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?"

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

cool, when I finally stopped

were you having memories again, when

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Ava: Magic Training

with fire." Squinting, I think back. "I did think about

force it, and I tried to relax. Once I finally did, it came to me. It doesn't really feel like I'm

me on its own."

my explanation makes

the feelings in my body. I don't even know if it

partial activation. You felt your attunement with the element. This is

Orion bounces out of his chair, his massive frame surprisingly agile as he begins to pace. His lips move, but the words are too quiet for me to catch. I strain my ears,

lets out a sigh so heavy I swear I feel the air move. "Red tape," he grumbles.

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Ava: Magic Training

means when he continues, his voice rising. "Florice can take her damn applications and shove them

eyes widen. It's jarring, like hearing a

swear.

crass language," he says, noticing my expression. "I'm simply sick of how things are governed here. Did you know we even need to fill out paperwork to take

me, awkward and uncertain. Is

more of an exaggeration than it is,"

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

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, like

like magic. They are magic. The wall

nothing before

Magic Training

to make sense of what I'm seeing. The ceiling-if you can call it that- cycles between sun, stars, and wooden

once.

in the air, in the ground beneath my feet. I can almost taste it, a tang on my tongue like

the training room,"

announces.

The trees melt away, replaced

just happened?" I ask, my voice barely above a

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

slow circle, taking it all in. The level of magic surrounding us is staggering It makes

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Magic Training

like a forested grove,

trying to make sense of what I'm seeing. The

cycles between sun, stars, and wooden beams

once.

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

the training room," Magister

announces.

the words 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?" I

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

all in. The level of magic

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Magic Training

up, sends a tingle

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