I was still standing in the office like a lost puppy that was being scolded for peeing on the carpet. I was fidgeting my fingers while my feet were pressing hard into the floor. Principal Idarin wasn't giving up on the idea of me transferring to the Umbras Academy since I successfully walked through the barrier, meaning that I am a god descendant and I shouldn't be on this side. Principal Haydos stayed quiet and didn't say much in this matter even though it concerned his part of the academy. Professor Coldos and the Umbras council members weren't happy about this solution though.

Umbras council member: We cannot allow a transfer of students based on something that wasn't tested. What if it was just some sort of glitch and she will burn when she tries to cross over again? We need to test the properly by the book.

Professor Coldos: Varya is right. This needs to be addressed with tests. Even before, you just placed her into a house without testing her just because she presented power. Once! I heard that she hasn't been able to use it afterwards in her classes.

Professor Varya: This is unacceptable. We need to discuss this more and in private.

Private? This thing concerns me and my life so why it should be discussed without me being present, which is what I figured out from what this Professor Varya must have meant by saying what she said. I got angry and wanted to speak up about it but Principal Idarin stepped in, trying to mediate the conversation without anyone loosing their heads.

Principal Idarin: Varya, I know you might have doubts about this, but me and Haydos, we saw what happened. And it's not like we had this situation in the past. No one was misplaced by the gate. Ever.

Professor Varya: That is true. But we cannot just decide this on a whim. The investigation needs to be done. To decide how to proceed with this then, we should take a vote now. I am with Coldos. We should do some tests to clear up the unknown and then decide what to do with Ms. Holland. Sotarn, Xyla, what's your statement?

The other two Professors I didn't know ended up siding with the rest of the council. Except for Principal Idarin and Minertha, everyone voted for the investigation to take place first, meaning I would stay at the Aveus for now. The council members moved to the back of the office and talked between themselves while the principal gave out the formal statement about the situation.

Principal Idarin: I am sorry about this, Ms. Holland. I hope you understand why we decided like this and you will help us to get to the bottom of this. You may now leave and return to your dormitory, rest up. When everything is ready, we will call you. In the meantime, we will take care of any rumors spreading, so you too, please do not speak about this to anyone.

I heard their words but somehow at the same time, I couldn't understand anything. My mind was in thrown in chaos. Principal Idarin was looking concerned at me and this whole incident must have added more troubles to his work, while the council members were arguing and wouldn't believe it something like this could happen. I thought that maybe they would eb able to help me here and that I wouldn't be a freak like I was in the outside world but I seem to be bringing problems everywhere with me, doesn't matter if it's normal or magical world. Finding a place for me to stay and just be myself was hard in the normal world. I always knew that it won't be easy and that I will probably have to move around a lot. But then I got here. Sometimes even I was convinced that there is something evil in me. But if I found a small town, lived somewhere alone that I wouldn't bother anyone, I thought that somehow I could make this work. I thought that finally, after finding out about this other world, I can have a place to stay where I wouldn't be a freak. But if my powers or this thing inside me is going to ruin it anyway, I don't have a reason to stay. If I don't speak about this now, try to fix my life somehow, I may not ever.

Me: Excuse me. Rather than that, I wanted to meet with you, Principal Idarin, and ask you something.

Professor Coldos: You can ask questions later, during the tests.

Principal Idarin: Coldos! What is it, Ms. Holland.

Me: I just wanted to ask, if it's possible to leave the school.

Professor Minertha: Why would you want to do that?

Me: I had troubles all my life. When I found out it's because of me being a magician, I felt relieved. But then, none of the magic seems to be working for me except for these accidents. I think that I should not be here. If there is a way to leave, something like writing a resignation letter or sign a form?

Professor Coldos: Great. This would save us some work, if she leaves.

Professor Xyla: Doesn't mean that there won't be trouble later. If we leave this unattended and something happens in the future by her not knowing, the normal world could be exposed to existence of magic. Also it doesn't change the fact what the principals saw about the gate.

Me: I will try to not get agitated and use my magic by accident. Or if there is a power-stripping potion maybe?

Professor Xyla: You wouldn't know that.

I started breathing faster, trying not to choke on my words and convince them that I wouldn't cause any problems or expose magic to the outside world. It wouldn't matter if I stay here for five years and then leave, or just live my life in the normal world. In the end, I would end up there anyway with only worthless knowledge about magic practices I cannot use. This way, I wouldn't waste years of my life on something.

Principal Haydos: It's not that we don't believe you wouldn't be able to control yourself. The problem is, you wouldn't know anything about this. Also, you passed the examination by Professor Minertha who didn't find anything wrong but the gate still sensed something, almost rejected you and stayed open, connecting us to the outside world. That is something we cannot take lightly. You pose somehow a threat to the academy and we just cannot let you go wandering in the world not knowing.

Me: So you want me to stay and practice magic without doing actual magic that would help me control myself? And stay only to be your science project? I'd rather take the risk in the normal world. I managed without knowing magic until now so I will try to do it again.

Professor Minertha: Ms. Holland. I know you must feel angry about this but please, reconsider your departure.

Me: I set my mind a long time ago but didn't have the opportunity to ask you.

Principal Idarin was going to say something but as he opened his mouth, he got interrupted by a male voice from behind us. I turn around to see who it was and I see Professor Hale standing in the door frame. Same as the first time I met him when I came to the office and he was called.

Professor Hale: She doesn't seem to know.

Professor Coldos: Hale. What are you doing here?

Principal Haydos: I called him. I thought he might be able to help us in some way since his connection to his mother is the strongest.

Professor Coldos: I just hope he won't interfere with the investigation like the last time.

Professor Minertha: Don't worry, Coldos. We will all try to focus on this. But Killian is right. There seems to be a gap in understanding between us. Perhaps, you don't know what happens to the people who are in your position and decide to turn down the offer or are expelled from the school, Ms. Holland?

I shook my head and Professor Minertha gave me a warm smile. They all look at each other. Principal Haydos ended the whole conversation for now and postponed it for later, telling the council to leave and continue their work. Meanwhile, I was asked to stay behind in the office and sit down on the chair in front of the Principal's desk. He then explained the process of expulsion or leaving the school at the accepting ceremony. Apparently, there is a protocol to follow. I was sure that they wouldn't let me just go like nothing happened, but mind-wipe? Makes sense though. They need to protect the school but I thought this solution doesn't help at all. If anything, it only adds to the problems if people use their magic but don't know about it. People who don't go through with the entrance ceremony or those who get strikes and are expelled, have their memory taken and return to normal life. The problem is with those from prominent families. If the magic is around them, they would end up learning it despite everything, so they just leave those, but instead, they are forbidden to enter any magical school and are left with some basic magical levels or something about ascension I didn't quite understand. Depending on the source of power or if there is any dangerous manifestation, they bind those students with spells so that the magic doesn't present itself but it's only temporary. It could fade in years or it could fade in days. Since I have no magical family, well, more like I don't know who they really are, I would end up being wiped. All this power with no recollection of magic existing, it would be the same as it was before all over again. Falling back into that despair made me terrified. This way I could at least be under protection or people would be protected from me. After I learned about magic and came here, the incidents became more powerful than just some wind and lamps blinking at school. If something should happen again, people might get badly hurt this time. I have already destroyed a hall with a burst of electricity, imagining that in the real world, could do catastrophic damage or even worse, I could kill someone. Aveus or Umbras doesn't matter if they can keep eyes on me. Even if I don't belong here, at least I would be under control. So much for my plan leaving the academy and continuing to live like I did before all this happened. I guess I will just have to try making it work somehow, study some spells or maybe even do a research on the side about how to block my powers. Maybe if I ask for permission to get some other books that are not available for students, I might find something. Or Solya could help me create a potion. She had talent coming up with her own spells. And also Professor Nannieya might now about some plants that would have the same effect. I was coming up with yet another plan on how to work around this situation I was in and talked to the principal about it. He gave me an idea about becoming some sort of "ghost student". Not in a literal sense, but someone who will pretend to be studying here but not actually do any of the work. I was only meant to remain at the academy to be investigated, studied and protected, under control.

Principal Idarin: There are many questions around you and your powers, Ms. Holland. Please, reconsider your resignation from the magician course and stay here.

Me: If it wasn't for the mind thing, I would leave. But it doesn't seem safe for me to go outside with my powers going on a wild spree. Without knowing magic it could be dangerous. I will stay until this is all resolved. Sorry for the trouble in the meantime. When I get answers and my powers under control, I will see what to do then.

Principal Idarin: Thank you for considering this. I hope we can find what's causing this and help you. For now, we can change your studying situation at the academy. We don't expect you to pass classes but at least attend them, you might learn something. I will inform your teachers about this situation so don't worry about any exams. In the meantime, pretend like you are still a student, go through everything that is prepared for the students in the future. I would recommend minimizing the circle of people that will know about this, in case you wish to tell someone you trust.

After I decided to stay at the academy, or more like I was forced by the situation to remain here, Principal let me go meanwhile Professor Hale stayed in the office to discuss something else. As I was closing the door, I tried to listen in on the conversation. I could hear them say my name but the rest was muted. I looked at Professor Hale's face through the crack in the door but it started to become blurry. For a moment, it became clear as he got closer to me, saying something, but his mouth only opened and I couldn't hear any words. Then everything got blurry again as I lost my balance and fell down. The last thing I could feel was a warm embrace of someone's arms.

I don't know how much time has passed. I remembered leaving the Principal's office and then nothing afterwards, until I started hearing distorted noises around me. I try to open my eyes slowly which are burned by bright white light. I squinted to protect my sight and waited until I got used to the light. Then I saw a lady in a white dress and a nurse bonnet on her head. She slightly hovers over me and talks to me, but I couldn't hear anything through the sudden ringing in my head. I groaned because of the immense headache I had. I could feel the nurse shift on the bed and turn herself, sitting next to me and calling someone over. Blinking a few times, I tried to make sense of my whereabouts. I lifted my head and then pushed my upper body from the soft matrace. The nurse tried to support me and help me sit up. I grabbed my head which was throbbing, making me nauseous. Taking a few deep breaths, I managed to calm down my heart rate and everything got back to normal. Looking around, I see a big room with many beds. Some empty, some occupied with other people having nurses around them. Someone grabs my hand and strokes it slightly. It was Professor Minertha with a concerned look on her face. Behind her was Professor Coldos talking to the nurse who was taking care of me before and left in the meantime to switch places with Professor Minertha. After saying something to the nurse, she bowed and quickly ran out of the room, Professor Coldos leaving the spot near my bed and followed her. Professor Minertha told me to take it easy, calm down and wait for the higher-ups to come. I remained sitting on the bed, my legs now bent in knees to feel more confortable while Professor Minertha was trying to uplift my mood, telling me that everything will be okay and that they will do anything in their powers to help me. I didn't say anything, only gave her a soft smile as thanks for her warming words. Soon after, both Principals came to the nursery and walked in front of my bed.

Principal Idarin: How are you feeling, Ms. Holland?

Me: It's better but what happened?

Principal Haydos: You seem to have lost consciousness. It may seem the barrier took it's toll on you. It might seem that you were assigned rightfully to the Aveus Academy, just the effect of the barrier is taking longer to take action. It never presented in this way, which is a problem for the school and us to figure out, but it also means you are in the process of dissipation.

Nurse: We don't know that for sure, don't scare the poor child yet. Here take this.

The nurse handed me a small glass bowl with some silver liquid in it. She supported my upper back and helped me get the bowl closer to my mouth to drink it. I tried to gulp it at once but it tasted like a fermented cabbage with fish. I spit the the full amount of liquid I took into my mouth and started to cough. The nurse patted my back but also scolded me for thinking the medicine would taste like skittles and rainbows. She poured another batch and I mentally prepared myself first, then forced myself to drink it. The last sip made me gag but I put my hand in front of my mouth and managed to stop it. Principals then started to discuss starting the investigation sooner, maybe even trying to stop the effect of the barrier on me. Since I didn't burst into flames instantly when I crossed it, there might be some way even though this was the first time something like this happened and the principals are really bamboozled by it. Usually, when someone from Aveus touched the barrier by accident, their skin was burned by it and then covered in scars. If they walked in it, the barrier entered their body somehow and burned their bodies from the inside out in flames that has the same blue color as the barrier itself. But every incident was an immediate reaction meanwhile there is no scratch on me. The nurse urged them to leave me to rest for now and the tests can be done another day. The principals agreed, reluctantly because they thought the tests should be done quickly and they can somehow stop me from dying, but the nurse insisted pretty hard so the eventually left.

I sighed and slouched on the bed. Looking around, the infirmary was busy but quiet at the same time. Nurses walking around with trays full of bandages or medicine bottles and bowls. Coming and going out of the room, taking care of other students that were there. Some of them with burns resulted from unsuccessful spells or wounds from the combat training. Each one of them being treated but also scolded for their recklessness. Everything seemed lively there and everyone was in their own world. Nobody there stared at me and judged me like they did with the first rumors. When they finished up their treatment, the nurses discharged them and all bandaged they left the room. I was the only one hospitalized here for observation. It got pretty late. At first the sky was playing with orange and red colors as the sun was setting down, but then in turned dark. The room was dimmed, lighted only with candle flames. Even those were blown out by the last nurse that came to check up on me. After everything seemed okay, she wished me good night and blew out the remaining candles on her way out. The only light that was still in the room now was from the moon shining through the huge slim glass windows. I couldn't fall asleep at first, but as the moon moved in its position and was currently in the middle of the window slowly hypnotizing me, I fell asleep under its light. Drifting in dreams, suddenly the blue light appeared again. But this time it was only shining and nothing else appeared. None of the shadows or figures I started seeing recently. I felt at ease this time, even more after I started to hear this voice that somehow sounded familiar. At first, I couldn't understand the distorted murmur but still, it sounded so, lovely. I didn't see anyone there. It was just the voice resonating withing the light.

Woman's voice: You....resent.....later but......for......own good. Take....of her, Woreus.

I started to hear sentences even if not completely and wanted to hear the voice more. It was full of worry but at the same time, it calmed me down, like a warm embrace. Also, the name Woreus resonated in my head, I knew for sure that I heard that name somewhere but couldn't remember where. I tried to listen to the voice for a little bit longer, but then I was woken up by the talk around me that wasn't coming from the dream. I opened my eyes and saw two nurses discussing something around the bed that was right next to mine on the left side. I groaned and sat up on the bed which made the nurses turn and they apologized for waking me up this early in the morning. They've brought another patient while I was out. It was a young girl student whose skin was pale white with a blue tint. Her eyes were stuck open without blinking and her eye whites turned completely black. One of the nurses left and then came back with a bowl in her hands. She then walked up to me and gave me the bowl full of the same silver medicine I took yesterday after I fainted. She gave me a slight smile knowing how the medicine tastes but it was for my health so I had to drink it anyway. As I was gulping down the metallic liquid, my eyes shifted to the left at the girl's motionless body. At that moment, Principal Idarin and Haydos came into the infirmary. I thought they came for me and the tests I was supposed to take, that would determine which academy I should be assigned to at the end, but I was mistaken. They rushed over to the bed with the girl, Principal Haydos checking the girl's pulse and her eyes. Then he looked at the nurses, asking them when they found her and what's her condition in this moment. After he got his answers he looked at Principal Idarin with a very terrified expression and walked up to Aveus Principal, whispering something into his ear. While he was listening to him, the Principal's eyes shifted to me and our gazes met. He patted Principal Haydos on his shoulder with a gentle touch and then excused himself, walking up to my bed and sitting on the side right next to me.

Principal Idarin: If you are feeling better, the nurse will discharge you. Then you can go to the Magnus for the tests that are being prepared as we speak. I will ask someone to come to pick you up and show you where the investigation will take place, Kaitlin.

Me: You will not participate? What if Professor Coldos or the other council members want to expel me or something?

Principal Idarin: I understand your concern. Professor Hale will be there and I was told that the best of magicians will come to induce the tests, so do not worry. As you see, we have another pressing matter on our hands.

Me: That girl next to me. What happened to her? She looks....dead.

Principal Idarin: Yes, it is very unfortunate what happened to .

Me: Can you help her, Principal Idarin?

Principal Idarin: We will try our best to return her to the previous state, same as we will try to save you. But yes, for your wondering, this is a really tricky situation and it might not be successful.

I nodded and agreed with the course of the investigation. Mainly because I knew that at least Professor Hale will be there. He seemed not judgemental about me at all and somehow it felt like I can trust him. I wished that maybe one of the girls could be there to support me and I wanted to ask but the Principal then stood up from my bed, patted my left hand that was resting on my legs covered with the white blanket a few times, then left my side to join Principal Haydos again and they continued in their conversation. I didn't want to bother them, especially when the girl seemed in a worse situation than me having a buddy during some tests.

I continued staring at the poor girl and how everyone was in a haste, running around to help her. Then I heard someone whistle so I turned my head around to check the direction that it came from. I saw Young standing in the doorway to the infirmary, his arms crossed in front of his chest and an annoyed expression on his face. He untangled his arms, flicking with his index finger in a motion that meant to follow him. I guess the person that is supposed to guide me into the Magnus is Young. He looked annoyed like he usually it. I guess he got stuck babysitting me again. Another nurse passed Young on her way in while she entered the infirmary with some folded clothes in her hands. She reached my bed and put the clothing on the metallic table that is joined with the end of the bed. She pressed them a few times, giving me a warm smile, and then left without saying anything. I stood up from the bed with no problems, my body was rested and it didn't feel like I was supposed to burst into flames at all. Hopping on the ground with my bare feet, the cold hitting me, sending shivers from bottom of my feet to my whole body at the first touch, but walking to the table and getting new fresh clothes, I forgot the coldness soon after. I was wearing the same clothes as I had when I passed out, minus shoes and socks that disappeard somewhere. I picked up the stack from the table and unfolded it. Checking the clothes, I found out that they are actually mine. Magic would be so handy only if I could actually control it and do the same with it. I sighed and looked around the infirmary to find a place where I could change my clothes. I saw this screen made of folded curtains pinned to a metal frame. I pick the pile and go behind the curtains to change into the new fresh jeans and peach shirt. Putting on the white socks that were hidden in the pile, I walk back to my bed, realizing I don't have any shoes to wear. But after I got to my bed, there were trainers set next to the bed and also the table that was left empty after I took the clothes was occupied by a black folded fabric. I bent down to put the shoes on and then took the cloth from the table, unfolding it and finding out that it was my Ossilor cloak. I put it on the top of my clothes, tying up the two laces in front of my chest so that the cloak doesn't slip down. Principals and nurses left the girl and went to discuss further treatment in the corner of the infirmary which was filled with antique cabinets, chemistry equipment, and bottles either full of colorful liquids or herbs. I look at the pale girl lying in the bed and walk up to her bed, picking up her hand into my own and slightly pressing it, wishing that she would make a fast recovery. Then the girl started to shake suddenly, the bed with her. I let go of her hand and stumbled a few steps back. The nurses with the Principals ran to the girl and tried to stop what was happening. Principal Haydos ran up to me, grabbing my shoulders he started shaking me and asking me what happened. I was going to answer his question but then the girl stopped shaking. Everyone sighed and their gazes were focused on the girl. Even Principal Haydos looked at her while still holding my shoulders. Then out of nowhere something resembling grey dust formed over the girl's body, hovered in the air while it grew bigger, and then it flew right through me, hitting me like a wind with a force. I gasped for air, losing my vision while everything went pitch white. I could still hear everyone in the room, I knew that I was awake but I couldn't see anything. Catching my breath and flapping with my arms around, trying to hold onto something solid, support myself, and prevent myself from falling to the ground. My arms hit someone a few times, a person who tried to call me. Recognizing his voice, Principal Haydos still had a grip on my shoulders and tried to calm me down. He was then joined by the voice of Principal Idarin who also was telling me to calm down. After I slowed my breathing and stopped panicking for a while, somebody's hands touched my face. Holding my cheeks, the warm big hands turned my head slightly to the sides and then up and down. Moving my head back to the original position, my vision started going back to normal and I felt something was ejected out of me through my back. I started coughing while Principal Idarin walked past me, stretching his arm into the air and telling a spell in a language I couldn't understand, sounded like Arabic though. Still coughing up, I turned around to see what was going on while Principal Idarin was fighting the grey dust. One of the nurses ran up to him, handing him an empty brown glass bottle. He opened the lid on it and moved his hands in precise motions, guiding the dust into the bottle. When it filled up, he closed the lid, pressing it with his hand and pulling the bottle next to his body. He closed his eyes and mumbled another incantation. Done with the spell, he opens his eyes and looks in my direction. He wanted to say something and was going to walk up to me, but he was stopped by a sudden deep breath that resonated in the room. All of our eyes fall upon the girl lying in bed who started breathing and her color went from the ghostly pale into a beautiful warm pink. Her eyes also started losing the black color and went to normal. Well, at least you could tell which one is her iris and which is her pupil. But as the blackness resided from her eyes, it vanished with every color in it, her irises staying completely white. The nurses immediately went to her and started doing all the treatments like they would do in the hospital ER. After checking out if anything is wrong with the girl, they all exhaled like something that was suffocating them dropped from their lungs. The only thing that remained wrong with the girl was her white irises which we now know made her blind after she yelled that she cannot see anything. Calming down the whole situation, finally, the eyes fell upon me and I heard that one question, making my heart beat faster in fear.

„What did you do?"