The Academy’s Rejected Mage

The Useless Brother

Kai’s POV

“You’re getting quite popular.” I lift my head to the voice in front of my desk. It’s Orin as usual. I look at him but say nothing.

He smirks. “What? You’re ignoring me now?” He laughs like he doesn’t believe I would dare do such a thing. Then he proceeds to sweep the books off my desk angrily. I watch as they scatter around the floor and not one person in the classroom tells him to stop. Instead they all burst into laughter. It’s like they’re genuinely enjoying what he’s doing. For a moment, I remember Vazaroth’s words. Maybe a little killing wouldn’t be bad because why should I try to protect people who don’t do the same for me?

My fists lock under the desk. “Leave.” Although the words come out of me at a measured pace, any sensible person can hear the quiet anger in my tone. The room goes quiet.

Orin eyes me for a second then smiles. “Do you even know who you’re talking to?”

“I don’t care.”

He smirks. “You’ve got some courage I’ll admit, but I’d advise against it…considering your badge.”

I squint and look at my badge. F. I look at his and see a B boldly pasted on it. Useless ranking system. He notices my realization and laughs, leaning against my desk. “Do you know how many F-Class students Aureum usually has?”

I don’t answer.

“None.” The laughter around us grows louder.

“E-Class is where the weak students go. D-Class is average. C and B are where the talented ones start getting noticed. And this? He taps my badge, his smile widening.

“F means you don’t even matter to the academy. You could get mauled by a wolf on a cave expedition and no one would do anything about it.”

“You’re very bold to talk to a B- class student like that when you bribed your way into the academy,” someone behind him adds. Another voice quickly responds. “Wait, he seriously did that?”

“Yes. His parents had to grease hands because they were tired of lying to themselves about their son being useless.”

I clench my fists harder. If only they know. Orin sucks his teeth. “Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, how devastating for the noble Blackwell’s to have such a disgraceful son.”

“What do you want?” I finally ask. He shrugs. “I just wanted to see the fake mage who needed his parents to buy him a place here.” He leans closer, dropping his voice. “You know, remind him that he shouldn’t even be here in the first place because he’s spoiling the name of this prestigious academy.” The crowd laughs again.

I lock my jaw. “Congratulations.”

He blinks. “For what?”

“You’ve seen me, you may leave now.”

His expression changes and the room goes quiet. Clearly, he doesn’t like being dismissed. He lunges at me but a voice suddenly cuts him off.

“Orin, let the boy be. He’s new.” I look at the student who’s sitting a few seats away from us, book in front of her. She’s average height with long dark brown hair that flows in its waves down to her waist. She’s beautiful.

He turns to her with a smirk. “Oh baby, I know you’re an angel but people like this don’t deserve your kindness, okay?”

Baby? They’re dating? He doesn’t even wait for an answer before he turns back to me. She rolls her eyes away, shaking her head.

Before Orin can continue, a different girl speaks from the other side of the classroom. “Wait.” She points towards the doorway at my brother who looks like he’s been watching everything unfold. “Isn’t he Caelum’s brother?”

Orin turns. “Caelum?”

“Yeah. Caelum Blackwell.”

Someone else laughs. “No way.” Caelum is an A-rank student, top ten in the whole academy. How can this lazy dork be his brother?” More laughter follows.

Orin calls his attention, wanting to confirm if the allegations are true or not. I stare up and our eyes meet. For a moment, I let myself believe he’ll bail me out by acknowledging me. We’ve never been close as I was always locked away in a windowless attic. Still, I’m his little brother. Surely, he would want to protect me.

He looks at the crystal necklace around my neck. Then back at my face. “No,” he begins. “We are not brothers. We just unfortunately share a last name.” He walks away as he finishes. My mouth drops.

I can almost hear Vazaroth’s mocking laughter at the back of my mind. I know all I need to do is remove this necklace and his mocking laughter will be as clear as day.

I really should have killed him that day when he came to the attic. Back when he was eleven and I was nine. He wandered to the attic. I was so excited to see him that no matter how much Vazaroth tried to surface I fought hard against it. Our conversation had been light with very few words but by the time my parents realized what was happening and rushed to come take him out, I was just smiling.

Even when they were raining insults on me about how I used my evil to lure him there, I only smiled back at them.

“You’re a devil, Kai,” These were my father’s last words before the door closed behind him. That was the last time I saw my brother for a long while. My father may have been right, but I’m still a little hurt to see my brother abandon me for the wolves.

“Now he’s going to cry for his brother,” Orin's mocking words bring me back to reality. He reaches his hand for my necklace but I quickly grab it and toss it back sharply. This is the only time and reason that ever gets me active with Orin and I can tell it always surprises everyone around.

He eyes it intently. “Are you ever going to tell me what the use of that necklace is? I mean, you always wear it like it’s some important thing. What important thing could a useless mage like you have to his name?”

I stand, pick my books from the floor, stare at Orin. Like really stare intently at him until people around start to whisper things. Then I burst into laughter.

“What the hell?” He whispers, eyes questioning my reaction. “What the fuck are you laughing about, you freak?” I don’t answer. I pack my bags and start walking to the door. I pause, look at every last one of them just to mark their faces because if I ever let Vazaroth out again, there is no way I’m not bathing in their blood.