- - - 2.5 - - -

I woke up before the sun had come up as I usually do. I pushed myself off the warm floor and got up. I was out to prepare breakfast but remembered that there was no kitchen here, so I walked around the room for a bit, thinking where I would get food. I could steal from the neighbors… but they’ve magic—I could throw poisonous mist into their room but that’s terrible.

I opened the window curtains, and was met by the glare of the rising sun. I winced as I adjusted my sight to the bright light, rubbing my eyes to somewhat soothe the sting, then a crowing sounded from behind me, startling me and waking the kids and Kidlat up.

I looked to the noise’s direction and found a rooster, double the size of normal roosters, with feathers alternating between black and white, and a tail on fire. Normally, if I saw a burning chicken, I’d put the fire out and then eat it, but I knew this wasn’t a normal rooster.

It was an aitvaras, a type of shape-shifting yāvan – A rank, which forced itself inside people’s homes, providing either bad luck or good luck but the hassle occurs when it gets outside, because it transforms into a cockatrice, a feathered dragon.

Kidlat was growling now and circling the aitvaras, sparks arcing on his back, very ready to lunge upon it with my command. I raised my hand, calming him down but not his lightning.

I gave a wink to the twins on the bed, a signal for them to hide and they covered themselves with their blanket. I backed up slowly as the aitvaras came forward. I was without any means to defend myself. I would gladly use Kidlat’s lightning but the room was too small, I couldn’t guarantee that the twins wouldn’t get hit. I was seriously, considering the option of punting it, hoping it would through the door, but I refrained because I was severely short in cash, and the door looked to be carved from very expensive wood.

The aitvaras was a foot away from me now – so close, I could just fucking kick it away – and it started crowing like a broken alarm clock. Lucinda probably thought this was a sing-along for she started making noises while being on the safety of her bed, too.

After making noises for what felt like an hour, which was probably closer to just a minute, the aitvaras flapped its wings, floating a few feet up, it vanished into smoke that was replaced by a tall black-haired, young man with blue eyes.

Lucas upon seeing the youth, he leapt up from the bed to the floor and came running to the uninvited visitor, crashing into his leg and plopping on the floor with his butt. “Kuya Shuwa!” he said, looking up to him with sparkling eyes.

Shura smiled and helped Lucas up, then ruffled his black hair, making him giggle. Well… at least, he’s more animated, I guess, but Kuya? When’d they get close? I looked at Shura with scrutinizing eyes, then with wide eyes, because Lucinda was running over to him, too.

“Kuwa Shuya!” she said, looking up with an eager grin.

“What did you do to them?” I abruptly stood up and shouted, pointing an accusing finger at him as he ruffled Lucinda’s black hair. He got Lucas and Lucinda, both? Is this the power of magic?

Shura looked at me, disinterest painted on his face. “You’re thinking very odd things, I take it?” he said, “I vowed to undertake in the task of teaching them how to do magic, after their surge but for today, we’ll be tackling the basics.”

I grimaced. The surge… how’d the fuck did I even forget that? It’s only been a day-and-a-half. “About three days from now, right?” I asked him.

He nodded. “Impressive, that you can sense the mana-buildup…” his voice had a hint of slight admiration, and then his mouth opened like he’d been struck with a sudden thought. “Ah! That was a random quirk of the Null physiology, along with immunity to mental attacks… I would be delighted to show you articles on Nulls, if you like.”

“I think that would be good… and all Nulls can sense mana! Thought that depends on the individual’s training and how good the target is at hiding their presence.” Must be why people tend to experiment on us. “A Null I knew told me that, before Madame Vera, the witch of our witch-town and the reason why we’re here, caught and crucified her in the village square. I just reached twelve if I recall.” It wasn’t really the most colorful of memories.

Shura gave me a shrug – didn’t even bat an eyelid to my brief tale. “Yes. Well… cafeteria for breakfast. Let us go but before that…” he gave us a sweeping gaze, “a bath might be in order. A guide shall be left to escort you to the cafeteria. Ready your things, for after breakfast, we shall depart.” And he vanished in a puff of smoke.

I narrowed my eyes at the sight but shrugged it off before I presumed more and hurting my head in the process. I then led the twins to the bathroom – they were still almost-two years old, so a chaperone to the bath was still needed.

Kidlat went back to sleep.

In the bath, it was the usual: Lucas by the tub, waiting for me to get to him while I chased Lucinda around, trying to get her hair done, then giving the both of them a bubble bath. I only washed myself with water and shampooed my hair – no soap for me. We finished and went out just as Kidlat was waking up.

I dressed the twins in matching shirts and shorts, and sweaters with a star-print for good measure. Oh, my little angels. Kind of weird to have thought that… Next, I wore simple pants, a shirt that says Aerosmith in it – must’ve been a band or something, Pre-Anabasis – and worn-out sneakers. Placing some flasks and vials from the suitcase into a backpack, I went out the room, twins in hand, dog behind and stuff on my back.

The guide was waiting for us by the railings, and we followed it as it moved. It seemed that most of the students here were not morning creatures because the hallways were very quiet, not even an early-morning rendezvous with significant others – or do things like that just happen in my fantasies? I hope it doesn’t…

Fortunately, the cafeteria was very close, a good three minutes by foot. It was rather large, too. How rich was this school, anyway? You could fit a fourth of a stadium, here. Guessing correctly, there were at most only fifteen people here, excluding the staff.

The guide was still on the move, leading us to a table near the food stalls. The cafeteria was done in a way similar to food courts.

Sitting by the table was Shura, eating a shawarma. He waved at us, and the guide vanished. “Food is given gratis. To Kidlat, as well,” he informed me, and then resumed eating.

I took the twins by the several food stalls, asking them what they wanted. Lucinda wanted to eat ice-cream, which I promptly refused, saddening her – those eyes aren’t going to work on me little missy. Lucas on the other hand, wanted cereal, so we all got cereal (with milk), except for Kidlat who somehow managed to have snagged some raw meat. I shrugged it off.

We sat with the twins across each other, me across with Shura and Kidlat underneath the table, chewing on his bone. I narrowed my eyes at Shura – he had somehow gotten a small pile of paper-wrapped shawarma beside him – while I ate. I mumbled something, trying to get his attention.

“You seem to have many questions…” he said without looking up, eating another shawarma.

I sighed. “Good that you know. So, what first…?” I pondered it for a moment. “Um… why’d you give me poll results?” It seemed very pointless and annoying.

“Precautions…” he said, folding an origami swan from a shawarma wrapper. He had made five similar swans, indicating he had eaten many.

“What?” I asked. “You think I care about stuff like that?” Because I really don’t. Why should I?

He shrugged. “Perhaps…”

I sighed, shaking my head a bit. “…then, what was that with the aitvaras?” That thing was so out of left field. I even thought they were extinct, on account of rumours that they were evil.”

“I did tell you to prepare at the correct time, but if you’re inquiring as to how I obtained such a creature… there are legends that say the devil seals them, you know…” he had now made an origami rhinoceros. How’d he do that?

“You know what? Let’s just eat.” And I started eating.

“Very well.”

After a few minutes of silent eating - silent for me perhaps, because Lucas was asking Shura many questions and Lucinda was shouting –, we went outside and immediately, Lucinda dragged Lucas by the hand to a nearby fountain with Kidlat following them, leaving Shura and me standing by the cafeteria entrance.

The sky was blue, small wispy clouds, warm light on us… it was going to be a good day, and it looked like people have begun to wake up. There was a slight flood of people now.

“So, why should I have brought my…” I pointed to the pack on my back, “things? They’re very delicate items, yanno? Top-notch, too.”

“Excellent. We’ll be heading off the Tower at the outskirts. Lessons for the twins shall commence but only at the basics. You,” he pointed to me, “in the meantime will be hunting. Grandmother Lion has informed me of your abilities. Most yāvan residing in the Forest are on average C-rank, easy prey for your skills and easy access to ingredients as well as a source of income.”

I stared at him, blankly. “So basically… do what I did back in the Philippines?” And here I vowed never to do this again. I let out an exasperated breath. “Are there any sentients, I need to be looking out for in the forest?” Not like I’m going to hunt for them, anway.

Shura had an eyebrow raised, stroking his chin. “There have been rumors of a therianthrope in the vicinity that only reveals itself at night. So, you might be safe…” he gave me a shameless, mechanical grin, then dropped it as quickly as he made it.

“One more question…” I hesitated for a bit, looking for any eavesdroppers. “I haven’t seen anyone attending class or any teachers at all. Is this really a school?” Because it felt nothing like a school. Not that I’ve ever been in one, though.

He looked at me with a frown. “You are aware it is a Saturday, today. Yes? Yes, this is a school – even if evidence points to the contrary. You see, only elementary-to-high-school levels have what you may define as normal classes. College students need only reach the tenth level by the time they graduate – which is four years after enrolment and if not… expulsion is their only recompense. As for the teaching staff: WE are the teachers, though, only for courses concerning magic. Non-magical lessons are taught by contracted spirits and a handful of low-leveled personnel – worry not, they are highly-commendable.”

“How am I supposed to reach level ten? I’m not even level one!” I shouted, causing one of the students passing by to flinch for a bit, and giving me a short look of confusion before going to where she was going. I shouted an apology to her, and then dragged Shura towards the fountain, where the twins and Kidlat were playing.

Shura let out a yawn. “Your excess worry is needless. Have you ever heard of Scholomance, prior to arriving here?”

I shook my head. “Can’t say that I have… other than the folklore.”

“Hearken to the words that do depart from my mouth: in the three centuries Scholomance has existed – no-one has achieved its conditions. ‘Tis really hard to reach the tenth tier within the given time-frame, but… the knowledge stored here is vaster, more apropos to those who desire to achieve the heights of magic in the world…”

“What level are you?” I asked.

He smiled and moved his fingers, several runes coming out towards me, engulfing me in bluish-white light. “You shall be retrieved, tomorrow,” he said.

And I found myself inside the Forest, with only my bag.

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