"Quiet. We mustn't wake them. The poor darlings have been through enough for one day"
The carriage was dark and the whispers were quiet, but Jacob could tell that the woman speaking was old. He kept his eyes closed and his breathing steady, not wanting anyone to know he was awake. He did not know what was happening and hoped that they might reveal some information they would not otherwise tell a child of his age.
"No child should have to go through such a thing, let alone two children. And so very young."
"We live in a harsh world. You, of all people, should know that. We do what we can."
The two women sat in silence while the carriage rocked back and forth along the rough dirt road. Jacob did not know how long he had been in the carriage. The last thing he remembered was his mother kissing him goodnight as he was falling asleep in his soft warm bed. He did not know what had happened since then, but the knots in his stomach told him that he was unlikely to ever see his parents again. Somehow in his sleep his world had been ripped apart. Not just his world, but his sister Mirael's as well.
That moment of realization was the most painful thing he had experienced up to that point in his seven years of existence. Mireal, poor Mirael. So sweet and innocent. The four year old girl who would always make him check under her bed for monsters every night. The little girl cried for three days when he pet frog died last winter. Would she ever stop crying this time? It would fall to him to take care of her now.
Sleep, Mirael. Sleep long and deep, for when you wake up your life will have changed forever.
It was cold in the carriage and the blanket that they had placed over him was thin and itchy, but he dare not move to scratch.
Finally the younger woman spoke again. "Why do you suppose the Kinkari went for the parents but left the children alone?"
Jacob had never heard of a Kinkari, but now his worries were confirmed. His parents were dead. He would never see them again. He was being taken away from his home and everything that he had ever known. Everything except her. She was the only thing that mattered and he vowed right then and there to protect her with his life no matter what.
"You didn't hear?" The old woman replied with a whispered surprise. "We found it torn to pieces in the children's room. None of us had ever seen anything like it."
"So, what are you saying? That a group of mages powerful enough to kill a Kinkari was waiting in the children's room and then just disappeared after killing it?"
"No. The real story seems to be even more implausible than that." The old woman's voice grew even quieter, but Jacob could just barely make out what she said. "It appears the young girl killed it in her sleep."
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Chapter 1: Lesson's Learned.
She was late again. She was always late. Clutching her books tightly to her chest she ran down the street, ignoring the teachers and children shouting at her as she went by. Professor Cora always gave her extra assignments when she was late.
She rounded the corner toward the Pyromancy building at full speed and smashed into an old woman. Books, arms and legs flew everywhere. It was Anima, the woman that had rescued them and brought them to the Academy.
Mirael scurried back onto her feet and helped the much less agile Anima back up, then went about collecting her books.
"I'm so sorry. I'm late to class and you know how Professor Cora gets when I'm late."
"That is no excuse for knocking down feeble old ladies," said Anima, rubbing the hip that she had landed on and wincing at the pain. "Whatever will we do with you child? Late again. You know your brother is never late to his classes. Why can't you follow his example?"
"I never mean to be late, it's just that I get so busy doing other things and don't realize what time it is until I am already late."
"That is why we have clocks practically everywhere," anima pointed to a nearby clock as she spoke. "They aren't just for decoration you know. Now hurry off; you don't want to be any later than you already are."
Mirael gathered the last of her books. "Are you sure you are all right? I really am sorry."
"I am fine, sweet child. Thank you for your concern. I am better off than you will be if you are any later to your class. Now go!" She said, pushing her along as Mirael took off toward her class.
The pyromancy building was not so much a building as it was a courtyard with walls. It stood a safe distance from the rest of the school with nothing but dirt surrounding it for more than two hundred feet in every direction. The walls, which were made of stone and stood nearly thirty feet high, were solid black from having fireballs and bonfires and all manner of flame scorching the stones for so many years.
She went through the southern entrance, which was really just a hole in the wall large enough for ten full grown men to stand side by side. There were four such entrances, in case a quick evacuation was necessary.
As she suspected, she was the last to arrive and Professor Cora was staring straight at her as she took her seat on the ground at the back of the class. No chair or desk or wood of any kind was permitted in the Pyromancy building unless it was being used specifically for a lesson.
"I don't know why you bothered to sit down, Mirael," Said Professor Cora with a tone to her voice that let Mirael know this was not going to go well. "Stand up and come to the front of the class, please."
Mirael did as she was told, Though she did it as slowly as possible. When she reached the front of the class Professor Cora motioned for her to stand next to her.
"Since apparently Mirael thinks that she is so far advanced she does not need instruction, like the rest of you, why don't we let her demonstrate her abilities in front of the class?" The other children sniggered and made jokes to each other while Mirael's face went red as a beet.
She had never performed any Pyromancy before. Up to this point they had only been instructed in safety lessons. It took months for most students to even learn how to light a candle. She was going to be embarrassed in front of the whole class. She had enough trouble fitting in without being publicly humiliated in front of every other student her age.
Professor Cora reached into her bag and pulled out a large wax candle. This candle was different than the ones she had seen older students trying to light. They used candles with small paper wicks that could be lit with just a spark. This candle had a thick wooden wick and was used for upper level pyromancers. A flame would have to be conjured and held on the wick for several seconds in order to create a lasting flame. She was doomed.
A cruel smile spread across Professor Cora's face as she placed the candle on the ground and turned back to Mirael. "Since you think you do not need these lessons, I'm going to give you a chance to prove it. If you can set this candle alight then I will not punish you. However, if you should fail to light this candle, then you and every other student in this class will have to write an essay about why it is important to be on time for school."
A groan went up through the crowd of students. Practically every face was glaring at Mirael and she knew that if she failed there would be terrible consequences.
"Well," said Professor Cora. "What are you waiting for? Light the candle."
Mirael took a deep breath. She had never tried anything like this before. Children were not allowed to practice magic until their fifth year at the academy. Technically what Professor Cora was making her do was against the rules. She could not be punished for following her instructors order, though, could she?
"I hope she lights her own hair on fire," said a boy's voice in the crowd, though she could not tell which one. His comment was greeted with a chorus of laughter.
"Or her face," another voice said, this one a girl.
"Or her pants," said a voice that sounded like the first boy. She spotted him this time. It was Darvish Hollander, the class bully. He was dumber than a mule but the rest of the class seemed to think he was the funniest person alive.
"Quiet children," Shouted Professor Cora over the laughter. "Light the candle Mirael."
Mirael focused hard on the wooden wick. She reached deep inside herself and felt something that she had never felt before. Several of the children gasped. Professor Cora stood frozen with shock. Red and yellow ribbons encircled Mirael. The smell of sulfur flooded into her nostrils so strong she almost gagged and the ribbons faded.
Professor Cora's mouth was wide open. She shut it, gathering her wits and began to speak. "Well that was certainly..." She went silent again as Mirael redoubled her efforts.
This time Mirael expected the sulfur smell and she was ready for it. She did not lose focus, though her stomach still wanted to wretch at the stench. The ribbons circled her once more, thicker and faster this time. Then she directed them toward the candle. She put everything she had into her magic. The world seemed to fade and she saw nothing but the candle wick. It was painful. She had not expected that, but maybe it was normal for it to be painful. Everyone always said that all magic came at a price. Perhaps the price of pyromancy was pain. When she was certain that it was alight she eased back on her efforts a bit.
The world drifted back into focus. Children were screaming. Professor Cora was yelling out directions and guiding everyone toward the exits. All around her the ground was on fire. She was trapped. It was swelteringly hot and she was finding it difficult to breathe.
"Help!" She tried to scream, but it came out as nothing more than a fit of coughing. She closed her eyes tight and fell to her hands and knees. The ground was so hot it burned her hands. She dared not open her eyes for fear the heat would melt them. The world was spinning and her lungs were on fire. She was going to die. Seven years old and she was going to die and all because she was late to class. Then, as if God himself had wrapped her in his arms, a cool and soothing force encompassed her. It was water, she realized. Professor Cora must have pulled the emergency lever that released large buckets of water to dowse any out of control flames.
She was going to live. She was going to be in so much trouble.
Arms slid under her head ad her legs and she felt herself being raised into the air. She opened her eyes and saw Jacob. How he had gotten here so quickly she did not know. She tried to speak, but her lungs still hurt so badly she could hardly breathe.
"Hush, Mira, Hush," Jacob said with his always comforting voice. "I'm here, Mira. No one is ever going to hurt you while I am around. I promise. Breathe easy. You are going to be ok."
She could feel the darkness creeping in. She heard Professor Cora say, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so very sorry. There was nothing I could do."
Jacob replied, "You will never come near my sister again." Then the world went black.
She rounded the corner toward the Pyromancy building at full speed and smashed into an old woman. Books, arms and legs flew everywhere. It was Anima, the woman that had rescued them and brought them to the Academy.
Mirael scurried back onto her feet and helped the much less agile Anima back up, then went about collecting her books.
"I'm so sorry. I'm late to class and you know how Professor Cora gets when I'm late."
"That is no excuse for knocking down feeble old ladies," said Anima, rubbing the hip that she had landed on and wincing at the pain. "Whatever will we do with you child? Late again. You know your brother is never late to his classes. Why can't you follow his example?"
"I never mean to be late, it's just that I get so busy doing other things and don't realize what time it is until I am already late."
"That is why we have clocks practically everywhere," anima pointed to a nearby clock as she spoke. "They aren't just for decoration you know. Now hurry off; you don't want to be any later than you already are."
Mirael gathered the last of her books. "Are you sure you are all right? I really am sorry."
"I am fine, sweet child. Thank you for your concern. I am better off than you will be if you are any later to your class. Now go!" She said, pushing her along as Mirael took off toward her class.
The pyromancy building was not so much a building as it was a courtyard with walls. It stood a safe distance from the rest of the school with nothing but dirt surrounding it for more than two hundred feet in every direction. The walls, which were made of stone and stood nearly thirty feet high, were solid black from having fireballs and bonfires and all manner of flame scorching the stones for so many years.
She went through the southern entrance, which was really just a hole in the wall large enough for ten full grown men to stand side by side. There were four such entrances, in case a quick evacuation was necessary.
As she suspected, she was the last to arrive and Professor Cora was staring straight at her as she took her seat on the ground at the back of the class. No chair or desk or wood of any kind was permitted in the Pyromancy building unless it was being used specifically for a lesson.
"I don't know why you bothered to sit down, Mirael," Said Professor Cora with a tone to her voice that let Mirael know this was not going to go well. "Stand up and come to the front of the class, please."
Mirael did as she was told, Though she did it as slowly as possible. When she reached the front of the class Professor Cora motioned for her to stand next to her.
"Since apparently Mirael thinks that she is so far advanced she does not need instruction, like the rest of you, why don't we let her demonstrate her abilities in front of the class?" The other children sniggered and made jokes to each other while Mirael's face went red as a beet.
She had never performed any Pyromancy before. Up to this point they had only been instructed in safety lessons. It took months for most students to even learn how to light a candle. She was going to be embarrassed in front of the whole class. She had enough trouble fitting in without being publicly humiliated in front of every other student her age.
Professor Cora reached into her bag and pulled out a large wax candle. This candle was different than the ones she had seen older students trying to light. They used candles with small paper wicks that could be lit with just a spark. This candle had a thick wooden wick and was used for upper level pyromancers. A flame would have to be conjured and held on the wick for several seconds in order to create a lasting flame. She was doomed.
A cruel smile spread across Professor Cora's face as she placed the candle on the ground and turned back to Mirael. "Since you think you do not need these lessons, I'm going to give you a chance to prove it. If you can set this candle alight then I will not punish you. However, if you should fail to light this candle, then you and every other student in this class will have to write an essay about why it is important to be on time for school."
A groan went up through the crowd of students. Practically every face was glaring at Mirael and she knew that if she failed there would be terrible consequences.
"Well," said Professor Cora. "What are you waiting for? Light the candle."
Mirael took a deep breath. She had never tried anything like this before. Children were not allowed to practice magic until their fifth year at the academy. Technically what Professor Cora was making her do was against the rules. She could not be punished for following her instructors order, though, could she?
"I hope she lights her own hair on fire," said a boy's voice in the crowd, though she could not tell which one. His comment was greeted with a chorus of laughter.
"Or her face," another voice said, this one a girl.
"Or her pants," said a voice that sounded like the first boy. She spotted him this time. It was Darvish Hollander, the class bully. He was dumber than a mule but the rest of the class seemed to think he was the funniest person alive.
"Quiet children," Shouted Professor Cora over the laughter. "Light the candle Mirael."
Mirael focused hard on the wooden wick. She reached deep inside herself and felt something that she had never felt before. Several of the children gasped. Professor Cora stood frozen with shock. Red and yellow ribbons encircled Mirael. The smell of sulfur flooded into her nostrils so strong she almost gagged and the ribbons faded.
Professor Cora's mouth was wide open. She shut it, gathering her wits and began to speak. "Well that was certainly..." She went silent again as Mirael redoubled her efforts.
This time Mirael expected the sulfur smell and she was ready for it. She did not lose focus, though her stomach still wanted to wretch at the stench. The ribbons circled her once more, thicker and faster this time. Then she directed them toward the candle. She put everything she had into her magic. The world seemed to fade and she saw nothing but the candle wick. It was painful. She had not expected that, but maybe it was normal for it to be painful. Everyone always said that all magic came at a price. Perhaps the price of pyromancy was pain. When she was certain that it was alight she eased back on her efforts a bit.
The world drifted back into focus. Children were screaming. Professor Cora was yelling out directions and guiding everyone toward the exits. All around her the ground was on fire. She was trapped. It was swelteringly hot and she was finding it difficult to breathe.
"Help!" She tried to scream, but it came out as nothing more than a fit of coughing. She closed her eyes tight and fell to her hands and knees. The ground was so hot it burned her hands. She dared not open her eyes for fear the heat would melt them. The world was spinning and her lungs were on fire. She was going to die. Seven years old and she was going to die and all because she was late to class. Then, as if God himself had wrapped her in his arms, a cool and soothing force encompassed her. It was water, she realized. Professor Cora must have pulled the emergency lever that released large buckets of water to dowse any out of control flames.
She was going to live. She was going to be in so much trouble.
Arms slid under her head ad her legs and she felt herself being raised into the air. She opened her eyes and saw Jacob. How he had gotten here so quickly she did not know. She tried to speak, but her lungs still hurt so badly she could hardly breathe.
"Hush, Mira, Hush," Jacob said with his always comforting voice. "I'm here, Mira. No one is ever going to hurt you while I am around. I promise. Breathe easy. You are going to be ok."
She could feel the darkness creeping in. She heard Professor Cora say, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so very sorry. There was nothing I could do."
Jacob replied, "You will never come near my sister again." Then the world went black.
Chapter 2: Wounds
It was exactly as Anima had feared. Mirael was dangerous. Three years without so much of a whisper of any magical energy from her or her brother and now this. What professor Cora did was cruel but she had no way of knowing the power that Mirael possessed. Only a handful of people knew about the events that brought her to the Academy. So much raw power in such a young girl. She must be kept under close and constant supervision. No longer would she be allowed to interact with the other students, if she survives that is.
For the time being Mirael was being treated for her burns. The poor girl had burned off nearly half of her skin and all of her hair. If Jacob had not arrived when he did and pulled the emergency water release...
No point in worrying about what-ifs. There was plenty to worry about without creating make believe situations as well.
Thankfully no other children were seriously injured. A few blisters and singed hair here and there but nothing life threatening. Mirael was a different story. The best healers in the academy were working on her now and even they might no be enough to save her. Aside from the burns, she had channeled her magic so powerfully she had nearly torn herself apart. She had seen another mage die that way when she was much younger. A gruesome sight. His flesh ripping apart until finally his entire body shattered in a broken mass of blood and bone and flesh. The stench was the worst part, so strong she still nearly expelled the contents of her stomach when she thought on it for too long.
Maybe it would be better for everyone if the poor girl died today, she told herself, though she immediately felt ashamed for having thought such a terrible thing.
What have I become that I am wishing the death of a seven year old girl?
It was this place. It did things to the mind. Hardened the heart and weakened the soul. Only one out of every five children that came to this place were deemed suitable for advanced training. Those that were not were sent back onto the streets at age ten. Some had families and homes to return to, but the majority were orphans brought to the Academy only because they had nowhere else to go. She did not know what happened to them after they left but she was not foolish enough to believe that many of them survived. Those that did would likely not lead a very easy life.
It is a day for dark thoughts.
She needed some fresh air. She had been skulking in her room for too long waiting for word of Mirael's condition. She would go check on the girl herself. It was late and her eyes were not as sharp as they used to be, but the moon was bright tonight, nearly full. She made her way to the infirmary. It was not a long distance but the day and been long and she was not as young as she once was. Her whole body ached from the stress of the day.
Jacob was pacing back and forth in front of the door. The grass was packed down hard underneath him. It was clear that he had been pacing in front of the building for quite some time. When he noticed her he stopped pacing and walked straight toward her.
"Maybe you can help me," he seemed very frustrated. "They won't let me in to see her and they won't tell me how she is doing. She is my sister! I have a right to know."
If they had not spoken to the boy of her condition then it must not be clear yet whether she would live or die. "I will see what I can do."
"I need to be in there. I should be by her side. It's my job to keep her safe and I can't do that from out here."
"Your sister sustained very severe burns. It is not something a boy your age should have to see."
"I carried her here. I know what she looks like. Tell them to let me in. Please, I am begging you."
The desperation in his voice nearly brought tears to Anima's eyes. She choked them back. "Again, I will see what I can do. I am no more in charge of the healers than you are but perhaps they will give me word of her improvement. I am sure she will be fine." The lie came so easily to her lips that she almost believed it herself.
Jacob stepped out of her way and she opened the infirmary door. The room smelled of urine, excrement, anise, lilac and cooked meat. She would never get used to the juxtaposition. It was dark save for a few witchlights and green ribbons illuminating the area around Mirael's bed. Luckily she was the only child hurt badly enough today to be kept overnight. The other beds lay empty.
Eli, the most adept healer in the academy, noticed her and motioned for her to come closer so they could speak. He looked as if he had aged twenty years since she had seen him earlier in the day. Dark rings circled his eyes and his skin was pale and hung loosely over his face.
"How is she?" Anima asked, staring at the beautiful green ribbons sliding in and out of the girl's horrific wounds.
"We have been doing everything we can," Eli responded, his voice raspy and hollow when once it had been deep and profound. "Her wounds are extremely severe. More than once she has stopped breathing and we had almost lost hope, but she is strong. I do not believe that she is ready to leave this world, but we will not know until the morning. I assume you spoke with the boy outside?"
"He is understandably concerned for his sister."
Eli sighed deeply, but there was admiration in his sigh rather than frustration. "The boy is strong as well. The two are a good pair. I do not doubt that if he could trade places with her he would."
Anima nearly smiled, but looked again at the charred and broken child laying on the bed and any joy she had nearly felt washed away. "So young and already so powerful. The Elders will want to keep her separate from the other children. By now the entire academy must know and the other children will fear and hate her."
"We will worry on that when we know if she will survive. Until then I must focus on the task at hand. You know I always enjoy your company, Anima, but I am very tired and I expect I still have a long night ahead of me."
"Of course," she replied. "I will see about having some bread and water sent to you. Certainly you have not eaten in quite some time."
He did not speak but his expression showed his appreciation.
When she left the infirmary she found Jacob still pacing. He stopped and waited for her to speak.
"She appears to be doing much better," Anima lied yet again. "I am sure that by the morning they will let you in to see her. Until then you should go to your room and get some sleep."
The boy saw right through her but seemed to appreciate the lie anyway. He said nothing and went back to his pacing.
She knew that she would have more luck teaching a horse to speak than convincing that boy to leave his sister tonight, so she went back to her room. When she got there she found Valeria, one of the seven elders, waiting in front of her door. She seemed annoyed. The elders did not like to wait.
"Valeria, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I assume your were looking in on the girl. How is she doing?" Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion. It was always like that. Anima always felt uncomfortable in her presence.
"Eli believes that she will survive."
"That is good," said Valeria, though Anima could not tell whether she meant it or not. "If she does survive then we have a task for you." Anima had assumed this would be the case, though she did not understand why they could not wait until morning to tell her. "The girl will be placed in your care. You are to look after her and teach her to control her magic so that an incident like this never happens again."
This was no surprise to her. She had been expecting the elders to choose her for the task. She had taught many children that required special care over the years. "I am but a servant of the order. I will do as you request."
"You will no longer be teaching any other students. Mirael will be your only focus from this point on."
This did come as a shock to Anima. Her students were her life. She had been instructing at the Academy since she was only twenty years old. The thought of giving up all of her classes nearly broke her heart.
"Certainly I could give up one or two of my classes and work with Mirael later in the day, or perhaps myself and another professor could share in her instruction" she pleaded.
"You will do as you are told and that is the end of it," the words were a dagger in Anima's heart. "Mirael is a special girl and she requires constant attention which you will provide. Think of it as an honor that you have been entrusted with such an important task."
With that Valeria left.
Anima did not know what to think. Her students were everything to her. Many of them she had been working with for years. Never having any children of her own she considered all of her students to be her children. Now they were being ripped away from her. She wanted to scream, to throw things across the room, but she feared that someone would hear her and report to the elders. If they did she would be punished for insubordination.
Maybe the girl will die tonight.
She felt terrible for thinking it, and not just thinking it but wanting it so badly. She wanted the girl to die more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
That night she cried herself to sleep for the first time since she was a little girl.
For the time being Mirael was being treated for her burns. The poor girl had burned off nearly half of her skin and all of her hair. If Jacob had not arrived when he did and pulled the emergency water release...
No point in worrying about what-ifs. There was plenty to worry about without creating make believe situations as well.
Thankfully no other children were seriously injured. A few blisters and singed hair here and there but nothing life threatening. Mirael was a different story. The best healers in the academy were working on her now and even they might no be enough to save her. Aside from the burns, she had channeled her magic so powerfully she had nearly torn herself apart. She had seen another mage die that way when she was much younger. A gruesome sight. His flesh ripping apart until finally his entire body shattered in a broken mass of blood and bone and flesh. The stench was the worst part, so strong she still nearly expelled the contents of her stomach when she thought on it for too long.
Maybe it would be better for everyone if the poor girl died today, she told herself, though she immediately felt ashamed for having thought such a terrible thing.
What have I become that I am wishing the death of a seven year old girl?
It was this place. It did things to the mind. Hardened the heart and weakened the soul. Only one out of every five children that came to this place were deemed suitable for advanced training. Those that were not were sent back onto the streets at age ten. Some had families and homes to return to, but the majority were orphans brought to the Academy only because they had nowhere else to go. She did not know what happened to them after they left but she was not foolish enough to believe that many of them survived. Those that did would likely not lead a very easy life.
It is a day for dark thoughts.
She needed some fresh air. She had been skulking in her room for too long waiting for word of Mirael's condition. She would go check on the girl herself. It was late and her eyes were not as sharp as they used to be, but the moon was bright tonight, nearly full. She made her way to the infirmary. It was not a long distance but the day and been long and she was not as young as she once was. Her whole body ached from the stress of the day.
Jacob was pacing back and forth in front of the door. The grass was packed down hard underneath him. It was clear that he had been pacing in front of the building for quite some time. When he noticed her he stopped pacing and walked straight toward her.
"Maybe you can help me," he seemed very frustrated. "They won't let me in to see her and they won't tell me how she is doing. She is my sister! I have a right to know."
If they had not spoken to the boy of her condition then it must not be clear yet whether she would live or die. "I will see what I can do."
"I need to be in there. I should be by her side. It's my job to keep her safe and I can't do that from out here."
"Your sister sustained very severe burns. It is not something a boy your age should have to see."
"I carried her here. I know what she looks like. Tell them to let me in. Please, I am begging you."
The desperation in his voice nearly brought tears to Anima's eyes. She choked them back. "Again, I will see what I can do. I am no more in charge of the healers than you are but perhaps they will give me word of her improvement. I am sure she will be fine." The lie came so easily to her lips that she almost believed it herself.
Jacob stepped out of her way and she opened the infirmary door. The room smelled of urine, excrement, anise, lilac and cooked meat. She would never get used to the juxtaposition. It was dark save for a few witchlights and green ribbons illuminating the area around Mirael's bed. Luckily she was the only child hurt badly enough today to be kept overnight. The other beds lay empty.
Eli, the most adept healer in the academy, noticed her and motioned for her to come closer so they could speak. He looked as if he had aged twenty years since she had seen him earlier in the day. Dark rings circled his eyes and his skin was pale and hung loosely over his face.
"How is she?" Anima asked, staring at the beautiful green ribbons sliding in and out of the girl's horrific wounds.
"We have been doing everything we can," Eli responded, his voice raspy and hollow when once it had been deep and profound. "Her wounds are extremely severe. More than once she has stopped breathing and we had almost lost hope, but she is strong. I do not believe that she is ready to leave this world, but we will not know until the morning. I assume you spoke with the boy outside?"
"He is understandably concerned for his sister."
Eli sighed deeply, but there was admiration in his sigh rather than frustration. "The boy is strong as well. The two are a good pair. I do not doubt that if he could trade places with her he would."
Anima nearly smiled, but looked again at the charred and broken child laying on the bed and any joy she had nearly felt washed away. "So young and already so powerful. The Elders will want to keep her separate from the other children. By now the entire academy must know and the other children will fear and hate her."
"We will worry on that when we know if she will survive. Until then I must focus on the task at hand. You know I always enjoy your company, Anima, but I am very tired and I expect I still have a long night ahead of me."
"Of course," she replied. "I will see about having some bread and water sent to you. Certainly you have not eaten in quite some time."
He did not speak but his expression showed his appreciation.
When she left the infirmary she found Jacob still pacing. He stopped and waited for her to speak.
"She appears to be doing much better," Anima lied yet again. "I am sure that by the morning they will let you in to see her. Until then you should go to your room and get some sleep."
The boy saw right through her but seemed to appreciate the lie anyway. He said nothing and went back to his pacing.
She knew that she would have more luck teaching a horse to speak than convincing that boy to leave his sister tonight, so she went back to her room. When she got there she found Valeria, one of the seven elders, waiting in front of her door. She seemed annoyed. The elders did not like to wait.
"Valeria, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I assume your were looking in on the girl. How is she doing?" Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion. It was always like that. Anima always felt uncomfortable in her presence.
"Eli believes that she will survive."
"That is good," said Valeria, though Anima could not tell whether she meant it or not. "If she does survive then we have a task for you." Anima had assumed this would be the case, though she did not understand why they could not wait until morning to tell her. "The girl will be placed in your care. You are to look after her and teach her to control her magic so that an incident like this never happens again."
This was no surprise to her. She had been expecting the elders to choose her for the task. She had taught many children that required special care over the years. "I am but a servant of the order. I will do as you request."
"You will no longer be teaching any other students. Mirael will be your only focus from this point on."
This did come as a shock to Anima. Her students were her life. She had been instructing at the Academy since she was only twenty years old. The thought of giving up all of her classes nearly broke her heart.
"Certainly I could give up one or two of my classes and work with Mirael later in the day, or perhaps myself and another professor could share in her instruction" she pleaded.
"You will do as you are told and that is the end of it," the words were a dagger in Anima's heart. "Mirael is a special girl and she requires constant attention which you will provide. Think of it as an honor that you have been entrusted with such an important task."
With that Valeria left.
Anima did not know what to think. Her students were everything to her. Many of them she had been working with for years. Never having any children of her own she considered all of her students to be her children. Now they were being ripped away from her. She wanted to scream, to throw things across the room, but she feared that someone would hear her and report to the elders. If they did she would be punished for insubordination.
Maybe the girl will die tonight.
She felt terrible for thinking it, and not just thinking it but wanting it so badly. She wanted the girl to die more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
That night she cried herself to sleep for the first time since she was a little girl.
Chapter 3: Waiting
The sun was beginning to rise over the mountains to the east and still no word of his sister. Jacob was beginning to lose hope.
No news is no bad news, he told himself. She was not dead yet.
If she can make it through the night she will live. Those words had kept him going. His legs had log since gone numb from exhaustion. His throat was dry and raw. His stomach was empty. His eyes burned. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was Mirael. He would not leave her, not ever again.
Other people began to walk the streets, starting their day as if nothing had happened. Some had smiles on their faces, some focused looks, as if they were going about the most important business in the world. There were even a few that were whistling to themselves. Joy, some of them expressed joy. It was a concept that seemed so unfamiliar to him now he wondered if he had ever been happy before in his life.
People gave him confused glances as they walked by. He ignored them. From time to time a professor would stop and try to speak to him. He ignored them too until they gave up and walked away.
He hated being so useless. It was his job to protect her and right now he could do nothing but wait. Time as his enemy. He hated time. He hated everything, everything but her. He would kill every single person in the academy if it brought her back to him. No one else mattered. Nothing else mattered. He would burn the entire world to the ground for her. But none of that would save her.
So he waited.
The air grew warmer and warmer as the sun moved its way across the sky. His saliva grew thick and hard to swallow. His skin was turning red and was sensitive to his touch. His eyes hurt so much that he had them closed more often then open. Still he paced.
Finally, shortly after midday, an old man that Jacob had never met before stepped out of the infirmary.
Upon closer inspection Jacob realized he did know this man. It was Eli, though when he had seen Eli enter the infirmary he had been a strong and healthy man in his forties. Now he looked as if he were over one hundred years old. He knew healing magic could drain a person but he had never seen anything so drastic before.
"She is awake now and all she will say is your name," said the old man in a voice that sounded as if his throat were full of sand.
Without hesitation Jacob rushed past Eli, slammed open the heavy wooden infirmary door and ran full speed to his sister's bedside.
She looked so small and weak. Her hair was still completely gone, though some of the skin on her scalp had grown back. Where she did have skin it was red and thin. Parts of her still looked like hot wax had been poured over her flesh in place of skin. Her arms and legs had been wrapped with thick white bandages. Her blood and other bodily fluid had begun to turn them a dark shade of brown and he was about to tell one of the doctors that they needed to be changed when she spoke.
"Jacob," her voice was so fragile, like she had shrunk to the size of a mouse. He could feel tears trying to well up in his eyes but his body was so dehydrated that they never came. "It was you, wasn't it. You saved me."
"I'm so glad you're okay," the words caught in his throat and he wasn't sure if she even understood him.
She smiled. Most of her face was unburned, though deep fissures where her the magic had torn through her skin were on her cheeks and forehead. Still, her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Of course I'm okay. Nothing can ever hurt me while you're around."
He fell to his knees, clutching the side of her bed. His chest convulsed in dry sobs that he could not control. "I failed you. I almost lost you," he cried out between sobs. "I promised to protect you and I failed you. I'm so sorry, Mirael. I couldn't protect you."
She tried to raise her hand to touch the side of is face but was too weak to lift it. "No, Brother. If not for you I would have burned alive. Eli told me what happened. You saved me when everyone else ran. Even Professor Cora left me to die, but you were there. You are always there for me. I made a real mess of things, didn't I?"
His lungs calmed down and his sobbing subsided. He smiled at her.
My sister, always sweet, even in the face of all that has happened.
"Mira, it wasn't your fault. Professor Cora never should have made you try to light that candle. It was against the rules and I am sure she has been released of her duties because of it. You had no way of knowing how to control your magic. Students go through years of training before they are ever even allowed to light a beginner's candle."
Mirael's eyelids began to sag. She was falling asleep. "You look tired, Jacob. You should get some rest."
"I couldn't sleep until I knew you were going to make it."
"I am fine," she said through a yawn. "You can rest now. I will be here when you wake up."
He was getting up to leave when she spoke again. "Did I do it?"
"Do what?" he asked.
"Did I light the candle?"
But before he could answer she had already fallen asleep.
No news is no bad news, he told himself. She was not dead yet.
If she can make it through the night she will live. Those words had kept him going. His legs had log since gone numb from exhaustion. His throat was dry and raw. His stomach was empty. His eyes burned. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was Mirael. He would not leave her, not ever again.
Other people began to walk the streets, starting their day as if nothing had happened. Some had smiles on their faces, some focused looks, as if they were going about the most important business in the world. There were even a few that were whistling to themselves. Joy, some of them expressed joy. It was a concept that seemed so unfamiliar to him now he wondered if he had ever been happy before in his life.
People gave him confused glances as they walked by. He ignored them. From time to time a professor would stop and try to speak to him. He ignored them too until they gave up and walked away.
He hated being so useless. It was his job to protect her and right now he could do nothing but wait. Time as his enemy. He hated time. He hated everything, everything but her. He would kill every single person in the academy if it brought her back to him. No one else mattered. Nothing else mattered. He would burn the entire world to the ground for her. But none of that would save her.
So he waited.
The air grew warmer and warmer as the sun moved its way across the sky. His saliva grew thick and hard to swallow. His skin was turning red and was sensitive to his touch. His eyes hurt so much that he had them closed more often then open. Still he paced.
Finally, shortly after midday, an old man that Jacob had never met before stepped out of the infirmary.
Upon closer inspection Jacob realized he did know this man. It was Eli, though when he had seen Eli enter the infirmary he had been a strong and healthy man in his forties. Now he looked as if he were over one hundred years old. He knew healing magic could drain a person but he had never seen anything so drastic before.
"She is awake now and all she will say is your name," said the old man in a voice that sounded as if his throat were full of sand.
Without hesitation Jacob rushed past Eli, slammed open the heavy wooden infirmary door and ran full speed to his sister's bedside.
She looked so small and weak. Her hair was still completely gone, though some of the skin on her scalp had grown back. Where she did have skin it was red and thin. Parts of her still looked like hot wax had been poured over her flesh in place of skin. Her arms and legs had been wrapped with thick white bandages. Her blood and other bodily fluid had begun to turn them a dark shade of brown and he was about to tell one of the doctors that they needed to be changed when she spoke.
"Jacob," her voice was so fragile, like she had shrunk to the size of a mouse. He could feel tears trying to well up in his eyes but his body was so dehydrated that they never came. "It was you, wasn't it. You saved me."
"I'm so glad you're okay," the words caught in his throat and he wasn't sure if she even understood him.
She smiled. Most of her face was unburned, though deep fissures where her the magic had torn through her skin were on her cheeks and forehead. Still, her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Of course I'm okay. Nothing can ever hurt me while you're around."
He fell to his knees, clutching the side of her bed. His chest convulsed in dry sobs that he could not control. "I failed you. I almost lost you," he cried out between sobs. "I promised to protect you and I failed you. I'm so sorry, Mirael. I couldn't protect you."
She tried to raise her hand to touch the side of is face but was too weak to lift it. "No, Brother. If not for you I would have burned alive. Eli told me what happened. You saved me when everyone else ran. Even Professor Cora left me to die, but you were there. You are always there for me. I made a real mess of things, didn't I?"
His lungs calmed down and his sobbing subsided. He smiled at her.
My sister, always sweet, even in the face of all that has happened.
"Mira, it wasn't your fault. Professor Cora never should have made you try to light that candle. It was against the rules and I am sure she has been released of her duties because of it. You had no way of knowing how to control your magic. Students go through years of training before they are ever even allowed to light a beginner's candle."
Mirael's eyelids began to sag. She was falling asleep. "You look tired, Jacob. You should get some rest."
"I couldn't sleep until I knew you were going to make it."
"I am fine," she said through a yawn. "You can rest now. I will be here when you wake up."
He was getting up to leave when she spoke again. "Did I do it?"
"Do what?" he asked.
"Did I light the candle?"
But before he could answer she had already fallen asleep.
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