The Silver Pocket Staff

the black magics- chapter 6

The classroom was filled with disturbing imagery, such as skulls, blood, people withered in pain, evil-looking symbols, and much more. The walls were black and the blinds were shut, not letting even a ray of sunlight pass through. It was only lit by a few floating candles. There was a large blackboard behind a desk that was neatly organized. The student desks, though, seemed to be scattered all over the room. 

The moment Hiraeth stepped into the room, she felt unnerved. She suddenly felt like she wasn't meant to be there, that an evil presence was among them. She shook it off, trying to convince herself that she was being stupid and it was just an ordinary class, but the feeling wouldn't go away.

The students looked around the classroom and they all looked somewhat nervous. Hiraeth noticed that the only person who didn't seem anxious was the girl Hiraeth had eyed back in her Elements class. All the kids jumped as they heard a booming voice from a skinny, tall, pale man they had not seen previously.

"Good afternoon, children. My name is Mr. Dyson Briggs, but you will address me as Mr. Briggs. I will be your Dark Arts teacher. Do not expect me to be easy on you. This is a difficult class. If you are too sensitive, I suggest you walk out the door right this minute." The man seemed to be in his late-thirties. He had slicked back black hair and a huge, curly beard. His face had old scars all over them. He muttered something quickly under his breath and did a precise movement with his hand. The chairs rearranged into orderly lines. 

"Sit down," Mr. Briggs said gruffly. The kids quickly obeyed in fear.

"Listen here. I have no interest in your past. Your parents are dead, and that's the truth." Hiraeth felt a stab of pain in her chest. 

"I will not tolerate whining children," Mr. Briggs continued. "I will warn you now, this class will have a lot of work and it is very upsetting to the faint of heart. If you feel you cannot handle that, I urge you to leave." He raised his black eyebrows waiting for anyone to stand up. 

"I will give you an example of what you will be facing in this class." His eyes scanned the classroom for a moment. He stopped and looked at Talia.

"Talia Anderson, correct? Come here." Talia widened her eyes as she slowly moved across the room over to Mr. Briggs. He gestured to a white circle that was pre-drawn on the floor. She stepped in it nervously.

Mr. Briggs did an odd motion with his hand and yelled, "Symbolum Ignis!" Suddenly, the circle around Talia lit on fire and she screamed in pain. The fire was jumping at her ankles.

Dylan stood up. "Make it stop! You're hurting her!"

Mr. Briggs ignored Dylan and after a few excruciating minutes, he waved his hand again and yelled, "Desine Ignis Symbol!"  The fire finally stopped and Talia fell to the floor, gripping her leg. There was a black mark on both her ankles that looked like dripping blood. 

"That is the symbol that you have joined and will learn the Black Magics. You will all have to receive the mark, so again, if you feel you cannot do this, please leave for my sake and yours." About ten students hurried out of the room, not looking back.

Mr. Briggs sneered. "Get up, Miss Anderson, or I will force you back to your seat." Talia stood up shakily and walked back to her desk. Hiraeth, Dylan, and Will all looked infuriated. 

"It is obvious that you do not want to be here, and that you'd rather be with your parents, but unfortunately, you do not have a choice and neither do I. Frankly, I despise children but-"

"With all due respect sir, if you despise children and don't want to be here, why are you here? Just quit," Dylan glowered. He was obviously upset about what Mr. Briggs did to Talia and the little sympathy he had for the children. 

Mr. Briggs's eyebrows furrowed in anger and he walked over to Dylan and looked him directly in the eye. Hiraeth found that her heart was beating rapidly.

"Who are you to question me? You are only a child. Know your limits, or I am afraid that I will have to punish you severely. Understand?" Dylan simply stared at him with a deep hatred.

"Say you understand, Dylan," Will whispered nervously. 

"Be quiet Mr. Fox, it is not your place to tell him what to say," Mr. Briggs said, still glaring at Dylan.

"I understand," Dylan muttered.

"Good." Mr. Briggs left Dylan's desk and Hiraeth noticed tears forming in his eyes. "You will all receive the mark another day. Your homework assignment is to study Latin, as it will be a big part in the Dark Arts, and then write me a two-page essay on a random topic in Latin. This is due next week. You are dismissed."

The students trampled over each other, racing to leave the classroom. The only student who stayed behind was the girl Hiraeth eyed in Elements.