"Hmm" responded Zak. "That seems… complicated" he shrugged.

Salador chuckled. "Magic works in mysterious ways. Regardless, any questions?"

***

Zak nodded. “You and the others mentioned the term newblood a few times. What does that mean?”

Solaris waved his hand and a pair of glasses appeared. Another wave and they'd filled with orange juice. He offered one to Zak and took a sip himself before continuing.

“If a child has even one magical parent, they will be born with magic,” Solaris explained. “And in the same way, if both parents are non-magical, the child will also be non-magical, unless of course, magic itself decides to bless a non-magical child with magic. These children are known as Newbloods, as they bring new magical blood into society. There are usually only one or two a year, occasionally there may be three, but essentially they are very rare.”

"So I'm a newblood then" asked Zak curiously.

"You and your friend's young man" smiled Solaris.

Zak nodded again and took a moment to process the new information he'd been provided with. “Are Newbloods only special because they’re new to society?” Questioned Zak. “That brown haired fellow was looking at us with respect yesterday even though the four of us don’t even know how to use magic yet.”

“Very perceptive son,” grinned Solaris. “All Newbloods have a certain unique skill or ability that is written into their blood by magic when it blesses you. The abilities can range from very simple things such as having an affinity to a certain element, so they are naturally gifted in fire, water or earth based magic. But on some occasions we get children like you, with an ability so logic defying and full of potential that they can shake up the world as we know it. On top of all of that, Newbloods have a much higher chance of reaching the highest levels of magic compared to ordinary magical beings. Three of the five-hundred most powerful members of society today are Newbloods, which means that there is a one to two percent chance of any Newblood reaching the heights of magical understanding. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but normally only one in two-hundred thousand reach that level, so it really is a big deal,” he finished.

Zak dutifully nodded along to everything Solaris was saying. It was a lot to take in, but nothing too complicated was being explained, and Zak could process the information three times as fast of course.

“So certain magic can only be used by certain people?” He asked. “You said Newblood abilities are written into our blood. As in into our DNA or something” Zak probed, trying to apply his knowledge of science and genetics to the conversation.

“Hmm” Solaris pondered, scratching his beard as he did so. “Yes and no,” he responded. “On the one hand, new abilities are just new ways magic can be applied to the world. We could study Newbloods and invent spells and rituals to copy the abilities they are born with. In fact, most of the magical families can trace their heritage back to a Newblood somewhere up the line. However everyone, not just Newbloods mind you, have certain affinities and branches of magic that they are more gifted at. Every magic user in the world can conjure a ball of water for example, but not everyone can attain the level of summoning rain or controlling rivers and oceans. Due to this most magical families and clans specialise in something or the other, but also have several members who specialise in other crafts and branches. The Vitas family is a good example to use. They’re a family with a population of around thirty thousand members. They specialise in life and health magic, so a good twenty five thousand of them will either be healers, medics, potioneers or botanists, because their magic finds it easier to work those branches of magic. The other five thousand however could be anything. Elementalists, battle mages, spell crafters, researchers. Hell, they even have a few talented necromancers.” He chuckled.

“Wait, one family has thirty thousand members?” questioned Zak. “I assumed the magic world would be kinda small. Like with a total world population of one-hundred thousand. You're saying one family has thirty thousand members?” He asked incredulously.

“Oh absolutely. The total magical world population is around one-hundred million.”

Zak’s eyes popped out at the staggering number. If one in seventy people on Earth were magicians, how had he never met any before? How did they keep the whole thing a secret? Where had they been his whole life?

Solaris looked around at his expansive library. “You undoubtedly have many questions about the new world you find yourself in, feel free to use the library here to satisfy your curiosity. If you can’t find an answer you're looking for by all means ask me or my apprentice Zamfir. Now the more pressing concern of ours is what you intend to do next” he said.

“How do you mean?” Inquired Zak.

“Well most children aged twelve start at one of the nine-hundred and ninety-one institutes of magic. They take an exam and have their potential read and based on that, plus their own choices and preferences, they are placed in one of the institutes. However Newbloods automatically get a place in one the seven tier one schools. The Seven Schools of Sorcery” Solaris explained proudly. Zak could guess that Solaris taught at one of these seven schools.

“Unless of course, you're not interested in joining the magical world. Newbloods are always given the choice to have their memory wiped and continue with their normal life” Solaris smirked knowingly.

“No” smiled Zak. “The way I see it, I can accomplish everything I’ve wanted to more easily by joining this magical world. Also, I’ve never really fit in in the normal world, I’m hoping me being magical is the reason.”

“That’s the spirit” beamed Solaris. “Now here’s the interesting part. As I said you automatically get accepted to one of the seven schools. But with your three bodies we could pretend you're a triplet, which most of the world would assume you to be anyway, and send you to three schools at the same time!”

Zak eyes widened at the outlandish plan. Studying at three schools sounded amazing. Each school was bound to have their own libraries, which meant more amazing books for the bibliophile that he was to read. Also, learning classes from three different teachers with different techniques and perspectives would surely help him learn faster. He could make a multitude of new friends, a different group at each institution, and if magical buildings were as beautiful as the manor he was currently in - and the drawings he had seen in the books he had been perusing earlier - each school would be a marvel to merely look at.

“Is that possible?” breathed Zak excitedly. “That would be awesome, but I don’t want to pretend to be a triplet for life.”

“Pff, no problem at all. The Monarchs Council will probably be angry at me for allowing it when we eventually reveal your one person, but I’ve got a lot of influence there so there's nothing for you to worry about.”

“In that case I’m in” grinned Zak giddely.

“Excellent. Now we just have to decide which institutions to send you to, and I’ll deal with all the paperwork.”

Zak looked at him in confusion. “Does it matter which schools I attend? Don’t they all teach the same thing?”

“God no,” said Solaris. “Sure some subjects overlap between the schools, but there are so many branches of magic that each school specialises in something, just like the magical families I told you about earlier. Would you like me to list them for you and let you decide which to attend on your own? Or would you like my recommendations?”

“Both please” Zak politely asked.

“Smart boy,” Solaris smiled. “Well starting from home we have the Avalon Fortress of Invention. They specialise in old magic and, surprise surprise, inventing new magic. They’re also the oldest school, having been set up by Merlin himself over ten-thousand years ago. Secondly we have the Eastern College of Crafting. They specialise primarily in crafting weapons, but they also craft magical items and enchanted objects. Next we have the Forest Castle of Creature Taming. Again, what they specialise in is in the name. They tame creatures and magical animals for use in battle, commerce or even sports. Fourth on the list is the Elemental Institute of Magic. They have the world's most powerful pyromancers, aquamancers, geomancers and so on teaching how to manipulate the elements and master magic through them. We then move onto the Babel School of Life sciences. They specialise in similar branches to the Vitas family I was telling you about earlier. So healing, medicines, potions, botany etcetera. Second to last on the list we have the Nordic Hold of Obscure Magic. I taught there for some time as I specialise in obscure magic, which include branches such as the mind arts, blood magic, dark magic, rituals and many more. Last but not least, we have the Azure Academy. I know it doesn’t have as fancy a name as the other six, but it’s by far the largest school and teaches everything. It has the most professors, the most land and is the centre of all nine-hundred and ninety-one of the magical institutes.”

Zak felt his mind go numb at all the information being given to him. He never truly appreciated how diverse and intricate the magical world could be. These seven schools alone sounded mesmerising, and there were another nine-hundred and eighty-four other schools! He wanted to attend them all, or at least visit each one. But such a goal would undoubtedly take him years.

“Which three do you recommend, Sir?”

“Come now none of that. Call me Sal” the middle aged man laughed. “Taking your abilities into account, I would say that attending the Eastern College of Crafting is a must. Everyone crafts something in their lifetime. But using crafting to understand magic is in my opinion the most comprehensive way to attain power. I would also recommend the Elemental Institute of Magic. Most individuals have some affinity for at least one element. And the most used pathway on understanding magic for battle is elemental control. Lastly, it should go without saying that you should attend the Azure Academy. You’ll have access to resources and knowledge the other six just don’t have.”

Zak nodded. “I’ll research the seven and get back to you, if that's all right sir, I mean, Sal”

Solaris nodded sagely. “Always carry out your own research before making big decisions.” The regal man lifted his hand in the direction of the library door. After a few seconds of waiting, two items came flying through the air and were grasped in the outstretched hand.

“I want you to have these” he said, as he lifted the items for Zak to see. One of the items was a simple silver chain necklace with a miniature shield pendant. The other item was undoubtedly a wand. It was a deep red in colour and had silver lines spiralling up its shaft.

“This is an enchanted defensive talisman, ''Solaris explained as he lifted the necklace. "It will provide some protection against any who would wish you harm. It will also let me know your relative location. And this here is one of my old wands. Sandwood, nine and a half inches long, infused with sylvium with the core of a claw from a skoll" he said, looking at the wand lovingly. "By all means use it to practice anything you find in here."

The sound of a door banging open could be heard outside the library along with a booming voice.

“Sal, you old fossil. Where are you? Heron and Baxter are arguing about budgets again, and I need you to look over this rubbish before one of them kills the other.”

"I'm in the library, Pollux" called Solaris.

Through the door came a tall man with a rugged square face and wild thick dark brown hair that seemed to be growing not just from his head, but down his neck and back. He was fierce looking with very large canine teeth that seemed caricatural in appearance, but the smile adorned on his face made him seem approachable.

"Zakaria, this is Professor Alexia Pollux. He teaches with me at the Azure Academy. He's a bit wild in nature, but I've never met anyone more reliable or trustworthy."

Alexia let out a hearty laugh. "Don't try and flatter me, you old man. You still owe me 63 drakma. Now who's this" he said as he turned his attention to Zak.

"This here is Zakaria Sol. One of the Newbloods we rescued yesterday. Hopefully he'll be joining us at the academy this year."

"Hmm" he mumbled, analysing the young man in front of him. “A pleasure to meet you lad. I hope you do join us, you most certainly won't regret it” the tall man said in a booming voice.

“It’s nice to meet you too sir” Zak responded.

Alexia waved his hand at Zak "Call me Alex while we’re not at the Academy.” He paused as he looked at the two objects in Zak’s hand. “Sal, you've given him a talisman and wand. Are you taking him as an apprentice?"

"That is entirely up to him. But if he were to accept me as his tutor, it'd be an honour" Solaris smiled at Zak as he stood from the table. "Have a look at those books and feel free to use the kitchen and any of the rooms. I'll see you at dinner lad" Solaris said as he left the library with the now stunned Alexia.

How talented is this kid if even Solaris wants him as an apprentice he thought to himself.

Zak sat back in his chair and took a few moments to process everything. He proceeded to walk around the various floors of the library picking up books on magical theory, the seven schools of sorcery, magical creatures and most especially medical compendiums. He had a lot of reading to do and no matter how much he already loved reading, he had a feeling this session of knowledge acquisition would be like nothing before.