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.
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