Beyond?

“The Galith is said to hide in the dark and may take many forms, always using the most plain appearance to give its prey a false sense of security. But there is one feature at which you are always able to recognize it. And that is its black and white hair.

It lurks in the shadows and searches for meat. Children who aren't fast enough to get home before the sun sets disappear without being seen again. So be always at home at the right time.”

-Folklore, Tale to frighten little children.

***Free City States of Nict, Nict***

***Azir***

I've seen and learned many things on my previous world. As an archmage I didn't concern myself much with my people and spent most of my time on my studies. I thought that I had seen everything of the world and its cruelty.

Warlords, slavers, kings and murderers, they all pale compared to children!

A week has passed since this school business started and I am witness to something that can be called bullying. Stella, who is sitting right beside me, is shunned by the class. Apparently because her hair is unusual and her social background isn't up to their standards.

Stella is the daughter of two commoners, non-magicians. Apparently they had a magician in their line of ancestors. She was gifted with the talent and it was found out. It doesn't happen often, but it happens from time to time.

That also means that Stella has no clan, nobody of political power who could back her up. And since she is a magician, she has to visit this school and learn to control her powers. All magicians have to. Otherwise they would be declared as rogue magicians and that's not much better than being a dark magician. As long as Stella stays affiliated with the school she is safe. Advertisements

I hum while I scribble the correct answers onto my test sheet. I am not sure why I am even here. At least there are others like me. We have four girls from the Siorda clan in our class and they seem to be bored too. Up until now we just learned reading, writing and a little general education.

Another downside is that Ingrid's daughter Annice Tinn is at this school. Luckily she is in another class, but that doesn't keep her from showing up from time to time. Thanks to that I became quite skilled at disappearing from the classroom during breaks.

Luckily the other girls aren't yet interested in the opposite gender and I guess that Annice is annoying me only because she was influenced by her parents. I don't think that this hag Ingrid would give her child a proper education.

I peek at Stella's test. All of her answers are correct. At least she isn't an idiot. Maybe she'll survive her school life and find a proper purpose later on.

The bell rings and we give our sheets to the teacher. Mr. Pendragon is our tutor and my impression of him is that he is a strict and bad mouthed fellow. But at least he seems to be fair. I place the paper on his desk and turn to return to my seat.

But Mr. Pendragon stops me. “Azir? I have noticed that you are done with your tests quite fast. Could it be that you aren't challenged enough? I could give you a Siorda test if you want to try yourself.”

I smile at Pendragon and shake my head. “I think that's not necessary. It's just that my parents hired a home tutor to prepare me. I would fail a test for a Siorda miserably.”

Mr. Pendragon nods. “I see.” He resumes collecting the tests. Puh. I have to be more careful in the future.

Back at my desk I turn my gaze towards Stella who is studying her textbook. “They will keep ignoring you if you don't attempt to break the status quo.”

I don't really expect an answer because Stella hasn't spoken to me for the entire week. But unexpectedly she closes her book and looks at me. “Why are you always speaking to me. They'll start to ignore you too and hide your stuff.”

“You are sitting next to me and the one who is supposed to sit to my right is three seats away. I don't want to shout during class, so that leaves only you.” That's logical, or is it not?

Stella's eyes wander to the boy who is sitting three seats to my left. “Then why aren't you sitting over there?”

“Because I don't want to change seats? I am closer to the window here.” It's obvious isn't it?

Mr Pendragon claps his hands and smiles at the class. “That's enough idle talk. We'll have our first magical lesson now...”

He continues to talk, but my mind is already somewhere far away. Do I really have to endure this until I am fifteen? My eyes wander to the trees behind the window while Stella attempts to cast a light globe according to Pendragon's instructions.

***

Why did it come to this? Let me recapitulate on what happened. The lesson on magic finally ended and I ran out of the classroom to enjoy my lunch in this park area. So why am I surrounded by four girls and two boys from my class?

One of the girls is a Siorda... Penneliu? Liu? Lulu? I can't remember her name, I never spoke to her. And I never spoke to the others either. Yet why did they follow me?

“You should stop concerning yourself with that commoner.” Lulu points at me with a stern expression. “You are a member of one of the great clans. It's making the great clans look bad.”

I smile at her. “Hahaha. I am sorry, but I don't know about the complicated stuff you are talking about. Are you saying that I can't speak with Stella?”

Lulu sighs. “It's so hard to speak with children from other clans. Simply stop speaking with her.”

“But I want to. The rest of the class is so high and mighty about them being members of a clan. It feels really refreshing to speak with someone who isn't burdened by all that.” I take a bite from my lunch bread and start chewing.

Lulu steps forward and slaps the bread out of my hand, sending it into the dirt. “A guy shouldn't talk back to a woman! You'll do as ordered, or we'll see to it that your school life goes down the gutter.”

My eyes keep sticking to my bread. “My mother said that I should protect our clan's reputation if someone ever showed disrespect towards me... and I guess this counts as self defence.”

“What?”

***

“Hmm... Hmm...” I hum while I am waiting in the office of the school's director. The director is an old hag. Her name is Clara Veit and right now she is reading a report with her right index finger on her temple. From time to time her eyes flick towards me and then back to the sheet.

I was called here after classes had ended. Nobody said a word. I was just led here to the office and put into this chair. If I hadn't read the sign on the door, I wouldn't even know where I am. Probably it's about the incident in the park.

Finally she puts the sheet down and places her hands in a praying position while she looks at me. “Do you know why you are here?”

“My mother said that I shouldn't speak to strangers who are older than me.” I try to put on my most innocent expression.

Clara's face distorts into an expression which could be a smile, or something completely else. “I am Clara Veit and the director of this school. Do I need to get your mother to talk about this?”

“Um. No. I am Azir Zait. Pleased to meet you.” I bow to her.

Clara leans forward which makes her come a little too close. “Today six students from your class didn't show up for their lessons, so we started a search. We found them in the park.”

I nod. “Yeah, those guys. They weren't there during class. Mr. Pendragon was very mad.”

Clara inches closer yet again. “They were found. Someone bound them with their clothes, heels over head, to one of the bigger sculptures in the park. Leaving them naked and gagged.”

I make my eyes big and round while forming an 'o' with my mouth. “Who would do such a thing?” Advertisements

Clara is now entirely too close and I can smell the breath of someone who should already rest in peace under the earth. “A student from the higher classes saw you skipping away from the scene, humming a strange melody. That made her curious, so she remembered it when we started the search.”

Tch! I start fiddling with my fingers and try to mimic a nervous child. Which child wouldn't be intimidated if he is treated like that? “I am sorry, but I only ate my lunch there. I didn't come across the scene you are talking about.”

Clara leans back again and scribbles something onto her document. “Too bad that the victims refuse to talk about what happened. No complaint, no redress. And since you've seen nothing... you may go.”

Eh? Eh? That's it? Ok? “Then goodbye, Mrs. Clara.” I get out of my chair and leave the office. Probably I should lay low for a while. The old hag will surely have a closer eye on me from now on.

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