A Voice from the Void, page 4
Tovin let out a deep breath, cast me one more glance, then turned and walked away. The students slowly returned to their usual business, the murmur of many conversations filling the silence as Atlas walked up to me.
“Are you all right?”
My heart rate was through the roof and adrenaline was rushing through my entire body, but I managed a pained nod and a thumbs up.
“You look like you've seen a ghost.” He paused. “Wait, can you see ghosts?”
“Hey, Atlas, way to put Tovin in his place!” said someone in the hallway.
The boy turned and scanned the small crowd.
“Man, we've got a new hero on campus!”
“Way to go, little guy.”
The students applauded.
Atlas turned to me, one eyebrow lifted. “Um…What just happened?”
I couldn't help but laugh.
“What?” He looked painfully confused. “Why are you laughing?”
It only made me laugh harder. Nerves mostly. Complete and utter relief; joy that he'd been nearby; a swell of good emotions. But it was also hilarious. This kid, no older than fourteen, scaring Tovin off and being applauded by his upperclassmen. I stopped laughing, allowing the smile to linger on my face as I observed him.
Now that's a main character.
“It's nothing,” I said finally.
“I feel as though there's been a fundamental misunderstanding,” he said, glancing around the hall.
“No, you're good. I'll explain later; we gotta run!”
“I don't like running!” he called after me as we hurried toward the south wing.
Six
“You're four minutes late.” Headmaster Alrune spoke sternly.
I stood stiff as a board on the other side of his desk; I had no words. As much as I wanted to blame my lateness on Tovin, I was a hundred percent at fault. I'd been goofing around in the hymnasium showing off for someone so out of my league, I might as well be playing a different sport. I deserved whatever I had coming.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” he asked, staring daggers into my eyes.
An awkward silence descended before a smile forced itself out of the tangles of his beard. His shoulders bounced as he wheezed—his signature laughter. I laughed nervously along with him as he leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his long, gray beard.
“What do you have to laugh about?” he asked in an annoyed tone.
My heart dropped into my stomach, and I quieted.
His face lit up, “Ha! I got you again!” He wheezed until his face was pink and motioned for me to sit down. “Tell me, Mr. Dragstenn,” he asked, smiling, “which one of us is never late from time to time?”
I sat in the chair opposite him and looked around. I had only ever been in the offices of Headmasters Rowan and Vega, and I had to admit Alrune’s wasn't what I had expected of him. Given my frame of reference, I figured all of the headmasters were stuffy and uptight, but Headmaster Alrune's office was a sight to behold. It was lit with purple flames that danced in the corners—a low light accented by the haze that permeated the air. His office smelled of incense and would be relaxing were my nerves not shot. The right and back walls were lined with crowded bookshelves, while Alrune’s desk was littered with scattered papers, curios, and trinkets, and several sketches of architecture, beasts, and patterns.
“Now then.” He cleared his throat. “You've probably no misgivings about why I've summoned you here on your day off. Apologies for that, by the by.”
“No need to apologize,” I assured him. “And I'm sure it has something do with what happened in the hymnasium yesterday, right?”
He lifted his pipe to his mouth and puffed it a couple of times before closing his eyes and nodding twice. He sighed a plume of smoke and set his pipe down on his desk. “I knew you were sharp.”
I remained quiet as he coughed a couple of times. He regained his composure, cleared his throat, and turned his eyes on me. “Tell me, Mr. Dragstenn. What did your eyes see?”
I was apprehensive about my answer. I didn't want to get Atlas into trouble. I thought for a moment before saying, “Well. Tovin Blackmeyer cornered him against his locker first. He was trying to intimidate—”
Headmaster Alrune furrowed his brow and waved his hand around in the haze, “No, no, no, Mr. Dragstenn. During the duel, boy. What did your eyes see?”
I sucked my lips in. They didn't care about how it started. That was for the better. After all, Atlas initiated the duel.
I reflected on the battle and answered. “I saw you, holding your stomach and gripping the railing.”
A chuckle escaped his lips, and he nodded. “Yes. I know now the taste of the boy's power.” He pointed the butt of his pipe at me. “What I'm interested in, is what it looked like.”
“Bright,” I responded. “Very bright. Too intense to look at directly.”
“Mm-hmm,” he replied as he pulled out a notebook and opened to a specific page. He pulled a pencil from his drawer and wrote. “What of Mr. Blackmeyer? Is there anything noteworthy about that spell he used? Those of us present have never seen it before.”
“Um,” I gripped my knees. I was worried. If Tovin found out I was snitching to them…
“Mr. Dragstenn,” he said, looking up from his notes.
“I believe Atlas can shed more light on that than I can,” I answered finally. “He mentioned that it made his body tingle all night long. I'm certain he'd tell you more.”
“Tingling,” he noted. “Anything else?”
“No, sir. It was bright, and it was fast. I wasn't able to observe the spell either time he used it.”
“Indeed,” he replied as he jotted down notes in. “And Mr. Grimbrooke,” he continued, “how much magic does he truly possess? I've no doubt you were watching his reserves in action.”
I was hoping he wouldn't ask me that.
“Why, I've not seen such a display of raw magical power in all my life,” he added. “The headmasters are quite interested in the full scope of his abilities.”
I sighed and relaxed my shoulders, “He used the entirety of his reserves on that one spell.”
“I'm relieved to hear it,” he said as he wrote.
Of all the answers I expected, that wasn't one of them. I cocked my head and furrowed my brow.
“Sir?”
“Why, I think I speak for all of us when I say the boy is plenty powerful enough. We were worried that his strength ran deeper than what we witnessed. The others will be quite pleased.”
“Pleased?” I asked. “But why?”
“Dear boy,” he said. “The hearts of men are fickle things indeed. The boy is young. He hasn't yet any convictions or firm principles. Do you understand?”
“You're afraid of him,” I muttered, surprised.
“No, boy. Do not mistake caution for fear, strategy for cowardice, nor preparedness for pessimism. We still do not know all there is to know about magic—this incredible arcane force of nature at our fingertips. For the safety of our students, and indeed all of Galgia, we must create contingencies for our most gifted students. For Mr. Blackmeyer; for Mr. Grimbrooke; for Miss Meridia; and even for you, Mr. Dragstenn.”
At that, I sat back.
“For...me?”
“That's right,” he puffed on his pipe and smiled with his eyes. “You have a unique ability. There is only one other in existence who can see beyond sight. You're speaking with him right now.” He wheezed with laughter and swatted the smoke away with his hand. “The point is,” he went on, “we want nothing but success for our dear student. However, we cannot afford to overlook the fact that he contains within him such vast reserves of energy that if indeed he wished it...” He trailed off.
“I understand, Headmaster Alrune.”
He nodded. “I knew you would. You saw what I felt...”
“For what it's worth though,” I said. “I think Atlas—err, Mr. Grimbrooke.” I corrected myself. “I think he's a wonderful person with a kind heart. I don’t foresee you having problems with him. He’s even-tempered and mature for his age.”
“He's made quite an impression on you in only a day's time,” said Alrune as he set his pipe down.
I only realized then how silly I sounded. Atlas had arrived at our school yesterday. It had to seem strange that I’d vouch for him after such a short time. No doubt it had a lot to do with the fact that he was a walking can of Tovin repellent.
“I pray that you're right, Mr. Dragstenn,” he said. “Yesterday marks the first occasion we've had to kill a student to prevent a potential catastrophe. You may think Headmaster Huede has a heart of stone, but I assure you he is still quite shaken by the action of his own hand.”
“I don't think the measure was too drastic,” I replied. “The stasis field has never been tested against multiple simultaneous deaths before, has it?”
“Indeed not,” he answered. “You think like a headmaster, Mr. Dragstenn.”
I found myself again flattered. Headmaster Alrune was full of compliments for me today.
“No,” he continued. “No, the stasis field has not withstood the brunt of mass casualties. I could not say with certainty whether it would be up to the task.”
It seemed like as good a time as any to ask about it.
“Headmaster Alrune?”
“Yes, Mr. Dragstenn?”
“What...what is the stasis field exactly? How does it work? Who made it?” I pressed. “Does it run on its own, or do mages power it?”
His face changed. His eyes fell to the floor and then darted toward the wall. Maybe I shouldn't have asked that. But I'd been wondering about the stasis field ever since I was first revived by it. Since I'd seen its face for the first time.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Dragstenn,” he said with a half-smile, dodging the question. “That will be all. I've an appointment after you, and you've put me a tad behind schedule.”
“Of course,” I responded as I stood. I knew better than to press the issue.
“If you see him out there, do call him in for me,” he said as he scribbled in his notebook.
I stepped out to find Atlas seated against the wall, sitting cross-legged with his nose in a book. He looked up and made eye contact. I stopped and jerked my thumb toward the door.
“Your appointment was also with Headmaster Alrune?”
“Y-yes,” he responded, standing up and patting down his uniform. “It is. I thought I had mentioned that.”
He hadn't. If he were meeting with Headmaster Alrune as well, then it stood to reason that Alrune had been tasked with handling the investigation of the duel. That meant that if Tovin hadn't met with him, then he'd probably be headed this way. I had hoped to catch Atlas after his meeting.
I looked over his shoulder at the empty hallway and clenched my teeth.
Screw it.
“Atlas,” I said as I closed Headmaster Alrune's door behind me. “I know this is really weird timing, but I need to ask you something important right now.”
“Right now?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“It can't wait.”
“Um. Okay. What's on your mind?”
I stared back at him, “Atlas. When you died...”
I paused as I searched for the right words.
He watched me, and we held eye contact.
“Did you see anything…unusual?”
Seven
None but those who attended ENU could die and live to talk about it. Those who did caress the face of death rarely wanted to revisit the experience. It sounded unconscionable without context, but I'd been awaiting the day another student would die. I wanted to know if they saw it—that thing that had loomed in the back of my mind since the moment I was revived.
“Unusual?” asked Atlas.
I held my breath. Atlas’s eyes followed the pattern of the floor tiles.
“No, I don't think so,” he said at last. “I saw that light at the end of the tunnel that everyone talks about and some colors, but I don't think I saw anything I'd consider too crazy.” He lifted his eyes to mine. “Why do you ask?”
I sighed and shoved my hands in my pockets. “No reason,” I lied. “Headmaster Alrune is waiting to see you. He asked me to send you in.”
“We can talk about it later if you like,” he offered.
“No, that's all right,” I said as I patted his shoulder on my way past. “You don't have to revisit that moment on my account.”
“Well, all right then,” he called after me. “I'll uhh…I'll see you later?”
“For sure.” I waved without turning. I didn't know if the disappointment was hanging from my face the way it was my shoulders, and I didn't want him to feel bad about it.
After I got back to my dorm room, I locked the door and collapsed on the bed; I was emotionally exhausted. I stared at the ceiling and reflected on what had happened the day I died. It wasn't until after I had sunk to the bottom, only after that incredible feeling of loneliness, only after I was certain I was finished...that I saw it.
Eyes appeared out of the infinite darkness that cradled me. Eyes everywhere, all of them focused on me as though they all belonged to one being. As it inched out of the shadows, certain groupings of its eyes moved in tandem, like a sliding puzzle. A clear chime rang as my energy returned to me. Its eyes doted on me as though I were its newborn, and I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to it. I found the strength to lift my arm.
I remembered sitting up and everything around me changing. I was sitting in a puddle on the hallway floor, my clothes soaking wet, my arm still outstretched. I blinked several times and looked down at my hand before finding that I'd been returned to life. I looked around—everyone had left me there.
I made my way to Headmaster Rowan's office and explained what happened, but nothing came of it. That was the day I learned Tovin was untouchable. I spent the rest of that day leaning over the sink and coughing up copious amounts of water.
I had a long time to consider what I'd witnessed.
Had I seen the face of a god?
I had spent that week bringing heaps of library books back to my room. It was the only place I felt safe, and I didn’t want to leave it. Surely one of the multitudes of the world’s religions could describe what I had seen. I pored through every religious text I could find, but no multi-eyed deity. Nothing even came close to describing what I experienced.
I started drifting away from my own religion. According to my church, I was supposed to have met with Hahnahkordia, Keeper of the Gateway—a great owl with six arms and a shining scepter.
“Maybe I hallucinated,” I spoke into my empty room. “I was dying after all.”
The experience felt so real. Like I could have reached out and touched the multi-eyed deity. I reached toward the ceiling before letting my arm fall to the bed. I wasn’t uncomfortable in my uniform, but this was one of the two days a week I could wear my casual clothes.
I stripped down to my underwear and, as I was searching for my pajamas, a voice came from across the room.
“Nice underwear.”
I swear my head almost hit the ceiling. I yelped and whirled around to find Fena in the doorway. My spirit left my body as I scrambled to make myself decent.
I yanked the blanket off of my bed and held it in front of me, “Ever heard of knocking?!” I screamed.
“Nope,” she said as she pushed the door closed behind her with her foot.
“How did you even know where my dorm was?” I yelled as she walked toward me. “F-Fena, what the heck are you—”
She pressed her lips against mine. Time seemed to stop as I tried to piece together whatever it was that I must have missed. She placed her hand against my chest and pushed me onto my bed.
My words got caught in my throat as she ripped my blanket out of my hands and crawled on top of me.
“I've been trying to catch you alone,” she said before moving her fiery mane out of her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. She kissed me again, this time pushing her tongue all the way into my mouth. Her breasts pressed against my chest as she let her hands explore.
I awoke with my lips puckered. I blinked hard and sat up. I was still in full uniform.
I hadn't realized I'd dozed off. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock. It was past six. I'd slept the whole day away! I let myself fall back on my bed and sighed, partly because I'd be awake all night now but mostly because I wanted to enjoy that dream a little longer.
I closed my eyes and tried to drift back to sleep, but my noisy stomach was reminding me that I'd slept through lunch. I wiped my hand over my face. I wasn’t going to be able to ignore it.
I sat on the patio at The Magic Bistro, a restaurant in the west wing, and I played with my food as the rain bounced off the tin awning. My mind was swirling. I found it hard to forget my dream. But I'd known her for only a little more than a day.
What the heck is wrong with me?
Too soon to ask her out—creepy even. Maybe if I was cool about it, a super low stakes approach. If I waited too long though, she'd surely be asked by someone else. What if she said yes to that someone? I'd be crushed, though I knew I had no right to be.
Then there were the CAPE exams coming up. The Combat Analysis Placement Exam pitted student against student in one-on-one mage battles. Luckily for me, they were tiered; I wouldn’t be fighting monsters like Tovin or Atlas. The school took on roughly 700 students at a time, and each was evaluated at their enrollment. Based on a number of factors, they'd be assigned a ranking. I remembered being thrilled to be assigned something like 702.
I was just happy to make it into the school back then.
“That's higher than I was expecting!”
“It's the lowest possible score,” grumbled Headmaster Vegas as he looked over the file in front of him. “Your magic reserves are…tragic. On top of that you're a tome user.” He looked up at me over the rim of his spectacles. “How in the world did you even make it into this academy?”
“Because I'm real good at it!” I said. “You'll see! I'll make you all see!”
