I’d been shunted from the tower so the schemers could scheme in my absence. After debating whether to cut my losses and high-tail it out of Magisterium before I got in to deep… I ended up at the Academy’s courtyard with the other academs that made up my class of six. Besides those I’d already met— Rogue, Rocket, Frank, Nadia— there was one last person, but I had my doubts about whether we’d have time to get acquainted anytime soon.

My thoughts were all pushed aside by more pressing matters. For starters, Merlin had us run circles around a dirt track. Sowillo made its way across the sky as we pushed our bodies to their outer limits for our teacher’s perverted amusements. Although I wasn’t the first to fall into an exhausted heap, I was close behind the utterly complacent Frank Stein, which didn’t make me all too proud of my athletic ability. Rogue put us all to shame. I lost track of how many times she lapped me before Merlin called a water break.

Merlin had us form up in front of him. “Ah, yes. Right about now you must be wondering: who is this muscle-brained fool?”

I was too busy throwing up the water he’d been in such a hurry to guzzle down to respond. Turning my head to look at the others took more effort than it should’ve. Laying in a watery pool of my own sweat and vomit, I was glad I hadn’t had a big breakfast like Rocket. No one else seemed in the mood to talk, either.

“There’s a rather simple answer to that. Call me what you will: drill-sergeant, professor, teacher, magus extraordinaire, mad scientist, genius, villain, slave-driver,” Merlin coughed. “Plenty of options to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find one to your liking. Unfortunately, our time together is short, far too short to turn you into respectable academs, so there’s no time to dilly-dally.”

Sowillo was nearing its zenith. Merlin made a rut in the bright green grass as he paced back and forth in front of us. The muscles of his legs bulged almost haughtily as he pivoted and turned, pivoted and turned. I swore I heard his pants tear from the strain. The young-looking old pervert combed his hair back and regarded his charges, all of whom— besides Rogue— were totally spent.

“Contrary to popular opinion, the power of a magus is not just strength of mind, the most powerful magus is strong in mind and body. Channeling anima places a tremendous strain on the body, which undoubtedly comes as no surprise to those of you who’ve dabbled in the arcane arts. No matter how much latent ability a mage possesses, the body must first be made strong so that it can withstand the physical toll.”

After much debate with my unresponsive body, I managed to cross my legs under me and support myself in a sitting position. My core was a wreck, and I knew I’d fall over if I tried to stand. Is this what I had to look forward to for the foreseeable future? I wasn’t too sure I wouldn’t be better off trying to survive in the wilds of— where was Magisterium again?

“Get a good look around you, boys and girls. You may live elsewhere, but this training ground is your new home,” Merlin said with an uncompromising grin.

With reservations, I surveyed the track and field that Merlin had led us to earlier that morning. All over were people, first class citizens like us. There were groups like ours, usually averaging twenty or thirty academs to a hardboiled magus, but their “curriculum” was the same. Some were partaking in more advanced strength training and weight lifting exercises, while others pushed their bodies to become more flexible under strain.

Not a one could be seen practicing anything resembling magic, but to my senses, they were all alight with vital energy above and beyond the Magisterium citizens I’d brushed up against in my short time here. A school of magic that didn’t teach magic? It seemed preposterous, but that’s what the Academy looked like.

“The Academy doesn’t abide by slackers and good-for-nothings. Half of those you see will be gone by the end of the month. Only the best graduate from this fine institution, and I expect more than that out of all of you. If and when any of you layabouts decides they can’t handle the training regimen, don’t bother coming to class. Report directly to the headmaster, he’ll take care of the details of your expulsion.”

Right then, Frank shifted his weight like he was thinking about taking Merlin up on his offer. I knew it didn’t sound like a walk in the park, but was the guy so unmotivated that he’d give up before we had really even started? A surreptitious glance my way kept him seated, but that might’ve just been because he was miserable in his sweat-soaked clothes.

Rocket’s stomach grumbled, and Merlin laughed. “You get hungry, there’s a mess open around the clock. The gray sector— and all the others for that matter— will be open to you once you’ve completed this portion of your training, but until then you’ll be confined to the barracks there. Be warned— if for any reason you’re found outside your quarters past curfew, you’ll be expelled.”

With a twinkle in his eye, Merlin pointed out a rugged pile of rock and stone that I’d disregarded earlier. It was easy to overlook, seeing as it bore such a close resemblance to the dilapidated ruins of Manzant. More confinement? I repressed a sigh. On the bright side, I was probably more used to sleeping on unforgiving surfaces than most would-be academs. So long as I didn’t have to worry about where my next meal was coming from for the foreseeable future, I’d survive.

I was startled to attention when Merlin clapped his hands in front of my face. “Well, I think that about covers it. Break time’s over! Let’s get back to work molding your bodies to match those bright little minds of yours.”

To me, Merlin became something very much like what I envisioned a drill-sergeant to be. He made us do push-ups first, and when our arms gave out he had us switch to planks. By the time he let us move to a standing exercise, my core was a ball of fire and I felt like I’d thrown up everything I’d eaten since arriving in Magisterium. I ran bonelessly through obstacle courses, casting aside my pride to crawl over whatever barred my way.

We were stretched out in a line, running in place. At Merlin’s shrill whistle, we’d drop to the ground, do a push-up, and hop back to our feet. My forehead was red and raw from all the times I’d wiped sweat away before it could get in my eyes. My world shrunk till all I could see was Merlin, all I could hear were his barked commands and reprimands.

“Dig deep and show me what you’ve got, Shiro!”

“Nadia…. that’s quite splendid form you’ve got there… but you do seem to be lacking in endurance,” Merlin the pervert said.

“Don’t just lay there! How long you going to keep me waiting, Mr. Stein?”

“Rogue! That’s… well done. Be sure to keep up the good work.”

“Rocket! We all know you’re strong as an ox, but your form is atrocious. How about you slow down and think a little for a change.”

“Better shape up, Rathlin. Nobility is no excuse for inadequacy.”

An officiant appeared. “Sir, I’ve been assigned to assist you and provide anything you might need for the academs-in-training. I brought canteens,” the assistant said, his arms full.

“Much obliged, academ,” Merlin said with a wry smile.

“It’s an honor to meet you sir, truly. Jessop’s the name. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything, anything at all.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Good day, Jessop.”

Awkwardly, Jessop deposited the canteens at our feet, then stepped back. For a second it looked like he might turn heel and run, but instead he took a few big steps back and hovered uncertainly around Merlin. I crawled on hands and knees to grab a canteen, my mouth watering at the delicious sloshing sound. Unscrewing the top, I gulped down the water so fast that I choked— and threw up, again.

“Ladies and gents, it’s your lucky day. First day and already getting special treatment from the higher-ups. Looks like your fellow academs are most pleased with this turn of events.”

Men and women, boys and girls— newly minted citizens of all ages were scattered across the track and field. All classes appeared to be experiencing a coordinated lull in the daily regimen of activities. From what I saw, the assembled academs-in-training were enjoying the break to the fullest, gossiping amongst themselves. They all seemed to be watching.

I thought I heard Rogue growl, but I might’ve been imagining things. “They better find something else to look at before I claw out their eyes.”

Jessop frowned at Rogue, but Merlin looked more amused than anything else. “I’ve heard that direct eye contact is incredibly rude in Giralith. Is this not so?”

“Since when… monsters?”

“Never seen… do you think… safe?”

“Whatever you do… don’t look her in the eyes… eat your face off…”

Rogue bared her teeth in a predatory smile. “Step forward if you dare, sheep. Like my ancestors before me, I’ll show you why humans fear the dark.” Alongside the bloodlust that poured off her in waves, I sensed a pain-wrapped anger emanating from Rogue.

While the challenge would’ve normally elicited some sort of reaction from me, I was just too tired to care whether someone ate my face off or not. Others must have been more awake or more in tune with their animal instincts, because some thirty or so people responded quite violently. Some jerked back as if avoiding the chomping jaws of a beast, while more than a few did what they could to create distance between themselves and Rogue’s simmering rage.

Merlin was grinning like a fool. “Fancy that, a few looked to have wet themselves. Jessop, why don’t you see what you can do to get them taken care of? I’m sure it would be a great help to the other professors— and of course, I would be quite pleased if you acted on my behalf.”

“Professor… Merlin… sir… when are you going to teach us how to do magic?” Frank said.

“Does anyone else have complaints about how the Academy operates?” Merlin smiled benignly and waited, but his question was met with silence. “Oh, come now, don’t be shy, if you have something to say, speak up,” he prodded gently.

“I’d much rather be attending lectures or learning practical skills, not exercising,” Nadia chewed up and spat out the word like it was rotten meat.

Not that I hadn’t been wondering the same thing, but I would’ve had to be asleep not to notice the sharp edge hidden beneath Merlin’s gentle words. I glanced aside, noticed that our small group was the only that hadn’t gotten back to work.

“It’s true that those of you in this class are blessed with potential far greater than the average magus…” Merlin smiled endearingly at Nadia, “… which makes this training all the more essential. Many before you have become citizens and entered the Academy, only to find that they thought themselves above the basic training that is the foundation of all Academy mages. Knowing that, do any of you feel inclined to follow in their enlightened footsteps?”

Despite the softness of his voice, the threat was palpable. I had the distinct impression that the people Merlin spoke of hadn’t remained first class citizens for long. I wondered. Other than being relegated to a lower class or leaving the City of Wonders, what happened to first-rate applicants that washed out of academ training? Surely the Hall of Lords wasn’t so wasteful that they'd toss them out like so much trash… right?

“Every citizen has a role to play, and the academ’s is to follow the example set by Headmaster Alfarian. Your rank comes with privileges, but they’re just that— Magisterium has no need for slackers and parasites that aren’t willing to put in the work.”

Crickets. Rocket flexed his ripping muscles and smirked in a way that seemed to say that brawn had trumped brains in this instance. Although Nadia looked perfectly composed, she oozed frustration and cold fury. Even Frank Stein put aside his usual complacency for a moment. Rathlin’s eyes shone with amusement.

For my part, I didn’t do much besides take a final sip from my canteen before I put it aside; I’d suspected a show of disciplinary force from the start. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that every trained Magus turned professor went through the same thing with each crop of new students. Seeing as Merlin was more of a visiting celebrity, I bet they were significantly less charitable when dealing with insubordination.

Merlin beamed. “Consider that your first practical lesson… and the last warning you’ll get. Up we go! Before anything else we’ll need to get you all warmed back up, then we’ll switch up the tempo and increase the intensity.” His clap was the signal to begin again.

For hours we trained. I lost count how many times we jogged-walked-sprinted around the track. Although I fancied myself learned from my years of reading dusty books and ratty old texts, I was ignorant of many of the exercises we did before Merlin taught us them. The training regimen challenged every inch of my body to become stronger, and no matter how pitiful my efforts may have seemed, I strove with all my might to meet that challenge head-on. Some point after I became used to the burning of my underdeveloped muscles, I started to almost welcome the way the pain kept me alert.

Everybody else had long since disrobed, many times to the waist— I kept my cloak pulled tight around me to protect myself from Sowillo’s harsh rays. While my skin was effectively protected from the afternoon sun, I was sweating buckets. It was all I could do to drink enough water, but I collapsed several times from the sweltering heat. When that happened, Jessop would shove a canteen into my hands and drag me back to my feet.

Sowillo had set over the western horizon more than an hour earlier and the last bit of light was fading from the sky when Merlin whistled shrilly. After drilling incessantly with few breaks, my mind took some time to catch up with my body. When it did, I stumbled to a stop, swaying, then fell onto the grass in a heap.

I slept soundly that night, waking up only once to find that I’d been moved to a rocky bed in the barracks. On the second day, I awoke to the enticing smell of fresh-baked bread and meat stew. Every joint in my body screamed in protest, but I followed the promising scent to the mess where a plain-faced cook served me a hearty helping without a word.

My body was bruised all over and had been stretched past its breaking point, but I was still in one piece.

All the would-be academs were seated at tables with hard benches that, like the barracks, looked designed to be uncomfortable. Almost every seat was full and since I didn’t receive much of a welcome reception, I holed up in a corner and stuffed my face.

Minutes later, I soaked up the last of the stew with the last bit of my bread, chewed, and swallowed. Had I not been worried that I’d lose my stomach, I would’ve gone for seconds— probably thirds, too. While I’d been devouring the morning meal, my entrance had not gone unnoticed.

“… makes them so special?”

“Been here for weeks… gives them the right…”

“… get rid of them.”

“… won’t last three days.”

“Won’t let them… if they do… teach them a lesson.”

There was a chorus of laughter from one of the tables nearest me. Evidently the other academs-in-training didn’t hold us in high regard. I wasn’t surprised, and I didn’t really blame them. Being how accustomed I was with being hated for being different, I understood the instinct to create togetherness by recognizing otherness and banding against it.

I let the misplaced enmity slough off me. I knew if it let it, the dark emotions would weigh me down and hold me back. Instead of lingering, I went outside to meet the day. Sowillo was low enough in the sky that it hadn’t become visible yet, but soft morning light already played across the the outdoor gymnasium. I breathed in deeply, reveling in the feeling of being alive.

My nose told me it was going to be a sweltering one, and I regretted my eternally pale complexion. Before that regret took root and grew into something more, I stretched out my aching limbs and started a slow jog around the track. I had no illusions that things would get easier from then on. No, I expected Merlin to ratchet up the intensity of our training again and again. Each time our bodies started to become accustomed to a certain level of exertion, we’d be pushed to meet a higher standard. Slowly but surely, the weak would be weeded out as the bar was raised, and the three weeks allocated by the headmaster would be up.

“Three weeks.” What were a few weeks, in the scheme of things? Nothing in comparison to the time I spent in captivity as a local deity to a small village that I didn’t care to recall.

“I want to get stronger. Much stronger. I want to be strong enough that I’ll be able to choose my own destiny. I won’t be enslaved to the will of another again, not ever.”

My shadow danced. “That’s the way, kiddo,” Nyx said, his voice sounding far away.