Chapter 6- Gordy
“I HAVE NO doubt you’ll make it into the Union,” Seb says.
He’s driving me uptown, where I’m going to be oriented with a huge group of wizards.
Apparently, I have to take an exam to use portable magic?
Spellcasting is already too much of a headache for me, one I’m content with not partaking in.
Magic without control is dangerous. I have no interest in most solo spells, but maybe these wizards can help me with my glamours.
“And if not, we’ll try again another time. ”
“Sure,” I reply. When I look forward, I don’t miss the concerned glances Kai and Seb share from the front.
After another tense moment, Seb clears his throat. “You know, I’ve been doing some reading, Gordy. Magical history and all that.”
“Okay?” Where is he going with this?
“There’s nothing in history that claims that familiars can’t be human.”
This again? I bristle, but Seb says, “I’m not saying you are. You don’t have to hang out with anyone you don’t want to.”
“Alright,” I mutter.
“Just know…about that Loxley guy. He probably was confused. A bit brash, perhaps. But he didn’t say anything outside of the realm of possibility.”
“You’re defending him,” I say with a deadpan tone.
“I’m not!” Seb says. He taps the steering wheel twice and adds, “Okay, I am. Lisbeth says he’s just a wayward witch who wants to find a way to control his magic and a place to belong.”
I clench my hands around the seatbelt. “So, you’re saying we have something in common.”
Kai turns around and says, “We are saying he meant nothing of malice. Do not write him off as having poor character. We are not asking you to be friends with him. Just know that he meant no harm.”
Kai seems very serious, so I nod. If these two dudes who know a lot about wizards and magic say Loxley is okay, that’s their business. I just won’t be friends with him.
“Fine.”
“In a lot of ways, you’re my familiar, babe.” Seb gazes at Kai, and they giggle like lovestruck teenagers. “What, with your big kitty-cat form.” Kai smiles and jostles him around, and it’s sickeningly sweet.
They don’t know I crave that connection with someone. I’m a loser virgin who can’t make friends because I can’t hold my human form. At least Speakeasy is cool; he and I have a connection. Online friends are all I can have for now.
The Union of Mages is fascinating. A bunch of younger folks, including myself, witches from the greater Virginia area, lined up in a barren basement in some mansion.
After checking our credentials―my folks managed to help me get a driver’s license―the basement lit up with brilliant mystical energy.
Then, in moments, we walked through the portal, leading us to this massive building in Scotland. We teleported!
“And for those of you who don’t know, my name is Cleo, from the sorcery protection and enforcement division.” The tiny woman waves her hand and spins on her heel. “Follow me, future Union members!”
My gaze doesn’t know where to track, and the other young witches seem to be just as overwhelmed as I am.
The high vaulted ceilings allow dwindling daylight into the large lobby.
People move about the central area, presumably wizards and witches from around the world going about their day.
I’m certainly not in Virginia anymore. The ornate, airport-esque facility is crowded with adult mages of all walks of life.
I would feel self-conscious if I didn’t trust that Kai standing next to me was keeping up the glamour; just because these people all have powers doesn’t mean they know how to handle a turtle shifter.
I don’t even want my fellow young witches to know what I truly look like.
But one of them does. Loxley Boysen is here, and trying to avoid his gaze is like trying not to think about a giant green lion―once mentioned, it’s all someone can think about.
He’s just so…distracting. Even in the basement back in the portal mansion, we were in a crowd of over a dozen strangers, and I could feel his eyes on me.
As if his handsome face and tight body didn’t already make me feel self-conscious, I knew he was occasionally staring at me.
Lisbeth was chatting with him, taking up most of his attention, but every time he looked at me, I had to look away.
It’s like there’s an invisible thread between us, vibrating each time one of us thinks of the other.
Now we’re here, taking a tour of the wizard facility, and I pray to the stars he doesn’t try to small-talk me. Judging by all of the elaborate rooms we pass, I doubt either of us has time to talk about anything other than the Union itself.
“As proctor, I can tell you that this is where we will be having the competency examinations.” Cleo walks backward and leads us into what appears to be a gymnasium.
Instead of machines and free weights, there are wall-to-wall mats and at least a dozen wooden mannequins.
“You’ll be casting spells in the confines of this room. ”
My throat goes dry, and our little group murmurs with interest. “It’s not a long examination, but it’s a necessary one.
We can’t have any mages―witches or wizards―who are unable to use basic sorcery.
But not to worry! It’s mostly simply conjuring, energy constructs, and standard levitation coordination. ”
Cleo waves her wrist in a small circle, and the wooden dummies move across the massive room. “Simple! And after you pass, you’ll arrange for the morality exam to make sure none of you intend to use magic for violent, nefarious purposes. Now, follow me to where we house the prime geo arcanum.”
I ought to be focusing on Cleo’s words. Kai and Seb oriented me to geo arcanum, the source of magic that augments a mage’s abilities.
Every member of the Union is entitled to the portable magic substance, but that’s if I pass this exam.
Gazing at the wooden dummies, I try to focus magic into my palm, but to no avail.
Cleo did it so easily, but I’m still so shit at spellcasting.
I’m supposed to be a legendary mage, like my ancestor Kai, and yet I can’t move a simple dummy. I’m the dummy.
When I look up, I notice the tour has mostly vacated the room.
The only one standing in the doorway is Loxley; his look of concern and sympathy makes me almost believe he read my mind.
He must know that I’m not the best at magic.
His expression is almost sweet. Seb and Kai claim he’s a fellow mage trying to find his place in all of this.
Then I remember how he claimed me as his familiar, as his pet, and I bristle. My sour expression makes him promptly leave the room, and that’s exactly the reaction I was going for.
The tour ends with all of us at the Union food court in the basement of the building.
It’s fascinating to know that this multi-coven network spans every corner of the globe, which leads to a true, international culinary experience.
There are so many people eating lunch now that I’m comfortable enough to relax and blend in with the crowd.
Seb, Kai, and I decide on Portuguese food, then take our trays to find a table in the center.
“Hey, there’s Lisbeth!” Seb says. Before I can protest, Seb guides me to a massive table where his former coven leader is sitting.
Once again, I’m forced to share a meal with Loxley.
To my surprise, most of the young witch tour group is seated next to them.
I’m not sure if it’s better or worse that a bunch of chatty strangers are eating with Loxley and me.
When the dude in question looks up from his pasta to meet my gaze, he has the decency to immediately look back down in fear. I bite back a laugh. If no one bothers me, this meal shouldn’t be too taxing.
“So, did we all get magical parchments?” one blonde girl asks. “Is that how they invited us?”
“That’s how I got it. An enchanted parchment found me,” one taller dude says.
“Only the best and brightest for my Declan, a young witch-in-training,” the woman next to him says.
“Mother, please,” he says with a whine. After raising his chin, he continues, “I assume you’re all incredibly powerful witches in your own right?”
“I’m okay,” an Asian dude replies with a shrug.
“Well, that competency test looked supremely easy,” Declan says. “In one week’s time, I’ll be the newest witch recruit. The rest of you will make it if you’re…more than okay.” He fixes his gaze on the two Asian dudes, brothers presumably, and they shrug.
I know I’m not the friendliest turtle in the pond, but I’ll never be as arrogant as this guy.
“And if not, there’s always next quarter,” Declan says, biting into his pizza.
“Oh, but I do so hope to get in this one,” the blonde girl remarks, pushing up her glasses. “I’ve been studying all the types of spells.” She turns to Loxley, who’s sitting next to her. “What kind of witch are you?”
Loxley opens his mouth, but no words come out. He seems shocked to be put on the spot, and a pang of sympathy echoes through my heart. If I don’t like him, why do I feel so bad that he’s embarrassing himself?
“He’s a great one!” Lisbeth says. “You young mages should just focus on yourselves. Practice with your coven because next week will creep up on you just like that!”
“Oh, I don’t have a coven!” the girl says.
“Neither do I, but I get by.” One of the two brothers waves and says, “I’m a half-decent protection witch. I’m Shugo, by the way.”
“Kenta,” the other brother adds. “I’m here for moral support for my brother, but with someone like you joining, maybe I will too.”
The girl blushes and pushes up her glasses. “I’m Sally.” She looks at me and smiles. “And you?”
“I’m Gordy. And I wish you all the best of luck. We could all use it.”
“Don’t need it,” Declan says with his chin held high.
“You tell them, son!”