The alarm which I had set woke me with a start. Seven o’clock. I found a set of clothes sitting at the foot of my bed, neatly folded. A uniform. It was a long grey coat, which flared out at the waist and hung down to the knees. Buttons ran down from the collar about halfway down the torso. Said collar was flared dramatically, rising to about chin height. Included was a pair of plain featureless black pants. Not bad looking, if a little bland.

Checking outside, the small, Herald sun was well on its journey, its larger counterpart just beginning to crest the horizon. The moon was still setting, and the rings of the planet were proudly displayed in the sky, a brilliant spiral of burnished gold and bronze.

After dressing, I discovered that by pressing a button on the remote, I could open a door to a bathroom. A door I was quite sure hadn't been presen before, and which vanished equally when closed. By the time I was finished preparing for the day, it was five minutes from the start of class. Sigh, the price of such glorious looks.

I exited the dorm room into the ominously-purple-lit hall. A few people walked along the hall way in both directions. Interestingly, they appeared as indistinct blurs, appearing from one direction and quickly rushing past. Occasionally, one would move along the same path as me for a time, growing slightly more defined, allowing me to almost make out features before they streaked away. Walking randomly, I soon found myself before a door with a plaque. It read, appropriately, “Black Magic 101”.

Entering, I saw that I was at the top of a circular room, with several rows of seats ascending from a central platform. The room was lit by a large crystalline orb suspended sone twenty Many students sat around the room, doing various activities. Several reading, a few fiddling with menus. In all, just waiting.

Just seconds after I sat down, a loud bell-like chime echoed from an indeterminate source. When the sound finally faded, the light dimmed, briefly casting beastial shadows across the walls. In the center of the room, the darkness rippled like water, and a man rose out of the shadows. He was pale, wore a black suit accented with white, and bone-like antlers sprouted from his head, parting his long, ragged black hair.

“Good morning students.” His voice was sing-song, lyrical, disturbingly cheerful. As his gaze swept over the class, chills went down my spine. His pupils were horizontal rectangles, like those of a deer, or perhaps a goat. Fangs peeked out of his lips, drawn up in a too-wide smile. His features were sharp, predatory. Inspect.

Inspect failed. Spell allowed by target.

Name Unknown

Warlock

Cursebearer

Age ???

Level ??

"Hello and welcome, all! I am sure that this is the beginning of many long friendships. You may refer to me as Wen." Interesting. When he said his name, the shadows shivered, flinching away from him. Oh, looks like he's rambling. Sigh. I hate ramblers.

Anyway, I figure I should explain this to any non-mages among you. You may be wondering, 'what's the point of a school if you have Skills?' Or perhaps, 'why learn magic if you can just get the spells from your Class?' Well, imagine the difference between an amateur and a professional player of sports, if you would. While the Skill might allow you to use a spell, it's much better to learn how it functions. It might provide you with the bare minimum knowledge, but a true mage understands the nature of the spell and can execute it to a much higher degree. Oh, sounds like he's saying something useful.

"...For those of you unaware, Black Magic, also called Curses, refers to any spell that inflicts a lasting, non-offensive negative effect on its targets. While this does include an unbelievable variety of magics of all orientations, by their very nature they possess similarities in the ways they function. As such, much technique and knowledge can be applied broadly with only minor adjustments.

"Most spells are available to everyone, barring some Patron based restrictions. For instance, a Patron originating from the plane of water," here he pointed to a particular student, "such as your Abyssal Elemental, will likely not allow you to learn fire-based spells. Additionally, all spells you acquire through sources other than your Class will be shaped in some way by your Patron, such as, say, a Fireball becoming Hellfire. Now, onto the demonstrations. I, followed by you," he gestured vaguely at the student body, voice taking a manic tone. "Will perform a minor curse. Any volunteers?"

I got the distinct impression that I should, in fact, not volunteer. I tried to make myself appear as small as possible, shrinking back into my seat. I willed him as hard as I could to not see me. Fortunately, I was successful. His eyes paused on me for but a moment, before moving on. Finally they lit on someone near me. An elven girl. The instructor's smile stretched yet wider still.

"You!" He exclaimed, pointing a long, pale finger. "Get down here! Now, dont be scared, theres nothing to fear!" I'd disagree with that statement. Anyway. Reluctantly, she rose. She was perhaps my height, and slender, inhumanly so. Her limbs were long and spindly, eyes large and features sharply angled. She seemed nervous, though I wasn't an expert on elf body language.

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She cautiously navigated down towards the center platform. Seems the terraced seating structure was quite inconsiderately designed. Eventually she reached the bottom and stood before Wen. Who was quite short actually, now that there was some context.

"Are you quite ready?" He asked, to which he recieved a short nod. "Observe, all. The following will be an example of the basic curse Hunger, casted at minimum strength." He extended an arm in a grasping motion towards the girl who's name still hadn't been stated. He clawed at the air before him, fingers leaving jagged trails of black that hung in the air breifly before fading. There was a faint sound, like the echo of a sort of beastial scream mixed with a howl. It pierced the air and made my bones ring. I felt the sudden urge to flee, and the impression of some indistinct stalking threat that was assuredly right behind me. A quick check confirmed no, there was in fact nothing but wall.

The girl -meh, I'd just say Elf, rude as it may be- staggered. Her skin grew just a shade paler, and she clutched at her stomach region, nearly doubling over. I winced in sympathy. It looked like quite the unpleasant experience. Wen turned, facing the students. Actually, how did that work? The room was circular, didn't that mean that some would only see his back? Then again, I somehow hadn't seen it, even with all the walking and pacing he'd been doing. An illusion? Wait, he's speaking, oops.

"... You can see, the target experiences a persistent effect. Notice how she continues to feel the -oh, right, I should dispell that." He waved a hand, Elf sighing with relief as her skin regained its natural color and she stood straight once more. "Sorry. You can go sit down now. Anywaaaay," he stretched the word awkwardly. "Notice, if you would, how the magic continues. This is the defining feature of curses. As well as their counterpart, blessings..."

I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say it continued in this manner for a while. About half an hour, actually. Of course, I listened attentively, though there wasn't much I could do with the knowledge at this time. Especially once he began to discuss the more complicated bits. Things like 'Mana efficiency' and 'spell circuits.' I really should see about acquiring a notebook. Would really help tremendously.

At a point, he seemed to realize that the people he was lecturing had no comprehension of what he was talking about. He began to call up more 'volunteers' to demonstrate their own curses, generously allowing them to target him with the malevolent magics. Honestly, he seemed to almost savor the spells, sighing as the first was placed on him before he quickly regained his composure, clearing his throat. Strange. And very awkward. I politely looked away, as it felt a bit indecent really.

I witnessed a multitude of Skills within that hour, which seemed to drag on and on. I spent a sizable portion of the time immersed in my thoughts or gazing blankly. Occasionally my attention would be grabbed by a particularly interesting -or disturbing- example. Such as one -the product of a water-based spell- that attempted to choke and suffocate its subject. I'd hate to be against that. Sounds like a horrible way to die. Thankfully, the class did indeed come to an end eventually. Unfortunately though, I did not escape unscathed.

"Well, would you look at that!" Wen said, clapping his hands together. How he knew this I had no clue, see as not a sibgle clock was present in the room. "Seems we only have time for but one more show today. Hmm... You!" He exclaimed, jabbing a finger in my direction. Sigh. "Young man! You’re interesting. I can sense your magic. Your Patron is from darkness, yes? Rare, those are. They don't tend to reach out much. Come! Show me something."

Despairingly, I gracefully made my way down and did not almost trip over someone sitting on a lower tier than me. Really, such an impractical arrangement. Who's idea was this? Didn't matter now. As I stepped onto the center platform, I was struck by a sudden disorientation. I could see all around me, my field of view, no matter which way I turned, included the entirety of the audience. With a rather unnatural speed, my mind quickly acclimated to the experience, dismissing the extra sight in the same way you do when not actively thinking about your breathing. Wait. Oops. Sorry.

"If you would," Wen bid me, "an introduction? Of both yourself and your Patron, please. And then the name of the spell you intend to show." And finally, for what I realized was probably the first time today, I spoke.

“My name is Allister Rose." Yikes. "My Patron is a shadow creature by the name of the Whispering Dark, and the spell is called Whisper of Insanity by the System." You know, it might not hurt me to take a course on speaking skills. Not physically at least. Ah well. No point in prolonging this. Whisper of Insanity.

As I triggered the spell, I could feel it. Differently from something like Inspect. The Mana bloomed in my core, a cold, sharp sensation. It stretched out a twisting, writhing tendril, extending up into my chest and then down my arm. It pooled in my hand, chilling to the bone. A thin tendril of purple smoke, whispy and feather-like, snaked out from my palm, winding and slithering through the air to reach Wen, who angled his head as if to provide a better target. The smoke separated from my hand as it made contact, coiling and hanging in the air around his eyes and ears. A faint sound of whispering filled my mind. My eyes widened.

As did the one around my neck.

Whisper of Insanity failed. Spell allowed by target.

[Whisper of Insanity]

Mana Cost : 15

"I FEAST! At LONG LAST do we feed! So many secrets has this one..." Its voice this time was like a lullaby. Sweet and crooning, lyrical and sing-song. Wen cocked his head. Seems he could hear it too.

"Hmm... it resists. Its will is iron, its mind, a trap. No matter. With time we shall have it. Does it hear us? Does it hunger? Tell us, creature, do you seek our knowledge? Do you... hmm. We are bound and chained. Free and feeding yet still confined. What... Ah. The Skill. Yes, gifted from us to the vessel. Bound by what we swore. We-"

Wen waved a hand, dispersing the haze. He opened his mouth wide, razor fangs gleaming, and inhaled the fog that hung about him. He seemed to shiver with what looked suspiciously like pleasure.

Spell Resisted

“Interesting,” the Professor murmured. "That would be a nasty one to get hit with," he said, stroking his chin. He thought for a moment, then seemed to remember where he was. “Alright all of you, this period is over so… get to the next, I guess. Or don't. I'd recommend it though.” At this point the chime from earlier sounded out. He waved dismissively and, still seeming absorbed in his thoughts, sunk into his own rippling shadow.

I waited a bit for the crowd to dispers through the singular door, people becoming blurred streaks the moment they passed through it. After a minute or two, I left myself. I walked, placing my trust in the so-far-infallible magic to know my next class. Dungeon 101, if I remembered correctly.