I was sitting on an incredibly uncomfortable bench outside the rector’s office. Why on earth would he summon me in the first place?
It’s hardly about my studies. I’ve aced all my exams. Summer’s just around the corner, and I’ve already been assigned a spot for my internship.
Nothing exciting, in my opinion—just shuffling papers in a magical clerk’s office and stamping documents. Still, even that’s a big deal for a girl who isn’t a hereditary mage.
Yeah, I’m just an ordinary person, no better or worse than anyone else. But when I turned twenty-two, a magical gift awakened in me. Who knows why? In our world, that’s rare. Most people inherit their magic.
What else could it be? Maybe I forgot to return a book to the library? But if that were the case, I’d have gotten a reminder by now.
I glanced at the secretary, who was diligently moving papers from one end of her desk to the other, pretending to be swamped with work. She wasn’t fooling me, though! I saw her stash a romance novel in her drawer the moment I walked into the reception area.
I cleared my throat.
“Excuse me, Ms. Rosanna, how much longer do I have to wait here?”
She looked up from her desk and spoke in a high, thin voice.
“As long as it takes, my dear young lady, as long as it takes. You know how busy the rector is, so just wait!” She went back to her oh-so-important task.
I gritted my teeth.
The door to the reception area swung open. A tall, lean blond man strode in with a confident gait. Instantly, I felt the urge to jump out the window, even though we were on the third floor.
I knew this guy with the pale hair—or more accurately, pale eyes. Yeah, you don’t forget a face like that! Sharp features, full lips. He could’ve been considered handsome, if not for one little detail.
Picture normal eyes, but instead of a colored iris, there’s just pure white, with only a black rim and pupils. That’s something you only see in elves, as my friend Ellie explained to me.
The stronger an elf’s magical gift, the whiter their iris.
He glanced at me, and it was like I was transported back six months. Goosebumps prickled my skin. I felt the cold, the pain, and the metallic smell all over again.
I’d almost managed to erase those memories. Memories of being kidnapped by a megalomaniac mage who drained my magic—thankfully, he didn’t kill me. My classmate Diana wasn’t so lucky; she didn’t survive. And Maggie was left without her magic entirely.
I don’t remember much about being held captive, but that didn’t stop this pale creep from digging around in my head. This guy—Lye, if I remember his name right—was convinced he could extract some information from me.
Elves are incredibly powerful mental mages. They can easily compel a person or mage to do anything. They read memories and sense mental waves like it’s nothing.
During the interrogation, I honestly felt like I’d rather be kidnapped by that lunatic again than stare into those white eyes and feel my insides twist into knots.
“You’re putting up quite a resistance,” the pale-eyed elf had said in a soft, pleasant voice. “Relax, let me see what you saw.”
Just thinking about it makes my hands shake! Thankfully, he didn’t get anything out of me, and they eventually left me alone.
Ms. Rosanna practically jumped out of her chair. Quickly fixing her hair, she chirped in her most welcoming tone.
“Oh, Mr. Balmont! Good morning! The rector is expecting you. I’ll let him know right away!”
I clenched my fists at her blatant favoritism and was about to say something when the pale guy spoke up.
“Thank you, ma’am, but I’ll wait. I see someone else is already here for the rector.” His gaze slid over my face, his eyes narrowing. “Miss Flora… Flora Killy, isn’t it? It’s a pleasure to see you again. That dress looks lovely on you!”
A pleasure to see me? My dress? How does he even remember me?
I wished I could turn invisible. Or maybe he’s just mocking me? This dress is ancient—probably a hundred years old. It used to be dark blue, but now it’s some faded, indeterminate shade of bluish-gray. Plus, I had to magically resize it, and sometimes you can tell.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Good morning, Chief Investigator,” I said, recalling the only thing I remembered about him—his title.
I wasn’t about to thank him for his dubious compliment. Who even compliments a stranger like that?
He studied my face intently. Not again!
“Stop staring at me!” I screamed in my head.
“So, ladies, if you don’t mind, I’ll wait until the rector meets with Miss Flora,” he said.
The secretary flashed a fawning smile, leapt from her chair, and hurried to the rector’s office.
The elf sat down next to me. Great, just what I needed! Couldn’t he have picked the bench across the room?
“You’re too tense, Miss Flora. I’m not going to do anything to harm you,” he said politely.
Yeah, right, go jump in a lake!
“I wasn’t thinking anything like that!” I snapped irritably.
“Really?” He shifted his eerie eyes to my hands, still clenched into fists.
I hadn’t even noticed I was gripping my dress so hard my knuckles had turned white.
“What’s it to you?” I exploded. “And anyway, couldn’t you sit somewhere farther away from me?”
It came out rude, but I didn’t care.
He stood up and moved to the bench across from me. Somehow, that made it worse.
“I apologize if I’ve disturbed you. I always thought sitting on the other end of a bench from a young, sensitive lady wasn’t against the law,” he said.
Yeah, he’s definitely mocking me!
Thankfully, Ms. Rosanna returned and told me I could go in.
I’d never been in the rector’s office before, so I was blown away by the ostentatious luxury all around me.
Furniture made of magical wood! I’d only seen stuff like that in magazine pictures. The high ceiling was adorned with chandeliers shaped like Krygs—winged horses. A panoramic window spanned the entire wall. In a word, it was over-the-top!
I couldn’t help but wonder if this was even legal.
In the basement the academy assigned to my department, the plaster was peeling in places, and here they’ve got silk wallpaper!
I was practically seething with anger. Today was definitely not my day.
The rector—a short, stout, bearded man who looked about a hundred years old, though I suspect he’s even older—scrutinized me with sharp, black eyes. His name was Olwin Gautier, an absolute mage and retired military officer.
“Good morning, Miss Flora…” He glanced at a folder on his desk. “Miss Flora Killy. Please, take a seat.”
“Good morning,” I replied, sitting on a carved chair.
It was even worse than the bench. Probably intentional, so no one would want to linger here.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve called you in,” he said.
I nodded.
“Well, I have an interesting proposal for you. As I understand it,” Mr. Gautier buried his nose in the papers on his desk again, “you’re set to do your internship at the magical clerk’s office?”
“That’s right, sir.”
Where’s he going with this?
“You see, your department is new, and I don’t think the clerk’s office is the right fit for you.”
I tensed up. Yes, the Universal Magic Department was only established this year, after a scandal and investigation—partly tied to the maniac who kidnapped me. But what does that have to do with anything?
“So, I have a better offer. How would you like to spend the summer in the Elven Kingdom? You’d work in the library-museum in the heart of the capital.” He stretched his lips into a smile that looked more like a smirk. “You’d see the most beautiful city in the magical world, as they say. So, what do you think?”
What I thought was that this proposal stunk to high heaven.
“May I ask a question, sir?”
“Of course.”
“Why me?” I asked bluntly.
“You’re a top student, and this is a great honor. Not every student can hope for an opportunity like this!”
“Really? Then why hasn’t half the academy jumped at this chance? We’ve got plenty of top students from aristocratic families who’d kill to work with elves!” I was starting to lose my cool.
“You’ve got a sharp tongue, don’t you?” The mage paused for a moment. “Here’s the thing—no one wants to go there.”
“Why not?”
“Because elves are the most powerful mental mages, and for many young witches, that’s a problem. You, on the other hand, aren’t as vulnerable. I’ve read the reports from your interrogations—you held up well. Plus, you’re studying here for free. Don’t forget that. I don’t even need your consent.”
“Are you threatening me?” I felt my magic surge heavily toward my hands. Sparks flew from my fingertips.
“Not at all, Miss Flora! I’m simply explaining the reasons. You’re old enough to understand that, in your situation, you don’t really have a choice. Think about your future. After graduation, having an internship with the elves on your record will help you land a really good job. Consider this a favor I’m doing for you.”
I thought it over. Yeah, I’m just a regular girl living with my grandma in one of the poorest parts of town. My education is free, and who knows, maybe Master Gautier is right about some things.
“Why does anyone even need to go there?”
“Oh, that’s simple. No mystery here,” he waved a hand dismissively. “We’ve signed a student exchange agreement. This is the first attempt. If all goes well, maybe more witches will go next year.”
“And if it doesn’t go well?”
“Look, Flora, anything can happen. As you rightly pointed out, many of our students dream not of an internship with the elves, but of a marriage bracelet. So, in that regard, you’re a much safer bet. Forgive my bluntness, but we both know where we stand, don’t we?” He cast a pointed look at my dress.
“What happens if I refuse?”
The man paused for a moment. He stood up from his chair and walked to the window.
“I’ve already canceled your internship at the clerk’s office, so finding another placement could be quite a challenge,” he shrugged.
I felt like I was about to burst with anger.
“But that’s illegal!”
“Dear Miss Flora Killy, let’s do this—I’ll give you until tomorrow to think it over. If you refuse, you’ll have to find an internship on your own. If you don’t, you’ll be expelled from the academy. No one’s going to bother with such trivial matters.”
He stared at me with his piercing black eyes, and I knew there was nothing I could do.
Where would I even go? Sure, I could ask Ellie for help—she’s from an aristocratic family, after all—but I hate asking for favors. Even from a friend. I’m used to relying on myself. I’ve made it to twenty-two without anyone’s help, haven’t I?
Fine, to heck with this rector. Elves it is, then!
“I agree,” I said coldly.
“Good for you. I knew you were a smart girl.”
“But I have a condition.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll need money. I doubt living in the Elven capital is cheap.”
Mr. Gautier waved a hand and visibly relaxed.
“Don’t worry about that. You’ll receive a monthly stipend. You’ll be staying with an old Hinka, Mrs. Shmok.” My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “Yes, yes, you’ll get to see what they look like. If you have no more questions, you can go pack your things. You need to be there in two days. You can’t get there by portal, so you’ll have to cross the desert on the Arrow.”
My head was spinning. Hinkas, the Arrow, elves...
“Anything else?” the rector asked, a bit irritated now.
“They say the capital is huge. How will I find this Mrs. Shmok?”
“Oh, she’ll meet you at the station. Don’t worry about it!” He glanced at his watch. “Unfortunately, I’m out of time. The Arrow departs from the western station, Frost Grotto, on Tuesday at seven-thirty. Don’t be late! You’ll get travel money from a Kmykh.”
Kmykhs are what we call the academy’s servants. Rumor has it they were created all at once.
Picture a stone person dressed in a blue velvet suit. Their arms and legs are as thick as tree trunks. They’ve got a massive head, with eyes, a nose, and a mouth somehow perched on it, all crooked and uneven. And the cherry on top? A hat. Still, Kmykhs are incredibly reliable servants and guards.
“Well, then, I’ll be going, sir. I won’t say thanks.”
“We’ll talk about that when you return. Take care, Flora Killy.”
I got up from the chair and walked out to the reception area.
The pale elf was still sitting on the bench, sipping coffee like he was at some fancy social event. His long legs practically split the small space in half. I had the urge to give them a good kick.
But when he noticed me, he stood up effortlessly, setting his cup on a tray.
“Ms. Rosanna, thank you for the excellent coffee,” he said, then turned to me. “Miss Flora, it was a pleasure to see you again!”
With that, he walked into Mr. Gautier’s office.
A pleasure to see me? What a pale jerk!
I stormed out into the hallway and headed to my room. On the way, I picked up the money for my ticket from a Kmykh.
Living with a Hinka! That’s actually kind of exciting. Hinkas are a brave and independent people, famous for literally fighting for their right to live among the elves. Elves generally don’t get along with anyone, and very few can coexist with them.
Long ago, the elves were nomads searching for new lands. On one island, they found the Hinkas and thought it’d be a great idea to enslave them and use them as servants.
When the elves finally settled in the territory that’s now their kingdom, the Hinkas rebelled. They fought so fiercely and bravely that their former masters had no choice but to grant them freedom and the right to live among them as equals.
Though, according to some books, certain restrictions for Hinkas still exist. What the books don’t have, though, is a description of their appearance.
Well, that just makes it more interesting to see one in person. As much as I love books, they can’t replace reality.
When I got to my room, Marta was there. Short, curvy, with long white curls, she looked like a marshmallow cake—and was just as light and cheerful.
“So, what did that old fossil want?”
I didn’t catch on right away.
“Oh, you mean the rector,” I said with a smile. “They’re sending me for an internship with the elves.”
My friend’s already big blue eyes widened to the size of saucers.
“What?!”
“Yeah, and I can’t say no.”
When I recounted my conversation with the rector, Marta’s hair practically puffed up with anger. See, Marta has one of the strongest magical gifts in our department, maybe even in the whole academy.
For one thing, the magic that awakens in ordinary people like us is different from what hereditary witches get. Our magic is universal, meaning we can heal a wound or fry an enemy if needed. Of course, it depends on the strength of the gift—mine’s average.
Hereditary witches are different. Their gift awakens at eighteen, while for us, it can happen at any time. Plus, they’re only skilled in one of four types of magic: healing, creation, protection, or attack. Based on that, there are four departments: Healing, Creation, Defense, and Combat.
Now, they’ve created a department for us too. That didn’t exist before. The most people with gifts could hope for was a special course, after which they’d get a worthless certificate saying they could work as maids or assistants to healers or creators, stuff like that.
But back to my friend—Marta’s biggest struggle is controlling her powers, which leads to all sorts of mishaps. She’ll accidentally set something on fire or blow up a classroom. So, sparks flying from her fingers or her hair standing on end? That’s nothing unusual.
“Listen, we can talk to Ellie! Let her husband or uncle pull some strings with the rector. This is just outrageous! And traveling through the desert, where it’s crawling with ancient evil spawn? No wonder the aristocrats aren’t going! Who’d let them?”
Marta stomped her foot, and the window glass cracked.
“Don’t get worked up. I’m not asking Ellie or her husband for anything.”
“But why?” she asked, surprised.
“I just don’t want to! Besides, they’re finally on vacation on Lava Island. I’m not gonna bother them. No way!”
“Then I’ll tell her myself!”
“Marta, you know when I make up my mind, that’s final. Maybe the rector’s right. An internship with the elves could help me land a good job in the future.”
“Yeah, if their magic doesn’t fry your brain!”
“It won’t. Don’t worry.”
Honestly, I wasn’t so sure about that, but as they say, don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
“I’m leaving on Tuesday.”
“Oh, that’s so sad!” Marta whined. “I thought at least you’d stay here with me. Now I’m doomed to sit here all summer and go to classes with Mr. ‘Teaching a Human Unworthy of Magic Is Beneath My Dignity’!” She sighed dramatically.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Marta,” I said, pulling out my suitcase. “I doubt Poker will drive you up the wall by the end of summer.”
We nicknamed Master Darkness, who teaches dark spells and basic combat magic, “Poker.” Tall, bald, always dressed in black, with big green eyes and an earring in his ear, he looks more like a pirate than a professor.
He got the nickname because anyone who didn’t do their homework had to scrub pokers until they shone. And doing that without magic? Good luck! Where does he even get them? It’s pure torture! Try scrubbing centuries-old soot off something thin and slippery that keeps sliding out of your hands!
Marta flopped onto her bed.
“By the time you get back, I’ll need new hands. I can feel it—I’m gonna wear mine out scrubbing those stupid pokers!”
“Then just do what he tells you.”
Marta sat up and threw her hands in the air.
“I try, but it’s hard! And what does he keep saying to me? ‘Nature wasted such a powerful gift on you!’” she mimicked in a deep voice. “‘You should’ve been a man! What do those curls need brains for?’” She bared her teeth. “I could just strangle him!”
“Well, to make you feel better, no one’s ever heard a compliment from him. Plus, rumor has it he used to teach at the Triune Academy for boys.”
“Wonder why he ended up here, then?”
I shrugged.
The Triune Academy for men got its name because it has three departments: for white mages, black mages, and absolutists—those who combine both types of magic.
It’s located in the capital, so it seemed a bit odd that Poker was teaching here now.
I didn’t have much stuff, so I packed quickly.
“You’re not staying with me until Tuesday?” Marta asked, eyeing my suitcase.
“Sorry, girl, but I want to spend at least a couple of days with my grandma. I haven’t seen her in three months. You know she doesn’t like using the crystal, so it’s just letters. I’ve missed her so much!”
“Fair enough. I’ll walk you to the portal, then.”
I nodded. Recently, they installed a portal on academy grounds just for students, so getting home has become easier.
“You know, I’m actually a tiny bit glad I’ll be stuck here all summer,” Marta said, looking down at her feet.
“Because of your dad?” I guessed.
“Yup. I won’t have to deal with all those suitors he keeps pushing on me.”
I snorted. Marta’s dad is a wealthy merchant who’s obsessed with marrying her off to one of his business partners or some other rich guy. He completely ignores the fact that she’s a mage, and regular folks don’t exactly love mages. Plus, Marta herself hasn’t liked any of them.
“The last one, when Dad told him I’m studying magic, nearly jumped off the balcony!” She laughed.
We stopped at the portal—a tall white arch in the middle of an evergreen garden.
“Well, Marta, wish me luck!”
We hugged and stood there for a moment.
“I hope your internship brings you tons of new experiences!”
“And I hope Poker doesn’t work you to death in his dungeon!”
We burst out laughing.
“Alright, bye! Write to me, don’t forget!” Marta shouted as I raised my transition bracelet to the column. The passage lit up, and as I stepped forward, I yelled back:
“Byeee!”
Dear Readers!
Here begins a new story about Lye de Balmont and Flora Killy!
They will embark on a journey full of adventures, but as always, a happy ending awaits them.
I hope you enjoy it, and for now, here’s a little visualization.
Support the author by subscribing, adding the book to your library, and giving it a like, so more readers can discover it!)