Chapter 3
The Test
“What’s a Legendary Weapon?” Eddie asked as soon as Felix had finished speaking. Meredith craned her neck to listen, but kept a singular eye on the staff.
“You’ve never heard of them?” Eddie shook his head, prompting Felix to shrug. “They’re considered to be the seven most powerful weapons in the world, forged through an arcane magic the likes of which isn’t often seen.”
“A lot of people consider them more myths, though,” Conrad said. He was yawning again, but once he’d stifled it, he continued on with a crooked smile. “The Violent Staff has been here for ages but I’ve never sensed some ungodly magic power from it. New students usually try to use the staff but never once have I seen it show the level of power Felix mentioned.”
“Well…it’s just what’s said.”
“How’d it get a name like the Violent Staff, then?” Eddie asked. Meredith finally looked away to focus exclusively on the staff and take in as much detail of it as she could.
There was no denying how close it felt in nature to the broken blade she held, even though it looked completely different. Her hand clasped to the hilt of the blade and looked at it, some of its luster gone, as it had been since the Metropolis.
Forging it. That had been a goal in coming to Lacardia. Now, more than ever, she felt it was possible and she just had to learn how. The staff before her was proof, and if she could reach out and touch its soul with her own, then maybe she could learn those secrets. Perhaps learn even the secrets of her own magic. The hilt dropped from her fingers as she sought to close her eyes, sounds dying around her.
Meredith’s body trembled slightly and the expanse of souls revealed itself to her, wind throbbing in the air. Felix hadn’t answered Eddie’s question, in large part thanks to the fact that all three of the males in the entrance were staring at her. Her hand moved forward, reaching for the staff and the multi-colored soul that rested within. It wasn’t like the tree in the city but more distinct. More human. Like the souls she’d spoken with before, there was a person before her very eyes and she opened her mouth to speak with them, but the sound didn’t issue from her own mouth.
Are you…a person? A human like me? she asked.
No response was given. Meredith’s shoulders sagged. She should have expected it wouldn’t be so easy. The soul before her was a formless blob of light, already wavering at the edges of her consciousness. Meredith felt her body growing more exhausted with the extended effort.
She began to pull herself back, realizing just before she returned to a normal state that there was an additional soul, fast approaching from the side. So, when the connection broke, Meredith turned to see the older man coming forward, a pince-nez on his nose and holding a stack of books under his arms.
Small though it was, there was comfort in her magic having sensed an incoming soul. Her feet, however, weren’t as comforted and began to slip under the new exhaustion.
Eddie made a dash for her, but someone beat him to the punch. The books hit the ground with a thump, and a wrinkled but firm hand gripped Meredith’s arm to hold her in place. When the falling sensation stopped, she looked up into the jovial eyes behind a bushy gray mane of the man she’d sensed.
“Careful there, miss. Don’t want to use too much magic.”
“Is that what it is?” Meredith asked without thinking. Straightening herself, Meredith looked to the newcomer. He tilted his head, eyebrow raising slightly at her question. The action reminded her of how new she was to this whole magic business. These were people who’d used it their whole lives, and yet she was asking whether the link between magic usage and exhaustion was confirmed. Like a child’s foot in her parent’s shoes, she felt out of place.
“Deputy Headmaster! I’m surprised to see you walking around!” Felix said, and Meredith could see him bowing low to the man. Conrad was doing the same, to her surprise. The man must have found it humorous, for he started laughing.
“Felix, how many times must I tell you to just call me Matthew? I’m only deputy headmaster by lineage, not by any skill or authority!” the man said. His whole body jiggled from the laughter, his slight tummy bouncing up and down. He bent a little, but before Meredith knew it, he was straightened back up, books resting in his arms again. Her eyes slid to Eddie’s. Both were widened.
Whoever Matthew was, he certainly had skill and commanded authority with his mere presence.
“You’re still our headmaster, sir, in a sense. That offers respect. Right?” Conrad said. He was pointing to Matthew, but his eyes were on Felix, the scowl apparent on his leader’s face. “And your lineage is one that commands respect as well.”
“If you both say so,” Matthew said, offering a chuckle. His own gaze was drawn to the Violent Staff, lingering briefly before he looked to Meredith. She felt exposed in that singular moment, like he knew something she did not. “I’d rather continue my studies. Now, I hear you giving a lesson on the Legendary Weapons to…new students, I presume?”
“Er, not yet, sir,” Felix said. He was no longer bowing, but rather nodding his head. “Now that you’re here, though, you can give the lesson if you wish. It’s been one of your studies, right, sir?”
“So it has…” Matthew’s grumbled whispers were barely audible. No one else appeared to have heard them, yet to her they were as clear as day. He even seemed to know it, judging by the sharp stare he soon gave her. Once more, she felt open, yet at the same time, connected. There was a kinship, a shared struggle, and for him, an immense burden. He looked up to the staff, stroking at his gray beard. “I’ve certainly spent a lot of time looking into the Legendary Weapons, to the point I’ve been able to find records of a few through history.”
“Is that what you are? A historian?” Meredith endeavored to ask.
“In a manner of speaking!” he barked out, smiling down at her.
“When he’s not busy attending to things in Headmistress Unda’s absences. Isn’t that right, Matthew?” The new voice made everyone standing around in the entrance hall jerk. It also made Meredith realize that their time spent staring had all but emptied the place of other students. That made identifying the new arrivals easier. One was readily familiar as Emil, but his companion, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and hands behind his back, wasn’t. “Felix, Conrad, I thought you were in study hall with the twins.”
“Decided to use it for different purposes, professor,” Felix answered, bowing to the new arrival. “Though I’m pretty sure the twins are where we left them.”
“Yes, I noticed when we walked by the courtyard,” the professor said. Meredith was certain his name was Benjamin, but he wasn’t giving her any more time to think about it. “Not that I wish to interrupt your history lesson, Matthew, but do you know if the headmistress is in?”
“I’m afraid she was called away. Flowed right out of here as usual. Something about the Corps negotiations going on,” Matthew said. His head inclined toward the teacher. “Was there something you needed in the meantime?”
“Emil says he has two prospective students for us. I’m guessing that’s you two,” Benjamin said, pointing to the obvious pair. “Of course, he came to me and asked that we use that to clear the admissions process. As deputy…”
“Yes, I can certainly clear it while Unda is busy…” Matthew’s words trailed off into silence and Meredith knew he was watching her again. For a brief second, she wondered if he sensed her own magic, maybe even shared it, but he gave no indication as to his intent in staring at her. He cleared his throat. “I think I will clear them for that. It’s been a while since we’ve had a non-process admission.”
“Sir, are you sure about this! Just because Emil-”
“Aw, Felix, there’s no need to feel threatened by silly me,” Emil piped up, wearing a taunting smirk on his face. Felix’s face twitched, looking angrier than ever as he addressed his teacher once more.
“Professor, I’m all for it, really, but…”
“Come now, Felix, don’t act like that. Emil has offered to put his own skin in the game,” Benjamin said, clapping his student on his back. A small tendril of darkness, like a cloth, wrapped itself around both the class president and Conrad. Both boys stiffened while Emil laughed. “It’s not like you were doing anything, and I’m not one to turn down such an earnest request. Plus, you already seem to have a rapport with the prospects.”
“It’s the precedent I fear, sir,” Felix began to debate. His teacher was already moving him away from the entrance hall, towards a courtyard that was visible through some of the windows. There were people there, but Meredith couldn’t see what they were up to, giving her attention fully to the pair of professor and student. “Think about it! Letting Emil dictate things…what if Vivian wants to bring in a crony!”
“I don’t care either way. The more pretty girls, the better.”
“Shut up, Conrad!”
Benjamin gave a booming laugh, turning his students down a corridor. He was joined in the laughter by Emil. Eddie, however, peered at him suspiciously.
“Please tell me you didn’t do this just to get a rise out of them.”
“Never! But you gotta admit, it’s funny,” Emil responded. When Eddie didn’t give up on his glare, Emil strode over and slung an arm around him. “Come on, Eddie! You still gotta make it through that. Embrace the madness of Lacardia Academy!”
“Fine, but what is that, exactly?” Emil refused to answer, dragging Eddie off after the others with another peal of laughter.
Meredith couldn’t resist rolling her eyes, but didn’t give chase immediately. Instead, she found herself looking back to the staff and then to Matthew, who continued to show his interest. “Legendary Weapons, huh?”
“I take it you’re interested, miss.”
“Meredith, and yeah, I guess so. What’re they all about?” Matthew opted to not answer right away, pushing her along after the others. “Like, how are they made? Their purpose? And what’s with that sou…”
“Hm?” Meredith shook her head, not sure she wanted to share that particular piece of information quite yet. Matthew took it in stride, running a hand through his beard. “There are many unanswerable questions surrounding the Weapons, but I have a few theories. Though if you want to know them, I do believe you’ll need to gain entrance into the Academy. Hope your magic skills are up to it.”
The implication present caused a sudden lump to grow in Meredith’s throat and a sweat to break out along the back of her neck. None of it had been explicitly stated, but now she was sure what that was: an entrance exam.
Giving a twitch of her lips, Meredith sucked them in, her body trembling just a bit. Matthew didn’t notice, pulling a little bit ahead of her, but she felt her very aura was giving it off. Her lack of knowledge regarding magic was already setting her behind, but now she was going to have to be tested in it. Swallowing the lump down, Meredith looked to her hands and to the blade on her belt.
She’d only used them in the spur of the moment, and while she definitely knew she’d unlocked a certain power inside herself, there was no guarantee of control.
Calm down, Mera. Calm. You can figure this out. You used magic before, so just think and you can handle…something. That was what she tried to tell herself, at least, even looking back to the staff for some final source of comfort. It was unyielding in its non-response, though Meredith could swear that the soul inside had changed just a little, giving off its own brand of encouragement like the blade had.
Slapping her cheeks, Meredith caught up with Matthew and closed the rest of the distance to the courtyard where everyone was gathered.
All at once, a breath of fresh air, more than she’d ever inhaled before, entered her lungs. As if she’d entered a place beyond the normal and entered the supernatural, Meredith’s spirits were lifted high, imbuing her with life. The source wasn’t difficult to locate due to size and the gathering of people around it.
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“Look, Mera, a wind magic core!” Eddie called across the courtyard. He was with Emil and a still huffing Felix, pointing at the gigantic orb that floated in the middle of the area.
“Yes, I can see that, Eddie,” Meredith said with a chuckle. There was much more than that she saw. Feet padding along the grass, Meredith took in the courtyard that sat in the center of the Academy. Students were running in the halls just past the open-air section, some glancing in but most heading on their way to their next classes. Various statues dotted the lawn, some acting as barriers for benches and seats that ringed it. Shrubbery and flowers also decorated the location, but to Meredith, nothing was more interesting than the people there.
While Felix, Conrad and their teacher were easily recognizable, there were still two younger classmates kneeling at the edge of the magic core. The closer she got, the less Meredith actually thought they were younger, but just looked it owing to their short stature. More than that, they were matched in height.
“Oh, wow! Another friend to play with!” cried one of the girls, sporting a very earthy bob-cut as she sprang forward to clasp Meredith’s hands. “It’s so rare to have new students taking the Proficiency Exam!”
Exam…I knew it…Her grimace must have shown, because the girl tilted her head. Meredith’s lips twitched again and she looked to Emil, who offered an apologetic shrug, but said nothing. Eddie didn’t look worried at all.
“Autumn, you’re scaring the poor girl. Calm down,” the other girl said. Meredith took a closer look and noticed that this girl was very similar in looks to the one enthusiastically shaking her hand. The only difference, aside from the blue eyes to Autumn’s green, was her red hair, long and plaited.
“Aw, Summer, don’t be a bummer!”
“Summer…Autumn…cute…” Meredith commented, finding her voice once more.
“Oh, you won’t find them cute on the battlefield,” Felix barked out. He was actually amused, even if the amusement was tossing daggers to a nonchalant Emil. “We call them the Twins of Terror for a reason.”
“Quiet, Felix,” Summer said. Her icy glare didn’t deter Felix’s attitude. It did, however, bring Benjamin walking forward and clapping his hands.
“Speaking of battle, that’s the reason we’re all gathered here.” Meredith snapped her gaze away, locking it on the teacher. He seemed to be gaining a sort of recognition from Matthew, who otherwise sat on one of the benches, placing his books down and crossing his legs. “Meredith and Eddie here, as Emil tells me, wish to enter the Academy. Short on time and with Headmistress Unda busy, we’ve agreed to hold the Proficiency Exam. You know what that means, A-Class.”
“Yes! Battle time!” Autumn cheered. She let go of Meredith’s hands and began to spin around like a child. Summer caught her sister by her shirt and pulled her over. “What’s it gonna be, teach?”
“A three-on-three battle, with myself and Matthew observing,” Benjamin explained. His hands were still behind his back as he looked at everyone in turn. “You all know the drill. Felix, Summer, Autumn, you’re up.”
“So, they get the fun, huh?” Conrad said. His body was shrugging, letting off another yawn as he stalked over to another bench. He flopped down on it and quirked his head to the side, offering what he thought was a charming grin to Meredith. “Good luck. I’d love to have you on campus.”
“Gross,” Summer said. Conrad glared at the insult, but Summer ignored him, tying her plait up. Meredith took note to do the same, her bag slipping to the courtyard lawn.
“Battle, huh? That’s something I can do!” she said, cracking her knuckles. Summer took note of her and scoffed. Her sister grinned. “Just give me some ground rules.”
“No stranger to a fight, then. That’s good. It’s a way to grow with magic,” Benjamin said. He walked forward and Meredith realized that he was serving as the dividing line between the two sides. Facing opposite them were Felix and the twins, while Meredith noticed that Emil and Eddie were flanking her. “The goal of the exam is simple for you two seeking to enter the Academy: give us a show of your magic. If you’re defeated before we make a decision, you’re out. If you fail to adequately display magic, you’re out.”
“Easier than a trial, then,” Eddie commented. He was bouncing up and down, practically matching Autumn in her enthusiasm. “We can do this!”
“Sure,” Emil said, rolling his arms back and forth. “But I’m just in this for the fun of it; not to stick around. Gotta protect my reputation, though.”
“You have a reputation?” Meredith asked. Emil scoffed loudly, while on the other side, Autumn was laughing raucously.
“A bad one!” Felix’s shout brought attention to their opponents, and Meredith could see Felix, himself, focused on Emil.
“Enough of that. Any rule goes in this exam. You may begin when I’m seated!” Benjamin called. He wasn’t even walking away before Felix and the twins got into a battle stance. Meredith looked to her companions.
“Any strategy we want, boys?”
“Wing it,” Emil said, smirking across to Felix. “They won’t give you a moment to blink, so act fast and use as much magic as you can. Just make sure it hits. You can do it, Mera.”
“Easy for you to say…I earned my magic yesterday!”
“Learn quick?”
“Unhelpful, Emil. I’ve got your back, Mera. You work on using it, I’ll keep them-”
Benjamin sat.
What followed was just a split second of silent hesitation, and then Felix was there. The wind was flaring out behind him in the shape of translucent wings, a sharp spear of compressed air forming in his hands as he aimed right for Emil. With a grin, Emil floated upwards, avoiding the attack altogether. Not that it gave Felix any pause. His wings flapped out, brushing Meredith and Eddie with warm wind as he changed direction for Emil.
“I’m taking you out first, Emil!” he called out. Emil didn’t care.
Meredith, however, knew there was more than one threat on the field and she grabbed for her sword, extending it outwards. “Eddie, aim for Felix while he’s distracted.”
Eddie said nothing, but raised his palm to aim at the grappling pair of boys overhead. Flames burgeoned within his grip as he grabbed to his wrist. On the bench nearby, the two teachers watched intently as Eddie fired. The flame became a blistering arrow that sailed for Felix.
It was intercepted by a thick branch seconds later.
Well, one made their move…Meredith thought, positioning her body to get a better look at the twins. Sure enough, Autumn’s hand was placed to the ground, an earthy-green glow surrounding her body.
“Nice move! Let’s keep up with this!” the peppy girl cried. She stood as she did so and clapped her hands together. Giving off the groan of movement, the earlier branch twisted and turned, heading for the novice pair. More tendrils burst from the ground, snaking along like roots. “Go! Go! Go!”
Meredith ignored the girl’s overly-excited attitude and slashed her sword forward to cut away the branches that sought to ensnare her. Neither of the teachers wore any impressed expression at the move. She grimaced; this was a magic fight.
Not that it stopped the tendrils from sprouting up and wrapping around Eddie. Overhead, Emil and Felix continued to flit back and forth, each missing the other by a hair’s breadth. Meredith sighed and slashed her sword down, freeing Eddie from the roots.
“I thought you said you were buying me time,” she asked of her best friend.
“I am, but they’re fast!” Eddie said, pointing to the two girls. He brushed some dirt from his clothes and frowned. “But if time’s what you need, I’ll give it. Ice Lance!”
“Whoa! Professor, did he just-?”
“It’s not uncommon, Conrad. You know that,” Benjamin said, voice echoing from the side of the courtyard. From Eddie’s outstretched arms flew an array of pointed spears, made of nothing but frost. Sharp-tipped and dangerous, they aimed for the twins while Meredith observed the area, waiting for the next attack. “After all, our battle maiden has a similar set, herself.”
Meredith’s eyes narrowed at the comment. It wasn’t thrown out carelessly; they wanted them to know. It was all in how to adapt. Meredith peered around the courtyard and breathed in. Her magic began to flow through her, she could feel it. As in the town earlier, she began to see the light of souls. The cluster where the teachers sat, the two in the air, those gathered around the edges to watch the fight. Finally, she located the two near the magic core, one with a tender soul and another with two conflicting parts. That one suddenly changed to a red color and sweat broke out along Meredith’s arms.
Eddie’s icicles began to droop, turning into water as the heat of the area increased. Meredith understood, and reacted.
“Block now!” she shouted. Eddie acted without hesitation, slamming his hands to the earth. A block of dirt and grass erupted from beneath, forming an earthen shield that protected the duo, just as a branch crashed into it. “Buy me all the time you can! Emil!”
“Yeah, just give me a second!” Emil shouted from above. He kicked out, nailing Felix in the chest. The boy’s wings vanished and he fell back towards his comrades, caught in the soft embrace of branches. Emil floated back down, his breath frosting. Meredith soon observed her own breath doing the same, goosebumps breaking out along her arms. “Oh yeah, might’ve forgotten to mention, but Summer’s a real genius when it comes to controlling temperature.”
“Would’ve been nice to mention before,” Meredith snapped at her friend. Emil laughed, but the noise was overtaken by a cracking one. Turning their heads, the trio saw fissures forming along Eddie’s shield until a branch broke through. Meredith ducked, pulling Eddie with her, while Emil floated up. The branch missed all of them as Felix aimed towards Emil to sock him in the face. “Hey, Floaty Boy! Get it together!”
“Tell that to this guy! You’re really annoying, Felix.”
“Look in a mirror.”
“Eddie!” Meredith said. Her best friend needed no other instruction. He just breathed in, his hands glowing two separate colors. His forehead was covered in perspiration, but not from the temperature of Summer’s.
He was concentrating on both elements.
She decided to do the same.
Drawing in a breath, Meredith pushed Eddie from her mind. All she caught was a glimpse of him stepping forth, raising one hand to block a branch with a tiny clot of earth while a sharp blade of wind flew at the twins, causing them to move.
Concentrate…concentrate…Meredith’s thoughts beat a cadence in her head. The souls became sharper, more visible. Memories of the Metropolis flooded her brain and she remembered the rush of magic inside, pouring out, connecting to what was beyond. Connecting to the blade.
Her eyes opened, and her usual blade folded back in, granting Meredith the chance to grab the broken blade.
Remember, Mera! Remember what it felt like to use that soul! Her magic flowed, and like she had before, Meredith swung the blade outwards…only for nothing to happen.
“Mera, how much more time you need?” Eddie asked back. Overhead, Emil and Felix had locked with one another, the latter’s face snarling. Eddie continued firing wind at Autumn, who was cartwheeling and somersaulting about the place with a grin.
Meredith shook her head. What was wrong with her? She could do it before, and yet couldn’t anymore. It didn’t help that the heat was interfering with her concentration. Or was it cold? She wasn’t sure, the temperature flipping back and forth until she felt a drop of water on her face. “Rain…?”
“Yeah, that’s Summer’s real ability!” Emil called out, grabbing at Felix’s lip and pulling. “Manipulation of temperature to create weather.”
“Shut up, Emil. Now, rain.” Summer’s command sent a downpour over the entire courtyard. Students watching on the edges ran far away, and Autumn created a covering of branches over her head. The teachers were less concerned, the rain around them appearing to have stopped completely. That mattered little for Meredith, who soon found herself drenched.
“Summer! We almost got soaked!” Autumn whined loudly. “Well…you are soaked, I guess.”
If Summer cared, her scoff indicated otherwise.
Meredith glared at the girl, but stopped upon seeing the light just beyond the temperature master. It was pulsing with the soul inside…the soul of pure magic. Her eyes widened and she looked to the broken blade. The light was dim there; a pale comparison to everything else. She understood now. Her hand reached out, inching towards the light of the core. Neither moved, yet Meredith could feel the string connecting them, even as the rain poured around them.
Please…give me just a little of your power…Meredith groaned inside her mind, speaking to the soul of the magic core.
A pause followed. One in which the air got colder, the rain becoming as harmless drops of garland. One where Emil and Felix kneed each other and both fell from the pain.
Then the core spoke back. Thank you for asking.
The magic flowed once more, the tie connecting her and the core completely as wind swirled around Meredith’s figure. She held her arms out, dropping the blade on the muddy grass, and then pushed forward.
Wind flew out. The icy rain was blasted aside, splattering the stone of the courtyard. Akin to a tempest, it raged through the area, flaring with the power of the soul she was speaking to. Meredith altered the trajectory of her hands, concentrating on making the wind into a cyclone that brought Felix to the ground and bowled over the twins. A leafy bush sprung up to cushion their fall, but none stood up right away.
Meredith looked towards the soul of the core, thanking it, and then the magic faded, the wind disappearing into wisps.
Her body drooped, collapsing to her knees. Then there was clapping, and Benjamin stood.
“Well, I think that’s enough for a decision to be made, don’t you think, Matthew?”
Meredith’s hands fell to her knees, heaving with her breath. Eddie was at her side and placed a hand on her back, but she focused more on Matthew. He was staring at her, nodding slowly. On the other side of the courtyard, their three opponents were getting up. Well, Autumn was already up and running to Eddie with a grin.
“You were super cool!” she said, thumping him on the back. “Let’s be friends! You’ve got awesome magic! Even more than Summer!”
“Four elements is a tricky thing, but you have the basics of them down,” Felix also said, helping Summer up. Now that she was out of battle, the red-haired girl looked softer, smiling over at her sister. “I take it the decision was a positive one. He kept up pretty well.”
“Yes, I think so. Bit rough around the edges, but even you four were when you arrived here.”
“That’s the truth,” Emil snorted out, landing back down with his hands in his pockets. Meredith watched him a moment, aware of the indignation Felix was spluttering, but already taking note that Emil didn’t care. His body language had changed now that a decision had been rendered. “Congrats, you two. You put on a good show. My work is done.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but we tried our best,” Eddie said. His hand had removed itself from Meredith’s back, rubbing along his neck. That was quickly impeded by Autumn hugging him with little hesitation.
“Aw, you’re in the Academy now! No talking yourself down!” she said. “We’re all here to help each other get better! We’ll be the bestest of friends!”
“I’m more interested in Mera, here,” Conrad said, standing from his bench. Another form of him was already right in front of Meredith, but it was immediately blocked by Matthew, offering a hand to her. She took it, the exhaustion making her a bit unsteady. “Aw, come on, Mr. Matthew.”
Matthew ignored the boy, staring intently at Meredith. “Soul Magic.”
“So, I’m told.”
“Recent?”
“Yes.” The confirmation caused Matthew to nod. It took a moment longer until he smiled.
“You’re in the fledgling stages of a rare magic. One so rare, the only true knowledge we have is from books,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“But…is there anything I can learn…?” Meredith asked, regaining her breath. Matthew delayed his answer a moment.
“I think so. You already have potential. You just need to work on it. Will you let me teach you? I think I may be the most equipped here to do so.” Meredith observed the hand, her eyes briefly looking to her friends. Eddie was already mobbed by A-Class, receiving a knuckling from Felix and a dignified handshake from Summer; Emil had turned away, gazing elsewhere.
And in the middle of the courtyard was the swirling magic core, winking at her.
The answer was obvious.
“When can we start?” Meredith’s education at Lacardia Academy had begun.