The main lobby felt like a ghost town with the clouds settling lower. All that remained in the area were magisters using spells to trim or reshape vegetation into magi-beast sculptures. Those going to offices and other areas of the tower were all gone. All new students, and possibly all students attending the academy this year, were still in the medical area waiting for their M-Genesis screening.
I probably should have still been waiting, but someone must’ve assumed I was related to spell-tome researcher Solari and ordered I be put at the front of the line. I couldn’t think of any other reason why I would’ve been called right away with my last name falling smack in the middle of the alphabet.
In either case, getting moved up worked to my benefit, at least for now; the mix up might become a problem once others realized I wasn’t actually related to Solari Maole.
If I didn’t already know everywhere else was off limits until I had a spell tome of my own, I would’ve probably tried to explore more before going to class.
But I did know, so I hurried toward the building next to the third path. Cutting across a lawn, I reached the glass arch and placed my palm on the glass. After the green flash and a nod from the receptionist, I continued past the building.
As I passed beyond the building, I stepped into a wide hall with a high arched ceiling. Smooth columns along both sides supported an unseen weight. The floor, black marble tile, had been recently polished to a gleaming finish. Glowing runes on the floor, placed between columns and under arches, served as teleport anchors. Up ahead there was an enormous rotunda with identical halls going in each cardinal direction.
Arranged in a circle around the center of the rotunda there were a number of glowing runes, but those mostly led to other parts of the tower. I wouldn’t be able to pass through them even if I tried. I needed to find classroom D3, but I had no idea where to begin. I had seen my parents enter this part of the tower, but I’d never been anywhere beside the medical center and a testing room accessed through a rune in the main entry area.
Where is it? I wondered as I searched for signs.
As soon as I had the thought, a blue line appeared beneath me and traced a path to the west hall. For a moment I hesitated. I hadn’t experienced path finding before and was amazed that it worked for me despite me not having a spell tome or a magister present to cast the spell. I surmised the floor itself must’ve been enchanted to help the lost find their way.
The line began to pulse with blue light, starting at my feet and moving forward until it disappeared around the corner. I took several steps forward, marveling at how the line stayed anchored with whichever was my furthest back foot. I tried stepping backwards, and even to the right or left, but the line always adjusted to stay right beneath me.
Amused, but deciding it was time to move on, I followed the line into the west hall and to a little nook under an arch where the symbol for D3 was pulsing with violet light. The rune was active. As my lead foot made contact with the rune, all of my surroundings changed.
I stepped into a large lecture hall with riser style seating. A raised stage, just right of where I entered, seemed too plain and ordinary for such a magical place while also managing to feel like exactly what this classroom needed. The wall at the back of the stage was odd to look at. There was a black glass pane covering it with an odd sense of flat infinity. It was a definite end to the room, but either the reflection, an enchantment, or just my anxiety looking for anything to disrupt and unsettle me, made the wall feel more like a window into a never ending dimension.
Sitting at a desk on the stage was a girl with pale skin and long blonde hair that curled naturally around her face. She wore dark rimmed glasses over her bright brown eyes that seemed to sparkle with joy. Her legs were crossed demurely as she bounced her foot incessantly. Similarly she rocked her head from side to side and tapped lightly on the desk as if she had too much energy to keep still. Her satin green dress looked like an intended distraction with its high split and low collar, although the young boy sitting on her desk would probably be even more distracting.
His bouncy green hair fell in loose curls around his face. Freckles and gentle brown eyes added an adorable innocence to his boyish features. His tailored blazer and scarf gave him an air of sophistication, but his knee length shorts made him look like an adorable little mascot.
He smiled brightly as he noticed me enter the room.
As I made my way up the stairs toward them, the girl stood from her chair waving excitedly. "Hi, I'm Kayla."
"I'm Dexter Maele," I replied, though I couldn't understand why she was so excited.
Kayla turned to the boy, who hopped off the desk and cleared his throat. “You don’t look like much. I was expecting someone more…um... impressive?"
My eyebrows rose at his bluntness.
"No offense!" He added hastily.
"It's fine," I replied. "If it’s because of my name, I’m not actually related to Solari. Our last names just sound really similar."
“Oh,” the boy said with a sort of half smile that fell into a frown.
He seemed disappointed by the revelation, which confused me even more. Why should that change anything here?
Kayla must have seen the question on my face because she shook her head saying, "Don’t worry, he was only excited because he thought you might—"
“Be quiet Kayla, stop saying everything out loud! You’ve got to learn some decorum!" The boy squeaked in protest.
I glanced at him then back to Kayla who mouthed ‘Sorry.’
"Anyway," he continued, "it doesn't matter if you aren't related to Solari; you’re still the first student here, so find a seat and prepare yourself for hell!”
Nodding, but unsure what to make of him, I said, “Um…okay.” Then sat down at the left end of the front row.
As I moved away from them, Kayla put her hands over her mouth trying to hide a snicker. I couldn’t make out whatever they were whispering about, but the boy appeared visibly irritated. Even with such an expression, I could hardly imagine anyone taking him seriously—even Kayla appeared to grow more amused by his frustration.
Another three students appeared to the right end of the platform. Each of them looked somewhat confused, then amused as they watched Kayla and—I only now realized he hadn’t said his name.
Noticing the new students, he cleared his throat and went over to greet them, with Kayla bouncing on her toes behind him.
“Good morning, and welcome to class.”
“Good morning, prepare yourself for torture.”
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They spoke basically at the same time, but Kayla was slightly faster.
The three students, two boys and one girl, exchanged glances before turning back to the young boy. He smiled and clasped his hands together. "I mean, Welcome to your first day of school."
Kayla waved happily, but didn't say anything.
“Thanks…” the girl said uncertainly. “Welcome to you too.”
The green haired boy looked stunned and offended as she made her way to a seat.
Recovering, he turned to others and instructed, “Well, go on and sit then.”
When they did, he hopped onto the desk again. I was amazed that he seemed so content sitting there while everyone else came into the room. He was starting to remind me of a kitten, just doing as pleased and acting like this was his classroom.
How did he even get to the exam so young? Definitely, he comes from deep money or has some very serious connections.
More students filtered in one after the other, but neither the boy nor Kayla moved to greet anyone else. Eventually Alex showed up with brows furrowed anxiously. He scanned over the class until his gaze settled on me. Immediately all signs of anxiety vanished and he crossed in front of the stage to sit beside me.
Gripping my shoulder with a firm hand, he smiled. “You saved me a spot, thanks Dex.”
“Nah, no one even tried to sit by me.” I shrugged. “I’m pretty sure everyone was hesitant to approach me since they think I’m related to Solari.”
“The way you said that makes it sound like you’re not.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not,” I said, wondering if I really had to say it so directly.
"Well, I say take advantage of it. If people want to treat you special, may as well let them."
"I’d rather not stand out." I replied with a glare as Alex propped his feet on the desk next to my arms. “And I’d prefer if you didn’t draw attention to me either,” I finished.
"Dexter," the green haired boy called from Kayla’s desk. "Don't talk to yourself, it's unbecoming."
I sighed, knitting my brows in frustration. Surely he could see Alex.
“Who is he anyway, her spell tome?” Alex groused.
Shrugging again, I answered, “Probably.”
That makes more sense than what I thought…
Alex grumbled something to himself then the two of us sat in silence as more students entered the room. When the seats were a little more than half full, I realized it might be a long while before everyone was here and the class actually got going so I laid my head down and closed my eyes.
After about fifteen minutes of blissful relaxation, something slammed on the desk next to my face. At the same time, a heavy hand tapped me twice—thrice—four times—five
“Stop damn it! What do you—” My eyes opened to a pair of flaming red irises looking down on me with fury.
The dark skinned girl that bumped me outside the tower stood over me with one hand on her hip. Her brows were pressed so close together they looked like just one eyebrow, and a vein popped out near her temples. “Who the hell are you?” She barked.
Alex withdrew his hand slowly, looking away as if he was afraid whatever hell she was about to unleash might swallow him up too.
I sat up, wondering where her three shadows were. Surely, she had the kind of influence to shuffle around a few class assignments; if she wanted to she should’ve been able to get their M screenings accelerated too so they could all go to class together. As her face began to twitch, I decided it didn’t matter.
“I’m Dexter Maele, and you are…?”
“I am VEXED—” She said, enunciating each word.
Alex burst into laughter, composing himself just enough to giggle out, “Hello Vexed, very nice to meet you.”
I guess he forgot not getting himself involved.
The girl rolled her eyes and went on, ignoring Alex. “I’m vexed…” she paused, glaring at Alex and challenging him to open his mouth again.
He didn’t.
“…that this school is treating some imposter better than they treat me,” she continued.
“Oh, sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about, or what it has to do with me. I haven’t requested any special privilege or anything so…,” I replied with a shrug.
She turned her gaze back to me, “There’s no way you’re related to—”
“It appears everyone is here.” said the boy with green hair, “so let’s begin.”
“How dare you interrupt me, half pint! When my uncle hears about this he’ll—”
Kayla turned into a ball of light, floated into the young man’s hand, then turned into a small journal. The boy’s cute innocence vanished, replaced by a vicious swirl of malicious energy. His skin turned black and his green hair grew down to his waist. He smiled, revealing a mouth full of sharp yellow teeth as he stepped towards us. With a grating voice, he growled, “You can be the first to experience my wrath, little girl."
Unfazed by his threat, the girl roared back, “When uncle Rivayne hears of this, you’ll be lucky if you still remember your name.”
The boy paused, tilting his head curiously. “I know who you are, Jyanna Myrtle; however you overestimate your uncle’s influence.”
She crossed her arms in defiance, "My uncle is—”
“Enough!” The boy snapped. "This is my classroom and if you insist on acting like a wild beast I will treat you like one!"
His words surprised me. The boy couldn’t have been older than ten, and there wasn’t a single magister that young, let alone a teacher. Still, he was very clearly a magister so I was wrong on at least one point.
His transformation from boy to ghoul allowed him to easily dominate the room. Everyone sat up straight, faces tense and attentive. At this point, even Jyanna looked intimidated. None of us had a spell tome, so no one could resist if leapt down from the stage and started ripping through students.
Jyanna slid into a seat beside Alex, shot me an ugly glare, then looked back at the boy who must’ve been our professor. “I…” she bit her tongue, clearly struggling with her words as her jaw tensed then finally relaxed. “…I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” she muttered.
Donovan's eyes narrowed for a moment, but he didn't reply. He just turned to face everyone and started talking. “First day of school means you’re all getting a spell tome today. But before that…” his dark aura fell away and his appearance returned to that of a childlike mascot with curly green hair. “I am Donovan Kaylastal, and it’ll be my job to turn each of you into capable magisters.” He paused, letting his bright eyes pan over the room.
Hearing those words from the lips of a child didn’t make me feel very confident. Glancing over I could see Alex covering his mouth to stifle a laugh and Jyanna bit hard into her plump lower lip. Her fierce eyes were so intense it seemed as if she wasn’t even attempting to hide her contempt.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering about my appearance,” Donovan continued, “to be blunt, I made a mistake when I was around eighteen—the same age as most of you. Now I’ll live the rest of my life looking like this, but don’t you dare take me lightly. The power I hold is immense.”
As if to emphasize his point, the whole room went dark. The stench of decay filled the air and hungry moans drifted up from the ground. An icy grip closed on my leg as a half mummified face appeared beneath me.
“AHHHHH!”
“KYAAA!”
“Holy Shit!”
“No—no—No—NO!”
All the screaming, shrieking and shouting did nothing to quiet the groaning beasts climbing up from the floor.
The light came back all at once and the undead vanished.
Jyanna hissed, “What the fuck!” as she flung a rotten hand onto the stage. “You could have killed us.”
“I’m glad you understand our relationship.” The professor beamed with delight as the hand melted into dark particles that dissipated into nothing.
Alex snorted then quickly covered his mouth. This time he failed to contain himself as laughter burst out. Everyone in the room looked at him with various levels of surprise and disapproval. Even Donovan stared at him for a moment before saying, "And what are you laughing at?"
"You're—you're just a kid," he managed through gasps of air.
Donovan smiled back. “I can see this will be a fun semester for me.”
I dropped my face into my palms, thinking I should’ve ignored Alex in the medical lobby; I could already tell he was going to get me into a whole heap of trouble.