Hidden Before Their Eyes

Chapter 32: The Future Reflects the Past

Finding an alpine newt is likely the oddest, and possibly one of the most difficult, task I have ever attempted. At this point I have only one option left open to me. I need to ask Malic if he can possibly help me out. If he cannot, then I am not even sure it is possible to retrieve one at all.

I cautiously open the door to his classroom. I watch in awe as two mages bounce a bolt of lightning between them. Not interested in disturbing their practice I stay quiet and stay still. I watch on silently as the brightness and speed at which the bolt bounces between the two increase. Suddenly Malic steps between them and fizzles the lightning, casting the room into near darkness.

Slowly the lights raise themselves, although more likely raised by Malic, and I step into the room, making myself known to the three. The two students look shocked while Malic looks amused. I cautiously walk towards them an nod to them in greeting.

"What does us the pleasure of your presence Carino?" Malic asks, over exaggerating a deep bow towards me.

I roll my eyes and answer straightly, "I have an odd request to make of you, Malic." The two students look uncomfortable about my lack of usage of his title, which I can only internally chuckle at. I wait patiently as Malic seems to be thinking for a moment. Eventually he gives me the go ahead to ask and I oblige. "I am in need of an alpine newt. Problem being I am in need of it before the lady running supplies is getting them restocked."

"What do you need an alpine newt for?" One of the two students asks.

"Hush," Malic intervenes. "I will see what I can do for you Carino, but I can't make you any promises."

"Thank you, let me know if I may do anything to return the favor," I say, nodding to Malic.

"You can now actually, if you've the time," he responds. I nod and he explains, "I am trying to figure out what is going wrong in the sequencing of the magic for the lightning that it is staying static. I need it to become more natural to say."

"With the bouncing?" I inquire, he nods encouraging me. "Well if anything each time it changes hands it is picking up minute amounts of magic from them"

"What?" The student which had not spoken earlier questions, clearly confused.

"Well, when it comes to mages, to the extent of my knowledge, you have latent magic that the world around you interacts with passively," I explain. Seeing that I have yet to get anywhere I continue, "When the lightning enters into one of you it picks up some of your power before you are able to pass it back."

"That can't be the problem," Malic mutters annoyed.

"Malic, if you cannot figure out the problem I highly doubt a non-mage like myself is going to be able to shine any light on the situation," I respond as politely as I can manage.

"Sit," Malic commands and all three of us comply. He sits on one of the desks and stares intently between us. "What if it passed through you Carino?"

"That is a highly dangerous idea," I respond carefully. "That and another problem exists concerning the latent magic." Malic Yves me to expand and I sigh, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "I have powerful latent magic in the necklace I am wearing."

"You can go, I can probably get you the newt in a week. Is that early enough?" Malic dismisses me.

"That is perfect actually," I respond, taking my leave from the room.

I head to Codra, where I had left her at least, hoping to let her know the news on the newt. When I do not find her, I check her room, hoping that she might be there instead. To no avail alas, Codra is not to be found. I contemplate my options. I can either wait for her, for who knows how long, or I can hope she comes to find me, who knows when. I am sitting on her bed contemplating the pros and cons of the two options when her door creaks open, snapping my thoughts away. I narrow my eyes at the girl who pops her head into the room.