Demons, Witches, and Toads (BoyxBoy) - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

"We're only going to be in the capital for three days, do you really need this many bags?" Mulock muttered as Priscilla heaved her massive pink suitcase behind her. A trail of servants, carrying several more, followed closely behind.
Mulock was currently in his cat form, carried by Wheeler in one arm.
"I need a variety of outfits," Priscilla answered sharply. "What if I bring a dress for nice weather but then it rains? Or what if all the girls in the capital are wearing yellow shoes but I only have black and pink?"
"If only you put this much effort into studying for the actual exam," the demon mumbled under his breath. "Take a note from Wheeler, for once." He gestured with one paw to the small sack the boy currently had flung over his shoulder. "See, look how practical that is."
"That's because Wheeler only owns like five clothing items in total. Excluding the ones I bought for him, of course."
A muffled whistle suddenly sounded, causing a ripple of excitement to shoot through the line of students.
"It's almost here!" Priscilla exclaimed, her eyes bright. "I can't wait! I haven't ridden by mole in years."
The whistle sounded again, even louder this time, and Wheeler was met with the realization that it was coming from directly below them.
Mulock groaned. "I hate riding mole. It always makes me nauseous. Let's hope they've improved it in the 200 years I've been dead."
"Um...what?" Priscilla asked.
"Figure of speech."
"Speaking of..." Wheeler quickly cut in. "Everyone keeps talking about it but um...what exactly is the mole--"
Just as he said it, a massive mole suddenly burst from the ground in an eruption of dirt. It was one of the largest creatures Wheeler had ever seen, at least fifty feet tall and almost equally wide. Strapped to the mole's back was a long cylinder structure made of metal. Porthole-like windows lined its sides. At the top was a large whistle which sounded now, a rupture of smoke spitting out from it.
Suddenly a door at the front of the cylinder opened and a massive ramp unfolded, leading all the way down to the students. A lanky man emerged from the door, a head of apricot colored hair sticking out from beneath a large conductors hat. Written across it in thin golden letters were the words 'Moleway Express.'
"Alright, students," professor Milton called, "everyone aboard."
Both first and second years alike pushed and scrambled to be the first up the ramp as professor Milton desperately attempted to keep count, making sure all students were present and accounted for.
"One at a time, please," Milton yelled over the ruckus. "If there's no order then there will be no school trip at all. You will be taking written exams."
That seemed to stop everyone in their tracks, the students finally shuffling back into a single file line.
***
Wheeler sat in one of the Mole Express's passenger cars, his head pressed against the window. There wasn't much to see minus the occasional worm or rock flying past as the mole speedily burrowed through the ground.
Across from him sat Mulock and Priscilla. The latter looked absolutely miserable, continuing to read from the massive textbook laying open before him.
"Okay, tell me the first spell you'd use if the arena ends up having ice," Mulock said.
"Um..." Wheeler thought for a moment. "A thawing spell. So maybe I could cast calôr or tunc vərə."
"Good," Mulock said a nod, attempting to turn the page with his tiny kitten paws. This was a feat that took several more seconds than usual due to his lack of opposable thumbs.
Priscilla sighed heavily, burying her face in her hands. "Uugh, could you please stop? The two of you have been going on like this for hours."
"I've been researching the exams and the arena is elemental based, rotating between water, air, fire, and ice," Mulock countered sharply. "That narrows it down to four easy to study variables. It would be utterly ridiculous to not thoroughly prepare for each,"
"God, how have I never realized it before?!" Priscilla gaped.
Mulock's eyes narrowed. "Realized what?"
"That you and Wheeler are both such dweebs!"
"Well," Mulock replied icily. "Better a dweeb than a dunce who can't pass her classes."
"You did not just go there," Priscilla shot back.
"Oh, but I did."
"Go choke on a hairball."
Mister Pumpernickel let out a little croak from Wheeler's pocket.
"Stay out of this," Mulock and Priscilla snapped in unison.
"Um... please stop fighting," Wheeler stammered, quickly attempting to change the subject. "I heard we get to battle monsters for the exam! That's pretty cool, right?"
"Speaking of, we should start developing strategies based on the species of monsters they might use--"
Priscilla faked a cough. "Dweeb."
Mulock's eyes narrowed, shooting her an icy glare.
"We won't have to hurt the monsters, will we?" Wheeler asked softly.
"It's not like they're actual living creatures," Mulock replied with a huff. "They're going to be illusionary. That means it's literally impossible for them to feel physical pain,"
Wheeler's gaze darted to the floor. "Yeah, but I'd still feel bad."
The demon buried his face in his paws. "Oh my God."
"I mean, they're just poor animals--"
"No, they're literally not. That's the whole bloody point," the demon snapped, face-palming...well pawing. "Wheeler, you're killing me. You're literally killing me which should be virtually impossible."
That's when the cylinder suddenly jerked upward, nearly causing Priscilla and Mulock to slide out of their seats.
"Ooooh, we're about to surface!" Priscilla exclaimed. "And not a moment too soon. I don't think I could've taken another minute of that conversation. Everyone, grab onto the handles!"
As the mole jerked upwards, Wheeler and Priscilla scrambled to grab the large silver handles dangling from their compartment's ceiling.
"Hey, small problem," Mulock snapped, waving his tiny paws in the air. Another skyward tilt sending him flying backwards...directly into Wheeler's lap. The boy quickly wrapped an arm around him, securing the demon cat.
"Don't worry," Wheeler said with a smile. "I've got you."
"Great," Mulock muttered. "Because this isn't humiliating in the slightest."
The mole was gaining speed, pummeling upwards faster and faster until it finally burst through the surface. The sudden light was blinding, causing Wheeler to flinch back, instinctively squeezing his eyes shut. A few students began to clap in the compartment behind them.
"God, I hate when people do that," Mulock grumbled. "Don't they realize they look like bloody idiots? Humans annoy the living shit out of me sometimes--"
"Look!" Priscilla squealed, interrupting him. "The capital!"
Wheeler's eyes shot open and a wave of excitement hit him like a tsunami.
"Woah..." he breathed. "It's incredible!"
They were drawing nearer and nearer, the mole racing toward the most beautiful city Wheeler had ever seen.
Golden towers and roofs rose up over buildings made of smooth, unblemished marble, sparkling in the sunlight. Stretching into the perfect blue sky were the spires of the emperor's palace, shining so brightly they were almost blinding.
Wheeler was so enamored by the city he almost didn't hear Mulock murmur something under his breath.
"Huh," Wheeler asked. "Did you say something?"
"Look," Mulock said, flicking his tail towards a flock of ravens circling over the city's massive gates. "That's a bad omen."
"C'mon, Mully," Wheeler said with a laugh. "They're just birds."
He felt Mulock shift uncomfortably in his lap. "Yeah, you're probably right..." Despite his words, the demon didn't sound too convinced.