52. Face to Face

She placed her other hand over our handshake and smiled at the wizard. "Charles, it's fine. He was just doing what he felt was polite. Be patient."

When the Gem awakens to call a Hero, the world is ill prepared...and its fate is placed in the hands of a 17 year old boy, named Wendell. 

Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may. 

After all...I can't fix stupid.

Previously: Alhannah's live interview with Rishima Geebler goes south when Chuck storms in unexpectedly and is overly intoxicated. When Wendell decides to check on the old wizard, he finds an unexpected portal leading to a magical introduction.

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There are times in life when those around you won’t understand you.
Times when you’ll have to walk the path in front of you, no matter what other people think.
…no matter what they do.
It’s about purpose.
It’s about finding out who you really are.
Funny thing about that, is who we really are eventually comes to light for all to see if we wait long enough.
The reveal might be something big and grand, but more often than not it’s the slow and steady choices we make that craft a reputation others will notice.
Eventually.
Maybe.

…we hope.

I couldn't look away.

It wasn't that I meant to stare, but…how could I not stare?

She continued to smile at me.

…and it didn't feel weird.

At all.

Which was weird.

Gosh, her smile was lovely, though. Kind and soft, and…heck, she even had perfect teeth.

She let out a soft laugh.

Her eyes never left me.

"You're being rude," Chuck whispered harshly. He made an awkward motion for me to come stand next to him.

I blinked. "S-sorry," I stammered and quickly stepped over.

Chuck's bushy eyebrows rolled forward into a near scowl. "I said 'There's someone I'd like you to meet.' That's when you approach us, son. And because you are a child who has learned some form of manners, you do so and then smile politely." He looked up at the shimmering woman floating next to us. "Some people's children."

The woman continued smiling at me. "It's alright, Charles," she said.

You better speak up, buddy, cause you're looking EXTRA stupid right now, Doubt whispered.

"No," the woman said softly, still staring at me, "he is not."

I blinked. Hard.

Okay, that…was creepy, Doubt mumbled.

The smile faded from her face. "You are not welcome in this place."

…and I heard a door close.

My mind went quiet.

Chuck winked at me. "She's good, huh?"