“And it’s off limits,” Natalie added, glancing at him.
“Right,” said Alex. “Off limits.” He wondered how much time he would have if he did cross this line. Probably not long enough to go far.
Aamir looked sidelong at him, then led them away, down another set of hallways. The bricks faded away, replaced by rough, battered stones the size of Alex’s head, with deep gouges and scars from where something had torn at them.
This time, the line that Aamir showed them was made of gold. The older student licked his lips. “Really don’t cross this one.”
Alex tilted his head. “What do you mean, really?”
Aamir made a vexed noise. “This one won’t bring a teacher down on you. It’ll hurt you.”
Alex could feel it now. A biting, wintry cold. If the blue line had been like snow, this one was like ice. It was all sharp, angry edges.
“What’s behind it?” he asked.
Aamir didn’t bother looking this time. He held Alex’s gaze, his face serious and set.
“The Head’s domain.”
Aamir then escorted them directly to their next class, with Professor Lintz, whom Aamir described as his favorite teacher. Alex settled into his chair beside Natalie with a buzz of irritation, shivering in the chilly classroom air. He needed to get outside, to try the gates. He couldn’t trust Aamir or Jari, but if he could just get some time alone, he was sure he could figure out this damn manor without their help.
He felt a hand on his arm and looked up to see Natalie gazing at him.
“We’ll make it out, Alex,” she whispered. “We have to keep up hope. If anyone can find the way home, it’s probably the guy who can make sense of Jacques Lacan.”
“How did you know I’ve read Lacan?” he whispered back, frowning.
She smiled faintly. “I saw The Seminar on your bookshelf.”
“Oh, right,” he muttered. He could hardly believe that had just been a few nights ago.
Alex looked up just in time to see Professor Lintz loping into the room.
For an overweight man, Lintz moved with a feline grace, his feet whispering across the floor as his thick-fingered hands floated along at his sides. He had a round, perspiring face, adorned with an impressive mustache that bobbed over sagging jowls.
The class fell silent as he entered, and his wolfish gaze spread out over the classroom.
“New students,” he barked, and Alex stood, sensing the command in the man’s voice. Beside him, Natalie scrambled to her feet too.
“Mm,” said Lintz, stepping forward. He moved straight past Alex, who turned to see the man eyeing Natalie up and down. “Can you produce an aura yet?” he asked, his voice skeptical.
“I…I don’t know, sir,” she replied. “I haven’t tried.”
“Go on, then,” he said sharply. “Try now.”
Natalie closed her eyes, drawing in her breath. Lintz stood still in front of her, staring at her with beady eyes. He let out a grunt of satisfaction when a burst of golden light rippled from her, tracing her form like ethereal fire. She looked utterly surprised.
“Good,” he said. “Unformed, but strong. Very good.” He looked her up and down again as she beamed. “Keep your back straight,” he said, and her smile slipped a little. “Magic is about form and function. You must be iron. Do not forget that.”
Natalie bobbed her head, and Lintz turned his gaze on Alex.
“You!” he said. “Can you produce anything?”
“I don’t think so, sir. I’m not as fast on the uptake as Natalie, and Professor Derhin focused more on style and history,” Alex replied calmly.
Lintz chuckled. “He’s like that,” he said, a note of fondness in his voice. So he and Derhin are friends, then. “But my classes will be a bit different. You don’t need to make a form or anything. Just let out some energy.”
Alex hesitated. “Could you elaborate, sir?”
Lintz paused, flapping his hands at his sides. “Just…let it out,” he said doubtfully. “Honestly, it’s not something most students have any trouble with.”
As stupid as this felt, Alex supposed it was worth a try. He reached inside himself, searching for some magic that he could unleash. He tried to imagine it, warm and golden inside him, but there was nothing. He just felt emptiness. He shivered, the cold running through his bones, looking uneasily up at Professor Lintz. The man regarded him with a critical eye, then let out a huff.
“Well, for every prodigy, I suppose we need a problem child,” he mumbled.
The class laughed, and Alex sat down.
What would be done with him if it became obvious he was non-magical?
“Did you see me?” whispered Natalie excitedly. “I did it! I didn’t know I could!”
“Yes, that was beautiful,” he replied, quite stunned at her ability, but also sinking deeper into worry at the expectation everyone seemed to have of him.
Professor Esmerelda, a beautiful woman with raven-black hair and an apparent love of glittery dresses, held their next class. Although her lesson lapsed in and out of stories about her youth, she still had a commanding grasp of magic. She, too, commended Natalie for her powerful aura, and looked on in some shock as Alex failed to conjure so much as a spark.
“I have never met someone with so little magical energy,” she mused, looking him up and down with her eerie blue eyes. “How very odd that Finder would bring us such a unique individual. We shall have to be tender in your raising, lest we break you.” She had not made that last comment sound reassuring in the least.
Alex left her class with a dry mouth, a worried Jari at his side telling him it took time, Aamir quietly gazing down at his feet, Natalie frowning at him.
“What if I am simply not magical?” Alex asked, and Aamir patted him brusquely on the shoulder.
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” he said. “It is extremely unlikely.”
“Yes, but what if?”
The older boy looked him in the eye. “I shouldn’t like to think,” he said seriously.
At least Natalie didn’t have to worry about that. He glanced at her. Maybe tonight he would finally be able to sneak away, spend the evening exploring, plan an escape route…
“You go on ahead,” he called to Aamir and Jari, hanging back with Natalie. “We’ll catch up.”
Aamir regarded him levelly. “We will wait for you at the end of this hallway,” he said.
“Huh? Why?” asked Jari, but Aamir put one firm hand to his back, guiding him away, out of earshot. Alex was glad Aamir accepted his desire for a private conversation, and turned quickly to Natalie.
“Okay,” he said in a hushed voice. “So you still want to get out of here, right?”
“Of course!” she hissed. “Why on earth would you think I wouldn’t?”
Alex hadn’t expected a different answer. “Just that you seem really good at this…magic stuff,” he murmured.
She shook her head vigorously. “Perhaps I am good at it. Perhaps it’s even fun. But I…” she hesitated, searching for the right words. “Even aside from the fact that I need to return to my family, I do not like this place. There is something seriously wrong with it.”
Alex exhaled. Tell me about it. “Okay,” he whispered, “so I’m thinking…” He glanced at Aamir and Jari, who were several yards away. “I’m thinking the best plan is to wait a little longer.” She started to protest, but he quickly explained, “Right now I don’t even know how to get out of here. The hallways in this place…It’s confusing. We’ll need a little time to figure it out.”
She drooped, tears brimming in her eyes. “I guess that makes sense. I’ll try to understand too. I want to help.”
He nodded, refraining from telling her he didn’t want to get her in trouble. It didn’t make any sense for the two of them to risk being caught.
“In the meantime, let’s play along, okay? I don’t know what to expect from any of these people. Go to classes…stay safe.”
“Yes, Alex,” she whispered with intensity, h
olding his hand between both of hers. “Stay safe.”
Chapter 12
Alex awoke the next day to the unpleasant sight of Siren Mave, who bustled in brandishing a measuring tape and jerked him rudely from sleep. He bristled, but put up no resistance as she spun him around like a top before bustling off again. It wouldn’t be smart to antagonize her, he figured, gritting his teeth. She soon returned bearing a freshly tailored set of clothes in Alex’s size, dropping them on the bed and dusting her hands off on her gown.
“Thank you,” he grated out.
Siren Mave beamed. “Oh, don’t mention it, darling,” she said. “I’m here to look after you little rascals, after all. If you need anything, let me know, okay?”
Alex waited for her to leave, then stripped out of Aamir’s clothes and pulled on the new set while Aamir and Jari faced the opposite wall. The new clothes fit more perfectly than anything Alex had ever worn, though they felt alien, and still insufficient against the cold.
Jari seemed to think they looked fantastic, clapping his hands at the sight of him. Aamir approved as well, giving Alex a critical onceover and saying these clothes fit a good deal better than his ones.
“So who is Siren Mave, anyway? What does she do here?” Alex asked, pulling his coat around him.
The smaller boy spun around and flopped down to land cross-legged on the edge of his bed, facing Alex.
“Well, she’s certainly not here to be our friend,” Aamir said. “Her goal is to make sure we don’t die.”
Alex frowned. “So she’s a nurse?”
Jari laughed. “Magical folk have a hard time getting sick,” he said. “And when they do, it’s…dramatic. She can’t help; she’s pretty much just here to make sure we don’t starve or freeze.”
“Well, she’s not doing a great job there. Aren’t you two freezing?”
Jari looked puzzled. “Nope. Just you.” Then he brightened. “Let’s go get some breakfast! I’m starving.”
After breakfast, Alex found himself alone in the dorm with Aamir for a while. The older boy had picked up a book to read and, seizing the opportunity to gather information, Alex began by asking him what he was reading.
“Terothype’s Discourse of Anima Arcana,” Aamir said, absently turning the page. By his side, a little puff of golden light flared to life, then warped. Alex watched, highly intrigued, as the magic molded itself into the form of a single, green leaf.
Reaching out, Alex took it just as it began to flutter down, running his fingers over it before turning it over. It felt so real. He could see the veins, feel the waxy surface.
“Is this…permanent?” he asked. “Or will it eventually disappear?”
Aamir lowered his book. “Anima magic focuses on severance,” he said. “You create something, then sever your bond with the magic, simultaneously instilling it with purpose. Intent.”
“Purpose. That sounds complicated. How could you identify something’s purpose that way? Or hold it in your mind?”
“With plants, it is not too difficult. The purpose of a plant is relatively simple. Survive. Drink the light, set down roots. For an animal, however, it becomes more complicated.”
“But a plant is part of a larger system, isn’t it? Even a leaf, pretty simple on its own, must connect to the entire organism. And that organism must connect to its environment, and the organisms that environment contains. How do you hold all that in your mind?”
Aamir smiled, shutting his book and finally looking up at Alex.
“You are overthinking it. Magic is largely based on estimation, on feeling your way. One leaf is not as difficult as you imagine.”
Alex thought for a moment. “A person must be extremely difficult, though,” he mused.
“Well, a homunculus is not too hard,” said Aamir. “However, to impart a complete, functioning mind upon something made of magic? That is beyond difficult: it is unheard of. When creating it, you would need to encapsulate all the thought processes of an entire individual. It would be the supreme act of magic.”
Alex nodded slowly. “I see. Interesting. Is all magic like this?” He held up the leaf. “How does it work?”
Aamir seemed to think about that. “Well,” he said, “those stupid exercises they have us do in class aren’t entirely without merit. Each one teaches a different way of molding your energy. This most recent one, Alaman’s, creates a spout of energy that bursts from the hand, for example. Once you know how to mold it, it’s all about knowing how to hold each piece in your mind and bring it into the form and essence you desire.”
“I see,” Alex said slowly, considering this. “So, I would assume, the more detailed the spell, the more difficult it is. And magic could take the form of anything—physical, visual, auditory, depending on your intent?”
Aamir gave him an appraising look, a flicker of excitement dancing in his eyes. “Essentially, yes. You are grasping the concept quickly. Once you master summoning and molding your magic, I have some books you should read. They’ll really explain all this better than I can.”
There was a moment of silence in which a couple more leaves snapped into existence, drifting lazily to the floor.
“So, what about the other instructors here?” Alex continued. “I’ve only met three of them, and they seemed, uh, peculiar.”
“Well, you won’t have much to do with them for a while yet. Renmark and Gaze are senior instructors and only hold classes where the students are in their second year and up.”
“What are they like?” he asked, disappointed he wouldn’t be able to gauge them for himself.
“Renmark is stern. And Gaze is very strange.”
Alex made a mental note, then led up his next question carefully, trying to sound casual.
“What about the manor? How do the hallways work? How would you get outside, for example?”
Aamir looked at him for a long moment, eyes slightly narrowed, and Alex knew he had sounded too eager.
“The hallways just require memorization; they are pretty simple.” Then he picked up his book again, leaving Alex’s real question unanswered.
Chapter 13
It took Professor Derhin two days to finish explaining what he insisted were the very basics of Alaman’s Inner Enlightenment and Fire, and even after that, he was leery about letting them practice it. He eventually agreed to oversee the process as his students sat upon their desks and lifted one hand to the air as though they were “holding up invisible pineapples,” as Derhin put it. The other hand they placed over their hearts.
“Now, eyes closed,” Derhin said, in a voice one might use on an easily startled horse, “and breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Cycle the energy between the brain and the chest. Stoke it into a whirlpool.”
Alex sat upon his desk, giving it a try. He closed his eyes, breathing in, then breathing out. He tried to visualize chakras moving within him alongside the air in his lungs, but nothing happened. He only felt the familiar cold, pressing against his gut. He sighed. If he couldn’t figure this out, they would realize he had snuck in.
Seated in his usual spot in front of Alex, Jari had started to glow faintly. Little lines of fiery golden energy raced up and down his upheld wrist, and his hair was standing up. Shooting a sidelong look at Aamir, Alex almost groaned. The older boy was engulfed in little spouts and lashes of power, his whole body shining like some kind of great statue.
At an exclamation, Alex turned to survey the back of the class and was surprised to see Natalie similarly ablaze. She sat, eyes closed, a serene expression on her face as she billowed with radiance. The girls around her had opened their eyes and were uttering exclamations of surprise and awe. At the front of the room, Professor Derhin looked up from where he had been writing upon a sheet.
“Lovely aura, Chevalier,” he said, though he didn’t sound particularly pleased—almost put out. “You too, Nagi.”
Alex was satisfied to see her succeeding. With a smile at him, she had chosen to sit with the girls from her
dormitory today, which was a good sign. She was blending in well.
Professor Derhin’s eyes swept the room and found Alex, sitting on his desk, his hand stuck in the air, looking firmly non-magical. “Webber,” he said, rubbing at his temples, “while I have been told by your other teachers that you have…difficulties, in these matters, I do insist that you at least try.”
A titter of laughter ran through the classroom. He shut his eyes once more, refocusing, making a stronger attempt.
Come on, he thought.
Nothing happened.
What will they do to me if they find out?
What will happen to Natalie if I’m sent away?
Still nothing.
Sitting in the dining room after class, Alex was again absorbed in thoughts of escape. Trying the gates was still the only idea he had, but he had not yet been able to master the hallways. Aamir was clearly unwilling to help, but perhaps Jari would know the way…The question was how to convince the boy to show him and Natalie. He would need to be more careful when broaching the question this time, as he didn’t want a repeat of Aamir’s reaction.
“It’s all right,” said Aamir suddenly, clapping him on the back. “You’ve still got a little time before your first examination. I’m sure you’re just nervous.”
“What?” said Alex. “Oh. Yes, I’m sure that’s it.” Aamir must have mistook his look of concentration for one of dismay.
“I’d be nervous,” said Jari. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone failing their first examination. Do you think they’d kill him?”
Alex looked up sharply, and Aamir glared at Jari. “They would not kill him,” he said. “Alex isn’t non-magical. He’s just having a hard time focusing his energy.”
“Is that what happens to non-magical people here?” They hadn’t harmed him yet, but he wouldn’t put it past them.
Jari laughed, speaking around a mouthful of bread that sent crumbs scattering over the tabletop. “Non-magical people don’t come here,” he said. “There are barriers. Spells and stuff that keep them out. Anyway, I don’t think that’s Alex’s problem. I think his problem runs a little deeper.” His eyes twinkled mischievously.