Chapter 4

“Hey, hey! Did you guys hear about the special first-year?”

“Which one? I heard there were two.”

“The younger, obviously.”

“You can’t say it’s obvious, the older one is a cool case, too. I mean, everyone knows he broke the law. But punishment? Nothing. Zip, zilch, nada.”

“Well, he was pretty high up there in the honor roll. He only did the trial semester and already secured his spot as the fourth strongest first-year Water mage.”

“But guys-”

“We know, we know! There isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard about the eight-year-old.”

“‘Eight-year-old!’ Do you hear yourself?!”

“Calm down, Litski. If we were able to prove we had magic at that age, we probably would’ve been admitted early, too.”

“You think? I heard it was only because of Tribe intervention.”

“Oh, right. There was that.”

“Litski, sit down already. You’re gonna make us dizzy with all that jumping.”

“But he had a Tribe...! Speak on his behalf...!”

“Isn’t it because he’s a member of the Tribe? They probably do that for all their kids, don’t they?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never heard of someone getting in like that before.”

“Hey, guys. What are you all talking about?”

“Zacky!”

“Did you see the news about what happened last month, with the new kid?”

“No, what happened?”

“You know that kid, Kyle, from the Orphanage?”

“You mean the one who beat all of us in the math placement test?”

“...Yeah, that one.”

“What about him?”

“He got caught practicing magic during break."

“What?”

“But get this-”

“He was teaching-”

“Wait, he was teaching? How boring does this guy g-”

“Yeah, he’s buddies with the young one.”

“Wh-... they know each other?!”

“Guys, what are you talking about?”

“Yzac, listen. He was teaching Water magic to a little kid during the break-”

“But he’s not getting punished for it-”

“The Tree Tribe folk visited Director Tunée personal-”

“Hold on, hold on! One at a time. I can’t keep up with all of you... Cal, tell me.”

“So, basically, the Kyle dude broke the safety rule but, instead of getting expelled, him and the kid he taught magic to are both gonna be attending.”

“... The Tree, Calissa.”

“Oh, right. Because the Tree went to the Director and told her to keep them in school.”

“Cal, it wasn’t the Tree. It was a member of the Tree Tribe. You’re gonna start rumors that way.”

“But I heard it was the Tree.”

“What, like, the Beast? The Water Power himself?”

“Come on, Calissa. There’s no way.”

“No way...”

“Huh.”

“You don’t look very surprised, Zac."

“No, I am. This is just how my face is.”

“Isn’t it bonkers, though?!”

“Litski, you really need to stop jumping. You’re gonna bump into someone at this rate.”

“I just can’t believe it!”

“Excuse me.”

“See? Sit down already. They’re gonna start soon.”

Ladd and Kyle entered the North Hall, and a thick hush fell over the gathered first-years.

“Is that him?” Yzac Fuemiit whispered.

“Yes, yes! It has to be!” Dano Litski’s eyes glowed.

Yzac frowned. “So, you’ve never seen them before.”

“None of us have,” Calissa Rintalez cut in. “You’re the only Water mage here.”

“May I have your attention, please.” All student heads turned towards the podium on the raised stage, where Director Margarette Tunée projected her voice from. Kyle pointed at a couple of empty seats near the back, and Ladd sat down with him.

“Greetings, salutations, and congratulations to each and every one of you. It is my honor to welcome you here today and to start you off on the course you have chosen to pursue. I pray you are all as excited as I am for what is to come.

“For those of you who are attending for the first time, I am so very pleased to meet you. If you spent the last semester with us, I express my deepest gratitude for your return. I am Director Margarette Tunée, and I oversee all matters regarding your education.  You might not see my face very often, if you are fortunate, but I hope you will bear in mind that I wish for you all to succeed and I am glad to provide if you feel that you would benefit from meeting with me directly. I may be the one in charge, but I am also a resource at your disposal.

“With that being said, I would like to introduce your instructors – they are resources you will be dealing with in your day-to-day, and I hope you will warmly acquaint yourselves with each other. First, everyone please say hello to Professor Timothy Esterra.” Timothy stood from his seat on the platform. “He will be teaching mathematics to all first-year students, regardless of the discipline you are studying. Next is Professor Stefan Couzadt, your instructor for Botany I. The majority of you will be taking his class either this year or next. To his right, professor of World History I, Oliver Sweene, and then Professor Cecillia Olerby, for Literature I. Professor Rina Monfret heads the lectures for World Science I, as well as the laboratory classes for students of medicine or sciences. Professor Martin Abernelle, Etiquette . . .”

Ladd watched with undue pity as Kyle scribbled down the names at top speed, sweat breaking on his brow.

“Are you going to memorize al-”

“Shh!”

Ladd closed his mouth. Suit yourself.

He blinked slowly, the endless drill of names floating in one ear and out the other. Kyle elbowed his ribs.

“Ow.”

“. . . and Professor Ronan Mirem for Accounting.

“Now, I will introduce to you the instructors on my left, who teach selective classes. This means that you may only attend their lectures if you are enrolled in their field’s program. Here first we have Professor Phoebe Smeraldo, who will teach Medicine I to the students in the School of Math, Science, and Medicine.”

Ladd rolled his eyes, fighting bored fatigue.

“Beside her, Professor Patrick Chee, who will guide incoming Air mages to making a Level 1 breakthrough.”

Ladd sat up straight, clanking his chair and earning a scornful glance from Kyle.

“Then, Professor Stewart Calfenowe, who will be teaching Water mages through Level 2, Professor Joy Wibble, for Terrain mages up until you reach Level 2, excluding... and Professor Brian Affers, Fire Level 1.” Margarette paused.

“I will also introduce Professors Eric of the Cat and Rafah Ajwar, who mentor the Light and Dark mages, respectfully.” The last two instructors stood and acknowledged the students before resuming their seats. “Although, we do not have any incoming Light mages or Dark mages this year. I’m sure you all would have heard beforehand if that were the case.” Some students giggled, stirring the others from their naps.

“Now, since we are all finally acquainted, I will make the rest short – I see some of you are weary from your journeys here.” A low grumble sounded through the room. “Each of you will receive a form in your dormitories asking what classes you will take this year. If you already submitted the form before arriving at the school, you may disregard it. The due date for the rest of you is in three days. The dorm monitor assigned to your floor will collect it. You must choose a minimum of four classes, up to a maximum of seven. Generally, we recommend that most students take five, especially if you’ve already experienced a little bit of what classes are like in a trial semester. Remember, you will need written permission from me in order to relieve yourself of a class enrollment, and you may not enter into a new class once the semester has already begun. Choose carefully...

“...But keep in mind that this is only the first of many chapters. You will be here for the next few years, so make yourself comfortable. Befriend those who support you and challenge you to grow, who make it easier to face what daunts you, now, and in the future. The time coming upon us will shape who you become. Take it in, learn from it, and find the greatness in you that we know you are capable of.

“And now, my favorite part: I get to usher you into your new home away from home. Welcome to the Academy!”

Thunderous clapping resounded throughout the Hall, replaced only a minute later with layers upon layers of chattering. The room was abuzz, even as the students slowly moved through the doors and emptied out in all directions. Kyle had Ladd’s arm linked in his own, when he noticed the Director watching them from her position near the stage. Their eyes met. She smiled.

“Ladd.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think we should go over to the Director?”

“...What for?”

“She seems to be looking at us.”

Ladd peeked in the direction of Kyle’s gaze. “Oh.”

“We should at least thank her for letting us enroll, shouldn’t we?”

“You’re right. We should.” Ladd did not need to be told twice. Kyle felt the tug on his arm and followed Ladd’s quick footsteps.

“Hello, boys.”

“Hi, Director.” Kyle expected Ladd to parrot him but found his friend unexpectedly shying behind his shoulder. “Thank you for the beautiful speech.”

“Ah, you don’t have to say that. I appreciate it, though.”

“I mean it! Look, I took notes.” Kyle showed her his notepad.

“Oh, wow. That’s quite an esteemed impression you make, ...” the Director left the sentence hanging, a question.

“Kyle. And this is Ladd.”

“I thought so.”

“You did? How?” Ladd poked his head out and glanced up at the Director. She put a hand on his head. “It’s not every day that I get to see a student as small as you.”

“Hey, I’m not small!”

“Ladd, don’t be rude.”

“Oh, it’s alright. And Mister Korr? You might not know this yet, but the smaller kids always turn out to be the really big ones when they grow up.”

“Really?!” Ladd couldn’t hide how pleased the thought made him. The Director nodded. Ladd spun on his heel to stand in front of Kyle. “I’m gonna be bigger than you!”

“Well, no. That’s not-”

“Hehehe! I’m gonna be bigger than you, I’m gonna be bigger than you, I’m gonna be biggewdenw-”

“I’m sorry, I ask that you excuse us.” Kyle held Ladd’s neck under his arm, muffling the sing-song voice.

Director Tunée’s eyes twinkled when the corner of her lips raised.

“You’re excused. Have fun and enjoy the school semester.”

“We will, thank you.”

“Dengyuw!” Ladd echoed, still in headlock.

Professor Stewart Calfenowe walked up to the Director.

“Are those them?”

“Yes.”

“The little kid with the eyes-”

“He doesn’t seem to be wary of it.”

“The kids are going to point it out.”

“I know.”

“There’s no way they won’t.”

“I know.”

“How do I shield him from that?”

Director Tunée faced the professor. “It’s good to see you always have your priorities straight.”

“That isn’t a question. Our job is to protect the kids.”

The Director eyed the boys as they exited the Hall. “...Have you ever heard of it? An early manifest?”

“Possibly.”

“What do you mean?” Margarette’s voice rose in alarm. “When?”

“The first Sovereign. We don’t know when his magic developed.”

She considered for a moment. “You’re right. So, it’s possible they are able to use magic early on, but we just don’t test for it.”

“We do what the Guides tell us to. There is no better way than that.”

“Right. But then we come across a problem like this.”

“Eh, I wouldn’t call once in nine-hundred years a problem.”

The Director chuckled. “It’s a problem for us, specifically. We have our work cut out now.”

They didn’t know the half of it. Almost as soon as Kyle and Ladd separated from the stream of students to go to the Water mage dorms, they were accosted in their first incident.  
Ladd tripped on a bubble.

Kyle reached for him but was blocked by a line of water that had appeared over Ladd’s head when he hit the ground. It wiggled in front of his face, then snapped itself into an arrow. It pointed to the space outside the eastern wall of the Hall. Ladd brushed dirt off his knees and followed it. Kyle stuck close behind. After turning the corner, the water line brought them to a small hideout under balcony stairs. A few older students waited in the shadows.

Eli Burton wrapped the water line around the tiny boy’s wrist and pulled him further into the shade.

“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.” Eli smirked, and his minions tried to look tough. Ladd turned to face Kyle.