I have learned to trust my estimates on nothing.
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12th February, 0020 RE.
Asking everyone to keep my secret, I told them the truth today. About Minerva and the Office Server, about unlocking magic, and about what the storm actually was. I didn't tell them everything, though. They needn't know that their so-called Apocalypse didn't really take as many lives as they once thought. Then again, I'm not so sure I believe everything Minerva told me myself, so I can't really expect them to believe that stuff even if I told them.
When I told them I unlocked magic, the kids looked at me like I was some sort of superhero, Evan and Caris especially. They even asked me to teach them. That reminded me about the crystal that was bound to me, and I took it out to look at it. 'This crystal is the key to giving your world magic. Use it within ten years, or it will destroy itself. You won't be able to regain technology either way, though, so decide for yourself whether your world is ready for magic.' Those were the last words Minerva had said, and I conveyed them to the old doctor, Kevin, and the children before promising to teach them magic once I broke it. Kevin and the doc made wry smiles while most of the children were excited beyond compare.
I also noticed Evan making glimpses at Caris quite often. They're both 15; I guess it would happen sometime or the other considering how often they're together from what they say. I should really try to match them at some point, it'll be fun like the time with Kevin and Messa. Those two still get along so well too. Maybe I'm some sort of Cupid in disguise?
Excerpt from 'The Journal of a Failure'
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The soft morning light shone on a young boy's face, waking him up from a deep restful sleep. He opened his eyes slowly, mind still groggy and unable to work normally. He had a splitting headache and found it extremely difficult to think straight.
"Miss Merl, are there some painkillers?" he asked out of instinct more than anything and was answered by a small hand prying apart his lips and putting a small pill in. Nodding his thanks, he slowly chewed the thing until he felt his head becoming lighter. Blinking until his vision cleared, he looked around to see the familiar handmade drapes and the table that he'd studied at God knows how many times; he was indeed in his caretaker's room back in the orphanage.
They must've rescued me before the thing got to me, he thought idly, frowning as another small bout of pain hit him. His foolishness was going to cost him quite a bit, especially if someone had actually seen him use magic.
"You ignored the first and biggest rule, you know." A voice came from behind him, only partly familiar to the person he knew. Still, he replied normally, "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't go out without permission."
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He heard a chuckle, now completely distinct from the voice he was used to, "Not that, you dummy. Never cast when you're not calm. It'll almost certainly backfire on you."
That woke him up completely, and he turned his head around to find a young girl, perhaps an year or two younger than him even, looking into his eyes with clear interest. His body, untrained as it was to meeting strangers, froze immediately even as his breaths sped up unintended. Immediately, he pictured a certain scene from a few years ago and began to chant softly under his breath. "Strangers are no danger. Strangers are no danger."
This seemingly amused the girl even more, as she chuckled again this time slightly longer and with a deeper voice.”I'm not a stranger though, Alex. At least I don't plan to be.”
The boy widened his eyes until his eyelids were almost a line. “... Name,” he managed to mutter.
“I'm Jordan, and you're Alex. And yes, I do know your name.”
“Ho-”
“Don't ask that question. Your name won't be so important in this discussion. There are three that I believe are quite important to the current you. Let's just call them Friend, Mother and Father, shall we?”
That snapped the shyness right out of the boy. “How is Vincent?” he asked.
“Truly, parents of his, I pity you. And yes, Vincent is fine. Want to meet him? Too bad, coz ya need ta do what I tell ya.”
The sudden change of tone disoriented the teen, but he gritted his teeth for a moment before saying “Anything.”
“Then we have a deal. I have something I need done in a while, but I need to train someone to do it. Learn well and do what I want you to, and the two of you will be reunited.”
“How long will it take. If it's more than a week or two, I won't-” He was interrupted again.
“Ah that. A few years, maybe? I'm not sure. You know, it's really sad that you don't even want to know your parents’ names, so I'll withhold that information. Don't worry ‘bout the orphanage, I've taken care of things on that end. Now, training begins. In that hole you go.”
Before he could register what she said, a hole opened up in the floor of the room, and a nasty smell drifted out. When he looked in, he saw bones of small animals everywhere. Suddenly he began to regret his decision. Just as he was about to back out-
“Good luck!” was all he heard before he was pushed in.
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“Miss head tutor it's your turn!” Jordan called before leaving and a shadow flashed sealing the hole. A wry laugh was heard as the girl vanished, leaving behind a countdown on a blue screen that seemed to float in space.