Regiara: Academy of Sorcery – Part 5

To start reading from the beginning, click here. If you missed the last chapter or need a refresher, click here. Otherwise, continue reading with part 5 below!

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Their daily meetings only left Mildred and Lorelei more bewildered. It quickly became clear that it wasn’t just the teleportation spell that was superior to the Regiara formula. Mildred knew a better way to do every spell taught in class, but she was immediately shot down and forbidden from doing it her way. The majority of the students even mocked or belittled her for daring to suggest her “outdated” ways. Mildred was becoming increasingly frustrated. 

Never forget what I’ve taught you.

Sabrine’s parting words were beginning to make sense. She had attended Regiara and must have known they would attempt to retrain Mildred. But Sabrine had taught her the old ways anyway. She must have felt it important for the old ways to live on. This thought kept her from giving up.

Sabrine would have wanted her to teach Lorelei the old ways too. But Mildred also got the feeling it was important to fit in. She could feel the Professors’ eyes on her, even outside of class. During lessons, they would observe her to make sure she was practicing the Regiara formula, and act sweet as honey when she achieved success with it. So the deal she had made with Lorelei fulfilled both purposes.

Mildred needed to keep the old ways alive, but in secret.

Something else became clear during class. Mildred wasn’t the only student who had been trained in the old ways. At first, she only noticed because in some of her other courses, a couple of students had made the same mistake she had during her first lesson. Her initial reaction was to approach them after class and let them know they weren’t the only ones, but her instinct told her this wasn’t a good idea. 

But she began to watch for these students, and she learned that some never outright rebelled or demonstrated the old ways. They had learned from the example made of the others. However, she could tell that there were students who were struggling with the Regiara spellcasting and had clearly never learned it before. She made a mental note of these students as an idea began forming in her mind. 

Her friendship with Lorelei was the one light in this strange new place. So when Lorelei appeared in her doorway one night in tears, she led her into the room to comfort her, sitting her on the bed with a mug of hot tea brewed with a calming spell. 

After she had relaxed, Lorelei told her what had happened. “I was so excited about the progress I had been making with the old ways, that I decided to help out my mother and show her what I had learned.” Lorelei paused to blow her nose. “I didn’t expect her to react that way.” Tears dropped from her face as she took a shuddering breath. 

“She looked so…afraid.” At these words, Lorelei looked up at Mildred’s face questioningly. “Why would she be afraid of the old ways?”

Mildred gently took the cup of tea and sat it aside. She told Lorelei about the words of her mentor before she left, and that she suspected something was amiss at Regiara. “Your mother is a servant here. She likely knows something and that’s what has made her afraid,” Mildred finished. 

“There’s something else,” Lorelei said, lowering her head. “My mother has forbidden me from practicing the old ways.”

“I understand,” Mildred replied. “I won’t pressure you to continue, and since I can’t uphold my end of the bargain, you don’t have to help me with my lessons anymore.”

Lorelei took her hands and squeezed. “We’re friends, remember? I’ll still help you with lessons. And…” she took a deep breath, “I do want to learn the old ways, even more so now, we’ll just have to keep it hidden.”

Mildred smiled with a twinkle in her eye. “I’m glad you said that, because there’s something I’ve been planning.”

…

What do you think Mildred is planning? Do you think Lorelei should disobey her mother and continue learning the old ways? Are you enjoying the story so far? Let us know in the comments!

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Thanks so much for reading!

-Clever & WTF