The Virtues' Magecraft

Page 12: Magecraft Academy

Alexander hastily clacked and typed in numbers and letters into the silver device he held in his hands. "Why the hell did they put letters in coordinates?" he grumbled to himself.

Archibald had given him the transporter just a week prior, so Alexander had no time on learning how to use it. It wasn't like the transporter he had beforehand; this one could travel anywhere instead of the limited amount of specific locations the previous one had.

And so, it was much more complicated than just pressing a button on the side.

"Hurry up," Emilia told him.

"Shut up."

"Hurry up or we'll be late."

"I'll drop you in the Atlantic Ocean if you keep talking."

She sighed.

They had both been enrolled in the New York District Magecraft Academy, one of the branches of the Norteon Union's most prestigious institutions of magic. And today was the first day of school.

Alexander was already stressed about that concept, and that feeling had been worsened with not knowing how to use the transporter.

The silver device began to beep. Quickly and loudly.

Alexander's eyes widened. "Oh God, it's beeping."

"Is it supposed to be beeping?!"

"I don't know!"

And from there, a blinding flash of light burst from the device. Their surroundings shifted.

They now stood on a stone brick walkway, surrounded by grand buildings of painted wood, glass, concrete, steel, and bricks. And at their side stood a lush, seemingly endless forest.

"Well, that was unexpected," Alexander muttered.

"Whoa..." Emilia said, letting out a soft gasp and swallowing her saliva. "Is this really New York?" she asked.

"This isn't unusual for this part of Manhattan, actually," a voice said.

They turned to Anastasia Velda.

"Oh, hey," Alexander said, a thin smile growing on his face.

She smiled and waved as she approached them.

Emilia swallowed her saliva. She was finally meeting one of the Virtues. And so, all she did was stare at Anastasia as she and Alexander talked.

She concluded: Anastasia Velda wasn't special.

Those intrustive thoughts of her were simply because of the slight sense of envy that she had to the Virtues. Emilia spat out a sigh.

Alexander turned to her as if he had forgotten she was there. "Oh. Yeah, this is my sister, Emilia. Or cousin. It's complicated. But not really."

Anastasia chuckled. "Yeah, you've explained it to me before. Nice to meet you," she said to Emilia.

Emilia smiled and nodded. "Likewise."

They fell silent.

'Why did she say likewise?' Alexander thought.

"..."

"..."

"So," Anastasia said. "Are you... Emilia Lane, or..."

She shook her head. "No, I'm Emilia Barnes. Plus, our mom's last name is Cortés. So, you know how it be."

Again, they fell silent. Until Alexander began to speak. And from there, the conversation continued and flowed.

Emilia stared at Alexander and Anastasia as they chuckled. She squinted.