The Salem Magi

School Begins

Master Itleberg and Salem burst out of nowhere, just outside the University tower. The tower was situated in the center of a bustling city, with several brand new automobiles chittering and chattering all along the roads. "I've never been here. Where are we?" Salem asked. "This is the University of Mages. This is where you'll be living" the mage replied. "But it's such a small tower!" she exclaimed, not believing him. "And yet, there are so many people who live and work here" he countered. "How is that possible?" Salem asked, doubtful. "You'll soon see." He said, and they were blunk into the university. It was huge on the inside, where as on the outside, it looked like a small tower outpost. "How is this possible?!" Salem asked amazed at the difference in size from the outside to the inside. "Did you forget already girl?" he asked, somewhat amused. "Forget what?" Salem responded. "We're at the University of Mages! You think the very place where mages from all parts of the world come together can not solve the simple puzzle of expanded space?" He laughed. "Ah...umm..." Salem wasn't sure what to say, but before she could anyway, there was a bright flash.

When Salem could see again, she was in a room full of odd outfits. It was a giant closet. There was a very tall woman approaching her, her skin was tinged yellow, and her eyes dark blue. The woman's hair was white, and her ears pointy. "Hello little one, do you speak High Elfen?" the woman said in High Elfen. "What?" Salem said, having no idea what language the woman was speaking. "Hello little one" the woman said, again in Salem's language of choice. "I am Heleyna the Outfitter. Oh dear. That outfit will never do." She exclaimed after examining Salem's clothing. Salem had never seen an elf before, but she knew they had pointy ears. "Are you an elf?" she asked, somewhat awestruck. "I'm not just an elf, I'm a HIGH Elf. Can't you tell by gazing upon my regal features?" Heleyna said with a heavy accent, though not one Salem could place.

"Umm...No? I've never seen an elf before. Let alone a High Elf." Salem said, unsure of what to say next. "Humph." Heleyna said somewhat perturbed by the statement. Heleyna then flicked her fingers at the young girl in front of her, and her action was rewarded with a high pitched squeak of alarm. "My clothes!" Salem shouted, covering herself as best she could. "You don't need those ratty things anymore. Here, take these" Heleyna said, handing Salem her first Robes. "Welcome to the University of Mages." Heleyna said before everything went bright white again.

A moment later, when she could see again, she noticed Master Itleberg waving her over to sit next to him. All around her mages in blue, or red robes were throwing balls of light at one another. When one of the children was struck, he or she would fall to the floor. They looked like they were having fun though. Salem hurried over to the Magi and immediately asked what they were doing. "They're training. This is called Mage Tag. They throw paralytic light spells at one another. It's good practice for aim, and agility. Eventually, you too will have this practice." Itleberg responded.

Salem sat down next to him on the bench to watch the games. After a few minutes she decided she'd like to try. "Can I join a team?" she asked. "No, no. You're far too young and inexperienced to cast those spells." the elder Mage replied. "But pleeeeease? I think I've got it" she said, a ball of glowing light forming in her hands. The Mage didn't take his eyes off the students long enough to notice however. He simply replied with another "No, I'm sorry. Sit down and watch". Salem sat down hard on the bench, hard enough to let him know she was frustrated and pouting, but not hard enough to break his concentration.

Suddenly, Mage Itleberg got to his feet, and began to say something...but then stopped. Salem noticed, and looked out at what he was staring at. One of the students was making a face, as if in horrible agony. He was clutching at his left arm, and he began to scream. Mages gathered around him, trying to see what was going on, and Salem started to go forward, but Mage Itleberg motioned for her to stay back. He stepped forward, telling people to move away from the screaming boy. They ignored him, and tried to assist him as the screaming got worse. Suddenly, a bulge appeared in the boy's arm. Just for a second, and then it was gone. Mage Itleberg saw this though, and started shouting for people to get back. As he was backing away, he began to cast a spell around the boy. But as he backed up, he tripped over another boy who was behind him, stopping his spell mid-cast. When he looked back, the boy was showing several bulges, and where the bulges were biggest, large cracks of shimmering light were beginning to appear.

Itleberg began to move backwards and cast his most powerful spell of protection around himself as he did so. Salem noticed what he was doing, and saw all the bulges, and cracks of light that had begun to pop loudly from the boy, and she quickly copied the Mages movements, and words. A split second later, the crackling boy erupted. Blinding white light engulfed Salem, and Mage Itleberg at the same time. Moments later, Salem found herself on the ground. Several feet backwards. Itleberg came running over, and asked if she was okay. Salem said she was, but then she noticed the scene behind him. A circle of blackened, charred skeletons where her future classmates had been standing. Beyond that, were several wounded people. Mage Itleberg and herself being the only two unscathed from the explosion. She immediately vomited, then she passed out.

Later, when she has awoken, a new face loomed over her head. Salem screamed. She had never seen such a big lizard, it was so slimy! And it was looking right at her! "What?!" Itleberg came running in. "I believe I may have frightened the girl" spoke the lizard. "What is that?!" Salem shouted, while pointing at the slimy creature. "THAT...is the one who will be looking after your health, so I suggest you show some common courtesy, and apologize" Itleberg responded, clearly irate. "I'm...s-sorry Mr. Lizard...PLEASE DON'T EAT ME!" She said, cowering away as he bent closer to examine her. "Don't be afraid young one. I am Gnarl, the resident healer. I just need to check for damage" Gnarl said, bending over once more to see if she was okay. "I'm fine" said Salem, finally over her initial fear of the creature. "What are you? I've never heard of...whatever you are" Salem said, trying to be polite as possible, while still sating her curiosity. "I am a Gnewt. You must learn to accept those who are different without such disgust or you will not last long here." He said, completing his examination. "Thank you Gnarl, I'm sorry. I should have warned her of all she'd see" Mage Itleberg said as if to an old friend. "It's okay, I have come to expect such ignorance from your kind." he said with what Salem could have sworn was a smile on his face.

Itleberg just chuckled as Gnarl walked away. "He is an old friend of mine, girl. Please don't insult him further. Now, about what happened." Itleberg started before she could ask. "What you saw is the very reason you were brought here, and the same reason I told you you could not join in the games." he paused. "What was it I saw?" Salem asked, remembering, but not understanding what had happened. "What you saw was the result of a malformed, or poorly released spell. It's what happens when you do not control your magic properly. Just like a fire can be a good thing, or can wipe out a village if left unchecked. So too can magic." he said as he sat down. "But that little light spell that he was doing. It was able to cause all that damage?" She was finding it hard to believe that something so simple had gotten so out of hand. "Yes, magic is very difficult to control. In all likelihood...you will die the same way before you see your family again." he let those words sink in. "But not if you listen to me, and do as I say. Do you understand?" he asked her. "Yes sir" Salem said solemnly.

"Now, about you surviving. How did you manage that?" he asked, honestly curious. "Survive? I umm...I just did what you did." Salem said sheepishly. "What I did? That was a high level defensive spell. You can't mean that you copied me...can you?" he asked, somewhat astonished. "Well, yeah. I just did the same things. Like what the other kids were doing, I think I can do that too" She said, getting somewhat excited at the prospect, and forgetting the devastation it caused for a moment. "Do you mean the part where they exploded, or the part where they were playing a game?" the old man countered, trying to keep her from getting too excited. "Oh. The game part" she said before pouting. "Well, if you can survive an explosion like that, maybe you can. Come with me little one." the mage said, getting to his feet. Moments later, a bright flash, and they were gone again.

They once again appeared in the Mages University, but this time in a sort of bunk room. "Don't try that teleportation spell, by the way. It's far too advanced. You'll end up inside a wall somewhere." Itleberg huffed. "In fact, keep spell casting to what you're told. That way you don't explode."

Salem just nodded, as she looked around the barracks. "This is where you'll be staying. Obviously, you'll be sharing it with many other students." Salem noted what she assumed were name tags. She couldn't read it herself. "Which one is mine?" she asked, taking a moment to look back at Itleberg. But he had already started towards the door. "That's between you, and the inhabitants. Now come with me, we need to get some lunch."

As she enters the cafeteria, she sees many different people. She sees tall and short, furry, and not. She sees a young black cat girl, racing across the ceiling, chasing a little fox. Itleberg grabs her hand, and drags her forward, so she doesn't lose her place in line. Most people seem to be in uniform robes. She looks down, and realizes that's what she's wearing now.

They collect their food, which is mostly indistinguishable slop, then they find an empty table, and eat in peace. That peace, however does not last long, as they are joined by a few likewise new students.