The door in front of her was solid oak and stood at an impressive height. It was simple, with a wrought iron design that wove its way up the sides. It gave the appearance of vines growing on the side of a building that had been just trimmed for effect. Dyani wrung her hands together and tucked the stray white strand of hair that dangled behind her ear.
She could hear the racket of the student body through them. Her hands shook and she tried her best to tame the nerves that threatened to overcome her. All those late nights and restless days where she did nothing but study. It all led to this moment:. Dyani was being introduced officially to the magical world.
Headmistress Sommers had insisted that this would be the best way for the public to witness her introduction to their world. Ever since that fateful night, she had struggled with being tossed into a world that had only been a fantasy to her. The concepts were easy enough at first but grew more difficult as time passed. Instead of being able to soar through the material, her learning drastically slowed once she reached the level of a new high school student. Many of the remedial things for the younger years focused on learning control and ethics and some of the easier spells. The knowledge would be basic enough for anyone at a college level to pick up on easily.
What tripped her up was the lack of experience in learning this information and never being exposed to it. The worst issue was that her mind held her back because she could not conceptualize that magic was real and could achieve many things. Now, she had to deal with trying to keep up with her studies and dealing with the public for the first time.
The doors opened without warning and jerked Dyani from her trip down memory lane. It would not do to have her head in the clouds when the first impression was the most important. The hall was relatively silent as she walked through them and took the first steps into a world she was unsure she belonged in. Not for the first time, Dyani wished she could return to her old life. It was much more simple. Shaking her head, Dyani focused on the present time.
Etara Sommers, Headmistress of Dalition Academy of Sorcery, stood in the front of the hall—an Academy for people with magic. Faces stared back at her, some as young as preteen and those who looked to be around her age—many different levels of teaching in one place.
"As you are all aware, there was an incident on the Summer Solstice where a magical backlash swept through the tri-state area. "
Mutterings picked up and Dyani took the moment to examine the set up of the room. Students were clustered at small round tables, much like her high school had been. The attention had Dyani fidgeting as she came to stand next to the Headmistress.
"I would like to introduce you to a new student here at Dalition. This is Dyani and she is joining us due to special circumstances. Remember that she is learning what many of you have had years to know. Help her if you can and welcome her to this wonderful world we all take advantage of. Please respect her space and privacy on the incident that occurred. I know you have questions, but it is a sensitive topic still being investigated."
The Headmistress swept her hand toward the tables, "Please take a seat, dear."
Dyani stared out at the sea of faces and felt her stomach drop at having to find a spot without being awkward about it. These people grew up together in this school, and coming into it so late would leave her the odd woman out. A table in the center of the room had a few spots open. The people at the table were close enough to her age, which made her wonder if they were students or teacher aides. They were the eclectic bunch of the room that she could see at first glance. Dyani made her way over to the table with as much confidence as she could muster.
The group noticed that she was headed for their table and cleared out space for her to sit in. Their things were scattered around the table. Some books and papers had found their way out into the empty spaces. Dyani quirked her eyebrow at the sight. Most of the other tables appeared to be the exact opposites, whereas this table was filled with either finished homework at the last minute or studious ones. In some manner, she hoped that it was the latter instead of the former. Being around others who studied as much as she did would benefit her.
Dyani sat next to a blonde bombshell with her nose pressed into a book. A glance at the cover had Dyani smiling in relief that at least this person was interested in learning. It was a guide on warding and schemes. She could use all the help she could get.
"Now that we are all settled, I wish to welcome everyone back to another year. I hope you got your fun out during the summer break because this year will be different. Our Tri-Annual Competition will be occurring this year."
There were whispers from those who had been there previously and those who had heard enough about it. The table that Dyani sat at went silent and most had directed their attention to the Headmistress. Books were placed down and pens were set aside in favor of listening to the announcement. A few of them had bent close to whisper, a dark-haired male speaking with the blond that Dyani had sat next to. The Headmistress held up a hand to silence the room. Dyani waited to hear more about this Competition. The Headmistress and the tutors had not spoken of this during the summer, so she was keen to learn as much as possible.
"As most of the upper years know, we hold a Competition at the end of the year every three years. This Competition will take place during the end of year exams for those that wish to participate, except those moving into the Apprenticeships and Journeyman."
Mutterings broke out for a few moments before it died down once more. The Headmistress held out her hands and smiled.
"I will not keep you from eating any longer, so enjoy the meal, and further announcements will be found on the boards."
Menus appeared on the table before the students as the Headmistress returned to her seat. The teachers were stationed towards the front of the room, where a podium sat, but they were arranged in a seating style similar to the students. Instead of round tables, they could sit at a square or rectangular table. Dyani stared down at the menu in curiosity. The others that sat at her table had plates full of food in front of them, having used her moment of distraction to order.
"You press your finger on the one that you want to eat."
Dyani's head whipped up to stare at the person who spoke—the black-haired male who had whispered to the blonde. His eyes were a startling blue color. Instead of the light blue that she was used to seeing, his eyes held a tinge of purple. Not wanting to be rude by gaping at his appearance, Dyani raised an eyebrow at him before glancing down at the menu. There were different types of entrees to choose from, almost enough that she was overwhelmed by the choices. Dyani tilted her head and pressed on the option for Chicken Parmigiana. The girl frowned when nothing happened. A blonde head leaned in, draping hair over her arm.
The girl chuckled and pointed to the option she had tried to order, "The ones in grey are out of stock. You have to be quick if you want something to eat."
The girl's voice was soft but had a slight tinkling sound to it. Dyani wondered at the types of people in this world if they had odd eye colors and magical-sounding voices. The girl leaned back and held out her hand, "My name is Noemi Blaxall. It's nice to meet you."
Dyani shot her a smile and shook her hand enthusiastically, "Dyani. It's nice to meet you as well. Thank you for teaching me. I haven't seen anything like this before."
"I'm sure you haven't," A voice sneered from behind her. Dyani whipped around to stare at a hazel-eyed woman who stood twirling her long strawberry-blonde hair. "I was coming over to welcome you to our table, but I see that you have already chosen to sit with the outcasts. You are lucky even to attend a place like Dalition."
The prissy woman swirled around to flounce off to a table that was full of other girls. They all stared at her in disgust before turning back to their meals. Noemi rolled her eyes and leaned close to Dyani to whisper.
"That's Kira Starling. You may want to avoid her and the bitches."
The others at the table choked on their drinks or food.
"Noemi," the indigo-eyed male hissed. "You know better than to call them that. The last time landed you and me on observation duty for two weeks."
"That's because that bitch decided it was a good idea to insult you for your heritage. Like you can help that you came from your parents." Noemi hissed back, causing him to wince. "This is Kavan Mayes. He's the least smart of the bunch of us, but his dashing looks make up for it."
"Excuse you!"
The table laughed at his outraged look. He shook his fork at Noemi while glaring at her with a mouthful of food.
"Ignore him, he's all bark and no bite."
Dyani glanced back at the menu and pressed one of the few options left. A nice array of vegetables and a few pieces of raw fish popped up on a delicate plate. Some of the unnamed people at the table looked at her oddly for her selection. Dyani sighed with a shake of her head.
"It was that or chicken noodle soup. I'd rather have actual food."
Some of them muttered and nodded their head in understanding. Noemi pulled her plate close and propped her book up in front of it. Paging through to the spot that she had left off, the blonde returned to being absorbed in its words. Dyani stared at her and then over at Kavan, who shrugged at her look. There were three others at the table: two males and another female.
The girl caught Dyani's stare and smiled at her, "Hello. I know you've gotten to meet the two loudmouths of the group. My name is Mari and these two dorks are Caleb and Jorge."
Dyani laughed at the affronted looks from Kavan and Noemi, feeling for the first time like she belonged. It had been hard over the past few months without contact with her friends and family. This new world was strange but intriguing, she wished that she could have shared it with them. As it was, the tutors had tried their best to make her feel welcome but the problem was that she just felt too different. With this group, she fell into sync with them with no problem.
"Thank you so much for the welcome. I am glad to meet others close to my age finally. It's better than being stuck with tutors that are at least twice my age."
There were laughs in response to her statement. Dyani dug into her food with relish, glad that it was something that she could stomach. However, a small part of her wished she had gotten the Chicken Parmigiana. Tomorrow night, she promised herself.
“So, Dyani," Mari trailed off, trying to devise a way to broach the topic that Dyani knew she wanted to ask about. It didn't bother her as much as she thought it would, though she imagined that in a few days, she would think otherwise. "Will you tell us about yourself? What is your favorite subject?"
Dyani's eyebrows flew up to her hairline at the lack of questions about the failed ritual. She knew that the papers had covered it and she had been mentioned but it was very vague. This was the first thing she had expected them to ask her about, not the subject she was interested in. The table stared at her in interest, even going so far as to withdraw themselves from their books.
"Well, I'm still learning many basics," Dyani flushed at the admission. Noemi laid a hand on her arm to pat it lightly in silent support.
"Don't worry. We know that you are just getting started. You aren't expected to know everything."
Dyani shook her head and ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "I know that, but it's hard to come into a place at my age with such high expectations. I just don't know how I'm supposed to get through so much information in such little time. I'm surprised that I've gotten as far as I have."
Caleb leaned forward with a look of concentration, "What level are you at?"
"I'm right at a ninth-grade level. I've got a few others that are lacking at an eighth-grade level but for the most part, I'm just beginning the high school."
"Excuse me? Are you serious?"
The table stared at her with awe and shock, causing Dyani to flush. "The tutors pushed me as fast as possible to get through the material. We knew I had just under two months before classes started and would need to be as close to my age group as possible."
"B-but how?" Jorge spoke up for the first time, his deep baritone voice washing over Dyani. She shot him a look of surprise at his speaking and the unexpected deep tone.
"There were many nights that I did not sleep. The matron got upset with me multiple times because I went into magical exhaustion."
Mari squeaked and covered her mouth, "You could have died."
"Yes, I am very aware of that. Now." Dyani took a bite of her food, using the time to think about what she would respond with. The others had continued eating their meals, waiting anxiously for her to continue. "I cannot tell you how often Headmistress Sommers and some of the tutors lectured me about it."
Caleb and Jorge nodded solemnly as if they understood intimately about that lecture. The other three looked at Dyani and then at the two boys with exasperated expressions.
"You know I will make sure you don't overwork yourself, right?" Dyani's head whipped over to gape at Noemi. She had not expected the girl to warm up to her that fast.
"You don't have to do that, you know. I can take care of myself. I'm a big girl."
Kavan drawled, "Oh yes, the same big girl that just admitted that she has gotten how many lectures about magical exhaustion? Right."
Dyani frowned and flicked a green bean at him in retaliation. "I can take care of myself, it's just that I have something to prove. I'm sure that, as a guy, you can understand that."
It took a second before the others were howling with laughter. It drew the attention of the other tables and Dyani smiled in triumph. Kavan's jaw practically touched his chest before he lost it with the others, not offended in the slightest. He sat up from his bent position over his plate and reached around to slap her on the arm.
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy having you around. It's about time someone brought sass and humor to our group. I swear, these guys are as dry as prunes."
The ones in question squawked in protest at his statement. Dyani finished her meal and browsed through the desserts while they bickered amongst themselves. Hearing the camaraderie between them and their extension of that to her made her feel like she would do just fine in this world.
It went silent as a large bowl of ice cream and syrup appeared. It towered as high as her glass of water and leaned precariously to one side. Whip cream dotted the sides of the bowl, and perfect cherries were situated on top. Dyani rubbed her hands together and licked her lips in anticipation. She glanced up at the lack of squabbling to see them with amused but curious expressions.
"I like my sweets."
"We can see that. Good Goddess, are you sure you can eat that all?"
Dyani wrapped an arm around the bowl to protect her precious goods. She grinned before digging into the sweet dish with relish. The group watched her in fascination as she polished off the entirety of it without any break. The boys looked impressed, while the two girls seemed stuck between horror and disgust. Although, Dyani assumed it was more about the number of calories that she just took in than her actual eating habits.
A ringing split through the hall, a fork tapping the side of a crystal glass. The student body hushed as the Headmistress stood.
"Before we retire for the evening, I believe this year will be one of the strongest and brightest yet. Have fun tonight and over the weekend. Please remember that the Marketplace is open for you to travel to. All of those under the age of sixteen must be within a group or chaperoned by the older years. Please enjoy settling in because the new year will start next Monday."
The Headmistress paused as the students clapped politely, though some were groaning about homework before it was even assigned. Dyani smiled happily at the thought of going to classes. She may have been labeled as crazy for desiring homework, but this new world gave her many challenges. There was the opportunity to learn a whole new culture besides the one she had come from. Now, she would be able to continue her studious habits. Dyani watched as the table went back to their books or homework revision. This was the table that she was glad to become a part of. If anything, they understood the value of knowledge.
Dyani sat back and wished that she had a book to read. It would have been nice but she had just finished going through her coursework a few days before. The tutors provided her with the materials and books until she reached the high school equivalent. Now, she would have to learn what schedule she would take and the courses she would attend. Dyani hoped that the Headmistress would permit her to gather the supplies over the weekend. The woman had yet to allow her off the school property instead of using extra supplies that the school funded.
That was another worry that Dyani had. The school had given her the things she needed but she could not have things of her own. She missed her family as well as the support that they gave her. It was no secret that her family was new money, but she could have cared less about that. They helped her through college and gave her what she needed. Now, Dyani was left with nothing but the one set of clothes provided. A frown marred her face as she remembered learning she was stuck in the magical world.
The room was silent except for the occasional turn of a page. The girl had left the hospital a few days prior and had taken up residence in a private room at Dalition. The Headmistress had given her a few days to settle in before being introduced to her tutors. It had been a week since then and Dyani was becoming restless at having almost no clothing and her book supply was waning. Cabin fever was setting in, making Dyani anxious at being cooped inside.
A knock at the door drew Dyani away from the intriguing theory book. She set it down gently while calling out for the other person to enter. The Headmistress glided into the room with a grace that had the girl jealous. What she would give to have that. Dyani stood and welcomed the woman with a warm smile.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"It is good to see you, Headmistress. What brings you here today?"
The woman gave her a gentle smile and sat herself down. With a wave of her hand, a tea set appeared. Dyani sat down across from the woman and took one of the cups. It was filled with her favorite drink, apple cider. The steam rolled off the top and Dyani breathed in the aroma through her nose.
"I came to talk to you about something you have been asking the tutors."
Dyani scrunched her face in thought, trying to recall precisely what the woman was saying.
"Your need for supplies," the woman stated at the look of concentration. Dyani's eyebrows rose before she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Yes, of course. I am going through the material quickly, not just the books. I take extensive notes, ma'am. I will need to find a way to get money or to have more supplies. I was going to broach this with you.
The Headmistress quirked a single eyebrow at the admission.
"My family would support this new venture, although they would be unsure. I haven't spoken to them since the incident and would normally have called them by now."
"Absolutely not," the finality in the Headmistress' voice had Dyani reeling in shock.
Dyani felt a surge of anger and confusion, "Why not?"
"We are extremely strict on those who are aware of our existence outside of our world. Moreso than you are aware of."
"What about the families of those who were born with magic yet come from a family that does not have magic within it?"
The Headmistress' eyes narrowed at the question for a brief second that Dyani had almost not caught the reaction. The girl filed away that for later to try to understand why the Headmistress had done so.
"Regardless of how we deal with the families, you are not permitted to make contact with your family. They have been informed that there was a tragic incident where there were no bodies left."
Dyani felt a large weight settle on her chest that dropped to her stomach. Her chest ached at the loss of her family. Dyani's voice was soft in shock, "Why? Why would you do that to them?"
The Headmistress folded her hands over her lap and leaned back against the chair.
"I'm sorry, child, but it is imperative that you stay within our world. It hurts me to think that we had to lie to your family about your death. We are not sure how the ritual will affect you throughout the years or for your lifetime. You cannot be let back to the nonmagical world since that danger would reveal our society should something happen."
There was a pressure that built up within the room. The Headmistress had a moment to raise a shield around herself before the room exploded. Furniture and glass rained down around the two as Dyani's rage at the situation escalated. The Headmistress stared at Dyani with a look that told her that she just proved the woman's point. Dyani simmered down and stared at the room in horror once her vision cleared. The room was in shambles, even the walls had not been spared from the onslaught of magic. Cracks streak up the sides like delicate vines, crawling for freedom.
"I will provide all the supplies for you that you will need. I am sorry that you are faced with this ultimatum but we must consider the safety of the nonmagical world and yourself.
"Dyani?" The whisper was light but the slight fear struck a chord in her.
Her head swiveled around to stare at Noemi and Kavan, black hair whipping over her shoulder as she met their worried gazes. The male had reached out to touch her hand slightly and Noemi had leaned away from her only slightly. Dyani stared at them before looking down at the table. Small cracks had developed across the surface and some of the paper closest to her had burn marks on the corners. Dyani sucked in a breath and glanced back at the other three. They were in different states of concern and shock.
"Are you okay? You went silent and then zoned off to somewhere. I asked you a question but you never heard me."
Dyani cleared her throat and looked down at the table with a flush, "I was remembering something. I am sorry."
Kavan's fingers squeezed hers quickly before letting go. Noemi took her hand instead and held it.
"I know that we don't know each other very well yet, but if you need to talk I'd be glad to listen."
The others spoke their support and offered their ears for her to talk. Dyani hunched over and fought the tears that threatened to spill over. She would not cry in front of the entire school, let alone the people that she had just met. It would not look good; at least, that is what she thought. "What question did you ask me? I'm sorry that I missed it."
Noemi squeezed her hand and set it back on the table. The group let the topic drop for the moment, wishing they could do more for her since the memory was enough to cause her to lose control of her magic temporarily.
"I asked if you'd like to go with us to the Market once we get our schedules?"
Dyani gave her a weak smile, "I'd love to."
At her response, a beep went off. Dyani's brow wrinkled together at the sound before she dug into her pocket to pull out a square device. She clicked the top of it and smiled as the screen lit up. One of the things that had amazed her with the magic world was that it was not as stuck in tradition as she thought it would have been. It was one of the better surprises.
They had managed to bring in technology with magic to produce amazing results. The touchscreen PMA that she held was a prime example. Personal Magical Assistant, the Headmistress had told her. It reminded her of her phone, which had disappeared with all her other things.
A dark thought passed through her mind at the Headmistress keeping it so she would not contact her family. As it was, her PMA was still limited to those within the magical world. She had tried sending an email to her family. It had not worked and a stern lecture from the Headmistress had cowed Dyani for the moment.
Dyani clicked on the message alert, knowing that she would be taken straight to it instead of hunting for it.
Headmistress: Dyani, please remember that you will be permitted to leave the grounds for the Marketplace, but you must be escorted by one of the teachers. I do not wish to treat you as a child but you have proven that you cannot be trusted not to contact your family. Until the time comes when you can be, a teacher will escort you to and from. Please inform Master Briggens when you are leaving with your group.
Dyani glanced up at the Headmistress, who was absorbed in a conversation with the professor in question. Master, Dyani corrected herself. He held a Mastery of his craft and so he deserved the title. The man was beautiful and had a personality that made her swoon on the inside. Dyani felt relief at the idea of it being Britt who would escort her. He was the only tutor allowing her more freedom to move around. Her only issue would be that she did not have the funds to purchase her materials. Blonde hair draped into view as Noemi peeked over her shoulder as she typed a message. Dyani chuckled and rolled her eyes at the girl's nosiness. It didn't bother her; it just amused her that the girl felt comfortable with her that she could peer at her screen
Dyani: Thank you, Headmistress. I will message Master Briggens with the times here in a moment. I will ask the group I'm with when we plan to leave. I have a question. I do not have the funds to purchase my supplies and wondered where to get them.
"You're in contact with the Headmistress and Master Briggens?"
The table went silent on the question and Dyani smiled at them, "They've been tutoring me and overseeing my progress. Master Briggens is my main tutor, so I've had to keep in contact with him regarding that."
Mari giggled as the two girls shared a knowing look, "So you have his personal PMA address?"
Dyani raised her eyebrows and looked at the two girls before giving the guys a questioning glance. Kavan and Caleb shrugged while Jorge gave a deep chuckle. "Girls fall over Master Briggens each year. It's become a bet on how long before someone asks him for his personal address. The fact that you have managed to get that and use it to speak with him is more than most."
Her PMA dinged with two messages this time, cutting off her response.
Headmistress: You are being given a scholarship for your school supplies. It will not be as much, but once you prove that your grades are high, it will be more.
Dyani: Thank you, Headmistress, I appreciate it. I will be careful with it.
Dyani thumbed through her PMA to find the other message, smiling lightly when she saw it was from Britt. Sneaking a glance at the table he sat at, her eyes met emerald green. Dyani flushed as the comment from Jorge crossed her mind. A slender blonde eyebrow rose at her expression and she flushed at Britt's curiosity. Thin lips rose at the corner and she turned to look down at the message
Britt: Etara told me I would escort you to the Marketplace tomorrow. Let me know what time you and the others plan on leaving.
Dyani: Of course! Thank you for tagging along. You probably don't want to hang out with people for your day off. I appreciate it even if you don’t have a choice.
There was a pause as Dyani sent the message back to him. The group looked back and forth between the teacher's tables and Dyani. The girl in question turned to Noemi and smiled.
"What time are we thinking of going to the Marketplace tomorrow?"
"We usually go earlier in the morning since most of the students prefer to go later during the day. Sleeping in is preferred for them, while we prefer to take our time without the crowds," Caleb responded. He grinned at her and propped his arm up on the table. Dyani took a second to glance around at the other tables.
A few of them were empty and students were beginning to flow out of the room. The teachers remained, drinking different beverages while talking amongst themselves. Other student tables were doing the same. Dyani smiled at Caleb before turning to her PMA, which went off—around her, others pulled out theirs. Dyani's eyes widened at the mass message that went through. The talking in the room pitched as people exclaimed and chatted. She pulled it out to see that there were a few messages for her to read. The one that caught her attention first was the one from Britt.
Britt: I don't mind. It will give me a chance to get out and enjoy myself. I didn't have a chance to do so this summer (don't you dare blame yourself for that). Etara kept me here for paperwork and other reasons. I'll be glad to escape for a while. :)
"Britt? You're on a first-name basis with Master Briggens?" The awe in Mari's voice caught the attention of Noemi and Kavan. Jorge and Caleb's heads were together as they stared at their PMAs.
"What?" Noemi's voice pitched and she snatched the PMA out of Dyani's hands. A scowl crossed her features at the invasion of privacy. It was one thing that she read over her shoulder but it was another to thumb through personal messages. Noemi handed it back to her sheepishly when Kavan gripped her elbow tightly.
"I'm sorry Dyani, I get excited about things. That was rude of me. I didn't mean to take it from you."
Dyani wanted to be angry and upset at the girl but couldn't bring herself up to it. She didn't want to ostracize the only ones that she had met so far, especially since they had been kind enough to welcome them into her fold.
"Just ask next time. I'm very private regarding things, just as any other would be."
Noemi looked down at her, sufficiently ashamed of herself. Dyani patted her on the back before turning back to the message that Britt had sent. She hummed to herself, thinking of when to respond. While typing, she asked the others, "So what time should I tell him that we are leaving?"
"How about we meet down here at around eight or so? Then we can eat breakfast and head out around nine at the latest."
Dyani nodded and typed out the rest of her response.
Dyani: Thank you, Britt. I'm sorry that you're still being dragged out, even if you're happy for it. Noemi says that we will be meeting for breakfast around 8. You are welcome to join. Otherwise, we'll be heading out around 9.
She slipped the PMA into her pocket and turned her attention to the rest of the table. The girls were chatting while the guys were sharing their messages. Dyani raised her eyebrow at their conversations, curious as to what caused the rest of the room to chatter away.
"It's our schedules. That's why everyone's PMA went off. We get our schedules the night of the welcoming so that people can plan for traveling to the Marketplace," Kavan explained at the look she tossed to them.
"Oh, I didn't think of that. I wondered when our schedules would be in," Dyani hummed in thought before taking out her PMA to check. "I wonder what classes they will put me in. I haven't exactly taken any tests to determine my standing."
Noemi and Mari leaned to look over her shoulders as she brought up her schedule. Dyani browsed it quickly and sighed in relief at how it was set up. Just like the college classes, although she had more of them than the average twelve-credit semesters. Dyani assumed it was due to being a year-long class instead of three and a half months.
The schedule was set up with two blocks in the morning after breakfast, then lunch for almost two hours, with three blocks of classes before dinner. Dyani eyed her schedule, seeing that it was the basic classes. It was a bit on the disappointing side since she could hear Caleb and Jorge talking about a Technomancy class. Kavan exclaimed when he glanced through his and showed them proudly that he had made it into the advanced Warding class. Dyani sighed at their enthusiasm for the wonderful-sounding classes, feeling a longing to be alongside them. It stung to know that those who were her age were still more advanced.
A hand appeared in front of her screen and she looked up to see that Noemi was waiting for her permission to look. Dyani looked back down at the schedule in embarrassment once she noticed the others looking at her expectantly. The PMA was slowly taken from her hand and this time, Dyani was not caring due to being more ashamed of being stuck in basic classes.
Noemi read out her schedule for the others, "Transmutation and Earth Magic in the morning with Control and Ethics and American Magic History after lunch on Monday-Wednesdays. You are more open with Offense and Defence class in the morning, followed by Charms in the middle of the day on Tuesdays-Thursdays. Woah, I've never seen so many study blocks. You have almost all of Fridays off, though tutor classes are something I haven't seen either."
Dyani wrung her hands together while worrying her bottom lip. Mari placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"You aren't expected to know everything, Dyani. The fact that you are in these classes is amazing. I figured that they would have you in tutoring until after the holiday break. You must have skipped through the material at a fast pace. Be proud of that. We've all had to take these classes, too."
Black hair swung as she bent her head forward but nodded at Mari's comforting words. There was a giggle and the PMA was pushed through the curtain of hair to reveal a message from Britt.
Britt: Trust me, I am very happy to get the hell out of this place for a day. Will you be followed by Ms. Blaxall and the others sitting with you? Why am I not surprised that you picked that group out, Dyani?
The smile on Dyani's face gave away how much his message amused her. The giggling only picked up, with Mari joining at this time. the girl had leaned over to read the message as well. Dyani looked up at the table Britt sat at and blushed as she saw him staring in her direction. He smiled and raised his PMA slightly, waiting for her response.
Dyani: Yeah, they will be tagging along. Considering that, according to this group, you are quite the catch with the females of the school...
Dyani met his gaze and smirked as she sent the message. She could feel the stares of the others as Noemi whispered the typed response to Mari. Dyani did not look away from Britt to see their reactions, which she knew would be either humor or shock at her boldness. The blonde eyebrows rose as his emerald eyes roamed over the text. His lips quirked slightly and his gaze was steady on the keyboard as he typed a response.
Britt: Is that so? And what do you say to that?
Dyani: Are you asking me if I find you attractive or my opinion on females throwing themselves at your feet due to attractiveness? Either way, you're fishing.
She had heard him laugh before, but this one was much different than the chuckles she was used to. This laugh reverberated through the room as it originated from his stomach. Many of the lingering students and teachers stopped to stare at the Master as he continued to laugh. The PMA was in his hand as he bent his head forward and leaned against the table for support. Dyani flushed and let out her own laugh, knowing that she was the cause of the reaction.
"What the hell did you say to him?"
Dyani couldn't help but let her laughter increase as the situation was funny enough. Although she had to be careful since he was a teacher and she was a student, being of age wasn't relevant. As it was, Dyani knew that they toed the line when it came to using one another's first names. Eyes flickered over to where Britt was still laughing, though it was more reserved, and Dyani spotted the deep, disapproving frown of the Headmistress. The expression disappeared as quickly as it appeared but left Dyani feeling unsettled. Britt was typing furiously on the PMA this time around. Thinking quickly, Dyani turned to Noemi, hoping that she could get the girl to move quickly enough before Britt's message arrived.
"What is your PMA address? Let's exchange them so we can keep in touch easier."
The girl smiled and pulled out her own PMA. It was much different than the old model that Dyani used. This version was much closer to the current top-market touchscreens. The case was a flip case that allowed her to carry different cards, including her ID. Dyani raised an eyebrow at the front design, not expecting the bright pink sparkling case. Noemi grinned and shrugged a shoulder. Mari bounced in her seat and pulled out a phone that was similar to Noemi's, except that the case held everything on the back and the front was left open.
"Oh! I want to exchange addresses, too!"
Just as her PMA pinged with Britt's message, two other pings followed with the addresses of the two girls. Dyani stared at the phone in shock, not having given them hers. Three successive pings follow them, the boys grinning at her as well. Dyani's brow scrunched in confusion. Caleb took pity on her and stood up to walk over to her side of the roundtable. he crouched down and took the device from her hand.
"See this here?" The olive-skinned teen pointed a long finger at a portion of the screen that looked like a tower. Dyani nodded, watching as he clicked on the symbol at the screen's top right. "This is essentially like a beacon. Your device constantly sends a signal that allows others to pick up on it."
Dyani's face lit up in recognition, "Oh! So it's like Bluetooth?"
The others gave her blank looks at the question. The girl groaned at their lack of knowledge of the nonmagical world. Their technology was based on it, and yet they did not understand its origins. Caleb and Jorge both had their faces screwed up in concentration as if trying to recall something. It was Jorge who cried out his triumph at figuring it out.
"You mean that touchscreen phones that connect with one another through wireless? We'll be learning more about that in the Technomancy class.
Dyani sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, "I have much to teach you about the nonmagical world, don't I? The source of your Technomancy comes from the technology that the nonmagical have developed."
Their mouths formed silent O's as she explained the concept to them. Mari, Noemi, and Kavan shrugged indifferently to their lack of knowledge. It was something that they took advantage of but they did not seem interested in learning the origins. Dyani shook her head in exasperation, but the looks of deviousness from Caleb and Jorge had Dyani pausing.
"You know about technology, don't you?"
Dyani narrowed her eyes at them, "Yes, but not as much as you're thinking. I know the most basic of things. It's not my strength. I can't code anything if that's what you're asking."
They deflated with pouts of disappointment.
“I have to ask. If you don’t mind?”
It was in general, but Dyani had wondered just how close in age they were to her. It bothered her a bit more than she expected.
“What?” Noemi asked, her cheek propped up on her hand. The others also looked interested.
“What grade are you?”
There were some chuckles and Dyani flushed. Mari was quick to assuage her, “Don’t be embarrassed. I think we were trying to ask you how old you were, but we didn’t want to be rude. Most of us are in our Apprenticeships, though we take some general advanced classes. We help the teachers at times when we are required to do practical experience.”
Dyani’s brows wrinkled as she thought, causing Mari to laugh.
“It means that we are in our early twenties. You don’t have to worry about sitting with teenagers.”
Her shoulders slumped in relief at that knowledge before turning her attention to the device that beeped again. Dyani replied to her absently, “Technically, I am twenty-four, though I was pursuing my Master’s degree before being stuck here.”
“A Master’s Degree?” Jorge whispered under his breath to the others. A few of them gave him a shrug while the others shook their heads. They understood that their version of Master was different from a nonmagical.
The beacon had come up on the screen and changed from a white to a green color. She watched as a list of names popped up. Names in green were at the top and she could see that Britt was there, as well as the Headmistress and some of the other teachers. Below their names were the five people sitting around her. All the other names were in grey and constantly moved around the screen.
"As you can see — Whoa! You have a lot of the teachers on your PMA!"
A few heads turned from the last of the lingering tables, some looking curious and others irritated. At this time, the others had gotten used to the idea that she would be in contact with them, so it was not as much of a surprise there were others besides Britt. Another ping sounded when another message came through. Caleb ignored it in favor of showing her the rest of the PMA's functions. It took him a few minutes but Dyani felt that he taught her more about the device than the teachers had in the past two months.
"We should get going. It's late and most of the people have left for the dorms."
Dyani turned to Kavan and then looked at the vastly empty room. The others gathered their things together as Dyani fiddled with her PMA. Her things were in the apartment that had been given to her during her summer stay. A thought crossed her mind and she leaned in close to Noemi.
"I'm not sure where I am staying now that school has begun."
Noemi paused in her packing to look at Dyani with a look of understanding. The girl smiled and held out her hand for Dyani's PMA. There was no hesitance as Dyani placed it into her small palm.
"If you look at your schedule, your room assignment should be underneath. It will also list your roommates if you have any. Considering your situation, I don't know if they will make you dorm with anyone.”
Dyani nodded and then leaned close to look at the bottom of her schedule. Eyebrows rose high in surprise at the assignment that she had received. How fortuitous. She was with the girls in the group, people her age. It made her sigh with relief, worried that she would have been stuck with teenagers.
"Mari! Look! Dyani is going to be rooming with us."
The group paused and Mari grinned broadly, "Really? That's awesome!"
Thankfully, the group was ready to leave and she responded, "Yes. So, let's head over to our rooms. We can show her the way. Kavan, are you three rooming together again this year?"
The boys all high-fived each other and grinned in answer to her question. Mari and Noemi sighed and looped their arms around Dyani. She looked at them, startled at the camaraderie despite only having just met. The two girls pulled her along through the hall to the large doors. The boys were cackling along behind them. Dyani glanced over her shoulder and caught the gaze of a certain emerald-eyed man. The emotion displayed in his eyes was something that Dyani couldn't put her finger on. The smile was genuine and she felt the same expression tugging at her lips. They walked through the doors and into the hallway, leaving behind a man who had Dyani grinning.
"Welcome to the mayhem, Dyani. You'll need all the luck to deal with these three."