The Magic Bug
Part 3
(Author's Note: One thing about laziness is that you get to see something on a new angle. That what happened
to this fic. It's been too long since I've worked on it that I've forgot how the
story should go. Instead, I have to think of a new storyline all over again...and I came up with the stuff below. It's really
very different from the one I thought of previously, but well, I'm okay with it. I hope you are too.)
"At least, Elizabeth, I got that second window that I've always
wanted to put in that wall."
Sipping his tea, Seravi and Elizabeth inspected the new hole--err, window, that the room recently acquired, thanks to Dorothy. In fact, it annoyed Dorothy even more that Seravi avoided Dorothy's chair-pitching effortlessly (which was probably due more to Seravi's first-hand experience in ducking whenever Dorothy hurl something at him on their very frequent quarrels rather than to Seravi's perfect reflexes).
"But Seravi, isn't it a little unusual that your new window is shaped like a chair?"
"Oh don't worry, my dear Elizabeth. When I get well, I'll make it into a real rectangular window, with glass panes and all."
Before Elizabeth can reply, they heard the front door slam hard and a shrill, accented voice yell, "SHERMANNN!!!!! WHERE ARE YOU,
YOU POOR EXCUSE FOR A REFEREE!!!"
Seravi's head painfully throbbed again. It seems that Dorothy is still annoyed with him, he thought.
"Oh geez, I think that witch is making my sickness worse, Elizabeth," he moaned, as he massaged his painful head.
"It's just isn't my day at all."
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Seravi is right, as usual, It isn't Seravi's luckiest day. Far from it, actually. He is standing outside his house, half-dragged by Dorothy. Looking opposite him is the smirking, red-haired magician herself and between them is the official magical
tournanent referee, Sherman.
"Seravi! I challenge you for a match for the title of the World's Greatest Magician! Nyahahaha!"
Sherman the referee raised his fan and declared, "Dorothy the magician challenged the current World's Greatest Magician Seravi for a magical
tournament..."
Dorothy was grinning ear to ear. At last! I can get the title once and for all, she thought excitedly. With no magic, I am the sure winner! I will become the Greatest Magician in the World! Bwahahaha!
Seravi was still rubbing his head. "Do I really have to?", he plaintively
asked.
Dorothy's grin slipped a little and a seed of guilt began to grow inside her. Is this right? He looks a little sick and he's sweating a lot...
No! Dorothy silently scolded herself. This is your chance! The title is practically yours! The red-haired magician smiled excitedly and yelled,
"Prepare yourself Seravi or get ready to be defeated!" She raised her hands and began to summon a large fireball.
She never completed the spell. Sherman raised his fan again and shouted, "WAIT!"
Eyeing Seravi with narrowed eyes, he said, "Seravi, you look a little pale. Are you all right?"
Dorothy quickly interrupted, forcing a fake laugh, "Of course, of course, he's okay! Seravi not being all right...isn't that silly! Hahaha! He's quite
fine, aren't you Seravi, darling?"
Seravi smiled, "Sure I am. I'm fine! In fact, I never felt better in yea---"
The green-haired magician then unceremoniously and quite rudely passed out.
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"Would you like coffee, umm, Mr. Sherman? Or a little spot of tea, perhaps?"
Having transferred the still unconscious Seravi to his bed again, Dorothy nervously
made tea while Sherman the referee was sitting thoughtfully.
"Tell me if I'm right, Dorothy but is Seravi, by any chance, sick with the magic bug that has
been going around this past few days?"
The teacups rattled a little more noisily. Dorothy forced another laugh. "Oh, so that's what it was! I never noticed it before! Seravi was fine this
morning, although a little under the weather, perhaps."
A small black book suddenly appeared on Sherman's hand. Reading it, he said, "Of course, that means Seravi cannot fight any magical tournament while
he's still sick. It's against rule 103, section 55--"
Quickly grabbing the from of the little man's robe, Dorothy lifted Sherman up and put his face near her own. Dropping all pretenses and breathing fire,
she said dangerously, "Why not? Didn't Pikapon did the same thing, challenging Seravi when he thought he tricked Seravi into losing his magic? Well, this
is the same thing, only this time Seravi *did* lose his magic!"
Looking at the dangerous glint in Dorothy's eyes, Sherman gulped. This time it's the referee's turn to be nervous. "B-but Miss Dorothy, Pikapon used his
skill in magic to make that potion that can make anybody lose his (or in that
case, your) magical abilities. The loss of magic was intentional, not accidental,
like the case now. Besides, any way you look at it, it's dishonorable to fight somebody who can't fight back because of an illness."
Dorothy froze for a moment and then released Sherman so suddenly that the referee
landed hard on his bottom.
Her head hanging with shame, she said quietly, "You're right. I don't really want the title by doing something crooked." Looking at the still scared referee
again, her cheeks red with embarrassment, she bowed politely., "I'm so sorry,Sherman. I troubled you for nothing. At least accept my thanks for coming here."
Sherman laughed self-consciously. "It was nothing really. Oh Dorothy, I have to go back to the office now. Goodbye!" Summoning and climbing on his magic cloud,
he sped away from the cottage.
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During the flight, Sherman was still rubbing his sore bottom.
"Oh my aching rump," he muttered painfully. The things one will do for the love of his work...
Suddenly Sherman's face brightened, as if the proverbial light bulb suddenly clicked on top of his head. You see, Sherman here have two jobs--one as a
referee for magical tournaments and another as a world-class reporter. And that moment, his reporter side suddenly realized that an exclusive scoop had
just accidentally landed on his lap.
Seravi, the Greatest Magician in the World is sick...
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end of part 3