Basil sat under the big, droopy weeping willow tree in her back yard, messing with a stick and a leaf to entertain herself. Late summer in Altavista discouraged her from staying inside where it was drastically hotter. As she sat, playing with the stick as if it were a fork, and the leaf was her masterful dish that she fed to her imaginary friend, Mrs. Bacik stood at the window watching her eight-year-old's imagination run wild.
The mark on her shoulder always intrigued her. A circle with two crossing lines through it marked Basil a magician of the earth, though she didn’t know it yet. Her mother wondered when she would learn. Most kids accidentally realize around the ages of ten or eleven, so Mrs. Bacik figured she had a few years. But as she watched Basil in the yard, playing with a stick, the ground around her started to lift and soon Basil was sitting on a piece of grass, ten feet above the ground. Mrs. Bacik dropped her coffee cup and ran outside to help her child, who was now crying out of fear.
When Basil was back on the ground, she was embraced in her mother’s protective arms. She had stopped crying.
“Mommy what happened,” Basil asked, confused.
“It’s ok, honey, that was supposed to happen. You have magic, Basil,” Mrs. Bacik beamed. She carried Basil inside to tell her father.
That evening, they bought Basil a wand. When they arrived at the shop, the keeper couldn’t believe the child’s age.
“You have an extraordinary kid there,” the shopkeeper said. “Most kids don’t find their powers until they’re older. Don’t let her advancement go to waste.” The old man’s warning startled Mrs. Bacik and she made it her goal to ensure Basil a bright future as a magician.
In the years to come, Mrs. Bacik would pester and badger until Basil practice. She thought she was helping Basil and encouraging her to love magic, but she just annoyed Basil. Basil hated practicing actual spells so whenever she had to practice, she would go outside and mess around and change spells she already learned. Or she would study her wand, learning every miniscule detail.
The wand was made of ivory, with wild vines twisted around it. When she took it to school, everyone obsessed over how pretty it was. Basil told people that the shopkeeper gave her the most spectacular wand because she was the Chosen One who was going to save the world of a made-up danger. She must’ve been, otherwise why would her mother push her so much.
Instead of learning to fight with a weapon, can’t I just use what I already know and go into a battle hoping I don’t die? Basil thought as she walked through the market alone. She had a lesson later that evening, but she dreaded going more than anything. The bustling streets made it hard to walk. It was very rare that the market was calm.
Her boredness let her mind wander. She wondered how her brothers were doing and where they were. Although she didn’t think of it too long so as not to drift to her mother. She thought about Chim and what would come of their friendship once he regained his memory. She questioned if it were fate that they hadn’t found a cure yet. As she thought of this, she grew scared and worried. She became angry at everyone around her for no reason. Basil started pushing through people harder and walking faster. She wasn’t sure where she was going but she knew she had to get away from the bustling streets before she did something she’d regret. She didn’t want to lose her only friend. Her journey to Elantris would be meaningless without someone she could rely on and trust more than herself. As she pushed and maneuvered through the crowd, her eyes started to fill with tears.
In that moment, Basil was jerked around, an aggressive grip on her arm. She met the glossed over eyes of a scraggily old man, covered in dirt. She stood, over-took with fear and panic.
“What are you doing, girl,” the creep spat. His teeth were crooked and an ugly orange color. Basil tried to pull her arm away.
“I’m not sure what you mean, sir,” she managed to choke through her oncoming tears.
“Nonsense,” he barked. “I watched you pick up a jewel off my table and leave without paying for it.” Basil was more confused now, than she was scared. She hadn’t stopped at a single booth the entire time she’d been there.
“I did not,” Basil defended. “I haven’t stolen anything!”
The man then attempted to drag Basil. She fought it and tried to break free of his grasp. She reached for her wand in her back pocket but as she looked around at the marble makings of man, she realized it would be no help. She couldn’t break his ligature, she couldn’t sit and resist. He was stronger than her. If she picked up her foot to kick him, she would lose her balance and he’d win. She didn’t know what it meant for him to win, and she didn’t want to find out. Basil’s only option was to scream and hope someone would help. A high pitch screech came from her mouth and her face seemed to become a waterfall. She was so scared and Chim wasn’t there to help her. She kept screeching and crying, she didn’t know what else to do. People stood by and watched, confused and dazed. Finally, someone came through the crowd and the man’s hand released Basil. She didn’t stay to see what had happened or who it was. She ran, tears running down her face until she couldn’t run anymore. Her feet, hitting the pavement, slowed as she got away from the crowd.
When she finally stopped, she was at the fountain. She sat down on the side of it and caught her breath and stared at her feet. When she finally calmed down, she stood up and was met with a wall of a human. She jumped.
“Woah it’s ok,” said the man standing in front of her. She didn’t make eye contact with him. “What happened back there?”
Basil kept her head low. She was still terrified. Now, she also had a pang of guilt and embarrassment. Why couldn’t she defend herself? Why did she need help? The man asked her again and she answered, softly. She explained that the man had falsely accused her of stealing and as she talked, her voice gradually stopped shaking and she became louder. Once she started talking, she didn’t stop. To make her stop, the man hugged her. Basil didn’t know how to react. She just stood there, shaking in his arms.
“I’m Orlando Douglas,” the man said, pulling away finally. Basil looked at the Meladrin now, noticing his amber eyes. His hair was light grey and almost looked sparkly.
“I-I’m Basil,” she chokes out. Orlando smiles a little and interlocks his arm with hers.
“Where do you live? I’ll walk you home.”
“Oh, you don’t have to, I’ll be fine,” Basil says to the cobbled ground below her.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I’ve already helped you this much, what’s it gonna hurt if I walk you home,” Orlando say, smiling at Basil. At first, she makes a face, but then it turns to a smile and they start walking.
It was never awkward between the two. The conversation didn’t ever end, it just developed into different topics. When they got back to Basil and Chim’s apartment, Chim was sitting on the stairs outside. He looked up and saw Orlando, which made him smirk a little at Basil. She rolled her eyes and walked to Chim, hugging him. It felt good to be home, and not just being at their house, but with Chim, her protector, her guard, but most importantly, her best friend.
The trio sat outside talking for a few hours. Chim seemed to like Orlando, to Basil. She thought that was good because she hoped to see him again. She disconnected herself for a minute, taking the moment. It wasn’t a bad day. Something terrible happened but she ended up laughing and smiling until her face hurt. It was a great day.
“This definitely will end with us seriously injured or dead. Probably dead,” Basil mumbled so quietly she thought not even Chim could hear her. The crickets chirped, and leaves ruffled as the duo crept through the dark woods. Basil pulled back her long hair and tied it into a low bun to keep it from getting in the way. The stars barely gave enough light to see in front of them, so they stayed close to the ground, since tripping wasn’t uncommon for Chim. Basil noticed that he hadn’t said anything the entire walk. He just stared ahead with a blank expression.
The crickets soon became the only thing they heard as Basil and Chim approached a small shanty, the light from the window illuminating a small area of forest. Basil got chills noticing the vines that ran up the cracked wooden door. She looked to Chim. She could tell something was bothering him and she hadn’t quite figured it out yet, but she assumed it had something to do with the war people kept talking to him about.
Basil put her hand on the door handle. She couldn’t decide what scared her more; having to kill this witch or convincing her to help them with Chim’s memory. She already had her speech planned but her shaking hands prevailed on her forgetting it as soon as she turned the knob.
“Are we doing this or what,” Chimodo said with fake confidence.
“Of course, I am. The question is, are you?” Basil was trying to make the situation lighter with meaningless banter.
“When have I ever backed down from a fight,” Chim responded, catching onto her stalling. The corner of his mouth was pulled up into a smirk.
“As if you could remember that,” Basil joked. Her laugh seemed forced. She knew they couldn’t stall any longer.
The pair took a simultaneous deep breath and Basil turned the handle and the door creaked open. Once inside, a slight hum comes from the next room. Chim peers around the corner and immediately snaps back.
“She’s in there,” Chim mouthed without making a sound. They had gotten good at reading each other's lips. Basil pulled out her makeshift wand; a stick she wrapped enchanted silk around as a handle.
She composed herself before stepping into the doorway, Chimodo standing behind her. Their eyes lowered, and their fist tightened as Basil cleared her throat to get the attention of the witch. The witch turned from her sink, frightened.
“Well, how can I help you k-”
“Listen, we were sent here from the city of Elantris to kill you,” Basil cut in, not letting the witch finish her sentence. “However, I believe you can help us. So, let’s make a deal.”
“We can either kill you, right here right now and get on with our lives, or you can give us your memory potion and we’ll let you live so long as you leave, go far away from here and never be seen again,” Chim finished. Basil high-fived him for getting through it without stuttering.
“I’m not sure I know what you kids are talking about,” the witch giggled.
“Then you are no use to us and we can continue our mission,” Basil took a step forward, readying her wand. The witch tried to run but as she turned around, she ran into a hot cauldron and fell to the ground. The pair stood over her. Basil pointed her wand towards the window and a massive rock came crashing through, taking out the entire wall. She stopped it right over the witch’s head.
“Last chance. What’s it going to be,” Chim threatened.
The witch just spit at their feet. Basil looked to Chim and Chim nodded. It wasn’t worth their time to negotiate and pester. Basil dropped her wand and the boulder went with it. They walked away as the witch’s legs dissolved to dust under the rock.
“It’s okay, bud. We’ll find one that cares more about her life than herself,” Basil comforted Chim, throwing her arm around her friend.
“I just really thought this was going to be the one.”