Magi Legend

by Andrew Dobell

  As she approached the building that had been her home for the first sixteen years of her life, all kinds of memories and emotions bubbled up inside her. These buildings had been her entire childhood, and she still had an emotional attachment to them. Back then, they’d felt like a prison, but now that she was free, and she had some perspective on things, her feelings were a little different and certainly more complex.

  However, she wasn’t sure she would change anything if she could. Her time here had shaped her into the woman she was today.

  Walking into the reception area, Amanda was pleased to see that nothing had really changed, and the same woman sat behind the reception desk. Amanda grinned and walked over to her. The secretary looked up and smiled, her reaction to her this time somewhat more welcoming.

  “Good morning, miss. How may I help you?”

  “I’m here to meet Sister Alicia,” answered Amanda.

  “Ah, yes, she said you were coming. Amanda, is it? If you’d like to take a seat, I will call her down.”

  “Of course,” Amanda said, and walked to the nearby sofas, where she sat with her legs crossed.

  Moments later, the door through to the school opened and Alicia, in full nun’s habit, stepped through. Amanda smiled. Alicia had been in training the last time she had visited, but she’d clearly progressed since then. Amanda rose from her chair and walked over to greet her friend.

  “Amanda, God bless you, it’s such a pleasure to see you again. Thank you for coming,” Alicia said.

  “Any time, you need only ask.”

  “Come with me, let’s go somewhere we can talk,” Alicia suggested, in a slightly quieter tone.

  “Of course,” Amanda replied, and followed her friend through the door into the school proper. They walked through several corridors and up some steps before Alicia unlocked a door and ushered Amanda inside.

  “You have an office?” Amanda asked.

  “I’ve taken on more responsibility within the school, and this happened to be one of the perks.”

  “Very nice,” Amanda said as she admired the room with its wooden bookshelves and desk. Everything felt warm and comfortable. A perfect place to work.

  “Thank you. Take a seat,” Alicia offered. “Did I interrupt anything?”

  “No, no.”

  “Oh, good. You’re just dressed a little more…”

  “Ye mean, less like a scruff?” Amanda shrugged. “I scrub up alright when I need to.” She smiled as she sat in one of the chairs that faced the desk with Alicia seated on the opposite side. “How can I help you?” Amanda asked.

  Alicia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down almost before she’d even started to speak.

  “You remember that group of kids I showed you last time, the ones who were into the occult?”

  Amanda remembered and almost immediately relaxed. Alicia had discussed this with Amanda last time, and Amanda hadn’t found anything magical at all. Amanda felt sure that Alicia meant well, but in Amanda’s view Alicia’s personal beliefs were colouring her opinions on this matter.

  The four kids were Goth’s, nothing more. She also knew from her last visit, that although a couple of them had interest in occult stuff, it had had all looked harmless enough. Even with Magic being real and with some real horrors in the shadows, Amanda wasn’t worried about them and had tried to get Alicia not to worry, too.

  “I checked last time I came, they’re just kids, and they certainly aren't worshipping the devil or anything.”

  “I know you did, but they seem much more into it now. They’re being very secretive, and just looking at their notebooks with all the symbols and runes drawn in them, I’m worried, Amanda. I wanted to ask you because you took me seriously last time. You helped me, and I can talk freely with you. I’m worried the sisterhood might not be so… understanding.”

  Amanda nodded. Alicia really did look worried, and she didn’t want to mock her by dismissing her out of hand. “Okay, sure. I’ll have a look. Where are they?” Amanda asked.

  “Are you sure? I’d like to help.”

  “I know you do, but without putting too fine a point on it, I know what I’m looking for, so I do. Plus, this might be a long process of just watching them.”

  “Alright, sure, but if you need anything…”

  “I’ll be in touch. So, where are they?”

  Alicia checked the time. “They should be in the common room in the sixth form block.”

  “Okay, grand. Leave it with me. I’ll watch them and see what I can find out.”

  “I can give you access to their rooms again,” Alicia said passing over a key ring with four keys on it. “Same rooms as last time.”

  “I remember,” Amanda said.

  “You’re sure you don’t need me?” Alicia asked.

  “I’ll be less conspicuous alone, trust me,” she said.

  Moments later, Amanda approached the sixth form block, a small building that contained a common room where the pupils hung out and socialised with their friends between lessons.

  The majority of the school sat in relative silence now, lessons had finished about an hour ago, and most of the kids had either left for home or were back in their dorm areas. There were always some after school activities and lessons, though, from what she remembered, and the people in the sixth form often hung out in the common room for a while after the day had ended.

  As she approached the building, she let her vision expand, allowing the golden mist of Essentia to swim into view. At first glance, everything here seemed in order, no unusual magical signatures. So, she found a place to stand out of the way, where it was unlikely she’d be disturbed and sent a second set of senses inside the common room. Just as Alicia had predicted, the four kids—although, maybe young adults might be a better term—sat in the corner away from the other pupils.

  She remembered their names from last time. Scott sat in a chair, his feet up on a nearby table. Tomo sat on the table next to Scott’s feet while Christina perched on the arm of Scott’s chair. Next to them, Jake sat backwards on his chair, his feet on either side and his arms across the backrest. They talked easily and quietly, keeping to themselves, discussing TV shows, their fellow students, and other uninteresting things.

  As Amanda watched, though, she noticed that the Essentia around Christina had a very slight twist or eddy in it from time to time as she moved. Looking closer, she could see that she must have interacted with something Magical recently, something that had marked her.

  Intrigued, Amanda used her Magic and eased into Christina’s mind, where she started to gently sift through her memories. She moved slowly and with care, not wanting to cause the girl any discomfort.

  It didn’t take long until she saw the image of a book in her mind’s eye. Looking at a memory like this, Amanda had no idea if the item might be Magical in nature, but she did find a couple of other memories that showed Christina reading from the book and a few strange things happening, such as lights flickering, a pen levitating off the floor, and more.

  Magic.

  Withdrawing from Christina’s mind, Amanda watched as the four of them discussed meeting up tonight to take a look at the book.

  Taking a deep breath, she let out a long sigh, feeling a little troubled. Not only had she nearly dismissed Alicia’s concerns, she’d also assumed that these kids would not be able to mess with real Magic. She cursed her naïveté and wondered if she’d missed something when she’d last been here. Luckily, it seemed that Alicia was taking things a little more seriously and had done the right thing in bringing it to her attention.

  Leaving her second set of senses in the common room, watching and listening to the students, Amanda walked back to Alicia’s office.

  She greeted Amanda warmly at the door a few moments later.

  “So, anything? Anything at all?” Alicia asked.

  “They’re fine, Alicia. Nothing to worry about,” Amanda lied. She had no intention of letting her friend become involved in the machinations
of the supernatural world. She would be chewed up and spat out in moments. She wanted to protect her, and the best way to do that was to keep her well away from it all.

  Amanda would deal with this and remove the book herself, so that her assertion that they were fine would be true, eventually.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am. I searched their rooms, and there really isn’t anything to worry about. But, to be really sure, I’m going to follow them about for the rest of the evening.”

  “It’s just, I know what I saw. I know what they wrote in their notebooks.”

  “Trust me, Alicia, there really is nothing to worry about.

  Alicia took a breath, apparently trying to calm herself.

  “Okay, Amanda. I… I trust you. I do.”

  “Good, I’ll catch up with you tomorrow. Try to get some rest and stop worrying.”

  “That’s easier said than done,” Alicia countered.

  Amanda rolled her eyes but smiled. She bid her friend farewell and walked out of the office as Alicia started to clear her things from her desk.

  She knew she’d done the right thing. Dealing with the supernatural wasn’t exactly the safest way to live your life as a mortal. It wasn’t any better for the Magi either, but at least they could defend themselves.

  Making her way back to the common room, even with this latest concern, she had to admit it felt good to get out of New York and away from the craziness that had been going on there.

  She felt sure she could handle this quickly, before she headed back to the Big Apple. She smiled to herself, realising she felt quite confident looking into this all by herself. She wouldn’t be calling for help. She’d be flying solo on this one. The boys, Xain and Orion, would be proud of her.

  She still had her second set of senses on the four kids, and it looked like they were still quite comfortable in the common room, so Amanda focused on her view of them and tried to see that strange swirl of energy coming off of Christina again.

  The school corridors were empty, and the chances of her running onto anyone were slim, so she focused in on her magical senses and just walked on autopilot through the school, slowly and surely. There wasn’t any rush, after all.

  A few corridors away from Alicia’s office, Amanda rounded a corner and walked straight into someone coming the other way.

  They bumped into each other with some force. Amanda stumbled back and grasped the wall as she half fell on her arse. She banished her magical senses to a tiny window in the corner of her vision and looked about.

  Paper had spilt everywhere, files were all over the floor, and the man who had been carrying them hopped over them to help her.

  “Whoa there, young one, I’ve got you. Are you ok-so?” the man asked, grasping her arm.

  Pulling her up, Amanda regained her balance and looked up at the man who’d helped her.

  “Mr Croft?” Amanda said, recognising him.

  “Amanda. How lovely to see you again, it’s been a while,” he said.

  “Nearly two years, I think, and you’re still here,” she said.

  “I am, for my sins.” He smiled.

  “Sorry to bump into you like that.”

  “Away with the fairies, so ye were,” he offered.

  “Yeah…” Amanda admitted.

  “That’s okay. It’s awful lovely to see you back here again. Can I help you with anything?”

  “No, no, I’m good. I’m helping Alicia with something.”

  “Is she worrying after her students again?”

  “Something like that,” Amanda answered.

  “I do keep telling her that she needs to back off a bit, let those kids find their own way. They’re all perfectly alright.”

  “I know, I’ve told her that as well. She does seem to worry, though.”

  “And she always will,” he answered as he crouched down to gather up his things.

  Suddenly remembering what she’d done, she immediately crouched down and helped him pick up his stuff, feeling embarrassed once again.

  “Here you go,” she offered as she handed him the last of the documents that she’d picked up.

  “Now, young one. The least you can do is come and have a quick drink with me. I’d love to hear a bit more about your travels. You disappeared so quickly last time you were here.”

  Amanda looked up at her former teacher and felt taken aback by the offer. Had he just asked her out on a date?

  “What? To the pub?” she asked, feeling slightly flustered.

  “No, not the pub. Just come to the staff room. Some of your other teachers might be there. I’m sure they’d be interested in catching up.”

  Amanda relaxed. He hadn’t asked her out, he just wanted to catch up. She glanced at the little window in her vision, showing the kids in the common room. Everything seemed okay, and she could excuse herself any time she wanted.

  “Oh!” Mr Croft said suddenly. “You thought I’d asked you out on a date.”

  “Well…” Amanda replied, guiltily.

  “I’m flattered, but no.” He smiled.

  “Sorry,” Amanda said, feeling a little stupid. She walked with him the short distance to the staff room, helping him carry his stuff, and followed him inside. With it being the end of the day, only a couple of teachers were in here and she only recognised one of them, but not from her days as a student.

  William, the teaching assistant who had greeted her and shown her around the school when she’d arrived on her last visit pottered about at the back of the room. He looked up when they entered, and she noticed his expression go from confusion to recognition over the space of a second.

  Amanda placed the files she carried for Mr Croft down where he indicated and stood back.

  “Wait there a moment,” he said as he stepped up to the nearby cupboards and pulled out a few mugs.

  William wandered over, a large smile on his face.

  “Hi, err… wait, I know this…” he said, as she looked on. She couldn’t help but smile at his attempt to impress her by remembering her name.

  “It’s Amanda,” Mr Croft said, no doubt rolling his eyes while he stood with his back to them, preparing their drinks.

  “I knew that,” grumbled William. “It’s lovely to see you again.”

  “To be sure, and ye,” Amanda obliged. “How’s the training going?” she asked. He’d been here on placement, learning the job last time she had visited.

  “I passed,” he said.

  “Will here, is a fully qualified teacher now, Miss Page,” Mr Croft said. “It seems that they let any young fool through these days.”

  “And they don’t kick out the old farts, either,” Will countered.

  Amanda laughed.

  “It’s great to see you again, Will. Congratulations are in order, I think,” she said.

  “You’re damn right, young one,” Mr Croft said as he turned around and offered Will and Amanda each a mug. She could smell the distinct whiff of alcohol quite clearly before she even got hold of it. She took a proper sniff and recoiled from the burning smell that filled her nose.

  “Are you trying to get me drunk, sir!” she said in mock horror.

  “And if I were?” he asked with a wry smile.

  “Tally-ho old chap, I say,” Amanda replied, raising her mug before taking a sip of the amber liquid.

  The guys smiled and sipped their own whiskeys. Mr Croft clearly enjoying his, while Will struggled to get any of his down.

  Amanda enjoyed the taste, even if it did burn her throat a touch.

  Mr Croft led them over to the sofas and they all sat down, with Mr Croft ensuring that Will ended up sitting next to her. She found his feeble attempts at matchmaking amusing and went with it.

  Will still seemed to like her, and she’d already caught him looking at her a few times. It made her smile and took her mind off things. It felt nice to be appreciated.

  Mr Croft started to ask her questions about her travels and she enjoyed telling them about some of the plac
es she’d visited, leaving out all the Magic and monsters she had encountered along the way, while she enjoyed the drink that Mr Croft kept topping up.

  Amanda soon found herself deep in conversation with Mr Croft and Will as the whiskey relaxed her. She ended up pressed up next to Will, teasing him with the odd playful touch on the leg or arm. She enjoyed listening to his thoughts as well, such as when he got slightly flustered over her latest tap of his knee. She found it cute and endearing, even if she had no intention of taking it any further.

  She enjoyed their company so much, and talking at length about her travels felt so great, that when she suddenly remembered to check on the kids, she realised they were gone from the common room.

  Realising her mistake, she quickly made her excuses and left Will and Mr Croft in the staff room, claiming that time had got away from her and she had somewhere to be.

  Once outside, she checked to make sure no one would see her, and Ported upstairs, appearing outside Christina’s room. She placed her senses inside the room and could quickly see that no one was there. So, she Ported inside the room and took a quick look around. Using her Magic, she looked for items that had a strong emotional investment in them from Christina, which were usually visible by the aura they retained from their owner. After a few moments, she found a necklace that would work perfectly. Its aura glowed strongly, making it a good link for Amanda to use.

  Amanda picked it up from her dressing table and held it in her hand, concentrating.

  She focused on Christina and used her Magic to reach out to her, to find her, and soon found the direction and distance. Over the next few seconds, she started to get an idea in her mind of where she would be. Concentrating, she placed her senses in that area and quickly scanned around.