“Ah, not to worry. I have no doubt you’ll adjust to the eccentricity of the place soon enough. Tea?” He gestured to the teapot.
“No.” I fixed him with a cold stare. “You know, you’re not exactly helping.” I ignored his offended expression and jerked my chin toward the door. “What the heck was that all about back there? Did you intend to send me spiraling down into a pit of despair? Am I even a student here? Did I actually get ‘Chosen’ or whatever?” I growled and threw myself against the couch’s back in frustration. “This place is one big emotional roller coaster.”
“Hey, hey, easy now.” He sat in an armchair on the other side of the coffee table. “You really should have a cup of this delightful tea, you know. It’s jasmine. It will do wonders for your spirits.”
My anger burst forth as I rose from the couch. “I don’t want any of your damn tea! I want answers!” I shouted, gesticulating wildly as I paced the room like a caged animal. “I want to know what in the world happened in that auditorium. Why did everyone get chosen but me? Did you know that was going to happen? What the heck am I doing here?” My anger roiled, but Professor Wallace remained perfectly composed, studying me as he sipped his tea.
“I understand your frustration, Meena.” His sympathetic expression assuaged some of my frustration, but not all of it. “As Chancellor Singh said, this can be a very difficult time in a young witch’s life, and that is especially true if you haven’t been properly prepared. I wish I could’ve warned you ahead of time, but I had no idea what to expect. The New Wand Ceremony can be unpredictable.” He set his tea down on the table and gestured toward the couch. “Please, sit. I will explain everything as best I can.”
I eyed him as I sat back on the couch. “I’m listening.”
“Right. Well, basically, you weren’t Chosen by any one Magical Department.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes. “Rejected by a school I didn’t even apply to.”
“No, no, no. Quite the opposite, really.” Professor Wallace’s eyes widened, and his tone became more urgent. “In a way, you were actually chosen by all the departments. Remember what you felt when I called you for the Choosing?”
“Yeah, like, a bunch of energy coursing through me. It felt like coming home.”
“Exactly. Well, the other students felt that when they were Chosen, too. But you felt it every time, didn’t you?”
“Uh, yeah. The room kind of hummed, I guess. Like the air was full of electricity?” I quirked my brow as I tried to puzzle out his meaning. “But it was nothing like when you did it. It didn’t feel directed at me the other times.”
“It wasn’t, exactly.” He leaned forward in his chair as he spoke. “But I can tell you that the other students didn’t feel anything except at their Choosing. You sensed the energy during all the summons because, in a way, they all spoke to you.” He smiled expectantly.
“So what, I’m like a jack of all trades but master of none?” Disappointment pulled my mouth into a frown. I looked off toward a bookcase. “Figures.”
Professor Wallace’s loud, sharp laugh startled me. “No, Meena.” He fixed me with stern eyes. “Your innate abilities are so abundant, that for you to specialize in any one discipline would be a terrible waste. You’re what we call a Proteus. A Drifter. A Roving Maven. It’s a rare gift.” He winked at me and beamed with pride. “We are some of the most powerful casters among witchkind. Typically there is maybe one Proteus among all the students enrolled at the Academy, if any. It’s not unusual for whole decades to pass without one being discovered. In fact, before last year, we hadn’t had a Proteus at BWA in nearly thirty years.” He eyed me with curiosity. “Which makes it all the more unusual that there are now two. It’s almost without precedent.”
“So you’re saying that I wasn’t chosen by any department because I’m too talented?” I raised my eyebrows in doubt. “Sounds like a nice story you tell the rejects to make us feel better about ourselves.”
“Ah, Meena.” He chuckled. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. I told you that you weren’t meant for Community College. I knew it the first time I saw you. Why is it so hard for you to believe that you’re extraordinary?”
“Maybe because I didn’t even know about magic until yesterday?” I drew my shoulders up sharply, glaring at him. “And if you knew I was so extraordinary, why let me suffer through the whole ceremony? Why let me sit there, thinking this was just another place I didn’t belong. Couldn’t you have warned me or something?”
“Well I didn’t know.” He shrugged by way of apology. “I had my suspicions, though. Especially after the incident with the bathtub.” My face ran hot with shame. “Not many witches are capable of that sort of translocation.” He gazed toward the windows at the back of the room as he spoke softly, almost absentmindedly. “I guess it shouldn’t surprise me, given who your grandmother was.”
A chill passed over me, and I went stiff, the revelation consuming my attention. “So you did know my grandmother?” I glared at him as I searched his face for clues.
His head snapped toward me, his mouth quivering as he debated how to respond. “Ah, um, well…” His panicked eyes suggested that he had let slip something I hadn’t been meant to know. “Not truly, no. I mean, how well can one really know anyone? Even oneself?” He let out a nervous chuckle. “In passing, maybe. Uh… it’s really more that I knew of her.” He glanced about the room, avoiding my gaze.
Just as I was about to press him further, there was a knock at the door, and Professor Wallace jumped up, immense relief washing over his face. “Better see who that is.”
He bounded eagerly over to the door, clearly thankful for the interruption. I vowed that I would not let him off the hook, despite his vague, evasive answers.
I craned my neck as he pulled open the door, revealing Dash, the Chancellor’s nephew.
“Sorry for the disturbance, Professor, but there’s been an incident.” His voice was hushed and tense. “A body’s just been recovered from the South Woods. A student.”
A student death before classes even started? This place just got better and better.
“You’re kidding? Already?” Professor Wallace’s even tone led me to believe that student deaths weren’t as uncommon at Broken Wand Academy as one might hope.
“Afraid not, sir.” Dash seemed understandably uncomfortable. “Laila said she wants you to handle it personally. Apparently, he was the former roommate of your protégé? A second-year student, Lucas Billings.”
Professor Wallace exhaled wearily. “Very well. Thank you, Dasharath. I’ll see to it shortly.”
Dash gave a curt nod before heading off. Wallace closed the door, smiling as he turned back to me.
“I’m very sorry, Meena, but we’ll have to pick this up later. Something came up.” He shrugged, keeping his tone calm and casual. “Apparently there’s been a theft of an important artifact from the Artisanal Magic building, and I’m needed straight away.” He flashed me an affable, conspiratorial smile. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but the Artisans are an odd bunch. Very dramatic. Be thankful you weren’t Chosen by those kooks.”
“What?” I glared at him, baffled.
“I’m very sorry.” He furrowed his brow. “I know you have so many questions, and you probably feel that I’m just putting you off. But I promise we’ll meet later. I’ll send your class schedule over to your room, along with everything else you need to know to get started.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” I shook my head, unable to understand the purpose of his blatant lie. “I was sitting right here?” I glanced down at the couch. “I heard everything you guys said very clearly. Did you think you were whispering?”
Professor Wallace cocked his head and considered me. He appeared to be staring through me, his eyes focused on some point behind me. He blinked and tried to shake his bewilderment. “What exactly did you hear?”
“Uh, the body that was just found? In the woods?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “The dead student, Lucas.
Like I said, you and Dash were speaking very clearly.”
Professor Wallace startled me again by erupting with joyful laughter. “My, my! You really are something, Ms. Song.” His eyes filled with wonder. “I set up some fairly intensive concealment wards there so young Dasharath and I could chat privately.” His smile was broad and genuine. “And you weren’t thrown for an instant, were you? Goodness, I do wish to continue this discussion, but I’m afraid I have to attend to the matter of the student fatality. Sorry about the deception. You understand, yes?” He smiled remorsefully.
“Um, no, actually.”
“Right.” He looked off, thrown for a moment. “Well, we’ll get past it, I’m sure. It’s school protocol, you know. To conceal the details of official administrative business. Especially regarding open investigations.” He shrugged. “Not to worry, though. You’ll realize soon enough that I’m one of your greatest allies here. Speaking of which.” With a flourish, he produced a small white card and held it out to me.
The card was printed with small lettering that read: Merlin Hall, Room 109, 1:30 p.m.
“You’ll find another ally at the time and location on that card. His name’s Braden. He’s the other Proteus I mentioned. A second-year student.” Professor Wallace shrugged into his coat and rummaged through his desk drawers, cramming items into his bottomless pockets. “He’ll be able to answer some of your questions. Should hold you over until we can meet again.” He donned his cap and smiled down at me. “I’ve got to run. Stay here as long as you want. Help yourself to the tea, if you like.” He winked. “But I do recommend scaring up some food sooner rather than later. The Choosing burns a lot of calories. Destiny is hungry work. Anyway, I’ll be in touch soon.” He shot me a confidential smile, his eyes gleaming. “Welcome to the club, Ms. Song.”
He tipped his hat and swept from the room, and I suspected that he hadn’t simply exited into the hallway. There was no telling where the seemingly innocuous doorway had led him, and the thought only added to my feeling of instability.
Chapter 8
“Meena, over here!” Leia waved me over to her table in the dining hall, her cheerful face rising above the sea of colored cloaks.
I picked my way through the crowded tables with my tray of food, and Leia slid over to make room when I reached her. I nodded to Oliver, seated across from me.
Leia grinned at me. “So? What’d you get Chosen as?”
“Let me guess. Elemental?” Oliver cut in before I could answer.
“No way.” Leia wrinkled her nose. “Illusion, maybe?”
I shook my head.
Oliver seemed unconvinced. “Conjuration?”
“I know you didn’t end up with those violent Martial Magicians.” Leia’s critical tone made it clear she didn’t approve of that particular discipline.
“What, then?” Oliver furrowed his brow, and they both stared at me with anticipation.
“Well, I didn’t actually get Chosen by a department.” I didn’t even fully understand what had happened, so I hoped they weren’t expecting a lot of details from me.
They exchanged confused glances.
“Apparently I’m something called a Proteus?” I grimaced. It felt like I was announcing myself as some kind of alien.
Their confusion turned into astonishment.
Leia’s mouth hung open. “You’re kidding?”
Oliver grinned at me, wide-eyed.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Wallace ran off before explaining much, per usual. He’s a very strange man, you know.”
“Well, now it totally makes sense why Chancellor Singh took a personal interest in you.” Leia recovered her composure, but Oliver continued to stare at me with a vacant amusement that unnerved me. “She must’ve known something beforehand.”
“Yeah, probably.” I angled myself toward Leia to avoid Oliver’s gawking. “Wallace said that he suspected this might happen, so maybe Singh did know. I’m kind of pissed nobody warned me or anything. I was freaking out when everyone else kept getting Chosen.”
“Yeah, that sucks.” She smiled sympathetically. “Must’ve been horrible, waiting all that time. But,” her sympathetic expression became ecstatic, “it’s amazing!” She dropped her voice to an excited whisper. “I can’t believe you’re a Drifter! Maybe one witch in ten thousand is blessed with that gift.”
Her enthusiasm flattered me. “Is it really that big of a deal?” I chuckled, considering the idea that I might actually be blessed as opposed to cursed. Broken Wand Academy had served mostly to confuse and terrify me up to this point. But I was surprised to find that the look on Leia’s face and the eager admiration in her tone elicited a feeling of pride. Where before I had felt isolated and alien, I now felt special and unique.
“Heck yeah, it’s a big deal! Check out Oliver, he can’t even move.” She tipped her chin toward him.
He was staring at me with the same enthralled expression.
“Oliver, hello?” She snapped her fingers in front of his face to break his trance. “Snap out of it, dummy. You’ll freak her out.”
Oliver blinked, jarred from his reverie. “Sorry, I’ve just never met a Drifter before. But I’ll be cool. Totally cool, no problem.” He managed to avert his attention briefly but then turned back to me. His gaze still too attentive for comfort.
“Yeah, so cool.” Leia rolled her eyes at me, and we shared a soft chuckle.
Despite the absurdity of everything, I was thankful for my budding friendship with Leia. Even though we’d just met for the first time yesterday, I already sensed that she was a genuinely good person. Even if I had momentarily suspected her of poisoning my tea.
Oliver was a little goofy, but he seemed like he had a really good heart. I missed Eric and Vicky, of course. There’s no replacement for the familiar comfort of old friends. But my new friends were charming and sincere, and I felt lucky to have them around. Some other people at the school, not so much.
“Oh, there she is.” A saccharine voice issued from behind me, and I whipped my head around to find Serenity and two other prim girls smirking at me. “I almost didn’t recognize you with clothes on.” Her friends echoed her mocking laughter. “And without your signature tub. I just assumed you brought it everywhere with you, no?”
Some people at the tables around us paused their conversations to watch our exchange.
“You should be glad I didn’t.” I narrowed my eyes at her and clenched my hands into tight fists. “If I had, you’d probably be struggling to breathe right now. Unless you’ve also got gills to go along with your slimy fish-mouth. Now, are you part eel on your mom’s side, or your dad’s?”
Oliver nearly choked on his soup as he stifled a laugh.
“Ooh, aren’t you a spicy one?” She tried to play it off, but by the surprise that registered on her face, Serenity wasn’t used to being challenged. She glared at me with menace. “You know, I heard there’s already been a student death this year. I only mention it because Broken Wand Academy can be such a dangerous place. I’d hate to see anything happen to you.” She snickered, her eyes flashing with malice.
“Gee, thanks for your concern.” I rolled my eyes at Leia. “Now if you’re done making empty threats, why don’t you run along back to your hole. Some of us have things to talk about with our actual friends? You know, not lackeys.”
The girls on either side of her scowled at me, but Serenity only laughed.
“You better watch yourself, tub-witch. People without magical families don’t tend to fare well here.” She jerked her head, and her lackeys followed as she moved away.
I stuck my tongue out after her, my anger simmering.
Leia put her hand on my arm. “You know, you really shouldn’t engage her like that. You’ll only lower yourself to her level.”
Oliver scoffed. “I thought it was great. Serenity deserves every bit of it. She’s literally the meanest person I’ve ever met. After my mom, maybe.”
I eyed him curiously, interested to hear mor
e about that little comment, but Leia spoke before I had a chance to inquire.
“As Gandhi said, ‘An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.’” Leia fixed him with a smug smile.
“That’s a nice saying, but Gandhi never really said it, you know.” Oliver returned her arrogant grin.
“Yeah, whatever.” Leia dismissed his response with an eye roll and a wave. “He totally would’ve supported the sentiment.”
Oliver was poised to respond, but I interrupted their back and forth, concerned with the more pressing matters at hand.
“How did she even know about that student that they found? Did you guys hear about that, too?”
“Oh yeah, who hasn’t heard about it?” Oliver raised his eyebrows. “Aside from the Choosing, it’s all anyone’s been talking about.”
“How did word get out so quickly? Wallace just found out when I was in his office.” I furrowed my brow, alternating between their faces in confusion.
Leia shrugged. “Word gets around pretty fast here. Honestly, the murder is probably the only reason everyone isn’t talking about you being a Drifter. I’m surprised we didn’t hear about it before you told us.”
My eyes went wide. “Murder?”
“Well, we don’t know that yet.” Oliver gestured toward Leia, who begrudgingly conceded the point. Satisfied, he continued. “But some people have been speculating it was a murder. Other people think the wolf killed him.”
“Why would they think that?” Things moved so fast here. It was hard to believe that so much had happened already, and classes hadn’t even started yet.
“Well, the wolf was gone this morning.” Leia cocked her head. “Didn’t you notice?”
“No, actually.” I thought back to before I left my room this morning. I couldn’t recall if I had glanced out the window or not. “I guess I was distracted.”
“Anyway. The guy, Lucas, was one of the people who were really pissed off about the wolf being held captive.” Oliver trained his attention on Leia. “So some people think that he might’ve been killed trying to free it.”
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