The Legend Of The Saints - Chapter 2

Legend of the saints by Mescopaul 

Chapter 2

Neil Kimball stepped into the lecture hall just as hissed and
remarks circulated the room. She wasn't bothered, head held
high with calculated steps, she secured a seat near Allen
and after a brief casual greeting, was seated, listening
attentively to Mrs Armstrong, the Java lesson teacher for St.
Main Charity School , Kambury.

The school was donated to the Kamburian citizens by the
philanthropist Jean Keg, a native of Kambury who owned
several charity organization in town and out of town.

Kambury could now boast of modern technology-based
school, were literally almost all subjects and technical
courses were taught.

At Mrs Armstrong's last lecture the previous day, she had
designed a webpage using javascripts, which she did as an
example for the students, she had then told them to do
their's in the school computer room and submit it via online
online service to her office mail immediately after lunch.
When she got to class later in the day, during the evening
lectures she had praised Neil Kimball for being the best
programmer much to the envy and jealousy of her
colleagues. Though Allen knew much about Javascripts, he
had gotten a lower mark for his programming, but he didn't
see any reason to envy Kimball who had scored highest.

Kimball, he knew was a very smart and brilliant girl and she
deserved any appraisal any day any time.

Kimball knew Allen was not the type to get envy or jealous
about other persons success , or to boo at other people
because and this quality she respected in him which seemed
like no other classmate had.
Before her entrance into St. Masin Charity school, Kimball
had first met Allen at the Youth empowerment programme
launched by the Citadel of Mercy, the biggest and most
populous church in Kambury . Since then they had been
good friends. Their friendship was strengthened more when
they learnt that they were both distant cousins of the Philips
family.
Allen on his part had always had respect and held Kimball in
high esteem, whom he had considered perfect all round , in
facial appearance, an bookwork, in sports, socially, in all
sphere of life! She was so perfect to Allen that she became
his model!
As he sat in the classroom next to Kimball , he felt angry at
the awkward behavior of his classmates to her. He didn't
see why they should ridicule Kimball simply because she
was brilliant!

His mind strayed on. He thought if he had special powers,
he would deal mercilessly with them. He was thinking when
he felt a hand wave across his face. Reality hit him fast as
he returned to the classroom from the world of daydreaming
and behold all eyes were on him, anxious, puzzled eyes,
even Kimball was not left out! She had waved her hand
across his face when to her surprise he didn't respond to
Mrs Armstrong's question though he was staring straight at
her.

"Its not good for you to be absent-minded during lectures
Philips"

It was Mrs Armstrong's stern voice. Allen could not reply
since he found no words for his folly.

"Now you're back from your daydream, can you answer the
answer the question?"

Allen didn't hear Mrs Armstrong's question, and if said that
the whole class would laugh him to scorn, which he loathed
so much.

"Em...ma'am, i don't think i know the answer" Allen replied
feigning ignorance.

"Why, but that's weird, partly everyone knows the answer, why
you of all people?"

Mrs Armstrong knew that Allen didn't know the question at
first. Allen struggled with himself.

Then he spied Kimball writing something down on a piece of
paper. Pretending to think deeply and by a slight bow of his
head, he read the question clearly from Kimball's note:

"What are other scripts used in programming apart from
Javascripts?"

Straightening himself up confidently he answered correctly
to the amazement of Mrs Armstrong who could have sworn
that Allen didn't hear the question at all. That was the reason
why she had asked him the question in first place, she knew
he was absent-minded during her teaching, but how he
came about the answer she couldntt decipher, perhaps that
cousin of his might have whispered it to him, she envied the
two of late.

"You were thinking about your classmates behaviour towards
me right?"
He was startled, he always was whenever Kimball spoke his
thoughts clearly as though she could read his inner thoughts.
"Yea, i was embarrassed" He replied.
They both sat on the low pavement of the school fountain at
the lunch stand in the school's cafeteria.
"You don't have to be embarrassed, its always like that with
them, you should know better".
"You are not coming for the psychic lessons today, are
you?".

Allen asked Kimball after a short silence.

"No, am always bored with the lessons".

Allen's love and
feeling for things beyond the human mind drove him to
attend Stephen Shaw's psychic lessons.

Though Grandpa wasn't aware , he never hid it from Kimball
and even invited her to join. At first she liked the lectures
but recently he noticed that she seemed uninterested.

"Am not going either, i want to get home as early as
possible" said Allen remembering of the legend Grandpa was
to tell him when he would be back from school.

"Unlike you, any special treat at home?" She asked
suspiciously.
......

"No, i just i want to be with Grandpa"
with raised eyebrows she asked "And why?"
"Nothing"
She knew Allen to know when he was not ready to talk
about something, so she pressed no further at him.
Allen swung his bag over his arm, waved Kimball goodbye
and sauntered home across the tarmac towards the
driveway.
Grandpa was seated outside smoking his pipe and reading
the papers. Athen who had returned earlier from school ran
around the neighbourhood with his friends.
The air was clear, perhaps no rain today, Allen thought.
A gentle breeze cruised the atmosphere and Allen thought
this was perfect time to hear about the legend of the saints.
After exchanging greetings with Grandpa he had his lunch
which Athen had prepared: steaming noodles with frozen
chicken.
Promptly after lunch he sat beside Grandpa outside and
talked to him casually about school. Grandpa was well
aware that the boy must bring up the 'legend' stuff and he
was decided to let him know his family story which everyone
had heard even his own father and his mother , who was not
even part of the Philips family except by marriage.

......

"You want to know about the legend of the saints boy, are
you ready for the story now?"

Allen could not believe his ears. He had been seeking for an
avenue to broach the issue ever since they started talking
,..and hear him now ask him if he was ready. There was no
time for words, a vigorous head nod was Allen's reply.

*THE LEGEND OF THE SAINTS*

Grandpa started talking almost immediately.

"Our family is one that has special gifts from generation to
generation. It was believed that Philips our great ancestor
was a magician, who had so much power that he could
virtually command anything to happen. In his days he was
king of Kambury..."

"What!!....so we should be from the royal household, and
why!, you could have been king,,..and me a prince!"

 Allen
bluttered out excitedly cutting Grandpa short.

"Easy son, easy, the story's just begun" Grandpa cautioned ,
a wide grin playing on his shrunken cracked lips.
Grandpa resumed ,
"Philips had total control of power in his
days, he travelled far and wide collecting magic wands,
spiritual gifts and virtues, he was totally a god on earth. He
became so powerful that the people feared him so much,
hence Kambury was one of the most strongest and powerful
cities in his time. From his time till now his spiritual virtues
and powers had always passed down to his lineage"

Allen opened his mouth to speak.

"Keep mute son.."
cautioned Grandpa,
 "the story's still fresh
from the steamer, wait and hear it all, then you can ask all
your heart".

"Can we go on now?"
Allen's nod was vigorous.

"The trouble started when Jordan Anek, one of your
ancestors, who for no just cause disliked Philips, hence he
changed his name to Anek instead of Philips.
Jordan greatly disliked magic and since he was magic in-
born he hated the originator of magic in his lineage. He
made friends with the Astin Family and on a merry xmas
eve he signed a treaty that Kambury would no more be ruled
by a magician after him.

"...Jordan at his death bed handed over the royal sceptre to
Davids, the youngest son of the Astin Family. The Philips
fought hard to regain the kingship to their lineage but failed
as majority of the Kamburians were holding up the flag for
the Astin Family.

Davids on ascending the throne banned all use of magic
throughout the land, and that brought an end to the openly
display of magic by the Philips. Many of the Philips were
detained, others killed and some ran out of the city, the
Philips family gained no recognition nor were heard of again,
till the time of Philips Regan.
Regan who lived in Kambury here at that time acquired much
share of magic and powers than any other Philips that lived
then. Regan was very loyal to his lineage and refused to
uphold the tenets of Jordan Anek, but any fight for the
throne was useless , hence Regan decided to usurp authority
over Kambury through the use of magic, spiritual and special
powers. The whole of the Philips family lent their support
and upheld Regan , hence the name 'Philips', once again
became a 'terror' in Kambury during the days of Regan.

But Regan made a mistake which led to the birth of the
legend of the saints".

Grandpa paused to catch his breath.

"You will hear the other part of the story when you return
from school tomorrow, call Athen, its time for dinner".

Allen scrambled up feeling delighted, excited and less
anxious , he went to other side of the house.




"Athen!!" He yelled.