When I began my journey as a wizard, I didn’t expect to run into such trouble. Magic is a strange thing to master, but the rewards are beyond anything I could ever imagine. I was always at the top of my class, and of course I got into the apprenticeship program with no trouble at all. I was hand-picked by my human school to be sent right to the gifted class. 

My first lesson in wizarding was the art of soul tapping. Magic doesn't come as easily to humans as it does to other creatures, which have innate magic that flows freely throughout their bodies. We have our magical capabilities condensed in the form of souls, which are locked away deep in our consciousness. It makes us humans difficult to harm permanently with magic, but it also makes it difficult to access magic. Wizards must tap into the soul and manipulate it into magic spells that you would see in the textbooks. 

I studied for hours on end, alone in my quarters when I wasn’t serving my mentor, Master Eli. I know all the spells, the proper diction, the right posture and arm placement. Except tapping into the soul feels like tearing a phonebook in half, or cracking open a jawbreaker with nothing but your fingers. No matter how hard I try, I just can't tap into my soul properly.

Maybe I could let loose a sad sputter of sparks on a good day or make a weak illusion smoke potion once in a while, but it feels impossible otherwise. Master Eli's meditation sessions are boring as hell to sit through, and I feel like I just stopped moving forward the second I began my journey as a full-time apprentice. Master Eli often tells me that I'm a prodigy, but I need to "unlock my inner peace," whatever that means. It all seems like useless junk to me. I'm certain that if I study harder and learn more about the properties of the soul, I can finally get a move on and become a real wizard myself.

I take the annual Wizard Council meetings very seriously. I see it as a great opportunity to network with other wizards, both fully realized and apprenticed. Maybe a part of me thinks that if I have powerful friends in powerful places, no one would question why I couldn't even summon a simple flame spell despite being top of the class at my old academy. Maybe I could get away with essentially being a fraud instead of letting my years of work go to waste. Despite it all, and despite forcing myself to be positive, seeing all the other apprentices around me discuss all the new spells they've been working on, or how amazing their latest potion turned out, pisses me off. Especially this new apprentice, who's been shooting little sparks and making annoyingly perfect little bunny illusions all day.

"Just who the hell do you think you are, showing off so casually at the Council meetings? We're supposed to be showcasing our progress, not one-upping everyone," I sneer.

"Oh, I'm not trying to show off at all! I just love making little illusions, it's my favorite type of spell! I'm so sorry if it came off that way!" she replies, forcing all her illusions to disappear with a wave of her hand. She tucks her dark brown hair back into its braid. "This is my first Wizard Council meeting! I'm a bit nervous, but also excited! Sorry again, I'm not the best with etiquette!"

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, I see that. This is a serious event where wizards from all over gather and exchange the cutting edge of magical news and discoveries! Get your head out of the clouds."

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"Oh, OK! I'll keep that in mind," she says. "I'm Kiera, by the way! I graduated from my human wizarding academy just last year!"

"Hadrian. I'm two years out from academy life myself. Top of the class."

"Whoa, that's awesome! I was pretty good too, although I was never too good at memorizing spells and stuff! I just do it, so I never thought about that."

"Well, you've got a long way to go then," I say dismissively. "I know just about every spell in the book. It's just a matter of executing them right."

Kiera's eyes grow wide. "Wow, I wish I could memorize that much stuff! My master, Master Delia, says I've got a natural gift for magic, but I need more discipline. I dunno though, the books and diagrams are the most boooring part!"

"Well, lucky you!" I snap. "Some of us aren't magic savants like you. Some of us work all day and night, only to barely scrape by and turn out awful, weak spells!"

Kiera went quiet. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't want to come off as bragging again. So sorry."

I scoff. "Whatever. I bet Master Eli needs me. He's a third-rank wizard, so he's got lots to do." I turn around and storm out of the break room, seething.

Who does she think she is, going around being a perfect little wizard apprentice who has perfectly natural magical skills and breezed through the academy without even studying or learning her positions? Gods, I didn't even want to think about her anymore. Everything about her just annoys me to no end. I walk through the halls, passing through the crowds like a specter. Common gnomes, which are typical around this area, busily clean the floors and dust off the decor around the castle. I finally found the third-rank wizard's quarters. The closed meetings among the highest caliber of wizards should be over by now.

"Hadrian, good timing," says Master Eli's gentle voice as I enter the room. "There's been some discussions of great importance that have been taking place."

I sit myself in the velvet chair next to him. "What is it? Any new spell discoveries? Or maybe a new clan of dark magic users?"

"Not quite. The High Committee has heard rumors that the castle will be attacked this year. They mentioned spies hiding among the crowds, listening in and biding their time."

"What? Clearly that’s a bunch of nonsense! This is the most secure wizarding event in the entire world, isn’t it?"

"Not so fast, young fellow," says another wizard. Her long gray hair cascades down her shoulders. "We aren’t sure if these claims are legitimate or not. But it is our duty to handle any claims of violence and deal with them shortly."

"Xandra is right. Hadrian, I won’t have time to oversee your studies in the tower tonight. My responsibility as a member of the Secondary Committee means I must stay here and help keep the rest of the community safe, and although I don’t see any credence to any of these threats, we must investigate them regardless."

"Oh, well if it must be done, then I guess that's that." I slump in my chair. This means my training will have to come to halt for now. And I have to stay stuck among a bunch of know-it-all apprentices who think their magic is the best.

"Hadrian, I'd like for you to spend some time with your fellow apprentices too. It is important for a young prodigy such as yourself to be well-rounded and socially connected in the wizarding world."

"Yes, of course, Master Eli. I'll be in my room." I've had enough of today. I just want to forget about the day and read more spell books in my temporary room. I wasn't going to waste a second of study time, especially now that we might be stuck here for longer than I expected. And I sure as hell wasn’t going back out to those annoying apprentices again.