The Academy of Sorcerous Arts is formidable, imposing, elite, and very scary. Meredith Taylor is none of those things. She has never fit in at her provincial school, and she doubts she’s likely to start now, at the most prestigious magical institution to which she has been granted admission There are challenges to surmount, spirits to summon, Signs to pick and spells to learn. But all Meredith wants, for once in her life, is to make a genuine friend. Anyone will do, really. Written for the 2022 Magazine Challenge. I expect this to end up a novella, with a definite end in mind. Hopefully I can get there before the contest's conclusion. This story is set in the same universe as my other story, The Grimoire Is Not Complete! If you've liked this story, and want to read more, feel free to check out the LitRPG-heavy version of another Apprentice's confusing initiation.