Gifted

14

Erin woke in yet another unfamiliar bed. She was in what looked like a hospital ward, but none like she had ever seen before. Nurses scurried quietly about and patients moaned in their beds, but Erin was sure that the humming crystals and glowing runes scattered about the place were not usually found in hospitals.

Erin's mind was groggy, and it took her a moment to recognise the neat, suited man at the foot of her bed.

"Isaiah?"

"Good morning, Erin. How are you feeling?"

"Um, tired I think. I'm not too sure."

"I'm not surprised," Isaiah smiled. "Tiredness is the main side-effect of performing magic. It tires out the mind like exercise tires out the body."

"Hmm. Where am I?"

"You're in the House Infirmary. You collapsed after what happened last night and you were brought down here so the nurses can keep an eye on you."

Erin frowned deeply as she strained to remember the events of the previous evening.

"Do you remember what happened?" Isaiah asked gently.

She shook her head uncertainly.

"You got into a fight. An older boy named Igor? He attacked you in the dorm room."

Erin's eyes widened as memories of the previous night swam to the front of her mind.

"He said I didn't belong here. He attacked me in my bed, but I stopped him. I . . . I used magic, didn't I?"

Isaiah nodded. "Magic often rears its head at times of great stress, such as last night and when you ran into the man from Dominus at the night market. The issue is that when it does, it can be very hard to control."

"I didn't control it did I?" Erin swallowed.

Isaiah shook his head. "I'm afraid you didn't. But what you did do is stop yourself from being killed. I spoke to the other recruits, including your friend, Toby. They knew what Igor would've done."

"Yeah well I've had people try to kill me before. It's not a big deal," Erin sniffed, trying to appear confident. She was desperate for Isaiah to not see her as weak. She doubted he would ever want her as an apprentice if it didn't look like she could handle herself.

"Someone trying to kill you is always a big deal, Erin," he said his expression softening.

"And how is Igor?" Erin said at length. "Is he alive, I mean."

"He is alive, but he won't be in a fit state to resume his Initiation for quite a while," he lied. "We've had him transported to the House of Vigilate for treatment. Their combination of magic and medicine is unparalleled."

There was a long pause before Erin asked the question she had been dreading.

"This is it, I'm guessing. You'll want me out of here right? After what I've done..."

"I've spoken with Kazi and the Chief of the House. It has been agreed that you can continue with your Initiation."

A smile brightened Erin's face. "Thank you, Isaiah, that's great. I won't let you down again, I promise."

"You better not. The Chief won't tolerate another incident such as this. If you want to join the House, you need to keep your head down."

Erin nodded earnestly.

"Rest, Erin. You'll be back to normal within a day, then you can resume Initiation. Be strong. Make me thankful for the day I rescued you from that cell."

With that, Isaiah departed, his silver hair shining and his cane clacking rhythmically on the stone floor.