School of Sorcery

At the beginning of your fourth week at the academy, you attract some very dubious looks from passers-by as you carry an illusory sculpture of one of your teammates with you to Professor Glossoloria's Ritual Magic lesson. There, you proudly show off how well and imaginatively you have completed the homework. The other pupils have brought with them a motley collection of illusory books, pillows, pots, and other commonplace household objects; your creation is quite clearly the most exciting, and everybody else crowds around to take look at it. In particular, Isolia raises her eyebrows, Philander has a fit of hysterical laughter, and Venta is mortified when she sees that you have captured her likeness in the form of an unreal statue. She sinks very low behind her desk, folding her arms over her head, as though trying to hide herself.

'It's not a very good likeness,' says Athamas Cardos, frowning. 'I mean, it's obvious who it's meant to be, but it doesn't look very much like her.'

'Now, there's no need to be overly critical,' says the Professor. 'This is the first time I've asked you to do anything like this, after all. I think it's an excellent first attempt, very imaginative and thought-provoking. It certainly seems to have prompted quite a lot of discussion.'

You are willing to admit that the spellwork you put into creating and maintaining the illusion could be improved. It seemed fine when you first set it up, but overnight it has developed an annoying habit of occasionally flickering and changing shape – as if your teammate were being squashed, or stretched, or compressed into a smaller space – before suddenly returning to normal. Also, you think that some of the colours have drained out of it, leaving it greyer and less lifelike than before.

Peeking out from behind her hands, Venta moans, 'Why did you have to make it a statue of me? Wouldn't it have been easier if it had been Phil? I mean, you share a dorm room with him – you see him all the time!'

'You've got a more interesting face,' you tell her truthfully.

'Hah! "Interesting" is one of those euphemism words, isn't it?' Baring her cute little fangs, Venta vents her anger at you: 'Like when people say "she's got a nice personality" or "lovely hair" when really they mean "that girl is ugly as sin!"'

'I don't think you're ugly,' you tell her. 'I think you're a lovely girl, very pretty.'

She sinks even lower in her chair and buries her face in her hands again. You glance around in confusion, mystified by the sniggering from some of your classmates and Professor Glossoloria's muttered comment: 'Ugh. I don't normally have to worry about their teenage hormones this early on.'

'Keep digging, mate,' Phil tells you. 'You'll reach the southern tip of Anakwaan eventually. I hear it's nice there.'

You never really learn what that was about. The rest of the lesson passes more-or-less uneventfully, with Professor Glossoloria getting you to practice crafting different kinds of illusions, review your own work, and comment on what your peers have accomplished. All in all, quite a productive morning.


During your study period that day, your female teammates share with you their recipe for a healing potion (which consists of blessed spring water, catnip, peppermint, sage, and sunflower oil, as well as an infusion of curative magic) and you share yours with them. Venta still doesn't seem to have entirely forgiven you for whatever you did wrong earlier, but at least she is willing to talk to you.



On Twoday morning, you are overjoyed to learn that Isolia's ability to read and write has progressed to the point where even the usually grumpy Professor Apollinus Witt has nothing but praise for her.

'By Keron's snot! I think she's got it!' he cries out, after listening to her read out a randomly-selected passage from a history textbook. He plasters a very disturbing smile over his craggy face, the kind of smile which an axe murderer might wear while announcing that he's going to kill your entire family, and says, 'Well done, young lady!'

'I can't take all of the credit,' Isolia says modestly. 'My teammates gave me a lot of help. And my group tutor, Green Flame–'

'Ah, yes. Well, that's what teammates are for,' he says, his smile abruptly disappearing. 'It is wise of you to make good use of the resources you have.' He gives a nod to her written work. 'I hope you'll have finished that by the end of the lesson.'

'I will!' she assures him, picking up her quill and getting on with it.

By the time that afternoon's study period comes around, you are in quite a celebratory mood, although you are forced to stay quiet and get on with your own reading and writing practice after you are given a firm reprimand by Professor Quazellian, the staff member on duty. Even so, it isn't enough to dampen your spirits: Isolia has learnt how to read and write, a barrier to her future progress has been removed, and you feel an overwhelming sense of relief that you won't have to devote so many of these sessions to literacy from now on. Surely that is something worth rejoicing about?


You are still in a buoyant mood by the time you go to the school's Mathematics Club that evening. Philander has agreed to accompany you. Perhaps he's genuinely interested, but more likely he didn't have anything better to do, was bored and wanted some company.

The members of the Mathematics Club have gathered outside the school's main lecture theatre. Seeing you new arrivals, the club president, Elantria Jabtoreth, comes over to speak to you. Although you haven't met her before, you've seen her around and you know of her by reputation. Apparently, her father is that rarest of things: a foreigner who, by dint of his fearsome intelligence, audacity, and charisma, has managed to earn the favour of the Emperor himself and been granted a highly sought-after position in the imperial court. After his daughter developed magical talents of her own, there was no other solution but that she should go to the most prestigious school of sorcery in the entire empire: the Tyrepheum Academy of the Magical Arts. You've overheard some of the older noble-born pupils muttering spiteful things about her "jumped-up merchant" father, or her skin colour – she's half-Varzi and her father is apparently as "black as coal" – but you've always thought that she moves with dignity, elegance, and refinement enough to put all of her detractors to shame. (Although, if you mentioned that within earshot of Professor Glossoloria, she'd probably start muttering about "hormones" again. You've no idea why.)

'Good evening, both of you,' she says, giving you a respectful nod. 'If you're here to join the Mathematics Club, perhaps tonight isn't the best night for it. We're having a lecture by a guest speaker, talking to us about how the ongoing wars and the debasement of the currency have affected – and will continue to affect – the Sambian Empire's economy. You're welcome to stay, if that has any appeal for you, but you won't get a taste of what we normally do at these meetings.'

'And what do you normally do?' asks Phil.

'It depends. We tend to split into groups to work on different projects. Currently, we are collaborating with the Astronomy Club, assisting Jaqari Pruyte with the mathematical principles behind his "giant space gonne" – which is fascinating, don't you think?'

You and your teammate both agree.

'Also, we usually have a group dedicated to studying alchemical formulae, trying to work out exactly what ratio of ingredients – physical, magical, and spiritual – gives the best results. We have advice sessions for pupils who are struggling to pay their school fees, helping them with budgeting and suggestions for how they can make money safely and legally, but not usually until later in the school year. And there are some of us who apply principles of geometry to arcane circles and diagrams, trying to make ritual magic as efficient as possible. Would any of that be of interest to you?'

What will you do? (Choose one)
[] Attend the lecture about economics.
[] Do something else, but promise to come back to the Mathematics Club another time.
[] Do something else, admitting that the Mathematics Club probably isn't for you.

If you want to 'do something else', what do you want to do? (Choose one)
[] Spend time chatting with Phil.
[] Do some schoolwork.
-[] Alchemy
OR
-[] Literacy
OR
-[] Ritual Magic
[] Go outside and tend your garden.
[] Visit Green Flame's office and try to talk to her.
[] Attend the Debating Club.
[] Attend the Poetry Club
[] Do something else (write in).