Our Chaotic Order

14: Finals

^^ Master Cortez ^^

I nodded slowly, and sighed. I closed my eyes, and focused on breathing. Then I parted my lips, and sang.

--- Greta's POV ---

It was an old song I'd learned from Maria, the first song I ever heard, and the last, now that I'd thought about it. She'd sang it to me ever since I was in the cradle, but she insisted I sang it better.

When I finished the song, I opened my eyes, and gasped. All eight Masters were dead asleep, minus the perky blonde woman who'd asked me to sing.

She smiled at me. "That was very well done, dear. Not even magic, simply a beautiful voice... I'd love to teach you a bit more about your voice, and it's magical implications, if you'd like, but first, wake them up, please. If you can."

I nodded and then breathed deep, and accessed Rasps abilities. An infant 'Phoenix Cry' emitted from my throat, and they all jumped to attention, cradling their ears.

I grinned at her. "There."

She laughed melodically, sounding like a beautiful, but cracked bell. Not quite perfect tune, and she knew it. She was doing it on purpose. "I suppose that works, indeed... well, master Dion, it's your turn." She asked the Old Man, the Seventh, who seemed to be in charge.

He rubbed his ears. "Hmm... yes. My apologies, I must've been more tired than I thought... ah! Yes. My test is rather simple. Use the ingredients before you to make me something." He gestured, and a table appeared in front of me, covered in common herbs and ingredients, but also things I'd never seen before.

I decided to go with what I knew, and started weaving sage, Jasmine, and lapis lazuli into a small bundle, then dipped the ends into a small bag. I added pure magic, and then added a silver coin from my pocket, and tied it off, cutting the stems and placing them next to the bag.

He raised both eyebrows. "A hex bag?" He asked incredulously.

I grinned. "For protection and good dreams. Light the stems to activate it, and as long as they burn, it will protect your mind." I bowed my head, smiling.

He laughed weakly. "Indeed, I know what a hex bag does, child... I'm surprised you do, but perhaps your studies are more advanced than I thought... is this the extent of your knowledge of herbology? You didn't use Lilac, so I'll assume you didn't know it would've made this more powerful?" He asked.

"It would've? Huh." I was amused, and impressed. "Looks like I've got a lot to learn... no I just have a basic knowledge of herbs, I have a herb garden, but I mostly just grow them, I've never really done magic with them." I confessed.

He nodded. "Understood... yes, well. You pass... barely." He looked over his glasses at me severely. "You will learn much more in my potions class next term." He smiled at me. "But well done. Master Haven?"

Where the eighth woman was supposed to be, instead sat an Owl, staring at me... owlishly.

Then it opened its beak, and instead of the screech I was suspecting, it spoke, in a decidedly female voice. "I am Master Haven... I am the shapeshifting master at this academy. You know a thing or two about shapeshifting, but you do not know how to implement it, I'd assume?"

I flinched when she started speaking, and shivered. "Uhmm... no. I didn't know shapeshifting was a thing for non-magical beings, like... dragons. Or trolls." I shrugged.

Her feathers started to ruffle, and she clacked her beak together sharply. "Do not shrug, it's rather rude!"

"So is staying in a form in which I can't read your facial expressions, but here we are." I countered, smirking.