Kaz woke with a groan, staring at the stained glass windows of the infirmary. “Why do I feel like I’ll be here a lot?”

“Me too, Mr. Huxley. But, as charming as it is to have you visit me, I don’t think we should make this a regular occurrence. Master Nicholas walked to the cabinet, putting in several jars.

Kaz rolled his eyes. “You make it sound like my fault.”

Master Nicholas laughed. “It’s not. Black mages are prone to chaotic environments when they’re young. Though, I think you are unique even among black mages.”

He hadn’t known that. It might explain why he was unlucky. Kaz groaned, sitting up. “What was that?” he asked, his mind replaying the fight, filing in his mistakes and alternative moves he could have used.

“An assessment,” Master Nicholas said, leaning against the desk as he sipped something hot, the steam obscuring his eyes.

“For?” Kaz asked, stretching his arms. He was healed, but the accumulated fatigue was starting to show.

Master Nicholas took another sip, mulling over the words. “You’re a dangerous young man, far more than any of your peers and a few of your teachers.” He huffed. “And, you haven’t even started learning magic yet.”

“And?” Kaz pushed, feeling odd that what he should be feeling didn’t match how he was feeling. There was no irritation, fear, or anger. He didn’t know being calm could be so unnerving.

“And, nothing. It is a statement. I do have concerns, but that is neither here nor there. You are entitled to your education. I would even hazard to say this might be the only institution that could handle a student such as yourself. Killingworth has always boasted about its fairness.” Master Nicholas looked divine. It was the only word Kaz could find. His blond hair and serene aura reflected a glow that Kaz thought he might find irritating.

“I’m not a rabid dog to be handled,” He said, sounding odd like he was discussing the weather. “What’s fair about a school that asks students to pay half their weight in gold?” Kaz cracked his neck. He reviewed the fight, adding where he would have used his mutant powers. The simulation in his mind ended in fewer moves.

Master Nicholas laughed, the sound just as light and airy as the rest of him. “I haven’t experienced war, but I work with people who have. They’re all a bit rabid under the right circumstances.” He did a little half-clap, the mug still in his hand. “You’ve figured that out as well? This will be something interesting to share in the staffroom. We have a betting pool against the students, and you’ve skewed the results. Have you figured out all the requirements?”

Kaz looked him up and down, doing his best to get his guard up and feel an iota of suspiciousness. “I think so,” he settled on. It was funny in a way that they were betting on the students. Hmm, he could feel positive emotions, just not as strongly.

“Mind sharing?” Master Nicholas asked.

Kaz sighed. “Will you tell me if I get it right?”

“Yes.” The man laughed, putting down his cup to hold his stomach. “What’s with your expression? Oh Sol. Your distrust will serve you well–but, don’t let it get out of hand. Paranoia isn’t good for anyone.”

“Half your weight in gold, no demerits and to stay in Abyss Dorm for one week.” Kaz listed the items, watching Master Nicholas’s expression. Keeping a blank face and always smiling had the same function, no one could tell what you were thinking. Master Nicholas was the latter.

“They're going to be so upset. No one bet two days in the pool. And you’ve also figured out that the stamp function is already enabled on your badge.”

It took everything not to react. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you didn’t answer my original question.”

Master Nicholas lifted the mug, taking a sip and doing a poor job of hiding his smile. “No thank you for confirming the requirements?”

“I’m maintaining my distrust.” Kaz stood, bending to touch his toes.

The man choked, coughing. When he pulled himself together, he continued. “You were assessed to see whether to exempt you from combat classes and which special instructor to place you with.”

“What combat classes,” Kaz asked, feeling something pulsing behind his eye. Huh, the enchantment kept you calm, but it didn’t affect the physical reactions to the emotions. “No one mentioned combat classes. I remember. She said meditating 101, spellwork, spell crafting, enchanting, Alchemy, potions, and magicrafting. Elective!” Kaz said something that had sounded odd at the time popping into his mind. “The electives are compulsory for first years and then we pick them in our second year?”

“Something like that.”

Kaz sent him a side eye containing all the irritation he was supposed to feel. “What did they decide?”

“Hmm, you definitely need to be exempt from combat class. You’re leagues above your classmates. Old Boar, the man you fought, is the best fighter we have at the academy for first years and you were slightly more skilled than him so there is nothing you can learn from him. With that in mind, it's been decided you’ll be an assistant for the first-year combat classes.”

“Don’t I get a say?”

“No,” Master Nicholas said.

“Okay, what do I get? I haven’t worked for free since I was fourteen.” Kaz’s head snapped up. He’d said too much. He wasn’t comforted seeing the same slight smile on Master Nicholas’s face.

“You’ll be awarded house points and a stipend,” Master Nicholas lifted something off the table. With a flick of his finger, it fluttered over to Kaz.

It was a contract stating he’d assist with three classes a week and be awarded ten house points per class, two mid-grade magic stones per month, and 500 Ig per month. “Does the school have its own currency?” He asked.

“Several,” Master Nicholas said. “Ig is used among staff and is a recognized currency on the continent, meaning banks will exchange gold or other currencies for it. It is also the currency used by residents of the Archipelago. House points are the currency among students, you’ll have to figure out where and how to use them on your own. Demerits are also a currency.”

“Kaz pondered his words. “Ig is common knowledge.”

“Yes, Mr. Huxley. Very few people on the five continents don’t know about Ig. It’s uncommon, but not unheard of.” Master Nicholas said, giving Kaz a ready-made excuse. “As a rule, mages don’t pry into each other's business, but the prerequisite is that you are strong enough to protect your secrets. Fortunately for you, several strong mages here are willing to shelter you.”

“Who?” Kaz asked, knowing he wouldn’t get an answer. If they were going to be coming forward, they would be here. Kaz remembered the hooded figure who’d watched his fight with Master Old Boar. He remembered the stench of death that clung to him. Necromancy his mind supplied.

He glanced to the side, only to come up short. The blue screen was gone. “What time is it?” he asked.

“Ah, minutes to nine.”

Kaz cursed. “I hate this fucking school,” he said, wondering if the golden-haired man had deliberately wasted his time. He hadn’t gone to the library or checked the manuals in his storage space and Kaz would be late for a class he wasn’t prepared for.

Master Nicholas gave him a pitying look. “It grows on you.”

“Like mold,” Kaz said, plopping back onto the bed. “I don’t suppose you’ll tell me where I am, and how to get to where I should be?” He wanted to crawl back into bed and sleep for a long, long time.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“To welcome you to our illustrious–I’m just kidding. I’ve called one of your classmates to walk you back. You even have an advantage from your little stint in my infirmary.” Nicholas walked to a set of large wooden doors, opening them, he popped his head outside and had a short conversation.

Tristan was at the door. He couldn’t hide the curious look in his eyes. He stepped through the door, paused, and then stepped back, eyeing the room with distrust.

Kaz laughed, he understood Tristan’s weariness. “See you later, Master Nicholas.”

Kaz nodded to Tristan.

“Mr. Huxley, have you tried removing them?” Master Nicholas asked.

Kaz knew what he was talking about–his scars. “Yeah, but nothing works.” Some of the creams his mother used had to be magical, he remembered her distraught expression when they’d failed.

“Do you want to try?”

Kaz thought about it before shaking his head. “They're a reminder.”

“Until next time, Mr. Huxley. Sol be with you, Mr. Eytel.” Master Nicholas gave a sad but knowing smile before closing the door.

They were barely out of earshot before Tristan asked, “What happened?”

“The first or the second time?” Kaz asked.

“There was a second time?”

Kaz looked at him. So the rest of the school didn’t know about his fight and they probably didn’t know he’d been made an assistant teacher. With his growing understanding of this school, the other students wouldn’t learn about it until they were in class–a class they didn’t know they had.

“What happened after I passed out in class? Kaz asked.

Tristan looked like he wanted to push, but he didn’t. “You started convulsing and then passed out. When Miss Thalia tried to get closer, your mana attacked her. It was fascinating and terrifying.”

It wasn’t his mana, and it wasn’t something he could control. Sphere, as he called it, was a defense mechanism his body developed after being thrown to zombies one too many times. He’d seen it on video once, a black mass that attacked anyone who tried to get close. “You weren’t affected?” Kaz asked.

“No, I was frozen in my seat too scared to move like most of the class.” Tristan didn’t seem bothered by this, instead his voice was full of respect.

Kaz glanced at him. “Tell you the truth, I don’t know what it is or how to control it. If I pass out and even sometimes when I’m asleep, it's there.”

“It’s useful.” Tristan led them down the corridor to an–elevator.

Kaz blinked, looking at the golden disk suspended between two columns. It was an elevator. It slid down, coming to a stop at their feet. When were those invented? “It gets in the way,” Kaz said as they stepped on. “If I need to be rescued or healed. Speaking of, how did they get me to the infirmary?”

“First floor,” Tristan said. “Don’t know. They ran us out of the room.”

There was a hum as the elevator moved. Kaz was curious how it worked. “How was the physical?”

Tristan shrugged. “We have transportation tickets whereas the other students have to cross the campus, we were finished before they even came.”

They reached the first floor, which was a room full of doors. Kaz followed Tristan as he approached the reception desk.

“Which tower?” the woman seated at the desk asked.

“Old Tower,” Tristan said, handing over his ticket.

Kaz did the same. “Old Tower.” Was this the benefit Master Nicholas was talking about, he’d saved a ticket.

“Grey door. One person in, then close the door, and then the next person,” she said before returning to her book.

Tristan turned a knob to the side of the door. The door’s color cycled through red, black, brown, green, and blue before turning grey. He stepped through and Kaz followed, trying to remember the sensation.

It was the same as Shadow Step, a slight tugging sensation before appearing at a different spot. “Is that a warp gate?” He asked Tristan. It felt different than teleportation. He remembered the feeling of disappearing and then appearing in midair.

“Yes. Abyss Dorm has the only true teleportation spell ever created. You teleport from anywhere as long as you have the badge. Most teleportation centers are warp gates and not true teleportation.”

They were in a small black stone room, but there was no reception desk, instead, a man sat on the floor. Kaz couldn’t look away from him. He was a plain man with brown hair, brown eyes, and a slightly round face, but there was a distinct aura around him. He felt like Abyss Dorm–that same ominous, lingering feeling of being watched. Kaz couldn’t describe it any other way. He didn’t linger and he didn’t look at the man again.

“Tristan?”

“He’s a master's or PhD student. They’re the only students allowed to work at warp gates.”

Kaz raised an eyebrow.

“I asked.” A muscle in his jaw jumped.

“I got a job as an assistant teacher,” Kaz said, looking ahead.

Tristan stopped. “Fuck.” His head was down, hands on his hips. “How?”

“That’s the second way I ended up in the infirmary. My fighting skills were assessed to see if I was too advanced for first-year combat class. Yeah, we have combat class and that’s the information I’m giving you. We have electives as first years, I don’t know what they are. That and the information from our first class you can sell it. Also demerits,” Kaz paused, turning back.

He entered the room with the warp doors. Tristan was right behind him. “Do you want to buy my demerits?” he asked.

The man sitting on the floor opened his eyes, smiling. “There is a standard two-to-one ratio–one demerit for two house points.” The man's head was tilted, curious eyes watching them.

Kaz hesitated. The demerits had more value than he assumed. “Do first-year students need them?” He asked, taking a chance.

The man laughed, standing. He wore a black cloak similar to the Master of the Black Tower, but it had grey filigree on the leaves. “Depends, but generally no. You can’t change dorms if you have demerits and there aren’t places for first years to spend them.”

Tristan and Kaz exchanged glances.

“What are you willing to pay for them?” Tristan asked.

The man smiled, showing shark-like teeth that made Kaz take a step back. The friendly expression dropped from his face. “Have a problem?”

Kaz looked to Tristan for context. “Discrimination between pure humans and other races.”

Ah,” Kaz said, pulling up his sleeve without looking. “I’ve got issues with teeth.”

There was a small gasp from Tristan.

“Yeah,” Shark Teeth said. “I can see why. Those are human teeth.”

Kaz nodded. “Most of them, but not all.” If zombies could be called humans. His ankles were the worst, gnawed on by mutated rats during the worst tide the base had ever experienced.

“Interesting.”

Kaz didn’t think so. He’d gotten them from cliche experiences involving fear, betrayal, and greed.

“Stories can also be sold,” The man said but didn’t push. “As a bonus for my cute firsties, I’ll buy your demerits at a three-to-one and tell you about the markets near the Blue Tower, sales on Saturdays.”

They finished the sale which involved touching their badges together. And, Hal, showed them how to check the functionality of their badges. The greyed-out hidden functions disheartened him, thirty in total. All, he assumed, they’d have to figure out how to access themselves.

“How do you tell the time here?” Kaz asked.

Hal pulled out a familiar compass. He pushed on the pin holding the compass hands in place, there was a click and a circular lens aperture-like cover appeared. He flipped it over to reveal a clock. It was nine o’clock. “Thank you,” Kaz said. He hesitated but still took out a grade 1 black zombie crystal.

Hal looked amused until he touched it, snatching it away. “What is this?”

Kaz wasn’t even lying when he answered. “I don’t know. My mom called the energy in it Orgone.” Kaz grabbed Tristan and pulled him out of the room. He looked back to see Hal with one foot out the door, looking at him with a fervent gaze.

So, much for hiding. However, his unconscious behavior was probably because he didn’t want to hide.

Kaz glanced at Tristan. “I’ll tell you about it someday. On a bright note, you can collect demerits from our classmates. They’ll be happy to transfer them when they find out they can’t change dorms with them. Some will be suspicious, but not enough to hold on to them.”

Tristan was still looking at his sleeve-covered arm. “You lived under a dangerous rock,” he said.

“Yeah,” Kaz said, something easing in his stomach when the purple-eyed boy didn’t ask. “It was great when I was young, but everything went to hell when I turned thirteen. Have you had anything to eat?”

“You want to go back,” Tristan said.

“It’s familiar. I miss knowing where I was going and what I was supposed to be doing. Mostly, I miss my family.”

Tristan made a sound. “Do you have anything I can eat?”

Kaz gave him a sandwich, and they walked in silence.

They barely made it to class. As they entered, they heard shouting as students learned they’d missed their actual first class and a physical.

Half the students froze when they saw Kaz, shifting to get away from him. The other half looked at their cohorts with questioning eyes.

“Ah, our young celebrity. Henri, Master Croy for the rest of you, has sent a mediation manual for you. Change it, if it’s more suitable than the one you have. Ah, I’m Marica White, teaching Meditating 101. Students who don’t have a manual will be heading to the library to get one, students who are waiting to have their cultivation dissolved because they used the low-level manuals are free to go, and students with their manuals will come and collect a low-grade mana stone of corresponding attribute to your cultivation level.”

Kaz walked to the front of the class, collecting the manual and a dark attribute low-level mana stone.

Ding. Fazzar’s Black High-Level Manual. 85% compatibility.