Arcane Sorcery

As you walk with Professor Dove to your next class, Arcane Sorcery, your attention is somewhat divided. You try to maintain a conversation with the beautiful professor, telling her about your day to this point, while also trying hard to console Aeriel.

She has clung to you tightly ever since breaking the water spell, burying her face in your chest and sobbing uncontrollably. She apparently blames herself for what happened. You try to tell her that it was your lack of focus that caused things to go awry, but she doesn't seem to be listening.

"It's good that you agreed to be Dr. Kinderss' assistant.", Professor Dove is saying. "She practically begged me to place you in her class."

"Really? She said that you were agreeable to the idea... that you felt it was a good fit for me."

"I was, and I do. I was honestly already considering that class for you before she ever even entered my office."

"How interesting."

"I do think you will gain quite a bit from Dr. Kinders, and knowing her, she will make sure you enjoy her class."

Professor Dove has a knowing grin on her face as she says this last statement.

"Now I know Professor Aspecta can seem rather intense...", Professor Dove continues. "But she definitely knows her stuff when it comes to elemental magic. Try not to let her intimidate you, she is a fair woman. Just apply yourself to your studies and progress as she says, and you will do well."

"Sure.", you reply somewhat unconfidently. "I'll do my best."

"I'm sure you will. That's interesting about having a neutral affinity though, that's not very common. I myself have a primary affinity with air, and a secondary with fire. If I have any time, I will be glad to assist you... but definitely seek out some of your peers as Professor Aspecta has suggested. I am quite busy, and you should associate with your classmates as much as you can."

"Yes Professor. Thank you."

Finally arriving to your destination, Professor Dove unlocks the classroom door and you both enter. She excuses herself and enters the office to prepare. Taking a seat in front, you return your full attention to Aeriel.

"Hey... It's ok silly girl... It's ok... You didn't do anything wrong..."

"But you could have died...", she sniffs into your chest.

"But I didn't... I'm ok, really... It was my fault for being overwhelmed by my own arousal..."

"But..."

You cup her chin in your hand and **** her to face you. Her incredible eyes are puffy and red, a steady flow of tears running down her cheeks.

"No more buts unless it's me caressing yours...", you say with a grin.

This gets a little smile out of her and you hold her tightly. You place your forehead to hers and gaze deeply into her eyes.

"We'll get better... I'm still new to everything, so I still have much to learn... Mishaps are sure to happen... I just need to learn to focus better... No more tears my beautiful Aeriel... I'm so grateful to have you... You have changed my life completely..." You give her a peck on the lips.

She smiles fondly and hugs you tightly.

"I'm here for you... I just want to help you and make you happy...", she says.

"And you are doing a very good job silly girl... no more tears..."

She nuzzles into your shoulder and sniffs a few more times before finally calming down.

Students are beginning to enter the classroom by this point. You observe that they all seem to be from Phoenix House. None of them pay you much mind as they enter and seat themselves, none except one.

You are a little surprised when the beautiful Ashcroft girl sits right next to you. You are even more surprised when she speaks to you.

"Good afternoon.", she says with a somewhat formal tone. Her green gaze regarding you with mild curiosity. Interestingly enough, she doesn't have a scowl on her face.

"Uh... good afternoon", you reply, a little unnerved.

"May I ask you something?", Harmony asks, her green eyes fixed on yours.

"Sure.", you respond.

"Where do you come from?"

"What?"

An annoyed look crosses her face, like you should have just understood her question the first time she asked.

"I am the daughter of one of the four most prominent magical families. We have a wide range of influence, and we keep tabs on major power holders... yet, you are completely unknown to us. Where do you come from?"

You tell her the name of your hometown, explaining that it is a non-magical place. You add, for what feels like the hundredth time, about your power only just recently awakening.

Her expression grows severe. Her green eyes flash in anger and her scowl reappears.

"I work hard for my entire life to get to where I am, and a nobody mongrel is just fucking handed incredible power!"

"Take it easy. Don't get angry at me, I have no contr..."

"Spare me. I have already given you far more consideration than you are worth. This conversation is over."

With that, she stands and moves to the back of the room.

Dumbstruck, you watch her as she sulks to another seat. You can't help but admire her ass despite what just happened.

"Enjoying the view mutt?"", a voice you vaguely recognize asks.

You turn and see the tall, muscular boy that spoke out during orientation. Kyrie you think his name is.

"What?"

"You were just staring at Harmony's ass. Mongrel eyes should not stray to places they are not fit to look at."

He is looking at you with obvious disdain. Taken aback, you are rendered speechless by the open display of hostility. You hear some of the other students snickering in amusement.

Aeriel, alerted by the confrontation whirls in your lap and glares at Kyrie. You have never seen or felt this side of her. She burns hot with malice, and for a moment you think she is ready to pounce from your lap and attack him somehow. Instinctively, you hold her firmly by the waist.

“Know your place mutt… or I will have to teach it to you… and that is a lesson you should want to avoid.”, Kyrie says, his dark eyes smoldering with venom.

“Victor! That’s enough!”, Professor Dove shouts, a furious tone replacing her normally soft and sultry voice.

Kyrie turns and regards her with an amused smirk.

“Good afternoon Rebecca. I was just about to take my seat. I just wanted to properly... welcome… The newcomer.”

“ then take your seat and quit making trouble. I am not going to tolerate your bullshit this year.”

Kyrie just stands there for a few moments smirking at Professor Dove before he scoffs and casually struts to a seat beside Harmony.

Professor Dove glances at you briefly as if to check that you are ok. You simply shrug and put on a fake smile. She takes a deep breath and composes herself before proceeding with the lecture.

Despite the tension in the beginning of the period, you manage to pay attention as professor Dove gives her lecture. It may have something to do with her being insanely gorgeous, but you hang on her every word.

She explains that arcane sorcery was developed a millennia ago, when magic underwent a renaissance of sorts. Mages back then viewed magic as an artform over anything else, and so they tended to alter certain aspects of spells to suit their particular needs.

She describes how a simple alteration to a hand gesture could change things like potency or duration. However, as time progressed, magic use slowly became increasingly more conventional and mundane, and the art of arcane sorcery was all but forgotten. If not for some ancient tomes that were discovered just a couple of centuries ago, the art may have been lost forever.

She ends her lecture by stating that the focus of this course will be to explore some of the aspects detailed in the ancient tomes to enhance everyone's current abilities.

The class ends, far too soon for your liking, by the ringing of the bell which signifies the end of classes for the day. Professor Dove looks at you once again, and you get the feeling she would like you to stay after, so you remain seated as the rest of the class filters out of the room. Victor and Harmony don't even spare you another glance, but you still can't help but feel some of the tension from earlier return. Professor Dove stands there, watching them both like a hawk, ensuring no further trouble crops up.

Finally, the two of you are alone once again, and she closes the door.

"don't let them get to you. Generally, students who are sorted into Phoenix House tend to have higher potential gradings than others. The lowest score in the entire house being 79. This has a lot to do with mutually beneficial arranged marriages and controlled breeding. Unfortunately, there are some Phoenix members who see themselves as superior to everyone else and believe they have the right to treat others like garbage."

"I understand. I won't let their pettiness bring me down."

"Not everyone in the house is like that, just so you know. But Victor and Harmony are certainly chief antagonists, and sadly command a following of weaker minded individuals who would rather stay in their good graces than to just be themselves. Hopefully you will get a chance to meet some who don't feed into their nonsense. Anyway, that's only half of the reason I wanted you to stay behind."

You give her a curious look. "And what is the other?"

"I will guide you to the headmaster's office for your meeting with him."