Shade Academy

Chapter 13

Well I had managed to get the original midterm cancelled. Unfortunately though they just came up with a new one, but a less dangerous one. So I'd call that a win. Now it seems we will be tested in potion making, spell casting and mental magic. It seemed fitting, it at least gave everyone the chance to show what they had learned the first half term. 

For my midterm I decided to make an invisibility potion, for spell casting I was going to cast a spell that would project a copy of myself, and mental magic, well mental magic was a competition against the strongest mental magic user. That's me and Samuel. That should be fun, not. I have never fought Samuel head on in mental magic. Ya, I was a strong user, but Samuel? He has had years if not decades of experience. How could I compete with that? 

"Anna, are you ready to demonstrate your potion?" The professor asked, snapping me back to the potion part of my midterm. "Oh, ya. Sorry." I stammered, stepping forward. I pulled the vibrant purple potion I had spent days working on from my bag. "I decided to make a invisibility potion. Since testing the potion on myself or any other living being, I am going to test it on this watermelon. That way it is big enough for all of you to come up here and feel it, since you won't be able to see it." 

Professor Abe nodded. "You've chosen a very complicated potion Anna. Even the most advanced potion makers find it difficult to make a potion like that. Nevertheless continue." He said waving his hand. As the whole class looked on in anticipation I poured some of the potion over the fruit. It wouldn't take the whole potion considering it was made for a full grown adult male. Not ten seconds after the potion was poured over it, it shimmered and vanished. The whole class gasped as the teacher leaned forward in her seat and stared on in shock. 

The professor stood slowly and made his way over to the table. She reached her hand out and pulled back, as if he were unsure if he should reach for it or not. Finally, taking a breath the professor reached out, his hand hit the unseen fruit and his eyes widened. "Anna. how did you manage this?" He wondered. I rubbed the back of my neck and looked down. "Well, I just followed the instructions." I answered shyly. "Amazing job Anna. You pass with flying colors." Professor Abe said smiling. 

The rest of the class went by much the same way. Kids testing their potions, some succeeding some failing. Spell casting was the same story. The professor saved my test for last since we'd have to take it outside. "Alright Anna. Show us what you're planning to do." The professor said. I nodded and stepped forward. Closing my eyes I repeated the incantation I had memorized. The sounds of gasps and hands slapping over mouths told me it worked. When I opened my eyes a clone of myself stood beside me smiling. 

To say the experience was weird was an understatement. The clone moved and spoke as if she were her own person. "How long does this last Anna?" The professor asked as she studied the clone. "It lasts as long as I want it to." I told her. She nodded as she straightened out. "Very fine job Anna. You passed your midterm. You can send the clone away now." I scrunched my brow at her tone but nodded and willed her away. Her reaction was odd. She sounded detached, but curious, appreciative but jealous. It was not the kind of reaction I was expecting. 

"What the hell was that about?" Elana asked as we made our way to our mental magic midterm. "I'm not sure." I said shrugging. "It seemed as if she were jealous or angry at what I did. I never meant for it to get that kind of reaction." Alex walked up beside me and took my hand. "Don't worry about it Anna, you did perfect." His reassurance was endearing and made me smile. "Thank you Alex." I said and reached up to kiss his cheek. 

We walked the rest of the way in silence. All of us were nervous about going up against Samuel for our mental magic exam, hell none of us expected to win. He was the professor, if it weren't for him the students wouldn't even know how to use their mental magic. I think I was more nervous than anyone. Samuel was my.., well I didn't know what he was, but we were close. But I had never been in his head, I would catch a fleeting thought here and there but nothing more. He always kept his thoughts guarded. Unless someone was extremely powerful, they wouldn't get through his wards.

When we walked into class, Samuel was waiting at his desk. He was propped up with his arms crossed and his ankles crossed. He was nervous too. You wouldn't be able to tell if you didn't know him, but I did. His jaw was clenched, his hands were in tight fists and his body was rigid. I wonder what he was so stressed about, surly he didn't think someone would get into his head. 

I got my answer as we walked in. His eyes landed on me and his body tensed even more, if that was even possible. His eyes widened slightly and his lips pressed into a thin line. I furrowed my brows as I passed him. No, he seriously didn't believe I could be powerful enough to get through his walls. I looked back at him over my shoulder and he gave me a tight nod. So he heard me, and he did think I could get passed them. Maybe I should just play dumb, don't push too hard. If he didn't want me in there, then I wouldn't push, especially against his will. If he ever wanted to share anything with me it will be on his own time. 

Maybe, "Samuel, Can you hear me?" I projected my thoughts to him. His eyes widened but he nodded. I gave him a small smile. "Don't worry Samuel. I won't push. We can just say I couldn't get passed your walls. I'm sure whatever you have in your head you don't want me to know you will tell me on your own time. Trust is a two way street. Please calm down."  Samuel's body visibly relaxed and he let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you." His voice was soft as it drifted through my mind. 

The mental magic midterm passed quickly. No one had managed to get through Samuel's walls, and I couldn't help but laugh to myself. Samuel was a strong. Evan after facing the entire class he wasn't even sweating. Whereas the class was left sweating and panting by the time they were done. 

When my turn came, I was still nervous. No I wasn't going to push him, but I also had to make it look real. How was I going to manage that? Samuel smirked, which told me he had heard my thoughts. "Stay out of my head if you don't want me in yours."  I told him sternly. The corner of his lips turned slightly. "Don't think so loud and I would." He said amused. I rolled my eyes as I took my seat in front of him. 

"So if I'm not going to try and break your walls how am I going to make this look real? And how will I know how strong I am? and if I truly would or could pass?" I know I was shooting off a lot of questions and it caused him to smile. "Just keep doing what you're doing. As long as we just sit and talk like this for a few minutes than everything will be fine." He assured me. I had to admit, having an entire conversation through some weird mental link was weird. Not that I minded, it was just odd. 

"Alright then. Hey I was thinking earlier. What are we? It's obvious we are more than just professor and pupil. But boyfriend and girlfriend sound so, I don't know weird? Childish? Maybe it's just me but I don't like those terms." I was rambling now. Great, now I just sound like a child. I shook my head at myself and Samuel laughed. "How about partners then? Lovers? " This got me laughing. 

"Fine to both. Hey I thought I would let you know once break starts I am going to be portaling back to my families mansion. I'm going to spend break combing through the library and see if I can find out why I am so powerful."  Samuel's body tensed again and his body trembled slightly. "No" He said flatly. My eyes flashed open and I narrowed my eyes at him. I didn't know how long it had been but I did know I was done. "You don't tell me what to do." I said to him sternly, and walked out of the class. I am going and nothing anyone could say, would make me do otherwise.