by Jessa Ford
“Astute observation, Miss Vaunderly. Where did you happen to find this information?” “I had to dig deep, but if I remember correctly, it was in an editorial on page three of the Telgrian Times. Issue 124 I believe.” Something shifted in Dari’s eyes, but she concealed whatever thoughts she had almost immediately. “Do you always remember information with such specificity?” Cora blushed and shrugged a shoulder, “I guess so. I’ve always had a really great memory. It’s probably because I read constantly. My parents tell me I have my head in a book more often than not.” As she stammered her response, Dari knocked over a stack of papers she had been rearranging on the counter. Cora caught them without breaking her train of thought and returned them to the counter. “In that case, I’ll see what else I can dig up for you. See me on your way out and I’ll have some other books that may be of interest.” Cora smiled and set off to find a place to read for the day.
As she did most weekends, Cora lost herself in her reading and missed lunch. She often pulled herself out of the library during the early afternoon and scoured the dining center for anything left over. That or Soph would plead with Cora to accompany her to an event. At first Cora thought Soph wanted company, but the more time passed it was obvious Soph was doing it for Cora’s benefit. Soph easily blended into the social fabrics of Starbury. Cora preferred to stay on the periphery, but she had to admit it was nice to be included. It was so unlike her previous school experiences that sometimes Cora allowed herself to be happy about her current situation. It was nice, too, to have a friend aside from Willem. When the library clock struck one signaling the shift from morning to afternoon, Cora pulled herself from her nook.
On the way out of the library, Cora stopped by Dari’s desk. She was gone, but a folded piece of paper with Cora’s name on it was nestled between the items on the counter. As promised, Dari provided a lengthy list of new reading material. Cora paused when she walked by Dari’s office. She heard the librarian and another voice speaking hurriedly in low, hushed tones. Though she knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop, Cora couldn’t help but perk up at some of the conversation. “…more students with magical results than recorded…” “…isn’t implausible they’d be here. Blood tests aren’t completed for months since they have to be cross-checked with family records.”
When another student walked by Cora dropped to feign a need to tie her shoes. She stood slowly to leave and tried to catch more of the conversation. “…too soon to tell…we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions.” She wondered why the librarian at Starbury Academy would be concerned about anyone with magical gifts, but the thought quickly left her mind when she stepped onto the path toward the student living quarters. She needed to keep focused on her own plans.
✽✽✽
The next day as Cora sat in her History of Gifts class, the conversation she overhead the day before popped back into her head. Without thinking, she raised her hand. “Yes, Miss Vaunderly?” Her teacher was always happy for any insight Cora provided, which caused Cora slight guilt. She completed all the reading material and knew what would come next in class, after all, so she somewhat felt as if she cheated each time she added to class discussion. “I was reading up on magical gifts and was wondering about something. We know magical gifts have dwindled in years past, specifically Time Benders, right? But do we know the cause? Is there any way to reverse it?” Her teacher paused and Cora could sense he was considering his response carefully.
“The truth is, we don’t know for sure. Many people say it has to do with mixing gifts and the magical blood growing weaker as each generation marries outside of their class. There’s a social impact of the last few years to consider as well.” “A social impact?” Another student spoke out. Cora heard her peers murmuring after their teacher’s response. It was obvious the whole class was interested now.
“Well,” Cora’s teacher looked resolved to continue now that he had everyone’s attention, “I’m sure you all heard stories about Nikol Delmarno and the terror he caused years ago? I imagine many of your parents were here during that time. After the first disappearances, anyone with magical gifts purposely sought out ways to lessen their abilities. Some fled and never returned. Others simply denounced their gifts and opted to work unreadable jobs in hopes it would keep them safe. Either way, for many years people weren’t so willing to be forthcoming with their magical gifts, Time Benders more than any. That became the norm. So, who’s to say there aren’t more students with magical gifts whose parents still hang onto habits from when times were bad?”
Cora remembered the stories her parents told about Nikol Delmarno. He was hellbent on taking as much magical power as he could. For Cora, the stories were nothing more than a nightmare parents told their children when they wanted them to behave. “What happened to him?” Another girl’s hand raised. “To Nikol Delmarno?” Their teacher looked visibly uncomfortable. Before the girl could answer yes or no, another student interrupted, “Eldri Arafo, of course. Everyone knows she was a famous Time Bender and the hero of Telgria.” He stared at the girl as if she’d lived under a rock. Students began to talk at once and their teacher quieted them down. “Okay, okay, that’s enough for our tangent into Telgrian history. Don’t forget you all have a written response due next class for today’s reading.” Cora lost herself in her own thoughts again, trying to make a connection between the snippets of conversation she overheard and her teacher’s analysis of magical gifts, or lack thereof, in Telgria.
✽✽✽
Toward the end of their third week at Starbury, Soph and Cora found themselves in the library on a particularly rainy day. Soph promised Cora at least an hour of studying, and Cora had to keep reminding her friend of their agreement. “I just can’t concentrate, Cora, I truly can’t,” Soph moaned into her books. Conceding, Cora sighed, “Fine. Let me collect a few books to take with me for later and we can leave.” “Great!” Soph clasped her hands and beamed at Cora, and then her face fell. “That reminds me, I should probably duck into the history section and find something for our research paper.” “Soph, that paper was due last week!” Cora’s friend simply smiled meekly. “Better late than never?” Cora shook her head and left in search of her latest list of books.
After begrudgingly climbing the stairs, Cora reached the magical section of the library. It was fitting they’d keep it tucked away on the third level, she thought, as it was doubtful any Unreadable students would need to study it. Magical gifts were nearly impossible to miss in a Reading due to the blood test. If any Unreadables had a magic gift they simply wouldn’t be Unreadable. The book Cora wanted was titled, Magic: Talent or Trade? and boasted a comprehensive summary of all magical gifts and their possible uses.
Cora searched high and low, but failed to locate the book on any of the dimly lit shelves. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she grumbled. “I doubt anyone else even knows this section exists, much less checks these books out.” She turned the corner to peruse the last aisle and one title caught her eye: Light Wielding: Science, Magic, or Art? Light Wielders could generate light and heat, and conduct electricity. They could create fire and often worked with services in the cities from transportation, to lighting, to heat sources in homes and buildings. Newer Light Wielders were hoping to use their talents for more than civil service, so the title of the book piqued Cora’s interest.
She decided to give up her original pursuit and instead climbed the rickety, narrow ladder to retrieve the light wielding book. The shelves had to be nearly ten feet tall and the book Cora wanted was an inconvenient few rows from the top. Thankful for her last minute decision to ditch a skirt for pants, she rolled the ladder as close to the book as possible and swung one leg off to inch herself closer to the book’s spine. It was just within arm’s reach when she heard a crash, followed by a grunt, and felt the ladder wobble beneath her.
Cora barely had time to let out a scream when she suddenly felt both feet planted firmly on one of the ladder’s rungs. She looked around and saw a person sitting below
her, books scattered all around him. He was tall, even from her vantage point, with his lanky legs blocking the whole aisle. He had hair as black as tar and it hung into his eyes ever so slightly with his head turned down. Speaking of eyes, Cora saw two hazel slits begin to glare up at her, prompting an angry reaction of her own.
“You almost knocked me off the ladder!” Cora accused as she quickly descended. “I didn’t see you there in the corner. It’s dark up here,” the boy, or was he a man, argued as he emerged from the floor to stand about a head taller than Cora. “So, it’s my fault this part of the library is poorly lit? What are you even doing back here?” Cora crossed her arms and refused to break eye contact. For whatever reason, this was the last straw for her. Her assailant’s skin was pale, almost white, but she could see the anger begin to color his cheeks. “I happen to work here and I was doing my job,” he gestured to the books lining the floor. “Well, next time check before you barge around a corner and knock a girl to her death.”
Cora huffed and turned to leave. The library worker tousled his hair out of his eyes, “In my defense, you are the first student to visit the magical section in a long time.” Cora snorted and paused. He leaned back against the shelves and crossed his arms as he watched her. One corner of his mouth lifted. She couldn’t tell if he was studying her or mocking her. “Other people actually check these books out?” “Generally, no. It won’t do them much good to learn about a gift they clearly don’t possess,” he raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh, well excuse me for seeing the value in knowledge.” Cora turned on her heel and left quickly, nearly running into Soph when she finally rounded the last set of stairs and arrived back on the first floor.
“Woah, slow down, what’s the rush?” Soph’s green eyes sparkled with curiosity. Cora was clearly agitated, which was out of character for the usually quiet, bookish girl. Soph grabbed her arm to stop her. “Some jerk almost knocked me off a ladder in the magical section, which was apparently a side effect of his job” Cora said the last part in air quotes. Soph nodded knowingly. “You must mean Xave.” “I didn’t get around to asking his name, but I honestly could not care less. Worse, I didn’t get the book I came for.” “Mmm, let me think...tall? Dark hair? Mysterious and brooding in kind of handsome way?” “That was him,” Cora groaned and added quickly, “except for the handsome and brooding part. What’s his deal?”
Soph looped her arm with Cora’s and lead them toward the door. “He’s the assistant Dari told us about. I heard he graduated from here a few years ago. He got a job with Dari after graduation. I guess he’s just biding his time until one of his gifts is readable. That or until a better job for Unreadables becomes available,” Soph shrugged. “That explains why he was kind of a jerk. I can’t imagine being Unreadable and not even getting a job after my two years here.” Cora sighed, imaging a very real possibility for her future.
“Even you have to admit, he is kind of cute in like a tortured, secretive kind of way,” Soph nudged Cora who brushed her off. “Do you ever think of anything other than boys lately?” It had been a favorite topic of conversation for Soph since they’d attended a get together a few days earlier, and Soph chatted with a second-year student the entire time. Soph gave a scandalized expression and then responded with a smile, “Yes, for small portions of my days, when I’m not wallowing in my own self-pity about my perpetually late assignments. Besides, it wouldn’t kill you to take up a hobby. It would get your mind off everything. Isn’t there anyone you’re even a little interested in?”
Cora’s mind instantly thought of Willem and wondered how he was enjoying the School of Building. Based on his last letter he seemed well-adjusted. She imagined him, still disheveled of course, learning to use his new gifts. “Hello? Co-ra?” Soph was about a yard ahead of Cora on the path back to their building. “Oh, right, coming,” Cora jogged to catch up to her smirking friend. “Just what I thought.” “What you thought about what?” Cora turned to look at Soph who was practically grinning, “You are interested in someone!” And with that, Soph took off running toward her room before Cora could elbow her in response, her tight curls swaying back and forth as she ran.
✽✽✽
Xave picked up the last book from the mess on the library floor and scolded himself. He wondered why he had allowed himself get so worked up over some new student. Maybe he was letting the grim outcome of his recent discoveries cloud his judgment toward others. The girl he nearly knocked over was angry and kind of sad at the same time. Her long auburn hair looked like fire where the light caught it, emphasizing her anger. There was certainly desperation in her dark brown eyes when he mentioned students not needing to learn about magical gifts, and for a moment Xave felt a twinge of empathy for the small, pushy girl. He couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to be told you essentially have no readable gifts and no future prospects--worse to be forced to study them all in hopes one of yours is just waiting to be unleashed.
“This is taking you a surprisingly long time to finish today, Xavier.” Dari’s shaky voice preceded her arrival. Her voice was a facade, however, because the elderly librarian was anything but shaky. “You of all people could have replaced these books faster than it takes me to read one of their titles,” she surveyed the work he’d been doing with amusement. “Sorry, I had to use my...skill earlier. I almost knocked someone off a ladder, and you know I don't like using it too much out in the open.”
Xave never felt comfortable talking about his gift, even though he knew Dari would never mention it unless she was absolutely certain they were alone. “Oh, so that was you? I thought I heard some ruckus earlier,” Dari picked up a book and put it in its rightful place on the shelf without taking her eyes off Xave. “Yes, I apologize. It was just one of the new first-year students.” “Just?” Dari mused. “I have no reason to believe otherwise. She’s here, isn’t she?” “Is anybody really just anything?” Dari smiled knowingly and turned to leave, “Be sure to lock up on your way out.” Before Xave could respond, he was alone, without even the slightest trace of any other person in the nearby vicinity.
SIX
When Cora entered the student living quarters, she stopped by the mailboxes on the first floor. Soph’s comments made her think of Willem, and she realized she hadn’t heard from him. Though it had only been a short time, her last two letters to Willem went unanswered. She imagined he was engrossed in his studies at the School of Building, but it bothered her nonetheless. Wriggling her key in the old metal lock, she swung the door open only to find it empty again.
Disappointed, she shifted the heavy books in her arms and made her way back to her room. Like clockwork, Soph knocked on the door a few minutes later. It had become habit for the girls to spend their evenings together. While Cora didn’t have to study due to her continual overpreparation, it was evident Soph had no desire to study. “Aren’t you eager to request a second Reading?” Cora badgered her friend as she watched Soph rummage through Cora’s nearly empty closet. Soph wrinkled her nose at a few pieces and shrugged, “I guess I’m not in any big hurry to go anywhere or be anything.” She plopped down on a pillow at the foot of Cora’s bed. Cora lay on her stomach with her head rested on her hands. “I’m counting down the days,” she grumbled, turning over and letting her hair spill off the bed.
“You know,” Soph said, ignoring her friend’s previous comment, “we could really do something with this hair if you’d ever let me style it for you.” Cora merely raised an eyebrow. “Really, Cor, I get that you have the whole studious, bookworm thing down, but we could go out, socialize, let loose a little? I mean what did you and your old friends used to do?” Cora laughed and sat up. “My old friend would be more accurate, and, I don’t know, we just talked, went on walks...nothing too exciting…” Cora thought back to the hours and days she’d spent with Willem over the past few years.
As they grew older they stopped running around outside and started studying together, or spending time at each other’s home. For all Cora knew, it was how anyon
e would pass time with friends. Soph was in disbelief. “Cora, you only had one friend before me? That’s impossible.” Cora simply nodded. “Willem,” she offered. “You had a boyfriend?” Soph’s eyes lit up. She was intrigued, but Cora just laughed. “No, not a boyfriend, a boy friend. A friend...who is also a boy.” Much to her dismay, Soph was not content to change the subject. She jumped on the bed with Cora, eyes wide, “Tell me everything!” She almost bounced with excitement.
Cora recounted her history with her only friend. She found it was nice to have someone else to talk to, especially when it came to her complicated feelings for him. “So, now you write letters to each other?” Soph grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest. “It’s just so romantic. I can’t even imagine!” “It isn’t meant to be romantic. At least I don’t think. Plus, he hasn’t even responded in over a week.” “He’s probably just busy?” Soph proposed. She was rooting for her friend. It seemed like Cora could use a little distraction from the doom and gloom that hovered over her like a dark cloud.
She had to admit, as much as she’d grown to like Cora, the girl needed something to pull her out of the depressive haze she veiled herself in. Soph recounted story after story of romantic interests, leaving Cora in stitches as she learned about her friend’s past social life. Cora was grateful to have someone to confide in, and found it was much easier to let herself relax for a few hours than she initially imagined.
✽✽✽
A few days later, Cora passed the mailboxes on her way to breakfast. More out of habit than necessity, Cora decided to check the mailbox again. She fully expected it would be empty, which is why her heart skipped a beat when she saw the white envelope sitting inside. Willem’s familiar scribble was on the front and Cora beamed. She forgot about breakfast and hurried up to her room to see the contents of the letter, which were somehow both exciting and disappointing.