Caster's Spell (A Mage Tale Book 1) Page 13

  "I know that, idiot," Winter shook her head. "Now, if you’re gonna learn anything about my element, you’ll have to learn fear."

  Wesley almost laughed. "That’s the one thing I got a hold of, right now."

  "No," she said, looking into his eyes. "Not yet." She began to sway back and forth like a snake. "But you will."

  "Are you kidding?" he said watching her move. "Don’t you know what I’ve…"

  He lost train of thought watching her. Then darkness grew from behind her, swallowing all of the light in the corner. It reached forward, crawling towards Wesley along the floors, walls and ceiling. Then he was trapped in Winter’s spell, surrounded by the shadows that consumed all but her eyes. He could feel the hair stand all over his body. He was back to that dreadful place, loneliness and pain.

  Then he heard her voice echo all around him, "Aretstikapha."

  "Winter, eh," said Cameron after Wesley had told him about the events of Master Sinclair’s class.

  "She’s amazing; freakin’ scary, but really talented, I think," said Wesley, recalling his ordeals.

  The Sorcerer laughed as the two descended the steps to the Northern Courtyard. "Yeah, I’d be very careful if I were you. She’s a mean girl, and as a D-class, you don’t want to get on her bad side."

  "She’s a D-class?"

  "Yeah, that’s a room of rare abilities, emphasis on rare. It has G through D. She looks pretty young, but she’s seventeen. Heard she transferred here last year from The Hamilton Academy, in America.

  “For the class games the E's dueled the D's, but even Morgan was afraid to do battle with Winter. Then again, who could blame her. No one likes dueling the Caster’s. They’re vindictive."

  Wesley was shocked to hear her name. "What did you say?"

  "It’s like they enjoy battle, but not like the Stones," Cameron said biting his thumbnail. "Like they want to kill people."

  "What? No, that’s not what I was talking about," Wesley said, trying to keep his focus. "Her name’s Winter Caster?"

  "Yep," replied the Sorcerer.

  "Is she related to Benjamin Caster?"

  "They’re cousins," Cameron said and stopped. "What do you know about Benjamin Caster?"

  "I know he made The Orb of Genesis," Wesley answered. "And became a master at the youngest age in history."

  "Is that what you think?" His friend’s smile was incredulous. "Benjamin Caster is dead."

  Wesley felt his heart drop. "What? No, he can't be."

  "He died fighting Dean Sinclair a month before last year’s Final Exams." He paused and looked into the confused Warlock’s eyes. "Wes, he was a criminal."

  Impossible! His rival, his absent mentor, the man he wanted to be, was a criminal?

  "Why?" asked the boy breathlessly.

  "I don’t know. We’re not even supposed to know that he was a renegade, but people talk. And the truth is he did use dark magic."

  "That’s why she was so mad," Wesley whispered to himself, ignoring his own feelings for a moment and abruptly jumping conversations.

  "What?"

  "I brought him up in class today. I thought it was because I’m a Warlock, but she must have reacted the way she did because of something more than that," said the outcast. "I think hearing his name hurt her."

  "First of all, I don’t think anything can hurt that girl’s feelings," Cameron laughed and started walking again. "Second, what the heck are you talking about?"

  "Never mind." Wesley walked along with him. "So I was thinking about adding size to my conjures. I read something about it in the book Master Rosen gave me."

  "Cool."

  He went the rest of the day, unable to shake the news of Caster’s death. Wesley didn’t want a non-existent rival. Now he had no one to surpass. But more jarring than the loss of the person he was chasing was the idea that Master Rosen didn’t tell him.

  Later that night, after hours of study and practice, Wesley retired to the dormitory, being sure to close the door before curfew. When he finally did, he leaned against the door, with hefty breaths, happy to be home safe. He stayed there for a moment rubbing at the ring that Sinclair gave to him, which had become a habit over the past week. Then he looked around to see if his roommate was home. With the living-room and kitchen empty, he decided to head down the hallway to check the bedrooms.

  Most of the rooms of their apartment were barren of all signs of life. They simply collected dust as shadows, reminders of the day that all of his other would-be roommates walked out. Wesley used one as a sort of storage room, to keep all of his study materials and the tons of notes from getting lost, but other than that, they were for the most part abandoned.

  Finally reaching the end of the hall, Wesley noticed a sliver of light escaping from Cameron's ajar door. Then he heard voices:

  "So it's probably a Wizard." It was Axel.

  "Probably, yeah," Cameron replied with a troubled tone. "Which brings us to a new problem. The power necessary for it is too great, not to mention the impracticality of getting away without it."

  Wesley opened the door.

  "What are you guys doing?" he asked.

  "Studying," said Axel.

  Wesley laughed unconvinced. "You? Really?"

  "Hey, you're not the only guy with pressure to graduate, ya know," said an obviously offended Axel.

  "Okay then... what are you studying?"

  "Battle strategies," answered Cameron. "In my dueling class, we were given a situation where we have to seek out and defeat an unknown magi, and we're only given information based on the aftermath of the enemy’s earlier actions. So I gotta have a complete strategy written out by tomorrow. And if we can identify the enemy, we get extra credit."

  "Cool. But," said Wesley, finding a hole in Cameron's explanation, "why is Ax here?"

  "He's the best duelist in your class, and, more importantly, he tends to think differently from most."

  Axel just sat and nodded his agreement.

  "Any more questions?" asked Cameron.

  "I guess not." Wesley finally walked into the room. "So, can you use more help?"

  "No," said the Earth Sorcerer.

  "Huh?"

  "He means," Cameron interjected, "that we got it covered. But we were about to take a break anyway. Sit down; chill out for a while."

  "M'kay.” Wesley shrugged as he let himself fall back onto Cameron's bed. He was still suspicious of their behavior, but didn't have anything to back up his intuition.

  "So," said Axel. "What are you gonna do about the Casters?"

  "You told him?" Wesley turned to his roommate.

  "Why not?" Cameron said matter-of-factly.

  "So?" Axel leaned towards the Warlock.

  "I dunno." Wesley started rubbing his ring again. "I practically idolized the guy and now I have to accept that he's been dead this whole time. Should I just act like it never happened? Should I find someone else?"

  "Who cares about that stuff," said Cameron.

  "Yeah man, what are you gonna do about the girl?" asked his other friend with a leading smile. "Heard she's cute."

  The two Sorcerers laughed, but Wesley couldn't shake the serious thoughts that ran throughout his mind, which isn't to say he didn't think about the girl. Winter was terrifying, yet at the same time, there was something about her that he found tragic. She had a constant disparity about her that one could notice even through her smiles. And now that Wesley knew the reason why, he couldn't think of her in the same way.

  "Hey," Cameron interrupted thoughts. "Why are you still wearing that ring? Didn't Dean Sinclair's barrier wear off days ago?"

  "Yeah," said Wesley, staring down at the inscribed band. "But I think it's pretty cool."

  "Back to your assignment," Axel stared into Cameron's eyes. "Let's work on it later. I'ma go to my dorm and catch the game. I’ll probably miss kickoff because of you.” He gave a wink. “See you fellas tomorrow."

  "Sure thing," said the Wind Sorcerer.

  "I'll walk you ou
t," Wesley said and stood up with their bald friend. Then, upon reaching the front door he said to Axel, "So what are you guys really up to?"

  "Just helping out a friend," Axel laughed. "Don't worry about it."

  After closing the door, Wesley found himself yawning.

  "I'ma hit the hay," he called down the hall as he headed for his room.

  "Already?" Cameron called back.

  "I used a lot of source today." Wesley opened his door. "I'm spent."

  "Kay, g'night, man."

  Wesley lay in his bed, confused and unprepared for the conversations of the next day, but something in the back of his mind told him that he was ready to face it. With no other feasible options, he yawned again and closed his eyes.

  Confusion

  He wanted to talk to Winter about her cousin all day, but didn’t want to hurt her feelings. So, unsure of what to do, Wesley started with a simple, "Hi."

  "Shut up," said Winter. "And wipe that stupid smile off your face. Do you remember ‘fear’?"

  "How could I forget? It was almost like Archimedes," said the boy, afraid that she was going to put him through it again.

  "The Scourge of the Night’s Sky? You’ve met him?"

  "Yeah, he’s always in Dean Sinclair’s office."

  "That bird doesn’t speak to anyone," Winter whispered almost silently. Then she raised her voice to the boy. "Well, to be honest, since there aren’t many people with my element, I created that spell to mimic Archimedes’s powers."

  She turned and retreated back to her dark corner.

  "Now let’s get started. I promise, if you pay attention, and you'd better because I won’t repeat myself, you’ll rule a shadow before the day’s end."

  "Of course, Master Caster," Wesley said with a respectful bow.

  After a session of groans and wicked chuckles from the Sorceress, the two students sat at a table to discuss his development. She scolded him harshly for his many mistakes, but her criticism was always constructive.

  "You’re sloppy and a disgrace to my Sorcery… but you moved a shadow and that’s worth something," she said, before her face twisted in beguilement. Then she shook her head and returned to him.

  "Thank you," Wesley said finishing his notes with the word "sloppy". Then he scratched his eyebrow. "Can I ask you something?"

  She rolled her eyes. "What is it now?"

  "At first, I thought you hated me because I was a Warlock."

  She scoffed at the statement.

  "But now I don’t think you do. You’ve been nicer to me after just two days than anyone else in the class."

  "That’s not a question, moron," the girl insulted, suddenly angry.

  "You’re right. I’m dumb." Wesley laughed at himself. "I just wanted to say that I appreciate it, is all."

  The girl paused and crossed her arms, glaring at him for a long moment. Then she looked down. "Don’t," she said. "It’s just for a grade, Warty. Nothing else."

  "What do you mean?" Wesley leaned forward on his elbows.

  "Sinclair’s grading us on your ability to learn our magic. This isn’t a friendship, so don’t look too far into it." Winter stood up as Master Sinclair’s deep horn sounded the end of class.

  Wesley walked after her. "Winter, wait. I ugh…" He looked around and rubbed his neck. "I wanted to apologize to you about yesterday."

  "What are you talking about?" she said as they left the room.

  "I didn’t know it then, but I shouldn’t have brought up your cousin’s name. I’m sorry."

  The girl stopped walking and stared at the ground, mumbling something that Wesley couldn’t understand. Then she took him by the collar and rushed him back into a wall. She stared him in the eye, face trembling.

  "You don’t know anything," she finally hissed.

  "I know," Wesley agreed, surprising even himself with how calm he was. For some reason he felt out of danger. "I have no idea how you feel. But I’d like to know."

  "What?" she squinted and released him but didn’t step back. "What’s the matter with you?"

  "Hey, Winter," someone called from down the hall. "We’re heading to the east courtyard."

  Her hair swished by Wesley’s face as she promptly turned. "I’ll catch up with you guys."

  The student laughed and called, "Forget the knuckle-dragger; let’s go."

  "I’m right behind you," said the Sorceress of shadows. The other student shrugged and walked away. Winter turned back to the Warlock and after ten seconds her face returned to rage. "Stop looking at me like that."

  "Like what?" asked Wesley.

  "Like you care. Don’t you dare feel sorry for me!" she shook her head and covered her face. Then she raised her hands with an annoyed growl. "It’s like you… You’re so stupid! Why can’t you see that…" she turned her back to him.

  "Winter, I’m sorry. Whatever I did, I’m sorry."

  The Sorceress let out a heavy sigh. "Listen, meet me back here in two hours. I’m going to make sure you know my spell. Then I never want to talk to you again." She stomped away in a hurry and called back from down the hall. "You won’t make a liar out of me."

  Dates and Other Engagements

  "Wesley! There you are."

  He was on his way to Master Conley’s class when he stopped and turned around. "Gretchen?"

  "Yeah, hi, how are you," spoke the girl with a cheeriness that he didn’t know.

  "Uhhh good, I guess." Confused, he slowly turned and continued to walk.

  "Hey." She gently grabbed the boy’s shoulder. Wesley jerked away and backed to a wall, raising his hands.

  "I’m not going to hurt you, silly."

  "Then what do you want?" He slid his back along the wall to creep past her.

  "Don’t be that way." She lightheartedly pushed him. "I just want to talk to you."

  "Really?" asked the boy as he started walking towards class.

  "Really," laughed Gretchen, walking with him.

  "About what?"

  "The Midwinter Ball of course."

  "What? Why?" He sped up. Wesley had planned not go to the celebration. After hearing that everyone would be attending and that most of the underclassmen would be in one small space, he was discouraged. But it was when he learned that magic was licensed during the Midwinter Festival that he concluded that being there was far too dangerous.

  "Are you going?" asked the girl.

  "Um… I don’t think so."

  "Why not?"

  They rounded a corner, Dueling only a couple doors away.

  "My class is right there. I have to get a good seat." He was walking so fast it was almost a jog.

  Surprisingly, Gretchen kept up with him. "I just want to ask you one question," she said. "Please, Wesley, just one thing."

  He nodded in an apprehensive rush. Don’t ask me to go! Don’t ask me to go! Don’t ask me to go!

  "Do you know if Cam has a date?"

  "Uh." Cam? That’s what this was about? He almost laughed, but honestly didn’t know and worse, he didn’t know how to answer. Luckily another voice cut in.

  "Yo Wes!" he heard Axel. "Quit flirting." The larger, stronger boy took Wesley in a headlock. "Come on, it’s almost the best time of the day. Let’s get in there already."

  "Sure," Wesley croaked. "But…"

  "What’s that?"

  "I can’t… breathe."

  Axel laughed and released him just before reaching the door. "Oh hey, Gretch, don’t worry. You can talk to your little boy-toy after class. I promise to leave him in one piece."

  "He’s not… ah forget it." The girl walked away with her arms stiffly down at her sides.

  After the boys took seats closest to the dueling platform, Wesley leaned over to the Sorcerer and whispered, "Thanks man."

  "Don’t worry about it. I told you I got your back, remember?"

  "Yeah."

  "That includes stupid girls in love with our favorite SI," he laughed.

  The Warlock joined him for a moment before changing the s
ubject. "So how many wins do you have?"

  "Forty-eight, you?" He faced his friend.

  "Thirty."

  "Whoa! Nice!" Axel punched Wesley in the shoulder. "I’m pretty sure that makes you the second highest. You tryin’ to get that ‘most victories’ award?"

  "No, not really," said Wesley. "Would be cool though."

  "I’m sure it will be. Just know that I won’t make it easy for you." Axel sat up and turned straight as Master Conley entered the classroom.

  Dueling was the same as it usually was, a classroom mostly filled with students who’d prefer to avoid battle at all cost and a few who loved to exploit that fact. Stern-faced Conley lectured on the proper form of an attack strategy, something he called "straight forward misdirection".

  The happenings within all of the classes were the same, just as they had always been.

  But outside of class, the environment took on a whole new personality. Many more girls, like Gretchen, were nice to Wesley, which at first he enjoyed, only to find out later that they were mainly interested in his popular roommate. By the end of the day, he was completely fed up with this new form of harassment and to escape them, he went to the library rather than his normal spot in the courtyards.

  "So this is where you've been hiding," said Cameron. "I’ve been looking all over for you."

  Wesley looked up from his book. "Sorry, I had to get away from them. I almost prefer how it used to be. What the heck got into these girls?"

  Cameron let out a hefty laugh before sitting. "The Midwinter Festival is almost here. All of the rules change."

  "Apparently not," said Wesley. "They’re all still in love with you." Then he pointed out something in the book. "Check this: every picture of Caster is blacked out."

  "They’re actually not marked at all. Because he was a…" He paused. "There’s a spell that diverts the light from entering our eyes, without clearance."

  "Cool."

  The Sorcerer returned to his topic. "How do you know they’re not in love with you too?"

  "Well, let me think." Wesley tapped the side of his head. "Maybe it’s the fact that every conversation I had today ended with your name."