(x) Irregular Magic

chapter 1 - it's just a normie day

"Why should they be allowed to treat us like this? It's not our fault we can't—"

"Where is the DOS when it comes to this stuff? If they're in charge of Safety they should make sure they do their jobs!"

"Don't kid me, the DOS has gone to shit."

"How many is this now?"

"She's the fifth who's been inked."

"Something tells me this isn't the last . . ."

It took nearly all of Mattie's carefully honed self-control not to erupt as she stared down at the Nevergone Ink stains on the younger girl's uniform. The blue collar told Mattie it was another first year student. A couple of school-age kids had ambused her outside her house as she was headed towards school. Nevergone Ink performed its job as its name suggested. She would have to get a new uniform or continue wearing the stained one. She was one of five victims of the attacks.

It was a bleak start to an already bleak year.

Mattie swallowed hard and pushed through the crowd of mostly first-year students that had formed at the entrance of the school. The poor girl was in tears and was unable to stop shaking. "You'll want to avoid being late to class," she said stonily, not betraying any emotions on her face. Inside, she was boiling red-hot. "That's a dismissal." The onlookers mostly dispersed, while a small group of what looked to be friends of the girl. 

"Heather . . ." whispered a plump blonde girl whose eyes were very red. "I can't believe—"

Mattie held up a hand and gave them a reassuring smile. "It's alright, I've got it. Head to class." They left, casting worried looks over their shoulders.

Kneeling so that they were at eye-level, Mattie put an arm around the younger girl. "I know, I know," she murmured, as soothingly as she could. "It's unfair and I know it. We all know it."

Huge tears spilled from Heather's enormous brown eyes. She reached up and wiped them with a sniffle. "You know, sometimes I wish I wasn't born in the first place. Or . . .  Or I wish I'd been born like them. Things wouldn't be so bad then. Why is it that I was born a normie?"

Mattie swallowed, wishing there was something more she could do for her. But there wasn't much for her to say. Heather's words echoed what Mattie had grown up wondering. Even now she had no real answers. It wasn't fair, not at all.

"It's better than it was," Mattie told her firmly. "Nonmagicals have more representatives in the House of Blue now. If we'd been born fifty years ago, we'd probably be put into institutions, or murdered in our sleep."

"It's so stupid," Heather sobbed.

"I know."

"What's going on?" Ren had come over, seeing Heather crumpled in a heap on the floor. He pecked Mattie on the cheek and knelt near the two girls.

Mattie just shook her head at him.

After a moment, Heather got up and brushed herself off. She gave Mattie a brave smile with trembling lips. "I'm fine, Ren. It's okay now. It's just been harder to handle lately." Mattie handed her her backpack, which Heather slung over her shoulder.

The younger girl slunk off dejectedly, her slim shoulders weighed down by the bulk of her bag. As Mattie watched Heather's retreating back disappear into the crowd, something told her there was more than just her books that weighed Heather down.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Ren held out a hand to her and helped Mattie up. They watched Heather's retreating back disappear into the crowded hall.