Chapter 1.3 | Chapter 1.5

Caizey started her “day” with a rematch – she couldn’t resist. The duel went well, spells flying back and forth. A good hit gotten in at the end won it for Caizey.

However, perhaps she should have resisted the fight. Magic coursed through her body, leaving no spot untouched and tingly. She ended up flat on her face on the floor, and Spellcasters ran from all over to check on her. Apparently, it was something called “overcharge.” If you used your magic too much too fast, you risked this happening, and it could even result in death. So, since she was on a bit of enforced break, she took the time to get to know the other two trainers that lived at the magic center. One was named Simeon Silversweater, and he taught practical magic. The other was Morgyn Ember, who taught untamed magic. L. Faba was the Mischief magic teacher… and all three could teach potion recipes if your friendship was solid and they deemed you ready. After spending a couple hours, getting some new spells and potion recipes, and letting her magic drain back down to a healthy level, Caizey found another duel.

Both Morgyn and Simeon watched, for she and Tricia were well – matched. Ultimately, Caizey pulled ahead and went to find her next match.

Word definitely travelled fast in the magic realm. Caizey had her choice of young spellcasters willing to take her on. And with every duel, her style and spellcasting improved.

In fact, she won most of her duels this day. Then, feeling her magic getting too high again, she went to go experiment with a cauldron.

However, apparently that wasn’t without it’s pit-falls, too. A bad ingredient combination backfired on her and left her cursed, to the other students great amusement. She posed for pictures, and dealt with the ribbing good-naturedly as much as she could.

But one girl went too far. Furious, Caizey challenged her to a duel. The girl laughed and laughed at her…

… But she wasn’t laughing when the duel was over. Nobody bothered her after that. Partially because, once again, she overcharged and ended up on her rear. This time, however, she was ready for it.

She had purchased a familiar, because she had learned they would protect her from death in the event of another overcharge, which seemed sorta necessary. She also managed to get rid of the curse. Now she just needed a long shower….

… Which she took care of posthaste. She had named her Raven Steel – after the color of his feathers, and he was there whenever she needed him.

After another rest, Caizey was right back at dueling for prizes. Mostly they were just potion ingredients, but she needed those, too. So that worked just fine for Caizey.

She tried to celebrate too loudly every time she won, but at least a little celebration had to be done.

Her potion mixing continued to improve, as well… and she only very rarely messed one up. She credited her familiar for keeping her safe from curses, even though that wasn’t supposed to be one of his jobs.

Her friendship with her mentor, L Faba had improved to the point that they were now fast friends. Another Spellcaster Rank had come and gone, and still she got better. Things just kept looking up. However, she felt it was more than time to take care of affairs at home. She collected her things and headed back to her “box” of a house. She had a little more money than she’d had the last time she was there, and she’d found a lantern she could use to explore her new home. L. Faba wished her well, and gave her another spell and potion recipe to take with her. With a jaunty wave, and Steel at her back, she headed home. What a neat word. HOME. A smile spread across her face as she walked to the portal, through it, and out into the brilliant mid-morning sun in Glimmerbrook.

Chapter 1.3 | Chapter 1.5