Tethered
Catherine
When the tears started, they never seemed to stop flowing. That was a philosophy I had realized worked when crying started. Mother wouldn’t stop crying, convinced that I would die in this quest. I just had to be a little more positive and optimistic about my situation.
There were two powerful mages in my group, and Orion, I suspected, was the most powerful. In fact, yes, he was attributed to having more than one magical attribute, but I knew it was more than that. I knew that even though he lost his wife, he might not need her, and that was a bit restrudging, but I just had that feeling that he was strong enough.
That being said, I would, with all the power I had within me, hide behind him at every given moment I could. Was that honorable? No. But did I care? Definitely not. Still, it was needed enough to be said that I would try my best, even though my best would be mostly running scared like a coward, but regardless, I would try my best.
Then again, the whole point of going on the quest was to find my attribute, and if I didn’t find it, then maybe I would be a failure like my father. But at least it would mean that I tried, and I was the one to get the farthest in my family. In truth, I might deserve a pat on the back for trying, of course, and lasting this long before throwing in the towel and running for the hills in fear.
The next day, I spent in the Academy looking through my locker, going to the library, and trying to find things that would prove useful in my quest, until I hit a brick wall. Quite literally. Standing in front of me was none other than the biggest fangirl of Orion: Francesca.
Her golden hair was pulled away from her face, and underneath her eyes were dark circles that were also pink and blotchy. She had spent a phenomenal amount of time crying her eyes out, and for good reason too. Orion had looked at her with disdain the day before when it was rather obvious that she had planned the whole thing. I was curious, however, to know whether or not she had given him his wand.
I blinked several times, opened my mouth to ask the question, and then looked down, changing my mind.
“How did you do it?”
I looked up, baffled, cocking my head to one side as genuine curiosity rose within me. “I don’t understand,” I whispered.
She reached for me, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer. “How the fuck did you do it? How did you get him to pick you to be in his cohort? How did both of you end up in the same quest? It’s not possible,” she said. “It should have been me! If we are being true, based off abilities, I should be in his group. I am more powerful than you are. You are nothing! You don’t even have an attribute yet, and you are well beyond the age to get one. You’re a fluke, a dud, practically an empty shell of a mage, and the only way it’s obvious that you are one is that you can cast the most rudimentary of spells. So why?”
She squeezed my hand tighter. My eyes were widened now, mostly with surprise.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Is it not just by luck?”
Her sneer faltered slightly. “Luck?” she repeated. “Luck shouldn’t even favour you, as after all, you drew the short end of the stick of fate, and everyone knows that, don’t we?”
I licked my lips. “Yes,” I said. “Which is why I’m all the more surprised. I do not have the power to go up to Councilwoman Cadence and demand that I be grouped with the most powerful wizard in our entire class, and perhaps the next few classes combined. I do not have that recognition to be able to do something so great. As you are aware, I did draw the short end of the stick of fate, so I should have been paired with the other two who would definitely assure my certain death in the quest. But is it not surprising enough, Francesca?”
I didn’t know where the sudden boldness came from, but perhaps it was just the admittance of my own pathetic fate. She loosened her grip on my hand and stepped back.
“That is true,” she said. “That doesn’t change the fact that it happened.” She was a little forceful now. “If I find video or any hard evidence that it was your design in any shape or form, I will burn you where you stand.”
I shook my head. “I had no design. Wasn’t me. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Honestly, don’t you think maybe you should just leave me alone for once? Perhaps I know that my fate is terrible, then let me live in it. Why must you always do this to me? Why must you always torment me?”
She said nothing. In a terse, light cough she jutted out her chin and walked away. Well, what did I expect?
I pulled all my materials from the desk, tucked them into my satchel, and headed straight to Professor Cadence. She was scrawling about inside a large office; she barely acknowledged my presence. Then again, I hoped she wouldn’t, as I scurried to the back of the room and sat. Eventually she looked up and beckoned me to come closer.
“Your father petitioned me,” she said. “He says you’re not ready to go. Shall I remove you?”
“No,” I said. “Please don’t.” Her face softened. “Your father is well within his rights to request that you be removed, Catherina. You are one of the youngest in this class, and it would be expected, one of the youngest and, unfortunately, one of the weakest. This means I owe your father a duty.”
I was silent for a moment.
“Now I’ll ask again, since this will be the final time, Catherina, shall I remove you from the quest?”
I raised my eyes to hers and thought about it for a very long minute. If she removed me I would be safe here, but then my leverage, the leverage of the strongest, would be gone. Granted, that meant my growth would be stunted, but it also meant I would be protected in the Tower for the time being. What more did I want to learn by myself?
While I had been at the bottom of all rankings in practical spell casting I was actually quite exceptional in theoretical knowledge. I topped all my classes, at least in the large, and I did much better than the average student. I had some accolades and a solid understanding of magical theory, but my execution was less than average. I didn’t know why, but I did believe I would be stronger if I went out on my own.
I raised my chin, feeling a little bolder. “I will go,” I said.