It takes only a few moments for me to appear in my magical lab, the room is dark the curtains keeping the outside light from pervasing the room. “Illumare” with a whisper candles immediately ignite casting the room in a dull light. The room was small, I was standing in the center of my teleportation circle which took up half the room. A small Coleman burner sat on a metal table, the table is a mess various alchemical ingredients cover every inch of the metal. I opt for shelving to hold my magical tomes instead of bookshelves to save floor space. My collection is far smaller than my teacher’s, only a dozen or so books align the shelves and only two are of any import. Both of which were gifts from Cecilia, otherwise I would have never been able to afford to obtain them. On a shelf below the tomes are several Gatorade bottles filled with viscous fluid, potions that I had brewed previously. Each bottle had white medical tape marked with black ink, clearly labeling each potion to its content. It only took one mistaken potion for me to start labeling my potions.

I move to a corner of the room where a small table sat. Beside a magic circle was a small knife. I pluck a hair off my head and set it in the circle flinching slightly as the small sting of pain goes through my mind. I let out a breath as I grab the knife in my right hand, it is just a small pocket knife. I flick the blade out the metal shining in the low light, with an inhalation I drag the blade along my left palm. I bite my lip as my red blood begins to bubble up to surface, just a few drops but that is all I need. I squeeze my left hand tightly dripping blood into the circle, this is a simple bit of Sympathetic magic. By forming a connection between two objects one can cast magic to affect the other object. A wizard can do some nasty magic if they get a hold of the genetic material of another mage. Hair and blood can be used to track a practitioner anywhere they go, it could also be used to cast a litany of nasty curses. As a precautionary measure I cast this spell every day to destroy any of my shed genetic material. With a small application of my will the circle snaps into life thrumming with magic like a live wire. “Fira” The hair starts to slowly burn as the blood begins to boil and after a few moments all that is left is a bit of unusable ash.

I go to the burner and ignite it, I set the blade into the fire burning away any blood that was left on the blade. Just in case a mage managed to enter through my wards, with that done I return the pocket knife to its rightful place on the desk. I stride out of the lab using a small amount of will to extinguish the candles. I close and lock the door behind me as I make my way into my condominium proper. Being a member of a Conclave can have its benefits, a condo in New York is exorbitantly expensive. However for me this is free, well not free exactly. I do have to answer to them, take on any job that they assign me on. The living area is tidy with everything in its proper place, which is a stark contrast to the mess that is my lab. I close my eyes and channel my will outwards in an attempt to check my wards. With a sigh of relief I open my eyes allowing my will to drop. My wards were still intact meaning nobody had come into my apartment, it took me a few weeks to get used to checking my wards daily. I had someone break into my apartment while I was working a beat one day and if my wards were still stable they would have had no chance of entering.

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I walk into my bedroom which is organized much like my living area, everything has its own spot. I start stripping out of my clothes, throwing them into a hamper in the corner which was quite close to being filled. Seems like I’ll be having to do laundry in the next couple of days, I reach into the closet grabbing a towel before walking out of the room. With my towel slung over my left shoulder I walk into the bathroom, my cell phone was destroyed in the explosion and I was late to the office anyways. I could afford the time to shave and take a shower. I hang my towel on a rack as I step into the shower turning on the warm water. I flinch slightly as the cold water hits my skin but after a few moments it begins to heat up. I close my eyes allowing my stress to flow away with the water. There is something about a shower that seems to center me, it brings me back to myself. I start with my hair lathering shampoo and conditioner into my shoulder length black hair. I then grab a bar of soap starting to wash my body. The scent of Irish Spring invades my nose as I let the worries of yesterday was away.

I sat in the shower for about ten minutes before getting out and drying my body. I use a blow dryer to dry out the water in my hair, it also has the effect of making my hair softer and lighter. I wipe the fog off the mirror as I grab my razor, as I look into the mirror I notice my bright green eyes. They are by far my most striking feature, a square jaw and a narrow nose. A thin scar goes from just under my right eye to my bottom lip. A remnant of a previous job, one of the first that I had taken in New York. I lather my face with shaving cream before getting on with the job of shaving.

I took my time with shaving, making sure not to nick myself with the blades. I stretch as I move into my room. I sling the towel into the hamper before setting out my clothing for the day. I dress professionally, black dress slacks, white collared shirt with a blue tie. Polished black shoes adorn my feet and to top it off I sling a blue blazer on. I put on my watch noting that the time was just past eleven in the morning. Well, I guess that it’s time to get chewed out for being late. Again.