by Taki Drake
Laughing, Liz said, “Sorry, Corda. I was just teasing you. That sounds like a great thing to do. This is my first year here also. Do you mind if I tag along with the two of you?”
Corda smiled happily and said to her roommate, “That would be wonderful, I’m sure Gerald will not mind.”
“Well, then we better get going, since you are already fashionably late. I would’ve escorted you down anyway, though.”
“Why is that?” asked Corda with a sense of unease.
“There are several people on this floor that have too high an opinion of themselves, and I didn’t want them to upset you.”
Touched, Corda responded, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is the first time I’ve ever been away from home, and I’m feeling terrified. I really appreciate your help.” To herself, Corda thought, This is what it feels like to have a female friend. What a strange world this is.
Chapter 5 – New Situation Overload
The day before had been very enjoyable for Corda. After walking all over the Academy campus, she had joined Gerald and Liz for supper in the dining room, and they had talked for hours. Eventually, Corda had wandered over to sit in the library. She was a bit surprised that Gerald wanted to go with her but understood that Liz needed to get back to the room.
Sitting in quiet companionship, the two students read sections of various books and explored the stacks. Both of them were thrilled with the number of available books. Corda felt like she was sitting in a land designed just for her, surrounded by stories from thousands of worlds and with someone that she could talk to without watching every word.
The young girl couldn’t remember a better day and night. She still felt a little disoriented by all the strange people, and the new experiences threatened to overwhelm her, but the release from the structure of her childhood home felt good.
“Corda, Corda, wake up.”
The young girl jerked to an upright position, and a fiery red blush covering her face. I can’t believe that I just almost fell asleep in the library on my first day, she thought to herself.
Gerald kindly said, “I am pretty tired also. Let me walk you back to your dorm, and you get some sleep before we have to start all of our class craziness.”
The two friends neatly placed their books in the area designated for re-shelving before they made their way back to the first-year dorms in companionable silence. Neither one of them felt like talking, and Corda experienced a wave of gratitude for whatever force had led her to find two friends the first day.
Numbed by the overload of new people and things, tired out by the walking and change in her situation, Corda said good night to Gerald and stumbled her way through the lobby, into the elevator, and into her room.
<< <> >>
The next morning was crazy. Corda had slept the deep slumber of an exhausted child, only reluctantly waking up when Liz shook her shoulder. Quickly stumbling through her morning routine, Corda felt like she had forgotten something important but couldn’t grasp what it was.
Whatever would I do without Liz? Corda thought to herself as her roommate chivied her through breakfast lines and to the orientation class that all first-years had to attend. Thanks to Liz’s aggressive management, the two girls got there in plenty of time and managed to get a seat fairly close to the front and on an aisle.
Thoughtfully saving a place between them for Gerald, both girls jumped up and waved to get his attention when they saw him enter the room. Giving them a big smile of relief, the gawky young man quickly made his way down the aisle and slipped into the seat.
“Thank you, ever so much for saving me a seat. I had this horror of coming in and finding no place to sit,” Gerald said to them both. Corda laughed and said, “I didn’t even know that we could save seats, so you better thank Liz this time.”
Before Gerald could better direct his gratitude, Liz said, “No need for thanks, I’m sure you’ll do the same for us.”
Just then, there was a flash of Magical fire on the doorways, and all entrances to the lecture hall slammed shut at the same time. There was instant quiet in the room as everyone looked around.
Without warning, the previously empty lectern was now occupied by a burly middle-aged man with the tab identification of a Maker. His bright red rank tabs contrasted with the gray tunic and dark pants that he wore. His gray hair and hooded eyes made Corda think of a swooping Eagle, and she felt herself crouch down a bit to make a smaller target.
The room remained quiet though Corda could almost feel the unease that pooled around them. When the man finally spoke, his voice snapped out in uncompromising syllables with crisp dictation.
I bet nobody ever can say that they misunderstood him, Corda thought to herself.
His voice was resonant, and the sound of it set the hair on the back of Corda’s neck to a trembling itchy wave of sensation. Vowing not to forget what he was telling her, the young girl clutched her notebook and pen in her hand and listened intently.
“Welcome to the new student orientation for the Barkin Prime Academy of Magical Disciplines. I am Prof. Campbell, your orientation instructor. This Academy has been set up to consolidate and regulate those people certified as Mages of Power on the planet Barkin Prime. Although some of you will not follow a major Discipline, your ability to receive an education here is guaranteed by the Barkin Prime Council.”
Once the man had started to speak, Corda relaxed a little bit and stopped worrying about him. For some reason, the impressively-muscled man reminded her of Nanny. Stern but fair. I can deal with this, Corda thought to herself.
The man went on to provide them general history on the Academy as well as the flow of classes, scheduled activities, and voluntary organizations and activities that they could join. He outlined the availability of tutoring help and the other things that would assist people struggling with any subject to get the help that they needed while still keeping up with their classwork.
Prof. Campbell also outlined the class load for the first portion of the year. Corda was intensely relieved to find out that she would have only three major classes during the first semester. One of them would be Beginning Healing since she was registered for the Healer Discipline. The second one would be a class that went over a combination of history and the differences between races and species that occupied not only Barkin Prime but the Vorcian Imperium.
Corda was a little concerned over the third class assignment. Prof. Campbell explained that the Academy would always allow them to add classes on subjects in which they were interested, but that their curriculum would also have requirements that they must pass to achieve certification. The first two classes he had talked about were minimal requirements to move on to your second year. The other required course was one that covered the use of defensive and offensive Magic.
There was a murmur of disbelief in the room when this requirement was mentioned. The professor sent his Eagle eyes around the hall, noting who was upset and who was reacting in other ways. He addressed the issue head-on, saying, “After hundreds of years of teaching Magic users, this Academy has the experience and the knowledge to know that Mages that cannot defend themselves are easily killed or controlled. You will not graduate from this Academy unless you can demonstrate basic skills and capabilities that allow you to defend yourself and your charges.”
A woman in scarlet robes stood up in the middle room and raised her hand in a gesture for permission to speak. When Prof. Campbell nodded his head toward her, the young woman burst into speech, saying, “But I’m going to be a Healer! Why would anyone attack me, and why do I have to sully myself with warlike skills?”
In a contemplative tone, the professor mused aloud, “Warlike skills. Interesting. Tell me, Miss…”
Flinching at having to identify herself, the girl finally said, “Lyne Mire, sir.”
The professor then continued, “Ms. Lyne Mire, if you are dealing with victims of a natural disaster and the hospital is attacked by criminal elements. What would happen if y
ou could not defend yourself or your patients?”
“Respectfully, sir, that simply wouldn’t happen.”
“Thank you for the experience that you bring to this with all of your what 15 years of life, young lady. For your information, it has happened over 100 times in the last three years that Barkin Prime Healers have had to protect their patients from criminal elements attempting to take people hostage or steal critical health supplies. Now, of course, if you were in charge of the universe, this wouldn’t happen, but unless somebody hasn’t told me…”
The man paused and then startled everybody in the room by roaring out, “You are not in charge. Your prejudices do not substitute for reality. If you believe that you know better than those that set this curriculum, you obviously do not belong in this school. I suggest that you think about your attitude before you open your mouth again.”
The overwhelmed student melted down into her chair, shaking like a leaf. Corda felt sympathy for her, knowing how it hurt to have someone with a lot of power roar. She trembled herself a little bit but was surprised to feel a warm hand on hers. The young girl looked up in shock at her companion and saw that Gerald had put a comforting hand on both her and Liz.
Corda and her roommate both turned to look at him in surprise, and the young man gave them a comforting smile and released their hands. I don’t know about Liz, but that made me feel better, Corda thought to herself.
Prof. Campbell then went on as if his roaring fury had never happened. He explained that there would be an open house where the different professors of the elective courses would be available to explain what their subjects were about. This was designed to give people an understanding of what they could expect to do and learn if they chose to take the class. He warned them that if they elected a subject that they only had three sessions to decide if they were going to drop it or not. If they failed to drop it within the first three, they needed to complete it or receive a bad grade.
When the session came to an end, and Prof. Campbell asked the hall if there were any questions, no one spoke up. Releasing the lectern, the professor took a step backward and said, “Welcome to the Academy. I am sure that you will all benefit from the education on both Magic and how the politics of Magic work.” Before anyone could do or react to his farewell, the professor was gone, leaving not even a ripple of light to show where he had been.
Many in the audience gasped and then gasped again when the locking bolts of light crashed to pieces, and the doors to the hallways smashed open.
Chapter 6 – Glasses and Classes
Corda woke up the first day of formal classes, feeling like she was already late. Trying to calm herself down, the young girl concentrated on controlling her breathing. Slow inhalations, followed by a pause as she held her breath. Then a slow, controlled exhalation. Gradually, her heart stopped racing, and her pulse ceased to pound in her veins.
Looking around the room, the girl felt a sharp sense of disorientation. Even though her bedroom at home had been relatively small, she had adjusted it to fit her needs and personality. This room was not hers.
Not only was there nothing familiar or comforting on the walls, but her bedding was different. Her bed certainly was softer, and the noises and smells around her were subtly wrong.
Soft, snuffling breathing sounds came from the other side of the room. It took Corda a few moments to realize that the noises came from her roommate. For one panicked moment, she could not remember the girl's name.
Elizabeth, that’s her name. And she likes to be called Liz. I have to remember that because I know it’s important and I know how I feel when people forget mine, she thought to herself.
Unsure of what she should or could do, Corda quietly crept from her bed and picked up her bathroom kit. Moving as silently as she could, the young girl fumbled with the door for a moment before finally remembering how to unlock it.
The hall was silent, dimly lit in the early morning gloom. There is no other sound of anyone moving, and Corda straightened up in relief and moved with more assurance toward where she remembered the bathroom was located.
I think everyone is asleep and I’m glad. There were so many people last night, and I can’t remember their names. They’re all older than I am and ignored me as if I were a baby. Also, they were laughing and talking about things that didn’t make any sense to me.
Everything in the dormitory was still silent, and Corda could hear the sound of sleepy birds starting to chirp outside. Realizing that dawn was probably approaching, the young girl resolved to get her morning ablutions completed as quickly as possible. If I’m lucky, I can be done and back in my room before anybody else uses the bathroom.
Corda pushed open the swinging door to the bathroom and walked in. She had been feeling secure in the lack of people moving around, and so she was totally unprepared for the startling vision that met her gaze.
“How dare you! Could you not at least knock?” The intensely-embarrassed voice belonged to another young woman, one that Corda had seen the day before. Mortified beyond measure, Corda stepped backward, ready to flee, but an unexpected wave of empathy froze her in place.
She is frightened! And embarrassed! Why? Corda thought to herself. Finding her voice, the young girl asked, “Are you all right? Everything was so quiet that I thought I was the only one up. I didn’t mean to startle you, and I beg your forgiveness.”
The strange young woman was staring at Corda with a pleading look. The waves of emotion that slammed into Corda from the other girl showed just how deeply mortified and terrified she was.
When Corda didn’t say anything immediately, the young woman stumbled into speech, “Please, don’t tell anyone. They already don’t like me, and if they know what I look like, it will be worse.”
“Why would anyone not like you? You seem okay to me.”
“Anyone different gets picked on. My last school was horrible, and this one seems to be the same way. I just want to get through all my classes and graduate.” Tears ran down the other girl’s face, and Corda ached with sympathy.
A strange tendril of energy grew inside of the young girl. Corda could feel that it was pushing to get out and stretch to this new person. Somehow the Watern girl knew this was something to avoid.
If Corda let her power reach out, it would wrap around the frightened young woman and try to ease her fears. I am not supposed to do that! I have to learn Discipline, everyone has been telling me that.
Trying to find a different way of comforting the girl, Corda said quietly, “I can understand that. Everything is so strange and scary to me. I’m just so lost with everything that has been changed in the last few days that I feel like I’m going to explode. This is the first time I’ve ever been away from home, and this is the first night I didn’t sleep in my own bed.” To the youngster’s surprise, tears welled from her own eyes and ran down her cheeks.
Her obvious distress shook the other woman out of her own fear. Face softening in understanding, the stranger assured Corda, “It will get better, I promise you. My first night away from home seems like a long time ago, but it was only two years. Just find some new friends, and things will be better.”
“I want to believe you, but if you’re upset about people knowing what you look like and you’re as pretty as you are, then what hope do I have of fitting in? I’m younger than almost everybody here, and I’m skinny. To make it worse, I don’t even get the jokes!” Corda was sobbing outright by the time she got done talking.
“At least you don’t look like this!” The stranger said as she gestured at her own body.
“Like what? I think you’re beautiful.”
“Beautiful!? How can THIS be beautiful?”
At first, Corda didn’t understand what the girl was referring to, and she just stared in confusion at the partially-clothed young woman. The girl was much taller than the 13-year-old staring at her, with a voluptuous figure and warm brown-toned skin. Dressed in her undergarments, the younger woman could see that she was nei
ther very muscular or scrawny and looked healthy.
Trying to concentrate, Corda began to look at her with the eye of a Healer, cataloging different characteristics and facts as she saw them. After mentally tabulating general details of the woman’s flushed skin and discernible beating pulse in the neck, Corda finally realized that the glint on the woman’s torso was not a cosmetic. Instead, fine, iridescent scales covered the girl’s body between where her upper undergarments ended and the lower undergarments started.
“Oh, how beautiful,” Corda whispered. She leaned forward to see the fantastic sparkle from a closer distance.
The stranger backed up, wrapping her arms around the middle of her body and gasped in shock. “What do you mean, beautiful?”
Corda once more stood up and channeled her beloved grandmother, stating in an assertive tone, “Your skin is beautiful! Haven’t you seen all the people dumping glitter all over their skin to get the same sparkle that you have automatically? How can you be ashamed of that?”
The other woman stared at her for a split second before dropping her arms down her sides and answering Corda with tears in her eyes, “It tells everyone that I’m a halfbreed and I have been bullied about that from both sides of the family, and at every school I have attended.”
Placing her small fists on her hips, Corda stated once more, “We just won’t let them bully you. There is no reason you should be apologetic for who and what you are, and you are beautiful.” The silence stretched on for a second or two before Corda added, “By the way, I am Corda Watern, and if anybody makes fun of you, you just let me know!”
Almost in a daze, the older girl said, “Thank you, Corda. However, you are younger than I am, so how can you prevent people from making fun of me? How can somebody as small as you are, manage to protect me?”