“Novice. We are Highborns!” Donte and Nixon scoffed. “We, as a race, deserve better.”
Sometimes I wish my brothers never learnt how to talk back. Especially to someone of such a high status.
“From what I have read, with your reports, even if you studied with various types of mage magic outside of Ordinary-Human school hours, it still wouldn’t be enough. If you really feel you deserve to be placed in higher classes, prove it to your teachers and me, of course.”
Donte didn’t like what he had to say, but they didn’t persist nor complain further. Instead, they sulked and grumpily looked away with angered faces of children that didn’t earn a lolly because they were naughty.
From inside of the room, the door wavered, like rippling water. A teenage boy came through with light brown hair, dark brown eyes, smooth, clean face and pearly white teeth when he smiled. He wore the school uniform and on the right side of his jumper, there was a badge pinned and shined gold in the dim light. He looked around at all of us and then at the Headmage.
“Ah, Spencer, just in time.” Headmage stood from his seat and went around the table and touched the teenager whose name is Spencer. “This is my son, Spencer. He is also Captain of his year, which is your year. He will be escorting you and the fellow students that are new in your year around the Academy.”
“Hello,” he spoke with a nod. “Nice to meet you.”
“Ugh. Nerd,” Donte and Nixon muttered.
“Hello,” I murmured softly.
“Spencer, do you mind taking Donte and Nixon Frost and wait outside for a moment while I speak to Eileen Frost alone?”
“Of course.”
After they left the room – Spencer looking back once to look at me before he left – I shifted uncomfortably in my seat again. Headmage leant up against his desk and folded his arms over the dark green overcoat that has the Mage Academy symbol. I was prepared for anything.
“My eldest son died that night, at the graduation, Eileen Frost.”
My stomach dropped at the sudden gloomy conversation. I was prepared for anything, aside from this, and so it was hard for me to think of what to say. I don’t even if to say sorry would work. I would have to go on my knees and beg for forgiveness.
“A lot of us lost a member of our family or even a friend because of that war coming to Mage Academy. It was a hard-pressing time for all of us… and even you, Eileen. Such a traumatic time.”
“Unfortunately.” That was all that would come out, and it wasn’t a good enough word after what he had said.
I could see the saddened, sorrow-filled look in his eyes. They were a watery brown, and he looked on the verge of tears. Headmage then took a deep breath in and out and looked up to my forehead.
“That curse mark is very distinctive. Did it hurt?” He asked.
“I don’t remember,” I admitted.
“When your story came out after that incident, I was baffled with how many people hated the Frost family immediately after. It was as if they forgot what your family has done over the years – and what your grandfather saved us from.” Headmage started. “I was empathetic of your situation, and it saddened me when a Highborn family of your status exiled themselves because of the hate and rejection from other mages.
“When I went for the Headmage spot, I contacted your parents and told them that I wanted the Frost children to work and study at my school.”
“Okay?” I questioned. When he didn’t answer, I murmured, “Why?”
“I started thinking that ‘What would I have done if I were in Eileen Frost’s position?’ And every time I thought that the same answer came to mind. Eileen, I would have done the exact same thing as you had done. There is no way I would let my life be cut short because of that mage. I had future plans I wanted to unfold.”
“I see.”
“You and your family deserve a chance at Mage Academy. Your school records before you moved were astoundingly good that I cannot believe the Headmage’s before me declined because of their biased opinions. I am also surprised your parents didn’t try to force you into Mage Academy sooner.”
They didn’t want to cause a scene or mayhem, that was why. Even knowing Mum was the leader of the Organisation until the year after next, she didn’t want to do anything that may prevent her from ruling. Right now, the reason she stays at the top is that they are waiting until I turn eighteen. That was when the next order comes through where mages vote for who they want to rule next. She has even resulted in pleasing mages by bringing in A Mages Guardians War to keep her on that seat until then. She’s doing everything that she can to stay, and that meant not pushing mages to breaking point.
“I know you will excel quickly enough. If you have any issues, talk to my son about them or come here and I will fix the issue personally.”
“Okay. Thank you very much for your kindness.”
Headmage smiled mysteriously. It was as if his mind was someplace else until he blinked and straightened up off of the side of the table.
“You should leave to greet the rest of the students.” I nodded and stood from the chair. “Have a wonderful stay here, Eileen Frost. I hope Mage Academy lives up to your expectations.”
I silently left the room and stepped outside the door and bumped into Spencer. Close to him, I could see the pin correctly. Through the gold, engraved was the word, ‘Captain.’ Spencer smiled bashfully, stepped further away from my brothers and me.
“We are supposed to meet the others at the entrance of Mage Academy’s doors,” he announced.
I turned, and my stomach dropped at the sight of the other students. There were five boys and three girls. The boys wore winter uniforms, but the girls wore short skirts and black stockings. As we walked up to them, I couldn’t help but feel cold being in their presence. Not only that, but they glared with utter disgust at me and that made me step further away in the hopes that they wouldn’t be able to see me.
“Alright, my name is Spencer, and I am your year Captain, and I will be showing you the standard classrooms that you will be assigned to at this stage.” He raised his hand, and his veins glowed. A portal warped into focus above his hands and papers dropped. “I have your personalised timetables here for your classes.” He went around the group and handed the paper with our name on it to us. I took hold of mine but didn’t look at it and listened to Spencer. “Our first stop is the cafeteria and female and male toilets.”
“She was on A Mages Guardians War, wasn’t she?” One of the girls whispered to her group of friends.
“Highborn thinks she is still welcome here. Showing us how great and amazing that murderer of a Guardian of hers is.” The girl with curly blond hair sneered at me.
She was in the centre of the group and looked to be the leader. She had on red and vibrant lipstick and glittery pink eyeshadow. Her fingernails were long, manicured and hot pink. Her skin was fake tanned for the middle of winter. She curled her lip, and her dark blue eyes narrowed when she noticed that I was looking at her.
I avoided eye contact and stared down at the timetable that I had within my hands. My classes were the same aside from Wednesday and Friday. I had the subject that I chose a few weeks ago in the spots that were History and potions on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: First up was basic English, then it was crafting. After was a short break, history and potions were after the short break – or rune specialist on Wednesday and Friday. That goes for the whole eighty minutes. After that was a slightly longer break and the last two classes that were mandatory were deciphering hexes and learning symbols, and then sports. Sports is a class I have never studied for or learnt how to do well, ever. I wonder if I can talk to the Headmage and see if he can perhaps be persuaded in cutting sport from my schedule altogether.
“Eileen, right?” A voice spoke from behind me.
If I could jump or yelp with fright, I would have. The chill ran up my spine, but that was all that happened. Maybe a slight tightening in my abdominal area, but that was about it, really.
I looked back to a girl that ended up quickening her pace so that she could walk beside me. Her black hair was tied into a tiny ponytail, and her fringe was parted to the side. She had wild and dark chestnut coloured eyes. Her tie was cooked. The right sleeve of her school sweater was rolled up to her elbow. She wore Ordinary-Human sneakers besides the standard boots mages usually wear. Her laces on her sneakers were neon green and orange and stood out. I can already tell that she was an oddball and someone I wouldn’t usually associate with, considering of status and reputation. But I have to keep thinking to myself that I am not that girl anymore.
“You are the one everyone talks about,” she said and pointed her finger at me. “My mum said you were the one that summoned a Guardian that killed the guy that was going to win A Mages War.”
“Yes,” I murmured. “That is correct.”
“Aww, Charlie is befriending the Highborn that interfered in a war she had no part in.” The blond girl with red lipstick chuckled coldly.
“Shut up, Rebecca! Just because we are at a new school doesn’t mean you have to be up to your old tricks and be a dim-witted bitch once again.” Charlie flipped her the middle finger and stuck her tongue out at the blond girl now called Rebecca.
“You’re such an annoying freak, Charlie. No wonder you never had friends.”
“I’d rather have no friends than hang out with such a dumb bitch like you.”
I wanted to escape this petty argument that they were having on who was the dumbest mage alive. I was glad that Spencer turned around and gave them both a hard, firm look. Charlie bit her lip, and Rebecca scoffed, looked away and started to gossip to the two other girls that walked on either side of her. Uncomfortable with that altercation that I was between, I was surprised that Charlie still walked beside me and didn’t seem weirded out like the other students were.
The boys kept their distance way behind us, and I could feel pairs of eyes on me and knew that I was the reason they didn’t want to come closer.
The cafeteria buzz filled the air when we went through. So many students were having lunch. Almost all of the tables were floating in the air. Some tables ended up crashing down deliberately close to Nixon and Donte. When they landed, I noticed a hint of blue, which meant that the rune knew when a mage was underneath and would perhaps shift slightly so that it wouldn’t crush a mage. Other tables around the one that landed beside Donte and Nixon moved so that that table had enough room to land. Donte and Nixon gaped openly until one of the mages sneered at them. Hate and anger plastered on their faces.
“Who let the outcasts back in? No one invited that murderer and her family back to Mage Academy. Maybe next year she should go into A Mages War and get what she deserves.”
“Who knows, mutt,” Donte spoke in a cold and unfriendly voice he usually uses when he is very pissed off. “She might surprise you, and maybe you may get what you deserve in the end.”
“What!” The teenager at the table went to stand up, probably to cause a fight, but the table flew back up and floated off to the side. All I heard were the angered voices of pissed off mages that wanted to rip our heads off.
“What the heck was that about?” Charlie asked.
“Some asshole that’s probably mad about what happened at A Mages Guardians War,” Nixon scoffed.
“Wow. I saw your performance on A Mages Guardians War. You totally destroyed Rebecca’s Aunt. You looked bored, but I am guessing that’s because of the curse that was placed on you.”
So, that’s more than likely why Rebecca seems to hate me so much upon meeting me for the first time. It wasn’t because of what I did five years ago. It was because of what I did one month ago. Seems to make much more sense at why she had this type of vendetta look on her face. Like she wanted to duel me using magic… or something.
Charlie tapped her forehead and grinned. “It looks kind of stylish, in a way.”
“It looks like a curse,” I admitted, blankly.
“Right. Yes. A curse,” she agreed quickly.
I couldn’t tell if she was talking to get on Rebecca’s nerves or if she is just a loud talker. She is deafening. I am used to Donte and Nixon talking loudly, but I am not used to anyone talking to me loudly. It was hard to take in, and I am taken aback by her words. Unsure how to keep the conversation flowing, or if I wanted it to, I nodded. The simple nod made her smile broaden into a grin.
We went up the flight of stairs I went up the last time I entered the cafeteria. My eyes drifted to the other staircase that led upwards – but tore my gaze away when we walked down the hallway. Spencer stopped at the door onto the left and pointed up to the sign that stated crafting.
“This is crystal crafting class, novice. This is where you will learn and perhaps grow better to advance to intermediate or master class. This will always be your crafting class.” Spencer than stepped across the hallway and raised his hand to the sign that said deciphering hexes and runes. “Like the sign says, this is your novice deciphering hexes and runes class. Both are easy to find.”
Donte and Nixon stood before that door, utter disgust on their faces. I turned away from them and walked aside Charlie once more and ignored their demonic demises. Instead, I followed behind Spencer that walked to the end of the hallway and then up another flight of stairs. Spencer pointed to a door that was English and then stated that History will also be in that exact same room. Three doors down from English/history was the specialist class for mages you wanted to study more about runes.
“For the special class that you chose, that will be either on this floor or where we are going next, on the ground level, near the toilets. Follow me.”
I went in step beside Spencer. Charlie went on the other side of me. Spencer glanced in my direction, and when he noticed that I was watching him, he looked away. His cheeks turned a delicate red. “How are you settling in?” He asked.
“Fine,” I admitted.
“That’s good,” he said nodding. “If anyone gives you any grief or bullies you, you can tell me.”
“Okay. Thank you,” I murmured.
Down the flight of stairs, on the ground level, behind the cafeteria, there were toilets that Spencer pointed at before we went further down where all things simmer. Foul stenches rose from underneath doors, and I knew these were the types of rooms I would find Donte and Nixon in for their specialised classes. The hallway also looked dark and foreboding as well. Purple smoke lingered out from under the cracks. The girls from behind me gagged. When I turned around, they stepped further back and covered their mouths and noses with their hands. Even Charlie heaved, but the boys, all of them I should say, looked excited. Perhaps potions class intrigues males more because they are immune to those sorts of stenches. I am, however, immune because I had to live with two who are the evillest potion makers in the mage world.
“This is the special potions classes and where practical lessons will take place. Mage Academy is currently in the process of moving all potion classes down here because of… Uh, complaints. Within the next month, this will be where all potions classes will reside. Your teacher will notify you when that time comes.”
Back up the stairs, inside the cafeteria room, most students were stepping away from tables and going in groups towards the stairs, and I assume to class. Dodging a few that deliberately barged their shoulders into mine, I ignored the death glares as much as possible and soldiered on, out into the bitingly cold winter courtyard.
“Usually a lot of mages will come out here to hang and eat, but because we are in winter, the cafeteria and food court is the most popular of places,” Spencer began.
“Or the toilets, where the murdering Highborn will sit and eat with her only friend, Charlie, the freak,” Rebecca said, laughing with her friends.
“Could you stop, please,” Spencer said to Rebecca. “I will report you to the Headmage. I am also qualified to send anyone in my year to detention.”
“Whatever,” Rebecca muttered, rolling her eyes.
“Alright, uh, where was I. Oh, right, come around the back here, and we will be at the oval.” Rounding the corner, at the back of Mage Academy, the grassy field frostbitten, stretched vastly far. At the end of the oval, large, dominant, pine trees shrouded across, darkness filling in the gaps inside of the woods. “Mage sports are prevalent. Soccer will be starting soon – My favourite – and I am goalie.” He seemed very proud of himself. Chin tilted upwards, and a sparkle in those brown eyes. “There’s a back door that leads up to the dorms. If you go right and not up the stairs, girls and boys changerooms are there, with showers and toilets. It is recommended that if you have sport, you change in your uniform before coming out.”
“Wait!” Rebecca cried out. She looked distressed. “Are you telling me that we have to do sport in this weather?”
“Yes,” Spencer answered.
“But it is so cold,” she complained. “My skin doesn’t do well in snow and cold weather.”
I could agree with that. In winter, Rebecca looks like she goes to the tanning salon, stays inside, near a fire or heater, painting fingernails and watching chick flicks. If she were ever going to step outside, she would react like she is now. Distressed, annoyed and complaining about everything. Even Spencer had to roll his eyes at her when she began to ramble on about how she would not do any form of sports and would rather have detention.
“Take it up with Headmage, or the sports teacher,” Spencer sighed. “That’s the end of the tour for today, I hope I cleared up all of your classroom locations. Classes start at nine. The belltower bell will ring ten minutes before class starts. You will hear it throughout the entire school, dorms to the cafeteria. I suggest eating in the cafeteria in the morning. Breakfast changes daily. It’s great.”
“So, we can do whatever we want today?” Donte and Nixon asked.
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“Let’s go back to the classrooms and prep!”
“Wow, what eager students,” Spencer said, surprised.
Emotionless (The Emotionless Book 1) Page 13