Tangled

Unshift 235

Unshift 235

235 Ava: Magic Training (1)

235 Ava: Magic Training (1)

Magister Orion clasps his hands in front of him and beams in my direction. "And now, we have you, Ava Grey. The first wizard in a very long time."

Feeling the intensity of his gaze, I shift my weight, settling a little deeper into my chair as though that will somehow shield me from his excitement. "I don't want

you to see me as something special. I'm just me."

"You can't get away from being special, Ava Grey." He sighs. "It's unfortunate, but you'll never be able to escape that. Even without your magic, you're mated to an alpha, correct?"

I nod.

"Then you were already special to begin with." He spreads his hands with a little shrug. "Your magic is

like confetti on a cake."

Confetti?

Oh. He must mean sprinkles.

"Sprinkles are disgusting," I point out.

They are not. I like them. Selene's little whisper in my

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235 Ava: Magic Training (1)

mind has my nose wrinkling

Sprinkles are just crunchy wax covering delicious icing. They have no business being within a mile of a decent

cake.

"Yes, well, there are those who love their sprinkles."

Magister Orion claps his hands. "So. Fire was your first element. I'm a little surprised. I thought it would be

water."

Tilting my head, I ask, "Does it matter?"

"Matter? No. It's a simple bit of curiosity. A personal theory, I suppose. Have you had any success with

other elements?"

"Water," Vanessa offers.

"Oh?" That sparkling look in his eyes is back. "You

touched water?"

"Not exactly. Nothing happened, but I could feel something

cool, when I finally stopped trying to force

murmurs. "And were you

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Magic Training

Squinting, I think back. "I did think about water and its properties, but

Selene told me to stop trying to force it, and I tried to relax. Once I

me on its own."

through my explanation makes

not sure of the words to use, or how to describe the feelings in my body. I don't even know if it makes sense

with the element. This is still

but the words are too quiet for me to catch. I strain my ears, leaning forward slightly, but it's no use. Whatever's going through his mind, he's keeping it to

a sigh so heavy I swear I feel the air move. "Red tape,"

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Magic Training

about to ask what he means when he continues, his voice rising.

It's jarring,

swear.

for my crass language," he says, noticing my expression. "I'm simply sick of how things are governed here. Did you know we even

awkward

wish it were more of an exaggeration

tidbit about Fae bureaucracy, Magister Orion's demeanor shifts. "Follow me," he says, his

trail after him to the back of the building. He stops in front of a blank wall, and I'm about to ask why when,

are magic. The wall shimmers and parts, revealing

nothing before

Ava: Magic Training

in what looks like a forested grove, trees stretching up towards... I blink, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing. The ceiling-if you can call it that- cycles between sun, stars,

once.

my feet. I can almost taste it, a tang on my tongue like ozone after a

training room," Magister

announces.

words leave his mouth, the room shimmers. The trees melt away, replaced by sleek metal walls. We're suddenly

my

its owner," Magister Orion explains. "But it won't change at whim for

taking it all in. The level

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Ava: Magic Training

what looks like a forested grove,

trying to make sense of what I'm seeing.

and wooden beams like a

once.

here is palpable. It's in the air, in the ground beneath my feet. I can almost taste it, a tang on my tongue like ozone after a lightning

to the training room," Magister

announces.

soon as the words leave his mouth, the room shimmers. The trees melt away, replaced by sleek metal walls. We're suddenly standing in what

changes according to the needs of its owner," Magister Orion explains. "But it won't

in. The level of magic

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Ava: Magic

stand up, sends a

room, you should be safe to practice your magic,"