by Kayla Bashe
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
Throughout your first day training with her, Aya mentions nothing about magic or weapons or monsters. Instead, she has you play soccer. Four-on-four. She’s gotten some of her soccer team friends who aren’t mentoring this semester to play against you—that way, she can sit on the sideline and eat sandwiches.
At first, her methods seem imprecise and scatterbrained—(On the way back inside, Char even asks, sotto voce, “Is she teaching us to fight or to play soccer?”)—until you realize that she actually knows what she’s doing.
Until the last day, when she gives you an assignment to evade and defeat a pack of simulated monsters in order to return a “baby” (a battered teddy bear) to its “mother” (a hastily dressed mannequin. )
The instincts you’ve developed from playing soccer kick in almost immediately, and you realize how much you’ve learned from Aya’s style of training.
You’ve learned to watch each other for subtle signals. You’ve learned to jump in when you see a squadmate struggling—and how to do so without messing things up even further. You learn to get out of a squadmate’s way when they’re attacking. And you learn how to charge into a situation with everything you’ve got, because a bold attack is much more likely to hit its target!
From then on, you start appreciating Aya a lot more. You even start going to the school’s soccer games, even if it’s only to cheer on your mentor.
And when you give her an entire pineapple, she runs around squealing, then hugs all of you.
* * *
>>
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
Last week, Kione gave you several study posters and flashcards with the mechanical schematics of various types of weapons. From then on, she’d ambush you and quiz you on the day’s assigned topic. It made no difference whether you were reading a book, eating lunch in the cafeteria, or even brushing your hair in the privacy of your own bedroom—Kione would still pop up, as impassive as ever.
One evening, when you and your squadmates are reading aloud to each other, Kione literally scales the wall of the school just so she can poke her head through your slightly-open window and yell “Name the parts of the firing mechanism of a rifle!”
Although you shot “is this girl serious?” looks at your squadmates, you still recited the answer in unison.
After you expressed your concerns to Imogen, though, Kione stopped invading your privacy. She’d still corner you in the hallway or appear to you during lunchtime, but your free time…that was your own again.
then puts you through a series of training exercises: dodging “bullets” of sticky purple paint that she fires from one of her magical guns, learning ways to fall safely, what to do if someone breaks a bone, how to diagnose a concussion…
Malou bonds with Kione immediately, admiring the older girl’s stoicism and dedication.
And they both enjoy weaponry—Kione swears by magical firepower (the bigger, the better) and one of Malou’s ambitions is to adapt the Deterrent cannons that top the walls of her city to run on pure magic.
Sometimes you’ll even find them sitting together, disassembling and reassembling their magical weapons with identically precise movements.
You’re glad they’re on your side.
Kione’s training may be one of the most difficult things you’ve ever experienced, but it’s preparing you for what you need to be able to accomplish. After all, you know firsthand that life as a magical girl can be dangerous; Kione just wants you to be able to survive.
And when Kione gets excited about a book detailing new advances in military technology, or picks you up in one of the biggest hugs of your life and spins you around when you manifest your first rifle, you realize that she actually does care about things. The way she shows it might be unconventional, but you know that you and your squadmates mean a lot to her.
Some people are just like that.
* * *
>>
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
Waltzing, curtsying, balancing books on your head. Controlling the patterns of your breathing and dancing slowly and gracefully with silk ribbons on rods.
The first day, you can tell everyone’s thinking the same thing: why are we doing this? Malou in particular, with her alertness and brisk gait, seems especially exasperated by the stillness and calm that Sophia requires of you.
“I want you to being smooth with your movements, Malou!” she admonishes chirpily. “Verdie-Vestri, drop the shoulders—I would much like that—thank you, that is better-”
But then, halfway through the second day, you’re moving through a series of fluid movements which are supposed to be matched to a slow rythym of breathing when everything just…narrows, and your world becomes the movement of your hands, the rise and fall of your belly and how it’s all connected to the flow of air through your lungs. You’re not just riding on the wind, you are the wind, and you lose yourself in the beauty of the moment. Step, breathe, turn—you’re a little moving part of breeze and girl and pure contentment.
Seconds/hours later, windchimes ring. Dinner already? Didn’t you have free time starting after lunch?
When you glance at Malou, you can tell that she’s as confused—and yet, as revitalized—as you are. “That felt…amazing,” she admits, dropping her ribbon and bending into a stretch. Shani and Char, waiting by the door, have already changed back into their school uniforms; as you look at them, Shani waves to you. “I was going to tell you class was over, but you seem so peaceful!” Char mouths.
Sophia rests a hand on your shoulder. “Remember this place in yourself, girl from the castle. And you, too, Malou Stoneheart. You will be going back to it, I think. I’m glad I could help you find it.”
For a moment, you were existing in a place separate from “survivor of the Siege of Vestri,” separate from “the castle’s heir” and from “the most responsible.” And that felt good.
“Thank you,” you tell her, and mean it.
* * *
>>
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
This office…wow, it’s really pretty!
Pink curtains, a pale pink carpet. Pink cushions on the delicate white chairs. Shani runs her hands over the cushions’ velvety texture before sitting down; Malou edges past furniture as if she’s afraid she’ll break something just by looking at it.
Everyone seems to be looking at you to speak up, so you do so.
* * *
"I'd love to find out why we were invited here."
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
After the weekend, you’re at breakfast when one of the teachers, Mx. Mavine, comes up to you. “I’ve been following your progress, and I’d like to speak to you and your squad privately. Would you mind following me to my office?” Quickly, xie adds “It’s a good thing, I promise! You’re going to really like it.”
* * *
>>
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn
back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
After the weekend, you’re at breakfast when one of the teachers, Mx. Mavine, comes up to you. “I’ve been following your progress, and I’d like to speak to you and your squad privately. Would you mind following me to my office?” Quickly, xie adds “It’s a good thing, I promise! You’re going to really like it.”
* * *
>>
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
“Recently, we contacted several alumni, asking if any of them would be interested in opening their homes to current students, and a bunch of them said yes! Basically, you’re being offered a chance to study abroad, and you can choose from several different destinations. Cool, isn’t it?”
Xie hands you a digital tablet loaded with information about the locations you can go to. You and your squadmates duck outside into the hallway to confer.
After talking it over with your squad, you come to a decision that pleases everybody.
A girl from your hall catches up to you. “I don’t know why, but the magic seems to be Calling as many as possible. I swear they’re younger than ever this semester. There’s a girl in Gazelle squad, a little witch dressed like sunset—she’s seven.”
“Better young than dead,” Malou murmurs.
“Well, I think I know why they’re sending us out—they want people to be able to fight in all sorts of environments as soon as possible. They don’t want us to have to pretend to focus on schoolwork. Mark my words—something big is coming, I’m sure of it.” With those cryptic words, she hurries away.
Because the planet you’re traveling to isn’t very far away, the flight is only a few hours. You’re shocked when you find out that your squadmates have never seen one of your favorite animated movies, so you stream it for them on the little screen in your flight capsule.
Malou leans toward the screen, her eyes as wide as you’ve ever seen them. Shani has the biggest smile the entire time. She seems to care so deeply about the characters. Even Char puts down her magazine, leans forward a little, covers her mouth with her hands when the characters makes a joke.
These girls are my friends, you realize. I feel at home with them.
At last, you arrive on…
* * *
Shartac, a heavily populated planet with several megacities, renowned for the arts.
* * *
Asherahelle, a planet with sandy islands scattered across large oceans.
* * *
Arvidalon, a heavily wooded planet with a cold climate and many forests.
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
This office…wow, it’s really pretty!
Pink curtains, a pale pink carpet. Pink cushions on the delicate white chairs. Shani runs her hands over the cushions’ velvety texture before sitting down; Malou edges past furniture as if she’s afraid she’ll break something just by looking at it.
Everyone seems to be looking at you to speak up, so you do so.
* * *
"I'd love to find out why we were invited here."
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
This office…wow, it’s really pretty!
Pink curtains, a pale pink carpet. Pink cushions on the delicate white chairs. Shani runs her hands over the cushions’ velvety texture before sitting down; Malou edges past furniture as if she’s afraid she’ll break something just by looking at it.
Everyone seems to be looking at you to speak up, so you do so.
* * *
"I'd love to find out why we were invited here."
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
You’ve grown up by the ocean—a fierce, harsh sort of ocean. In your hometown, it’s practically a given that the beach is too narrow and rocky to really play on, and the water’s undertow and fierceness make swimming dangerous. It’s a wild, stubborn place, as fierce as its people.
But this place, where clear turquoise waves lap gently against golden sand…that sounds amazing, and definitely worth a visit.
* * *
>>
* * *
* * *
* * *
Please turn back a page
* * *
* * *
Please turn forward a page
* * *
Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
“Recently, we contacted several alumni, asking if any of them would be interested in opening their homes to current students, and a bunch of them said yes! Basically, you’re being offered a chance to study abroad, and you can choose from several different destinations. Cool, isn’t it?”
Xie hands you a digital tablet loaded with information about the locations you can go to. You and your squadmates duck outside into the hallway to confer.
After talking it over with your squad, you come to a decision that pleases everybody.
A girl from your hall catches up to you. “I don’t know why, but the magic seems to be Calling as many as possible. I swear they’re younger than ever this semester. There’s a girl in Gazelle squad, a little witch dressed like sunset—she’s seven.”
“Better young than dead,” Malou murmurs.
“Well, I think I know why they’re sending us out—they want people to be able to fight in all sorts of environments as soon as possible. They don’t want us to have to pretend to focus on schoolwork. Mark my words—something big is coming, I’m sure of it.” With those cryptic words, she hurries away.
Because the planet you’re traveling to isn’t very far away, the flight is only a few hours. You’re shocked when you find out that your squadmates have never seen one of your favorite animated movies, so you stream it for them on the little screen in your flight capsule.
Malou leans toward the screen, her eyes as wide as you’ve ever seen them. Shani has the biggest smile the entire time. She seems to care so deeply about the characters. Even Char puts down her magazine, leans forward a little, covers her mouth with her hands when the characters makes a joke.
These girls are my friends, you realize. I feel at home with them.
At last, you arrive on…
* * *
Shartac, a heavily populated planet with several megacities, renowned for the arts.
* * *
Asherahelle, a planet with sandy islands scattered across large oceans.
* * *
Arvidalon, a heavily wooded planet with a cold climate and many forests.
* * *
