The Rondari Commonwealth: Record of Thaddeus Northwood
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Chapter 2: Accepted?
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Thaddeus stood below the five proctors, his eyes darting between the woman and Lennox.
Why had they congratulated him?
He wondered if they had really been that dazzled by his little light show. The use of his Prime magic, his curse, once again bringing on a feeling of self-loathing. However, the disgust he felt was being overwhelmed by a sense of confusion.
Why had they welcomed him into the academy already? Why had the woman said he had their recommendation? Surely, they needed to see more than what he’d shown them. To test him further before recommending him for the Moon program.
What he’d done with the torches, while more dramatic than what he’d done with the cup and water, required the same amount of focus. The same amount of power.
It had just been a way to gain their attention; to spark their interest. It hadn't been meant to win them over. How could his first demonstration be enough?
Beyond that, he hadn’t even been standing in front of them for ten minutes. They couldn’t be done asking questions, could they? His father had told him these interviews sometimes took hours, not minutes.
“Excuse me, Sers,” he began, the confusion evident in his tone. “I feel I may have missed something. Why are you congratulating me? Don’t we need to finish the interview?”
All the proctors stared at him for a moment, with the exception of Coren who opted instead for an annoyed glare.
“Mr. Northwood,” the woman began as she retook her seat. “You wished to be placed in the Moon program, yes?”
“Yes, Ser. That was what I’d hoped for.”
She didn’t say anything for a few seconds as she just stared at him, her eyes critical, yet soft.
“With what you showed us you are capable of, you are qualified to enter the academy under that program. Even as a first-year.”
“More than qualified,” the man on the far right said, a calculating glint in his eye.
“Forgive me, Sers. I don’t understand,” Thaddeus said, shaking his head. “We didn’t even really begin the interview.”
Hadn’t they impressed upon him how difficult it was to get into the Moon program, how skilled a trainee needed to be just for consideration? Again, he found himself thinking his demonstration wasn’t enough. That he should be showing them more than, as Coren had put it, a parlor trick.
The woman let out a small chuckle before saying, “Mr. Northwood, in your case, your demonstration was the interview.”
They must have noticed how lost he felt, as Lennox elaborated.
“The interview process is merely a way to determine what program a prospective trainee would be trained under during their time at the academy,” the man said.
“There are many programs at the academy, Mr. Northwood. Because of this, it often takes time to determine where prospective trainees should be placed,” one of the others said. “This interview is our way to ask the questions necessary to decide what path a trainee would do well in.”
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“With your superb control of magic, alongside your above average swordsmanship, you could thrive in any of the combat focused programs,” Lennox said.
“Given your upbringing as an heir to a Dukedom, you’ve been taught since a young age of strategy, logistics, and much more. So, you would likely do well in any of the more support-oriented programs as well,” said the man to Lennox’ right.
“But, the program you would excel in the most is the Moon program. Considering that is the program you were interested in, there isn’t reason to continue the interview at this point.”
“Just like that?” Thaddeus asked, still feeling confused.
“Mr. Northwood, I don’t believe you truly understand just how impressive your control of fire magic is,” the woman began with a look of amusement. “Proctor Lennox was correct. The level of control you have, many magi will never achieve. Your fire magic is something special, Thaddeus Northwood. Develop it. Hone it, and you may be surprised where it takes you.”
Thaddeus could only nod as he averted his gaze. With any luck, none of them had seen the scowl he knew was now marring his features. He could only hope they thought he was embarrassed by the praise.
But he was still confused. Were they really that impressed, or were they just being nice because of who his father was?
He didn’t think much of his abilities, especially his fire magic. However, even he had to grudgingly admit using fire magic felt natural for him, almost as innate as breathing.
Looking back to the proctors, he saw a look on the woman’s face, causing him to cringe. She must have seen his expression.
Clearing her throat, she said, “Mr. Northwood, if you wish to discuss this further, we can do so at a later time. For now, please head to the waiting room. We must speak to your father about your attendance here at the Highfrost Provincial Academy.”
Thaddeus wanted to argue. He wanted to ask more questions, not able to wrap his head around this turn of events. But, looking to the proctors seated above him, he swallowed his protests. Giving a slight bow, he turned and left the interview room.
Entering the waiting room, he saw his father stand with a half surprised, half confused expression.
“Thaddeus?”
“They wish to speak with you, father,” he said, his tone odd even to his own ears.
“What happened?”
Thaddeus let out a small snort of annoyance and shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure, father. All I know is that I’ve been accepted.”
“Ted, what happened?” his father asked in a gentler tone, concern clear in his voice.
Thaddeus took a seat in one of the plush chairs by the still smoking hearth and let out a sigh.
“You told them I was interested in the Moon program, so they basically had me go straight into a demonstration,” he said, shaking his head. In hindsight, they had probably just wanted to get it over with so they could continue the interview as normal.
“I showed them my air and water magic. Then, when I showed them my fire magic, they all but ended the interview and said I was accepted and they would recommend me for the program.”
“Ah, I was wondering why you were back already. I suppose that makes sense,” his father said with a nod as he relaxed.
“How does that make sense,” Thaddeus asked, his annoyance returning. “I was hoping for the Moon program, but I never thought I’d actually get a recommendation this soon. I’m fourteen, father, with no real magical training.”
His father smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. “I told you before, Ted. You’re fire magic is extraordinary.”
“You were just being nice. You’re my father.”
His father laughed at that. A full laugh, which was a surprise. While his father wasn’t the most serious person, he didn’t laugh very often. Especially after…
Thaddeus shook his head, trying to remove the memory before it took hold.
“Ted. I’m nice when I compliment your marksmanship,” he said with another laugh.
Thaddeus turned a bit red and ducked his head in embarrassment. While he wasn’t a terrible archer, he was by no means a great marksman. In fact, his eldest sister, who was two years younger than him, was far more accurate.
Even still, his father never failed to compliment and encourage him after practice at the range.
“Your fire magic, though, is truly something incredible, and worthy of praise.”
With one more pat to the shoulder, his father left the room to speak with the proctors, leaving Thaddeus by himself.
Was he really that good with his fire magic?
The proctors seemed to think so, with one exception, of course.
As he sat there thinking on it, he once again stared into the smoking coals in the hearth, wondering how the gods could be so cruel.
With a wave of his hand, the hearth came back to life, the light of the flames flickering over his face.
Gritting his teeth and closing his eyes, he cursed the gods for what must have been the thousandth time since his brother’s death. Not only had they given him the same gift that had taken Elias. Not only had they made it a Prime magic, but they had made him apparently incredible at it.
“Fuck you.”