The Apprentice's Apprentice

Part 25

Cora tucked her legs under herself as she got comfortable on the couch. Philippe sat down beside her while Warren took his usual chair, his attention on the other boy. Only once they were all settled did he speak. "Well, if Master Van Der Walt was here I'd introduce you but it looks like she's out."

Philippe nodded. "Perhaps another time," he said before turning to Cora. "You have been learning magic for just two weeks? Are you learning under Master Van Der Walt as well?"

"Sort of," Cora said, shrugging. "Warren's actually teaching me the basics right now. I just finished the basics of spell casting and I've started learning shield spells since I mastered the transference spell. Are you learning magic too?"

His attention went to Warren, voice incredulous as he said, "You're teaching her the basics? But you're must still be an apprentice!"

Warren crossed his arms over his chest, bristling slightly. "Yeah, I am. My master thought it would be good for me to cement my mastery of the basics by teaching them to Cora. Master Van Der Walt is still testing Cora to ensure I've done a thorough enough job. And if you know anything about Selena Van Der Walt, you'll know she wouldn't let any apprentice of hers move on without a complete grounding in the basics."

"She just tested me on the basics of spell casting," Cora said, laying a hand on Philippe's arm. He looked at her as she continued. "She says I've learned them well enough that I can start learning all the basic spells. Warren's been doing a good job teaching me, especially since I didn't know about any of this before he told me."

Philippe ran a hand through his hair. "You don't understand. An apprentice teaching another apprentice...it's madness. You should be taught by a full mage. If Mage Van Der Walt doesn't have the time, I'd be more than happy to take over your instruction."

"She'll never allow it," Warren said. "She likes Cora. And it's not that she doesn't have time, she just thought it'd be better for both of us. And my master and Cora share a strength so as soon as I'm finished teaching her the basics, she'll be taking over."

He frowned and looked at Cora who smiled. "See? It's fine. And like I said, Warren's been doing a good job. I think it's easier learning from him since we're friends. And he's been careful about all the stuff I don't know since I'm a Wild mage and everything."

Philippe sighed. "If you say so, ma chérie, I suppose there is nothing more I can say. You have identified your strengths already then?"

She nodded. "I'm offensive and defensive," she couldn't resist grinning at Warren. "A Warrior. What about you? And how long have you been learning magic? Are you finished now?"

That made him chuckle. "Yes, I've finished. I've been learning magic since my family moved. There were no mages here capable of teaching me, so we had to go quite far. I'm a Magician." When Cora looked confused, he smiled. "Mind and transference."

"That's an unusual combination. I've never met a Magician before," Warren said before he smiled. "Then again, Cora's even rarer as a Wild and I certainly hadn't met another one before meeting her."

"Yeah, and that wasn't weird at all. Seriously, you should get Philippe to help you the next time you do a mind spell. Maybe it won't backfire so badly then."

"I already told you, mind spells only work on people without magic. My spell worked fine. Or have you noticed anyone besides you acting like they don't know me and damn near blowing my cover?" He asked mockingly.

"Whatever. It's your fault for not looking for other mages before you did the spell."

He chuckled. "Line mages identify themselves to the other mages living in a town when they show up. I shouldn't have had to look. How was I supposed to know there'd be an actual Wild mage at school?"

"Then you two are the same age?" Philippe asked, gaze going from Cora to Warren to Cora again.

"Yep. We don't actually have any classes together this semester. We really only hang out during magic lessons. Oh! I'll have to tell Zoe you're back! I'm sure she'll be glad to see you too. And you'll have to meet Moira too."

"I should have known you two would still be together. You've been glued together since I met you both."

"Has Zoe always been so...interesting?" Warren asked. "Her last discussion in English damn near gave Mr. Upston a heart attack."

"Which one was that? The one where she said if Gertrude wasn't a whore the whole play wouldn't have happened or the one about how if Hamlet had spent more time actually planning his revenge and doing it rather than talking about it he'd have probably succeeded?"

That startled a laugh out of Philippe which made Cora grin. "The first one," Warren said. "I don't think Mr. Upston had ever heard students discussing something so enthusiastically and when he heard what exactly they were talking about..."

"It seems you're enjoying school then," Philippe said, smiling at Cora. "I'm glad you're looking so happy and well. I was worried, especially since I've been gone so long, that you might have had further problems."

Cora wrinkled her nose. "I'm not a crybaby anymore. I learned to take care of myself. Zoe helped a lot, and really, most of those guys were just stupid kids being stupid. We've all grown up from those days."

"I'm glad then. I was always worried about you after I had to leave like that. And I'm even gladder to be back," he said, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "I missed you."

Cora grinned. "Me too."