He got up with, “Hey Nax,” and a smile. Walking to the door, back to the window, looking at some of Nax’s knickknacks for anything interesting, Lucas spread his energy around the room.

“Oh, I don’t know. I just couldn’t sleep I guess.” He responded back to Naxis’s question. “I’ve been thinking you know, school is just about over for us, and a lot is going to happen, you know? After, I mean. We might not get to hang out as much. So, we should do something fun. Something big and memorable, you know?” He looked to his friend with unbridled enthusiasm. The idea in his mind was bursting to be free. The excitement of getting Naxis’s reaction had Lucas amped for his cue to spill his master plan.

[deadlyfairy13]

The noise he made when he climebed into the room were tiring. That boy needed coffee to relax him. "Could you be any louder?" she asked then let her body fall back against the warm blankets. Why did he have to be an early bird? Naxis bit her lip and moved her hands under her pillow to get comfy. "I did not get anything new for you to see," she breathed as her eyes followed Lucas while he looked around her room. She did want a new set of headphones though.

"Well then could you at least turn on the radio for me so I can wake up? I don't like being half asleep while your bouncing off the walls," she bit her lip when Lucas started to talk about school ending. Yes, they were heading to a new stage in life that meant more work and less play. "That is why we have the summer, the weekends and every party we meet up at. Also, I look forward to every break we will aquire during the year,"

The year was not a problem unless Lucas changed schools last moment on her. Then, Naxis would have no choice but to SKYPE with him. She would have to deal with eating alone for lunch and would not be able to simply call Lucas to come over when she needed a ear to vent to....Not that the boy enjoyed her gabbing on about boys and being a girl. Naxis glanced Lucas's way in wonder. He must have more to tell then what he did. usually he had a plan of some sort to make the day twisted with fun and other crazy ideas.

"So what is on your mind?" she sat up and tilted her head to the side.

[Blop]

“The radio?” He questioned Naxis’s proposal with that adrenaline junkie feeling. It was like a challenge to get him caught in the room. “Won’t that wake your parents?” He danced over to the radio on the desk. The radio sang its pleasant hum as the power surged into it. Lucas played with the volume with a taunting smile to Naxis. He left it at level that was just a hair higher than acceptably quiet.

Then he turned to Naxis on the bed. He crouched down and lifted his arms like a cat ready to pounce. Waiting for a discerning reaction from Naxis, he leapt onto the bed. He landed far from softly, bouncing a few times before lying face to face with Naxis. Head tilted to match hers, Lucas was ready to lay down the exciting idea.

“Ok, ready for this?” He prodded, building his idea up for a big show. “How about today we ditch school,” this was no new proposal and certainly wasn’t the biggest news for the friends. “And!” He put some emphasis on the word and the pause after. Leaning in close to whisper in Naxis’s ear, he said, “go to the surface.” With that he pulled away to meet her gaze and to absorb her whole reaction.

[deadlyfairy13]

"keep it low and they wont know," Nax breathed. It seemed that Lucas was more of a cat then a wild animal. If she did not know better Naxis would have expected him to purr. He made the bed wobble when he jumped on it which made Naxis almost bounce off the bed. She looked at him with her big eyes not sure exactly what he was up to and when he spoke Naxis stayed silent for him to finish.

It was not like it would be the first time he wanted to skip class but his playful nature was was pouring out of his eyes. Lucas leaning into her ear and whispering that he wanted to leave town was quite a shock. Naxis's grew wide at his words but she quickly regained her composure. "Are you nuts?" she squeaked then met his eyes. "We could get in so much trouble if we even mention such things," Nax swung her fist into Lucas's arm. " I dont plan on going to jail for the rest of my life thank you," with a scowl she shook her head.

He clearly wanted to meet a human and who knows what else. His brain was full of air. yes, Nax often went along with his plans normally but this was a bit more dangerous then swimming with beast that lived in the under city. If anyone found out they would get in trouble plus, humans had no idea they even existeed. they could end up in a facility with many needles and tests being run. Or worse............they could be dead or exploited for their abilities.

Naxis sat in place for a few minutes as she replayed ideas in her head. There would be too many outcomes that were not pretty. If Lucas went alone................yes, he would not servive. He was the type to run off on his own. Naxis bit her lip as she shifted her eyes from Lucas to the floor. Was there even a chance that he could make it back without being caught?

It was not like he had a map and knew how to act like a human. he was tall and stood out like a sore thumb. Lucas was too friendly, like a pet in need of attention. Yes, he had his moments but would those be enough? "Fine," Naxis breathed then looked at him. "Im only going so you dont get tossed into a glass room with people cutting at your brain,"

[Blop]

Lucas laughed at her reaction. It was all that he could have hoped for. The sock in the arm made the moment all the better. “Oh come on!” He smiled. “It’ll be fine! We won’t get into trouble. We never do.” That was a blatant lie. Both of them had gotten into plenty of trouble due to Lucas’s exploits. As Naxis sat mulling the ludicrous idea about, Lucas was busy trying to convince her. “Come on Nax,” a classic start to Lucas’s begging. “Do you really believe all those things they say about the Mundane’s world?” He got up to begin a play of animated tales.

“They are unintelligible savages! Grrr rawr!” He stomped about like a zombified monster. Now to sound smart, he poised upright. “First lie I was told, as mundanes have been known to dig deep into the surface under them with large machines. Unintelligible? I think not.” Naxis probably wasn’t paying any attention to his ramblings as she was still thinking things over, but Lucas continued. “I’ve always been told that they don’t know what magic is. Now, how can anyone survive without magic? You know? Ridiculous, so we’re being lied to and we need to check it out ourselves.” Lucas looked to his friend. The actual idea didn’t mean much to him, but it was having that support from his partner in crime that meant the world to him. Naxis didn’t seem to be buying into the idea. Lucas felt a bit defeated, his shoulders drooped and he fell back down in Naxis’s bed.

“I understand. It was a dumb idea,” Lucas muttered.

"Fine," Naxis breathed then looked at him. Lucas perked up like a dog promised a treat.

“What? You mean we can go!” Lucas grabbed at his friend in an awkward hug.

"I’m only going so you don’t get tossed into a glass room with people cutting at your brain," Naxis said. Lucas laughed.

“I’m glad you will be there to protect me.” He didn’t believe the scary stories of the surface world. Up off the bed and to the window, he looked outside. It was brighter now. His eyes trailed to the top ceiling high above his world. Sooner or later they would be over that ceiling, the ultimate adventure.

[deadlyfairy13]

It seemed that Lucas was busy tossing his reasons at Naxis while she thought over the idea. Most of which were understandable but they had no effect on Nax. Naxis rolled her eyes at his exitedness to her giving in. It was not like she was as carefree as him, it was that she could not live in a world where her bouncy wild bud was not living.

" You need to be a bit more alert on this trip or we both could end up in body bags," she breathed. Yes, this was going to be quite an adventure......if they did not get caught by either side. She ignored him as he moved to the window. This boy was going to drag her to the ends of the earth if she let him.

"Alright so before we leave we need to pack supplies. Food, water, protection and first aid," she got up off the bed and walked over to her dresser before opening her drawr. Please let them get back safely, oh please. " Get your stuff together and meet me at the normal spot," she glanced in his direction then back down. " I gotta shower,"

[Blop]

“Ha! Ghost stories.” Lucas had to maintain his invulnerability. Call it superstition, or faith, but perhaps the only reason Lucas seemed to get lucky in sticky situations is because he believed he was so lucky. Lucas didn’t think much of it, but he certainly maintained a shield of optimism, although, most of those ‘lucky’ breaks had a lot to do with Naxis saving him. She was always there for him when he needed her, and that rational thinking was a necessary balance to the adventuring. But Naxis was being serious. This trip was no joke. Lucas put on his seldom used quiet demeanor and nodded in oblige. The possibility of his energetic personality sobering up to a serious level was there; it just wasn’t common for Lucas.

A glance back up to the ceiling broke the solemn silence in Lucas’s mind. The energy and excitement returned. He responded to Naxis, “Ok, I’ll meet you there.” The window let go of the outside, and Lucas began to step out. He turned back to Naxis, “thanks.” It was all he could really think to say, but it meant more than just that. Something about getting an approval from Naxis really lifted Lucas’s sails. Out the window he went.
He quickly jogged the short distance to his house. The light was glowing brighter now, and there was some quiet bustle about the neighborhood. It was still early morning, but just about the time Lucas should be home getting out of bed. He leapt through his own window and began packing a backpack. The essential adventuring gear found its way inside the zipped bag; a water bottle, some snacks, Lucas’s lucky rope, a knife, and compass. Then he tossed a grey hoodie over his white shirt. At his closet, he stopped. The debate was battling in his mind. The exceptional nature of this epic adventure won him over. He grabbed an extra pair of clothes. The plan may or may not involve spending the night on the surface. He would tell Naxis later.

He readied himself for a well-practiced school ditching routine. The fake sleepwalker style drag and the agitated I’m-not-a-morning-person face were the harder, yet most convincing, parts to portray. Lucas passed the breakfast table his parents were sitting at. The ruse was unwavering. He put a warm bagel in his mouth with acted out hindrance. Mrs. Finn wished her son a farewell, “bye sweety, have a good day at school.”

“Uh,” the finale of the act, played perfect. Lucas grabbed more food from the table to place in his bag, and shuffled out the door. He worked thespian till the end of his road. With a quick look back over his shoulder, the sleepy Lucas play was done. Action and adventure was the only thing on the agenda for today!

Lucas sprinted across the neighborhood to the outskirts of the community. It wasn’t far before he would reach his and Naxis’s secret spot, the water tower. Lucas made his way through some bushes, through the whole in the fence and to the water tower. It was an amazing structure. Its steel legs reached incredibly high. At the top was a huge open tank. It was built right under the natural water fall that drained from the ceiling. It was nicknamed the fountain of heaven, as it was the largest source of water for the city.

Lucas thought it was the greatest thing in the whole city, and Naxis was the one to make it truly special for him. Coming to this water tower was their first adventure together. Many years ago, the two became best friends in a long quest to this tower. Lucas always smiled and thought of Naxis when he looked at it.

[deadlyfairy13]

Seeing Luca leave happily yet with a serious look on his face was more then enough. This trip was going to scare the hell out of Naxis and she really needed his support on not goofing off. She quickly collected her clothes and ran to the bathroom before anyone could get up. Normally it was war just to get in to brush her teeth. Having older brothers was not something she would wish on anyone. They always teased her about everything including Lucas. It was funny though since Lucas was just as tall as them. Thinking back on her brothers Naxis was now thankful that only one was still living at home. Dean, he was the most annoying yet the one closest to her age. That boy was obnoxious, and ate like a bottomless pit.

After Naxis got out of the shower and dried off she started to pack a bag of necessities for the trip. A few magical items that would do them a lot of good along with a lighter, a mini cross bow, an extra pair of clothes just in case they needed to stay over night or she got dirty, some twizzlers, first aid and last but not least music so they did not get bored and had something to keep them going.

After slipping into her favorite jeans, a red T of her favorite band and her running shoes Naxis tossed her hair up and grabbed her bag. She took one last look into the mirror before heading out the door and down the stairs. At the breakfast table Dean was up to his usual slumping in his chair like he had no spine to align his back and eating Naxis's cereal. The lady of the house, Naxis's mother was stomping downstairs with her heels and purse ready to leave.

" Why did you get up so early this morning?" Naxis's father asked as he sipped his coffee. His eyes were fixed on her curiously.

She simply shrugged her shoulders and looked down at the milk before looking to him. "Lucas wants to be early today to prank the underclassmen," she stated before reaching and taking an orange off the table. With nothing else said Naxis waited till her parents left for work and her brother ran upstairs to change before she went through the cabinets. She filled her bag with food that would not spoil along with her frozen water bottle that was left the night before.

Once out of the house Naxis grabbed her bike and made her way toward the water tower. Surely Lucas would be the first one there since Naxis was always late. Not that she put make up on today but that boy was fast in moving along and wasted no time when he was determined. After a few blocks Naxis got to the end of the road. She hid her bike in the bushes before slipping out of sight and making her way toward her spot.

"Hey," Nax breathed once she saw Lucas. She had her bag in her hands while the mini cross bow was strapped to her back along with its tiny arrows. "Are you ready?" she breathed. "How are we going to get to the surface anyways?"