How the hell was I supposed to respond to something like this? Should I defend myself? Give an explanation? Amidst trying to weigh each and every possible response to this my mouth decided to talk faster then my mind.

“My bad,” I said.

I didn’t even realize the words had left my mouth until it was too late leaving me wanting to simply crawl under a rock and die. Honestly could I have sounded any more like an idiot. I might as well just have said ‘WOOPSY DIDDLY DOO! SORRY I INVADED YOUR SCHOOL MY DUDE LOL.’

Banecliff seemed to pay my stupid response no mind however and simply turned around to finally face me. “At first,” he said slowly, “when I saw you at the great hall I thought you were in league with the Dark One and were attempting to infiltrate us.” He knitted his fingers together. “I won’t lie, the fact that you were with Silvian Greygate didn’t exactly help your case. It’s rumored the Greygate’s have connections to fringe elvish groups trying to re-establish his rule. I called you up to the pool simply to try and get more information before I had you arrested. Then,” there was a slight twinkle in his eyes, “when you entered the pool and it turned pitch black I knew exactly what you were.”

I swallowed hard. “And what is that sir?” Because honestly I had no idea myself.

“An otherplaner.”

I blinked. “A what?”

“An otherplaner. Here let me explain.” He opened up the top drawer of his desk, removing a scroll. “I checked this last night after the ceremony and the results were exactly what I expected.” He unrolled the scroll out onto his desk revealing a graph. Most of the graph was at around the same level, flatlining near the bottom. In three places however is spiked up dramatically.

“What is that?” I asked.

“Energy readings since the beginning of the school.” A slender finger pointed to the first spike. “This was in the 1600s.” His finger flew to the next. “This one was the 1800s.” And finally his finger landed on the last. “And this was yesterday.” He looked to me. “Each spike happened the day an otherplaner appeared and they each caused the pool to have the same pitch black reaction. So let me ask you, and please don’t lie mister Price, do you come from another world?” Banecliff was watching me intently and I felt myself squirm under his gaze.

Finally I took a deep breath. “Yes.”

Banecliff didn’t respond for a minute. He simple let out a small laugh of disbelief, running a hand through his golden blond hair. “Wow...I just can’t believe it. An otherplaner, here. I never thought it would happen in my lifetime, this truly is incredible.” Despite his usual calm exterior Banecliff seemed unable to keep the excitement from his voice. “I’ve read a lot about this you know! No one seems to know how the phenomenon occurs but it happens when someone from another plane of existence is thrown into our world. Planes truly are phenomenal things mister Price, there are an infinite number of realities all occuring at once.” Yeah, realities where you guys are only book characters. Coincidentally as I thought this Banecliff dropped a giant encyclopedia onto his desk. It created a cloud of dust when it landed causing both of us to cough.

“This was a book written by Claudius Niphius the headmaster at Hemlock when the first otherplaner arrived. Here he lays down a series of rules for what to do if this situation arises.” Banecliff cleared his throat, holding up a finger. “First and foremost as much as I would love to ask, you must not share any information about your reality with anyone in this reality.” He held up a second finger. “Two, and this is extremely important, despite somehow having infinite knowledge about our reality you must not tell anyone or act on anything that could influence this timeline. Three,” he pointed to the graph again. “When you arrived you created a massive energy blast. That energy can be channeled into an object which can be used to bring you back to your own reality. It’s what was done with the other two otherplaners. Once the object is complete you must return to your own reality.”

My lip quivered. “But, what if I don’t want to go back?”

Banecliff’s face grew serious again. “You must. We can’t risk a disturbance in our timeline, it’s too dangerous.” Banecliff must have seen my face fall upon hearing this because he gave me a gentle smile. “Don’t worry, the process is extremely complicated and usually takes about a year to complete. You should be able to finish up your year at Hemlock.” His gaze locked with mine. “But you must promise me you’ll return back to your plane after. We can’t risk putting everyone’s lives in this timeline at risk.”

As much as I hated to admit it he was right.

“Okay,” I said softly, bowing my head.

“I’m assuming in your reality you never used magic.”

“No sir.”

“Well then,” Banecliff said, clapping his hand together. “I think instead of having specialized mental arts classes in the evening your time will be better spent with me. I’ll teach you as much as I can. It might be a difficult task to get you caught up on eight years of magic but if you’re a dedicated enough learner I certainly believe you can.”

I bit my lip. “I want to believe,” I said meekly, “I really do. But I’m just a normal human. I’m afraid that maybe I just don’t have it in me to ever do it.”

“That’s poppycock,” Banecliff said, shaking his head. “The pool saw something in you. It wouldn’t have reacted that way if you didn’t. In your world you may have been magicless but here the possibilities are endless.” He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Remember what I told you at the opening ceremonies. You’re more powerful than you think Chester Price. Here let me show you. Can you please take out your wand.” I did as he asked, removing the sheek black object from my uniform pocket. “Now give me your hand,” Banecliff continued. Cautiously I placed my hand in his. The elf’s hand was cool like marble. “Now shut your eyes,” Banecliff said softly. I did as he said, clenching my eyes closed tightly. Banecliff gave a chuckle that sounded like bells. “No, no not like that. Relax.” And then I felt something moving through me. I had no idea what it was, it felt like a river rushing through my entire body.

“W-What’s happening?” I stammered.

“Stay calm,” Banecliff said, his voice still soft. “I’m channeling my magic through you. I know it might take awhile to get use to, just remember this feeling, memorize it.” I nodded stiffly, taking in the strange sensation. “Now, move your wand clockwise and say səmər.”

“Səmər,” I echoed. As I said it the temperature in the room began to warm.

“See,” Banecliff said. “You’ve just cast your first spell.”

“But I was using your magic.”

“Try another one. Say riˈtərn and this time move your wand in a counterclockwise motion.”

I did as he said, the room returning to it’s normal temperature.

“See, you’ve cast another.”

“Thanks but I was still just channeling your magic.”

“Really? Open your eyes,” he said. I did and slowly I realized that Banecliff’s hand was no longer in mine. “See,” the headmaster said with a laugh. “That last spell was all you. You do have the magic in you. You just needed to learn how to channel it.”

I stared at my wand in disbelief. “But...how….”

“It’s all about visualization. All you need to do is recreate the feeling of the magic running through you and you’ll be able to tap into it. Magic is like a force, like a river, and when you use it it’s like scooping up a handful of water. Don’t believe me, try it.”

So I did.

I shut my eyes and I tried to picture it again, the river running through me. And to my surprise after a beat the feeling came again. It made my legs and fingers tingle and my heart pound but somehow it was almost relaxing.

“Good,” I heard Banecliff say. “Now focus that energy into your wand. The magic is the river and the wand is your hands.” I did, I pictured the magic flowing through me, up my arm and into my wand. “Now,” said Banecliff try casting səmər again.” I did as he said and all around me I felt the temperature warm again. I was so excited my eyes shot back open.

I did it! I, Chester Price, actually had it in me to live my dream.

I could actually be a wizard.

But as I grinned and my heart fluttered three troubling thoughts still pushed at the back of my mind.

I didn’t belong here.

I was still an outsider.

I only had one year.