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30
Raven
Normal,it turns out, moves quickly. None of the other students knew what happened. It wasn’t even a topic of gossip. Other than catching up Makayla, I hadn’t even discussed the crazy weeks prior with a shadow fae after me.
It was strange how easily we all settled into a routine. Strange and wonderful. Though, it did come with the downside of having to take my turn at the Spellcasting exam.
My palms were sweaty as I stepped into the familiar room. I was here twice a day for lessons. But every time I entered, I had to shake off the ghosts of what happened in here.
Today, though, I was far more focused on what this test would bring me than what had occurred in the past. In an odd way, it was sort of comforting. It was probably the first time I was in the Spellcasting room thinking about my exams and my classes without the nagging dread of the showdowns with two different fae.
“I assume you’re prepared for today’s exam?” Professor Flora asked.
“I hope so,” I said.
“Good,” she crossed the room and set a single black stone down in front of me.
My chest tightened. Maybe I hadn’t let go of the past as much as I thought I had. Memories of using the stone to help Professor Halifax open the portal flooded through me.
“What exactly are we doing?” I asked.
“First, I’m opening a portal, and you’ll close it,” she said. “On your own this time.”
“Not to Faerie, I hope,” I said.
She smiled. “No, not Faerie.”
I blew out a sigh of relief. After the stories I heard about Matt and Zach’s tests, this didn’t seem so bad. “I think I can handle that. It’s just an illusion after all.”
“Not for you,” she said. “The others got an illusion. Your magic needs proper training. You’ll be closing a real portal. Then, you’ll be opening one of your own.”
“Wait,” I said, my pulse racing. “I’ve never done that. And it’s supposed to be really dangerous.”
“Do you know why the time thief wanted your magic?” Professor Flora asked.
“To get stronger and open a portal,” I said.
“Yes, but do you knowwhy?”
“I was told it’s the strongest magic there is,” I said.
“Time magic is especially important with portals because when you go into another realm, you’re not just opening a space, you’re affecting time. Time moves differently in other realms. Spend a week in Faerie then return here to find you were only missing for an hour.”
“Wow,” I said. “I didn’t realize.”
“Your specific type of magic doesn’t necessarily make iteasierto open the portal, it makes it more accurate. Less dangerous. It’s like using a key instead of picking a lock,” she said.
“So that’s why she wanted it?” I asked. “It wasn’t about power it was about accuracy?”
It sounded so foolish. Was it worth years of stealing magic just to make your portal?
“More than accuracy,” she said. “If you open a portal and it’s not stable enough to handle the time shift, it can collapse. Often with the caster inside of it.”
“That’s why they’re so dangerous,” I said.
She nodded. “Most humans and similar creatures are so focused onpowerthat they ignore nuance. It’s not that the stronger magic users can do this better, it’s the type of magic. The ability to hone it so it’s more accurate. It’s a subtle art that isn’t taught and isn’t appreciated. It lacks the showmanship that some other magics have.”
“Why is it forbidden, then?” I asked. “I mean, I get why stopping time isn’t allowed. I’ve seen the damage it can do. But why not teach or cultivate time magic if it helps with travel between realms?”
