It was now Tuesday morning, and Imara, Simon, and I were walking down the hallway to our Magic Theory class.
Imara was walking sluggishly with bags under her eyes.
“Ugh, I think I underestimated how much work the Student Council is,” she groaned.
“I feel like I’m back at the palace when I had five tutors and my room was filled with books.”
Simon then placed an arm over her shoulder.
“You tell me, Princess. I knew making artifacts was hard, but I’m starting to feel like I’ve set more things on fire than actually put together.”
I let out a soft laugh.
“You guys will get used to it. Trust me, you probably just need more time.”
Both of them smiled.
Simon then threw an arm over my shoulder and pulled us closer.
“What about you, Little Prince? How are you faring?”
I smirked.
“Well, unlike you two, I’m doing great. The Library Society isn’t too hard—just labeling and sorting books and files. And the Gardening Club feels like home.”
“Oh right,” Imara chimed in.
“Professor Hart is even giving you private lessons.”
“For free?” Simon asked.
“No way. I have to pay one point per lesson.”
“That’s still worth it,” Imara said.
I nodded.
“Since the Library Society gives two points per week and the Gardening Club gives one, I have six points right now.”
Simon grinned.
“Nice. I have eight points. The Artifacts Club gives three points a week, and the Trading Club gives one. Though I’ve heard most people drop Artifacts because it’s so difficult.”
I turned to Imara.
“What about you?”
“The Student Council gives five points every two weeks, and the Combat Club gives two every week. So I have nine points.”
“Wow,” I said.
“Five points is crazy.”
Soon we arrived at class and took our usual seats.
Professor Fall walked in shortly afterward, placed his bag on the desk, and turned toward us.
“Good morning, class. Turn to page forty-five.”
We quickly flipped through our books.
“Today we will be learning about a spell that can use either environmental or biological factors to function: the Locator Spell.”
The classroom immediately quieted.
“Locator Magic is one of the oldest utility spells ever created. Just like the Levitation Spell, this is one of the spells you will eventually learn in Spell Casting.”
He reached into his bag and pulled out a bright golden stone.
“As you can see, I have a piece of tundrite. Let’s say I wanted to determine where this tundrite originally came from.”
Professor Fall closed his eyes.
Two magic circles appeared beneath the stone.
A moment later, the tundrite slowly began moving south.
The class murmured in amazement.
“As you can see,” Professor Fall continued, “the stone is pointing toward its place of origin. Locator Spells work in a similar way when tracking people or objects.”
He placed the stone down.
“To locate a person, you need something that belongs to them and has been with them long enough to establish a connection. This can also include biological material such as blood, hair, saliva, or even a tooth.”
Several students immediately looked uncomfortable.
Professor Fall ignored them.
“Of course, there are limitations. Locator Spells cannot easily bypass powerful magical interference, concealment spells, or dimensional barriers.”
As he wrote notes across the board, he continued explaining various applications and weaknesses of the spell.
Eventually the bell rang.
“Homework,” he announced.
“Review all advantages, disadvantages, and practical uses of the Locator Spell. There will be a pop quiz next class covering everything we’ve learned so far.”
Groans filled the room.
Great.
Our first test.
I was definitely going to have to revise tonight.
After packing our bags, we headed toward the cafeteria.
Imara suddenly smiled.
“Don’t worry about the test, guys. Today’s lunch is worth living for.”
Simon nodded knowingly.
“I heard.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“How?”
“The benefits of being in the Trading Club.”
I laughed.
“So what’s for lunch?”
Imara grinned.
“Barbecue ribs, mashed potatoes, and vegetables.”
“Okay,” I admitted.
“That does sound good.”
Soon we collected our food and headed to our usual table.
Somehow, Aleksandr and Ogun were already there.
How?
I’ll never know.
“Hey guys,” Imara greeted.
Ogun looked up from his food.
“Hey, Sis. Simon. Qiang.”
Simon smirked.
“Wow. Someone’s enjoying lunch.”
Ogun grinned unapologetically.
I turned toward Aleksandr.
“Hey.”
He smiled.
“Hey, Qiang.”
Conversation quickly began flowing.
Imara looked at Ogun.
“So, how are things between you and Jasiri?”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“Much better. He agreed to stop avoiding me. I promised to give him the space he needed.”
Imara smiled.
“That’s great.”
Then the conversation drifted to clubs, classes, and assignments.
Eventually Imara groaned.
“Ugh. I just remembered I have Combat Class after this. Then I have to go help the Student Council sort paperwork.”
Aleksandr smiled sympathetically.
“Good luck with that.”
Simon then started talking about his newest artifact project.
“Even though I’ve set a lot of things on fire, it’s actually coming along really well.”
Imara immediately leaned forward.
“What is it?”
Simon smirked.
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
She rolled her eyes. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Aleksandr then turned toward me.
“How has the Gardening Club been?”
I immediately brightened.
“Tomorrow I start private lessons with Professor Hart.”
His expression softened.
“That’s great. I’ve heard Professor Hart was a formidable adventurer before becoming a professor.”
My eyes widened.
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Most people only know her as the Gardening Professor now, but she was highly respected.”
I smiled.
“Then I’m even more excited. She said she might be able to help me better control my abilities.”
Aleksandr leaned forward slightly.
“Then you’ll have to let me hear one of those druid calming songs someday.”
I laughed.
“Deal.”
Unbeknownst to us, Simon, Imara, and Ogun were all watching.
Simon slowly wiggled his eyebrows.
Imara did the same.
Ogun looked thoroughly entertained.
I stared at them.
“What?”
None of them answered.
Which only made me more confused.
……………..
Deep within the forest, hidden beneath a rocky cliffside, a cave lay concealed behind a massive boulder engraved with ancient symbols.
I spoke an enchantment.
The boulder slowly shifted aside.
The entrance opened.
Torchlight flickered along the walls as I walked deeper into the cave, passing countless symbols carved into the stone.
After following a specific path, I finally arrived at the central chamber.
Dozens of hooded figures knelt around a cracked stone altar.
At its center rested a black crystal.
Slowly.
Almost imperceptibly.
Its dark surface was beginning to turn red.
Just a little longer.
Soon it would be ready.
I approached another hooded figure standing near the altar.
“Sir. A letter has arrived from Beta.”
A hand emerged from the robe and accepted the letter.
Silence filled the chamber as they read.
Then a smile appeared beneath the hood.
“Good.”
The chamber grew still.
“It seems Beta has sent us good news.”
Around the altar, the cultists lowered their heads.
Deep within the cracked crystal, something pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
And then the chamber fell silent once more.