William Isaak Corvus Academy or WICA- as the students refer to it- has a special branch of studies that specializes in magic and the creation of new witchers. Kate Graham, a last year student and candidate for the prophet crown, is the perfect witch...
A strong presence materialized in the library, invading Parker's senses. He looked up from his seat noticing the pale girl with the white hair making her way through the corridors of tables and to the back. She didn't pay him attention but his eyes could not un-glue from her.
Magic spilled from her like she was a locked box unable to contain its power. He wondered how someone so frail could be so strong at the same time. Slowly he stood up and abandoned his books, following behind her until she turned a corner and walked into an aisle.
Parker slipped into the aisle before hers and approached the dark corner. Thanks to the candlelight of the room, shadows were constantly present and accessible. He reached into the darkness in front of him and watched as his hand slowly disappeared in it. Once he was sure he could grasp the other side, he jumped into the nether realm.
The light in the room changed. A monochrome veil extended over every surface until his eyes adjusted to it. Then the color exploded. A rainbow of smoke ran down the shelves like waterfalls, mixing in a pool of colors at his fit.
Students were enveloped in soft lights, all different colors, and when he turned the corner to find the girl, he stopped mesmerized. She glowed a pure white, like an angel.
Parker walked around her, watching her pick books from the shelves. She didn't look dangerous. Maybe expressionless and slightly sad in the eyes, but she wasn't a threat.
She retreated to a desk after a while and he returned to the corner disappointed. Once he was out of the nether realm, he took a seat in his chair but positioned himself so that he could keep an eye on her.
Hours passed in which the girl fell asleep over her book. Parker took down some notes from the few books he had chosen, hoping to find some more information on hell hounds.
Back at home, they had an impressive collection of all kinds of books but the Corvus academy was the biggest book bank of magic studies. If he could find a way to recover his friend, this was his only hope.
The search for Toby continued two weeks after his disappearance anybody else would have given up already, but not Parker. Toby had been his best friend since he started his studies at the Falco academy in Germany and deep down Park knew he wasn't dead.
The girl awoke several hours later, agitating the magic in the air. It was something very hard to feel or even understand but with his specialized studies, Parker was able to catch on the slightest change.
He watched her answer a call and prepared himself to follow her. She was interesting to him and something told him she would be able to help him. He stepped into the nether realm once more to remain invisible.
She was ready to leave when she tripped a book off the shelf. Parker frowned. The magic library would never leave a book sticking out but he had heard stories that it had a funny way of showing people exactly what they needed.
Parker stiffened when she lifted the book and held it up. The cover had the name of the author written in red ink and he knew the name very well.
Elaine Nightingale. His mother's maiden name.
He had to get his hands on that book. Parker's brain began working, searching for a way to distract the girl and get the book. Unfortunately, the only thing he could come up with in that moment could give her a heart attack.
He retreated to the next aisle and exited the shadow realm, sighing when the crushing weight of the realm lifted from his body. Parker had graduated with Honors and was one of the gifted children at his academy, and lucky for him, he had managed to tame illusion magic.
His brain ached from being awake since four in the morning so the spell would not last long, but just a few seconds were all he needed. He closed his eyes and pictured the black mass of smoke in front of him. The ghostly face of the Umbra was barely formed but all he needed was the basic shape.
When he opened his eyes, the desolated grimace of an Umbra floated in front of him. The illusion was slightly transparent but it would serve the purpose. With the aid of his hands, he guided it's movements, making sure it walked past the girl's isle.
He waited for the noise and when something dropped to the ground and a loud sigh came from the other side, he let go of the magic that dissipated into the thin air.
The girl's high heeled boots echoed as the slowly hit the wooden floor and moved further away. She was in for a long chase. Parker immediately turned the corner and picked up the book, hiding it inside his jacket.
How he was going to get it out of a high-security room with more wardens and spells that he could count, would be a problem to worry about later.
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