by Ben Hale
"Nice to meet you," Tess said.
Derek swallowed and asked, "Where's Iris?"
"She stayed up all night and went to sleep as I left."
"Hm, it's been a while since I've seen her do that."
"She's done it before?" Rox asked.
Derek smirked. "Only when she had a problem she couldn't solve."
At that moment a flurry of small objects filled the hall. Multi-colored and tiny, they swept around the room like dust in a storm, ultimately settling on the students. A four sided blue knot swirled around Rox and then landed on her shoulder.
"Awesome, my first knot," she crowed. "And it looks like I jumped two levels. What about you, Tess?"
A matching knot hovered next to her shoulder. It must have decided she was the intended recipient because it landed on her. "Looks like the same," she said, smiling at the accomplishment. A moment later two more knots soared to her. Red and dark purple, they were both seven sided.
"Woah," Derek said. "Those are almost master's knots."
Shorn whistled in appreciation and held up his own seven-sided purple knot. "Nice. What did you do at your exams?"
She flashed a chagrined smile. "I figured the truth was out about me, so I didn't hold back."
Derek caught the brown knot before it could land on him. "Huh, I got a six. At least that means I am no longer an apprentice."
Warren caught a gray knot but didn't comment on it. Shorn then made a sour face. "I guess I didn't go further in air," he said.
"What do you mean?" Tess asked.
"You only get a knot if you advance," Shorn said, and folded his sleeve back to reveal a four-sided sky-blue knot attached on the interior. "I still have the one I earned last quad though."
"I wonder what Iris got," Tess said as she noticed an eleven-sided purple knot floating around by itself. A moment later it soared out the doors.
"Wait," Shorn said. "Does that mean you are in advanced flight with me?"
Tess shook her head. "I am supposed to practice fire, grav, and water on my own. I have six magic classes and a history of magic this term."
"Good luck with that, but at least I will see you in air magic." He flashed a wide grin. "And you should try out for Tempest. With Drake graduated I'm the captain now. I can also tutor you in advanced flight if you need it."
Tess caught a tightening expression in Derek's face, but when she glanced at him he was focusing on finishing his meal. Even though he wasn't looking at her it felt like his attention remained on her. For some reason she recalled the kiss they had shared.
With the Dark stealing Derek's mind, and Hawk already controlled, Tess had kissed Derek to snap him out of it. With his help, they had temporarily defeated Ducalik, and forced him back through the portal. Privately Tess had thought about the kiss before. She couldn't decide if the sparks she'd felt had been due to the desperation of the moment, or something more. Still, she needed Shorn's help, and the sincerity in his face was undeniable.
When a battle looms, you gather your forces.
Hawk's words came to her mind, so she impulsively decided to accept his offer. At the very least he could become an ally. Besides, Derek hadn't made any other overtures toward her, so perhaps it had just been a kiss between friends?
"That sounds good," she said to Shorn, hiding her confusion with a smile. "Thank you."
"Great," he said, and flashed a dazzling grin. "Meet me Wednesday night at the stadium. We can practice a little before the tryouts on Saturday."
She smiled at him as he departed, but when she turned back to Derek he was already rising. "Got to go," he said. "Can't be late for class you know."
He smiled at her, but it lacked the characteristic warmth. As she watched him go, she wondered if she had erred.
Chapter 10: Forbidden
Tess left her first plant class on Wednesday discouraged and tired. Professor Rodriguez had been insistent that no one left until each member of the class had made a rose blossom. Tess had been second to last to accomplish the task, a fact for which she received a variety of looks. Most she could interpret readily enough.
Wow, I would think the Oracle could do it.
Is she even trying?
Don't worry, it's harder than he makes it look.
Tess growled deep in her throat, wishing she didn't have so much scrutiny. In every class students watched her progress like a hawk. If she succeeded early, it was because of who she was, as if she'd only succeeded in meeting their expectations. If she struggled, she received mixed reactions. Some obviously looked down on her. Others were more curious or understanding.
Few had gathered the courage to ask about the attack her home, but many wanted to know what she could do. She'd taken to referring them to books on oracles, such as The Oracle's Sight: Ancient Oracles Examined, or The Complete Guide to Oracle's and their Magic: Twenty-Second Edition. Occasionally when she was annoyed she would refer them to, Unique Oracle Magics and How to Avoid Them, by Scair D. Kat.
She saw a trio of students headed toward her. Their expression gave their intent away, so she pretended not to notice them and leapt into the sky. Letting out an explosive breath, she activated her glasses and turned her attention to the next item on her list. Dinner, and then her first earth class. She smiled to herself as she noticed a small note attached to her schedule. Derek had suggested meeting him early at the earth school so he could show her around. She sent a quick reply and then hurried to the meal hall.
It was mid-afternoon, so only a handful of students were eating. Her thoughts on Derek, Tess listened to Iris talk to the wall while she ate. Iris was abnormally intense in her conversation, even for her. Tess didn't interrupt her, and left before the rush of students arrived. Saying goodbye to Iris, she stepped outside and took to the air. In moments she was hundreds of feet above the dorms.
She drifted far above the dorms, her gaze on the students. Then she sighed and flew to the earth building. Like a miniature mountain, its bulk dwarfed the water and plant schools to either side. Spotting Derek, she alighted next to him.
"Missed you at breakfast," he said.
"Sorry," she said. "I had a lot on my schedule."
"With six power classes I don't doubt it," Derek said sympathetically. "But are you ready for earth magic?"
Tess shrugged and followed him through the titanic doors. The interior of the earth school was much like she had imagined. Corridors and passages curved through the mini-mountain, twisting into a labyrinth of layers. Classrooms and practicum rooms abutted the wide tunnels, and resembled intricate underground caves.
"What's in there?" Tess asked, and gestured to small black door at the end of a corridor.
"The forbidden magics," Derek said. He came to a stop and gestured to her. "Someone like you might get permission to study in there, but you may not want to. Even graduating students are rarely permitted inside. Every once in a while I see upper level masters go through the door."
"I didn't know there were forbidden magics," Tess said.
"Every school has a few banned spells," Derek replied, and resumed his pace. "But I would say that the earth school has some of the worst."
"Like what?" Tess asked. In spite of his tone, she was curious.
He glanced around, but no one was within earshot. Derek lowered his tone anyway. "I have only heard of a couple, but the worst creates a guardian."
"That doesn't sound so bad."
He flashed a faint smile. "The spell involves pouring liquid stone magic into a living creature. Over time the magic takes the place of living tissue. From what I understand, the transformation was so painful that only a fraction survived."
She was appalled. "Why would anyone do such a thing?"
"Because the process enhances most natural faculties. The ones who lived became immensely powerful, and could turn into stone at will. That's why they were called guardians. They became living sentinels that protected the royal and wealthy."
She shuddered. "They did that to people?
"
"Mostly animals," he said. "But people too. When the world discovered how they were being created, it sparked a war that destroyed a lot of mages—and four oracles."
Surprised by the shift in conversation, she asked, "When was that?"
"The Age of Oracles," he said, his brow furrowed in thought. He raised a hand to forestall her next question. "I don't know much about it, but you might want to read up on it in your free time. The few books on that period describe an interesting time in our history."
"What's free time?" she asked with a sour grunt. "I have six magic classes, history of magic, and tutors for fire, gravity, and water. I am studying so much that my dreams are filled with me sitting at a desk or trying new spells—and we're only three days into the term."
"Don't pull that on me," he said with a laugh. "I know you love it."
She grinned. "Of course I do. It's magic."
"Then let's get you started on earth," he said. His smile became smug. "I think you will find that it's the best."
She doubted that it could compete with the sheer freedom of flying, but didn't voice her opinion. Smiling, she followed him to her first earth class. Before a curve took the door out of sight, she threw a glance at the black door.
She felt oddly like she had awakened to find herself not where she'd fallen asleep. Until that conversation she'd thought that magic was good, and meant to help people. Now she wondered if perhaps it had a darker side.
And what that darker side was capable of.
Derek led her to the Intro to Earth Magic class, and then left for his own class, Theoretical and Advanced Application of Entity Creation. When she exited an hour later he was already there.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Disappointing," she replied. She shook her head when he raised an eyebrow. Annoyed, she waited until they were outside before explaining.
"They told us to shape a pile of sand into a house." She blew out her breath. "Who knew that moving dirt could be so hard? And why did the professor have to sniff like that, like he expected so little?"
He laughed. "That's just Professor Marko. I wouldn't worry about him. And keep in mind that earth magic is difficult because its energy comes from its form. It makes it powerful, but much harder to manipulate. How'd you do?"
"What's below awful?"
"Atrocious?"
"That would be it."
"It couldn't be that bad," he said.
"My house—which looked like a doghouse—exploded."
"Then it was that bad."
She hit him in the shoulder, causing him to chuckle. "How many times have you worked with earth magic?"
"Including today?"
He nodded.
"Once."
He laughed. "Give it a few weeks and I am sure you will be crafting stone golems in no time."
Tess recalled the golem he'd created when the Harbingers had first opened the portal. "Is that hard to do?"
He shrugged. "Not really. The spell is fairly simple in fact. The problem is the creatures mass. The larger it is, the harder to create. Level five stone mages can typically make one the size of garden gnome. I think it's even part of the exam."
"You made one as big as yourself when we fought the Harbingers and fiends," she said. The appreciation in her tone elicited a wry grin.
"It's one of the spells I practiced," he said. "I never really cared for the shaping of doors and walls and such."
"Will you teach me?" she asked.
"Do you need to ask?"
She laughed. "Fine, but I need to get to the stadium. I will see you tomorrow?"
His characteristic grin lost some of its luster, but he nodded. "See you then—but watch your back, Tess. I still don't know if Shorn can be trusted."
She agreed, and left him standing outside the stone school. A moment later she took to the air. She landed on a terrace extending out from the mountain and used it to launch herself south. Flying fast, she did her best to put Derek's expression from her mind.
Did he care for her as a friend? As the oracle? Or something more? She wished she knew the answer. It would at least make it easier for her to figure out her own feelings. Had that kiss meant something to him?
She issued a frustrated grunt, and decided that figuring out guys was harder than figuring out magic. Annoyed, she tried to put Derek from her mind. In spite of her effort, she found a small smile touching her features when she thought of him.
Chapter 11: Cassiopeia
She landed next to the gigantic shield that protected spectators from the game. Faint and shimmering, it allowed her to pass through if she moved slowly enough. Once on the opposite side she dropped to the shelf that held the team headquarters. Shorn heard her arrival and turned to face her.
"Right on time," he said. A wide grin spread on his features. "Are you ready to practice?"
He reached for the liquid silver board hovering beside him and shoved it toward her. She jumped onto its surface and glided away. Leaning into a tight circle, she came to a halt facing him.
"Are you ready?"
He grinned, and hopped on his own board. Sliding to a stop next to her, he said, "I see you have already been on a board. Who taught you?"
"What do we do first?" she asked.
His eyebrows pulled together when she sidestepped the question, but he didn't comment on it. "First let's go over the makeup of teams, and then common tactics."
He crouched onto his board and rocketed toward the far end of the arena. His sheer speed took her breath away, and she hurried to catch up. She glided to a stop beside him.
"This is one of the stars," he said, and swept a hand at the tight ball of fire hovering next to his shoulder. "Most teams consider it the focal point of their defenses. You will often see the captain retreat here to speak in person to lieutenants, change tactics, or regroup after an attack. Of course, our helmets have techno charms so we can talk to each other throughout the game."
"Can't the star be taken?"
"It can, but it doesn't happen often because teams focus so much on it. If you ever do grab one, you have to fly it to the opposite end of the arena and pass it through the goal." He gestured to a circular alcove behind them that would be the goal for the opposing team.
"Just be ready to fly fast when you do," he said. "Players light up like a beacon when they steal the star. Your opponents will converge on you faster than you can blink."
She recalled what Drake had said about detonators. "Don't teams lay traps around their star?"
He nodded. "It's a common tactic. Detonators, or bombers as they are sometimes called, condense fire into tiny balls and enchant them to float. It doesn't matter how close you put one to the star, it will push the bomb out ten meters. You can't protect it that close."
"Why don't players surround the star with traps then?"
"Time," he said. "Detonators can fashion a stable trap in about sixty seconds—if they're good. By the time they surrounded the star the game would likely be over. It was one of the earliest tactics, but was abandoned within a couple of years."
"Got it," she said.
She swirled her board, anxious to get going. The last few days had created an oppressive weight on her shoulders, and flying on her board felt like the first time it had faded.
"Next we have the Watcher," Shorn said. "He's a strong fire mage that guards our star. Most teams use one, but we use two that position themselves on opposite sides of our star."
"What makes them different from Strikers?" Tess asked.
Shorn nodded. "Strikers can do the fire gauntlet spell, making them able to attack without having to draw flame from a source. They are also more nimble and quick thinking. Watcher's have a source," he pointed to the star next to them, "and can usually see their opponents coming. Watchers are valued for their ability to dodge. If the Watcher is eliminated, the star can be stolen."
Tess ignited the fire onto her arms and sealed the spell into gauntlets. "Is that what I should try out for?"
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Shorn grinned. “If you can do that on your skin, then yes. How's your aim?"
"Care to find out?"
His grin widened. "Sure, but pay attention to what I do. Speed flyers have two primary responsibilities. We try to steal the star on offense, but most often we are the defense."
"How do you defend if you can't eliminate a player?"
His answer was to turn away and twist his hands into a tight circle. A miniature tornado blossomed into view and sped like an arrow away from them. It lasted several seconds before dissipating. Then he turned back to face her.
"We use tornado spells, blasts of wind, and speed to distract and throw the other team off balance. Our team employs one of the most common tactics, and pairs a speed flyer with a detonator. The speed flyer draws in an opponent and the detonator hits them. It works well—especially when I use wind to force a player into a trap my partner has laid."
"So I try to knock out the speed flyers and detonators to get a star, and you try to stop me?"
"That about sums it up."
She gathered more fire into her gauntlets. "Then let's go."
His smile widened. "Catch me if you can," he said, and rocketed away.
She laughed and sped after him. Balls of fire streaked from her arms as she sought to hit him, but he was fast. Some of her missiles got close, but not close enough. He banked and spun into elegant barrel rolls, avoiding her attempts with ease. Then he swerved behind a planet to avoid her.
She followed him . . . but he was gone. She slowed and scanned the area, trying to find a clue as to where he'd gone. Nothing presented itself, so she began to accelerate. Then she heard a rising whistle from behind her, and realized that he'd circled the planet to come from behind. She whirled, but he was too close. He blew past her and sped away, the grin evident on his features. She issued an irritated grunt and leapt in pursuit.
Her hair billowed behind her as she chased him. A horizontal tornado propelled him faster than she was able to go, so she took the cue from him. She'd only had one lesson on air magic, but she'd taken to it almost as well as gravity. Turning her hands behind her, she dropped the fire from her palms and gathered the air.
