Natalie passed a secret look of concern over to Alex, but Alex could only shrug; there was nothing they could do. Jari was determined to remain optimistic, and who were they to stand in his way?
Jari chattered happily as they left the mess hall and headed to their first lesson, previously Professor Derhin’s but now belonging to the rightful victor, Professor Nagi. Outside, they waited with a few of the other students, discussing the texts they had learned the day before, preparing for the session.
After five minutes, Professor Nagi called them in. They bustled into the lesson, ready to see their friend and former classmate. The last time they had seen him, he had been happy to be in their company again, if still stressed out by the line on his wrist and the new information in his head. The three of them had expected to be greeted in much the same way—at least with a smile or a whispered welcome—as they entered the classroom.
However, it did not seem like that was going to be the case. Aamir stood at the front of the class, dressed in his sleek black robes, the sleeves covering the golden line the three of them knew to be there. He addressed them politely, asking them to take their seats, as he turned and began to write on the blackboard. He wrote much quicker than the sluggish Derhin ever had, his lettering curving and curling elegantly, but the words seemed familiar somehow, as if taken from the very same book Derhin had used.
Alex glanced at Natalie, frowning. It didn’t look like the lesson’s format was going to change at all from Derhin’s dry style. Jari, however, could not be swayed from his optimism as he watched his long-time friend with a grin, trying to get his attention at the back of the classroom. He sparked up a small shower of fireworks when Aamir turned back to them with the instruction that his students copy the given information and attempt the spell if they had time. His voice, usually so bright and rich with the flavor of his heritage, was stern and dulled as he ignored the flurry of golden sparks at the back of the classroom.
The other students did not seem surprised by this change in Aamir. There was a quiet murmur of casual gossip, whispered in low voices, before they simply began the work they had been set, their fingers moving quickly across paper, copying out the information. Even Natalie and Alex set to it, but Jari was determined.
“Aamir?” Jari raised his hand.
The room went silent.
Aamir turned in Jari’s direction, a look of frustration passing across his face. “Please, stop what you are doing,” Aamir said, addressing the whole class. Everyone looked up, pausing in their task as they tried hard not to look at Jari.
“This is a note for all of you,” Aamir began calmly. “This class is now taught by me, in replacement of Professor Derhin, and you will all address me as Professor Nagi from now on. I will neither accept nor tolerate any other term of address—I am no longer your classmate. I am your teacher, and you shall speak to me accordingly, with the appropriate level of respect.” His gaze focused for a moment on every single student, hammering the message home. His voice was stern and steady, his intention clear, and completely devoid of the warmth his friends were used to. Instead, there was a silent threat, bubbling just beneath the surface.
“Yes, Professor Nagi,” every voice in the room chorused. All except one.
“Now, continue,” Aamir instructed, turning again to write on the board.
“Aamir?” Jari raised his hand again, his tone bold. The room froze, everybody’s eyes snapping to the blond-haired boy with his hand up and a mischievous smile on his face.
Aamir turned very slowly, his stern gaze resting on his best friend. “Jari, you will address me as Professor Nagi,” he insisted. His voice was even, though Alex picked up on a tiny hint of something like regret in the way he said ‘Jari.’
Jari frowned. “I just need some help,” he said, his cheerful voice tightening. Alex noticed Jari’s hand was shaking.
“Very well,” Aamir sighed, making his way through the desks toward Jari.
Aamir stopped beside the desk, waiting impatiently for Jari’s question. A glance of panic passed from the younger boy to the older, but Aamir only tapped his foot on the stone floor, the noise echoing across the room. “Aamir, I just—” Jari began, but Aamir cut him off sharply.
“You will address me as Professor Nagi. I will not tell you again,” Aamir snapped, the students in the room shifting in their seats with discomfort.
“Aamir, I—” Jari tried again.
“You will address me appropriately, Jari,” Aamir growled, his voice low.
Jari sat back in his seat, biting back tears as he looked up to his former friend. “I just wanted to ask you a question,” he said quietly.
“What is it, Jari?” Aamir said, very impatient now.
Jari shook his head. “I forgot,” he answered miserably, dropping his gaze.
“You forgot?” Aamir sighed heavily. “In future, make sure you have a question, Jari.” Aamir strode back to his place at the front of the classroom.
The class returned to their work, including Jari, who barely looked up. Alex glanced at Jari, mouthing to him, You okay? Jari nodded slowly, his hands balled into tight fists.
“I don’t understand,” Jari whispered.
“I’m sure he doesn’t mean it,” Alex whispered back.
“What is wrong with him?” Jari asked, his eyes watery.
“Jari? Is there any particular reason you are talking when you should be working?” Aamir frowned at Jari, who looked up at him, his cheeks hot with embarrassment.
“I just wanted to ask Alex something,” Jari said.
“Well, don’t. Get back to your work,” Aamir said, his eyes warning Jari as he moved to turn away again.
“Sorry, Aamir,” Jari muttered.
Aamir’s whole body whirled back around, his eyes glittering with annoyance. “You will address me as Professor Nagi! I will not warn you again.”
“I’m sorry,” Jari said, horrified. He hadn’t meant to say ‘Aamir’ that time, Alex could tell; it had simply come out that way.
“I’m sorry… what?” Aamir waited, poised to snap again.
“I’m sorry… Professor Nagi.” Jari struggled to say the unnatural words, choking them out.
“That’s better. Now, if you can be quiet and get on with your work, you might actually make it through this lesson.” Aamir exhaled, tilting his neck from side to side as if he had a crick there that needed stretching.
Eventually, a sense of calm settled over the room as the students all went about their business. Natalie started to get the spell up on its feet, and Jari joined her. It was a spell to create and maintain two three-dimensional objects, simultaneously, on the table in front of them. Natalie had managed to forge a candlestick on one side of her, but was struggling with a small wisp of golden mist on the other side. Nobody was sure what it was meant to be, and Natalie laughed, explaining it was supposed to be a flower. Alex stood beside Natalie, pretending to conjure with his hands, even though nothing appeared. He didn’t dare try too hard, in case he managed to manifest an object made of ice and snow. Aamir ignored him for the most part, understanding why. At least enough friendship remained between them for Aamir to keep Alex’s anti-magic a secret.
Jari, meanwhile, had a small, perfectly formed carousel on the right-hand side of him, on the wooden tabletop. The golden horses whirled around in a circle, rising and falling beneath the elegant domed roof. He grinned, pleased with it, holding it there as he conjured a second object. On his left-hand side, he began to form a creature of some sort, bigger than the carousel. He waved his left hand delicately, in a slim figure eight, and pressed his middle finger into his palm, narrowing his eyes in focus. His other hand moved in an almost identical way, and the creature on the table slowly became more detailed. First, Jari added gleaming panels, which looked almost like scales and formed the beginnings of two beady black eyes, peering out from the wispy swirls of golden energy. These were followed by silvery strands that stood up, horn-like, from the creature’s rounded head, a
nd by six delicate legs sticking out from beneath the metallic body. He puffed out the rest of the creature’s carapace, rounding its back and bringing its head to a point, adding thin lines and swirls of detail onto the magical paneling.
Alex nodded at him, impressed and slightly envious. The beetle was familiar, looking very much like the clockwork one they had almost broken into pieces the year before. Alex smiled sadly at his friend, wondering if he had made the beetle on purpose. Alex wasn’t sure; Jari seemed too cheerful to be reminiscing, with no hint of sadness on his grinning face, but it might have been there in his subconscious. Jari held both objects in place on the rough surface of the table.
“A carousel and a beetle!” Jari said with a laugh, the sound drawing Aamir’s attention. He eyed Jari stiffly from across the classroom, then warily approached to examine the work.
Clearly pleased by the sudden attention from Aamir, Jari became bolder… too bold. “Hey, Aamir, remember the one you made out of—” He didn’t get to finish. Aamir slammed his fist down on the desk. In fright, Jari’s hands jerked upward, the two objects disappearing in a tangled mist of splintered golden magic, the sparks falling to the desk like the last flakes of a snowfall.
“I said I would not warn you again.” Aamir glowered. “You will address me appropriately, or you will leave this lesson!”
“But I just wanted to say, about the—” Jari panicked. Alex wanted to help but knew better than to butt in. He had never seen their friend this way.
“Do you understand?” Aamir nearly shouted. The other students had turned to stare again.
“Aamir, why—”
It was the last straw for Aamir.
“Get out,” he said, his voice a tight growl, his eyes flashing.
“Aamir?” Jari’s voice was unbearably sad, pleading.
“Get out!” Aamir yelled, pointing at the door. His billowing sleeve revealed just a sliver of the golden line clasped around his wrist.
Jari opened his mouth as if he was about to say something else, but closed it again, thinking better of it. Slowly, he picked up his things, his head down and his shoulders slumped, and walked the short distance to the door. He opened it and stepped outside, letting it fall closed with a soft click. The whole class watched his walk of shame, including Natalie and Alex, who turned to Aamir with expressions of confusion and disappointment. Alex wanted to confront Aamir for treating Jari that way, for speaking to him like that. But he understood, as Aamir met his gaze, that if he did he would simply be sent out too.
When the lesson was over, the class hurried from the room, passing a now defiant-looking Jari leaning against the hallway wall with his arms crossed. Natalie and Alex hung back until Jari slipped back into the near-empty classroom. Aamir turned to the trio as he sat down in his chair, visibly relaxing, as if a weight had slid from his shoulders. He sighed and lowered his head into his hands. Jari stood beside Natalie and Alex—an accusatory jury, waiting for an explanation.
“I’m sorry, Jari,” Aamir said quietly, too ashamed to lift his gaze.
“Why did you do that?” Jari asked, the hurt still clinging to his voice.
Aamir shook his head. “Jari, I’m so sorry. It’s this thing,” he explained, exposing his wrist. The golden line sputtered and sparked across his copper skin. “I can’t be seen showing favoritism. I’ve been… warned,” he said, gritting his teeth. The golden line seemed to thrum and glow brighter, the band apparently stinging him for revealing even that much.
“Did you have to be quite so harsh?” Alex asked.
“I know… I’m sorry,” Aamir repeated, his face tired. “I don’t know what came over me,” he added, a look of panic glimmering for a moment in the depths of his warm brown eyes.
“I forgive you,” Jari said softly.
“You do?”
“I do. You’re my best friend—of course I do.” Jari smiled.
Aamir winced, perhaps at the golden line’s bite. “Thank you.”
“We’re going to go spar tonight in the cellar. Will you come?” Jari asked.
“I’m not sure, Jari.” Aamir sighed. “I’ll try, but I can’t promise.”
“We can break out a new wine bottle. I might even let you land a punch.” Jari waggled his eyebrows.
Aamir let out a low chuckle. “I promise I’ll try.”
It was enough for Jari. Aamir stood, and the four of them made their way out into the hallway. Aamir gave them a shy wave as he set off in the opposite direction, walking toward the forbidden corridors hidden behind the sapphire-blue line of the teachers’ quarters.
Jari’s eyes followed his long-time companion as he walked away from them. Natalie and Alex exchanged a look of concern. There was a lost expression on Jari’s face, as if he couldn’t quite process what had just happened.
“Aamir is still our friend. He just has to act a bit differently now,” Natalie said, putting her hand on Jari’s back in an attempt to steer him away from the sight of Aamir’s disappearing figure.
“Yeah, he’s still our friend,” Alex jumped in. “It’s that golden line forcing him to talk like that—it’s not him. He said so himself.” Alex recalled the wince on Aamir’s face when the golden band had sparked against his skin and given him a warning nip.
“I know,” Jari muttered, tearing his eyes away from the now-empty corridor.
“It’ll all be fine. He will be fine,” Alex reassured.
“Sorry, guys, I have somewhere I need to be,” Jari said suddenly, shaking his head as if trying to shake off his worries. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Seven o’clock.”
“See you at seven,” Jari said as he disappeared down the corridor and was swallowed up by the darkness.
Chapter 3
Alex sat in the library, tucked away in one corner, with a stack of unread books on the table in front of him. He had asked Natalie to come with him, hoping for some company to distract him and quiet his mind from the confusion of the morning, but she was busy. Professor Renmark, one of the teachers they had so far avoided, had asked her to come along to a private session, wanting to meet her before the start of the academic year.
Renmark taught second year onwards and had a fearsome reputation. Natalie had seemed baffled by the request to meet him, but was excited, too—she was always eager to learn as much as she could, to strengthen her growing powers. They had heard from the hallway gossip of other students that Renmark was a particularly strong wizard. Natalie had told Alex, thrill in her voice, that she was sure Renmark was going to teach her some new, fascinating things from books they had never even seen before—maybe even some dark stuff. Alex had tried to talk her out of venturing too far into the study of darker magic, particularly anything in the realm of life magic, but doubted he was going to change Natalie’s mind when new magical knowledge was at stake.
So, he found himself alone in the library, flicking through textbooks in an attempt to look busy. Outside, the sky was unusually bright and cloudless, a clear blue, the sunlight gleaming in through the big window that ran along the far edge. With a groan, he got up and headed toward the great columns that held the stacked shelves of books. Other students flew up effortlessly around him, their feet landing delicately on the level they aimed for. Alex grumbled as he began the long climb. After getting off at the right floor, he shook his hands out, his palms sore from the trek up, and gazed down at the ground, so far below. It was a good thing, really, that he didn’t suffer from vertigo. Even so, he quickly stepped away from the railing, not wanting to tempt fate.
The stacks themselves smelled of ancient paper and well-thumbed leather, and he inhaled the musty scent as he wandered through, his fingers brushing along the spines, searching for the book he needed. He stopped midway through a shelf, startled by a figure on the floor, resting her back against the books. Her knees were drawn up almost to her chin, her curly brown hair tied up in a neat bun at the back of her head. Ellabell hadn’t noticed him, and he felt torn as to whether to cough or som
ething, to make his presence known, or whether to just leave her to her peace and quiet.
He was about to tiptoe backward, away from her, when he remembered the note in his pocket—the torn piece of paper that had been sandwiched between the pages of the book Elias had given him, the Historica Magica. By now, he almost knew the words by heart: Of our havens, nine remained. Of those nine, we now have four. If you are magical, seek these places. Kingstone Keep. Falleaf House. Stillwater House. Spellshadow Manor.
Glancing down at Ellabell, Alex wondered whether to ask her about the note and its cryptic wording. She was good at that sort of thing, he recalled. He had just put his hand in his pocket, fingers curling around the little folded square, when she looked up.
“Alex?” she said, a little surprised.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you,” he replied.
“Not at all—just catching up on some light reading.” She smiled, lifting the hefty cover of her book to show the title A Comprehensive Guide to Botanical Properties and Natural Remedies.
“Any good?” Alex asked.
“Bestseller,” Ellabell replied, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “What’re you up here for?”
Fingers still curled around the small square of paper, Alex found that he really wanted to tell her about the note and see what she had to say. Yet something held him back. He remembered the curious look she had given him the last time they’d spoken, and her observations about secrets. Unfurling his hand, he decided he would keep his own secret a little longer—just until he could be sure he could trust the intelligent young woman who sat on the floor before him.
“I’m just looking for a few books on… mechanics, clockwork, that type of thing,” Alex said, after a stilted pause that lasted just a little too long.
Ellabell looked up at him with that same curious expression, one eyebrow slightly raised—a look that told Alex she knew he was keeping secrets still, at least from her. She got to her feet, brushing the front of her skirt. Alex thought she was about to walk past him and leave, but she reached up to one of the taller shelves instead and brought down a slim, leather-bound book, handing it to him with a small smile.