Daisy hurried to catch up with Dhiren. "You ran away so quickly, hold on a moment."

"Hm?" Dhiren turned towards her, avoiding another student marching past. "What's wrong?"

"That bit, the blood. I didn't heal that all." Daisy gestured to her own arm. "I mean, you're not hurt, are you?"

He shook his head. "No. It stings mildly, but I've suffered worse practicing the art." He smiled with a chuckle. "But thank you, for caring. I'm alright, promise."

"I'm still not used to this place." Daisy gestured to her eyes. "And that was more than I expected. I'm not used to hurting friends, even if I'm going to make it better." She paused at that. "Which is new! I can heal people." She wriggled her fingers as they glowed green with healing potential. "I'm a spellcaster!"

Dhiren clasped her on the shoulder. "You're a beginner, not a wizard. You've got a long way to go." He winked, and started on his way. "Being a warrior, you may never be a 'full' spellcaster, but as Val said, you've done very well for yourself. If you feel proud, you should."

Daisy nodded, and she followed after him. "I do. But I've got a lot to learn, and I'm not sure how to do that. Just keep trying to heal things? Wait! Didn't I get that slate? Doesn't it have a spell? Can I use it now?"

Dhiren stopped, turning to her with brows raised in surprise. "Oh! That's right! I'm sorry, I forgot about that. Do you still have that thing? It should have a spell on it, and you can cast a spell, so you should be ready for whatever it has. How much use you'll get out of it, I couldn't say. The power of that spell depends on your magical ability."

Daisy clasped her hands. "So, I could be a wizard if I keep at it?"

He laughed lightly and shook his head. "No, you'll probably never have that. Warriors have too hard of a time with the more esoteric and intellectual aspects of magic. If you devoted yourself entirely, you'd become less and less of a warrior in the process. Both arts require dedication, and there's only one of you, Daisy."

Daisy nodded, and she started to walk again. "Right, okay. So I'll never be Merlin or Gandalf. I can still be a healer. That's fine, I can work with that." She clapped her hands. "But I am getting that tablet." She rushed off with a happy giggle. "See you later!"

Dhiren watched her go, and he smiled to himself. "She's a good one." He returned to his room, to get ready for his own classes.

Daisy reached the main office, and she was greeted by the same secretary that always seemed to be there. "Hello there! I'm here to get my tablet back. I can cast a spell."

The secretary nodded, and he retrieved her tablet. "Here you are. You may have to repeat the spell a few times before the slate deems you worthy. But, it will happen. Good luck, young warrior."

"Young spellcaster," Daisy corrected with a grin. She held up the tablet, looking over its strange runes. "And you, what do you have?" She wandered away, examining the tablet curiously. "He mentioned casting the spell, so." She healed the tablet. Sure, the tablet wasn't alive, or even had any wounds, which would generally require being alive, but she tried.

The runes remained silent. She kept trying as she returned to her room. It took seven more attempts, and the tablet began to vibrate. She squeaked at that, and she held it up to watch. The runes organized themselves in strange patterns before her wide eyes.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

─ Spell unlocked: Detect Magic. Detects all magical enchantments and items. May also sense the presence of magical beings and creatures.

Daisy blinked. "Huh, that's handy." She looked around, but saw nothing. "Right!" She hadn't actually cast the spell.

She calmed herself and closed her eyes as she lifted her shield into view. "You're magic, I already know that. Glow for me."

Opening her eyes, the shield was shimmering gently, making it clear it was magic. Other things in the area also glowed, their magical natures revealed. It didn't tell her what they did, just that they were magic. One student walking past was glowing, which confused her. Could a person be magic?!

The student noticed and glanced back at her. "Hm, what are you looking at?"

"Um, just, trying to figure out how to cast a spell, I guess?" Daisy said with a nervous laugh.

"Ah, I was like you, once." The student smiled warmly. "A first year, aren't you? Not many that haven't heard about the brood mouse working so hard to expand her mind." He clapped her on the shoulder. "Keep up the good work." He walked on.

Daisy flushed lightly at that. She was becoming something of a celebrity on campus, but that wasn't really what she wanted. She was learning, and she was doing something new and interesting. That was all that mattered. She returned her attention to her tablet, but it felt dull in her hands. "Huh." She had taken what it had, and it had nothing more to give other than being a conversation starter.

She tucked it under her arm and headed off, exploring the campus with her newly acquired spell. She discovered a number of interesting things, and was just about to head back to her room for the evening when she saw something strange.

Cedric was cleaning a hallway, and he was glowing gently. She hastened towards him. "Hey! Cedric! I've got a magic question for you."

"Hm?" He looked down at her. "Oh, hello. I'm still learning, like you. But if I can help, I'd be glad to." His tall ears wriggled a little as he stopped his sweeping. "What's up?"

Daisy pointed at him. "Why are you glowing? You're magic. What does that mean?"

He blinked at her in stunned surprise. His eyes darted around and he grabbed for her, pulling her into a little niche in the hallway. "Don't tell anyone!" he hissed, gripping her shoulders. "Please, Daisy, don't tell anyone."

She was too surprised by his reaction, and she nodded slowly. "Okay, okay, fine. I wouldn't tell a secret, which it sounds like it is? What is it?"

"I'm a magical creature. A lot of us are." Cedric released her with a sigh. "I was made, by a sorcerer. He was a good master, but I wanted to be my own man." Cedric slumped in place. "Another reason I don't have much money, and have to work to pay to be here."

Daisy smiled at that. "Well, me too, just in a funny kind of job." She considered him a moment. "You're still a fine bunny man from where I'm looking. It doesn't matter where you started. But, if you're a magical being, does that mean you're a good mage?"

He laughed lightly at that. "No, not automatically. That's why I'm learning." He shuffled awkwardly. "You really don't mind? That I'm not a normal person? I was made, I'm artificial, I was a servant."

"I was born to work at a desk and then retire, and maybe have a family in there somewhere, but probably not." She recalled her former life with a frown. "Now I'm here, and different. Pah on what I was. Pah on what you were. You're here, now. She leaned in, breath rustling his fur. "Next time I go out, I want to bring you."

Cedric flushed at that, his ears and tail dropping. "I'd love to. Maybe after I finish my cleaning, next time." He offered a weak, nervous smile. "But I'm glad, that you're not scared of me."

"Why would I be?" She touched noses with him. "You're a friend. That hasn't changed, has it?"

He shook his head. "No. It hasn't." He pulled back, and she let him escape from her reach. "Thank you." He returned to his broom, to finish his duties, and she let him return to his work.