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?"

head, I admit, "Not exactly. Nothing happened, but

felt refreshing and cool, when I finally stopped trying

Magister Orion murmurs. "And were you having memories again, when you felt

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Magic

"I did think about water and

it wasn't enough. Then Selene told me to stop trying to force it, and I tried to relax. Once I finally did, it came to me. It doesn't really feel like I'm in control of it, but that it's coming

me on its own."

through my explanation makes

words to use, or how to describe the feelings in my body. I don't even know if

felt your attunement with the element. This is still good, still good.

he begins to pace. His lips move, 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

a few minutes of this, he lets out a sigh so heavy I swear

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Ava: Magic

when he continues, his voice rising. "Florice can take her

jarring, like hearing

swear.

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

escapes me, awkward and uncertain. Is

an exaggeration than it is," he

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

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

magic. They are magic. The wall shimmers and parts, revealing an entrance where

nothing before

Magic

grove, trees stretching up towards... I blink, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing. The ceiling-if

once.

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

training room,"

announces.

as the words leave his mouth, the room shimmers. The trees melt away, replaced by

ask, my voice barely above a

changes according to the needs of its owner," Magister Orion explains. "But it

in. The level of

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Ava: Magic Training

in what looks like a forested grove,

I blink, trying to make

sun, stars, and wooden beams like

once.

ground beneath my feet. I can almost taste it, a tang

to the training room," Magister

announces.

leave his mouth, the room shimmers. The trees melt away, replaced by sleek metal walls. We're suddenly standing in what looks like a giant metal box. "What just happened?"

room changes according to the needs of its owner," Magister Orion

it all in. The level of magic surrounding us is staggering. It makes

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Ava: Magic Training

my arms stand up, sends

safe to practice your magic,"