Page 23 of Overwhelmed By Magic

“And we don’t live forever. I highly doubt Grimrose Academy houses anywhere near that many.”

I never said that they did but essence is a forever thing so I just kind of assumed that Harlow would always be at my side. It’s stupid now that I think about it. Ignoring my emotions for a moment, I continue dissecting the map. The south wing is for professors, staff, and counselors. That all makes sense even if I’m not all that excited that the counselors' offices are closest to the beginning of the hall which is located directly next to the cafeteria.

Flipping through a few more pages shows me my daily duties—which amount to a whole lot of nothing if I’m being honest. Fridays will be my busiest as I run through a group of students to help them work through any issues they have during lessons. Knowing that most students aren’t leaving and never will make it hard to wrap my head around what kind of counseling I’ll be doing.

Is my job just placating their fears and lying to them?

I hate this position already.

I continue flipping through, most of it legal contracts that I’ll be required to abide by. Outside communication is limited to our offices and only when students are not around. Our cell phones will no longer work, heavily encrypted emails and scheduled phone calls used instead. It feels like I’m going to prison even though I’m one of the counselors.

Harlow starts nibbling on my ear, softening any anxiety trying to take over my brain. I don’t even really notice when he drags me into his lap until I stare at my room placement, both confused and worried that it’s wrong.

“What’s wrong, babe?” He nuzzles the side of my face as I crinkle the paper in my hand. N-1. That can’t be right. Worse, my roommate is none other than Harlow Bardot. Well, that’s not a bad thing per se but I shouldn’t be rooming with any Magila, family or otherwise. And as a counselor… there are so many things wrong with that. Harlow eyes the paper in my hand but it takes him a few moments to catch on. “Why the fuck would they room you next to other Magila? That’s fucking dangerous as shit.”

Orion speaks up. “It must be a last-minute room assignment, definitely a mistake. Just speak with one of the counselors when I drop you off.” The car pulls to a stop and I look out the window for the first time, both awed and terrified to see the structure looming overhead. It reminds me of every deathtrap I’ve seen in books and movies paired with the unique decay of an asylum that’s been abandoned for decades.

Mother Nature has gleefully taken over the building, thorny vines wrapped around the side that I’m staring at, one single door standing in the middle. I guess that’s the staff entrance? It seems so… lonely. The only thing I can gather from this place is that it’s swarming with essence, overwhelmingly so. Astral Academy wasn’t even this stuffy.

Orion gets out and opens the door for me. I slide out, Harlow right behind me as I continue to survey the surrounding area. It feels like a completely different place than Earth, the air supercharged with energy. I thought it might feel like decay or darkness but Mother Nature’s gift wraps around me, welcoming me. It’s similar to Harlow’s aura but pure and free. I love it despite the circumstances.

I shake myself out of my stupor and hurriedly grab my bags after stuffing the packet back in. Harlow places a quick kiss on my cheek and murmurs a ‘good luck’ before disappearing. I know that he can’t enter this door with me but it feels weird. Hopefully, he’s just standing on the other side. Orion gestures to me to come over as if this shit is just normal, the door slamming open to reveal three Magila that I instantly know I won’t get along with.

Well, maybe the one on the right. She seems nice.

They stand out, from the bright hair to the extravagant clothing that boasts their Magila status. I’ve seen similar things a few times while shopping, Magila promoting their essence rather than just fitting in. It’s not like they can freely use their essence in public anyway so it’s just a conversation piece at that point.

I catalog the three quickly by their aura, too overwhelmed to take in any of their features. Even their clothing and hair match their aura, go figure. Red, Blue, Green. It’s a pretty comical sight.

“Ah, the new counselor! Thought they wouldn’t send another after-” The blue one jabs the red one to shut up and eases me inside with a smile. He’s much taller than me, taller than Harlow even which puts him closer to 6’5” than 6’0”. He’s also a bit terrifying.

The grin he’s currently spouting is making it worse. “Skye Bardot? Goddess, help us. They sent us a human. Tamara, be a doll and call the council to see if they made a mistake. This poor kid won’t last a minute.” He sets a hand on my shoulder before I shrug it off. Tingles run through my body as his aura connects with my skin and it’s not a good feeling.

Tamara, the green one, narrows her gaze at him before stepping in front of them and offering me a handshake. “I apologize for these god-awful excuses of Magila. I’m Tamara. An Earth mage. That’s Leo, our resident vampire, and Azriel, a water elemental. Your office sits across from mine. Anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask. The rules are a little wonky and the students can be… unruly.”

This is a lot to take in. Leo’s aura is similar to Dmitri’s although muted in comparison. Azriel, on the other hand, his aura is much stronger than most mages, let alone Magila, I’ve seen. From what I can tell, none of them have been asked to attend here. They have been assigned a position, like me. “Right. Of course. They set me up in N-1. I think it was a mistake.”

Maybe I should have asked more about the position but that’s the first thing out of my mouth.

The red one—Leo—bursts out laughing. His fangs make an appearance and he does nothing to hide them. If he’s trying to intimidate me, it’s not really working. “You poor soul. You’re in that room because of your stepbrother. He’s apparently a piece of work but you’ve been able to keep him in line.”

“What are you talking about?”

Tamara nods to my covered arm. “You’re claimed.”

“How would you know that?”

“A hunch. When Harlow disappeared over the weekend, we assumed he was with you. It would be better to keep you together since he’ll be a barnacle on your ass anyways.” She says it so matter of factly. The entire world had a problem with me dating my stepbrother when we were human, even more so when they found out our bond strengthened after he died. But here? It’s just… fact. Tamara laughs as she grabs one of my bags from me. “Look, I’ll take you to your office because you probably won’t be spending much time in your room. The veteran students hang out there and they can be a little testy with newcomers. Most of us stay close to our offices and you’d be surprised how few visits you get from students crying about something you can’t possibly help with.”

This sounds like it’s going to be a disaster.

Azriel bumps against my side and I try really hard not to be distracted by his aura. After all, I’m human and am not supposed to be able to see that. “No idea why you’re here other than some big fat joke but if you need something, we’re your best bet. Calling the council to fix something is a joke and if something doesn’t work, try something else. You’re at the very bottom of the food chain here.”

“I figured that,” I grumble as they guide me to the south wing and point me to my office. It’s rather dusty, the last occupant leaving in a hurry as many books and papers are strewn across the desk and floor. What a warm welcome. “So, Fridays?” I’m just really confused at this point. Why am I here?

Azriel and Leo lean against the archway as Tamara follows me in, dropping my bag onto the desk. A whiff of dust and cobwebs go flying, the green mage falling into a coughing fit before she speaks. “It isn’t glamorous. This is the academy of rejects and our resources definitely reflect that. Our job is to keep these Magila as sane as possible. However, this academy is all but a lawless land. Whatever you can do to keep them from throwing around their essence, fighting, or leaving—do it. The professors’ jobs are to figure out what they are if they can, not that it’s ever worked. We are just here to help.”

“Why hasn’t anyone been able to figure it out?” This academy has been open too long for no one to figure out anything.

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