by Ben Hale
She hesitated, and then said. "It feels controlled, like someone is guiding it."
"Excellent," he said. "There are four wind mages who control the wind. A tornado this size is too strong for any one mage to control."
The man from the lobby then interrupted them. Approaching the ball, he said, "It looks like you have the launch to yourselves. Have a safe ride." He caught one side of the clear door and swung it closed. The glass melted together, leaving no trace of an opening. Departing, the man also closed the door to the front office. As it locked into place the wind in the bowl began to speed up.
The air darkened as it accelerated, and continued to pick up speed until the building disappeared. The black cloud whipped around the ball, tightening toward it. The light dimmed as the cloud approached, until the only light came from the hole at the top of the cyclone. Tess began to look for a seatbelt.
"You won't need it," Hawk said mildly.
His tone helped reassure her, contrary to the billowing darkness at his back. Faster and faster it increased its speed, until suddenly she felt the ball quiver. The tornado reached them at the same time something beneath them released.
She held her breath as it sucked them into the sky.
Chapter 5: Auroraq
Tess watched the ground recede through the clear floor, feeling like her stomach was going with it. She mentally cursed the idiot that had made it transparent. For the first time since she had met him, Hawk remained silent.
"I know it's hard the first time," Hawk said after a while, his tone sympathetic as they reached the clouds and leveled out.
"Does the floor have to be clear?" she said through clenched teeth.
"If it wasn't, then aurens might see it," he replied.
Finding that the conversation was distracting, she turned to him. "Why are nonmages called aurens?"
"It means forgotten light," Hawk said. "In truth, most everyone has magic these days, but it requires all three points to be a mage."
"I have no idea what that means."
He frowned. "To answer your question I'll have to cover some basics. As you will learn soon, there are three aspects to using your magic. Together, sight, force, and control form the triangle of magic.
"Sight gives the ability to recognize a certain form of energy. Force is the rarest of the three, and confers the basic ability to manipulate that energy. Control heightens the effectiveness and precision of spells. A person with more control also has a greater innate understanding of that energy.
"Most members of mankind have at least one part of magic, and generally it follows their chosen vocation. A miner probably has sight for earth magic. A gardener may think that understanding plants comes naturally to him. Someone who has the intuition to become a doctor typically has sight and control of healing magic. A gifted athlete may have control of body magic."
"So everyone has magic in them?" Tess said. She was trying not to think about the clouds floating past them.
Hawk shook his head. "Not everyone, but most. They are called the forgotten light because at one time everyone on earth knew about magic."
His words reminded her of the fiction she had read. "What about elves and such, do they exist?"
"Yes and no," he replied. "I told you the races began to mix, but I don't think I told you why."
His brow furrowed as he said, "Almost ten thousand years ago there was a war that nearly destroyed every living soul. Siarra, one of your ancestors, led the races to unite—but even then they almost lost. With three quarters of every nation dead, the world could not return to the way it had been.
"After what they had endured, the surviving kingdoms lost much of their animosity toward each other, and people began to travel. As is the way of life, the races began to change as their blood became mixed. Features and traits altered with time, and today you can see traces of them in the modern world.
"The elves, with all of their honor and wisdom, migrated to the east, and their descendents live in Japan, China, and the surrounding region. The dwarves, strong and proud, remained in the north, and their blood is strongest among the Irish and Scottish peoples. Humans, of course, spread the farthest, and over time filled the globe."
Tess took a moment to absorb that information. Then she recalled his comments about the prophecy regarding her. "So how will they react if magic becomes public?"
Hawk's gaze flickered past her. "Perhaps a question for another time. You might want to see Auroraq as we approach."
Tess swiveled on her seat, and stared at the enormous cloud they were nearing. Large and foreboding, it appeared just like any other storm cloud, except it lacked any rain. Before she could ask what lay beyond it, they penetrated the fog. A heartbeat later they burst into the light—above a city. The sight caused her jaw to drop.
Resting inside the hollow, open-topped cloud, four teardrop sections extended out from a circle. At its center, a single, massive tower rose. Constructed of curving stone and sparkling glass, it reflected the light from the afternoon sun onto the city. The surrounding area was layered with hills, gardens, trees, and flowing water.
"Eastpoint and Westpoint are reserved for private residences," Hawk said, directing her attention away from the tower. "And they always point the direction they are named after. Northpoint contains recreation and other civic buildings. The school is on Southpoint."
"How long has it been in the sky?" she breathed.
A moment ago she'd been looking at the ground thousands of feet below. Now she was looking at a city that was only hundreds of feet down. Knowing that beneath the city was miles of air didn't alleviate her fear. Despite her anxiousness at the height, she pasted her face against the glass.
"Over two hundred years," Hawk replied. "At the time, aurens were developing technology at an ever increasing rate. Of course, some of that was with the techno mages’ help, but not all of it. The countries were also expanding across the globe. The council deemed the surface no longer safe. The choices were to go underground . . . or into the sky.
Hawk then laughed. "Despite the mages effort to stop them, the aurens soon developed their flying machines, and the sky began to fill as well. The Bureau of Magical Technology was enlarged to protect Auroraq from discovery. I understand at least fifty technology mages are always on duty to keep the city from being found. It's one of the highest paid career choices for their field."
She gasped when she saw a pair of women flying toward the higher levels of the tower. With their hair and cloaks streaming behind them, they soared upward and alighted on a wide balcony near the top. The entire time they chatted as if it were an afternoon stroll on the beach.
"And them?" she asked Hawk, jerking a thumb at the two women. "Is that common?"
He shrugged and swept a hand at the city. "Up here, you could say that uncommon is the norm. That said, flyers are somewhat rare. I would wager those two are class one. Flyers that are class two and three typically use their boards."
"What do you mean, boards . . .," she trailed off as she recalled the silver boards in Oakridge. Then she spotted a man streaking through the cloud ring that surrounded the city. Balanced on his board, he curved toward Westpoint. Nearing the ground, he flipped into a lazy roll before he disappeared behind some trees.
Her mouth dry at the spectacle, she spun to face Hawk. Skewering him with her gaze, she said, "Just how . . . big . . . is this?"
His expression was sober. "This is what the world was meant to be, Tess, but fear of magic and the unknown prevented it. It's why your life—whatever you choose—will have such an impact. For better or worse, all of this coming to light would alter the fabric of life on Earth."
Tess felt as if a weight had settled onto her shoulders. Responsibility wasn't something she had ever shied away from, but this was more than just mowing the lawn. Subconsciously she twitched her shoulders, as if that would somehow alleviate the burden being placed on them.
"Aren't you supposed to give only a piece of the truth?" Tess asked. "Isn
't that how other books tell it?"
He flashed a wry smile. "I have come to think that truth shared becomes truth believed. Withholding knowledge from you now would just make you doubt me later, or worse, doubt yourself. I would rather you know what you face as early as possible."
His eyebrows pulled together. "Keep in mind, though, that we lack the time for you to learn everything in a few conversations. In time, you will learn everything I know. Some of the questions you ask may have long answers, so you will have to trust me when I tell you to wait for them."
"You're putting a lot of faith into a single girl," she said, frowning at his words. "Aren't you afraid I will crack under the pressure?"
"Should I be?"
She didn't have an answer for him, so she shook her head. Hawk seemed to take that as agreement. Then he smiled and indicated for her to look to the side. She followed his gaze and saw that they were now approaching a stunted, lazy tornado. They had been floating around the city for the last several minutes, but they were now descending toward it.
A moment later they decelerated as the slow-moving cyclone caught them in its gentle embrace. They floated down its center until they touched the bottom. As they clicked into place, the wind evaporated, leaving them in a bowl similar to the one they had launched from. Although Tess was troubled with Hawk's comments, she soon found herself distracted.
"Where are we?" Tess asked as they exited the launcher.
"The southern Terminous," Hawk replied. "Due to the volume of traffic, there are four launchers in the city. Each is located at the connections between Sentre and the Points. This is the closest to the academy."
To Tess's right, an enormous gate spanned a throughway. Students and parents streamed through it on their way into the school, clogging the gap despite its size. Talking excitedly, no one spared a glance at Tess or Hawk. On the opposite side of the gate she caught a glimpse of massive trees on Sentre, but the crowd made it difficult to see more.
Hawk led her left, and together they joined the procession flowing toward the school. Giant statues of men and women bordered the path. Like scholars from forgotten ages, they stood as sentinels, welcoming them to the academy. With the dark cloudwall at their backs, they appeared forbidding and intense as they looked down on her.
Between the statues a low wall kept people from falling off the edge of the city. At one point they walked close enough for Tess to peer over it. She jerked her head back, wishing she hadn't. The only thing beyond the wall was clouds, reminding her that a very long fall lay within reach. She wondered where a stone would land if she dropped one over the edge. She shuddered at that thought and fixed her gaze ahead.
The walls widened as they worked their way further onto Southpoint. It made her feel oddly vulnerable, as if she were walking out onto a shaky limb extending from a tree trunk. Only the unwavering ground and the indifference of the people around her kept her fear in check.
The group spread out as the walls receded. Kids and youth raced through the adults, and the entire atmosphere took on a boisterous air. Several adults took to the air, and they flew in loops and twirls. The smooth path gave way to gardens and large pathways, and it became evident that everyone was headed toward an enormous building directly in front of them.
Shimmering with reflected sunlight, the gigantic crystalline dome was flanked by two smaller oval buildings. Students and parents filed into line to enter the various doors. As they approached, Hawk began to add a running commentary.
"The building on the right contains the World Room, and the offices of the school directors and other staff." He swept a hand at the pair of matching structures. "The one on the left is the General Magic School. Remedial Magic, Magic in the Modern World, and all of the Earth Studies courses are taught there."
Then he pointed to their destination. "This is Star Hall. It's where general assemblies and other formal functions take place. You will start and end each term here, and sometimes meet during. It's open to the students outside of that, and I understand that many like to study here. Practicum is strictly forbidden inside, though."
She assumed practicum referred to practicing magic, but why would anyone want to study in an amphitheatre? She had her answer as they crossed the threshold.
"Welcome to Tryton’s Academy of Magic," Hawk said.
She stood frozen, staring at the ceiling. As if they had left the earth, she looked up on the eternity of space. Planets, moons, and a handful of glowing suns soared through the heavens. Galaxies, star systems, and thousands of stars stretched in every direction.
Three-dimensional and sweeping in its scope, the view could have been a night sky—except for the proximity. It felt as if space had drawn close to their planet, and knelt down to look into this single building.
She peered into the celestial bodies, trying to find the surface of the dome, but could discern no slope or curve. The sight was real enough that she glanced back through the doors to ensure she was still on solid ground.
"I know how you feel," Hawk said, hiding a grin. “We should find a seat, though. Even as large as it is, it isn't large enough."
Tess tore her gaze from the night sky and followed Hawk into the seats. Wrapped in concentric circles, the benches were fashioned of polished black granite. Flecks of white and silver reflected inside them like precious stones. Although there were hundreds of benches in the enormous bowl, many were full to overflowing with chattering youth and parents. Hawk and Tess found a seat as a light magnified in the center.
A pillar stood at the focal point of the Hall. Rising thirty feet into the air, its top was large enough for a small house to rest upon. The entire column brightened as a cloaked figure flew up the side. Reaching the top, he alighted on its surface and raised his hands for silence.
"Welcome, students and parents, to Tryton’s Academy of Magic."
He had no microphone, but the man's voice flooded the chamber. It did not echo as Tess would have expected, nor was it overly loud. Old, but not ancient, the man retained a strong posture that suggested an athlete in his younger days. His black hair was streaked with silver.
"For those who are new to our school, I am Director Grayson, principal administrator of Tryton’s for the last twelve years. It is with pleasure that I announce the opening of our second quad this year. With the highest attendance on record, we will have over four thousand students with us this term."
Applause interrupted him, and he allowed it to continue before silencing it with a wave.
"We only have a few announcements, and then we will allow each of you to get settled in for the night. Classes start first thing tomorrow. As a word of warning, please steer clear of the animal buildings unless you are at least a class two animal mage. As many of you know, we had a few injuries over the last year from the magical creatures.
"Also, I would like to address the rumor about the upcoming council vote. I want to assure all of you that it is only a formality, and has no chance of passing."
As the director continued to speak Tess leaned over to Hawk. "I've heard others mention the vote before. What is it all about?"
Hawk met her gaze. "One of the council called for a vote to bring the magic world public."
She felt like cold water had dumped in her veins, and she wondered why. Wasn't that exactly what she was supposed to do? Her thoughts kept her from paying much attention to the directors next few remarks. When he dismissed the crowd, she felt a twinge of guilt at not listening. If Hawk noticed the lapse he didn't comment on it. Together, they joined the procession leaving Star Hall.
While the bulk of the crowd streamed back toward Sentre, Hawk led her to the side. Alone, they walked toward the right-hand building. Once they were clear of the others, Hawk said, "First we need to get you scheduled for your classes. You won't have time tomorrow."
"What about them?" she said, gesturing to the milling families.
"They would have already done so yesterday. Technically we were supposed to present you last week. We
will join them in a few minutes, though."
Tess frowned at that, wondering why Hawk had chosen to bring her late. From the little she knew about Hawk, he always had a purpose. The obvious answer would be for her to avoid scrutiny. She just hoped that was all it was.
Chapter 6: Tryton’s Academy of Magic
Hawk led her through the grand front doors. He slowed his pace and swept a hand at the chamber. "This is the World Room. It's meant to represent every corner of the earth."
Tess blinked in wonder as she stepped into the interior of the enormous hall. Vaulted blue ceilings reached several floors up and swirled with shifting patterns of light. Granite pillars embraced the roof and held living trees that wrapped around them.
Afternoon light graced the cavernous space, spilling from the exterior through enormous windows. Filling the room almost to blinding, it revealed the paintings that covered the walls. Etched in flawless detail, mountains, rivers, and forests breathed life into the hall—and not all of it was drawn.
Much of the vegetation grew straight from the paintings, their branches extending right out of the wall. The rivers were also real and flowed down the contoured walls before crossing the burnished wood floor. Small arched bridges crisscrossed the trickling waterways.
Overwhelmed by the grandeur and beauty, Tess nonetheless found her gaze drawn to the statue that rested at the center. It stood on a rise of stone, and although the woman was short, she had an intangible quality that made her appear larger, as if her presence filled the room.
The statue was of a cloaked elf holding a long-bladed sword. Reversed in her grip, the weapon angled up and behind her back, as if she were ready to swing it into use at any moment. Despite the statue’s proud bearing and vivid features, it was the shimmering blue tattoo on her right arm that drew Tess's eye. Like jagged lightning, the mark lit the stone in a bluish hue, giving the statue's expression an intensity that commanded attention.
