The Academy’s Rejected Mage

The Tables Have Turned

Kai’s POV

People look at me differently now. Before, they laughed when I walked past. Now, they move aside. The ones that showed off their magic as I walked past before now avoid my face in shame.

Some students still stare carefully. Others smile at me like we have some kind of friendship going on—these are the kinds I hate the most.

I sit under a tree at the edge of the school grounds, enjoying the quiet atmosphere when someone suddenly drops into the seat right next to me. “Hi!” He stretches his hand forward. I look at the smiling boy.

Then at his hand. “I’m Jafser,” he continues.

“Okay,” I say questioningly. “How can I help you?”

“Oh, you’re not helping me. I Just wanted to say you were incredible. You know…for what you did. Not killing that prick and saving that girl.” I stare as he mumbles on and on. “Okay…nice to meet you and thank you.” I try to leave but he holds me back.

“I heard it was void magic. Is it really true?” I raise a brow.

Why is he acting like he knows enough about it? After all, not many people know about it in this generation. “Why do you ask?”

He shrugs. “Im just fascinated is all, so I want to know everything about it.” Hmm. I lock my jaw and look away. “No. It wasn’t void magic.”

“Then what was it?” He follows almost immediately. “I don’t know,” I shoot back, genuinely irritated. He looks down, disappointed. “Alright. Forgive me if I’m bothering you. I’m just really excited.”

I run my eyes over him for a moment, trying to decipher if he's someone I can trust. Honestly nothing about him stands out. He’s just like any other nerd excited about little things. I let out a deep breath. “Yes.”

He looks up, the hope returning to his eyes. “What?”

“Yes. It was void magic.” His eyes light up. “Woah, man, that’s legendary.” I shake my head, looking away. No it’s not. It’s really not as great as he thinks.

“You’re in professor Alden’s class, right?” He asks. I nod quietly. “Great. We’ll go together. Can I sit with you at lunch?”

“Why?”

“Come on, isn’t it clear by now? Of course, I want to be your friend.”

“You weren’t interested in being my friend days earlier.”

“Yeah, because I wasn’t in this school. I’m just a transfer student from another academy.”

“Oh.” I stare longer. I’ve heard of people being called talkative. This one is a discovery. But at least he doesn't look like he’s lying and maybe I could use one friend. It shouldn’t hurt. “Fine. I can do lunch.”

He points at me like I’ve just passed some kind of test. “Perfect. When I heard about you, I knew we’d get along.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t say we wouldn’t.”

I stare at him, he laughs. Most of the other students are now scared of me because of what happened. This one transfers here, hears it and wants to be my friend. Hmm.

A voice suddenly calls from across the grounds.“Kai!”

I look up and see a staff member standing near the main building. “The principal wants to see you.”

I stand. Jafser follows. “Can I come?” I throw him a look. “No.”

“Okay.” He sits back down quietly. “See you later, friend!”

“I said we’re not friends.” I walk away. “Sure,” he whispers behind. I just ignore him.

As I cross the courtyard, I see my brother standing with a few students. Our eyes meet. He doesn’t look away. I let my eyes linger on him for a moment before looking away. Then I continue walking. My mind goes back to that day in the arena.

After the monster turned to dust, I couldn’t control myself.

Vazaroth could never let go of such opportunity to swallow enough, hence, The void kept searching, looking for what to pull even when no one was releasing their magic.

Then being the only person that understand the situation, my brother found my necklace in the dirt, quickly put it together and threw it back around my neck. The moment the crystal was back where it should be, everything stopped.

Vazaroth disappeared, the hunger vanished and my breathing slowly returned to normal. I remember looking at him and thinking how one might believe he did this because he cared for me. But I know the truth. He just didn’t want more embarrassment going to our parents. If he was certain someone would kill me in that state, he would have left me in it.

I get to the principal’s office and see the door already open. “Come in, Kai.” I step inside quietly. “You sent for me, Principal Harden?”

He looks up from behind his desk then gestures to an empty chair. “Sit.” I do and he just studies me for a moment without saying anything at first. “How are you feeling?” He finally asks. “Fine,” I answer genuinely confused.

“Any strange sensations?”

“No.”

“Any urges to use your magic?”

“No.”

He nods. “Good.” Then he reaches for the telephone on his desk. “I’d like to speak with your parents.” I raise a brow. “Why?”

“Well, because we need to discuss your condition.”

He presses the dial and it takes several rings before someone answers. He puts the call on speaker. “Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell?”

My mother’s voice comes through. “Principal Harden, What is it?” He looks surprised by her tone. I’m not. “Well, I’d like to discuss Kai.”

Silence follows at first, then my father voice cuts in. “We have nothing to discuss.” The principal looks at me, then he clears his throat and continues. “Maybe you don’t understand but something happened and I believe Kai would benefit from having his family involve—.”

“We do understand, Principal harden. We understand very well. He used his void again, didn’t he?” Silence follows.

My mother smirks then continues. “Exactly. Hell, that’s why we sent him there because we couldn’t handle him anymore.” My fingers tighten around the chair.

“Excuse me? What are you saying?”

“We are saying we have no interest in whatever concerns him.”

“And if his power becomes dangerous?”

“Then do whatever you must with him. Just keep him away from us,” My father answers and ends the call. I stare at the floor. Nothing they say surprises me. The principal slowly drops the phone before speaking. “You don’t seem surprised.”

I shrug. “Because I’m not. They are afraid of me. They probably hope someone here can destroy me finally since they can’t do it.” I laugh. It’s not the sad kind of laughter but an evil grin at their stupidity. Do they really think I’m easy to destroy?

I expect the principal to be repulsed by my reaction, instead, he smiles. “That won’t happen.” I look at him. “What?

“I can help you with your magic.” His eyes move to the crystal necklace around my neck. “I believe you’ve spent your entire life suppressing it. That isn’t a solution.”

“At least, it keeps people alive.”

“Yes. Until someone rips it off without your permission and we have you exposing yourself like you did in the arena that day.” I stare. “So what are you saying?”

He opens a drawer and takes out a small glass crystal ball different from the black ones around my neck. “This can help.”

I take it. “What does it do?”

“When your void activates, it will draw the excess magic into itself.”

“Like a container?”

“Something like that.”

“And then?”

“You bring it to me.” I stare. He continues. “I can remove the dangerous energy and stabilize the crystal then ive it back to you.” He smiles.

I turn the crystal between my fingers. “So then I can use it again?”

“Exactly.” His answer comes too quickly.

I look up. “How often?”

“Whenever you absorb magic. And you must come as soon as possible because the longer the absorbed magic remains in the crystal, the more unstable it becomes. And if it becomes unstable, some of that energy could return to you.”

I look at the small crystal again. “So this keeps me from losing control?”

“Exactly.” He smiles. “You don’t have to be afraid of yourself anymore, Kai.”

I don’t know why, but something about the way he says it makes me uneasy. Still, I close my fingers around the crystal. If it’ll really work, I'm willing to try it.

The principal continues. “And as for your magic, give me some time, I’ll send a report to the students and staff.”

“That?”

“That your magic is rare, but not abnormal. That way you won’t have problems in school.” I raise an eyebrow. “People saw what happened.”

“People saw something they didn’t understand. All I have to do is make sure they understand it correctly.”

By the end of the day, the report is posted. Kai’s magic is rare but manageable. Students are advised not to provoke him or interfere with his ability. There is no reason to fear him.

People still stare when I walk past. But at least no one calls me a monster or a freak. Not even Orin. I reach into my pocket and touch the little crystal.