A to Z of Magic

Straight Outta Filory

Dean Fogg is speaking to the audience. He's giving a workshop on the finer points of measuring magic. The lawyers said it would be used as a warning for those who purchase their latest software UI 6.7 He's just finished the boring bits and getting to the good stuff. Listen...

In the world Aster started, she was dating Quinton. Luna her little sister, she protects like a daughter, was too loved by Quinton. It's the only reason I allowed their union to exist. I'll explain. Aster and Luna are more like sophomore and freshman but not exactly. They came together due to the fact they learned how to use their powers in synchronicity. No, it's not just an album by the Police.

Luna's music keeps Aster balanced when she's channeling her power. Even when she's not, something about music has a direct correlation with her abilities. Music can calm or accentuate them. Just depends on the situation, the context, the version. The whole thing would be rather complex if you think about it instead of just accept nature has its own way of balancing the scales.

Normally, Luna would not be allowed to attend Brakebills, she's far too young but, both of them have abilities beyond their years. So leaving them to the wild without guidance and protection well, strange things can and will happen. Here's a more recent example.

On the flip side, Quinton and Penny are not only the best of friends, they are Senior's getting ready to graduate. Both of them are mentor's due to the level of their gifts. Since they will be teaching classes at Brakebills and will be doing research via their "jobs" in the wild, there's no need for them to take the exam. 

Remember the rules are as follows: ready to graduate, have magic taken away includes memory wipe or remedial. Translation, they never leave school.

Yes, clearly Aster should NOT be seeing Quinton at all. Love being the fickle emotion controlled by a woman, as she chooses to see it, they are...dating. Penny is her best friend and maintains the balance between them. However, this does not stop others from being jealous and attempting to challenge Aster. Fortunately for me, she sees it like playing chess. A game much better than the one she had to play on the streets. 

Here's where Eliot and Margo, or was it Janet? So many different ways this has played out since...as I was saying Eliot is arrogant and we'll just say Margo his pupil. She loves taking care of Nova. Each one of them has a preferred name to call Izadore Novaster. Luna is simply Luna. She's absolutely magnificent when she's not helping her sister reek havoc. And considering what happens next we are all in nirvana.

In my great wisdom to become Dean of the school, I decide its time to assess Aster's powers. I had the help of the librarian, the use of the UI's reputation, and if she failed even Quinton agreed to stop dating her. He was going to be leaving to Esquith for the next six months doing research. How could I lose? I just needed a way to separate her from her sister. Their separation was the only way the board agreed I would clearly demonstrate my knowledge, my wisdom to lead the school. 

The audience claps.

Silence! he bellows, then calmly states I was a fool. During Aster's exam, young Martin Chadwin came to take some of her powers. He was hiding in the stands. Unbeknownst to me there is a direct door to Brakebills from Filory and its not about that blasted button. I had no idea the boy had been molested. What I did know is absolute power corrupts absolutely especially when you are not meant to be a power broker. He was drunk with power and had managed to lock Zelda to the library. I had no way to help calm her down as he, psychically raped her. Yes, there's another version of the story you read. We were in the middle of the exam. It's how the world appeared to her.

Q heard her screaming and came to help. The wards were broken from her emotions which are tied to her powers. You know the rest. Well not exactly. Her physical body is in a coma. Her mental state...its a cross between a niffin and something else. Luna was sent to Esquith for her safety. Thanks to the reputation of the UI, it was easy to lie to her for the first few years. After that she understood the consequences of advance magic and moved on with her life. 

I couldn't take their powers or erase their memories. Not with Martin now a true immortal with so much power running loose. Instead, I suppressed their powers and replaced their memories with alternate ones so they can help me put the genie back in the bottle. I became Dean and was cursed to remember, everything. Jane feeling responsible brought the watch to help me repair things a bit better. It also helped to keep her brother busy, killing Filory.

The watch has 40 resets for me to stop the Beast from getting out into the wild until then its like groundhog day for me only it lasts for a season. 

Any questions?

The audience is speechless.