Kai had parted ways with Julia and Quentin a few minutes ago, heading down a long corridor. He glanced at the card in his hand. It shimmered faintly and revealed the image of a door and more specifically, the one right beside him.
He smirked. "Oh great. Magic flash cards now. What's next, a pop quiz with prizes?"
Rolling his eyes, Kai pushed the door open slightly and he stepped inside.
The room was smaller than expected. Kind of well lit, with a strange old-world charm. Dean Fogg was there, standing between two othersJane Chatwin herself, looking composed, 'And kind of sexy if I'm being honest' but focused, and another woman Kai didn't recognize.
Before the door fully shut behind him, he caught the end of their conversation.
"I'm telling you, Henry," Jane said quietly, "he's special. I know it."
Fogg shook his head. "This is a dangerous game. It could spiral out of control."
Jane smiled faintly. "A little mix to see what happens this time, Henry."
Kai froze internally. 'Shit... do they know I'm a vampire?'
Out loud, he played it cool. "Uhhh... am I interrupting some top-secret faculty meeting?"
Dean Fogg turned to him. "No, come in, Mr. Parker."
Kai stepped forward as Fogg sat between the two women. The dean studied him, hands folded.
"So, Mr. Parker. Tell me... what do you think about all of this?"
Kai blinked. "Uh... all of what?"
Fogg gestured vaguely. "Your file says you've spent years studying the occult. So, magic and the mysteries. What do you believe?"
Kai shrugged, keeping his tone breezy. "I mean, who doesn't want to believe in magic? Life's a lot more fun when you think you can actually conjure a rabbit out of a hat."
Fogg's gaze didn't waver. He asked a few more standard questions where did Kai study, what drew him to the occult, what did he hope to find. Kai answered with the perfect blend of curiosity and normalcy.
Finally, Fogg folded his hands. "The ordinary have a chance to become something more. But first, you need a little faith."
Ah… the ordinary huh,' Kai thought. 'So they don't know\... thank you, Ryan, for setting this up so well. This just got a lot easier.'
Outwardly, Kai kept his expression open, curious.
"Do some magic, boy," Fogg said suddenly.
Kai tilted his head. "I'm sorry, what? You want me to pull a rabbit out of my... what now?"
Jane actually chuckled under her breath. Fogg didn't. "Yes. Magic. Let's see what you can do."
Kai looked around. "Right. No pressure."
He held his hand out, palm down. Closed his eyes.
A beat passed. Then another.
Kai peeked out of one eye. "Yeahhh, I don't think this is working"
Fogg stood, ready to say something but Jane raised her hand first.
"Kai. Tell me—what do you think magic is?"
Kai smirked. "A get-out-of-jail-free card with flair. Maybe a bit of wishful thinking mixed with a splash of crazy."
Jane nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe. But magic is part imagination, part freedom. It's about not being bound by what's ordinary. That's what makes you truly free."
Fogg watched quietly, hands in his pockets.
Kai inhaled, his face softening. 'Alright... let's give them a show, shall we?'
This time, when he closed his eyes, he focused and allowed a subtle energy to hum under his skin. The room's dust particles lifted, floating like silver motes in the light. Jane, Fogg, and the other woman glanced around in surprise.
Kai opened his eyes in mock wonder as the dust gathered into a tight sphere above his palm. The sphere shimmered softly, holding its shape.
Jane stepped forward gently, cupping it in her hands. "See? It's all about the imagination."
She turned to Fogg, who smiled ever so slightly. "Well, well, well."
---
The Next Morning
Kai sat on the edge of his new dorm bed, unpacking the few things he'd brought. His clothes, some random junk. Along with a disguised grimoire, 'Nothing a little spell of disguise couldn't fix.'
He glanced at his new roommate a scrawny Asian kid with glasses, practically radiating nervous energy as he introduced himself.
"Uh... hi. I'm Leo."
Kai gave a lazy smile. "Kai." Then, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder, his eyes flared briefly.
"From now on, if anything seems strange about me, you'll ignore it. Don't bring it up unless I say so. Got it?"
Leo blinked, dazed. "Got it."
Kai dropped his hand, sighing. 'This entire place is strange. Like that'll help.'
A voice called from the hall.
"Where are we going?" Quentin asked, trailing behind Margo and Eliot.
Q spotted Kai. Relief flooded his face. "Oh thank God. You're here too."
Margo gave her trademark smirk. "Hello again, handsome." She nudged Eliot. "Now he's cute."
Kai smirked back. "Uh... thanks?"
Together they stepped out into the grounds. Eliot led the way, hands gesturing grandly as he explained.
"First years live in these dorms. Depending on your talents, you'll eventually be placed in a house that reflects your magical emphasis."
Kai took it all in the air was richer here, the energy of magic thick like honey. His vampire senses were definitely going crazy with how clean it actually was, 'Probably a cleaning spell or something'.
Margo added, "Or, you flunk out. In which case bye bye. Not that you'd care, because you wouldn't remember a thing."
Kai glanced at Q. "Ah, so the ol' Obliviate. Got it."
Q groaned. "Tell me about it."
As they walked, Eliot pointed out groups. "Physical kids. Telekinesis. They move stuff, lift stuff most can fly. Amazing partiers. But don't visit if you've got anything important the next day. Trust me."
Kai nodded, only half-listening. His sharp eyes tracked the gestures students made as they practiced. Every flick, every precise motion. 'So that's how they channel it here... huh, interesting.'
---
Later in Class
Kai sat at the back of a classroom, watching. Kady had a foot up on her chair, looking relaxed. Penny beside her was brooding as usual. Quentin and Alice sat up front.
A female professor addressed them. "Although you performed magic for final acceptance, what matters now is who can grow it into something more. Who can become a true magician. Alice. Please."
Alice stepped forward, calm, her hands steady as she approached a desk where a small glass sphere rested.
Kady smirked, whispering, "Oooh, looks serious."
Penny rolled his eyes. "Please. An artist is at work."
Kai added, dryly while paying close attention, "And the artist needs her focus, thanks."
Alice started at him curiously having heard him before completely ignoring them, eyes narrowed, concentrating. The ball shimmered... melted... its form started shifting according to Alice's hand movements. Slowly, it reshaped into a delicate, tiny crystal horse, translucent and perfect.
Kai's brow rose. 'Transmutation, huh? Very impressive.' Although he had seen it from the series. This tho made it much more impressive witnessing it real life.
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