The Secret of Spellshadow Manor by Bella Forrest (classic english novels txt) 📗

“You go on ahead,” he called to Aamir and Jari, hanging back with Natalie. “We’ll catch up.”

Aamir regarded him levelly. “We will wait for you at the end of this hallway,” he said.

“Huh? Why?” asked Jari, but Aamir put one firm hand to his back, guiding him away, out of earshot. Alex was glad Aamir accepted his desire for a private conversation, and turned quickly to Natalie.

“Okay,” he said in a hushed voice. “So you still want to get out of here, right?”

“Of course!” she hissed. “Why on earth would you think I wouldn’t?”

Alex hadn’t expected a different answer. “Just that you seem really good at this…magic stuff,” he murmured.

She shook her head vigorously. “Perhaps I am good at it. Perhaps it’s even fun. But I…” she hesitated, searching for the right words. “Even aside from the fact that I need to return to my family, I do not like this place. There is something seriously wrong with it.”

Alex exhaled. Tell me about it. “Okay,” he whispered, “so I’m thinking…” He glanced at Aamir and Jari, who were several yards away. “I’m thinking the best plan is to wait a little longer.” She started to protest, but he quickly explained, “Right now I don’t even know how to get out of here. The hallways in this place…It’s confusing. We’ll need a little time to figure it out.”

She drooped, tears brimming in her eyes. “I guess that makes sense. I’ll try to understand too. I want to help.”

He nodded, refraining from telling her he didn’t want to get her in trouble. It didn’t make any sense for the two of them to risk being caught.

“In the meantime, let’s play along, okay? I don’t know what to expect from any of these people. Go to classes…stay safe.”

“Yes, Alex,” she whispered with intensity, holding his hand between both of hers. “Stay safe.”

Chapter 12

Alex awoke the next day to the unpleasant sight of Siren Mave, who bustled in brandishing a measuring tape and jerked him rudely from sleep. He bristled, but put up no resistance as she spun him around like a top before bustling off again. It wouldn’t be smart to antagonize her, he figured, gritting his teeth. She soon returned bearing a freshly tailored set of clothes in Alex’s size, dropping them on the bed and dusting her hands off on her gown.

“Thank you,” he grated out.

Siren Mave beamed. “Oh, don’t mention it, darling,” she said. “I’m here to look after you little rascals, after all. If you need anything, let me know, okay?”

Alex waited for her to leave, then stripped out of Aamir’s clothes and pulled on the new set while Aamir and Jari faced the opposite wall. The new clothes fit more perfectly than anything Alex had ever worn, though they felt alien, and still insufficient against the cold.

Jari seemed to think they looked fantastic, clapping his hands at the sight of him. Aamir approved as well, giving Alex a critical onceover and saying these clothes fit a good deal better than his ones.

“So who is Siren Mave, anyway? What does she do here?” Alex asked, pulling his coat around him.

The smaller boy spun around and flopped down to land cross-legged on the edge of his bed, facing Alex.

“Well, she’s certainly not here to be our friend,” Aamir said. “Her goal is to make sure we don’t die.”

Alex frowned. “So she’s a nurse?”

Jari laughed. “Magical folk have a hard time getting sick,” he said. “And when they do, it’s…dramatic. She can’t help; she’s pretty much just here to make sure we don’t starve or freeze.”

“Well, she’s not doing a great job there. Aren’t you two freezing?”

Jari looked puzzled. “Nope. Just you.” Then he brightened. “Let’s go get some breakfast! I’m starving.”

After breakfast, Alex found himself alone in the dorm with Aamir for a while. The older boy had picked up a book to read and, seizing the opportunity to gather information, Alex began by asking him what he was reading.

“Terothype’s Discourse of Anima Arcana,” Aamir said, absently turning the page. By his side, a little puff of golden light flared to life, then warped. Alex watched, highly intrigued, as the magic molded itself into the form of a single, green leaf.

Reaching out, Alex took it just as it began to flutter down, running his fingers over it before turning it over. It felt so real. He could see the veins, feel the waxy surface.

“Is this…permanent?” he asked. “Or will it eventually disappear?”

Aamir lowered his book. “Anima magic focuses on severance,” he said. “You create something, then sever your bond with the magic, simultaneously instilling it with purpose. Intent.”

“Purpose. That sounds complicated. How could you identify something’s purpose that way? Or hold it in your mind?”

“With plants, it is not too difficult. The purpose of a plant is relatively simple. Survive. Drink the light, set down roots. For an animal, however, it becomes more complicated.”

“But a plant is part of a larger system, isn’t it? Even a leaf, pretty simple on its own, must connect to the entire organism. And that organism must connect to its environment, and the organisms that environment contains. How do you hold all that in your mind?”

Aamir smiled, shutting his book and finally looking up at Alex.

“You are overthinking it. Magic is largely based on estimation, on feeling your way. One leaf is not as difficult as you imagine.”

Alex thought for a moment. “A person must be extremely difficult, though,” he mused.

“Well, a homunculus is not too hard,” said Aamir. “However, to impart a complete, functioning mind upon something made of magic? That is beyond difficult: it is unheard of. When creating it, you would need to encapsulate all the thought processes of an entire individual. It would be the supreme act of magic.”

Alex nodded slowly. “I see. Interesting. Is all magic like this?” He held up the leaf. “How does it work?”

Aamir seemed to think about that. “Well,” he said, “those stupid exercises they have us do in