“But where are we going to hide in the room? We have no idea what it looks like,” I said.
“We’ll just have to find spots to conceal ourselves once we get in there,” Charlie said.
I sighed. “I wished my healing powers were up to par. I could turn myself and the rest of us invisible with Anichi magic if I knew what I was doing.”
Doesn’t work that way… Oberi growled under the table.
“My mom can do it,” I grumbled under my breath.
I’ve told you before, your powers aren’t the same.
“We have illusion magic to hide us,” Kallie said. “I say we go now.”
We checked we weren’t being followed before we ducked into Hemlock’s classroom, which was completely empty.
“Come on.” Kallie took us toward the door at the back of the room. Alette peaked her head out of Kallie’s curtain of hair to watch.
Marcus held his breath as he splayed his hands over the doorway. “The ward is strong, but weaker than the one around the Warden’s office. I should be able to break it. Stand back.”
Magic swirled up Marcus’ arms, and he transformed the wisps into a large battle orb. He tossed it into the air, and it exploded above our heads. I flinched at the loud sound.
Marcus winced. “Sorry, I had to transform the magic. This should be good enough. Let’s go.”
Kallie opened the door. “Get through,” she hissed quickly. She shoved us in, and I came out on the other side of the doorway into a broad room. Kallie quickly recast the ward.
There was a circular table in the center of the room with eight chairs seated around it, along with a screen set up at the head of the room and a projector on a metal stand. The room was made of stone, with a high ceiling and stained-glass windows that let in false light. The ceiling was lined with thick wooden banisters and stone gargoyles perched along their length.
“This reminds me of the classrooms at Arcanea University,” Kallie said, turning in place.
“It has to be made completely of magic. No way would something this large fit in a closet space at the back of Hemlock’s class,” I noted. My voice echoed around the room and bounced off the walls.
“What are we supposed to do? There’s nowhere to hide,” Marcus said anxiously. He nearly tripped over Rishi as he began pacing back and forth.
When Marcus picked him up, Rishi began yowling—loudly.The more Marcus tried to shush him, the louder he got.
“Marcus, why did you bring that damn cat?” Kallie snapped.
“Rishi goes everywhere with me!” Marcus all but wailed. “Ava and Charlie brought Oberi!”
Excuse me, I could provide valuable insight, here, Oberi stated.
Kallie cast a silencing charm with a sharp wave of her hand. Rishi blinked his wide eyes. He opened and closed his mouth, but no sound came out.
I looked around for a place where we could conceal ourselves. I knew there had to be something.
“The ceiling,” I said quickly, pointing up. “We can hide on the banisters.”
“I can get us up there,” Charlie said.
Kallie and Alette fluttered upward, while Charlie levitated the rest of us up to the banisters with his Air magic. The banister we sat on was sturdy and supported our weight easily. It was wide enough that each of us could have our own space.
Not without bickering, though.
“Why does Charlie have the best seat? He’s right above the table,” Marcus asked. He scooted down to make room for Rishi, who was still gulping air trying to meow.
“Yeah, he should move to the end. He doesn’t have to see,” Kallie complained.
“I still need to hear!” he hissed, elbowing her aside.
