PM to join Magic for All

[Maya Lark]

23rd of Summer 512 A.V.

Maya groaned when her mother walked in and yanked the covers off her. Shivering she tried to find the sheets without getting up. The woman had talked about the girl going to classes at the institute, but she had hoped that would not require getting up so early. Unfortunately, that turned out not to be the case. Sighing gently the girl turned over looking at the elder of the two; seeing the stern look she sat up while rubbing her eyes. Waving her away, the young girl got up and dressed for the day.

“I'm coming,” the dark haired beauty said walking into the kitchen.

The girl grabbed a piece of bread and cheese before heading out. Opening her purse, she saw her father had put just enough mizas to buy her food if there was a break. Nodding the young girl hurried out and ran to hail a ravosala. Once inside the boat, the young Lark sat down watching the city slowly go past her. Soon enough the water craft stopped at the school. Getting up she thanked the man for the ride and agreed to pay him after returning home for the day once classes were over. The girl hurried inside needing to find her room before she was late after all.

“Excuse me where is the auristics class being held?” Maya asked one of the workers.

She thanked the person before running off hearing them shout something about running, but she paid them no mind. If they knew her parents the girl was sure to be in trouble once arriving home, however that was not her concern at the moment. Panting the teen stopped outside the door and caught her breath. Once sure she would not look like a fool, the girl entered looking around at the others trying to see if she knew anyone in the crowd. Maya did not know of many that lived close by coming up to learn anything like what she was there for. Deciding it was better to move to the back and watch rather than stand in the doorway like an idiot; she moved quickly and quietly watching everyone from the corner of her eyes still.

“Looks like mother was right when she said to get good at faking interest,” Maya whispered to herself.

That looked to be the only way the girl was going to be able to meet any one. She had to pretend to be interested in what they were even if it meant nothing to her. The very thought of doing so made the woman roll her eyes without even realizing it. The art would have to be learned at a later date, a group of unknown people, when she was running late already was not the time to try.

[Rohka]

“We’re going… to be…,” she panted, a sudden gasp escaping her lips at the coldness of fingertips to her thighs, hiking up her skirt.

“Late. Yes.” Roh pushed his hand off and grinned at the low voice of the boy holding her waist against him, his tanned face pressed to her neck. The flames of the hanging candles glinted off his hazel eyes as he lifted his head up to watch her catch her breath, the success of his endeavour written all over her face.

“We have to go, Kai,” she tugged at his shirt. The Svefra boy couldn’t care less about auristics. He’d only joined the class because he knew she was being forced to go. Rohka promised she’d make time for him, and he’d agreed to sit at the front of the class for her. The boy was better at concentrating than she was; but Kai made her swear to Rhysol that she would listen to her family and complete the lessons. The girl just needed to get through this season, and then she’d have all the time in the world to spend with her one true love.

“You asked for this. You knew we were going to be late. And to top it all off, you expect me to write your notes for you,” he held her tighter and she winced at his words, keeping the grin on her face; she hated hearing the truth from him. Roh was the one who pulled him to the back corner of an empty hallway in the institute - she’d told herself that she just needed to confirm their plan and ask him if he was okay with it; but they both knew what she really wanted. Their little tryst lasted for ten chimes before Roh pulled away at his advance.

“And you came anyway,” she whispered, her dark eyes gazing into the depths of the ocean in his. Rohka tied the strings at the collar of his shirt as the corners of her lips rose higher in the faith of her foresight. “So will you?”

He smirked with what looked like an ounce of defeat. Roh wasn’t sure why she both hated and loved this expression of his. A part of her was almost repulsed, and it was a part of her she didn’t want to acknowledge; she pushed it down and away from the pleasure she yearned to feel in the moment. The pleasure of a power she couldn’t name.

Kai let go and held out his hand for her to take. She took it, and he pulled her along in silent protest.

…

The pair arrived just past the bell. Roh made her young lover go inside first, to avoid looking like a couple. She’d wanted them to keep it a secret for as long as she could, to avoid the trouble that would come from her family if rumours started to spread.

Teenaged students began taking their seats in wooden chairs backed with the engravings of the five families’ crests. The chairs were lined behind long rows of wooden tables rising from the hardwood floors. Rohka caught Kai’s eyes taking a seat at the front and she smiled before quickly diverting her gaze to the back row, further up in the inclined room. She found a seat in the back and settled in.

The man at the front, lounging back in his chair with his feet up on the table, watching them all with keen, shrewd eyes, was Thadeus Lazerin. He stroked his black beard with bony fingers as he waited for silence. But the man was far from patient.

“Alright, settle down! Quiet!” He paused for a tick to allow the noise to cease and then continued. “I am Professor Thadeus, you will only call me Professor Thadeus, this is our first day of auristics, and I do not waste time, so I expect you all to respect that and arrive early from this day forth. Got it?”

A chorus of ‘Yes Professor Thadeus’ arose before a curly-haired girl came rushing into the room, heading up to the back.

“Oi! You there!” He called to her. “You will serve as my first example of what happens when you’re late. Play attention, class.” Thadeus was smiling, enjoying the prospect of his first victim of the season. This was one of his favourite forms of punishment.

“First lesson. Everything posses an aura,” Thadeus stood up, grabbing a long, thin, wooden pointer from inside the drawer of his table. “Aura contains information. An aurist can read that information. You,” he pointed to the latecomer.

He relished this part—his grey eyes scanned her frame, taking in the swirls of purple, blue, and pink djed emanating within her.

It took him five ticks to find out one of her hidden secrets.
He announced it to the class.

[Maya Lark]

Maya cursed under her breath when the instructor called out to her. Taking a deep breath the girl walked to the front of the class. Standing before him, she kept her head up watching his movements. It was not surprising that he would use her or his ability to try and make an idiot out of her. Clearing her voice the woman smirked at him gently not backing down.

“Yes professor?” Maya asked with a soft voice that didn't portray the hard expression on her face.

“You will be an example to the rest of the class why they won't be late,” he said while circling the girl gently.

“How so sir?” Maya inquired looking back at him innocently as if she didn't already know.

“I've read your aura. Very interesting stuff in there, many secrets for one so young,” Thadeus stated reaching up for his beard once more.

“What can I say? The lark family leads an interesting life,” Maya said with a smirk.

“Like for example you running around your house butt naked when alone?” the old man smirked as the class burst into oohs and laughter.

“Yes, sir!” the woman said, everyone quieted down when she didn't shy away, “when one is alone they will act differently from in front of people. I doubt you stay clothed once home.”

Everyone began to whisper to each other about her bravery and possible stupidity. Growling the man shouted for silence before dismissing her through gritted teeth. The woman curtsied before walking to the back and taking a seat. She dug out what was needed for class as he started the lesson for the day. The girl took notes well as he continued talking occasionally using other students and even objects for examples. Much to the dismay of the others as most whimpered and almost cried or in one girl's case ran out of the room. Shaking her head, Maya could not understand why everyone was so afraid of their secrets. Looking out the window the man stared for a moment as if contemplating something.

“Alright everyone, you have half a bell to get something to eat and get back here on time,” Thadeus said and walked out.

Maya sat back rubbing the inside of her hand feeling a cramp coming on. Popping her fingers, the woman walked out to get something and return to the classroom. She did not plan on being an example again. Thankfully he thought the naked secret was her worst, that was tame compared to others if he had looked harder.