Invisible Ink

Chapter 01: Apralonia

     "Whether in life you are experiencing grief, agony, or blissful joy, one must always follow clarity." This was the engraving beneath the gold studded pen behind the glass shelf the students faced. It was 24 hours from the first day of the new college school year. The school's principal, Headmaster Clarissa Flite, gazed among the group of intrigued and curious new pupils that occupied the front of the tour. "This pen," she informed, "was created by our first headmaster. The magic it holds was designed to clear the fogged mind of the writer whom seeks lucidity." The students looked in awe of such an item. The headmaster continued, "This pen cannot be touched by normal means. It appears itself in the possession of those whom both need it and desire written truth. Only then can it be held. This is the basis from which our school was founded: communication, necessity, and an honest desire for spreading knowledge." Looking into the glass, the headmaster smiled. She was proud of the college she built and the students that it produced. Her smile faded at the sound of snickering. It came from the behind the interested and receptive students. Angered, the headmaster stormed in the direction of the laughing.

     "What's going on here?" she bellowed. In the back of the group was a trio of delinquents, two boys and a girl, using their magic to destroy the binding of the thick, black notebook of a single young woman. "How juvenile," the headmaster scoffed. "Disrupting the tour for the sake of bothering this girl...I suggest you seize your pointless teasing at once." With a wave of her hand, the headmaster levitated the scattered pages back into the arms of the young woman. The girl stared down at the pages, her eyes completely lifeless and inert. After a moment of investigating, she looked toward the three delinquents then back to the headmaster. With a low, expressionless voice, she stated, "Five hundred pages of notes out of order. I suppose I'll have to fix that." The headmaster ordered an apology from the delinquents, whom bluntly refused. However, before the headmaster could retaliate on such behavior, the young woman spoke up. "Thank you. Though I assure you headmaster, these three are not bothering me in the slightest." The girl opened her book to the first blank page she could find and continued writing; the only student that brought a notebook on the tour. The girl noticed the headmaster's confused look in her eye. Such mistreatment should warrant anger or annoyance, though this girl did not even seem phased. She showed no desire and sought no need for justice. In truth, she showed no expression at all. She stopped writing. "Now, if you wouldn't mind, I have a question about the pen. How can an item that can't be touched be created?" The headmaster paused for a moment, intrigued by the maturity of this witch-in-training. She answered, "Some magic needs not the grip of our hands but the devotion of mind and heart." The girl began to write again. Curious, the headmaster asked, "What is your name?"

     "My name is Mallery. Eleanor Mallery. I'm transferring from Iklaexiara Academy."

     "Mallery?" the headmaster exclaimed. She seemed surprised. She studied Eleanor closely, her eyes completely fixated on this new student. Finally, she responded, "Well Ms. Mallery, it is a pleasure to have you with us this next year."

     The headmaster looked to the three delinquents. "Do not think you will be without consequences. I will not tolerate such behavior in my school." The headmaster levitated the ground beneath the tour group to bring them to the second floor of the building. She seemed completely unaffected by the weight of lifting so many bodies at once. The room she introduced was engulfed in bright color and embodied symbols of hope. It was filled with paintings, statues, and all forms of art dedicated to honor the hardworking staff, teachers and students of the school's past. "This institute is meant to celebrate discovery and wisdom. The teachers here will encourage perseverance, endurance, and the strive for a better life. It is my personal promise that whether you belong to a group of misfits or geniuses, you will find your desire to learn. Welcome to The Apralonia Institute of Wizardry."

     Students searched around the room. The school's past was rather fascinating. A few samples of the art honored academic performance, yet more were set for the sake of athleticism, leadership, dedications for causes, and heroism. Headmaster Flite directed the attention of the three delinquents to a painting of a student named Valerie Vine. Uninterested, the two male delinquents began to walk off, stopping only when the headmaster used her levitation magic to hold their shoes in place. "Listen to me," she asserted. "I pulled stings to allow you all to enter into this prestigious college for a chance at a better life, not to act like children." The headmaster gestured back to the painting. "Miss Vine got some of the best grades I've ever seen in my career and managed to be accepted here two years ahead of schedule. However, she was no model student. I've caught her stealing and picking fights too many times to count. It was obvious her parents forced her to come. Yet, one day at the end of her freshman year, I found her outside of school helping some little girl from the middle of a rushing river. She pulled her out, resuscitated her, and rushed her to a hospital. It was unlike anything I would have expected from her. After that, Miss Vine pulled her life together. She moved closer to school, declared herself an independent, and earned her way up onto this wall. She is still studying here now and has become a student even I look up to. She truly did surprise me." The headmaster broke her spell. Two of the delinquents scoffed, yet the girl was completely immersed. "Valerie never told me..." she said. "Do you know Miss Vine?" the headmaster questioned. The girl closed her eyes, gripping her hands tightly. The headmaster continued, "I see.... Do you understand why I showed you this?" The girl was silent. She turned around and began to leave. She paused a moment and without looking stated, "My name is Leana." The headmaster watched as two boys she was with followed her out the room. Another boy starred in silence as the three left. The headmaster caught eye of this. "No need to worry about them, Mr. Bird. I'm sure they'll be fine," she announced. She then began to call loudly to the new students, freshman and transfers, that surrounded her, "This will conclude our tour. I look forward to beginning the new school year with you." Some of the students applauded as the headmaster walked into the adjacent hallway.  

     Eleanor remained looking into the glass shelf at the pen. She found the concept of the pen confusing and the headmaster's answer to her question cliché. Eleanor checked the time, seized her starring, and began to walk home. The boy watched as she exited the room. He noticed a pencil dropping from her bag on her way out. The pencil bounced off a bench and rolled underneath a bookshelf without her noticing. Ignoring this, the boy shrugged and looked up at the painting of Valerie. He smiled, grabbed his things, and walked out.