They walked out of the classroom, Ladd hanging on to Linette. A few students who stayed around the School of Magic campus after classes spotted them, and the rumors, that hadn’t quite died down yet, roared with new life. As the story went, Linette Bathory had visited the Director during break and asked for Ladd Korr, who must’ve been somewhat of a close relative, to be tested early. The students, especially those of noble backgrounds, wondered why they had not heard of the name Korr until then, but it was of no matter to them. The student body had settled on this biased confirmation – Ladd Korr was a child of the Tree Tribe. Linette, the strongest Tree Tribe member currently enrolled at the Academy, was to watch over him and train him in secret. It even explained why people thought he was involved with the Kyle boy. There weren’t many other Water mages who were both powerful and made good tutors. Alas, Kyle had no more to do with the rising star than the coincidence of their enrollment year. Of course, the Tree Tribe had no reason to intervene on his behalf. The “crime” must have been entirely made up in the first place! By a jealous classmate, perhaps?

Ladd was the only one out of the loop by the time he met up with Linette after school again. The gossip spread quicker than infectious disease and had reached the ears of Linette’s closest friends – who insisted on sticking around to watch the tutelage.

Ladd poked his head around the doorframe at the front of the second-year mage classroom, searching for Linette. She was chatting with two girls and a boy, and she beckoned him over when she spotted him.

Ciel Bernicio introduced himself first. His uniform was all black, save for the beige details the Academy distinguished itself with. He sported a cloud pin on a white collar, marking him as a third-year. Ladd couldn’t help but stare in awe as the elegant young man made his way, and gasped when he broke eye contact to give a small bow.

“How do you do, Child of Water?” Ciel’s eyes rose to meet Ladd’s once more, and he smiled. Ladd returned the expression, only to drop it immediately. What was the professor doing here?

“...H-Hi...”

Stewart Calfenowe, leaning against the chalkboard, nodded.

Ladd turned his face to Linette, hoping to communicate the betrayal he felt with his eyes, but she was already dragging Ciel by the ear to one of the seats near the window. The two girls waiting there shook their heads at him, but they were laughing.

“Ladd.” Linette called for him. “You don’t mind if my friends watch, do you?”

Ladd swallowed a nervous lump. “No...?”

“Okay, then. Let’s start.” She started back towards the middle of the room, and Ladd joined her there. Linette opened her hands, palms up, and began Creating. Ladd put his hands on hers.

“Wait.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I want to learn how to do that today.”

“Um,” she turned to the professor, who shook his head. “I... okay, let’s try.” She closed her fists. “Do you remember what I said about the properties of your element? How you need to know that to Move It?” Ladd nodded. “Okay, so... forget all that.” Ladd’s head rose sharply. “Um. How should I put this. It’s water, yes. But! It’s also... magic...? So...um. You know? It’s magical? And things can kind of, uh, just happen?”

“I think that sounds right...?”

“Right...! So. Yeah. You just have to... take – no, not take – ask? No, that’s not it, either. Ah...” Linette scratched her head. “It’s so natural, I don’t really know how to explain it. And my notes are so confusing, too...” She caught Ladd’s puzzled expression. “I checked. So, I could help you.” He beamed.

“It’s natural?”

“Yeah!” Linette’s voice was loud, but the excitement died when she noticed the confusion sticking to his face. Ladd scratched his neck.

“Natural...” he muttered, biting his lower lip.

How do they do it? Forget the properties of Water? Not that I know them that well, anyway... Just magic, huh.

“The only thing I was able to recognize in my notes was that I had to summon something from nothing.” Linette’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Sorry if that doesn’t help...”

“Hm.”

Something from nothing. Right. That’s why Creating is so magical, because you can make something exist that didn’t exist before. No special science or anything. Just plain and simple. There is no Water, and then there is.

So what happens in between? It’s not like I can pull It from somewhere else, either... no, that’s just Move. Huh? She makes it sound so easy but how the heck do I make something exist that never existed...! Can I just, what, talk to the air in front of me and say, “Appear!” or-

Wait.

What was that?

No?

I think I just felt something?

That was weird?

...Different?

No? Maybe not? Maybe it was similar to always?

Uh....

Huh?

...Do I just try that? “Appear...?”

No, seriously. What is that. It’s definitely not the same. But it is...?

Argh! Okay, fine! “Appear!” Uh... shoot. More. Um.

Something isn’t... connecting. What-

Appear... ahhhhh, help me, Water, please, what do I do?

Something is wrong but something is also- Right- I don’t-

What is this... I know I have to say “Appear” but what’s missing?

...

Oh. Oh!

Powers, why am I so dumb!?

Appear, Water!

Ladd folded in half, gasping for air, as his heart tried to leap out of his chest, and Water splashed all over him. His mouth got a real workout while his mind decided whether to laugh or cry. Linette’s choice was easier – she let out a loud whoop and yanked him into a tight hug.

...She smells nice.

Ah!

Dang it, why is the connection always so weak?

Ladd put his hands on his face. Linette stilled, wondering why he froze up.

“What’s wrong, Ladd?”

“I messed up.”

“No, you did great! That was a lot of water! I think the most I’ve seen -”

“I dropped it.”

“What, the water?”

“The telepathy.”

“...Telepathy?”

“Yeah, you know. The mental talk between you and the Water.”

“Oh... you call that telepathy? Okay...”

“It’s not reconnecting.”

“No?” Linette looked at the professor again, who raised an eyebrow. He separated from the board and strode to where they stood.

“What is it?” Ladd felt a flood of relief at the softness in his tone.

“He said something went wrong.” Linette prodded Ladd. It hurt where she poked.

“It’s not responding to me anymore, Professor.”

“How do you mean?”

“I can’t Create anymore.”

“That’s alright. It’s possible you hit your current limit.”

“Already?”

“Is this your first time?”

“Yeah.”

“Then it makes sense. You need to practice.”

Ladd’s head drooped.

“Can you Move?”

“Huh? Go – move where?”

“...Water. Can you Move Water.”

“Oh.”

Before Ladd could blink, a gallon of water appeared in front of his eyes. He jumped. “Oh!”

“Try.”

Ladd nodded.

And he tried.

But he couldn’t do it.

“That’s okay. Get some rest. Miss Bathory tells me she promised you a week, so you still have a few more days to practice.” Ladd glanced up at the professor. “Of course, you will not try anything without my supervision. Understood?”

“Thank you.”

“And, Miss Bathory.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Stay. I have something to discuss with you.”