Chapter 10: The Hecate Course

Professor Ignatio didn't say anything, just as Mimi had predicted he would. The most he did was give Sugar a small smile, as he gave him wandmaking instructions. Didn't even mention the whole walking out thing, and Sugar was thankful for it. The last thing he wanted right now was more attention on him. He could already hear the whispers coming from the back table...

Knight seemed to have noticed his discomfort too, as he began to tell him of Rosa's earlier mishap, in an attempt to make him feel better.

"So, she set metal on fire?" Sugar almost laughed at the rather ridiculous story Knight was relaying.

"It didn't really catch on fire, but it started smoking... a lot."

"Can you lot stop talking about this?" Rosa said, giving everyone else on the table a death stare, "Also, where the heck were you?" she added, now directing her words at Sugar.

"I was... doing stuff, it doesn't matter."

"So you were having a sulk about your Mana type." Rosa said with a knowing smirk.

"...shut up..."

The class was now finishing up, and most of the students were putting the final touches on their wands, Sugar included. Thankfully, Mineral witches didn't need a staff-length wand to be effective, so he didn't have too much time on the darn thing.

Hugo was already done, and was currently looking through the timetable.

"Hmm, it looks like we have flying class next. That's... exciting... I think."

"Flying? Oh, my mom hated that class. She still complains about it to this day," Sugar said with a frown, "I don't understand what's so bad about it."

"Uhm, maybe she had bad balance? Flying is really challenging if you can't balance correctly," Hugo offered.

"Or if she was scared of heights," added Rosa.

"There's no way she's scared of heights. Our coven is in the mountains." Sugar said with a frown, trying his best to glue the crystals onto his wand, but some of them, as if to mock him even more, simply refused to stick.

"Does it have to be brooms, or does any cleaning appliance work?" Knight asked, eyes wide and curious.

"Brooms?"

Hugo, Sugar and Rosa said the word in unison, incredulous and baffled expressions on their faces.

"What gave you that idea?" Sugar said, blinking rapidly

"Uhm... pop culture?" Knight said with a sheepish grin.

"Good grief, we're really going to have to teach you a lot."

✧༺✦✮✦༻∞  ∞༺✦✮✦༻✧

When the class had finished making their wands, Ignatio put them into storage, telling them that they needed to be checked and made up to safety standards, and that he'd begin the second part of wandmaking when they next had a class. And so, the students began making their way to the back field, excited, but also curious about their lesson.

"I wonder how they're gonna do this, since we don't have our wands," Sugar mused.

"They're just gonna teach us the safety protocols. And then we have to do a quiz on it when we come back next time," Rosa answered.

"Ah."

Sugar had to admit, having Rosa around was starting to become really useful. Any questions the group had about anything at Scarwood, she seemed to have a ready answer, thanks to her older siblings.

As the group reached the back oval, however, a second-year student held them back.

"Sorry guys, our class is kind of going over time... we just have one more round to go through, though."

However, most of their words went over the first-years' heads, as they instead intensely watched the goings-on in the field!

"It's the Hecate Course!" Rosa and Sugar said in simultaneous awe, their eyes wide.

"Uhm, who?" Knight asked, scratching his head

"The Hecate Course! It's an accelerated class for only the top fifteen brightest witches of each year! You can tell who they are by their robes: they get gold embroidery! They also get a purple amethyst brooch. They get to learn all sorts of fun stuff like Mag-Com, artefact enchanting and even making their own spells. They're the coolest..." Sugar said with a rare smile on his face.

"And since they're second years," Rosa added, "this means that they're the newest batch. Ooh, I really want to see who they are!" she then ran off, following the horde of students also rushing past the poor second-year who had been left to guard the door.

"Hey, don't you dare leave me behind!" Sugar yelled, running after her.

"I'm... lost on the appeal." Knight admitted.

"Don't worry, me too." sighed Hugo.

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Mr Xavier Crow was the current head of the Hecate Course at Scarwood, as well as the proud Magical Combat instructor: affectionately known by the students as Mag-Com. Right now, he stood in the middle of the Mag-Com ring, waiting for a new challenger. He had posed a challenge to the newest Hecate cohort at the start of the lesson: whoever could land a hit on him got first pick at the badges. He never understood it, but there seemed to be a superstition running amongst the students that certain patterns or colours in the amethyst brooches could make or break a course member's future. But this didn't mean he couldn't humour it. Besides, some friendly competition was always welcome.

"So, any more challengers?" he called out to his class. Many had already tried, to no avail, and were now only exchanging glances with their friends. Ah, what a pity.

But then, a hand shot into the sky.

"I'll go."

A twinkle entered Mr Crow's eyes as a red-haired girl stepped into the ring.

"Ah, Wendolyn. I was wondering when you'd take me up on my challenge. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist."

He looked at the first years who now gathered at the ring's edge, eyes wide. An audience, hm? This was sure to be exciting. Sure, their flying teacher was probably going to complain soon, but it was always good to give the young ones a taste.

"Actually, sir, could you wait for a moment longer before we start?"

Mr Crow looked at his student curiously, but nodded.

"Of course, Wendolyn."

Then from behind him, came a voice.

"Hey, Wendy! I'm here!"

The second-years raised their eyebrows at the arrival.

"Him? Didn't he get rejected? And shouldn't he be in Magic History?" they whispered.

As the boy stepped into the ring, taking a stance beside Wendy, an amused smile once again crossed the Mag-Com instructor's face.

"Wendolyn, what's with your friend?"

"Well, Mr Crow," the girl began, "you said the only way to get back in Hecate after being rejected is to do something impressive, right? And seeing how it is, landing a hit on you would be impressive, correct?"

"Mhm, go on."

"We were thinking," the boy continued, "if I get a hit on you, can I be accepted into the course again?"

"Hmm, I'd have to talk to Miss Nightblood about this..."

"We already did." the boy grinned, pulling a document from his pocket.

"Hah. Wouldn't expect anything less from the two best students in the grade. Though, since you are outnumbering me, can I presume that I don't need to hold back?"

The second-years produced their wands.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, sir."

By now, Sugar and Rosa had made their way down the field, and managed to get front row seats. Now they watched, fascinated by the scene unfolding before them.

"Is that even allowed?" Sugar said, nose scrunched up.

"I mean, Headmistress Nightblood did sign off on it."

"Oh, that's Jayden Delav— I mean Emily," the second year sitting beside them piped up, "He was actually supposed to be part of our lineup, but his father withdrew him last minute. That's why we only have 14 members right now, not 15."

"Withdrew him at the last minute? How is that even possible?"

"I know... he got top 5 rank in all his subjects as well. It was a huuuuge spectacle. His father came in and spoke directly to the old Headmaster at the end of last year. The headmaster tried to convince him, but he cancelled Jayden's offer anyway, cos you need your parents' permission to join and all."

"What kind of parent would do that to their kid?"

"Oh, you haven't heard? He's illegitimate. His dad had an affair with a human."

They couldn't continue their conversation any further as the ring suddenly burst into action.

Jayden spun his wand, making his friend seemingly disappear from the ring. An invisibility charm. As he did, Sugar noticed something else.

"Hey, this is the guy that was late to the assembly!"

The shoddy blue dye-job was unmistakable.

"Hmm," Mr Crow smiled, "interesting."

He then dodged a bolt of lighting thrown straight at him, before sending an energy blast in the direction where it fired from.

"Wendolyn, we've talked about this. You always act too hasty."

"Sorry, sir." the girl winced, as the invisibility spell faded. The spell barely grazed her, but she looked heavily in pain.

"Interesting..." the second-year beside them mused, "she's doing the Phantom Exchange."

"The what?"

"The Phantom Exchange: it's a special move in team Mag-Com. It's when one person takes on a lot more damage, in turn for their teammate's power to be boosted. They must've done the spell at the very beginning..."

"How do you guys know this? I thought you haven't studied Mag-Com before." Sugar asked, eyebrow raised

"It's called studying ahead." they said with a wink.

"...touché."

"Wait, look! What's he doing now?" Rosa pointed to Jayden, who seemed to be muttering an incantation, and at the conclusion, the world began to dance.

For flashes each not lasting longer than a second, the ring transformed, from a watery seascape, to a paint splattered canvas, to a rotating chessboard. The people within seemed to change as well, both Jayden and Wendy disappearing and reappearing at random times, or appearing as tens of clones. The only thing constant was Mr Crow, who looked equal parts bewildered and impressed.

"What on..."

"They're trying to confuse him. Jayden's throwing every illusion spell in the book at him," the second year smiled, before leaning forward and yelling, "come on, you two! You can do it! Avenge us!"

This seemed to incite the rest of the second-years as well, and a wave of 'Avenge us!' spread across the oval.

Then with a yell, Wendy called.

"Fulgurra!"

A lightning bolt raced across the field, heading straight for Mr Crow. He dodged it easily, seeming to be focussed on something else entirely. It appeared that he had made up in his mind that the one he needed to defend from was Jayden, not Wendy. His eyes searched the ring for the student, even as the surroundings danced in front of his eyes. Despite the illusions, this was still his Mag-Com ring. He knew how it worked like the back of his hand.

Then, Jayden shot forward, a spell gathering at his fingertips. Mr Crow halted him, but a look of surprised cross his face as Jayden... smiled. Then for a brief moment, the visage of Jayden wavered, and Wendy stood in his place. But, that meant...

'Wendy' was already behind him, blades of ice aimed for him. Mr Crow snapped around, and blasted 'Wendy' back.

'Wendy' fell to the ground, the illusion spell dispelling with a snap, revealing a very tired looking Jayden. But as he struggled to get up, Mr Crow halted him.

"That will be all, Jayden."

"But..."

Mr Crow chuckled and turned to the side, revealing a tiny cut on his upper forearm.

"This very much counts as a hit. Well done Jayden, absolutely masterful use of illusion spells, and welcome back to the Hecate Program."

The second-years erupted into deafening applause, while Jayde himself still seemed somewhat stunned at the whole situation.

"Hah, sweet..." he managed to slur out before bursting into a coughing fit.

"Shit... we should get him to the nurse's office," Wendy said, stepping forward, "He used a lot of his own body's water to maintain the illusions... Rina, get down here!"

Sugar watched as the second year that had been sitting by him and Rosa jolted.

"Come on, you helped plan this, so you better help me lug Jayden to Nurse Glenn."

"Ah, you got me," Rina said, standing up with a sigh. Then, as if remembering something, tossed a business card into Rosa's hands.

"I almost forgot, the name's Rina Li. Come to me if you want your fortune read!"

With that, they rushed down the hill to help their friends.

But Rosa seemed not to even notice. Instead, her eyes were transfixed on Wendy, as she scolded Rina for 'hustling the fresh meat'.

"Woah... taking on injuries to help her friend... she's so cool," she said, voice barely above a whisper.

As the Hecate Course students packed up, and left the oval, the first-years were still chattering excitedly about what they had witnessed. And even as their flying teacher instructed them on the safety procedures and manoeuvres they were to memorise to fly safely, none of them were really paying attention.

┌─── ・ 。゚★: *.☪ .* :☆゚. ───┐

𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣'𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖

└─── ・ 。゚★: *.☪ .* :☆゚. ───┘

Fun fact: Before Jayden was officially named, I pretty much just called him blue hair and pronouns kid. Luckily, he has a name now, lol.

Also prepare to see Wendy and Jayden appear a lot more from now on. Rina?... eh, not so much, which is funny, because they're my fave second-year character.

~Viva

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