The Albatross was a grand ship, stretching from one end of the dock to another. Along it’s hull were painted wings that could carry its own weight. While the ship held sails, it was fully motorized and capable without wind. The head at its bow was the face of a stern albatross with an intimidating beak to match.
“You’ve got everything in your mallet bag?” Harris asked again.
“Are you sure it has infinite space?” Emery replied.
Ed passed Emery on the way up the ramp to the ship with a smirk, “Trust your pops. I’ve got my knight cosplay in mine. It doesn’t weigh anything in this bag.”
“Nothing to worry about.” Harris assured her before diving in a hug. “Now, go, before I change my mind.”
“I love you, dad.”
“Love you too, Emery. Be good and remember; I’m a call away!”
Emery hurried up the ramp as the Albatross bellowed its final call. The ramp pulled away as the last of the students came aboard. Finding herself in a group of four, Emery addressed her new acquaintances with nervousness. “So, you three all know each other?”
“Yes!” The oldest teen responded. “I’m Thomas’ sister, Eliana. Thomas and Ed have known each other since middle school. I’m in my fourth year at Radiance.”
“Is it your first year too?” Thomas asked.
“It’s my first year doing anything magic.” Emery confessed. “I just found out this summer.”
“No shame in late blooming.” Eliana commented. “Born mundane?”
“Actually, I still don’t understand that word. I know my mom didn’t have magic and my dad does.” Emery said.
“Mundane means you’ve lived without magic.” Ed said. “But if your dad has it you're... half mundane?”
“Nope.” Thomas reminded Ed. “Once you know magic, you’re not mundane.”
“Right and the magical world takes its secrets seriously. Whether you’re born mundane or an Amaranth, people might give you the cold shoulder.“ Eliana warned. “Don’t let it get to you, okay?”
“Right... I’m a risk, I guess. Lucky me turned out to be both.” Emery said.
“If you weren’t, we wouldn’t have met.” Thomas said. “Better an Amaranth than ignorant.”
“Aw, my baby brother is so aware!” Eliana hugged her brother. A quick glance to the side distracted Eliana. “Oh, I’m gonna catch up with some friends. Be good!”
Thomas fixed his hair as his sister said her goodbyes and ran off. The Albatross departed from the harbor, wading through the waters and making for the ocean. The older students and the faculty headed below deck for the remainder of the trip.
“Ahoy, Lamb!" The brunette ship captain called from the helm. She spotted Emery still on deck and cast a spell on the wheel to keep it in place.
“Hi, Ms. Mason!” Emery replied. “I mean Captain Mason.”
“At ease, Emery.” Mason told her as she leaned over the railing. “How’s my favorite art student?”
“In over my head.” Emery replied. “You could’ve dropped more hints in my mundane life about all this.”
“Believe me, I wanted to. But between your lack of magic and your dad... hands tied.” Captain Mason frowned. “But you’re here now, right? How about a pop quiz? It’s fair game for anyone, mage or not.”
The three students either nodded or shrugged along with the idea.
“What...” The captain flipped a green coin out of her pocket. “Is this called?”
“That one’s easy: it’s a Lin.” Emery recalled. “It’s one of the coins you told me that mages use for money.”
“But what does it do?”
Emery swore under breath, unable to remember. It was something with energy.
“It’s a consensually given goblin scale that amplifies magical power?” Thomas offered as he lifted his glasses to keep them from falling.
“Correct and bonus points for where they come from.” Mason replied. “Frost, right? Eliana’s brother? Family resemblance fits like a family portrait.”
“Right, and ten Lins equal one Yir.” Emery continued.
Captain Mason nodded, producing a golden coin with intricate engravings from her pocket. “Here’s a Yir. Any guess what it does?”
“Dwarves make them to help transmute other items.” Ed stated. “My mom has relatives that mint them.”
“Points across the board.” Mason flicked both coins between her knuckles, adding a third, blood-red coin to the mix. “Final round; what’s our friend here called?”
As Emery opened her mouth, another voice answered. “It’s a Royal.” The Amaranth girl with snake like tattoos answered from the railing of the ship. “Worth ten Yirs and one hundred Lins. Some say they can give visions of fortune... others say ruin. They’re made from the blood of those long dead from the magical world.”
Captain Mason continued juggling the three coins. “Correct... you’re Alice, aren’t you?”
The girl by the railing cradled her pile of coins. “Alice Song...”
Captain Mason nodded, “You find your way here okay?”
Alice turned back to the captain. “Nothing I’m not used to.”
“Fair enough.” The captain relented. “We’ll be leaving the mirror realm soon. You four should get below deck with everyone else.”
Emery stayed behind for a moment while the others headed down. “Do you know her from mundane life too?”
Mason shook her head. “No, the Archmage went to see her specifically.”
“You mean like me?”
“Somewhat.”
Emery pondered over the answer she was given. It left her curious as she followed the others. Both Amaranth were girls visited by Archmage Lucille Corinne and accepted into Radiance. Watching the other Amaranth girl descend into the ship, Emery wondered what else they might have in common.
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