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

09:31

1/8

<

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?"

Nothing happened, but

and cool, when I finally stopped

you having memories again,

09:31 C

2/8

Magic Training

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

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

me on its own."

my explanation makes me

words to use, or how to describe the feelings in my body. I

like a partial activation. You felt your attunement with

to pace. His lips move, but the words are too quiet

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

3/8

Magic

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

eyes widen. It's jarring,

swear.

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

escapes me, awkward

more of an exaggeration than it is," he mutters, confirming my

tidbit about Fae bureaucracy, Magister Orion's demeanor shifts. "Follow me," he says, his tone brooking no

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

not like magic. They are magic. The wall shimmers

nothing before

Magic Training

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, and wooden beams like a normal ceiling. It's disorienting and beautiful all

once.

palpable. It's in the air, in the ground beneath my feet. I

training

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 looks like a giant

happened?" I ask, my voice barely

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

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

5/8

<

Ava: Magic

in what looks like

make sense of what I'm seeing. The ceiling-if

between sun, stars, and wooden beams like a normal ceiling. It's disorienting and

once.

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

the training room," Magister

announces.

room shimmers. The trees melt away, replaced by sleek metal walls. We're suddenly standing

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

slow circle, taking it all in. The

5/8

<

Magic

my arms stand up, sends a tingle down my

safe to practice your magic," Magister Orion