The following day arrived, marking the conclusion of the week, and it was a much-needed break for me at the YMPA HQ (Young Mage Protection Agency Headquarters). So, even though it was the weekend, classes were calling, but I wasn't exactly the most studious student. I didn't really focus on my schoolwork. I found myself thinking more about the training and weight rooms spread out around the headquarters. Maybe if I work on my skills and bulk up a bit, I could really stand out in the YMPA.
A crumpled note slipped through my door, unveiling the day's plans. So, I had this mage history class in the morning, and then battle training right after lunch. I was all set to dive into the day's events, but there was a little curveball – I had to go to Mage History class before YMPA History class. Seems like they enjoyed keeping us guessing.
So, the YMPA had its own little schools during the week where we picked up the basics. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there might be hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered in this mysterious place.
Walking into the classroom, I was completely thrown off by how it was arranged. It was nothing like the typical classroom I had in mind. It looked more like a lecture hall you'd stumble upon at a university. Chairs lined up in rows, sloping down towards the front where the teacher sat. The teacher had a noticeable black beard that almost seemed to merge with his dark hair. He was dressed to the nines in a blue suit, black dress shirt, and coordinating trousers and shoes. He seemed more suited for a fancy party than a classroom.
"Hey there, make yourselves comfortable and pick your spots," he greeted us. I gave a nod and chose to take a seat right at the front, excited to catch every detail.
Before long, my classmates started to arrive, each lugging their notebooks and supplies. I, on the other hand, was totally caught off guard, not having a clue what was coming my way. Not gonna lie, it wasn't all on me; still trying to figure out the ins and outs of this place.
Soon enough, the once empty seats were now filled. Looking around the room, I was secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of September, the girl who had piqued my interest. She really got my heart racing, like someone had flicked a switch inside me.
But destiny had other ideas. Just when I was starting to think things couldn't possibly get any more tangled up, in walks Malachi with his whole crew. He always had a way of bringing laughter and chatter wherever he went, making me want to keep my distance even more.
"So, is everyone present and accounted for?" The teacher asked, but there was no response. He saw that as his signal to continue.
"Alright, for those who might not be familiar with me, especially our new student over here, let's make sure he feels right at home."
The clapping that came next was a mix of comforting and cringe-worthy. Frantically looking around the room, I hoped to find September, only to spot Malachi and his buddies instead. They clapped with a sly grin, hiding their real motives.
I felt a lump in my throat, trying hard to keep my emotions in check. Another character strolled in through the front door – Tisiah, the same boy who seemed unfazed by yesterday's chaos. Despite a small injury near his eye, his smile stayed intact, almost as if the previous day had never happened.
"So, how did that test of yours turn out?" the teacher inquired, leaving me speechless. No way was admitting failure on the table. "Oh, it was a piece of cake," I said. "When things get a bit weird, some folks struggle to concentrate."
Whispers of agreement spread across the room, and the teacher gave a nod before introducing himself. "Hey there, I'm Mr. Heimarch Robbs, your history teacher. We're gonna dive into the world of wizards!"
He grabbed a huge book from his desk, just like the ones the students had. That book was a chunky one, probably over 800 pages long. "Hey, check out this textbook! We're diving into the very first edition when Mr. Drails took over as Chief, alongside our new head, Head Arkin."
I was totally caught off guard and felt a bit lost. Another head popping up? I always thought my uncle was the big boss of the YMPA. Maybe I could work on getting closer to Head Arkin.
"Hey, folks, let's all turn to page 135," Mr. Robbs said, and we promptly flipped our pages. "Hey, could you fill me in on mages?"
A student raised their hand, and Mr. Robbs gave them a nod. "Mages are folks with powers to shield against spooky creatures that put humanity at risk." As time went on, kings started using their powers for their own benefit," she said.
"Got it. Anyone else up for it?" Mr. Robbs prompted. September raised her hand, looking a bit different from her usual self.
He gestured towards her, and she started talking. Some families have magical abilities passed down through their wands, each with unique areas of expertise in their DNA. We like to call these special abilities 'Perks.' Perks come in different types, and a really strong one can totally change the outcome of a fight. These folks are usually in charge of mage organizations.
I was completely baffled. Did I have a Perk? That just didn't add up. According to my uncle, Mr. Drails, the Perk was a special family heirloom, and that only I have. So why did it seem like I had it now?
Perhaps it was something else, something that I hadn't quite grasped yet.
"Yep, you're all spot on," Mr. Robbs confirmed. "So, let's talk about those organizations and dive right in today."
When Mr. Robbs turned to the blackboard, I suddenly felt something brush against the back of my head. Looking down, I found a crumpled piece of paper on the floor. I glanced up and spotted Malachi and his friends, giggling like a bunch of troublemakers.
I felt a strong desire to go up to them, but I found myself unable to budge. I couldn't fight back, so I just sat there, trying hard to keep my cool. Being in that position was really annoying.
Mr. Robbs kept going, jotting down organizations on the blackboard. "So, we all know the first one, right?" he asked, and the students replied in unison, "YMPA."
"So, what's the other one?"
"The TSA."
"These groups are all over the country," Mr. Robbs said. Well, check this out: the USA is the only place with two mage organizations. We might not be on their radar, but we definitely have them figured out. Basically, we're the heads of the two mage groups in the USA.
"Two wizard groups?" the students whispered, looking puzzled.
"Well, everyone's got their own way of looking at things and handling stuff." Long ago, the Peloponnesian War kicked off because the TSA wanted our power, since we were buddies with the Spartans. They set up Athens against Sparta to try and weaken us, but it didn't work. But our empire eventually declined, and we had to move elsewhere.
As Mr. Robbs kept on with his history lesson, he told us about how the TSA tried to take down our group by taking over the territories we had set up. The YMPA teamed up with other mage organizations to push back against the TSA's aggression. However, the TSA had convinced some organizations with promises of power and authority, which was setting the stage for a brewing conflict.
Listening to this story of age-old conflicts and battles for control, I started to feel more and more uneasy. The history was really interesting, but it felt like it had a lot at stake for me personally. I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as I sensed an adventure looming ahead, full of mysteries waiting to unfold.