A Class of Conjuring

I sat next to Braeden in Headmaster Eliphas office as he paced the room. He dressed differently than the others at the academy while he was in his office, opting for a business suit rather than the robe he'd worn while fighting Challis. His office also looked different, modern and nothing giving away his hierarchy in the world of magic. The man reminded me a lot of Kyler, hidden secrets and keeping to himself for the most part. I hated not being able to read him. None of the other students ever talked about Headmaster Eliphas. It was as if I were the only one ever brought to his office. If and when things calmed down at the academy, it would be time to do a little snooping into Headmaster Eliphas' life and background.

"Can you explain to me what in the hell happened during the field study while you were away?" Headmaster Eliphas asked. "This entire thing has been one big clusterfuck! I've got The Council all over my ass. They're threatening action against me!" His assistant walked in and got his wrath. "Out!" He then pointed at me. "You are becoming a pain in my backside. What am I supposed to do?"

"Challis attacked while we were training," Braeden said. "Wasn't anyone's fault. We were doing what we were sent to do." He glanced at me. "I thought we did well considering it was a surprise attack."

Headmaster Eliphas turned and pointed his finger. "Shush," he said. "I want to hear what you have to say." He pointed at me and then closed his office door. His energy filled the room and made the hairs on my arms stand up. But I still didn't understand why he didn't go after Edius. The archmage was the cause of the attacks. When Headmaster Eliphas returned to his desk his face wasn't quite as red.

Before I spoke, I noticed a picture of him, Aurelius, and a man I didn't recognize hanging on the wall. I wanted to ask if it were Edius, but I wasn't exactly sure how much trouble I was in. Pissing him off any more than I already had would probably mean being sent home. I made a mental note of the picture and planned to ask Oliver for help.

I explained what happened in the clearing, how Challis had appeared out of nowhere and attacked Barbarus. I then explained how the guys saved me after she stole my powers. "You really need to speak to Dash," I finally said. "He knows Challis." I didn't feel like I was throwing Dash under the bus, but Headmaster Eliphas needed to understand there was a history between the two. "We had nothing to do with her being there." I motioned at Braeden. "He's right, we held our own."

He stood and began pacing the room again, shaking his head and chewing on his thumbnail. He stopped and sighed. "I don't have many choices, Cassandra. You have lost your powers and therefore offer no value to the academy. You are a distraction. I've seen how the other students react to you, and even some of the instructors are afraid of you whether you have power or not." He stopped pacing and took his seat. Clasping his hands together, he rested them on the desk. "Don't," I said. "I have nowhere else to go." Terrified, I looked at Braeden for help.

"You can't," Braeden said. "She's worked too hard to leave now. And the students and instructors who are afraid of her just don't know her well enough yet. That's on them. You can't do this."

But Headmaster Eliphas could. He'd been looking for a reason to rid the campus of me, and now he'd found one. Maybe it was a punishment I deserved, but it was not a punishment the academy deserved. Sending me away would cause more problems than it would solve.

"You are no longer welcomed here, Cassandra. I've arranged for a transport back to your guild. I will contact Guildmaster Ren in the morning." The disappointment in his voice for having to remove me from the academy actually gave me hope. Maybe I was wrong about him. Or maybe the whole fucking mess was driving me insane. He didn't really want to send me away. "Now, if you don't mind, I have work to do." He started looking through a stack of papers. "Wait," I said and stood. "You have to let me help the academy. That's why I'm here. That's why they are here." I motioned at Braeden. "Please, Headmaster Eliphas. Challis has made this personal, and I swear to you I will help fix this and take her down." I looked at Braeden. He had no idea this was coming.

Headmaster Eliphas let out a loud groan and then sat back and loosened his tie. He studied us and then shook his head. "The Council will have my ass if I don't send you home. What is it you expect me to do? Go against their wishes?" Braeden stood and put his hands on the desk, surprising Headmaster Eliphas. He leaned forward. "You can't do this," he pleaded. "Guildmaster Ren told her if she returned without having control of her powers she would be banished from the guild. She has nowhere else to go, Headmaster Eliphas. You'll be sending her to her demise." He looked back at me. "We can't beat Challis without her. The academy can't beat Challis without her."

"Sit down, Braeden." Headmaster Eliphas stood, and he suddenly seemed taller. Anger crept across his face. He didn't like students addressing him the way Braeden did. He wasn't going to change his mind.

Braeden returned to his seat but scooted forward, almost falling off the edge. "She belongs here where there are people who care about her. There's nothing back there. This is where her support system is. This is where she means something to people." He shook his head in frustration. "You let her leave this campus, and we have no hope of stopping Edius." He said it slow enough for Headmaster Eliphas to understand every word.

Headmaster Eliphas nodded in agreement with everything Braeden said. "You understand all our asses are on the line now?" he said. "You make one little screw up, and I'll have you and them removed. Have I made myself clear?" I nodded and stood. "Thank you, Headmaster Eliphas. I won't disappoint you."

He shook his head. "I hope not because I'm getting too old for this shit. Out, both of you. And close the door behind you."

Shaking, I followed Braeden from the office, making sure I closed the door, and I snarled at the assistant before leaving the suite and leaving the suite door open. "I didn't think he would give in," I said. "I thought I was going to have to leave without even packing. We need to get Challis before she gets us!"

"I thought he was going to send us both home." Braeden stopped and took my hands in his. "I wouldn't have let you go home alone," he said. "I knew exactly what I was getting into when we came here together."

"I'm not sure that makes me feel any better," I said.

"We still need to figure out a way to get your powers back," Braeden said. "I think we rally the guys and see what we can figure out. I'm not buying your powers are totally gone forever. We're missing something important." I raised my hands and tried to create a fireball. Nothing happened.

We crossed the courtyard on the way back to the dorm; the grass and much of the sidewalks were still full of holes. I stepped over a pendulant that belonged to one of the teachers and decided to stop and pick it up. Aurelius' name was on the back. I stuck it in my pocket. We entered the dorm where things were quiet.

"You think we could talk for a bit?" Braeden asked. He held my hand, and our fingers instantly intertwined. "There are a few things I'd like to say. Just some things that have been on my mind about us."

I hugged his arm. "Of course," I said. "I hope you know you mean the world to me and always have even when we were kids. I know you've spent most of your life protecting me and, at times, keeping me alive. No matter how much I screw up you are always there to fix things."

He kissed me on the cheek, and we took the stairs to the dorm rooms.