Chapter 3 The untamed Mage

Brielle.

I dropped my hands immediately, my body already prepared to run. But I didn’t get the chance to.

Like a blur she was there. An older lady appeared right in front of me out of nowhere, close enough that I felt the weight of her presence press against my chest.

Her almond-shaped eyes were sharp and scrutinizing, her silver-streaked locs went down to her waist. The magic rolling off her was powerful; it rattled my bones. Not like my mothers. It was stronger. Heavier. Dangerous. I took a step back, but the guards tightened their grip on my arms, holding me in place.

Her fingers came up beneath my chin, forcing my face up.

“Look at me.”

“No—”

I tried to resist but her hand held me in place, her eyes shifted from black to an unnatural grey. Then I felt it a force pushing or rather forcing its way into my mind. I pushed back instinctively. If she got in, she would know what I was. I couldn’t let that happen. I slammed doors shut, locking everything I could.

Each time I fought it, it felt like my brain was being squeezed. I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth. Don’t let her in, I whispered internally. The force pushed harder until my vision blurred pain exploded in my head so violently my feet buckled.

Fragments threatened to spill fire, blood, the sound of Ria screaming, then I did what I did when I wanted to keep my mothers out of my head. Instead of random things I cooked up an image in my head. Then she pulled back. The pressure vanished instantly leaving me gasping for air.

“Which mage faction do you belong to?” The word settled sounded more like a relief than a verdict.

I didn’t give a response because I didn’t know what that was.

“Untamed.” She muttered. What did that mean?

My eyes shifted to the destruction. The sea-green-eyed boy was already forcing a broken bone back into place, his expression remained the same, as if pain was an old friend.

The dragon with red scales was gone and in his place was a boy. Shirtless. Unbothered. His eyes glowed like molten amber, locked directly on me. A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips when he caught me looking. Something about it sent a chill down my spine.

One of the guards cleared his throat. “Principal Alexis, we found her beside the Celtic water.”

So that was who she was?

“She appeared to have been attacked on her way here,” the second guard added. “Banished mages, most likely.”

“Thank you, Jakob. You would be rewarded. You may leave.” They bowed and released me.

Before I could step away she dropped a hand on my shoulder. The environment changed, the courtyard vanished. I stumbled slightly as we appeared in a room.

The walls weren’t stone; they moved, like they were breathing. Veins of soft light pulsed through them, like magic ran through the structure itself. The air felt thicker here.

She walked past me and sat behind a desk made of living wood. Behind it was a painting. Two dragons. One was surrounded by water. The other with fire. But their tails were connected. Below it was a writing.

WHERE FIRE EMBRACES WATER, PEACE IS BORN—KASTROS ACADEMY.

“Sit.”

I did. Because my instincts told me not to test her. A black book appeared in front of her. It looked like a grimoire.

“What’s your name?”

“Brielle,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Brielle Veyra Solthar.”

Her brow lifted slightly.

She repeated it as her fingers moved through the air, invisible ink etched itself into the pages.

“Where do you live?”

“Eirhaven Hollow.”

“It must have been a long journey?” She said.

Technically no. “Yes.” I couldn’t dare say the opposite. I looked around the room, and a massive ball-like map of the entire Enia vale rotated on the iron stand, stopping only when the small village where I had hidden my whole life appeared.

“Parents?” My eyes glistened, I bit my inner lips, casting my eyes down to my bleached knuckles from how hard I clenched my fists.

It was silent for a while like she was giving me a few seconds of grief before she spoke again. I’m glad she didn’t ask me how they died because I couldn’t say that.

“Brielle.” Her gaze sharpened. “What happened on your way here? How did you end up in the Celtic River?”

“I was attacked.” I adopted the words the guards had spoken. I didn’t lie, I was truly attacked.

Her eyes narrowed. “By whom?” She asked.

My mind lashed back to the men that attacked our house. My hand clenched.

“I didn’t see their faces,” I said, my voice cracking. “They were… masked.”

Silence stretched. I could feel her watching me. Like she was weighing everything every word. Deciding.

“Admit her already.”

The voice didn’t just enter the room—it settled into it. The air shifted. I felt the presence before I even saw him. The veins on the wall stopped moving like they recognized who he was.

My head snapped towards the door.

He leaned against the wall like he owned it, one eye black like a bottomless pit with the other a light shade of crimson, his gaze fixed entirely on me. Cold. interested. Uncomfortable.

His lips curled slightly. The room went still. “She’s untamed.” The principal said.

“And?” he asked, adjusting his glasses, as he pushed himself off the doorframe. He stopped a few feet away from me.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was something worth dissecting then he smiled. “Go wait outside, little one.”

Me? Little? Was I? Maybe I was but saying outloud wasn’t necessary. I stood up and walked past him to the place where vines had separated making a path. Four eyed man, I shot him a glare.

It only lasted for a few seconds or may be one minute but deciding my fate here was quick. The vines separated again. Principal Alexis stepped out of it alone. The other man is nowhere in sight.

Her silver eyes locked on me. “Welcome to Kastros Academy. Mage Brielle.” She stretched her hand out and a little book appeared.

“Here’s everything you need to know about how this place works.” I hesitated but took it. Then another thing appeared in her hand but this time it was a single paper. “This is your room number, follow the black lines to the mages dorm. Lights out by ten don’t be caught lurking. School activities begin tomorrow.”

I collected the paper. “Thank you.” I muttered, and began moving, then I felt a sudden warmth wash over me. My clothes were now dry. When I turned she was there anymore just the veins on the door moving faintly. I couldn’t help but wonder what discussion they had about me?

I took a deep breath. I stared at the paper— Room 109— I didn’t know how to feel about this. The only people I knew to ask when I was confused were not in the world anymore.

All they had left me was this, I dipped my hand into my pocket and brought out the compass. They had said they would guide me. Guide me to what? I had to figure that out. Figuring it out meant staying here amongst dragons. How do I survive here? I gripped the compass tight.

“Stormflame, born of fire, water, and Mother Earth.” I waited, nothing happened.

Instead the insides of the compass came off, the rest of the pieces clattered on the floor. I had to get it fixed and figure out why my mothers wanted me here. Seems they were right about being safe in the area of using magic because the ashen sigils didn’t show up. I still couldn’t let my guards down.

I picked the pieces, on the ground were three lines black, red and blue. I followed the path that was mine. To a door made from oak tree, on it was the logo carved beautifully in the middle two dragons with joint tails, reminding me how I was in an enemy’s den.

I pushed open the door with room number 109 without knocking. I froze. I never once in my life thought I would ever witness such a scene.