Just a Bystander

Thaumaturgy Trial

'Caden?'

'Mm?' I cracked my eyelids open. It was wonderfully warm under the covers and I didn't want to move.

Sunlight was streaming in through the open window. That didn't seem right.

'Caden?' Ambrose called again. I raised my head and saw him at the door, fully dressed.

'Oh shit.' I sprang out of bed and automatically tried to check the time, but my wrist was empty. I forgot that I had removed my watch yesterday after my father's lecture and I had gotten paranoid about wearing an artefact I didn't fully understand. That meant no 7AM alarm.

'What time is it?' I scrambled for my things.

'It's 8:30. You've got about half an hour before class, don't worry.'

'Thanks,' I said as I rushed past him towards the shower. Jerric, Devon, Lynus, and Kevan were seated around the table, almost done with breakfast.

'Didn't think anyone would wake even later than my brother,' Lynus called out. 'Especially not the top scorer!'

Kevan aimed a blow at Lynus, who dodged aside with a laugh. I bit down a retort and rushed through my morning routine, feeling very annoyed that I had overslept.

'Here.' Devon slid over a sandwich on a plate as I sat down, furiously towelling my hair dry. I thanked him and ate with my free hand.

'So like we were saying,' Jerric continued, clearly picking up from where they had stopped in their conversation before I interrupted, 'let's meet up after Thaumaturgy class and swap notes? We can get more Double Thau practice in since we've only got one class today.'

'Let's see how the actual Thaumaturgy classes go? I mean, we may not be in any shape for extra stuff afterwards,' Ambrose said tentatively.

'Because we're not that good at thaumaturgy?' Kevan shot irritably.

'He didn't say that.' Lynus said, not bothering to hide it as he kicked his brother under the table. Kevan scowled and Lynus scowled right back.

There was a slight pause.

'After yesterday's classes, I wouldn't be surprised if we get our minds blown again at our first Thaumaturgy class,' I said to fill the silence. 'I don't mind a Double Thau, but only if my brain is still working.'

Jerric clapped his hands together in satisfaction. 'Alright, then, we'll gather for an early lunch and see if we're still sane, then decide from there?' He looked at Ambrose, who conceded with a nod.

Kevan huffed but didn't press the issue. He got up and picked up his bag to get ready to head out. The rest followed suit as I cleaned up. We left together, but there was a weight that hung over our group as we split off to the different venues. It looked like the tensions from last night weren't completely patched over yet. I was actually glad that the Thaumaturgy classes would be in the smaller tutorial groups.

It turned out that our Thaumaturgy classes weren't going to be held in the compound that Ambrose had brought us to. My tutorial group was supposed to meet in the Ka'atus Room again, but the rest had to go hunt for their venues in other parts of the Academy that we hadn't yet used.

I walked in with several others who happened to be arriving at the same time. We found the room completely bare, without any furniture. Those who had arrived earlier were standing awkwardly in the empty space, huddling together in a cluster away from the only adult in the room.

I couldn't help but stare.

Our lecturers and instructors so far had been dressed formally and carried an air of respectability. This man was wearing a simple T-shirt that was so thoroughly marked with stains that it was hard to tell what the original colour was. Instead of trousers, he had track pants, but even then they appeared to be years past their prime. Patches were crudely sewn in, obviously to preserve function rather than as a statement of style. And instead of regarding us all with lofty wisdom, he was slumped so far down the wall that only his head and upper back were in contact with it. The rest of his lanky body stretched lazily across the floor. His face was hidden behind a book. Ah, a part of me sighed in relief, an academic after all, but that brief flare of hope died when I realised from the title and the cover that it was definitely not polite material.