Now

I look over my shoulder for the umpteenth time, ensuring no one is following Ari and I in the daylight. The hallway is much different this time, the daylight streaming in in thick beams through the stained glass windows. The spirits move around us here, taking in the newcomer.

"This is Ari, a friend of mine," I tell them as we slow to a stop.

"Ari," the whisper carries to us.

"Wh-who was that?" Ari stutters.

"These here are the spirits of those who passed that fateful day," I inform.

"From the Battle of Vimroar?" I nod in reply. "Oh."

I begin walking again, the grand doors groaning as I push them open, reminding me that I should fix the reluctant hinges. Ari follows close behind, gasping in awe at the large library hidden inside.

"This is amazing." She walks past me, placing a delicate hand on one of the first shelves. She looks at me, "We aren't supposed to be in here, its forbidden."

"You can leave if you are afraid of being caught, but if you want to learn about old magic, this is where the books are."

Ari nods as she looks longingly down the space between the bookcases. "I'm not afraid, I want to learn."

The faintest smirk pricks up in the corner of my mouth, "Then lets learn."

The next few hours go by with me helping Ari find the best history books to start with. How magic came to be, the first mages and all the stuff that they refuse to teach in this school. The more it sits with me, the angrier I become at the fact that this school will not let the students learn about their own history, where this all came from.

"So, mages were given their magic from the Goddess Iacia as a reward for helping her in a war and then she scattered artifices around the world for those invested to use and learn how to wield it?"

"Yes," I confirm.

"This magic requires a clear mind and the ability to picture what you want to happen in order to direct the spell." Ari is now just reading the passages aloud, letting me listen for any mistakes in her understanding. "To start learning, you must begin with small spells and work your way up. If you start with too advanced of a spell, it will more often than not blow up in your face."

I leave Ari to continue her studying while I move over to the window and sit at the table there. I cast a cup of water onto the table and put my wand away, stretching out my fingers on my left hand before tugging down on my sleeve. I sneak a glace over my right shoulder at Ari, ensuring she didn't see anything. Satisfied, I return my attention to my hand, turning my body slightly to not allow Ari a glimpse at my magic. My eyes burn a hole through my palm as my mind is emptied, filled only by the image of my blue flame. My lips remain sealed together as send my magic pulsing through my hand. Come on, I plead with myself, Work! A few bluish sparks jump in my palm, but none of them ignite a flame.

"Gah," I flick my hand and let it drop. "Damn it."

"Are you okay, Ky?" Ari looks up from the final few pages of the book and shoots me a worried glance.

"Yes, I just...nevermind. I see you are pretty much done the book."

"I am, it's a very interesting read. I can't believe they don't teach this in school, this magic may be more difficult to execute, but it is much more efficient."

"I agree with you. Okay, tomorrow," I glance out at the setting sun in the window. "Tomorrow we will figure out your affinity and from there we can start your lessons."

"I can't believe the sun is already hanging low. Why don't we go get some dinner?"

Then we leave the peaceful library, walking for the Grand Hall.

***

The whole school is now here on the field awaiting for Headmistress Harlow to announce what exactly the Affinity Test entails. Ari leans in towards me, bumping my shoulder with her own and with it knocking a small smile onto my face. Apollyon turns towards us with curiosity until Headmistress clears her throat into the microphone.

"Hello and welcome to the first annual Affinity Challenge!" Cheers erupt in the crowd before dying out. "We will each be separated into five groups and you will be asked to perform a spell from this list," she presents us with a light of short spells and I assume they are the beginner spells for different affinities. "Once you find a spell that speaks to you, you will go out onto the field and cast it. This will tell us all what your affinity is to better help you advance in your magical capabilities while here at the school. For this year, all of the levels will participate, but in coming years, it will only be the first years who partake in this challenge. I want everyone to separate into groups by what floor of the dorms you are located in."

The mass of mages begin moving around the large field, finding their hall mates and creating five groups. The process takes about twenty minutes before everyone stops moving. Headmistress Harlow has a list of students that I assume are separated by dorm. She reads off five names at a time, drawing in each student to read the paper and head across the field, spread out as each of them draws their wands out ahead of them.

This continues going on, five students at a time, separating into groups on the other side of the field by affinity. The weight of students slowly tip heavier towards the other side of the lawn as my side dwindle down to the last few. Apollyon is in the next group and he barely glances at the sheet before taking his place on the field. I can see him pull his wand out and struggle with a spell. What is he doing? I squint, willing my eyes to focus on him. He mouths out a word that is strangely similar to Levi but nothing happens. He sighs after a couple attempts before muttering Aura and a gust of wind rushes through the trees ahead. He said that his affinity was telekinesis. Why lie?

I am apart of the final group to go along with Ari and Ansley. I glance at the light of spells, not surprised that the only spell on there that matches my affinity is fire. No one wishes to believe that Shadow Magic continues to exist. I roll my eyes as I walk over to the center of the field with the other. If I am right, I can't fake my results like Apollyon attempted to so I must come up with a different plan and quickly. If I am right, Ansley had a fire affinity. Maybe I can steal her flame temporarily before she needs it. Her flame can mask the colour of my own. I nod and shake out my arms, satisfied with my decision.

"Accio," the faintest mutter of the spell escapes my lips and the spark from Ansley's palm transfers to my own hand, the small flame dancing over my hand just long enough for Headmistress Harlow to see before I release it back to Ansley.

I walk to the other fire affinities who are still watching the other four students on the field. Ansley joins soon after when her own orange flame ignites. Whispers race around the students at the sight of Ansley's fire no longer being blue in colour. I internally wince, regretting not just switching our flames. That would have made it more risky for other to potentially see the blue sparks in my palm before transferring it to Ansley.

I briefly look over to where there are eyes watching me and notice Apollyon staring with a squinted gaze. Damn, could he have read my lips from all the way over there?

I move my attention back to Ari who is already walking over to stand with a small group of healing mages. Why am I not surprised? Ari is so kind and loving that it makes sense that her affinity is healing. I have never been great at healing magic myself but I can think of a few ways to help her learn still.

A shocked gasp runs through the crowd and I look over to see a young girl who is wielding a wind current that glows a vivid purple. She breathes heavily and the wind dies down. She turns to us, worried that she has done something wrong. Headmistress Harlow rushes through the crowd towards the girl, stopping just a few feet away.

"Trish, do you know what this means?" Headmistress grins wide. The girl, Trish, shakes her head. "This means that you are a Spiritual Mage, they are incredibly rare. Almost as rare as...well, lets just say they are very rare."

Almost as rare as a Shadow Mage, that is what the headmistress meant. Even in this day and age, no mage will speak of shadow magic.

"What does that mean?" Trish replies in a small voice.

"It means you don't only have one power that is strong, you have a few. You can learn to speak to the dead, view prophecies that have yet to be told and control wind. Not much else is known about Spiritual Mages, but I am sure you will figure it out in due time."

Unsure of what how to reply, Trish just nods her head appearing overwhelmed. She is directed to stand with Apollyon and the other wind affinities due to her wind magic. Headmistress reposition herself at the podium before speaking again, "Okay everyone, remember those around you. These are you fellow affinities, your friends to aide you in advancing your magic."

I take a quick glace around the fire affinity group and catch a glimpse of someone, he is just standing there, speaking quietly to another fire mage. I don't know what draws my attention to him per se, it quite possibly may just be coincidence, but my mind tosses that possibility from my head. No, there is something there, something I can't see right now. I memorize his features, ingraining them in my mind to draw on at a later time.

"Alright now, everyone, I want you all to remember those around you in your group. These are the ones who will help you and the ones you will help throughout your journey here at Vimroar." Headmistress claps her hands together to dismiss the group. Mages begin separating off into groups within their affinity, learning more about each other.

I turn to Apollyon, planning on confronting him, but Ari steps out of the crowd ahead of me. "I guess there isn't must you can help me with now, is there?" She looks down at her feet, shame covering her features.

"Why would that be the case?"

"Well, I am just a healing mage and you are a fire mage, how could you help me with my magic now?"

"I know a few things, Ari, don't sell me short. I can at least start helping you with generic spells and you will learn from there with that knowledge. Healing magic is incredible, you will be able to help so many people."

A smile forms on Ari's lips, the same giddy one she always wears. It was strange seeing her with a frown, it didn't seem to fit on her face. Ari leaves me and finds a guy somewhere in the crowd, I think he also has an affinity for healing. I return my attention to where I last saw Apollyon, but he is no longer there.

"Ky." the deep voice shoots through my like a spear and I turn around quickly to see Apollyon standing right behind me.

"What do you want, Apollyon?"

"I saw what you did out there, something went wrong. I don't know how exactly, but I know you did something to Ansley's flame."

Technically, I didn't do anything to Ansley's flame, I just borrowed it for a few seconds before giving it back. "I don't know what you are talking about, Apollyon. I did nothing to Ansley's flame."

The light shake of his head tells me he won't believe anything I say on the subject. "I know you are up to something and mark my words, if you try to harm anyone here, I will stop you."

"I am not planning on hurting anyone." I glance once more at him with a hard stare before I begin walking away from the crowd.

I don't get far before I hear him mutter, "Then why else are you sneaking around at night?"

If anyone should be suspicious, it should be me. Telekinetic affinity my ass. Why would he lie about being a wind mage? Does he see it as a lesser power? I let out a huff as I continue walking away from the crowd towards the dorms. I need a serious nap.

"Chhaya," the light voice calls after me and I begrudgingly stop walking, turning towards the headmistress. "Can I speak to you in my office?"

Oh no. "Of course."

What is it now? My brain reels with possibilities ranging from possible to outrageous as I follow Headmistress Harlow to her office in the academy. The stroll is completed in utter silence, neither of us willing to break it. What has she figured out?

Headmistress gestures at the chair in front of her desk and I take a seat cautiously. "The chair won't bite, dear," she chuckles and I try to remove the look of feeling unconformable from my face and body. "It has been brought to my attention that you have been out of your dorm at night. You must know that is against the rules put in place here to keep all of the young mages safe."

I nod, wondering how she knows. Did Apollyon go tattling to the headmistress about this? Is he really that worried that I am trying to harm the school?

"I was working late a couple nights ago when I heard the wind whispering in the corridor. When I went to see what was happening, I could hear the spirits moving around with joy and that is when I saw you in the centre of them, reading a book. They all seem very interested in you." She remarks and I lift my eyes to meet hers.

If she could see the spirits, then that means..."That means that you are a-"

"Spiritual Mage, yes, I am."

I instinctually lean back in my chair, putting more distance between us. "Does anyone else know about this?"

She shakes her head, "I don't tend to go about telling people. It can be a dangerous world out there, I don't need mages attacking the school to get to me."

"Why are you telling me this?" If she has kept this a secret for so long from so many, why tell a random, closed off student who breaks the rules?

"I am telling you because there is something about you, something that is different. Those spirits were in agony ever since I first came to this school. The pain was too much for anyone to even look down that corridor, but now? Now, there is a happiness radiating from it, spreading throughout the school. I know you must have done something there and they are showing their appreciation. The children are playing again, having an interest in the school after more than a hundred years of sorrow. I want to know how you did it."

I chew on the inside of my bottom lip, ideas of different lies flashing in my mind as I try to grasp for one that would make sense. She knows it was me, I don't know how she knows that exactly, but she does. If I deny it, she will see right past my facade. The time is passing quickly, the window of telling a lie is closing so I do the most unintelligent thing I can think of in that moment. I tell her the truth.

It comes tumbling so quickly out of my mouth as if I didn't have a say in the matter. I question whether she is forcing the truth out of me. "I never learnt new magic. I grew up surrounded by old magic and that is the magic I use. I cast a simple spell on the library to bring some peace to the children there, that's all. They let me visit and use the books there." I press my lips so hard together that they begin to hurt. Don't you dare say anything more on the subject, I threaten my mouth that seems to have a mind of its own at the moment, but I manage to reel it in, keeping it under my control.

"That is how you have advanced well above the other students here." There is not question in what she says. The gears of her mind turn in her eyes before she speaks again, "Maybe we were wrong to keep hold of the new ways. Maybe we should have returned to the old magic after the war was over." I offer a shrug of my shoulders, still not trusting myself to speak. "Thank you, Chhaya. That will be all."

I stand, nodding my head curtly before seeing myself out the door. She whispers out a be careful as I close the door behind me and I walk away.

What just happened? Why did I say that? Stupid brain. I stride down the hall, heading for the dorms once again when I feel a presence behind me. Apollyon.

"You won't find anything out just by following me, you know." I call back without turning my head, continuing my saunter outside to move towards the dorms. The presence speeds up and walks beside me now, realizing where I am headed. "So, why did you lie?"

"Huh?" Apollyon asks.

"Why lie about your affinity?" He shrugs. "You know, there are a lot worse of affinities to have out there. Wind can be very helpful when mastered."

"I, uh, I don't know really. When I was young, I would get teased by my affinity, I had gotten so used to the lie that I guess it stuck."

Getting teased for your affinity is dumb, but I am probably the one person that would understand that more than anyone. Not only was I teased, I was exiled and shunned. Only one person ever liked being around me for me and he is long gone. I didn't stay long enough to see him come back, to watch him be happy. It would have hurt too much.