THERE WERE TWO UNSPOKEN rules Arlence Academy's fourth years abided by when dusk settled, wands cooled down and school hallways closed. Everything went, even if it usually didn't. And you never saw anything, even if you were sure you did.
Those rules did not apply to Sage.
A cool night breeze rushed past the center courtyard's trees, their leaves in orange to dark red tones twirling over the fences caging them away from the surrounding school corridors. Their edges were frayed and delicate. The type that cracked away from the rest of its body and crumbled with the slight push from Sage's shoe in an effort to clear the hallway path. Each crunch under her weight made the beat in her heart pound harder, echoing over and over again in her ears, but she kept her gaze focused. She couldn't afford to get caught today, not on her last run before winter break. She snuck past the corner, into a smaller hallway then another, turning right, left, moving past the staircase...
The girl hummed lowly to herself, dark eyes brushing past the clock hanging over the 3rd archway in her path. Its longest handle inched slightly closer to timepeace's top. 10 minutes until new guard rotations.
It'd leave ample time for her to find Auri's book and return the old one. She held the 800 page monstrosity before her as she walked, running her hand along its plain cover. "From Mana to Magic: The Art of Application '' was a supposedly complex magical theory study. The kind so long that it made her headache just at the thought of needing to remember, the strange tang of bile rising to her throat with every lingering glance at its dense page block. She turned it over to read the back. Auri liked those kinds of long, drawn out books for whatever reason. Sage herself wasn't entirely sure. The materials weren't relevant to classes, or anything incredibly new. Just regurgitated research. The same spiel on how, magic was the application of an inner spiritual force into the physical. Or how mana, the spiritual force in question, supposedly resided in all earthly elements. Emphasis on the "supposedly" part in Sage's case. Studies of that sort had never been interesting, and no matter how little personal interactions Sage had with the girl, she knew Auri wasn't reading them for fun. She didn't do fun in the first place. Just sitting in her room all-day, frowning, grunting lowly at things or spouting out orders.
Like that earlier morning, when Auri shoved the book into Sage's hands upon leaving her room. Hands that'd been holding a freshly brewed cup of dormitory cocoa milk. "Return it. I need Rituals in Magic." She'd pushed her golden spectacles over her straight, tan nose before walking off, leaving Sage standing in the hallway with a three pound packet of pages. And milk all over her uniform skirt. She smelled of cocoa beans for the rest of the day, and the worst part was that all she could do was politely smile and laugh about her "little accident". Accident her blotchy, brown-stained boot.
She raised her head from the book between her hands. The Main Library's doors were imported from some distant faraway Kingdom she wouldn't even dare try to remember, carved by renowned sculptor Elin Garnas. He was said to have spent 74 days and 75 nights bringing to life the essence of their school emblem; The Dragon. Vines wrapped around each door's frame slowly closing into the middle, encircling the mythical creature. Its mouth was held open, tongue halfway out ready to breathe fire and cause devastation to everything in his path. Dark, beady eyes casted downward, as if he were focused on his snout. Though it didn't really feel that way.
"Don't look at me like that," The girl muttered lowly as she pulled an extra pin out of her tightly coiled hair. She stuck it into the lock, twisting to the right until she heard a loud click. The door to the library opened slightly ajar.
Her eyebrows drew together the second she stepped in, the strong scent of paper invading her nostrils. She hated the smell of books, distant reminders of her childhood, simultaneously too long and too short. Yet despite it, it was where she spent the most of her time.
Sage ran her hand along shelves as she reached the center of the room, plopping the heavy book onto the librarian's desk. A small layer of dust lifted along with it causing her to scrunch her nose. She slid the volume to the other end of the table, well aware of the occasional shuffling noises outside the biggest window. She wasn't the only fourth year who profited from the 10 minute break between teacher shifts to break rules. Just to use it to trespass into old, boring libraries instead of play pranks or games with friends.
And she was completely fine with being in her own corner, really. Because unlike the rest, getting caught by classmates wouldn't end with a simple wry smile and shushing motion in the dead of night. No, it'd crumble the entire reputation she worked so hard to build. Careful years of planning, hard-work and an unsupportable amount of sucking up.
Sage hid the book under the return pile, raising to see the overhead clock. 7 more minutes. She had enough time to get Rituals in Magic, then dip out before more students passed by. There were the usual rebellious wall-artists, romantic couples, gossipers, pranksters.... or, sometimes him. The bastard with freakishly strong senses who plagued her during the day, and at night wooshed past that same window exactly 2 minutes before teachers returned to their posts. Who's eyes always lingered on her for a little too long when she lied, followed after her whenever she tried to sneak away, somehow always found her before she found him. He was the man who kept her from reaching the topmost spot in Arlence Academy. The one she deserved.
Her feet treaded up the grand staircase leading to the second storey, the area for final years. Her favorite. Though Sage hated the smell of books, she couldn't say the same for their contents. Volumes packed to the brim with information taught her everything she knew. From the art of paint, to swimming to more obscure skills such as, uh, lock picking. Her mind flashed back to brief memories of pouring over manuals in the dead of the night with only a dim oil lamp to illuminate their words. Piles of paper. Pens without ink. Bloodied needle pins. Red-stained napkins.
She stopped, almost bumping into a cartful of books. She didn't notice at first, but they littered the corridors of shelves. She picked up one that fell, narrowing her eyes. The title read something along the lines of "History of the Continent". Finals ended last week so an influx of returns wasn't uncommon but they were usually all sorted over during the weekend. She checked the shelves, the book still in hand. Wait. She was in the Economics and Trade area of the library, not history. Her eyes scoured the floor, a curse escaping from her lips.
"Smokes," she put it back into the cart. Everything was a mess. She wouldn't be able to find Auri's book. The heavy heartbeat returned as she hurried to the Magic Theory section, her worse thoughts confirmed. Even more carts were shuffled in this corner of the library, a few lining the staircase to the third storey -- restricted to teachers. At least a minute had passed since she saw the clock, meaning she only had 6 left.
Sage's heart pounded in her chest as she shuffled through piles, ignoring the small cut lining her index from a particularly sharp paperback. Everything would be over if she messed up. Auri would tell her father. The Duke would get her taken out of Arlence. She'd be without credentials. A drop-out. The beat got stronger the more seconds passed, drowning out the occasional sounds of grouped fourth years giggling as they broke curfew rules outside the window. She shifted easily past those she recalled reading, that being nearly all of them. Rituals in Magic had to be amongst them. It was one of the few books she read out of pure interest about a month back. Not because it was for a class, or skill she needed to beat everyone else in. Just because it was there. And fun.
She reached the bottom of the third cart, all books she knew she read save for one. "Runes in Magic." She turned it over. This one, at the very least, with an r and ended the same way her target did. It would be close enough. It had to be. Spending too much time searching would get her caught. By him, or the teachers. Her hands shook as she put it aside, placing all other books back. Auri always needed to get exactly what she asked for. And Sage had never disappointed before, no matter how difficult the task was. Until now.
She picked up the book, putting the cart back in its place next to the staircase. She hastened to the other end of the shelf. She just had to leave and.. God she forgot. Lekha would need a book from the romance section too. Sage dashed past the shelves, ready to turn the corner then stopped. She retracted her steps. Right at the end of the shelf, stacked neatly as if it were always there sat Rituals In Magic. Maybe it was because it was always there. The girl stood planted. Rituals In Magic was a personal read for her back then. It had nothing to do with school material, or the finals. No one had touched it. She barely had the time to register her stupidity. Or the shame from almost messing it all up. From forgetting to remember. Again.
Books held close to her chest, she rushed to the bottom of the grand staircase. Sage's head swiveled to the clock, indicating 3 minutes left then to the romance section. Auri didn't like frilly literature, but her sister did. And Lekha always needed to be brought back something.
She combed through titles, the kinds with covers that'd make even battle-torn mercenaries blush, her back against the main window. Lekha was the adventurous type. She didn't care for simple princes. Give her servant girls whisked away by rugged princesses instead, loner mages, gentle assassins, battle-torn warriors... half-wolf men. No matter how hard she tried to forget the horror of that one.
Sage's eye wandered to the clock and she cursed under her breath. She had two minutes left until teachers were due, but about 3 seconds until him. The man who always flew by the window at the exact same time. There wasn't a moment to waste as she dropped the books, immediately rushing to slide behind a bookcase knowing full well it would offer little protection against his ability. Forget getting the wrong book, being caught and exposed by him would truly ruin her. Not only would she become an outcast once more but she would need to leave Arlence. And let him win once-and-for-all.
If he found her she'd kill him. She decided. Then what? She didn't have her sword with her. Her mind combed through plans at an unimaginable rate. He wasn't the type to give into bribery. No, the greatest present one could give him would be the sight of their life crumbling before his eyes as they descended into madness and failure, to never see the light of day again. She paused. That wasn't fully right either. No, he seemed more like a type who took pleasure in getting those results himself instead of handed to him. He'd frown. Not from pity or realizing the gravity of his actions, but dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction that he didn't contribute to mankind's descent to depravity. Her rapidly escalating thoughts were interrupted by a red flash from the window. The manifestation of nearly neon, vivid energy. Such a colour that only he could possess.
The girl raised her head, basically pounding from stress. Sage peeked from the shelf, gripping the sharp pin in her uniform pocket. Just in case. No one was there. He passed just like that. A look of puzzlement crossed her face as she stepped out fully. He was more than strong enough to sense her presence. But didn't.
This only meant one thing. Sage looked above and nodded her head in reverence. The Heavens took pity on her. And she wouldn't be dumb enough to let such a sacred opportunity pass.
She swiped the books dropped before the big window, then a short series about some runaway princess and her royal guard for Lekha, then booked it out of the library.
Her low-heels clicked against the hallway, this time ignoring the leaves littering its floors. She ducked under the staircase, praying there weren't any Fourth Years loitering in the passage. Sage avoided the secret ways around the school during her nights out like this because they were too commonly used. But the Sky seemed to have taken pity on her again, for they were empty. She wouldn't have to risk running into teachers entering patrol tonight.
Arlence Academy's secret passages dug under the school, connecting the main building with outbuildings and dormitories in a complicated labyrinth. It took her 2 years to remember them properly, and even now she was only familiar with the route to her own dorm and the training area. Usually she'd do a little detour to the swordsmens' building. Check up on her baby, Pheni, maybe organize a few other weapons to take a step back from the whole "serving Auri and Lekha" thing she had going on. Key word being usually. Tonight, her route was straight for her dorm. She couldn't waste a single other second outside her room.
The heavy humid air got lighter as she reached the dorm building, rushing up steps as quickly as possible. Her feet lightened too as she reached the trap door. Sage paused, listening for anyone above. There was occasional noise from other bedrooms, but otherwise nothing major. Not that anyone would care to check if she made any noise anyways. She took a big breath of fresh air as she pushed the door open, placing the stack of books onto the floor first before hoisting herself up with the help of a small pile of stones stacked one on top of the other. She pushed it close behind her.
The rest was basically a blur. She dropped off "Rituals In Magic" on the corner of Auri's door frame then shuffled her feet up the stairs. The steps to the top floor were winding, and creaked whenever someone walked up the left side instead of the right. The other extreme was lined with windows, who's view she practically memorized. It showcased the main building in all its wondrous splendour, built exactly how one would imagine an old castle despite not having reached a century of education yet. Towers littered each corner but the highest of them all was the only one situated in the middle of the school. Middle back to be more precise, between North and West. They nicknamed it Esoteric; the only magic tower that no student had ever entered before. Graduating classes took their final magic examination inside once a year, then left. No one ever spoke of what happened in that tower, or wanted to, which is exactly what made it catch Sage's attention more than ever.
She reached the top, a weird sense of relief invading her body at the warm sight of her bedroom door. Just a few steps away. She was almost there.
The door right next to Sage suddenly swung open, bathing the dark hall with light. Or not.
"Sage." Lekha spoke. Auri's twin sister looked vastly different from her, despite sharing the same face. For once her hair was longer, down to the small of her back. There was a small ring in her nose, and her thin lips were never without at least a tint of rouge. Same for her cheeks and neck always adjourned in jewels. Even in the dead of night, when she was supposed to sleep. The golden bangles along her wrist clinked together as leaned against her door frame. "Young Miss Nochad," Sage smiled, focusing on the girl's face in a desperate attempt to ignore a reflective diamond threatening to permanently blind her, "I went to catch some stuff for Auri and thought of you, I found a few novels."
Her eyes sparkled slightly, a smile forming at her lips, "Goodness, you didn't need to do that."
"Hand them over," She reached over to grab the books from Sage, practically snatching the entire stack from her hands. A long nail scratched against the back of the girl's palm, but she was too numb with adrenaline to even feel pain. Nevertheless, do something about it.
Sage tucked the hand behind her back instead as Lekha shuffled through 3 books. "Father will hate this." She turned the book over to look at its scandalous cover, "This'll do perfect for the break month."
"But, I don't need this." She pulled the last book in the stack out, giving it back to Sage. The girl's lip twitched. "Runes in Magic." She'd brought that damned book back too in her rush to escape. "Ah, that must be for your sister, my mistake. I was in a bit of a rush"
"You do look quite disheveled." She replied, though she looked a lot more preoccupied with the scandalous cover in her hands than Sage's appearance, "You're really one of the good ones. No mana but not useless. Still so helpful and trustworthy."
Sage smiled tightly, but didn't answer.
"Don't forget to have some sleep."
"Of course," She kept the smile, nodding her head in reverence, "Please sleep well, Miss. Nochad."
"You too." The door shut, plunging the corridor back into the darkness. Sage contained the sigh on her lips until she fiddled open her front door handle. She closed it behind her, leaning her back against the door. Finally, she was done.
No, almost. She still had to endure tomorrow. They'd announce the leaderboard results from the finals, then everyone would get packing and leave. Leave her alone in the dormitory for the next month whilst they celebrated the winter break with family. Sage tossed the book onto her desk, stacked with scrunched up papers and capless pens. A few notes littered the surface too, papers that fell off the huge board lined over her desk full of nothing but tiny notes. They listed small useless pieces of information and dates. Reminders.
She was 90% sure something clanked somewhere amongst the mess, but she was too tired to care. She placed her shoes under the table, picking up a paper that fell from her wall along with it. Her eyes widened as she read the note. Right, she had forgotten. The girl had plans to borrow a few more books from the library this week. She changed her clothing, pulling out a hair pick and scarf. Lekha had already started to order dresses for the Finals Ball despite it being months away, meaning Sage had to brush up on her dressmaking skills. Something she hadn't touched since she was 10. Or 8. Or 13, she really couldn't remember. Either way, it was best to be prepped for anything. Whether it be fixing a seam, button pulled out of anger or making an entirely new garment last minute. She had to prove herself useful. She paused, reciting it to herself a few more items. Yeah, that was it.
The girl stepped closer to her window as she wrapped up her hair. It provided a perfect view of the outbuildings. Properties that littered her little corner of campus, housing specialized hobbies that wouldn't fit into the core magic classes of the main building. The biggest and farthest amongst them all was the sword building, her beautiful sword, Pheni's home. And hers too for the next 4 weeks when everyone would be away. She couldn't wait.
Sage narrowed her eyes. There was something entering the swords building. A faint blob of almost neon red. It was unmistakably, well him, but something was off. His friends weren't with him. He was alone. Which was weird. He was weird. There wasn't much she could see clearly considering he was hundreds of feet away, but the unmistakable blond dreads that contrasted with his skin a few shades darker than hers were still very much there. Overflowing spiritual energy and all that... as far as she could tell he didn't look weird physically. At all. But still, something ticked at the back of her mind. He entered the building and Sage shook her head as if to ignore her thoughts. She was tired. She just needed to go to sleep.
A few seconds later a boom echoed into the night. She jumped back, her hair scarf falling onto her shoulders. A bright red light faded into nothingness as quickly as it appeared, but its effects didn't. She rubbed her eyes, unable to believe the sight before her. Right on the far-end of the Campus, there was a hole in the earth.
Goodness. The bastard put a damned hole in the earth.
A/N ⭲ This chapter is so unbelievably long, probably the longest I've ever written in my life but we have yet to see if nearly 4k word chapters be a usually occurence or not. On the other hand, something I've just discovered came with the whole "magic academy" writing thing is that I can make the uniforms be whatever I want. And when I tell you guys I have the most genius, cutest ensemble ideas I mean it. Only issue is that I can't draw to save my life, and don't know any apps where they do it for me. If anyone's interested I might put together a pinterest moodboard or smth, then post the aesthetics on my tumblr spam. We'll see. Until then, I'll see you next chapter! Let me know your predictions x.
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