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  The system was in place for a very specific reason—to keep magic-users safe and to keep non-users protected from us. Technically speaking, it was how it always worked. Magic had been around since the very beginning. But for a long time, it was hidden away from non-users, those who would fear it, or try to control those who could use it for their own gain.

  As time went on, it became too hard for our clans to hide and all the magic-users in the world came to together and showed who they truly were. That was many years ago and though we had legal rights and were supposed to be treated like everyone else, we weren’t. Granted, the system in place now was better, but tensions constantly ran high, and there were plenty of protest groups against magic-users always popping up. They called for us all to be stripped of our magic. Or killed. We’d even passed a group of protesters on our way up here. Here was the Four Point Training Facility. I wished our kind could be treated the same, and not be placed in military or government positions.

  The moment the students at my old school figured out what I was… well, let’s just say I went from having friends to none. Everyone gave me shit for it and steered clear of me in case I took my frustrations out on them.

  “Rori? You okay?”

  “Great, Mom,” I lied again and forced a smile to my face. “I’m great.”

  “You can call me whenever you need to talk.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to bother you. You’ll be so busy now without me around to help you out.”

  “I’ll manage just fine. Don’t you worry about me.”

  Mom owned a bakery in northern Oregon, and since I was old enough to stir a mixing bowl or see over the counter, I’d been there to help her out. I was all she had. Her parents died when she was young and Dad, well, Dad just up and left one day and never came back.

  I wanted to do everything I could to be there for her, but then we found out I had magic flowing in my veins and it changed all our plans. I could no longer just be a baker or stay with her in Oregon. Anybody with magical abilities had to register with the governments, magical and non, as well as attend a three-year training facility. This facility, where I was now, one of the many Four Point Facilities scattered around the world.

  That was the other downside to being a magic-user—we were automatically enlisted into the military. Every magic-user was obligated to spend the first five years after their training working with a unit at one of our many outposts. That was a whole other issue I was not ready to deal with quite yet.

  “You’ll do well, I know you,” she assured me. “Just remember to focus on your training. Don’t let yourself get distracted. Learn all you can.”

  I heard the sadness in her voice at leaving me here, but she had no choice. If I tried to return home and stay there, they’d come for me eventually. The Elite Guard. And if they had to come for me, then I’d be placed on immediate probation and be watched closely for the next five years. Even be labeled as a possible danger. Magic users in this world might be strong, but we had to play by a very different set of rules. A harsher set.

  “I will,” I promised, hugging her again.

  “I wish I could say I knew what it was like,” she whispered to me. “I’m afraid this is the one thing I can’t help you with.”

  Mom could only have dreamed of coming to a place like this since the magic in our family skipped two generations. She’d honestly thought it had died out with her grandmother, but then I started being able to use the elements around me, nearly froze the house—inside and out—a few times, before she admitted I was a mage. She never held it against me, though. My mother Jodie Griffith had to be the most supportive woman on the planet. After my dad—his name was Trevor, but it’s not like anyone ever hears me say it. He’s persona non grata in my world. After he walked out on us one day, it’d just been her and me.

  And when the day came she learned I was a mage, her sole focus became getting me prepared for what my life would be like.

  “I still think it’s a dream,” I whispered.

  “It’s not. You’re here. And this is the first day of your new life.”

  “New life,” I repeated. “Sounds like I’m never going to see you again.”

  “You will, I promise you that, but I know it might not be for a long while, and I just have to accept that. So do you. You’re strong, Rori, you can do this.”

  “Strong, right. I can barely control any of the elements for more than five seconds, and I see a few people around here already have familiars,” I whispered. I nodded toward the ones I could tell were mages by the same marking on the back of their hand. A mark that appeared on mine when I first tapped into my magic. A few had cats or birds, one even had a dog trailing behind. These animals were their magical guides, brought to life by their abilities. “I’ve tried for the last two years and can’t get anything to come to me.”

  “Patience,” she said firmly. “Do not give up on yourself. Everyone is different.”

  But I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to prove that I could be a great mage and earn my place in our world. Those who washed out were forced to work whatever pathetic government job they could get. We weren’t allowed to rejoin society and just do simple things, like being a baker. Society wasn’t ready for us to live normal lives like that, no matter what we wanted. There were several groups pushing for that option, but I doubted I’d see it any time soon.

  Mom cupped my face in her hands and kissed my forehead. “You can do this. Have faith in yourself, alright? Now, you go in there, and you make the best of this path you’re on. Call me when you can and hopefully, I’ll see you soon.”

  She hugged me again even harder. I didn’t want to let go, knowing it could be three years or longer until I was allowed to see her again. Once I stepped foot over the threshold, this would become my home. These other people would be my family, those I would work with and fight next to. If it came down to it.

  Fighting. I was going to be a fighter. I gulped without meaning to, but Mom didn’t notice. She nodded firmly with a sincere smile and then she turned around and walked away.

  I couldn’t stop watching her until she was down the steps leading to the parking lot and then she was just gone.

  I gave myself a minute to get my thoughts together and made sure I wasn’t going to have a breakdown. I might be twenty-one, but I’d lived my whole life with Mom by my side, and now I was on my own. It was a strange sensation that did not sit well with me, but I forced myself to turn around and face my future head on.

  Chapter 3

  Rori

  “Four Point,” I whispered, studying at the words carved into the stone archway that awaited me. “Right, let’s get this started then.”

  Loneliness welled within me as each step I took brought me closer to that archway and the shimmering blue wall that surrounded the campus, high up in the Rockies of Colorado. I’d never been out of Oregon until today, and now, I wouldn’t be leaving here for another three years. From one home to the next. I suddenly wished Mom and I had traveled more, done more things together other than running the bakery and her trying to help me with my magic. Too late for regrets now.

  “You got this,” I muttered to myself, pulling my suitcase behind me and my small duffel crossed over my body. “You are a Griffith, and we are strong women.”

  I joined the rest of the recruits making their way through the archway, and the second I stepped through the magical barrier, it felt like someone dumped a bucket of cold water over me. As I stepped out the other side, though, I was completely dry.

  But I felt different. Alive. A charge shot through my veins, and I glanced down. The tattoo on the back of my hand glowed fierce blue with power.

  “What the hell?” I whispered, quickly getting out of the way so I could examine my hand.

  I poked the markings, wondering what made it glow like that and glanced around. Most other recruits were doing the same. They appeared excited, a few frightened, but none of them were freaking out about it. I knew a littl
e about the training facilities, mostly what I could find out from other magic-users when they passed through my community on official business. Each campus was placed in a particular spot where magic was naturally stronger, where it flowed easily because it was far away from modern technology and corruption of the world. I wanted to feel like this all the time. Strong, powerful, ready to embrace this new life of mine.

  I admired the back of my hand again.

  “Are you going to stand there staring at your hand all day?” a deep voice said.

  “Excuse me?” I turned around.

  It was a tall guy with broad shoulders, shaggy blonde hair, and green eyes that shimmered with power. “Your hand, you keep looking at it,” he said bluntly, not looking at all happy to be here.

  “And? I’ve never seen it glow before.” I glanced around, wondering why he was giving me a hard time. “Can I help you with something?”

  “No, but I might be able to help you. Are you lost already?” he muttered, crossing his arms.

  His biceps bulged, and I was reminded very quickly of the fact that I never had a boyfriend. Never dated. And here was this extremely attractive bear of a guy arching his brow at me, looking beyond bored and annoyed that he was even talking to me. Not like I was holding him hostage, though. What the hell was his deal?

  “No, I’m not lost. Just walked through and got distracted.”

  “You get distracted easily? That’s good to know. I’ll be sure to avoid whatever area you’re training in so I don’t get killed.”

  “That’s not what I said,” I shot back angrily. “And I’m quite capable.”

  His other brow rose to join the first. “Are you now? I find that hard to believe and you’ve been standing there for a few minutes already, clearly distracted. Not a good start if you ask me.”

  “Well I’m sorry, but I’ve never been in a place that felt quite like this so how about you back off and not be such a jerk,” I snapped, losing what little patience I had, to begin with.

  He held up his hands, annoyance clearly growing. “No need to be so harsh,” he growled back.

  “There is a need when you’re just standing there being extremely unhelpful.”

  “It’s my job to help first-years find their way. Just doing my due diligence, but if you’re not in need of my assistance, then I’ll be happy to walk away.” He waited.

  “They have you greeting new recruits?” I said, skeptical. “Wow.”

  “Trust me, not my idea either, but I didn’t exactly get a say in the matter. I was going to try and be friendly, but hard to do when someone’s biting my head off.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ll be fine on my own thanks.”

  “Sure, of course.”

  I was tempted to look at my glowing tattoo again but didn’t want to give him another reason to bother me, so I glanced around, searching for where to go next. I had a map of the campus, but it was unhelpfully tucked in my duffel, along with all the other official papers I had to bring with me to register today.

  I took a few steps, then stopped, seeing several massive buildings in the distance. Far off to the left was another path that led to a tall metal fence with guard posts. Everything about that whole area said I should avoid it. I almost reached up to tug on one of my braids, but stopped short, feeling his green eyes still watching me closely.

  “The dorms are the building on the far right,” the guy said quietly. “But I’m sure you knew that.”

  “Yeah, I did,” I said. “But… thanks anyway,” I took off in that direction.

  He was muttering something behind me, but I didn’t catch the exact words. Whatever it was, he didn’t sound any happier than the first moment I started talking to him. I kept my head high and doubted I’d be seeing him again any time soon.

  I followed the other new recruits to the dorm. The age of this place press in around me. The stone and wood were well-kept, and the architecture fit the surroundings.

  I waited in line and when I reached the table in the lobby, gave my name.

  “Rori Griffith,” the girl repeated, running her finger down the paper before her. “Ah, here we are. Third floor, room number is on the key.” She handed over a large, heavy, metal skeleton key. “Make sure you attune it to yourself.”

  “Right,” I said slowly, taking the heavy key, weighing it in my palm.

  “Have you ever attuned your magic to an object before?”

  “Ah, yeah, definitely have… not. Sorry. My family’s magic skipped a few generations.”

  She smiled and waved her hand. “No worries. A lot of newer recruits are in the same boat. Just hold it in your palms when you get to your room, after you unlock it, of course, and let your magic flow into it. Real simple. Once it glows, you know you’ve done it, then only you can use your key.”

  “I’ll figure it out. Thanks,” I said and took my key, heading for the stairs.

  It took a little extra effort to get up with my suitcase and duffel, but I made it to my room, double checking the number engraved on the key matched the door.

  “Room 13. Huh,” I muttered. “That just sounds horribly unlucky.”

  I did as the girl told me with the key and when it glowed in my hand, breathed a sigh of relief. I stepped into my room and looked around. The third level had a great view of the surrounding grounds covered in dense woods along with several massive gardens and greenhouses. And as far as I knew, each recruit had a room to themselves. That was one thing I was happy about. Dealing with this new life on top of having to worry about a roommate would just stress me out even more. I dumped my things on the bed, figuring I’d need something to do later this evening anyway, and hurried back through the dorms to the main administrative building to get myself registered.

  I had my folder and map with me this time, so no obnoxious guy with green eyes would be able to give me a hard time about being lost. If I bumped into him again, of course. Which I doubted would happen. Though campus was busy, I knew there couldn’t actually be that many recruits here. But looking around, I wondered if I was wrong. I knew several of the Vanguard outposts were joined with the academies. From the several groups of men and women in black uniforms, complete with the armband color signifying what they were, I sensed that was exactly what this place was.

  “Perfect,” I mumbled to myself, not sure if that was a good or bad thing yet.

  Magic users came in four different forms—priests, shamans, mages, and druids. There was technically a fifth form, but necromancers had been wiped out hundreds of years before the rest of the world finally learned about what went on right under their noses.

  They’d been an old clan, and that line of magic was beyond dangerous. Many were killed by other magic types, or through accidents of their own making, because they didn’t understand their own dark magic. I studied each class of magic-user as soon as I was old enough to read. That had been before I knew I would be a mage. We didn’t get to pick what we were. It just happened. Most families were the same, but every now and then, there were hybrids, and each hybrid had to make a conscious choice which path to follow and which one to shun. Forever.

  I was glad I didn’t have to worry about that either. I’d known fairly quickly what I was gifted with, but it didn’t stop me from reading up on the other classes. Each one was unique, but if you were descended from one of the ruling clan families, then your power could be legendary.

  There were ten ruling families total, two who ruled over each class. They had grown rarer as the years passed, but a few surfaced now and again. Not me, though. No one in my family had records back that far, so if I was a legacy, I would probably never know.

  For those that did know and could prove it, doors opened constantly for them. They were given chances to work with the Elite Guard as well as the best trainers in the world. They were the ones who rose in the ranks. The rest of us had to deal whatever hand life—and our ability level—dealt us.

  I glanced at the tattoo on the back of my hand again. It was still giving of
f a subtle glow.

  The four symbols representing the elements were intertwined for now, but as soon as I chose which one I would focus on, the others would fade away, and a new marking would appear. Perhaps while here, I’d finally be able to really tap into what I was capable of.

  I came to a sudden stop at the doors of the admin building.

  “Wow,” I whispered, leaning back to take in the view.

  The building was made of dark stone and wood, looking all its hundred years easily. But the architecture was so detailed, it left me breathless. The windows were mostly stained glass, depicting the mountainous landscape and animals within the woods.

  The dorm had been nice, of course, but this made me feel like I was really here, about to officially become a part of the magical community.

  Stepping up to the massive wooden doors, I turned the handle, then immediately took a deep breath at the sight of the large inner hallway lined with portraits of all previous headmasters and headmistresses to date. There were pictures of commanders and recruits who had gone on to be pillars of the magical community, as well as paintings that dated back hundreds of years to the leaders of the original five clans.

  I was in awe at the sight of so much greatness, and doubted I’d ever have my face hanging on a wall. Following the signs to the registration office, I found myself turning down another hall where I spotted several other recruits waiting to get checked in. They chatted with each other, not seeming to have a care in the world. Not as if the moment they stepped foot in that office and gave their information, that would be it. This would be their life until they died. They genuinely seemed excited to be here amongst other magic-users, and only magic-users.

  I touched my dark brown hair nervously to make sure that my two braids weren’t too messed up. My eyes darted from one end of the corridor to the other and settled on another recruit who also looked like he was alone. He had curly black hair that hung almost to his shoulders with beads and strips of leather woven in them. His eyes were dark brown and flickered over me with an appreciative grin, then moved on. He wasn’t half bad looking, and I decided right away that I was going to like him.