Page 27 of Facade

He’d been immersed in a book Saturday night when a humming sound diverted his attention. It sounded familiar, but Heath couldn't place it. Putting the book down, he prowled through the house with Rascal at his heels, searching for the source of it.

There was nothing unusual in the house that he could find. All the doors and windows were closed. The air conditioner was running, but this was a different, distinct sound that didn’t resemble an appliance or anything mechanical.

Something nagged at him, but was just out of reach. It was intriguing and irritating at the same time. Heath was thinking that the mystery would drive him nuts when the sound stopped.

Annoyed, he sat back down in his favorite wingback chair to continue reading. Now, he was too distracted to focus on the story, however. Giving up, Heath decided to lay some flooring upstairs before going to bed for the night. The project needed to be done, and it might release some of his pent-up energy.

He had dated a few ladies sporadically over the last couple of years, but saw no point in getting invested in someone who wasn’t his mate. Bars and nightclubs held little appeal for him outside of birthday parties, or similar occasions. Heath preferred socializing with people he was fond of, rather than strangers.

The house was a fixer-upper, and Heath didn’t have the money to hire contractors and a crew. It made sense to him to devote his spare time to renovations. Doing the work himself was a slow process, but also rewarding. He had become a homebody, and didn’t regret it.

Since Nadine taught at Venus, and lived in Clementine, they saw each other frequently. Usually, they met for lunch or dinner in town, at least once a week. With his sister close by, he didn’t feel isolated.

His parents called to catch up on news, and say hello. It was a nice, but fairly short conversation. Heath’s mom and dads all taught at North Eastern Evolved University. They were well aware of how busy a new term could be, and just wanted to touch base.

Heath spent most of Sunday working on the house, only taking breaks for meals and daily chores. He made good progress. The odd sound from the previous night was forgotten until he heard it again in the late afternoon.

Rascal trilled, with his head cocked to one side. He was curious, but not anxious. So, it was nothing bad. That was something, anyway.

What the hell was it? This time, Heath sat and listened intently, focusing on the nuance of the tone. It was an alert of some kind, a spelled one. He was certain of that much.

His memory still wasn’t cooperating. Heath didn’t know what the alert was for. It wasn’t the wards around the house.

He could probably figure it out by going through his spells. Most of his spellbooks were still in boxes, though. The sound persisted longer than it had the previous day, but eventually subsided.

Shaking his head, Heath got back to work. Whatever it was could wait. He would solve this mystery, but it didn’t seem time-sensitive.

Monday morning, Heath went for a run before showering and getting ready for work. His first class was small, with just the underage casters.

This course could be rewarding or frustrating to teach, depending on the students. The crop this year was currently somewhere in the middle. Heath greeted them as he entered the classroom, and sat down behind his desk.

“Professor Halston, when do we get wands?” Robert asked.

“There is no specific date for that, but probably next year,” Heath replied patiently. He remembered his own excitement at the thought of receiving his first wand, and feeling like a real caster. “You are all here due to having a burst of magic you couldn’t control. It’s important to recognize the power inside you, and how it responds, before adding wands to the equation.”

“Mr. Voudrie told us that the first casters used their hands and intentions, without spells or wands,” Steve commented. “He said the first wands were experimental, and didn’t work well.”

“That’s correct,” Heath said. “It was a process of trial and error. Wands have been in use for nearly four hundred years, and are the best conduit for channeling magic. But it is possible to cast without one. You will each need a wand that works best with you and your magic. Having a better understanding of that will help you choose the right kind of wand. It’s smart to know how to direct your magic without one.”

Adam nodded. He was quieter than the other two, but paid attention in class.

Robert looked confused. “I know there are a lot of different styles and colors, but I thought that was a matter of personal taste.”

“To some extent, yes,” Heath said. “You want to choose a wand that you are drawn to, that responds to your magic. There are other factors to consider, though. Power rankings, and what fuels the power, is important.” He held up his own wand, which was carved from rainforest jasper.

“While people with other classifications may have more than one power and multiple rankings, as casters, we just have magic. Since magic is very diverse, that’s not a hindrance. Most casters have one power ranking. My natural father is an earth elemental. Therefore, I have two ranks, one for earth spells, and another for all other castings, with earth spells ranking higher. A stone wand works best for me, since it resonates with earth.”

“I might have an affinity for water spells, since my dad is a water elemental,” Steve said.

“Exactly. You manifested as a caster, but probably have a strong tie to water,” Heath agreed. “A wand that is carved from a tree that grows in water might work best for you. Everyone has different strengths. This class will help determine where you excel, and what you struggle with. Now, let’s begin the day’s exercise, and meditate.”

Heath coached the boys to connect to their magic, and get a feel for it. After they left, he decided to visit the library, since he had some free time between classes. Browsing through notification spells might jog his memory so he could solve the mystery of the humming.

Clark and Russell were near the front desk when Heath entered the library. Not wanting to get caught up in conversation with Russell, who still flirted with him occasionally, Heath headed straight for the spellbooks. He was on a mission, and didn’t wish to be sidetracked.

It took him less than ten minutes to find the spell. With that discovery came the recollection of what the alert was for. In his first year as a monitor, students had been sneaking down to the basement.

Most of them were drinking or smoking. Heath might have turned a blind eye if it was just a few older students fucking around. Having a couple of beers in the dorm was safer than driving drunk or staggering around Clementine.