The Tethering: The Complete Collection

13. Fulguratus-1

13

Fulguratus

“Aperestra ab externum. Arcanestra ab externum.” The shutters in Jacob’s room swung open and closed as he paced and nervously repeated the spells to himself. He had been at the Mansion House for a month now, and the professor had decided it was time for his first formal test. Not that the grades could be reported to anyone, but Jacob still wanted to do well.

Emilia had stayed up late into the night helping him study. She had even snuck back to her room by walking on the roof shingles so Dexter wouldn’t know how late she’d stayed.

Jacob checked the clock. 8:56 a.m. Time to head down for his lesson.

“Elevare,” Jacob muttered under his breath, levitating the pencil in his hand as he walked down the stairs.

He arrived at the professor’s office, but the door was shut. Jacob raised his hand to knock before realizing there were voices on the other side of the door. One voice belonged to Professor Eames, but there was another deep, rumbling voice Jacob didn’t recognize.

“Are you quite sure Willow was taken?” Professor Eames asked. “I know it may be difficult for you to consider, but is there a possibility she left on her own? She is nearly an adult, after all.”

The other voice answered, but Jacob couldn’t make out the words.

“If MAGI is looking for her,” the professor said, “I’m sure she will soon be found. I’ll contact Larkin and make sure she takes a look at Willow’s file. And Proteus, my friend, I promise to do what”―there was a pause―“poking about I can.”

The low voice rumbled again.

“Yes, he’s probably outside right now. It’s nearly time for his lesson. Jacob,” the professor called, “please come in.”

Jacob entered the study and looked around for the owner of the low voice, but the professor was alone.

“Good morning, Jacob,” the professor greeted him, smiling. “I would like you to meet my friend, Proteus.” He indicated a mirror on his desk.

Jacob crossed around the desk to look into the mirror. Staring back at him was the most strangely fascinating man Jacob had ever seen.

His eyes held a fierce and wild look that was both intimidating and worthy of hero worship. Grey streaked his long, curly black hair, which flowed past his bare, well-muscled shoulders. His chiseled face was tan and weathered, and his eyes an unnaturally bright shade of blue.

The man in the mirror surveyed Jacob. “Jacob, it is very nice to meet you. I hope someday soon we shall meet in person.” He nodded to the professor, and with that the mirror became a reflection of the room.

“How did you do that?” Jacob asked, examining the seemingly normal mirror.

“That was skrying. Magical people learned long ago how to communicate with each other through mirrors.” The professor’s eyes twinkled. “You don’t think humans came up with Skype on their own, do you?”

Jacob shook his head in amazement. “So that other wizard just called your mirror?”

“Well, normal skrying works rather like a telephone. One party will attempt to contact another. The second party has the ability to accept or decline the communication. There is a form of skrying that can be done without the acceptance of the second party, but it is, shall we say, frowned upon.” The professor moved the mirror onto the shelf and started rearranging his desk to prepare for the morning lesson. “And incidentally, Proteus isn’t a wizard. He’s a centaur.”

Jacob tried to picture the man he had just seen in the mirror. “He looked so…human.”

“Centaurs generally do from the waist up,” the professor said as he picked up his wand. “Now, let us begin your examination with a few basics. Please demonstrate three different ways to form a magical light in this room.”