Unbroken: Mage's Academy II

by Finley Morrow

  "Honestly? It's embarrassing." I admitted. I could still feel heat where his hand had touched my cheek.

  "I'd like to know. I want to know everything about you." He said.

  "Okay," I sighed. "I guess I'm not used to people wanting to be around me. I haven't told you much about my childhood, but long story short it wasn't great. I'm still surprised sometimes that someone like you." I took in his god-like form, "wants to be with someone like me."

  "Esther, you are very misled, I think, about what kind of someone you are." He said, walking beside me on the way back to campus. "You're incredible." He grabbed my hand and laced his fingers through mine. Being with him was like doing magic, but without any complicated spells or enchantments. It was supernatural.

  "What were you looking for anyway?" He asked, remembering how he found me out here.

  "Well, last year, I was trying to figure out some things and I went to Sybelle for a prophecy," I didn't need to tell him everything that she had told me, like the fact that I would find my match, who turned out to be him. "And she asked that I perform a favor for her in the future, as a sort of repayment, when her God asked for it. So she came to me and asked me to help her find something. It's a part of an old clock that she's trying to fix. I think it belonged to her Great-grandfather or something. Honestly, I don't have all the details."

  "Did you find it then?" He said, following my story.

  "No, I don't know why on earth she thinks it's still here. Her great grandfather had to be here at least a hundred years ago. I'm no skilled tracker. I have no clue on earth why this was the task they chose for me." I answered.

  "Well that is interesting," He said. "What can you do that Sybelle can't do?"

  "What does that have to do with anything?"

  "If her God chose this task for you, there must be some special talent or skill that you have that she doesn't have. Something that you have to use to complete this task." He said. It made sense.

  "Let me think," I went through all the ways that we were different. "Obviously, I'm not bound. That's the biggest difference."

  "True. What does that mean for you?" He adopted a teacherly tone.

  "You're spending too much time with Professor Atwood," I said, laughing.

  "Still..." He pushed.

  "I guess it means that I'm the daughter of a Goddess, the Queen of Witches."

  "Good, we know some of the things she's associated with. Magic, the darkness, crossroads."

  "Oh," I said darkly. I had a thought, but it wasn't good. When he said crossroads it triggered a memory of the place between worlds. The liminal world that I had been to and dreamt of so many times.

  "Did you think of something?"

  "Yeah, but I don't like it." I laughed, still feeling miserable at the thought.

  "Well, what is it?" He said impatiently.

  "I've been to the Liminal World. I'm not sure if I can go there at will or only if I'm in a dire situation. Either way, that place freaks me out. I still have nightmares about it." I sighed.

  "I didn't know that," He said wrapping his arm around me. "I'm afraid you might be right though. That sounds like the likeliest answer."

  "The map," I exclaimed. "I couldn't find her missing part because I was looking in the wrong place. I'm supposed to go find it in the Liminal World. That's where it's hidden."

  "I think you found your answer," He smiled, his lips parting to show his teeth.

  I groaned. I didn't want it to be true.

  We headed back to Halewick house and he walked me to the door. I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye yet, but I wasn't sure if he was busy.

  "This has always been one of my favorite buildings here," He said.

  "I know, I love it too," I responded. "Where do you live, now that you're not a student?" I asked, realizing I didn't know where to find him. Just in case anything were to happen, that is.

  "Professor Atwood set me up with one of the empty faculty houses," He said.

  "That's amazing," I exclaimed.

  "Do you want to see it?" He asked. "I don't have anything I have to do until later this evening?"

  "Really?" I said. "That would be awesome. I've never seen inside any of the faculty houses."

  "Let's go then," He said. We walked quickly toward the faculty area, passing some groups of students as we did. Maeve and Ligeia were among them. I wasn't sure if they saw me, but I knew that if they had I would hear about it later. With Kairn's hand in mine, we walked up the small path to a green victorian style house. It was like a smaller mirror of Halewick house. There was a porch with ornate wooden molding all around. There were very old glass windows with colorful glass accents in the leaded panes.

  "You actually get to live here?" I asked.

  "Believe it or not, yes," He smiled. "Do you want the grand tour?"

  "Of course," I replied returning his smile.

  He opened the door for me and I found myself in a small entryway, with a large wooden staircase going up. Strange magical artifacts were adorning the walls and a thick rug that portrayed scenes of magic. First up was the living room. It was cozy and had the largest most comfortable looking couch I'd ever seen. I sat down, to test the couch, and I was right. It really was the most comfortable couch.

  "I don't think I'll ever leave this spot." I joked.

  Kairn leaned over to where I was sitting and put his arms on the couch behind me. "You don't have to." He said, his voice suddenly taking an edge. I was suddenly staring straight into his vividly green eyes. I was more aware than ever that he was not completely human. Still, I wanted to reach out and touch him. I wound my hand into his hair, not sure if I was pulling him closer or if he was pulling me in. It didn't matter. His lips were on mine then, and he wasn't being careful. There was electricity between us. Literally. Magical sparks were flying in a variety of colors and intensities but I didn't care. He moved onto the couch and I straddled his lap. He put his arms around me as his lips crushed against mine. I could kiss him forever and never stop, I was sure of it. Both of us were starting to breathe heavier, the effects of the kissing becoming noticeable. I felt something sharp for a brief moment and realized that Kairn had begun to transform. His long black hair had become wilder and his fingertips were darkening into harsh claws. He pulled away.

  "Sorry," He said swiftly, but there was a resonance to his voice. I Knew he was beginning to transform. He placed one final kiss on my neck then I moved aside. "I'm having trouble controlling myself," He explained. I knew what he meant, but I wasn't blind to the double meaning. Maybe one day I would see that side of him, all of him.

  A knock on the door came, breaking the tension between us. It was two girls that I recognized from Aria's friend group. He said, "Stay here, I'll get it." I heard them giggling nervously. They were afraid of him. It was strange.

  "Hi, um we're throwing a party in honor of Aria, it's to offer up our thoughts for her so that she will get better." They were almost incoherent with nerves.

  "We wanted to invite everyone, including faculty and students. We know everyone wants Aria to get better." They chimed. That last sentence had a strange tone to it as if there was some implication. Were they suggesting that Kairn didn't want her to get better? I couldn't say for sure.

  "Of course," He said somehow both courteous and dismissive at the same time.

  "Are you coming?" They asked.

  "I have much work to do today, so I may not be able to," He said, still not giving any clues with his tone.

  "You have to come," they whined. "Everyone is coming," they added as an afterthought.

  Once he had closed the door he came back inside and sat next to me.

  "A lot of work, huh?" I asked sardonically.

  "Actually, that wasn't a lie. I do have a list of things I need to do." He smiled, but it wasn't the same as before.

  "Okay, well I guess I better go then," I said.

  His expression was disappointed, but then he got a glint in his eyes. "You don't want to miss Aria's part
y."

  "What?" I laughed.

  "I have a feeling you should go," He said. "It might cause more trouble if you aren't there."

  He was right of course. If everyone in the school was invited it might look weird if I didn't go, like I didn't want her to get well or something.

  9

  Aria's party was at the Fen. Everyone from Halewick house was there and I stood by the fire with Maeve. Aria's friends were going around asking everyone questions. Something about this whole thing felt really off.

  Another group of girls sat on the other side of the fire. I greeted them and decided to try to get some information.

  "Hey, were you guys there the night of the bonfire?" I asked.

  "Yes," One girl piped up. She had long brown hair and a floral blouse. "We were all there."

  "What happened exactly?" I asked.

  "It was so strange," She said, "one minute we were all hanging out and then the next we were in the infirmary. I can't explain it."

  That's what Maeve and Ligeia had described too.

  "But did you see anything strange or out of the ordinary?" I asked.

  Another girl chimed in, this one with a short blonde crop, "I did see something weird, but it was way before anything happened. It's probably not related." This piqued my interest.

  "What did you see?" I asked.

  "Well, there was somebody out in the forest. It looked like they were holding a lantern, which I thought was really strange. I don't even know where they'd get a lantern. That's why I remembered it." She explained.

  "Did you see who it was?" I pressed for more details.

  "No, I was going to, but I'd had a little too much to drink, and I think I got distracted." She giggled.

  Aria's friends gathered everyone around near the end of the party and addressed them.

  "We don't know what's wrong with Aria, but she hasn't gotten any better. We are going to find out who did this to her?" They said anger rippling through their voices. A shockwave pierced the crowd. They believed someone was responsible for what had happened? That didn't make sense. Lots of people had gotten sick. Why would someone have done something to Aria?

  I met several harsh stares. Wait, did they think I had something to do with it? My ears were ringing as the crowd around me began to swell with angry voices. I had to get out of there. I began to walk back to Halewick. I couldn't see my friends, but they'd understand. I felt hot tears running down my face. It was like what had happened at my old school. In the end, they always thought it was my fault. I went back to my room and tried to get some sleep.

  The next morning my eyes were sore from crying, but I washed my face and tried to forget about what had happened. I couldn't let them see that they had gotten to me. I had too much work to do in my classes to even worry about any of this. I'd been studying for Alchemy but I wasn't sure it was enough. Today was the day we were going to start transmutations.

  I was the first person to class and I was scouring my textbook before class, desperate to memorize just one last pattern. Professor Henbane was watching me and my cheeks reddened. She knew I was cramming before class. Still, I took every opportunity I had to study. I stared blearily into my book until everyone was in class and seated. Professor Henbane came around with sheets of parchment and black pieces of charcoal.

  "Okay, everyone. books away," she said, giving me a look. "Today we are going to start transmutations. Each one of you will receive material and I will give you instructions for what transformation I wish to see."

  She stopped in front of my workstation and gave me a thick sheet of parchment, a piece of charcoal, and a lump of unformed lead. "Esther, I'd like you to transform this lead into Gold."

  I balked. That was one of the more difficult transformations. "Are- Are you sure?" I asked.

  "Yes, I know it will be a challenge for you, but I have faith that you can do it," She smiled as she moved to the next table.

  I took the piece of parchment and all my other materials in hand and began to form a hallow. It was easy for me now. I could call up the domed room efficiently. I don't think anyone else experienced hallows like this yet, as a fully contained sacred space. I loved this place. It was beautifully light, nothing like the misty autumn of the campus. It was more like a bright summer day somewhere tropical. The walls were made of smooth sandstone and marble and there were several columns around the circular space. I set my items in the middle of the room and got to work. I started to think that it might be easier to work if I had a table, and then as if it came from my own mind, there was a heavy wooden table. It didn't really appear so much, more like it was already there and I only just noticed it.

  Would other things exist here if I wanted them to? I pictured a goblet filled a deliciously sweet drink. Just as the table had appeared so too did the goblet. It was a crystal glass with sterling silver details filled with dark red plum wine, sweet and cool. I took a sip, astonished at what was possible here. I began to get to work on my transmutation. The key was that you had to draw the symbol of the original material in charcoal, then visualizing the symbol of the new material, use your power to change the symbol. I got to work drawing the divine pattern for the lead. It was a plain ugly symbol with haphazard lines and angles. I stared at it trying to piece together how I would change it. There were rules about which lines to change first and how to move them so that it would become the right substance. I had studied it just this morning, but the rules were starting to leave my memory. I struggled through several transformations, each time having to wipe the parchment clean from my mistakes.

  I wondered then what would happen if I simply tried to change the lead itself. Were the patterns really necessary? Perhaps like the goblet and the table, I could simply will the lead into Gold. I stared at it, imagining in my mind what I wished it to become. When I opened my eyes, it was there, the soft yellow metal nugget laying on the table, but parchment still blank as anything. I had done it somehow. I picked it up marveling at how it had changed from the dingy grey lump it had started out as. When I returned to the class I was the only one there. Everyone else was probably still inside a hallow.

  Professor Henbane came to my workstation. "Class isn't even halfway over yet, Esther, don't tell me you've finished already?"

  "I have, I think," I said, suddenly uncertain. I stared at the perfect nugget of gold, just to check, and found it the same. I was relieved and I showed it to her.

  "May I see your work?" She asked, examining the perfect specimen of Gold.

  I hadn't anticipated that. I thought my transmutation would be enough. "I don't have it," I admitted.

  "And how is that?" She said, her brows knitting together as she peered at my blank parchment.

  "I didn't follow the exact process," I said. "But I was still able to do the transmutation."

  "How very interesting," She exclaimed as she studied my work. "You did manage somehow, but I can't seem to find any flaws."

  "Would you tell me about your process?" She looked at me through her glasses.

  "I guess I just kind of made it change," I shrugged.

  "Esther, I don't see how that is possible," She argued. "That's just not how magic works."

  "Maybe my magic does work that way," I replied.

  "That may be," She said. "You get an A for this excellent piece of gold you have produced, however, in the future, I need you to try to do it the right way. The gods do not channel magic to us without a cost, Esther. There is always a price to pay and if you do not pay it upfront by performing the ritual correctly the gods will extract it from you later at double the cost to you."

  "Professor Henbane, I'm not bound to any God," I said, feeling exasperated. I had assumed the Headmistress had told all the teachers about my situation by now, but it didn't sound that way.

  She stared at me wide-eyed, perhaps understanding that those ways wouldn't work for me. "I will have to look into this matter Esther, give me some time," she requested.

  "Alright," I nodded. She let
me leave since I had completed my transmutation, but it didn't feel victorious anymore.

  I headed to Lectiomancy early. There was no class using the room before us, so I planned to sit and work on some homework. On the way to the tower however, I heard footsteps coming in behind me. It was from Luke. His blonde locks were in more of a disarray than his usual style and he looked stressed.

  "Esther, I need you to come with me," He growled.

  "What are you talking about?" I huffed. I wasn't prepared to be told what to do by him.

  "I'm taking you to see her," He said, his face sharp with anger.

  "Who? Aria?" I asked.

  "Of course, who else would it be?" He sighed dramatically.

  "I don't know what people were trying to insinuate last night," I started.

  "I know, I know...." he said. "I don't think you had anything to do with it."

  "You don't?" I was confused. He seemed so angry.

  "Just come with me, I'll explain," he said. I followed him out of the tower. I still had an hour before class started, so I decided to trust him. We walked across the quad and past all the buildings until we got to the Infirmary. I hadn't been there since the end of last year when I woke up after coming back from the Liminal World. It gave me a chill to remember it. There were rows of beds on either side of a long room. All were empty, except the one that Aria inhabited. Her side table was filled to bursting with cards and flowers, to the point that they had brought in a second auxiliary table to hold all the things from well-wishers.

  He sat down beside her, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he did care about her in his way. I didn't understand their relationship, but maybe I didn't have to. He held on to her hand and whispered to her. She rolled over, thrashing in the bed, but her eyes didn't open. I hadn't done anything wrong, but somehow I felt guilty standing here.

  "What did you want to tell me?" I asked.

  His voice broke a little when he spoke, "She's really sick, Esther. Like, I don't know if she's going to make it, sick."

  "I can see that," I replied as gently as I could. "I'm not sure what you want me to do," I added.