Chapter 6

Knock-knock.

Margarette Tunee called for the visitor to come in.

Kyle pushed at the door and peeked at the office.

“Come sit.” The director nodded towards the chairs on the other side of her desk.

“Ah.” Kyle’s cheeks warmed. He stepped closer to the large desk in the center of the room, but not before stealing a read on the spines of some of the tomes on the tall bookshelves that lined the wall opposite her seat.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, dear?”

“It’s about the transfer- er. No, I mean... It’s- I have a question. Hypothetical.”

“Go ahead.” Margarette smiled at him.

“So, um... let’s say there was a student. Um.”

“Yes?”

“A mage.”

“Yes.”

“And he was ki- uh, he wasn’t a student of the School of Magic. For whatever reason.”

Margarette nodded. “For whatever reason.”

“Hypothetically.”

“I understand. Keep going. What about this hypothetical student?”

“What if he... wanted to...”

The director pulled her eyeglasses off and folded them, setting them down on a stack of ledgers close at hand.

“What if the student wanted to practice their magic?”

“Even though they’re not enrolled in the School of Magic?”

“Yes. On...! On Academy grounds, only.” Kyle added, watching the director’s expression.

Margarette leaned back in her chair, lips pursed, and eyed the boy. She murmured unintelligibly as she considered.

“Probably...” The director tilted her head, as if running a final check on her words before speaking. “I’d suggest they find a School of Magic faculty to supervise them?” Her chair swiveled a few degrees. “We can’t have students practicing without... hm. Yes.”

“Yes?”

“I would say, hypothetically – no. Not hypothetically.” Margarette sat up straight. “This is my decision, as Director of the Academy. If you wish to continue learning magic, find Professor Calfenowe or Yamada and convince one of them teach you outside of school hours.”

Kyle nodded hard enough to make himself a little dizzy. Margarette smiled again, somehow even softer than before. “I thought you were only interested in math?” The boy lowered his eyes. “I distinctly remember Professor Greis telling me so.”

“I...” Kyle hung his head lower.

“Is it fun? Magic.” Margarette’s eyes twinkled, but Kyle was squinting his eyes shut when he nodded – a lot more controlled this time. Margarette chuckled at the shade of red his ears had taken. “Might I have a turn to ask you something, Mister Kyle?”

His eyes snapped open as he whipped his head up to face her. “Of course!”

“Do you want to be assigned a new room?” Kyle knitted his eyebrows together in confusion. “I thought you might be uncomfortable sharing living space with the students from the School of Magic. I could have you placed with another math major, if you prefer... No?” Kyle was shaking his head. “You’d rather stay with Mister Fuemiit?”

“Yes, please.”

“...As you wish. I’ll allow you time to think it over until the end of this week. After that, I’m afraid it will be difficult even if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

“You have a few days left. Think about it.”

“...okay.”

* * *

“So, that’s all she said?”

“What more is there to say?” Kyle leaned his head back onto the wall behind his bed and stretched his legs out, resting his ankles on Ladd’s calves. Ladd, more or less out of habit, grabbed Kyle’s feet and tossed them over the side of the bed.

“It’s not illegal or anything?”

“That’s why I asked.”

“What were you gonna do if she said no?"

“...I dunno. Quit magic, I guess?”

“And just never talk to Water ever again?”

“I guess.”

Ladd stared at Kyle, the disgust plain on his face.

“Go away.” Kyle hurled a pillow at Ladd’s frown.

“Go away?” Yzac’s voice came muffled through the door.

Ladd jumped, but Kyle just told him to come in, apologizing. “I didn’t hear you knock.”

“I was about to. Hi.” Yzac looked at Ladd.

“Hi.” Ladd’s hands were full of the pillow he’d caught, but he felt awkward not waving. “Did you tell him?” Ladd was facing Kyle again.

“Tell me what?” Yzac plopped down on his bed and kicked off his shoes.

“About the transfer.”

“Oh, yeah.” He swung sideways, tugging an assigned reading out from his school bag. “What about this kid? Is he getting expelled, too?”

“No,” Kyle said flatly before Ladd could get a word in.

“Huh? That sucks.”

“What.” Ladd moved, and Kyle put a hand to block Ladd from rolling to the edge of the bed, closer to Yzac’s side of the room.

“He didn’t break the rules. He wasn’t a student.”

“Still sucks.”

“Why yo-”

“Wish you could’ve stayed with us, man.” Ladd visibly relaxed.

“It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

“I mean, yeah. But it’d be neat if you could still do magic.”

“I still ca-”

“And tutor me – Wait, huh?”

“Pfft! That’s what you’re worried about?”

“Are you bad at magic?”

“Say what?” Yzac glared at Ladd, who raised an eyebrow at him in response. Kyle looked between them, then exaggerated a sigh.

“Guys, can you not?”

“I bet I could take you.”

Ladd clasped his arm around his belly, doubling over in painful laughter.

“What, are you really Linette’s cousin?”

Both Kyle and Ladd snapped to attention.

“Or...Not? Is that a secret?”

“What are you talking about? I told you; we’re orphans.”

Ladd hopped off of Kyle’s bed and planted himself on Yzac’s.

“Um. Get off?” Yzac kicked lazily at the child.

“Speaking of Linette,” Ladd inched closer, unbothered. “Want me to tutor you?”

Kyle snorted while Yzac blinked hard at the kid, shaking his head and stuttering. “...What?”

“Do you wan-”

“What the heck does that have to do with ‘Speaking of Linette’?” He shook his head some more, adding more question.

“She said teaching is the best way to learn.” Ladd paused. “Although she said she doesn’t know if to applies to magic because teaching me is making her more confused than when she doesn’t.”

“I... Ladd, your grammar is off.”

“It is?”

“Yeah.”

Ladd shrugged. “But anyway,” he turned back to Yzac. “I could try. And see if I get better after teaching you. Or worse.”

Yzac frowned. “What are you gonna teach me?”

“Hm.” The child thought for a moment. “How about Creating? I can-”

“Whoa, whoa!” Kyle jumped off his own bed and bolted towards Ladd, grabbing his arm. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Yeah, I don’t like the sound of that, either.” Yzac’s frown deepened.

“Why not?” Ladd sat back on his haunches, wearing Kyle’s hand as a sleeve.

“It’s not like you’re a teacher. You can’t protect us if anything goes wrong.”

“Oh.”

“I wanna wait for Calfenowe.”

“Oh...” Ladd slumped and felt Kyle’s hand slide off of him. “Okay.”

And so, Ladd somehow convinced Kyle and Yzac to join him in the second-year classroom after school the next day.

Susan Iquethes tilted her head until it rested on Linette’s shoulder. “You only mentioned one first-year.”

“I don’t know what they’re doing here, either.” Linette replied.

Kyle, who was openly staring at the star-shaped pin on the fifth-year's yellow collar, felt Ladd rush past him into the room, jolting him back to the present.

“Do you remember me?”

“Uh, you’re Ladd’s, uh...brother, or something, right?” Linette twirled her silver hair.

Kyle’s expression softened. “Something like that, yeah.”

“Do you want cookies?” Grace Iquethes held a bag out towards him.

“I do.” Yzac stepped closer to the group Ladd had approached, tugging Kyle along with him. Ita Huomi snatched the bag away before he could reach them, though.

“These are for Bev.” Ita passed the snacks to her roommate. Susan pulled a second pouch out of her schoolbag and handed it to Yzac, wearing an apology in her smile. Ciel reached over from behind the girls and pinched Ita’ cheek. “Be nice.”

“I really don’t mind sharing –” Beverly quieted at Ita’s smoldering glare. It wasn’t worth arguing with her when she was in mama bear mode. “Fine... thanks.” Beverly stuffed three cookies into her mouth. Grace patted her head.

“When is your teacher getting here?” Susan fished around in her bag for more food when she noticed the pace Yzac was devouring the spare cookie pouch.

“He was here earlier –”

“Oh yeah?”

“– but he had to step out. His wife called him.”

“Oh, no! Does he have to go back to the do-”

“Found one!” Susan popped her head back out from her bag and grinned at Yzac, holding up a semi-melted chocolate bar. She looked at Grace, who was staring at her in disbelief. “What?”

Grace shook her head. “Why do we even bother.”

Susan pouted. “I was listening!”

Grace rolled her eyes. Ladd tapped Susan’s arm, and she turned to him.

“Do you have any more of those?” He pointed at Yzac’s fast disappearing chocolate. Susan, in turn, looked at Grace.

“Ugh, I brought these for Baby Bev...” She dove into her own schoolbag anyway. Ciel sneaked a cookie out from the bag Beverly almost finished and reached out to pass it to Ladd. Linette turned on him.

“Hey! Don’t spoil him!”

Ciel froze, cookie in hovering hand. Ita banged on a desk, suddenly choking on laughter. “He doesn’t know which of his masters to serve! Ahaha!” Ciel splashed her. She splashed him back, and he ducked to protect the cookie, but then realized it was no longer in his grasp. He looked at Ladd, who was happily munching away. Kyle slapped his forehead.

“Sorry, our younger friend at the Orphanage must have taught him that.”

“Maybe that’s what you should tutor me in, kid.” Yzac high-fived Ladd.

All the students turned when the classroom door swung open. If Stewart Calfenowe was at all surprised by the number of kids waiting for him, he certainly didn’t show it. He offered a friendly smile to the older Iquethes sisters. They both waved back.

“Listen. My son has a cold, so we need to keep today’s lesson short. You might want to start as soon as possible.”

Linette nodded, silencing any protest Ladd was about to make. She took his hand and led him to the space in the middle of the room.

“Do you remember how to Create? Like yesterday?”

“Create? I thought he was a fir-”

“Shh!” Beverly covered Susan’s mouth. Ladd nodded.

Appear, Water.

A liter of water streamed down from Ladd’s eye level down to the floor.

“Oh.”

“That’s already better than before. Keep going.”

“What else should I do, Professor?”

“Hold it afloat.”

Alright. Well, you heard him.

...or maybe not? Anyway. Appear, Water. And stay in the air, just -

Yes. Like that. Stay where you are.

“Good job.”

Ladd imagined he was smiling. However, he was too focused to actually move the muscles in his face.

“Can you make more?”

Can I? Good question. If I just say ‘More,’ I’m sure it will come out. But... let’s see if I can control the amount.

A steady stream began to leak from thin air, spreading evenly into the surrounding space. Linette watched in awe, forgetting her responsibilities for moment. Calfenowe narrowed his eyes.

“Be careful. Don’t Create more than you can Move, it’ll take a toll on you.”

Oh, that’s right. I’m not used to Moving Water. I should see if I am still within my limits.

Let’s see. What should I do with this much water? I feel like it’s too much for just some dog tricks... maybe I can make a Waterman? Like a snow man?

Hey, you... oh. You’re good? Split in two, please? Yes! Perfect, now make balls- wow this is good! Now just stack on top of each other...

Hm. Now what. I guess this means I can handle more?

Let’s make some more. Come out, Water.

Ah. This is a lot. It’s kind of a mess. I guess I can make a second man- Oh! That was fast. No need for instruction, huh? Okay, I guess you do remember stuff.

What else was there?

Should I try making steps like that first day?

Hm, but this is much too much water. If I make a step, it’ll be more like a-

A bed! Oh, a whole Waterbed!

Yes!

Maybe you can be soft, too- No? That’s probably too much to ask. You are still just Water, after all.

Ladd stepped closer to the floating bed of Water and touched it.

Hm. I see. My hand goes right through. Do I have to give you a specific command to make you more solid? Resist me.

Ladd brushed his hand along its surface, grinning at the jelly-like substance.

Is it just here? Or the whole thing?

Yeah, let’s make the whole thing like this.

Whoa. Easy there. If you make me dizzy, you fall apart, too.

I wonder if I can climb on top of-

“Mister Korr.”

“Ah?” Whoa. Focus. Focus. Don’t let go.

“Are you going to keep playing or do you want to practice the next step?”

Ladd sweated. “Wh- what’s the next step.”

“Taking it.”

“You...” Ladd panted. “You mean Absorb it?”

“...No. You’re not there yet. I mean taking it from another mage.”

“Oh! How... hold on.” Ladd struggled to keep his hold on the Water and carry a conversation.

“Hold on? For what?”

“I can’t... concentrate...”

“On?”

“The Water... if I let go...”

“Yes?”

...Huh? ‘Yes?’

“If...” Ladd frowned, sweating from more pores than he knew he had.

“Just let go.”

...

Ladd let go of the Water and gasped. The other students also gasped, albeit out of shock from the large splash. Yzac and Kyle hadn’t jumped out of the way in time. Calfenowe looked at them, amused, before getting rid of It in a flash.

“...Now what?”

“Linette.”

“Yessir.” Linette Created enough Water to cover half her body, and then met Ladd’s eyes. “I’m ready.”

“For...?”

“Take it from me.”

“...?” Ladd leaned his head back, not entirely sure he knew what was going on.