Tristan stared up at the foreboding castle. The weather was completely different over Tempest. Instead of sunshine and blue skies was a stormy sky, filled with flashing lightning and torrents of rain. Buzzbeak swooped down and landed on Tristan’s shoulder and the castle warily.

“Not very welcoming?” Tristan said.

No light penetrated through a shimmering bubble that surrounded Tempest.

“Is that to keep people out or to keep what's in there safely locked away?” Tristan mused.

He stretched out his hand to touch the bubble. His fingers passed through it effortlessly and when he drew his hand back it was still dry.

Tristan with Buzzbeak perched on his shoulder stepped through the bubble and entered Tempest. A shiver ran down his spine as a cold wave ran through his body. The castle stood in two worlds at once. Its presence in Umbra, just a shadow of its true form

Tristan stepped into another world. A great garden with every flower in every color imaginable stretched out before him. Trees taller than buildings housed birds and butterflies and magical creatures, some glittering in the sunlight, and some glowing in the shadows moved lazily across fields of green.

A flowing river with a stone bridge across it cut through the gardens and otters swam lazily in its water. As Tristan crossed the bridge a troop of monkey-like creatures with saucer-shaped heads, long noses and yellowish-green skin popped out of the water and watched Tristan pass by. They dived under the water again leaving behind tiny flowers that floated down the river.

A butterfinch hovered above Tristan's head, the coin sized bird fluttered around Buzzbeak and the stormcrow pecked at it and flapped its wings releasing a tiny wave of electricity. The butterfinch dodged the electricity then hovered for a few seconds longer before darting behind a tree. Buzzbeak leapt from Tristan’s shoulder in pursuit of the fluffy little bird.

Tristan pulled up his hood and touched the castle door and silver lines radiated out from the center of the door creating a tapestry of lights. Once the pattern had completed the double doors swung open revealing a long hallway.

A man dressed in black, with polished shoes and perfectly combed hair waited in the doorway.

“Welcome young sir,” said the man. He bowed slightly. “Guest, visitor or applicant?” he asked, his voice rang out in a sing-song way that reminded Tristan of the green haired girl.

“I'm here to see the Masters,” said Tristan.

The man nodded without looking at Tristan. “This way young sir.”

With long strides the man led Tristan down a long passageway.

Oil lamps hung from wall scones and flickered as Tristan passed by. The walls were lined with paintings depicting scenes of a battle of magi fighting against mighty winged creatures. At the end of the passage stood a marble statue of a man holding a sword in one hand and an open book in the other hand. Tristan stopped in front of the statue. Its face was disfigured as if a giant hand had crushed it right off. The statue seemed familiar somehow.

“Please keep up,” said the man. “The Masters are waiting.”

“They’re expecting me?” Tristan asked.

The man inclined his head to Tristan but his eyes remained fixed on the ground. He opened the door for Tristan.

***

The chamber was huge. Tristan’s eyes run up towering pillars with intricate details and a long ceiling made up of a series of arches. The arches looked like the skeleton of a whale he’d once seen in a museum. The arches led the eye to the front of the building, to massive stained glass windows. The windows drew in the sunlight and threw patterns of reds and greens across the floor. Tristan had never seen a room so complex and beautiful. It made his mother’s house look like a mud hut.

A marble fountain sat in the middle of the chamber and behind it seated in a semi circle were three Masters.

“I have news from Porthaven,” said Tristan.

“I am Lady Hemlock,” said an elderly Master. “The Headmaster is away on business. This is Master Meerin and Master Calista,” She gestured to a squat bearded man and a thin wirely man that were seated on either side of her. We have heard the news from Porthaven. Help has been sent, you do not have to worry young man.”

“You know about Malice’s attack?” Tristan asked. “And the revenants?”

“The dragon is sealed away,” said Lady Hemlock. “To say otherwise would create unnecessary panic.”

“But I saw it all,” Tristan said. “They had white eyes.”

“Enough of this,” barked the squat man. “Porthaven burnt to the ground.”

Lady Hemlock raised her hand to still the Master’s outrage. “The Crimson Guard have been sent to investigate,” she said as if she was talking to a child. “We have not gathered for that. We have a more pressing concern. You were not summoned to the academy yet you are here. The Seekers find all those born with the magic. You entered Tempest so we know you have power. It is puzzling.”

Tristan was starting to get annoyed. “The Crimson Guard attacked Master Fannen,” he said. “She turned into a revenant. She’s dead.”

Lady Hemlock raised a hand interrupting Tristan. “Enough of that, child. We listened but we are done indulging your fantasies.”

The other Masters muttered in agreement.

“The King has decreed that all who are possessed by jinn and can wield magic must be taught,” said Lady Hemlock. “We are gathered to test what powers your jinn has granted you.”

Tristan took a deep breath to calm himself. The Masters were arrogant and dismissive. He’d crossed the ocean to find them and they did even care what he had to say.

“What if I don't want to join your academy,” he said.

Lady Hemlock smiled. “Magi are weapons in the hand of the King. You will be trained here and take the Royal Oath or you will be killed. The King is no fool, he will not give his enemies a weapon to be wielded against him.”

Tristan had meant to join the academy. Master Fannen told him that he needed to control his power so that Malice would take over his body. He needed to be trained. He just had to swallow his pride and keep the rage that building inside at bay.

Lady Hemlock stood up and crossed the room and stood before the fountain. The two Masters joined her on either side.

“Come,” she said. “Place your hands on the fountain and let us see what you can do.”

The squat Master opened a jar and tossed a handful of dried leaves into the still water. He muttered a word of power then stepped back again.

“Don't be scared,” said Lady Hemlock. “The fountain won’t bite.”

Tristan heistated, shifting from one foot to the other. He wasn't scared of the fountain; he just didn't want to obey these condescending Masters.

Tristan bit his lip and placed his hands on the fountain.

At first nothing happened.

“Don't fight it, child,” said Lady Hemlock. “Let the fountain draw out everything that is inside of you.”

Tristan took a deep breath and tried to relax his mind. But images of his stepfather shouting at him filled his head. He pushed the images aside and concentrated on a single thought. The image of Luna smiling at him as he departed the ship.

“There we go,” said Master Hemlock.

The leaves floating on the water began to change color. It was subtle at first. They changed from brown to red.

The Masters leaned in for a closer look.

“Possibly transmutation,” said Lady Hemlock.

The leaves continued to change, they went from red to yellow and then finally they turned green.

Lady Hemlock smiled. “Minor healing,” she said. “You could be a nurse.”

As Tristan stared at the leaf he saw tiny lines of electricity shooting out from the center leaf and connecting to all the surrounding leaves..

Lady Hemlock nodded. “Minor lightning. Not much use for that one.”

The leaves went still. A few moments passed and nothing else happened.

“Don't be disappointed,” said Lady Hemlock. “If you had greater powers the Seekers would have tracked you down months ago. You are weak Tristan. If you do want to leave, you can. The King will not miss your powers.”

The squat Master chuckled. “Unless the King is scared of his enemies having a magi that can tickle his toes with electricity.”

Blood pounded in Tristan’s ears. His hands balled into fists. Tristan felt the rejection once again. First his mother, then Luna and now the people that were meant to help him.

The rage bubbled up inside of Tristan. “Screw you guys,” he whispered.

“Did you mutter something boy?” asked Lady Hemlock.

Tristan tried to slow down his breathing. His heart beat rapidly in his chest. His palms sweated. And his arms began to tremble.

“Shut up,” he said, louder this time.

Lady Hemlock jabbed a boney finger into Tristan’s chest.

The lamps in the wall sconces began to flicker.

“Who do you think you are?” she shouted. “You come in here and lie to us. Do you think we are fools? Did you think we would be impressed by your story? Get out.”

The lamps in the room went out and the room went black.

“What’s happening?” cried the thin wiry Master.

A pale blue light began to glow from Tristan’s arm.

“Who do you think you are, you condescending pieces of filth?” he shouted.

Tiny blue flames swirled in the fountain and the leaves began to burn.

“I came to you for help,” he said.

The wind rushed around him. Blue flames burst out of the lamps and ran up the walls and criss crossed across the ceiling.

“Stop this,” shouted Lady Hemlock.

Halos of light surrounded each Master as they drew on their power and erected barriers around themselves.

Amongst the chaos a gold feather fell from the sky and landed on Tristan’s hand. He looked down at it in puzzlement. The feather changed into a golden dome of light. The dome began to expand and suck in the blue flames. The fire blazed against the dome to escape and the energies combined both in flux and in conflict. Gold and blue light pulsed and twisted in the center of the room as the dome fought to contain the flames.

“Stop this right now,” Lady Hemlock commanded. She pointed at Tristan and a bolt of ice lanced out of her finger and struck Tristan in the chest.

Tristan cried out in pain. He fell to one knee. Blood ran down his chest and arms and pooled beneath him.

The dome began to tremble.

“Get down,” Tristan shouted. He covered his head and braced himself. A sound of cracking glass filled the air. A nova of flame burst out in a ring around the dome. It cut the fountain in two and shattered the Masters magical shields. The Masters were flung against the wall and glass cascaded to the ground as every window in the room smashed.