Unbroken: Mage's Academy II

by Finley Morrow

  I took mine and saw that it was a highly detailed diagram of the internal biology of a dove.

  "The most important thing," He continued, "Will be to identify all the internal organs of your birds and their relative positions."

  I turned to Sybelle and whispered, "So it's like dissecting a frog?" I asked.

  "I'm not sure what that means," She gave me a funny look.

  "it's just something they do in non-magical high schools," I explained.

  We packed up our bags after class and I was relieved that Ligeia and Maeve would be in my next class. It was called Arcane Arts of the Gods. That sounded promising.

  I passed through the halls of the large building, admiring the strange artwork all along the walls. Some appeared medieval such as suits of armor, and others were from a time and place I didn't know. There were strange wooden masks and elaborate tapestries. I headed to the third floor where the class was to be and found a strange setting for a classroom. The room was filled with comfy looking couches and thick plush rugs. I sat down on a red velvet seat where Maeve and Ligeia were already seated.

  A strong looking Woman with a sharp black bob walked into the room and the class immediately grew silent.

  She began, "Hello Class, my name is Mirabella Strych, but you may call me Mirabella. I'm not overly casual without cause. The reason for this is that over this year I will not coddle you. Rather, I will treat you as my equals, as colleagues. This means that you will be expected to perform at a very high level."

  I watched as Maeve appeared to break into a sweat. "Are you okay?" I whispered.

  "I'm fine," She hissed.

  "Mirabella Strych has a reputation for being very tough," Ligeia interjected with a sly grin.

  "Stop it," Ligeia moaned.

  "What?" I asked, not sure what I was missing.

  Maeve held her hands in front of her face and peered out between her fingers. "I failed this class last year. I'm retaking it."

  "Oh," I said, feeling surprised. Maeve was a very studious individual. "That's okay, it happens." I tried to comfort her, but she brushed me off looking pained.

  I wasn't feeling encouraged by either one of them.

  Our professor, Mirabella, spent the whole class detailing an exhaustive list of how the year would go. It seemed that this class would be focused on establishing contact with the Gods and Goddesses that we were bound to, myself not included. I wasn't bound to anyone. That was going to make things difficult.

  After class ended I stayed behind to talk to Mirabella. "Hi, I'm Esther Crenshaw," I introduced myself and we shook hands. I was trying to establish a professional vibe.

  "Hello Esther, what can I do for you?" She said, not smiling, but not looking exactly irritated either.

  "In class, you mentioned that we would be working on contacting the Gods that we are bound to. My circumstances are a little strange I guess because I'm not actually bound to anything." I explained.

  "In that case, it sounds like you are going to have some hard work this semester." She said. I wasn't sure if she was joking.

  I stared at the syllabus that had been passed out in class. The first section was entitled "Uncovering Expectations with your Deity." Moving my eyes down the list, I didn't see anything that I would be able to do.

  "These assignments..." I struggled for words. "I don't think they're even possible without being bound."

  "Not with an attitude like that," She said. Her words had a sarcastic bite to them that almost made me flinch. "I will expect the same level of work from you as from any of your classmates Esther. How you choose to perform the assignments is up to you, but you will need to achieve some level of proficiency to pass my class."

  The shock was written across my face, but I tried to compose myself. "Of course, thank you," I muttered walking away as calmly as possible. Was she crazy? How was I supposed to communicate with the Gods if I didn't have one like everyone else? I seethed all the way back to Halewick house. It felt so unfair. Was I brooding like a child? Yes, but I also felt a sense of loss. Everyone else had an easier time it seemed. Ligeia, Maeve, and even Sybelle all had easy communication with their Gods. Wouldn't it be nice to feel like I had someone watching out for me?

  Briefly, my mind flashed to her. The Queen of Witches. It wasn't the same at all of course. I had no say in how I communicated with her. I'd only ever seen her once and that was on her terms, not mine. So maybe I would have to try harder.

  5

  I stormed into my room and threw my bag down and laid out on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The wood grain in the posts of my bed made an intricate pattern and I followed it with my eyes for a few minutes, allowing myself to relax. However, a scuffling sound from my desk shocked me out of my reverie. I bolted up and caught a bird in my sight. It was a raven, black as night. This time only one, but it was inside my room. I'd been followed by ravens for as long as I could remember, but this one was different. He perched on my desk and cocked his head, staring at me with intelligent eyes.

  "Hi there," I whispered gently, in what I could only hope was a soothing voice.

  He squawked and I moved closer. He made a small jump, coming closer to my hand. I lowered two fingers and gently brushed the back of his head. He nuzzled my hand and tilted to look up at me. He was friendly. There was something familiar about him. Something that I couldn't place for a moment until I realized. Last year, when I had journeyed to the Crossroads, in that other realm between worlds. There had been a bird, an inky black raven. I was sure he was the same bird.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked and he made a chirp. He knew what I was saying.

  I called down the hallway, and Ligeia came into my room.

  "Look what I found," I said pointing at him.

  She took a sideways glance at him and shook her head. "Are you keeping it as some kind of pet or something?" She asked.

  "I guess I am," I hadn't actually thought about it. "I think he's here for me. I've seen him before, you know when I was in the other place." I explained.

  "That's fine, just keep him away from me." Ligeia shivered.

  Sybelle walked down the hallway, hearing us talk. "Are you afraid of birds, Ligeia?" She didn't mean it mockingly. Sybelle always came across as very earnest.

  But Ligeia simply answered, "I'm not afraid of birds, I just don't like them." She huffed and crossed her arms.

  Sybelle turned to me, "Are you going to give it a name?"

  "Hmm," I stared at the raven and it stared back at me. "What's a good name for you?" My eye was drawn to his deep black feathers, they almost glistened. "Nox, I think I'll call you Nox."

  "That's a nice name," Sybelle smiled.

  I got ready for my date, or whatever it was, alone. I was too nervous to be around the others. Ligeia's continuous joking, which I usually enjoyed was making me anxious. I knew deep down that what I was really anxious about was seeing him. He was such an intense person, and I was worried about what he might say. Would I be able to handle it if he rejected me?

  Though it was still early in the fall, the weather had already started to get cold at the Academy. We were up at a pretty high elevation. I layered on a thick woolen black dress with leather boots and a golden necklace. I didn't want to be overdressed, but I wanted to look nice enough. Besides if things got weird I could always bail to the party at the Fen. I turned around and curtsied in front of Nox.

  "What do you think?" He flapped his wings and croaked. "Not good?" I sighed. There was no pleasing some people.

  The fen was crowded already when I passed through to get to the ruins. I saw Aria and Luke, ever engaged in an on-again-off-again relationship. They appeared to be fighting, but it was hard to tell with those two. I saw Maeve sitting by the fire with her boyfriend. She had always been pretty selective about talking about him. I made a mental note to ask her more the next chance I got.

  In truth, I was relieved when I got to the dark quiet of the forest. The cool mossy greens and dewy air was soothing to my nerve
s. Despite the many misfortunes that had taken place in this forest, I didn't feel unsafe. In fact, I felt as if the forest was watching out for me now. I looked around the wooded scene as the darkness grew around me. Everything here was living and growing. Tall grasses sprouted from fallen logs. New life teeming from old dead things. It was beautiful. I followed the twisting path until I reached the standing stones. Their weathered forms towering out of the ground creating a sacred circle in the forest. There underneath the ancient rocks was Kairn. He was waiting for me.

  Under the dim light that filtered through the trees, he had lit a circle of candles and spread a blanket on the soft earth. I sat across from him. He stared at me, his eyes filled with some emotion that I couldn't place. Anguish maybe? But he cleared his expression.

  "Hi," He said, his voice sounding rough. His angular features and dark eyes never ceased to see through me.

  "Hello," I responded. I felt awkward under his gaze.

  "Thanks for meeting me here tonight." He said. He pulled out a dusty bottle of something. I read the label. Dr. Madge's Elixir of Euphoria. It was a potion. "Would you like some?"

  "Sure," I laughed. It felt so formal. He poured a glass of the dark, wine red brew.

  Neither of us spoke for a few moments. I was ready to break the ice. To get it over with what he had come here to do.

  "I missed you," I said, straining to keep my voice from cracking.

  He looked stunned. Had I spoken in error? I looked away.

  "Esther, I-"

  "Where were you this summer?" I asked, disliking the desperation I could hear in my own voice.

  "I was called away on the hunt, but it was bigger than anything I've ever known. I don't always live here in this world you know." He said. His eyes were haunted when he talked about where he'd been.

  "Where are you from?" I asked.

  "I don't know what it's called, but there's another place. It's not like here. It's wild and uncharted. There's only wilderness there, and time passes differently." He explained. "That's why I didn't contact you. I didn't realize how long I'd been gone. Professor Atwood was able to get a message to me though, asking me to come back to help him."

  "Oh, I see," I said. I felt slightly hurt, but it explained his confusion upon returning. He didn't know how long he'd been gone.

  He reached over and put his hand on mine, no longer hiding the swirling black tattoos that peeked through his sleeve. I felt a jolt of energy from his touch. He caught my eyes and said, "Esther, you can't imagine how hard it's been to stay away from you."

  "Really?" Now it was my turn to be surprised.

  "It was unimaginable." He said, that haunted look returning to his eyes.

  I intertwine my fingers in with his. "I feel that way too," I added feeling a heat rush into my cheeks.

  He leans forward and draws me into a kiss. It was different than the kiss we'd shared last year. This kiss was urgent and wanting. I pressed myself into him and wrapped my arms around him. I could feel him breathless against me. Quickly, before I knew what was happening he had pulled away.

  "Kairn, I thought..." I felt a burning in my eyes. I didn't want to cry in front of him but I felt all the sharpness of his gaze. Why was he doing this?

  "I lost myself momentarily," He said, his expression serious. His eyes were almost black. "I need to talk to you first," He finished. I felt somewhat reassured that he had said first. That implied that maybe he would kiss me again.

  "Okay," I said slowly. "What's wrong?" Clearly, something was bothering him.

  "Esther you know as well as I do that I'm not human. That place that I'm from. It calls to me, it draws my soul every day. When I'm there I'm free, but I'm..." He hesitated and I tried to give him an encouraging look. He continued. "When I'm there I'm a monster."

  "I've seen you," I say think about what he looks like, who he really is. The ancient and fearsome God, the Lord of the Wild Hunt. "It's terrible but glorious," I say, speaking honestly to him for the first time. "You're beautiful." I brush my hand across his arm, feeling the sinew of his muscle tightening under my touch.

  His gaze is hardened and he doesn't back down. I realized then that he was breaking up with me. He had to be. Why then had he kissed me like that?

  "You don't want to be with me," I said, my voice finally cracking. I stood up, ready to retreat not wanting him to see me cry.

  "No," I followed me, catching up with me as I chased through the dark forest. He wrapped his hand around my waist and I could see that he was nearing transformation. HIs tattoos moved fast across his skin, furiously creating patterns and his fingers were tipped with sharp black claws.

  He pulled me close. "I don't think I can live without you," He said fiercely, magic swirling all around him. "But you have to know what you're getting into. You have to know that I'm dangerous."

  "I can handle it," I said, deciding then and there that I wanted him. "I love you Kairn," I said.

  Then I felt him transform for real. His lips crushed against mine wild, and unrestrained. I felt his arms around me and he pulled me up onto his horse. We began sprinting through the forest and I held on for dear life. It seemed that we were moving so fast we were passing in and out of this reality. His voice, ancient and haunting called out through the forest.

  Time lost all sense of meaning as the night passed. I only knew the passing of time through the darkening of the sky. When he finally began to ride towards Halewick House. He rode to the forest's edge behind the old house and dismounted. He held me in his arms again and kissed me one last time. His lips tasted like cedar and campfire. I felt his breath against my ear and he whispered, 'I love you, Esther," before he rode away on his horse.

  My heart pounded as I made my way back inside. I had to compose myself before opening the door. I wasn't sure what time it was, or who was home. Only that he loved me. He loved me.

  6

  There's only a rushing sound for a long time. It's the feeling of being pulled. I know that I'm dreaming but I'm powerless to stop it. For months I've been avoiding this place, trying desperately to forget, but now I'm here. There's only darkness and mist in the Liminal World. It's frightening to me. There's a hollowness to it. It's the mirror image of our world, but empty and devoid of life. It's wrong here. I'm scared. I walk along a path until I begin to recognize where I am. The Fen should be here. I'm on the path that leads into the forest, where the ruins are. I've been here many times. I circle in closer to the fen, but nothing is right. There's something wrong with it. Everything is covered in some kind of grey slime. I move closer to it until I feel my foot squish on it. It's like sludge or some kind of slime mold. I have a bad feeling, but it's like I'm watching myself. I can do nothing to stop it. I reach down and touch the slime with my bare hand. It's cold and sticky, but it's pulsing with energy. I can't get it off my fingers. I rub my hands on my pant leg but it doesn't help. I start to panic, I'm breathing faster.

  I awake in a cold sweat. The clock, with its strange arms tracking the movement of the planets, reads 8:00am. Time for class anyway. I try to shake away the odd terror of the dream. It wasn't a nightmare exactly, nothing really happened. But it was spooky all the same. Alchemy was up first, and I rushed through a shower to get to class on time. I still felt like I had a strange residue on my hands.

  I grabbed a bagel sandwich from the cafeteria before heading to class. I arrived nearly late, but when I got to class there was nobody there except Sybelle.

  "Where is everyone? Is class canceled?" I asked.

  "Didn't you hear?" She sounded upset.

  "Hear what?" Had something happened?

  "Everyone who was at the party last night got sick." Sybelle moaned.

  "What?" I was not expecting that. "What kind of sickness?"

  "They're not sure, but the school's healer thinks it has something to do with magic. Everyone who performed magic last night is sick." She explained.

  I tried to remember if I had performed magic last night, I couldn't recall, but I
knew Kairn had when he transformed. Was he okay? Were Ligeia and Maeve?

  "What about Ligeia and Maeve?" I asked quickly.

  "They're both down at the infirmary, but they didn't get the worst of it, I think they'll be fine by this afternoon. Some of the others though..." Her face darkened.

  "Tell me, please," I was desperate to know.

  "Some of them, like Aria, haven't woken up yet." She said.

  It was a shock. I certainly wasn't on good terms with Aria, but I didn't want her dead either.

  "Oh my god," I clasped my hand over my mouth.

  "It's like they're drained or something," She said hesitantly. Drained? What could cause that?

  I didn't have long to ponder because Professor Henbane walked in at that moment.

  "Well, I'm glad to see you two upright this morning." Her tone was cheerful, but her face was tired.

  "What's going on Professor Henbane?" I asked, hoping she would know more.

  "I'm sorry I don't have any information for you dear, the Professors were woken up last night to help attend to all the sick students, but we haven't figured out what is causing this illness just yet. Perhaps a bad batch of Euphoria Tonic." She laughed, but it sounded strangled. "In any case, since the two of you are here and well, I propose that we start our lesson."

  I was surprised, all things considered, that she meant to proceed with class, but I followed Sybelle's lead and took out my notebook.

  She instructed us to open our books to the first chapter.

  "The first chapter is composed of the divine patterns for a few of the basic elements we will be dealing with." She began sketching out intricate symbols on the board. "These divine patterns are symbolic of each item's identity within the luminous ether. So before we can do any transmutation we must be able to recognize and reproduce these divine patterns, blueprints if you will." She explained.