Becoming Master

Chapter 1

Clair woke with a start. Sweat trailed down her bare arms and her breath came out in misty puffs. She felt a presence outside her room, observing her in the dark. Pulling an overcoat that was stretched over a chair; she neared the room’s front door.

“Illumni ocri-“she murmured. Seconds followed before a bright light illuminated the yard, she saw a tall figure begin to shrink back. Clair yanked the door open and ran outside, “Brar!” a flame encircled the front yard, but before she could do anything else she saw the figure jump over the fire and disappear into the dark.

She split the fire to watch where the intruder had gone, but all she saw was the awakening horizon over the top of the forest and snow-capped mountains.  Whoever it was must have gone into the cover of the trees.

“Clair, what’s wrong?” a small girl named Marie stepped up next to her, her tired eyes squinting into the bright night.

Swiping her hand she dissolved the spells, making it dark again. She turned to the little girl and crouched down next to her, observing the child’s blond curls framed her doll-like face and bright blue eyes that were sleepy, she clutched a small monkey in her arms.

“Nothing love, go back to sleep, I was just making sure none of the kids were sneaking away again.”

Accepting the explanation, Marie turning and entered the room she shared with two other girls, shutting the door behind her.

Clair shot a worried glance over her shoulder; whoever had been here was long gone. Before turning around, she noticed the large masses of kids standing outside of their rooms, ranging from four year olds to eighteen year olds.

The older kids were irritated from the interruption, and the younger ones were curious, but they all stared at her intently.

Her home was a special academy, built deep in the forest and made for special children like her who had nowhere else to go. Their special abilities were the use of magic, and here they could learn to control it and improve, or learn to seal it and live a normal life in the future. Their house was made of more than a hundred different rooms built on three levels, it was shaped like a U, and Clair’s room was right at the center, giving her a perfect view of everyone. And in situations like this; everyone a good view of her.

“Just checking on you guys!” she said loud enough for everyone to hear.

Most of them turned around and entered their respective rooms silently, while others rolled their eyes, not believing a word she said; specifically the older group.

“Go to sleep, unless you want to start training now,” she ordered, the remaining kids turned and went to bed.

Even though Clair wasn’t the oldest, it was an unspoken rule that she was in charge at all times. Something she had earned from trying her best ever since arriving.

When she knew everyone was inside she followed suit and entered her room, troubled.

The forest they lived within held many different types of creatures and magic, but the ward that the headmaster kept up at all times prevented any of them from entering.

Pacing around the room, Clair began to weigh the possibilities, but when she found no clear enlightenment she walked out of her room’s back door.

It was nearing dawn, and the sky was clear of clouds. A cold breeze blew over her, stirring the long grass that grew along the path she was on.

She walked on, clutching her overcoat closer to her body as the cold entered her pores. She passed the main building where they taught them how to survive outside of the school, in the dark it was tall and forlorn, appearing to lean over her as she walked.