by B. T. Narro
When he had the chance, he gathered a cluster of BE and felt for the extra heaviness that he’d experienced in Nick’s room yet not in his own. There it was, like a scent in the air, waiting for his mind to grab. He could make a portal here.
He let his bastial energy disperse, then tried again. As expected, the feeling was gone. So I can only open a portal after first gathering enough BE.
A realization struck him. The training center in Oakshen, Nick’s room, and now the Group One training area—he could only make portals where mages had gathered bastial energy before. There must be lasting effects from squeezing large amounts of BE together. Thousands of spells had been cast in each of the three areas where Basen could create portals. Nick trained in his room all last year, yet his roommate then was a warrior, which was why it didn’t work in Basen’s room now.
Something felt hot against his leg. The akorell bracelet in my pocket. He moved to put himself behind everyone and took it out for a look. The stone glowed orange, now emanating too much heat for him to keep in his pocket. He hastily buried it beneath a thin layer of sand, thankful the day was nearly done so it wouldn’t have to be there long before he had a chance to put it somewhere else.
It must’ve charged quickly because of all the bastial energy being drawn past it by mages forming fireballs.
Good to know the process can be rushed.
This was all too perfect. He had a place outside of his house to make a portal, and he had the akorell stone to strengthen the spell. He would practice tonight.
But first I need protection against the murderer.
*****
Basen needed to wait for the rest of his class to leave for supper before retrieving Alabell’s buried akorell bracelet. Effie didn’t believe his excuse that he wanted to stay and practice, so she waited with him until everyone else had left except for Penny.
Now that they had some privacy, he told her what she wanted to hear: the truth. He didn’t want to practice but needed to move the akorell bracelet back to his house. It was too hot to conceal in his pocket and too bright to wear on his wrist.
“Then put it below my neck on the back of my training robe,” Effie suggested. “My hair will cover it.”
With Penny focusing on whatever she was writing, Basen quickly dug out the akorell bracelet and slid one side down Effie’s back.
“I hope your hair doesn’t burn,” he said.
“If it does, I’ll tell people it was an errant spell from you that did it.” She fluffed her black hair around the glowing akorell stone.
“That’s just what Penny wants to hear.”
“How does it look?”
There was still some visible light pushing through her lush hair. “It’s good enough as long as no one gets too close to your back.”
“My friends know by now not to startle me, so it should be fine.”
They started to leave, but Penny called out for Basen to wait.
He whispered to Effie, “Put the stone somewhere in your house where no one will find it. If I don’t see you in the dining hall, I’ll come by later.”
She nodded and hurried off before Penny came too close.
“Mage Penny, can I apologize?” Basen asked.
She seemed surprised as she nodded.
He swallowed all of his pride, the feeling bitter in his stomach. “I’ve thought about it more and have come to realize that you were right to scold me. I put myself and my classmates in danger. I was too focused on showing you what I was capable of, and I let it distract me. I’m sorry. I won’t cast any other spells that will put myself or anyone else at risk.” He was thankful there were no psychics around to hear that last part. Later that very night he would be practicing a spell that he believed could get him killed.
“That’s what I wanted to speak to you about.” Her tone was as if his words had done nothing to alleviate her frustration. “You have been dangerous, and I can’t allow that to continue. We need everyone training hard but safely so we don’t injure each other. I want you to keep no secrets from me. The more I can trust you, the more I can allow you to push the boundaries of your limits. I would be a fool not to see that you have great potential with bastial energy. But for every legendary mage who reached old age, there were five others with the same potential who were killed by their own power before ever becoming known. Let me help you be the former and not the latter.”
“Thank you. Your help is invaluable.”
“I’m glad you think that way, because I know you have something planned with Effie.” Penny folded her arms. “I’m seeing the same look on your face that I’ve learned to watch for on hers. Tell me what it is so I can help you.”
Perhaps Penny hadn’t been as distracted by her writing as Basen had thought. He could lie, and she probably would never hear of him using the akorell stone later that night in her classroom’s training area. But the thought of a new ally and shedding the need for secrecy was too tempting to ignore.
“Alabell brought an akorell stone from the castle. She’s given it to me to practice—.”
“Casting fireballs like the one seen at the start of the battle. I’m glad you’re admitting to what I already knew. The bandage on your hand gave it away.”
So this was a test. “Yes, and now I think it’s important I learn how to safely use the akorell stone.”
“I do, too, however it’s not your decision who gets to practice with the bracelet. That’s for Terren to decide. Give it to me so I can take it to him.”
Damn. He wondered what would happen if he defied her request. She would probably find some way of getting it herself, and then the rancor would return to their relationship.
There was something that didn’t feel quite right about this, though. Why was Penny so adamant about Basen giving the akorell stone to her?
“I could take it to Terren right now,” Basen tested.
“Where is it?”
If she wasn’t going to be direct, then neither was he. “I’m not carrying it with me.”
“Basen, all forms of akorell stones are dangerous. Even the ones fastened to bracelets can still cause fires if stored incorrectly. Take me to the stone now, and then I’ll bring it to Terren.” She lifted her hands. “It may return to you once we see you’re the most fit to wield it. But I can’t allow such a weapon to remain in any student’s possession without first having the headmaster assess it. Cleve encountered the same situation with his bastial steel sword. It was decided that no one can wield the weapon like he can, and you will have your chance to prove the same thing with the akorell stone. Now let’s go retrieve it.” She gestured for him to walk.
Feeling hesitant about this whole thing, Basen tried to come up with an excuse. But as he led her toward Effie’s house, he realized it was futile. Eventually he gave in and explained his fellow mage had taken it for the moment to move it somewhere safe.
They knocked on the front door to Effie’s campus house. Alex answered, surprising Penny, it seemed, as she whipped her head back.
“You’re that warrior, Alex Baom, aren’t you?” Penny spoke with disdain that was lost on Basen. Perhaps she didn’t like students consorting with each other?
“Hello, Mage Penny.” He was his usual friendly self, showing a gentle smile in spite of her attitude. “How can I help you and Basen?”
“We need to come in.” Penny stepped forward, but Alex blocked her path.
“For what?”
“To get something from Effie,” Penny replied. Her level of eagerness to get to the stone had become somewhat alarming.
Alex held his arm across the doorway. “She’s in the dining hall.”
“Then I need to search through her room.”
“Why?”
Penny folded her arms. “This isn’t your house, and I’m asking you to let me in.”
“Ask, demand, it won’t matter.” The amity dropped out of his voice. “I don’t know if Effie wants you searching through her room, and the only people who can do that
without her permission are the headmaster, the king’s liaison, any of the master classes, or if you have a signed decree from any of those. Do you?”
Penny spun to direct her look of angst at Basen. “Make sure you bring the akorell stone to me by the end of the night.”
“Shouldn’t I bring it to Terren if that’s where you’re taking it anyway?”
“Bring it to me first and we’ll take it to Terren together, if that’s what you wish. I want to speak with him about it.” She turned to face Alex. “Your brother was an honorable man. In case you didn’t know, I was a student at the Academy at the same time as he was.” Judging by her swing of emotion, it seemed that there was a lot she wasn’t saying. “He was born to lead, and he did a perfect job until the very end.”
Penny left abruptly, appearing as if she was holding back tears.
Alex didn’t move as his gaze fell to his feet. Basen stepped up and clasped his shoulder. “Are you all right?”
Alex seemed to come back to reality, his head jerking up and slowly forming a sad smile. “Did you know it was your uncle who caused my brother’s death?”
“Your brother must’ve been Hem Baom. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
Alex gestured for Basen to come in. “There’s no one left alive to blame for that, and you’re not at fault, either.”
He brought Basen to Effie’s room and opened a drawer. Basen saw the akorell bracelet sitting on a block of hardened sartious energy so as to keep the drawer protected from the heat.
“This is where she put it. Would you like it back?”
“Here’s fine for now. Is she really at the dining hall?
“Yes. She wanted to speak with Steffen as soon as possible. The chemist always seems to know ahead of everyone else what’s happening, as he did with the war last year. Most likely because he spends an inordinate amount of time with Chemist Master Jack, who works closely with Terren. I was going to meet Effie after I showered. Would you like to wait for me and walk together?”
“I could use a shower as well, while the water’s still warm. I’ll meet you back here?”
“Sure.”
Basen returned home to find his house empty. Annah was either still in battle training or in the dining hall. He grabbed his towel and hurried to the nearby bathhouse, where he showered and then wore the towel back to his house.
There were many sensations he’d forgotten about during his time at the workhouse: walking through the brisk air after a warm bath, or shower in this case; a sense of pride in his appearance now that he no longer wore rags or was covered in dirt; the trailing gazes of women, more so when he wore only a towel like he did now. It felt good to be part of the Academy.
After being exiled from Tenred toward the end of the last war, Basen had considered himself lucky that at least he hadn’t had to fight. But now that he had something worth fighting for—friends, a home, his remaining family—he was happy to fight. But he needed to know if his father was still alive. He longed to breathe easier once again.
He dressed and hurried to Effie’s house, where he knew Alex was waiting. Basen felt that he’d gotten to know the talented swordsman well. Whether it was on purpose or not, Alex always put him at ease. He was a kind man, especially for a warrior, and Basen found himself wondering what he’d done to earn Alex’s favor. The only thing he could think of was that it came from being friends with Effie, but most men would treat Basen with more distance because of that.
They started toward the dining hall at a leisurely pace. “Do you like it here so far?” Alex asked.
“I do, but I would like it more if war wasn’t coming. Do you mind if I ask you something before I forget?”
“Go ahead.”
“Has Penny always been like that around you?”
“Like what?”
“You didn’t notice? Like you’ve gone behind her back about something.”
Alex chuckled. “That’s exactly what happened, so it makes sense she would act that way. But she certainly has never brought up my brother and his honor before. I’m sure she was trying to guilt me about what I did.”
“And what did you do?”
“I spoke to Mage Trela the morning after evaluation week was done, just before the lists were posted.”
“You’re the one who spoke to her on my behalf?” Basen was incredulous.
Alex shrugged. “All I did was tell the truth about you. After everything Effie had told me, there was more than enough evidence that you should be in Group One.”
Basen could think of nothing to say. Words weren’t enough to fully express his gratitude anyway.
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You don’t need to. I was just doing what everyone does for each other around here. We’re all fighting together, so we should train where it benefits us the most. You deserve to be with the other top mages, and your improvement is just as helpful to me and the others as it is to you.” The tall warrior leaned down toward Basen’s ear. “I could tell Effie wanted to speak to Trela to get you into Group One, but she never mentioned it to me. She must’ve been worried about how it would appear to bring it up, let alone ask for you to join her group. With Effie and I being a couple, she probably worried about giving me the impression that she was interested in more than just a friendship with you.” Alex straightened and showed a wry smile. “Given the attention you get from women, I can understand the worry. But I trust her, and I’ve grown to trust you.” He shrugged. “I was just doing the right thing.”
“You have to let me do something for you in return.”
“Just train hard, and I’m sure one day you will.”
There weren’t many men like Alex. This was a friend Basen didn’t want to lose. He seemed to be gaining more of them in his short time at the Academy than he had in his previous life at the castle in Tenred.
“Speaking of training, I plan to use the akorell stone before I’m obligated to hand it over to Penny. But I fear that Nick was killed because I made the portal in his room.”
“I’ve wondered the same thing. So you haven’t practiced since that night?”
“Right.” Basen was somewhat impressed Alex had come to the same conclusion with so much less information to go on. “But tonight I would like to go to the Group One mage training area and see if I can open a full-sized portal with the stone. I was hoping you and Effie could come with me. We could get Jack Rose and the headmaster, who both know about it as well. That should keep us protected in case the killer attacks again. It might even lure him or her out.”
“The sooner we can find that bastard, the better. How about inviting Cleve, Reela, and Steffen?”
“I’d rather keep this known to as few people as possible. If news of my ability gets back to the murderer, it could be my death. That’s why I’m not risking making the portal in my house.”
“Then it should be fine with just the five of us.”
They met Effie at the dining hall, Alex sitting beside her and sharing a kiss while Basen settled in front of them. It no longer caused even a spark of jealousy to see them together like it did the first time.
“I found out who spoke to Trela on my behalf, Effie,” he said, then raised his eyebrows at Alex.
She spun to face him. “Did you think I was asking you to do that?” She seemed worried.
He took her hands. “No, I just did what was best for the school. Doesn’t he deserve to be in Group One?”
Effie smiled, surprised yet in awe.
“Don’t take too long to answer,” Basen nudged.
“Reela was right,” Effie told Alex.
“What did she say about me?”
“That you would make a good headmaster one day.”
Alex chuckled. “I remember that. She made the comment as a joke after I delivered a rousing speech to make everyone drink with us.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s right.”
When their conversation eventually halted, Basen jumped in. “I left the akore
ll stone in your room, Effie. But Penny has demanded that I bring it to her so she can give it to Terren. I was hoping we could use it before then.” He went on to explain what he and Alex had discussed on the way to the dining hall.
Effie agreed that protection was a good idea, however she didn’t think Jack or Terren were necessary. “They’ll just stop us from using it once they find out,” she argued. “The three of us can handle one murdering psychic anyway. Alex and I are trained to resist psyche.”
Alex leaned across the table to whisper loudly, “Eff still needs a lot of practice to reach my level.”
“Doesn’t matter,” she said flippantly. “Whoever it is would be a fool to attack the three of us. There’s no need to get instructors involved. Like I said, they’ll just take the stone away.”
Basen looked to Alex but found that he was already staring back at Basen. They both shared a worried expression, yet neither of them spoke up.
Effie went on, “I still find it hard to believe that Nick died just because you made a portal in his room. I think you might be wrong about that and there’s no one out there who can feel when a portal has been made.”
“Whether or not that’s true,” Basen said, “I still think we should bring Jack and Terren.”
“Fine, but just be aware that you’re risking having the stone taken away.”
Basen looked around for the instructors as he finished eating. They tended to stick to their own tables when they did make appearances in the dining hall. Many instructors used their kitchens, instead, for their houses were equipped with ovens unlike the student houses.
An oven! That’s it!
“Basen?” Effie leaned away from him. “You look like you shat your pants.”
“I just realized what I was looking at when I made the previous portals,” he whispered, and Effie leaned back in. “The first time I created a portal was in the training center. I was having trouble grasping the sartious energy that was absent from my wand, so I thought back to my initial training when I used to practice forming fireballs outside an oven in one of Tenred’s kitchens. I often wanted to cast at night and this kitchen was the only place I could go within the castle where the noise of my spells wouldn’t wake anyone, so it became my sanctuary when it wasn’t in use. Whenever I’ve struggled to make fire, I think back to that oven where I spent so many hours. The portal led to my usual spot in that kitchen, in front of the oven. The reason we saw fire on the other end at one point and then no fire later is because the oven was out by then. I believe this means I can control where the portals go as long as it’s a place where a portal can be created—a place where enough bastial energy has been pulled together over time.”