“Oh, I suppose this would be pretty confusing if you just came from the human realm.” Shadrie frowned before dropping her voice to a whisper as she began to lead me across the courtyard. “A dud is a supernatural that never manifests. When I didn’t manifest any abilities by my eighteenth birthday, I was pretty sure I was one. Before I could pretend I was just a late bloomer, even though the rest of my family manifested at sixteen like clockwork. But look at me now, just turned twenty-one, and I have ice magic!”
I rubbed my eyes with my free hand before mumbling to myself. “Maybe Geordie was right, and I need more sleep. This has to be a fucking dream.”
Shadrie shot me a confused glance before tugging me into a building that looked like a massive cathedral with stained glass windows. Hundreds of people were seated in long rows of pews, the sound of their conversations a dull roar to my ears. The raised dais, where an altar should have been, sat three long tables with neatly stacked envelopes on them. Three women and two men dressed in long robes stood before the tables, watching as the rest of the students filed in. More people moved into the cathedral behind us and jostled me closer to the front just as a woman’s voice boomed out through the crowded room.
“Welcome, students,” she spoke as I looked around for the speakers that had to be there, making her voice echo over the crowd. “Welcome to Blackthorne Academy. Today, we will sort you into your houses based on your magic. Those of you who have already manifested, please move to the tables in the left transept. Professors Griselda and Malgarn will provide you with your house and room assignments.”
“That’s my cue,” Shadrie smiled. “It was nice meeting you…”
“B,” I replied.
“B.” Her smile widened, and I wondered if I’d just made a mistake giving her my name. “Good luck!”
Shadrie gave me a small wave and disappeared into the crowd, moving to the left of the cathedral. The roar of conversation kicked up again briefly, and I was pushed closer to the dais as people moved around me.
“Now,” the woman’s voice called out again. “The rest of you will be tested and then given your house and room based on the magic revealed in our testing.” The din of excited voices kicked up again. “If you would please form orderly lines, we will begin.”
The crowd surged again, and I felt myself pushed forward, stumbling into the back of a thin boy. He turned toward me and reached out his hands to grab my shoulders and steady me. His light brown hair and round face reminded me of Geordie.
“You alright?” He asked, pushing up the black frames of his glasses before his hazel eyes scanned the crowd behind us. “Bit rowdy today.”
“I’m good. I should be asking if you’re okay since I fell into you and all.” I replied.
“Not your fault. My name is Miles, by the way.” He smiled.
“I’m B. Nice to meet you.” I paused for a moment, committing his name to memory. “Miles, huh. That’s the most normal-sounding name I’ve heard since I arrived.”
“I grew up in the human realm.” He shrugged. “My coven was thrilled when I got accepted to Blackthorne Academy.”
“The human realm? That’s the second time someone has said that to me. Do you know how to get out of here?” I asked, my voice harder than I intended, causing Miles to frown at me and shift from side to side in discomfort.
“First Years aren’t allowed to leave campus,” Miles said, moving forward with the crowd. “You need a special pass that they don’t give us until Second Year.”
“That can’t be legal.”
Miles shrugged. “It’s been a rule for centuries, from what I understand. Something to do with a Fae manifesting and accidentally hurting a lot of people when it happened.” My face blanched, causing Miles to flutter his hands in front of me. “Oh no, don’t freak out. It’s rare that someone manifests out of control, and that can’t happen on school grounds, anyway. The campus is spelled to prevent anyone’s magic from hurting someone like that, and the Academy’s magic is pretty good at detecting those who might manifest in a dangerous way before they do. It helps prevent accidents.”
“That is not at all comforting.” I drawled, moving along with the crowd and realizing we were only a couple of students away from the dais. “How do you know all this if you’re from the human realm?”
“Oh, I’m not the first from my coven to attend the Academy, just the first in a long time. I grew up hearing all about the place and how only the strongest of our coven was always selected by the school’s magic to attend.” Miles’ cheeks tinted pink as he spoke. “It was a big deal for me to be selected. My parents and coven leader think I’m going to be the one to restore our magic to its former glory.”
I cringed. I couldn’t imagine the amount of pressure that had to put on Miles. “How old are you?”
“I just turned eighteen.” He replied before a woman in a long black robe motioned him toward the empty place in front of her on the dais. “Well, looks like it’s my turn. Good luck, B! I’m sure we’ll see each other around.”
He gave me a small wave before moving in front of the woman. She cupped her hands in front of her and muttered something I couldn’t hear. Craning my neck to see around Miles’ body, I saw her puff her cheeks and blow, just before small bolts of electricity sparked from Miles’ fingertips. The woman beamed at him and waved her hand, a manila envelope flying through the air toward her. She caught it between her fingers and murmured something else to the boy that I couldn’t hear before handing it to him. Miles turned back to mewith a wide grin and another cheery wave before bounding off the dais toward the back of the cathedral.
The woman turned her attention to me, motioning for me to take his place. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I stepped onto the dais and paused in front of her.Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, in a quick once-over.
“Sparkling, perhaps a bit of pixie in you.” She murmured, noticing the glitter that still graced my skin. “Your build would lend credence to the idea, but we shall know for certain momentarily.”
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on here, but I am positive I don’t belong… wherever this is. If you could just tell me how to get home.”
The woman wasn’t listening to me, muttering something in a language I didn’t understand over her cupped hands.
“Really, I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. I’m pretty sure there’s been a major mix-up somewhere. I promise I’ll keep my mouth shut about everything I’ve seen here. I just need to-” The woman blew on her hands, sending some sort of dust into my face, and I sneezed. Flames burst from my lips, and my mouth fell open in shock.
“Not the typical manifestation for a fire mage, but I don’t sense any shifter in you.” She smiled as if she’d just given me a gift.
