Hidden Magic

Chapter Ten

This may have been my third day here, but this was the first official day of classes, and for some reason I had felt like I would make friends, maybe not many, but at least one or two. Instead in everyone of my classes, I was avoided and whispered about because of what branch I was in, and though none of the teachers except Professor Damis seemed to hold it against me, it didn't help me feel any better.

And the one class I was good at, that I felt I had actually known what to do, if only by instinct, and my big show had earned me enemies in my class, I wasn't sure if tomorrow would be better. It seemed like all my classmates had already been turned against me, before I had even had a chance to truly meet them, though I wasn't sure I wanted to be friends with people that were so obviously swayed by other people's opinions without first knowing their own.

I still had to use the map to get to classes, but at least I knew the general place of Sira branch, which allowed me to get back after Gym with little to no trouble. With my Gym, class being my last one of the day, I didn't bother using the shower in the locker room, instead I simply changed back into my uniform and headed back to Sira branch, intending to shower once I got there, unfortunately that is not what happened.

As soon as I passed through the mirror and into Sira branch, which was still so strange to do, I kept thinking I would break it, I was assaulted by Monica and Astra. "Is it true that Ezekiel Thorne is the assistant in your gym class?" I nod slowly, confused as to why they seemed so excited about that, I mean he was handsome, but everyone here was attractive.

"So jealous! I wish he was in mine. He's a legend in the dueling circles. Uncharacteristically good at dueling for someone in Zohar branch, the people in fifth year in Sira branch don't match up to him at all, and usually we're the best at dueling." Monica sounded so impressed by his achievements, but finding out he was from Zohar branch, made me dislike him almost immediately, after all he probably felt the same about me.

"It's not even that, he just doesn't even act like anyone else from Zohar branch! All of the others act like they're so above everyone else, but he doesn't, I mean he usually acts indifferent to everyone, but at least he isn't spouting disgusting words towards us and then trying to get us to sleep with them when they aren't watched by their friends, stupid idiots, they always act like it is such an honor that they are offering to lower themselves to sleep with us, but we at Sira branch know them for the arrogant weaklings they are, except Ezekiel of course, he's great." Well, maybe I had been a little harsh about him, being a hypocrite myself to judge a person by their branch's attitude rather than their own behaviour.

"So, how did you do in gym class, was it amazing to be taught by such a skilled dueler?" I give Monica a shrug, not really knowing what to say.

"I mean he didn't really teach us, just beat a first year Zohar student up in a duel, and then we were to practice summoning the elements, though I did manage to freeze water droplets and fling them at a wall using air, it was pretty cool, they were like bullets with the way they went into the wall." They blink at me in shock, looking very impressed with my actions.

"Really? You manipulated two elements that were not your chosen element on your first day? Impressive, Karinna, really, that is a feat not many can claim." I feel my cheeks tint slightly at Astra's praise, it felt almost strange after how my classmates had reacted hostilely to my actions.

"I can't wait to see you duel, once you get taught enough that is. Oh, Astra, we were supposed to tell her about Ariel." Monica looks to Astra, and they both nod slowly, looking like they just realized they had forgotten why they were waiting for me in the first place.

"Right. Sorry, Karinna, we got distracted when someone was mentioning that Ezekiel had taught a class of first years today. Ariel is waiting for you in the library." I laugh at their sheepish expressions, I quickly bid them goodbye and head over to the library wondering what she needed to talk to me about.

She is easy to find in the small library, books piled up high around her, making me wonder if I should even interrupt, but she did ask for me. "Ariel, you asked for me?" She looks up immediately and smiles at me, though it is a tired smile.

"Karinna! Yes, I did. Sorry about all this, I have a lot of coursework this year, I chose to apprentice with the herbology professor and that means I have an extra class. It's the first day and I feel like I am already falling behind. But how are you, did I put everything you'd need in the bag?" I nod, giving her a wide smile, not really feeling it on the inside after today, but knowing after all the effort she put in for me, that I owed her thanks at the very least.

"Yes, it worked great, everything I needed. I thought only fifth years could be assisting teachers?" She gives me a small smile and shakes her head.

"No, that is for the Gym classes, only fifth years can help with that, but during fourth year, sometimes third if you're particularly talented, you can choose to apprentice with a teacher for extra credits, it is a lot of work, but worth it at the end, even if I feel like I don't have the time for it during my fourth year. I heard you were luring this morning, how are you feeling now? You seem to have it under control?" I don't understand why she couldn't have just been my mentor to begin with, she pretty much acted like she was, since Alyssa hadn't been willing to step up.

"Yes, well Seth helped this morning, and at lunch when a girl decided to confront me for being a disgrace to my bloodline." She winces at that, obviously having already heard about that.

"Yes, I heard what Abigail Glentree did, pay her no mind. Now, I understand kissing seemed to settle the craving for now, I hope you realize that the harder the classes get, like further into the year, the more magic you'll have to use, and that means kissing eventually won't cut it. Now, Seth and to be honest many of the other men in Sira branch have told me their interest in helping you if you need it, since you already made your preference for men known.

There are no strings attached with what we do in Sira branch, no expectations, now that is not to say we only fuel our magic with those in Sira branch, despite many of their outward idiocy towards us, many of the other elemental branches are more than happy to help with our magical needs, and soon you'll see for yourself what that means, we keep it tame for you first years during the first week to let you settle into life at the academy, but after that any person is free to bring anyone to Sira branch to fill their magic. Now if you choose to do that, you need only to be touching the person to bring them through the mirror, which is the same as any branch entrance, they are keyed to only allow those branch members in, unless they are with someone from that branch.

There are many places you can fuel your magic, the pool, the night garden, your own rooms, the sitting room, someone else's rooms. Now I know it is a little strange when you grew up in the human world, but this is life for those of us in Sira branch, you'll have to get over shyness, now that doesn't mean you have to do anything in public that you don't want to, plenty of people in Sira branch only do those things in private, but many of us don't care who sees, it is a part of life to us, so even if you wish to be private, don't go getting mad at people who don't care whether you can see them or not.

Now as a descendent of the Valdis bloodline, it is no surprise you are strong, that bloodline has always been extraordinarily strong, but you are I believe the first one to be in Sira branch for quite a few generations. Now I don't know whether your grandmother will be okay about it or not, I hope for your sake she is, but if she isn't, know that there is nothing wrong with you, nothing wrong with being in Sira branch, this is who you were meant to be, don't let other people's opinions not let you embrace who you are." I give her a soft smile, unsure of how to react to all of what she just told me.

The first part wasn't even what I had any issue with, but the last part had left me with no words, I simply didn't know how to respond. "Thank you, Ariel. I'll keep all of that in mind. Now, I know you have lots to do and I really need a shower, so I'll leave you to it." She gives me a big smile and waves goodbye as I leave the library.

I knew that my grandmother might not approve of me becoming a part of Sira branch, but I had kind of managed to shove those doubts out of my mind, because I knew my grandmother, she would love me no matter what, and yet a part of me doubted it, unfortunately the only way I could find out was when the first visitation day came around, but that wasn't for weeks, so now all I could do was wait and try not to let it bother me too much.