Somehow the Elder twisted the entire thing to help him. “I think this proves that Mika is in fact a vital member of this class. His condition requires him to constantly prioritise things, including himself. So, Miss Janse, if anything he has the most field experience amongst all of you.” These kids were still so shocked that no one noticed how what he said made no fucking sense.

“Also,” he had more to say? “You are all brilliant mages, that cannot be questioned, however, as everything in relation to magic, great power comes at a risk without control. So one of the first things you can come to term to as a class can be that every one of you possess enough magic that if you lose too much control or go beyond your maximum limits, your body will burn up.

“This is not something that is revealed to mages unless they are showing danger of doing so but with what you are all destined for, there is an undeniable possibility. You must know your limits because if you overdo it, you will burn up and it will kill you.”

The Elder was the one who was overdoing it. Some of the council members looked terrified, these geeks have to be a second away from having a collective heart attack.

Tired of this mess – and not wanting to face Lexicon until I don’t have a choice – I raised my hand, bringing attention back to me. “Are we done? I want out of here already.” None of the kids were even paying attention to me, in fact Zira hasn’t moved since he found out about my condition, he knew my magic was unstable but he doesn’t know shit about magical health.

“As I said, you are clearly needed. They may be geniuses but only in what they know. How long do you think they would last in a fight?” The Elder was trying to convince me and it was sort of working. Zira can’t fight for shit, magic or not, and he’s probably one of the most capable. They would need a fucking miracle if I was being honest about it.

“Fine, I’ll stick around. But only because of Zira and how likely he is to be the Elix. He’s my best friend but he’ll be dead before the prophecy even comes to without me. Just don’t expect much.”

“The stars chose you for a reason.”

“Well the stars have lost their fucking mind because I don’t belong with these geeks. I’m only in for Zira’s safety, to see who the Elix is and a front row seat to the drama, got it?”

“I expect nothing more.”

I feel like I just lost. Shit, the Elder really knew how to twist things into convincing me. I actually said yes. Stupid Zira! It’s all his fault.

With that all settled, I stood up and left before Lexicon could even realise it. They could finish the hearing without me, I don’t care about the specifics. Besides, I still wanted to punch something; I can’t believe they overruled the one thing that could keep me alive for more than five years, it’s such bullshit!

I made it back to my neighbourhood before Lexicon appeared in front of me, I was sorta hoping for them to just wait at home. Right, they don’t know Kia isn’t there, they wouldn’t dare. “Mika, what the hell was all that about?” I waved off Connifer and kept walking, the three of us turning onto our street.

“Is Zira alright?” I asked as we got closer to our parents’ house. Lex seethed at the ignored question, Con answering. “He snapped out of it a bit after you left. That isn’t why we’re here though.” I knew that, I was stupid but I wasn’t that much of an idiot. “Whatever.”

We arrived at the house and I pushed open the door to see the place exactly how I left it this morning. They still weren’t back then, where did they go this time? “Be back in a bit, Kia’s next doors at Helena’s. Don’t mess shit up.” The other two cam in and I turned to leave when Lex grabbed my arm.

“Wait, this is exhausting.” I pushed my sleeve up and deactivated the seals, I forgot he was even repressing my magic. “You should’ve waited until after we talked.” Lex just pushed me away.

I did get why he deactivated it, even if it was my magic the sustains the seals, Lex was the one who had to siphon the magic to sustain it as well as control the excess magic. It probably was exhausting, I mean I get exhausted just controlling my own magic as it is.

Heading next door, I ring the doorbell and wait. It was almost a minute later the door opened, a girl maybe a year younger than me opening it with Kia on her back. Guess this was Helena’s granddaughter.

“Is it just you?” The girl nodded. “Well, thanks for looking after her. Kia, go get your stuff.” The 4-year-old girl dismounted the teenager and ran into the house, Helena’s granddaughter still sending me a wary look.

“Are you her brother?” I guess she recognised me. “Nah, her uncle.” My answer threw her off but she just nodded. Luckily, ‘uncle’ could be taken in a really loose term.

The old lady said she went to Elecon Prep, right? I think it was a support course or something but I’m pretty sure she said that. “You go to the prep school?” The girl nodded, she doesn’t talk much, huh? “How many stuck up, self-righteous snobs are there?”

“Um, a lot, I guess. Mostly mages and stuff.” This whole school thing is going to be a disaster, I can already tell.

Kia ran back and past me, heading towards the house. “Kia, wait! There are people at home!” I called back, the girl immediately stopping and waiting for me.

I turned to Helena’s granddaughter. “Thanks again. See you around.” The girl just nodded, closing the door. Her shyness sort of reminds me of Kia.

Walking over to where Kia was, I stopped in front of her, looking down at the cutie staring up at me. “Who’s at home?” she looked happy, I almost didn’t want to tell her. But she needed the warning. “Lexicon.”

It hurt how her face immediately dropped.

I held my hand out and sent her a smile. “Come on then.” Kia immediately grabbed my hand and we walked back to the house.

Lexicon’s loud voices could already be heard and we walked in to see them in an argument, the ugly type. Kia hid behind my leg, still holding my hand, just how much were they going to scare her?

“Cut it out already! Idiots!” Both went quiet at the same time, looking over at me and then Kia, even Con’s eyes were sad.

Con then turned to Lexis and they both sighed, dejected. It was their own fault that their daughter was afraid of them, they should put more effort in as her mother. 

My sister was the one to finally speak, “We have a lot to talk about.”

She was right, we did. All of us.