by Alex C Vick
“This evening,” I confirmed.
Chapter 13 - Another Match, Another Problem
I walked home, wanting some fresh air after all the drama with Nico. Quite soon, though, I regretted my choice not to open a portal. It was nearly lunchtime, and my eyes were scratchy with tiredness.
I was passing the Exchange Station when I heard someone calling my name. I’d taken this route because it was the fastest way through the city, and I’d been hopeful everyone I knew would be at the Seminary.
Then I remembered. It was the end of the week. No wonder it was so busy. Everyone would be calculating their surplus and using it for something fun. Entertainment, clothing, food and drink, books, remedies. The Exchange Station had them all.
Androva didn’t have a physical currency like Terra. We had no gold coins or precious jewels. But everyone of Seminary age or above was given an account at the Exchange.
No less than once a week, we updated our record book of what we’d earned and what we’d taken. After the Exchange had endorsed it, we were free to spend the difference, or save it, as we wished.
Unlike the Seminary, with its straight edges, this was a large circular building. It always seemed much bigger on the inside, with the rows and rows of stalls that radiated out from the reconciliation desks at the centre.
My first few times, it had been overwhelming. The amount of magical energy in the air had disoriented me completely.
Magicians of age never came here at the week’s end. There were too many underage magicians creating too much chaos, with their indecision and excitement and chattering voices.
Now I found it much less impressive. I was pretty sure I could get round the Endorsement Spell too, but there was no need. Working at the Foundation gave me more than enough credit.
Besides, I had no desire to cheat. I could get most things by using magic. And what I wanted most could not be found at the Exchange Station anyway.
“Galen? Galen, I thought it was you.”
Evander came up to me with a big grin. He was holding a remedy bottle.
I smiled back, pushing away my exhaustion. It had been ages since I’d spoken to him, and he was still my friend.
“Have you heard? Floria and I are going to be matched!”
He looked delighted. I was glad for him.
“First girlfriend, huh?” I said. “No messing about for you then.”
“You only need one girlfriend if she’s the right one,” he said slightly defensively. “Once you know, you know.”
I flashed back to my first proper kiss. I had known then it would only ever be Claudia. I nodded.
“Like the whole point of the sun coming up is to shine on her,” I said.
He raised his eyebrows.
“At least that’s what I’ve been told,” I added, kicking myself when I saw the curiosity on his face.
“You seem to understand it pretty well,” he said.
I managed to keep my mouth shut. I knew if I denied it, I’d probably end up making things worse.
“What have you been doing anyway?” he asked. “You look shattered. Like a double History class just landed on your face.”
“I’m alright. I spent the night on Terra.”
“You’re so lucky. I hope they let us ordinary magicians go there one day. Is it true they kill each other for entertainment? That would be really cool to watch.”
“What?” I said, genuinely horrified. “How do you know that? And why would you want to watch people cut each other to pieces in the arena?”
“So they really do it then? Like a show at Spring Festival? Is there a lot of blood?”
He looked at me eagerly, waiting for my answer, and then noticed the scowl on my face.
“They’re not people, Galen, they’re Terrans,” he said, looking puzzled. “Professor Cassius says Androva must maintain the distinction. And one of the Council came to the Seminary this week to give us a talk—”
He winced. I had taken hold of his arm, more forcefully than I’d intended.
“What talk? What were you told?”
“Grabbing me and interrupting isn’t the best way to find out.”
He pulled his arm back, and I apologised.
“It was the usual stuff about how great the Council is and the importance of the Code. We get visited twice a year, you know how it works. Bah, blah, blah.
“But this time he said something about the other worlds too. And particularly Terra. That the beings there are like animals. Lawbreakers and pleasure seekers.”
I was feeling sick.
“Who told you this?”
“Um…. Mirrem. He said his name was Mirrem.”
There was a buzzing in my ears. Mirrem. The worst possible person to be spreading such a one-sided view. He’s never going to listen to an argument from me. He hates me. Every time I presented to the Council, he folded his arms and stared.
He never asked any questions, and he never made any comments, but his face always looked like thunder.
“What is it, Galen? He mentioned your name when he was presenting the research. We were all kind of proud we knew you.”
“Sorry, I have to go. I’m really tired,” I said, backing away from him. I needed to be alone to deal with this. I was in danger of saying something I’d regret.
“Well… We’re having a party next week for the matching. I’d really like it if you’d be there.”
“Maybe,” I said. “Look, I’ll try,” I added, seeing his disappointment.
When I arrived back home, things got worse. Sitting in the reception room with my parents was none other than Mirrem himself.
I thought he was a figment of my imagination, created by my exhaustion and the fact I’d been thinking of no one else since I left Evander.
“Ah, Galen, there you are,” said my father.
“You look very tired,” added my mother, getting up to fetch a remedy from the side table.
She curled my fingers around the glass when I didn’t take it straight away. I was still standing at the entrance to the room, trying to swallow the wave of anger that threatened to escape my mouth in a rush of indignant words at the sight of him.
I looked down at the remedy.
“No… I need to sleep.”
“Just a few sips,” my mother said. “Mirrem has been waiting to talk to you.”
My anger turned to scorn.
He’s been waiting, has he? And that’s my problem because…? Oh, wait. It’s not my problem.
“Please have a seat, Galen.”
Is he smiling? What’s going on? Without thinking, I lifted the remedy to my lips and swallowed some. I felt less tired almost immediately.
Wanting to face whatever this was head-on, I took the chair next to him. He leaned forward.
“I owe you an apology.”
I was speechless. Of all the things I might have expected him to say, there was no way an apology would have figured on the list.
“I can see you’re surprised. Allow me to explain. When I saw you at your partner’s coming of age ceremony, I believed you to be the most dangerous kind of underage magician. One whose magical ability far outweighed his maturity.
“I had heard of your special circumstances, and when I met you I was convinced you were not worthy of such indulgence.”
I opened my mouth to say something insulting, then decided to close it again. I might as well hear him out.
“And I was so sure you had touched the Finality Spell…”
He waited. I remained silent, unwilling to repeat the lie I had told him before.
He continued.
“I am delighted you have proved me wrong. The way you have reported your observations about Terra is admirable.
“A true Researcher puts objectivity above all. Showing the bad alongside the good, without personal bias. I am impressed.”
No, no, no . I could see the pleased expressions of my parents at the corners of my vision, but all I could feel inside was panic.
&nb
sp; In praising me, he had just destroyed my plan. He would not think me impartial at all when I suggested marrying a Terran.
Do the rest of the Council think the same? And what about Professor Cassius? Am I doomed to fail before I’ve even tried to convince them?
I told myself to calm down. I hadn’t expected to have Mirrem’s support anyway. But it was very unsettling to know I was accepting his compliments under false pretences. He was being so reasonable.
“Um… Thank you,” I said, when it became obvious he was waiting for me to respond.
“There is something else,” he went on. My mother beamed, and I gave her a wary look.
“I hear you recently passed the last part of the year five assessment at the Seminary. Therefore you will come of age soon. My younger sister…”
Mentally, I said a Roman swear word. I wanted to put my head in my hands. I could see exactly where this was going.
“She is nearly sixteen. A year behind you. She is not matched yet, and I would like to introduce you to her.”
I stared at the remedy glass, afraid I was going to laugh hysterically if I looked directly at anyone.
“Um—hmmm.”
I made a non-committal noise. Come on, Galen, you can do better than that.
“I’d be… ummm… happy to meet her.”
“Excellent. I will set something up.”
He got to his feet and thanked my parents for their hospitality. I watched him leave without saying anything, and my mother urged me to go to my room and sleep.
“I’m so proud of you, Galen,” she said.
My father nodded.
“I can hardly believe what you’ve accomplished. Sometimes I remember our conversation after your Sygnus adoption. To think we once joked about whether I would support your choices!”
I tried to smile back. I loved my parents, but they no longer knew me. I had grown up and apart from them. I wondered if such a gap could ever be closed. Perhaps age and experience only widened it. I hoped not.
I fell asleep faster than I had expected to. When I woke up, my parents had gone out to visit friends for the evening. I joined Serena in the kitchen for a snack before I went back to the Foundation.
“Should I bow?” she asked with a grin. “I hear you’re marrying into the Council.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t.”
“I know her. Celeste, I mean. She’s OK. Keeps herself to herself, but then so do you.”
I wasn’t even a tiny bit curious. She wasn’t Claudia Marcella. End of conversation.
“Galen…”
I looked up from my bread and cheese.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“I wouldn’t. You never know what the outcome will be with a tiny mind like yours.”
“Ha, ha. Spoken by one who would know.”
We smiled at each other.
“It occurred to me I might have been jumping to the wrong conclusion,” she continued.
“About what?”
“Your lack of girlfriends.”
I said nothing.
“Maybe you’re not alone because you haven’t found anyone. Maybe it’s because you have, but they just don’t want you back.”
I laughed before I could help myself. Claudia definitely wanted me back.
Serena looked at me.
“You do have someone,” she said slowly, starting to smile. Her smile grew bigger. “Who is she? And why is it a secret?”
“I… I don’t know if I can tell you.”
“She obviously makes you happy. I already like her.”
I made a decision. Perhaps it was the right time. And after the shock of Mirrem’s visit and Nico’s revelations of the night before, I suddenly wanted to confide in her very much.
“I promise not to tell anyone,” she said, before I could even open my mouth. “You don’t have to ask me that, Gale. You know you can trust me.”
“I know. It’s just… This secret is kind of bigger than anything I’ve ever told you.”
I started to explain, and she gradually stopped eating, more interested in what I was saying than in the food on her plate.
By the time I had finished, and she had stopped asking questions, it was dark outside.
“Two things,” she said. “Firstly, you must find a way to be with Claudia. Even if you have to go and live on Terra. You’ll regret it forever if you don’t.”
I was so relieved.
“You don’t think I’m crazy then?”
“No. I think you’re lucky. It sounds like she’s your perfect match.”
“And the second thing?” I asked.
“Be very, very careful. My heart breaks for Nico and what he’s been through. What he’s still going through. But it makes him dangerous. You can’t predict what he’ll do next.”
I shook my head. “He would never betray me.”
“And what if he thinks you’ve betrayed him first? What then?”
“I haven’t! I wouldn’t!”
“That’s not what I said. It’s what he believes that matters. First his father let him down, then Krysta.
“If he thinks he’s been betrayed for a third time, and by you of all people, it might push him over the edge.”
I hoped she was wrong. But it wouldn’t hurt to be careful, like she suggested. I’d already decided not to tell Nico about Claudia just yet anyway.
I rubbed my face. The evening was only just beginning, and I was already feeling tired again.
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but can I add a third thing?” she said.
“Like you’d stop talking if I told you no,” I replied, only half joking.
“Please teach me the Communication Spell?”
“What?”
“Not right now, obviously, but at some point… It sounds like the most amazing thing, and I need to be able to talk to my brother’s wife, after all…”
I laughed.
“When you put it like that,” I said, “how could I refuse?”
I left for the Foundation feeling apprehensive, but calmer. It was good to know Serena was on my side.
When I arrived, Nico was already waiting.
Chapter 14 - Mountain Of Fire
“Everything OK?” I said.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
He folded his arms.
“Look, Nico…” I began, then trailed off. I was having major second thoughts by now. If he was already on the defensive, this was going to be a disaster.
We stared at each other for a few seconds, and then he sighed.
“Sorry. Everything’s as OK as it can be. Under the circumstances.”
I sat down next to him, like before, and held out my hand. The spell appeared with almost no effort on my part, getting easier each time I projected it.
He put his own hand forwards. The blue in mine swirled against the silver in his, remaining separate as long as I did nothing.
“It’s going to hurt at first,” I warned him.
“What? How do you know that?”
Good question. How do you know that, Galen?
I gave what must have been the least convincing shrug in the history of lying.
“Well, I just can’t see how else it can break past your force field into your thoughts… It’s bound to be painful.”
“I suppose…” he replied.
Before he could think about it for too much longer, I pushed the spell forwards.
It was more difficult than with Claudia. Much more. But I was a powerful magician, and I used everything I had. Eventually, his force field admitted the spell.
Frantically, he tried to pull his hand away. Of course, he could not. I closed my eyes, partly so I wouldn’t have to see his expression, and partly because the flood of memories was overwhelming.
Nico, so happy to be a magician at last. Tentatively seeking his father’s approval. Trying very hard to learn the lessons asked of him.
Faltering. Trying again. Failing. Starting to doubt himself.
Fear creeping in. Learning how to hide it. Becoming the Seminary rebel. Punishment. Pain. More pain.
Androva help me, the pain.
I was trying to pull my own hand back now. What I had seen that time in the training room was only a tiny part of it.
Professor Cassius should suffer the Spell of Removal. It is evil to use magic for such a purpose.
Nico meeting me. Slowly beginning to hope again. He liked me. He learned to trust me. We won his freedom, and the thought of it sparkled in his head like sunlight on water.
Then… uneasiness. Fear again. Comparing himself to me.
Oh. He really had liked Talia. He’d asked her out, and she’d said no.
Coming of age. Krysta promising to look after him, then the slow, horrifying realisation she despised him instead. And everything his father had told him was true.
In less than a minute, I’d seen his life story, and I felt the sorrow and rage burn in my chest.
“No!” I shouted, inside my head.
“No, what?” he replied, slightly dazed.
“Just no,” I repeated. “This is not who you are. You’re a good person and a brilliant magician, Nico…”
“Wait. Everything I just remembered. You saw that? You felt that?”
There was a pause. The spell was sending me his emotions. Disbelief and wonder, turning to embarrassment and then misery.
“Hey,” I said silently.
Then I shared the memory of my year one assessment.
Reluctantly he smiled.
“I could never quite imagine what it must have been like. He really fought the Sleep Remedy, didn’t he?
“I’m glad,” he added fiercely. “I’m glad he gave it everything and still lost.”
“Me too.”
“So… that was kind of amazing. It felt like I was you. Reliving your memory.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “It’s more than just conversation. We can communicate everything.”
“But can’t I control what you see? All that stuff from before…”
He made a face.
“I didn’t want to share it. Not with anyone. If I’d realised…”
“I’m sorry. I think that’s how the spell opens up your ability. It probably won’t happen again.”