Omen of a Bluebell

I’m too scrambled to hear whatever Amanda says next, but Cari’s giggling breaks through as she pulls me along behind her.

Amanda guides us behind the counter and through one of several doors into a mid-sized office space.

It's decorated with a few bookshelves with ledgers, filing cabinets, papers neatly stacked all over the place, and several odd looking magical tools interspersed throughout the room. Nothing too strange, though I don't recognize most of the devices.

I welcome the distraction, quickly using Relic Whisperer on the small crystal orb that sits atop the desk, acting as a paperweight.

Magic Affinity Testing Apparatus

Rare

Enchantments:

Mana Reading

This item can discern magical affinities by analyzing the targets mana.

Visualization

This item can display information gathered by a connected enchantment or user.

This is set to internally display results via color gradients and is currently linked to the following enchantments: Mana Reading.

I still remember using one of these to see if I had any affinities while I was Faulted. Of course, the thing didn’t light up at all back then, leaving me utterly devastated.

It took some time to get over that.

A lot of my theories heavily depended upon me having any kind of magical aptitude, because… well, it doesn’t matter anymore.

Regardless, mana affinities don’t really matter, so everyone says. The System already pushes you toward what you’re suited for.

Though… I suppose it would still be incredibly useful for enchanters to know. Also for dedicated training, I suppose.

Guess I shouldn’t be surprised it’s here.

I mentally shrug it off. I don’t know enough, nor is it important right now. It did help bring me back to the moment, though.

I return my attention to Amanda, who walks around the central desk to take a seat in the larger, more comfortable looking chair behind it.

She gestures for us to sit opposite her, and Cari and I settle into two of the three chairs available. She quickly sorts through paperwork, seemingly knowing exactly where everything is.

As she does, two small stacks of papers slowly build up in front of her, her hands blurring with quick motions as she expertly pulls papers from everywhere.

“Ah,” she starts, pausing for a moment to tilt her head at us, mouth open to speak.

I tilt my own in response, letting one ear flop and enjoying the tinkling of my earrings.

She pauses a moment then, her stare shifting to focus solely on me. Her head tilts just a bit farther, showing off the strange flexibility unique to owlkin.

I’d say it looks uncanny, but with her intense nature and piercing gaze, it suits her exceptionally well.

“Hm. As flattering as your attention is, you are far too young for me. And not my preference, besides. Does that help?” she suddenly says.

Cari snorts and turns away from me, her shoulders shaking dangerously as she tries to contain herself. Meanwhile, my ears flick back and my face once more feels like I’m sunbathing in a desert.

At the same time, Amanda’s words burrow into my mind and pop the tiny bubble of interest that was building for her, dissipating it into nothingness.

I duck my head, hiding my face behind my hands.

"Sorry," I groan. "Yes, it helped."

For a brief moment, I’m incredibly tempted to just enable my emotional suppression with Total Suppression and get rid of this crap once and for all.

...Then I imagine the aftermath.

If I’m damn near losing control already, what will happen after bottling up an entire day of that, then releasing it all at once?

The image of literally pouncing on Bella like a rabid animal flits through my head, and my whole body shudders with horror.

Nope, not happening.

“Good. There is no need for embarrassment. This is a school, and I guide students of every kind. For us beastkin, such things are simply part of our nature,” she continues, shifting her piercing gaze between the two of us. “Now, back to my original question. Can you both read and write?”

“Yep,” Cari says, still struggling to hold back a laugh.

I just nod again, but her comment brings a measure of comfort with it.

It's still mortifying, of course... but she only did what was necessary to keep me on task. Nothing more, nothing less.

I glance back up at her to find her gaze set on the stacks of papers she slides before us. Two quills join them a moment later, and she motions for us to look them over.

The contents are relatively basic questions about my history, experience with magical or physical combat, and so on. It helps me settle back into a sort of calm, and I make quick work of them.

Nothing pops out as too personal, as it’s not asking for my stats or skills. The only actual stats related question is for my health and mana totals, which I don’t see a reason to hesitate with sharing.

I know that the Academy trains its students around combat, so knowing how much we can take and dish out is going to be essential.

In the section asking about past experience, I include my C-rank Delver status, and a smattering of my combat experiences, though I don’t mention my first major expedition with Darius, Agora, and Derek.

I do include brief mentions of my writ of commendation from the Small Council of Bephis and the Silver Ward badge, though.

I figure it’d at least make me look good, and might qualify me for some more advanced courses, though I frankly don’t know much about how their educational structure actually works. Either way, I don’t intend on keeping those bits of information secret.

Cari, of course, finishes well before I do, her job as an Guild Attendant showing in full force. Amanda reviews her paperwork as I finish my own, then does the same for mine.

A look of confusion crosses her face for a split second when she reaches the part where I filled in my Health and Mana totals.

“Are these numbers accurate?” she asks, sparing me a glance.

“Yes.”

My response is instant, because I expected that question. After all, what low Tier One has my stats? The answer is one with too many Classes and the Manaborn Racial Skill, but she doesn’t need to know that.

She stares me down for a moment, as if checking to see if I’m lying somehow, then just nods and returns to reviewing my papers. When she finishes, she takes a stamp out of one of the desk drawers and presses it to the top page of each of our piles.

“Everything looks to be in order. Please note that this information will be verified during your entrance examinations.”

As she lifts the stamps, two perfect copies of our bundles of papers appear on top of the originals, complete with stamp marks and all.

I stare at the stamp, momentarily confused by how that could possibly work.

I didn't know enchantments could just... make things.

I glance over at Cari, finding that she seems unsurprised.

Okay, so that's normal... apparently.

In all fairness, I'm not sure what use I would have for such an item, and I'm sure it has some fairly strict limitations.

Still... is there one that can copy gold coins?

I add a mental note to look into that at some point.

She slides the new copies over to us and tucks the originals into individual folders she pulls from another drawer before getting up and stuffing them into one of the many cabinets behind the desk.

“All that’s left for today is to test your magical aptitudes,” she says, moving the crystal orb to the center of the desk between us before looking to me. “And then your meeting with the Headmaster.”

I nod in confirmation, more than a little nervous about the idea.

Over the past few months, I’d thought long and hard about what I’d ask of the Headmaster and how I might test if he’s reliable enough to even ask for his help in the first place.

Unfortunately, with the new information I’d gained from the Archivist, most that had to be thrown out the window.

I’ll figure it out, though. Probably.

“We’ll start with you, Cari. If you have any clear aptitudes for specific magic types, the orb will light up to display them. Now, if you would?”

She indicates the orb, and Cari places her hand atop it. After just a few seconds, light blooms at the center of the crystal, seeming to fill up half of its volume.

A deep, ominous purple color makes up the majority of it, and it writhes about much like the ethereal tentacles she summons.

At its core sits an ember of pale blue, matching the color of the wisps of mana I often see flowing through the air.

“Void and Arcane. And it seems you’ve spent some time training your void magic abilities, as well. I’ll make sure to note that you need additional training for the arcane aspect, however. We do not waste talents, here,” she says, scribbling a note onto some paper before her before turning to me. “Now you, if you please.”

Cari takes her hand back, and the light in the orb instantly fades. I take a steadying breath, and despite my best efforts to control my nerves, my hand shakes slightly as I place it on the orb.

Silly as it is, part of me is still terrified that it won’t light up at all, much like it didn’t the first time I used one.

Then a small orb of silvery light appears within the glass, and I can’t stop the grin that blooms on my face. I almost want to cry with relief, but I control myself and look back up to Amanda. She stares wide eyed at the orb, then her gaze flicks from it to me and back again, over and over and over.

I look back down at the orb and find the small light has exploded in size, filling the orb completely. Even more interestingly, the silvery light is now a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors.

Green, red, blue, brown, white, black, purple… every color of the rainbow, and many others besides, flow around and through each other in confusing and intricate patterns.

It’s mesmerizing, and I almost miss Amanda’s words.

“P-please, wait here. The Headmaster will want to see this,” she says.

Before I can respond, she bolts—all pretense of professionalism gone as she swings the door wide, nearly colliding with it before she sprints from the room.

I draw my hand back from the device slowly as I stare at the open door. Cari chuckles, and I glare at her.

“What now?” I grouse.

“Nothing, nothing,” she says, holding her hands up in surrender and chuckling. “I just didn’t expect you to shatter Academy expectations before even enrolling.”

I narrow my eyes. “It’s not like I wanted—”

I’m interrupted by a strange puff sound, as if a pillow had smacked into something. To my right, a collection of feathers that somehow materialized into existence float to the ground, one landing on my leg before vanishing into small motes of light.

Standing there, where once was empty space, is Amanda, Selenia, and a tall elvish man.

Thankfully I manage to not embarrass myself in front of who I can only assume is the Headmaster, though I still fail to restrain a twitch at their sudden appearance.

He nearly perfectly matches the descriptions I’d heard, and even the few portrait sketches I'd seen of him. Mostly, anyways. People as noteworthy as him tend to get a little exaggerated.

He strikes an imposing figure though, tall and slim as elves tend to be, with fair skin and long, silver hair that cascades over his shoulders to nearly mid belly. His eyes are entirely green, with no whites to be seen, though two tiny black pupils tell me that he’s looking right at me.

His attention is more potent than anything Amanda has managed thus far, despite her unblinking gaze.

Worse still, Sense Danger is silent.

Not as in it’s not activating, but it’s giving me the sense of actively trying to be quiet.

That does spook me a little, and I instinctually try to tuck my tail a little closer to my body.

“She’s the one I was talking about,” Amanda says, slightly breathless.

Well that’s not ominous at all.

Selenia raises a perfect brow at me, and the Headmaster shifts his gaze to Amanda, a look of skepticism clear across his face.

I check his tag.

The Archmage of Wonders

Level ???

Before I can so much as blink at the three question marks, he materializes a thick wooden staff in one hand before bonking me on the head right between my ears with it. It happens so fast that even the thought of dodging doesn’t occur to me until the staff has already vanished.

“Ow!” I hiss. “What the—”

“That’s what you get for being nosy, young lady. Now, hand on the orb. Come, come, I’m very busy,” he says, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Then rubs his chin and looks at the ceiling, mumbling, “Yes, very busy… always very busy… fate itself could schedule an appointment…”

Selenia gives him a scathing glare, which he pretends to not notice. Still, neither Amanda or Selenia step in to stop him.

Nosy?! Since when is checking a tag nosy? Wait, how did he even know I checked his tag?

Despite my annoyance, I heed my Skill and keep my complaints to myself. Now mildly concerned for my own safety, I just do as he says and place my hand on the orb once more. I watch him warily the whole time, half expecting to be thwacked again.

To my surprise, both his and Selenia’s eyes widen immensely when the orb lights up with its colorful display again. His gaze locks back onto me now, interest written all over his face.

With a strange and complex gesture in one of his free hands, his eyes start to glow, their green hue brightening significantly as he looks me over. His gaze is so intense that I can’t help but feel as though he’s literally peering into my soul, and the sensation makes my tail squirm.

Desperately, I switch my gaze to Selenia, a vague hope in the back of my mind telling me that she’ll rescue me from her husband, but she just looks at him with an oddly triumphant look on her face.

“Huh… you… hm,” he mumbles. He spares a look at Cari as well, then back to me.

He frowns.

“Thank you Amanda. I will handle Emilia from here on,” he sighs, as if I’m a problem that had just been foisted upon him.

“You’d better get the paperwork to me before the end of the day if you want her to join this year,” Selenia quips, giving him a narrow eyed glare.

“Yes, yes, I will—” he starts, only for her to interrupt.

“And you will be polite!” she snaps.

His gaze flits back to her, brows furrowed in consternation.

“When am I not polite?” he argues petulantly.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe every time extra work is put on your plate?”

“Now that’s just unfair, I’m perfectly polite when—

“When they don’t annoy you, yes, I know dear. This time, though, I want you to put in some extra effort,” she says, smoothing a wrinkle on his sleeve with one sharp, practiced motion. Then she shoos him. “Now off you get, I’ll bring up some tea.”

He visibly sulks and says, “Fine, fine.”

With a wave of his hand, I hear that strange puff sound again, and everything around me vanishes.

Then it’s replaced by an entirely different office, devoid of everyone except the Archmage of Wonders himself.

And there’s no longer a chair beneath me.

I fall into an undignified heap with an squeak… and the Headmaster looks down at me as if it’s somehow my fault.

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