Magic. It had always fascinated me. Then again, I'm sure every young boy from Breming-Sohoth had dreamt of magic ever since they heard the tales. We all hear them. In Chalice we get the seasonal visits from the trade-ships and there was always some old sailor or merchant who would tell us about magic, towers, mages and wizards and all the fantastical stuff we grew up on.
But I never knew it'd be this boring in actuality. Or I guess learning-
"Iltad!" Oops.
"Yes, Miss Sovoth?" I manage to eke out half-heartedly. This wouldn't be the first time I was caught drifting o-
"Since you don't deem this lesson worthy of your attention, recite the First Cantus of this Primary for the benefit of the class."
A silent pause.
Damn, stupid teacher! Why did she have to put me on the spot like that? Not my fault she's so boring- Oh man, she's tapping her foot, poop. What was the First Cantus? Oh yeah that weird memorial saying old Brevi said I should learn during the ride here.
Hmm, "Hartford Primary holds allegiance to the Menur Tower Aldor and the Great Silver Tower above all. To those who have been given much will be demanded." Nice, that sounded way more confident than I felt.
Judging by her scrutiny Miss Sovoth probably thought I didn't know. Hah, serves her right-
"Incomplete." She deadpans.
"Denaris Valtorum Est Moio. First of the first. Remember to never forget the oathwords that go before otherwise I will make you write the entire Canticles ten times over. Now for the rest of you if you also don't wish more writing practice remember to read the Hartford Primer by class tomorrow. Now continuing on with everyone's attention, we can go over the Second Cantus once more."
I try hard to not visibly roll my eyes. This is only the second week of Scholastic Schooling and I am already starting to regret this.
I look around the room. It's nicely furnished, some paintings and weird charts that I'm sure have some cool significance, and there's even a wand in the corner! That's the stuff I wish she'd begin to talk about.
Ever since that visit from the shady lady who told my uncle and aunt that I was Gifted everything has turned crazy. But you can only handle so much craziness! I think I've pretty much gotten used to this pace now, it is still super exciting, I'm going to learn magic afterall! But apparently that comes waaaaay down the line for us. I almost died when the schoolmaster, what was his name again? Magian Venison or something? When he told us that it would be YEARS before we were able to use magic, I can't wait that long!
Especially not if all the classes are gonna be like this. The first day was great, but Miss Sovoth apparently decided we are all idiots and had us learn the Primary Canticles for a whole week! Well, she may not be far off.
I look around again, yep, apparently Gifted doesn't always mean in the head. The fat kid over there, Deanon? Yeah that sounds right, I swear when I was next to him for recitations yesterday he didn't have a clue past the first line, whereas if this goes on any longer I'll be reciting them in my sleep!
My gaze drifts past Deanon. There's Chelsea, kinda meh girl, doesn't really stand out to me anyway. Farnoth, big guy. I kinda wanna bring him back to Chalice and have him play footie on my team, we'd smash any opposing team, I grin as I think of that.
Near the back, Altvin and Kedelus. Not real Alinorian sounding names so their families are probably like mine, from Sohoth originally. Brothers too, which is rare, or so I'm told, I have no idea how the Gift works yet anyway.
Speaking of which, I turn to glance at the other side in the back, Cyncthe. She's not bad looking. Plus she is from Sohoth like me. Then lastly Taggu in the front. He's not from Alinor or Sohoth going by his dark skin, and I never heard that kinda name. I remember uncle talking about the trade-ships that sometimes come from Duodanti in the south-east and how there's a Southern Enclave there, wonder how he ended up here. Smart guy, almost as smart as me, although I bet Miss Sovoth likes him more since he actually answers the questions.
But yeah, weird group I'm in. But they all are pretty friendly I guess. Most of our days have been filled with reading, recitations, and instruction though so I don't really know anyone all that well. Maybe I can hang with Cyncthe when we get some free time.
I shake my head- Focus! Aunt and uncle are really counting on me. Freaking magic! I don't know all that means but I know uncle said I wouldn't have to do harvest season if I learnt well here. I think I have a huge leg up as well. Aunt has been teaching me ever since I could walk and I am one of the few people that can actually read at my age in Chalice. I do remember her and uncle having a spat over that occasionally. He doesn't like my learning to read but she tells him its not 'proper for a kynes child to not have some basic education in him'. Man, I forgot to ask her what that meant since Alys had been trying to sneak off with my kickball back then.
My attention drifts back to Miss Sovoth.
"And that, young students, will be all for our noon instruction. By now you have had ample time to receive your papers and ink-tools from the clerks. Come to tonight's instruction with a written copy of the First, Second, and Third Canticles. You have three hours till then, this clerk here shall lead you to the mess hall for your meal. Dismissed."
She points to the classroom doorway where one of the green robed clerks stands. Those guys kinda freak me out. When we first came here Headmaster Venison told us how these clerks are here to serve us but not instruct and so they cannot speak to us. I tried to catch one alone in the hallway two days ago and ask him for his name, but he just sorta stared at me. I got spooked and left but ever since then I've noticed they are really quiet and just, well, weird. They don't cough, sneeze, heck I dunno if they even blink!
Oh wait, nope there, he just blinked. Well ok, not super weird but still. I'm pretty sure that they are being affected by magic in some way. I'm sure I'll learn soon enough, but until then I'll give them space.
Time for some food!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As the students file out and their distant footsteps fade away down the hall I feel myself slump back down in my chair, I can feel the sweat on my back soaking my shirt.
Fuck. Was I imagining that? That was terrifying. What should I do?
Get ahold of yourself girl!
I exhale. Breath.
Recollect, analyze and reconsider. My mentors words spring unbidden into my recollection.
This was the 12th lesson with this group. The first group of this new Scholastic Primary in Hartford. While not a magically exhausting post, being one of the first instructors here is a prestigious assignment. I remember that bitch Kareena's face when I was selected over her. Her high morals didn't allow her to really sell herself for this post. Even though I can begrudgingly grant that she might be a smidge more Gifted. It wasn't even that bad. Magian Penrin, like most older Magian, didn't even last that long. Prude.
Stop. Getting distracted.
Back to the problem at hand. What the fuck did I sense? It was right before I caught that slacker Iltad almost dozing off. I'm sure that was mana! And not just any mana movement, it was an unbinding! I've never sensed so much raw mana! Not even when I sensed Wizard Sclathan casting!
But it's gone. I can't sense any disturbance on the ether. Headmaster didn't rush in either. So no one sensed this? Did I imagine this? Wait.
I spring up. Clasping my hands into Tervos I begin chanting. A quick Saelyian cant, basic stuff, this will let me know if any changes happened to my mana channels or etheric scaffolds.
Fuck. My eyes snap open.
What. The. Fuck. My bridge channels are torn and my sensari channel is blasted open, at least three times as big as before!
Ok. Someone needs to know about this. This is way above my paygrade. I'm just a novice! A mana unbinding bigger than a Towerstone burst but no physical effect. Soul magic, blood magic? No, Saelyian cants should detect even subconscious or minute physical changes they say. This might be something from the old tales. Spirit magic, fate magic, or worse.
Headmaster Vencine needs to know about this.