Age Recommendation: 16+
The world was born in fire.
It was destroyed by ice.
It was rebuilt by blood.
Kyle scratched his neck, nervous.
He knew he shouldn't be nervous, not really.
But he was.
He sat in class, all the other students chattering away, but Kyle... He knew he sucked with people.
He'd given up a long time ago.
The raggedy professor walked in, the same guy who had given them their introduction, but somehow failed to introduce himself.
The class completely ignored him as the professor stood up at the front of the classroom, except for Kyle.
The professor noticed and looked at Kyle, raising an eyebrow. He shrugged.
The professor sighed and clapped his hands together. Once.
Once was enough, a shockwave passed over the entire room.
The students spun, staring.
The professor rung his hands, "That hurt. Sorry... Now... I am Professor Jason Bateman. I am here to teach you... The basics. Magic 101, if you will. The College calls this subject Introduction to the Induction of Magical Energies."
The class laughed, and Professor Bateman grinned, "Well... Let's get started. First thing, first. Magic follows rules."
Bateman flicked his wrist and there was a puff of smoke, "Magic is energy. Energy follows rules."
He turned his wrist, and the smoke in the air turned into fire, "Energy can be transferred, but it can be neither created nor destroyed... So... What does that mean for a magic user?"
Bateman looked around the room and rolled his eyes, "Please? Anyone?"
Kyle sighed and raised his hand, the professor grinned, "Yes. Kyle."
The boy winced at that, the professor knowing who he was, wasn't something the others would have missed.
"Magic is energy, and we transfer it, but we can't create it. So we transfer it from ourselves, and we have a limit." Kyle said with confidence, and Bateman nodded, "Good."
He looked around the room, "So, how about someone else tells me how we transfer energy from ourselves into the real world?"
A big wave of silence hit the room.
Bateman sighed, "Fine. Crack out your textbooks."
A dozen hands shot into the air, and Bateman laughed and pointed to someone else, "Fiona."
The girl swallowed nervously, "Most magic users have to use a channel. They use something magically conductive, like a wand or staff, to transfer the magic from their bodies out to the world. Sometimes controlled, sometimes not."
Bateman nodded, "Excellent. That is a key point. Using magic... Is dangerous. If you don't focus, you could do far worse than blow a foot off. I know people, who used to be my friends, we went to this school together... Some of them have no memories. Some of them are missing organs and bones... Others have parts that they were never meant to have in the first place."
The professor's unusually serious face faded and he rubbed his hands together, "I think we have time for one more thing. We are going to make a charm that can help you out while you're learning. It will block you from using magic while you are wearing it, and you will be expected to wear it at all times from now on, unless you are instructed to remove it."
Kyle rubbed his temples, a simple object, true enough... But it would hurt like hell for him to wear... But he should have expected it.
Bateman continued to talk, but Kyle wasn't listening. He examined the wooden desk carefully, and found a small splinter.
He plucked it and stabbed his hand, wincing. He pulled it out, glancing at the tiny drop of blood on the end, and he touched it, muttering, "Magicae per se stetisse, cum in te gerit."
The splinter shivered and changed shape, expanding into a circle, and a small set of beads grew out from it.
"Kyle!" Bateman yelled angrily, and he glanced up at the professor, who shook his head, "I wasn't going to use Aimimancy. I was teaching you basic Terramancy. I would prefer you pay attention. Aptitude does not mean that you are destined for one school."
Kyle winced as everyone stared at him.
He could hear the whispers.
Blood Mancer.
He winced.
© Copyright 2024, James Milne