Page 134 of The Holy Academy of Witches

I opened my eyes, energised by my replenished reserves only to see I was almost face to face with a creature of The Crone’s own making. Large black scales alternated with thick and yellowing bones that ended in the oversized maw of a prehistoric crocodile. Its empty sockets glowed red as they left the water. Throwing my newly acquired magic into the forcefield with a prayer to whatever forces might favour me I scrambled backwards, slipping and sinking into the loose sediment below the water. Attempting to stand I found it was a bit above waist deep so I turned and made a break for it. A loud roar sounded behind me, the air suddenly filled with the scent of rotting flesh. I gagged but kept running, cursing at the still red globe around me. Why was it taking so long?!

The stench increased dramatically and nausea forced me to my knees, as I heaved I saw the shadow grow in front of me, felt the pride of the predator as it was able to savour his impending kill. The globe still glowed red, and with my constant heaving I prayed. I knew the creature was only created to maim or disqualify and this wasn’t going to be my final moment. Large skeletal jaws stretched out on either side of me, and while my stomach was empty I continued to spasm, unable to move and face the end. I closed my eyes, accepting.

An unearthly scraping had me cringing, and as it continued like nails on the chalkboard I wondered why I was being subjected to such torture. I decided I might prefer the maiming. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by the most glorious colour of blue. The stench was lessened, enough so I could begin to comprehend the noise was from the creature’s teeth scraping against the shield. Looking back, I saw instead of a tongue it had a coil of black snakes with white mouths that were also sporadically trying to take a bite out of the forcefield. Unable to touch the creature, and all out of agrimony I searched my pouch for a clove of garlic. Chewing slowly I felt my stomach settle, and I called on its protective and cleansing properties to dispel any lingering effects of their noxious smell. My spirits lifted and my mind cleared as I continued to chew. As I stared down its nightmarish throat I felt the prickle of an idea take root in my mind. Grabbing a bundle of birch bark and a lighter I met the thing’s glowing eyes. Chanting slowly of peace and friendship I lit the bark, wafting the smoke toward its open mouth. Birch could be used for purification and exorcism but hopefully this unconventional work around would take. The snakes stopped their hissing, retreating into a slowly writhing mess, the stench faded completely, and finally the red of its gaze faded into a soft pink.

I placed the smouldering birch on the ground, letting it flicker out in the wet ground. Rubbing the ashes on my face I smiled as the snakes settled before disappearing as the creature closed its jaw and sat back like an obedient dog.

“Good Fido, why don’t you keep swimming around here and keep anyone else from leaving the swamp.” I said, unsure of whether I trusted our bond to ask him to give me a ride to the edge of his enclosure.

His eyes flashed red for a moment and I saw a vision of him devouring the other candidates. I didn’t need that kind of weight on my conscience.

“No killing mind you, just… stuck here, or disqualified. Maybe go for their legs. Can you do that for me Fido?” I said, slipping into the same baby voice my father used with his dog.

His tail swung once before he turned and sped back into the water toward the witch that had thought to run ahead while Fido possibly ate me.

I looked away, running for the edge of the swamp and the treeline ahead, ignoring the shrieks of the witch, the same way she had mine. I’d barely made it into the trees when I felt the ground buckle beneath me. Before I could catch my balance, form a thought, or cast a spell I felt my ears pop at the palpable wave of air that pushed me faster toward the unforgiving ground. The roots knocked all air from my lungs. I gasped helplessly, trying but failing to bring oxygen to my panicking brain. An explosion.

The echoes ricocheting off the trees around me called up the memories that had never truly faded from my mind.

Cillian’s body, the bloody shrapnel, his white coat slowly dyed red.

I hadn’t gotten there soon enough. I took in the wrecked hallway around me, the smell of smoke and blood choking me. I stared at the puddle of death that was inching toward my boots.

It was the screams that released me from the silent hallway that haunted me. I raced towards them, needing to see who was alive to make them, to ensure that Cillian, Theo, and Adeline weren’t part of the permanently silent. I should have known something bad was going to happen at the Run.

“All students, The Run is cancelled. Witches and Warlocks please evacuate to The Academy.No Beatrice, not the one that’s on fire. I repeat, The Run is cancelled. All students return to The Holy Academy of Witches. Immediately!” The Headmistress’ voice sounded around me, while my mind raced trying to make sense of this situation. An academy was on fire, not ours… the Boys Academy.

I slowed to a walk, the trees showed no signs of thinning anytime soon. Spinning in a circle, I found one that looked like it might be tall enough to pierce the canopy. Thankfully I was right. As I clung to the swaying limbs I saw columns of smoke swallowing the blazing remains of The Veneficus Campus. Cillian and Theo weren’t there right now, they were in the Run. And Adeline was disqualified a while ago so she would have had plenty of time to get back to the Medical Wing.

To my right was the swarm of students making their way to our campus. I was much too far to recognize any of them. Hopefully Cillian and Theo were among them. Lashing a vine to the tree to create a sort of harness around me, I repelled downward as quickly as possible.

My lungs and muscles were burning by the time I made it to the foot of the tree. I ignored the pain and started to jog, avoiding the roots easily from my hours of running through uneven ground. So focused on keeping my body moving, I didn’t hear the telltale sounds of another until I was being picked up off the ground. Writhing desperately to escape I couldn’t help the whimpers of pain that escaped me.

“Sage! Sis! Calm down! Sis, it’s me!” Theo’s voice was rough, and I turned to see he was covered in ash.

“Oh Gods Theo, were you close to the explosion?!” I immediately began dusting the ash out of his hair… only for more ash to replace it. Looking up I saw the ash falling slowly through the gaps in the thinning leaves overhead. I was getting close to a physical burn out if not a magical one from tonight.

“No sis, I was inches away from beating Cillian when… Well, you know.” He didn’t look cross, more tired, a glimmer of relief shining in his eyes when he looked back down at me. I squeezed him back as best as I could.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Theo.” I whispered, stepping away from him to continue walking. Unspoken worry for Cillian blooming under his touch. I walked in silence until I could bear it no longer. “Did you see… Is Cillian alright?” I whispered, looking up at him hopefully.

“Yeah I think so, he was fine the last I saw him.” Theo was watching me closely and I did my best to swallow the complicated emotions that were rising to the surface.

“Okay, I’m just on my way to check on Adeline. She was disqualified and I don’t know why.” Confusion and worry wove through my thoughts. How had she been taken out so early? Was she expecting me to stay with her? Had the other witches set a trap of some sort?

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Theo’s voice turned dark with barely contained rage, and I saw his knuckles turn white in my peripherals as his hands balled into fists.

“Why wouldn’t it be? She’s my best friend and she’s possibly very hurt.”

“Or… she’s the one that’s causing all the hurt.” He growled.

“You can’t be serious. You think she’s the one that set your school ablaze?”

“Think about it. Where was she during the first explosion? In town.” He held up a finger as if it was the most incriminating evidence around. “Then a second explosion goes off nearer campus, a gas leak? Which would have given her ample time to leave the area before it went off. And now this one… She mysteriously gets disqualified toward the beginning of the run, despite her reputation for being one of the brightest and strongest casters in your school? And now… our school is gone. You really think all of those are a coincidence?”

“Yes!” I stopped, I had never told him about the life debt, or how I’d saved Cillian. The relief I’d seen on Adeline’s face when I told her he was okay. I decided now wasn’t the time… and there was another angle to take.

“You’ve always disliked her Theo, you seem to see the worst in everyone after finding out your best friend wasn’t who you thought he was.”

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