Fin was plagued by a deep-seated aversion towards the school bus. His social awkwardness and perceived oddities had rendered him friendless, and even among the cohort of aspiring mages during the Trial, he stood out as peculiar. Yet, the bus offered him a modicum of solace, affording him a row of seats to himself, likely due to the unpleasant odor of burning tires he emitted. At this moment, all he yearned for was solitude to reflect on the recent traumatic events and the loss of his father. He felt a pang of regret for not having a phone to hear his father's voice one last time, and to seek guidance on his next course of action.
As the bus embarked on its journey, Master Eldritch rose to address the students, detailing the structure of the Arcanum Year program. The students were to remain at the school for the winter, as it was deemed unsafe for them to return home with only partial training. The curriculum entailed working with their respective Masters throughout the week, attending lectures with other Masters on Fridays, and participating in a monthly comprehensive exam. Despite his best efforts, Fin found it difficult to concentrate on the details, particularly when Master Eldritch expounded on the Five Principles of Magic, which eluded his grasp and seemed to involve concepts of balance and nature.
After a prolonged driving excursion, the conveyances arrived at a respite station, where Fin became cognizant of his lack of not only personal effects but also currency. He feigned disinterest in sustenance while his peers procured confectionery, snack food, and carbonated beverages. Upon reboarding, Fin occupied a seat behind Lance.
"Do you have an understanding of our destination?" Fin enquired.
"The Memora, the academy where we will undertake our apprenticeships," Lance replied with a hint of concern for Fin's mental stability.
"But its exact location, are the tunnels known to you? Will we be confined to our chambers during the night, with barred windows?" Fin pressed further.
"Uh," Lance offered him a bag of chips with cheesy garlic flavor. "Chip?"
Samantha intervened from across the aisle. "Is there a problem with your faculties?" she asked, not in a manner of insult but genuine curiosity.
Fin's pronouncement, made audibly for all on the bus to hear, "We're going to die when we get there," was met with silence.
Finally, Lirien spoke up. "All of us?" eliciting laughter from some of the other children.
"No, not all of us, but some," Fin acknowledged. "That's still unfavorable."
The other children gaped at Fin, excluding Master Zoltar and Master Eldritch who were occupied at the front of the bus. Being treated as erratic had become a frequent occurrence for Fin throughout the day, causing him to tire of it. Only Lance refrained from regarding Fin with a look of disbelief. Instead, he munched on a chip as he asked, "Who imparted that information to you? Regarding our impending mortality."
Fin replied, "My father, he's visited the Memora and therefore is privy to the knowledge. He claims that the mages intend to subject us to experimentation."
Lance queried, "Is he the same individual who vociferously accosted you at the Trial and threw a knife at you?"
Fin muttered, "He doesn't normally display such behavior."
Samantha interjected, her voice hushed, "Yet, he has visited the Memora and still survived. And many of our parents, including my sister, are there as well."
Fin countered, "But my mother is deceased. And my father harbors a deep hatred towards the institution and will not speak of it, blaming it for my mother's death."
Lirien inquired, her tone compassionate, "What happened to your mother? I mean, she gave birth to you, so she must have graduated before succumbing to death, right?"
Fin was taken aback by the question, as he had not considered the timeline in detail before. All he knew was that there was a conflict, a component of some magical war, and his father had been elusive about the specifics. The mage's disregard for human lives during war was the focal point of his father's disdain.
He stammered, "A war. There was a war."
Samantha said, "Well, that's not very specific."
"But if it was your mother," she continued, "it had to be the Third Mage War. The Enemy's war."
"All I know is that they died somewhere in South America."
Lirien gasped in shock.
"So she died on the mountain," Frost said.
What mountain?" West inquired, his voice betraying a hint of apprehension. Fin recollected his demeanor as the individual who had been inquiring about equestrian studies.
"The Cold Massacre," replied Beth with nonchalance. Fin remembered her poised posture as she was selected, her countenance exhibiting delight, her numerous plaits adorned with beads swaying in synchronization with her movements. "Are you unfamiliar with the Adversary, West?"
West's countenance rigidified. "Which adversary?"
Beth expelled a sigh of frustration. "The Deathless one. He is the last of the Magi and the inciting cause for the Third War."
West's expression still reflected his confusion. Fin was unsure if he comprehended Beth's explanation either. Magi? The Deathless one? Samantha spun around and noticed their puzzled expressions.
"As Master Eldritch previously imparted, most Magi have access to the four classical elements," she explained. "They channel air, water, earth, and fire to execute magic, not to mention the complexities of chaotic magic.
Fin recollected a lecture he had attended on the bus, where the topic of chaos and devouring was discussed. The information was unsettling then, and it still felt ominous. The speaker had mentioned the existence of powerful entities called Magi, also known as "Makers," who could create something from nothing. They were considered dangerous, akin to the Enemy. The thought of magic sent shivers down Fin's spine.
Despite this, Fin, in a contrarian manner, stated that being labeled as the Deathless one didn't seem so terrible compared to death itself. But Samantha corrected him, explaining that the Enemy was a former powerful mage who had gone mad in his quest for immortality. He had attempted to conquer death and brought chaos into the world by imbuing animals and even people with pieces of the void, turning them into mindless monsters.