Inksmiths: Book One

Chapter 3: Mentors

The Headmistress wandered back to her place at the front of the room when she had finished, angling her gaze out over the array of students. She glanced up at the mentors situated along the balcony, stepping out into a more open spot in the room to stare at them more easily.

"Thank you for your cooperation, future Inksmiths," she called. "The results of this test will now be used to match you to a mentor. This mentor will be your companion, your teacher, and your most trusted confidant over the next many years as you study ink magic. Listen to everything they tell you and obey without question. Should I hear enough complaints from your mentor about your work ethic, manners, or any such aspects of your partnership, you will be thrown out of the school immediately on the grounds of inappropriate conduct. Is this understood?"

"Yes, Headmistress," answered a chorus of voices.

The Headmistress nodded, pleased. "When I call your name, please come stand before me. Mentors, I will then call on one of you to lead this student. When you hear your name, please come down and join your new apprentice."

A murmur spread through the crowd of mentors. I found myself watching Noel, endlessly curious about "the strongest Inksmith of all time". So far, from what I could tell, he was no different from the other mentors crowding the upper levels...aside from his seemingly young age, that was.

What makes you so very special? I found myself wondering. Why do they say you're the strongest? What could you teach me if you were my mentor?

Suddenly, I realized just how desperately I wished for the chance to learn from Noel. Even if he wasn't assigned as my mentor, I wanted to hear what wisdom he had to pass on. I wanted to know what he knew that made him so powerful. I wanted to learn, not only from an Inksmith, but from an Inksmith who had made a name for himself in a town that wasn't supposed to know he existed.

The Headmistress began calling names. I listened only enough to hear my own, distracted by watching Noel in the balconies and trying to guess at his thoughts. He continued to observe the occasion wordlessly, eyes scanning the crowds with no particular interest. Once or twice our eyes met--I swore I caught the tiniest hint of a smile grace his lips the second time he caught me watching him.

The third time, his eyes lingered. Though it was hard to make out the details of his expression, we maintained eye contact for a good twenty seconds before Noel finally broke away to examine the others--a piece of me couldn't help but wonder if he was just as curious about me as I was about him.

The sound of Crystine's name drew my attention back to the Headmistress. I gave Crystine's hand a quick, comforting squeeze, smiling at her as she stepped away from my side to move to the front of the room.

I'm next, I realized faintly.

Crystine, please don't get Noel, was the thought that followed.

"Crystine Hamil," the Headmistress began, "you lack confidence in yourself and have a deep respect for the artistry and craft of an Inksmith, shown by the deftness with which you painted your character and the care you put into ensuring every stroke was exact. For this reason, your mentor shall be Draco Freya."

I felt myself relax, allowing myself to glance back up at Noel. To my slight surprise, the taller, young-seeming man beside him straightened up, briefly tugging Noel's wide-brimmed hat off his head to ruffle his hair before heading down the stairs. Noel swatted half-heartedly at his companion, though he seemed amused. Shaking his head, Noel replaced the hat on his head, watching as his former companion approached Crystine. Crystine bowed to him swiftly ad he waved his hands at her, laughing lightly. I focused in on the pair, feeling a strange sense of protectiveness towards Crystine--I wanted to hear how she and her new mentor interacted.