The Warlock

3: Basil

"Good morning!"

Asteria awoke to a way too chirpy for so early in the morning voice. She lifted her white head off the pillow and looked at her intruder. It was a cute girl with a grin that took most of her face. Her smile was almost blinding.

"I'm Muirgen! I'm in my third year, and our other roommate is a second year, but I don't know where she went ... " Muirgen scratched her chin thoughtfully. "You need to get ready! Otherwise breakfast will be over soon!"

Asteria was quick on her feet before her roommate could pull her off the bed. She began getting ready for Induction Day, and it started with a breakfast in the Dining Hall.

The door to the room opened, and in came who Asteria assumed to be her third roommate. Muirgen smiled again at the sight of the third girl and hurried to introduce them to each other. Asteria shared a look of despair with the girl, whom now she knew as Isla. Soon all three of them were done and Muirgen locked her arms with Asteria and Isla's and led them towards the Dining Hall. On the way down the only sound heard was the constant chatter from Muirgen, who just had to explain everything about the school and its history, never mind that Asteria had already done her research. What fascinated the firstie was Muirgen's ability to not breathe and still talk for so long.

The three girls entered the Dining Hall. It had the same set up as the previous night, but the decorations and floating flames were gone. Muirgen untangled the girls and went to grab a table, while Isla and Asteria went straight for the food. Asteria's gaze followed Isla for a while. Someone had their priorities right. After filling their plates the girls sat together. The third year lead the conversation, asking the other two about their interests and expectations for the year. In the middle of the conversation, Isla questioned Asteria about her family.

"You are Aslan's sister right?"

Asteria nodded, while biting into her toast.

"Well, with this hair, who else could it be," exclaimed Muirgen.

"I have a question. How do you contact your parents and stuff? I promised mine to text them as soon as the ceremony was done but I couldn't get reception in the forest," said Asteria.

"There's no reception on school grounds," said Muirgen with a full mouth. "Something about technology disturbing the magical processes. Which I think is bullshit because my family does magic at home all the time."

"Then how do you communicate with the outside?"

Asteria cocked her head to the side. Aslan occasionally called them back home through his cell phone, so the revelation baffled her.

"We use messenger pigeons. Very Romeo and Juliet style."

"If you're asking me, the school breaks the connection because they don't want some kid to post on social media that they are doing magic. Never mind that it's been drilled into us that we cannot tell mortals about it at all," chipped in Isla.

The girls continued conversing, Isla and Muirgen telling Asteria where to find the messenger pigeons and about other quirks of the school.

The Headmistress entered the Dining Hall, bringing silence with her. Her presence was truly intimidating. Asteria found herself not being able to look at the woman's face at all, instead letting her gaze fall to the Headmistress' black dress.

"Good morning, young magicians! Once breakfast ends it's the beginning of classes for the second and third years. As for the first years, all of you are expected in the Auditorium."

With that the Headmistress vanished into black smoke.

"Is she a warlock?" Asteria quietly asked the question.