by Melody Rose
Even though Nascha praised the sleepy student who looked annoyed to be around so many people, she wasn’t as physically affectionate with this one, maybe because the girl looked allergic to any form of touching. Instead, the elegant speaker politely placed her hand on the back of the mage’s chair, careful not to disturb her.
Finally, she had made her way to where Nathan and I sat. As soon as she drew close to us, I could already feel the energy shift. My head suddenly felt hot, and my heart palpitated. I felt delighted beyond words that she had come over and was only a few steps away from us.
She turned her focus to my newfound friend first and placed her hand on his brawny shoulder. His spine straightened, and he stiffened at her touch. I could tell that he was incredibly pleased with this situation. He must have been the only mage in the room that she had laid a hand upon.
“We are especially indebted to our rare athletes,” she purred melodically. “Seldom do mages focus on the cultivation of their bodies, choosing to remain within the realm of their mind instead. Those that are physically gifted with immense athletic potential are a boon for Bouclier. How else can we safeguard our reputation without the aid of our blessed champions?”
She looked down at Nathan, her eyes hooded so that her full eyelashes could be admired. Nasha radiated maternal energy, but she also seemed so enamored by what the athlete had to offer that she looked a bit hungry. Maybe she was really excited for Bouclier to have an upper edge on the rival academies. I wondered what kind of competitions took place here, and when I’d be able to see them.
Nascha wrapped up with Nathan with a soft smile and kneaded his shoulders once before removing her grip on him. Then, she shifted her position to face me and placed a finger under my chin, tilting my head up. Our eyes locked onto each other in a moment of silence. I felt as though I was getting a better grasp on the energy of beings I encountered, but she was an enigma to me. While she appeared kind and open-hearted, she also seemed as though she cloaked a lot of who she was in performance and niceties. Maybe it had to do with what she was, a succubus? I made a mental note to study those later.
“I see what Abelard is so taken by. You are soft-hearted and receptive to the needs of others. Quite a remarkable creature.” She grinned and distracted me with her pearly fangs. “He is also correct in his assessments that you can tame beasts with great skill if you focus on your craft. I am glad we found you, dear heart, and I do hope that you remember to ask for help should you need it.”
I blushed at her words and the soothing voice that delivered them. My heart swelled with the prospect of being the valuable mage that she painted me out to be. As I gathered my thoughts, she pinched my cheek and then walked back to her ornate chair to sit and review a scroll that she pulled out of her robe’s pocket.
“Now then, the last order of business is to break the seal from your invitations,” she addressed all of us from her seat. “This is our gift to you to make your stay at Bouclier more feasible and enjoyable.”
Around me, the hall resounded with the excitable murmurs of students as they took letter openers that materialized where their dining ware had once been.
I was curious about the fuss and followed suit by breaking the seal on my own invitation. Before I could read it closely, Nathan pumped his fist and let out a hearty cheer.
“Nine-one livre!” he announced with unadulterated enthusiasm. “That’s twice what my family makes in an entire year!”
His glee was contagious, so I returned his remark with a wide smile. “That’s great, Nathan! That sounds like it’ll be a lot of help and make your stay here easier. You deserve it!”
I didn’t actually know him very well, but the sentiment just spilled out. The sincere energy he radiated was nearly impossible to ignore, and I was stunned that any of the more privileged students looked down upon him. I wondered if they were so numb with their sense of superiority that they couldn’t recognize the value of anyone outside of their exclusive cliques.
“Thanks, but I don’t plan to use it all for myself. I think I’ll set a good deal of it aside to send to my parents,” he remarked plainly, as though he were completely unaware of how generous he was. “As long as I’m fed and can become a better mage and academy champion, I’m not looking for a lot more.”
My heart melted at his devotion and dedication to his relatives, but it was also offset with a sharp twinge of guilt. Even though I spent the better part of my life surrendering my income to my step-family, I couldn’t imagine ever being willing to take that step. I was glad that he didn’t appear to be able to read thoughts and peer into my soul because I felt a whole lot more callous than he was.
“They’re very lucky to have you,” I murmured softly as I tried to take my mind off my shame. “So, now that we’re done here, what’s the next step in our day? How do we begin our first day of classes?”
My diversion worked. Not that Nathan seemed the type to pry, anyway. Instead, he just went with the flow of my conversation and addressed my question.
“Now, we line up to greet the registrar wizard and receive the classes that were designed for us after our sojourn to the scrying temple,” he explained. “I’ve heard older students talk about the process, but it sounds unpredictable. You can never really know what’s in store for you.”
I nodded and considered his words. It seemed par for the course at Bouclier, and I wasn’t surprised to hear that our class schedules would be unexpected and challenging. I realized that I should probably break the seal of my invitation and take stock of what I was offered. I honestly didn’t anticipate very much, as I thought that mages born in this realm would have the most entitlement to whatever resources Bouclier had to offer.
I picked up my letter opener, which had a lovely, scarlet glass handle that looked hand-blown and designed to match the shade of my wax seal. I slid the finely polished and honed blade under the hardened insignia and then pulled upward to break my invitation open. As I unfolded the trifold stationery, I scanned the message. After I performed some calculations, I was stunned, but I didn’t want to make Nathan’s financial award seem small in comparison.
If Nathan had estimated that ninety-one livres were worth two salaries for a large, struggling family, then what I had been given was truly astronomical. I wondered if there was a mistake, but the notice was penned in elegant, mindful cursive. It read that I would be provided one-thousand ninety-two livres, over ten times Nathan’s allotment! It struck me as luxurious, and while I was tempted to cash in on it, it didn’t feel right to not confirm if it was correct.
“Hey, uh, I’ll catch up with you, okay? I don’t want you to hang around on my account and have to wait in some long line.” I lifted my eyes to reassure. “I just have a couple of housekeeping questions to ask, then I’ll meet you at the registrar’s office. Uh, where do I go, though?”
“If that’s what you’d like, then I’ll meet up with you there,” Nathan said without resistance. He really was pretty agreeable. “You’ll make your way to the grand entrance hall of Bouclier Castle where you first arrived, and as you look toward your left, you’ll see an arched doorway that’ll lead you to a long chamber. That’s where most of the branches for new student affairs are.”
He continued, “You’ll walk to the very end, and there you’ll find Azohr Leclerc, the registrar wizard who will hand you your list of classes. Now, to get back to the entrance hall, you’ll just head straight out here until you turn a corner, walk southward until you find a passageway that’s on the right side of the wall. You’ll know you found the correct exit when you see a statue of a lion just up ahead. Don’t go further than that!”
I wished I had a pen to write all that down, but since I didn’t, I tried my best just to repeat that bit about the lion statue in my head.
“That’s really helpful, thanks!” I said as confidently as I could manage.
I must’ve not been really convincing, though, because Nathan looked at me searchingly and then chuckled. Once I had confes
sed to being a human, he must have realized I didn’t know my way around castles. After all, he seemed to have a basic understanding of how modern my world was.
“You know, you can always ask for help when you need it. That’s nothing to be ashamed about,” he consoled me with good humor and a smile. Within moments, he had summoned a map on parchment that had outlined the directions that he had just verbalized to me. I took it from him and bowed my head in appreciation.
“Ah, you called it! I guess it’s just my nerves getting to me as the new girl. Well, I’ll see ya soon!” I chirped with good cheer, his gesture taking a weight off my shoulders.
“No problem, Joan!” he assured me. “I know what it’s like to feel out of place, but you’ll find your way. Whenever you need some guidance or someone to lend an ear, I’ll be around. I hope that you end up liking it here because I’ve certainly enjoyed getting to know you.” He grinned sincerely as he rose from his chair. “See you soon!”
With that, Nathan waved and strode off to learn what classes were awaiting him. He didn’t seem to have the same jitters fluttering through his system, and instead just appeared devoted to his upcoming studies at Bouclier. I got the sense that he wanted to make the most of the opportunity handed to him.
Once I was sure that Nathan and the rest of the students were out of earshot, I slid my simple map under my invitation and approached Nascha as she perched in her stately chair. Her brilliant pink eyes flicked up at me immediately, as though she were an animal of prey zooming in on its kill. I’d have been a little frightened if not for the gentle twinkle in her eyes that made me feel that she was beyond scolding me.
“Ah! Joan MacKenna, our very own rarity, a human from the uninitiated world with the secrets of enchantment simmering within her,” she exclaimed with a sharp-toothed smile. “It’s been such a pleasure to make your acquaintance today. I’ve already had a flash of sight related to your greatness. How can I help you, my dove bound for flight?”
“Well, I… noticed my award, and it seems out of bounds for what is normal. I wondered if someone made a miscalculation?” I asked softly, a struggle since my throat felt constricted. My heart seemed to race whenever I was in her presence, and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to articulate myself fully, but I pushed myself to continue. “Nathan received ninety-one livres, and he was very pleased with that. So, why the number listed on my invitation is so much higher.”
“Oh, Joan! You are so unaware of the treasure you are, aren’t you?” Her voice soared musically with amusement. “Think of it as an investment, little gem. We at Bouclier are signifying how important we find you and how much we wish for you to study here. In order to increase that chance, we thought we would set you up with a tidy sum, particularly because you don’t have any of our native currency on hand.”
Her fondness for me only seemed to grow as she went on. “Ninety-one livres is the typical allowance that we bestow upon mages enrolled in our exceptional circumstances program. However, we first tripled that amount to account for how rare your potential craft of beast taming is in Lemuria, and then we had adjusted the award beyond that to address your lack of familial contributions.”
Nascha then concluded with a final consideration. “That was another modification tied into a type of ‘goodwill’ courtesy to earn your trust. We know that this is all very overwhelming for you. Does this help to resolve your inquiries?”
I screwed my lips to the side and tried to interpret how it was at all fair, but I was still a bit uneasy with all the fuss made about me. Rather than feeling honored, I felt that I had a whole lot to live up to in a world I didn’t even know how to navigate properly. I mean, hell, Nathan had to magic up a map just so I could find my way out.
“Thank you for elaborating. I’m honestly still very surprised by all this, so I plan to just sit on it when I receive the award… coins?” I shifted and looked past her shoulder at the tapestry on the wall to gather my thoughts. Once I felt I had touched upon the right words, I trained my eyes onto Nascha again. “I really appreciate the high regard Bouclier, and I guess Abelard, has for me, even though I don’t know how to live up to that.”
“Oh, sweet treasure, those who have the most to offer seldom know how to appraise themselves. It’s one of the cornerstones to their success, to overlook their skills and strive to improve them.” The succubus rose, and her folded wings spread out behind her. “I am glad to hear that you will not be a rash libertine with your coin, but do mind to enjoy yourself while you are here.”
With that, she ran her knuckles down my cheek in a subdued sign of affection. I couldn’t help but study her horns as she touched me. There was such a disconnect between her pretty demonic appearance and her gentle behavior. Nascha seemed to have mastered the art of touching students in a way that made them perk up without veering into inappropriate territory, at least in my eyes.
Her violet eyes glimmered dazzlingly as she chuckled deeply. “Joan, why don’t you obtain your list of classes before our registrar wizard retires for the day? You’ll find that our world is on a much quicker timetable than your own… except when it decides to be hypnotically languid. It will all become clear as you continue your stay here.”
I shook my head and nodded. My words tumbled out of my mouth as I muttered, “That’s a good idea. Well, thanks for your insight!”
To be honest, a lot of people seemed to speak in riddles here, and there always seemed to be more than lurked beneath the surface of their words. Still, I left feeling somewhat more informed.
20
Joan
As I left the ceremony hall, I switched the papers in my hand so that Nathan’s makeshift map was face up. Thankfully, the map and directions were simple, and more so, it actually changed to follow my movements, marking my steps with green footsteps that would blaze red if I went in the wrong direction.
When I made a left at the only available corner, I continued my walk until I spied a stern marble lion three times my height. Despite its intimidating appearance, I had to laugh because the icon Nathan had illustrated on his map was hilariously inaccurate. His marker looked like a bright yellow cartoon lion with an outrageous orange mane, pudgy paws, huge shiny eyes, and a wide, cutesy grin. I really appreciated that cheeky touch. For all his straitlaced politeness, I guessed he had a sense of humor that he kept under wraps.
From there, I took a right through the door closest to the statue and returned to Bouclier’s grand entrance hall, notable for a large staircase with crimson runners across from the hefty double doors that opened to the grounds outside. Cathedral style windows situated all around the perimeter spilled golden sunlight into the expansive room. The tall flight of stairs soared upward but then forked in two different directions, and beneath the two separate pathways were two arched doorways.
The older students seemed much less nervous than the first years and far more focused as they exited to the right side of the entrance hall. That had to be where more advanced lessons were held. It sounded like they were either rehearsing certain incantations or exchanging wisdom about classes that they shared. No doubt, they already knew about their classes.
I didn’t want to get chewed out for gawking, so I quickly shuffled away through an opening on the left side of the hall as Nathan directed me. I could already see a long line snake out from the far end of the corridor and hoped that he beat the rush.
As for myself, I would have to put up with the wait. I sighed and hastened to reserve a place in line.
“Hey, Joan!” I heard a boyishly amused voice call out to me.
I jumped up in surprise and then spun to face where I thought I’d hear it come from. There, I spotted Nathan casually leaning in an alcove set into the wall. Two unlit candles were on either side of him and above him hung a painting of a steel blue gargoyle with a mischievous expression. I squinted and noticed that its lips were moving with a laugh and its eyebrows waggled all silly. As he relished in my confused reaction, Nathan burst out in laughter, and the i
llustration had reverted to a frozen still creature with a horrifically angry mug.
“I mean, I did mean to startle you. It’s just a small illusion charm!” He wiped a tear from his eye and tried to regain a steady tone before losing to the chuckles again. “So, you want to join me in line and see what we get?”
“You hung out here all this time just, so I’d have someone to wait in line with?” I balked at his decision. Theo would have had my head if I wasn’t punctual, even though the same rules didn’t apply to him. “But look how long it’s gotten! Why would you put yourself through that?”
“Ah, well.” He brushed his hand forward to dismiss my complaint. “It wouldn’t have been any fun without you. Besides, after we finally make it to Azohr’s desk, we can be there for each other, whether we get really lucky or get bitten by Lady Disaster. Or Até, as she formally goes by. I’m sure it won’t be so bad, though.”
We leisurely paced over to the lengthy line, both of us content with the fact that we’d have each other for company. To pass the time, we exchanged stories about customs in our worlds and regional quirks. I kept sidestepping any questions about my family members and just claimed that they really weren’t that interesting.
“... and so that’s what we call shepherd’s pie,” I explained. “It’s not actually made by or for shepherds these days, and it doesn’t use a crust. Just a toasted layer of mashed potatoes. It’s also got a ton of ground red meat, usually lamb or beef, so I think you’d really like it. Maybe I’ll get Chef Douglas to serve it with me sometime!”
