The professor had just assigned our first paper, due next week. 10 pages on the origins of pyro-magic, a review of past material really, but he claims the best mage is one with a firm foundation of the basics. As I�m packing up my things I notice a small attentive crowd forming around the desk two over from me. The last part of the conversation piques my interest:
�That�s correct, he contained the werewolf into a level one circle of holding. Then he slammed it only once against one of the walls of the circle causing a catastrophic failure in both the circle and the werewolf.� They�re talking again about the big brawl that Spellstorm guy got into last night. Talk about a rough start to the new year. This is the most fantastic account I�ve heard yet of what went down.
�But that�s impossible!� I blurt out, reddening a little as everyone turns to look at me. The circle parts, giving me my first look at the speaker. He�s sharply dressed in perfectly creased pants and a crisp shirt with the top two buttons undone. He walks over to me with a slight smile.
�My dear, many more things are possible than are initially apparent. I know this is one of them as I live with the performer of this act.� That�s when it hits me. It�s him! Recipient of the prestigious Spellstorm fellowship and the unheard of 4.6 GPA. I guess for him anything really is possible.
�Ah, so YOU�RE Student 3194-454-7764. I�ve heard a lot about you.� He looks impressed, curious, like he�s trying to figure out what to make of me. I guess the evalution comes out in my favor cause he smiles fully this time and extends his hand. �You may call me Blitz. And you are?�
�Hannah.� I say meeting his hand with my own and matching his businesslike grip.
�Pleasure to meet you.� The crowd has all but cleared out as students from the next class begin trickling in. �We should probably get going� I say gesturing toward the influx of students. He nods and we walk silently out of the room and out of the building.
�So which way are you heading?� he asks.
�Merlin Hall.� He nods
�Ah, living on campus. I�ll go with you as far as the labs.� He points at his powerbook �independent project awaits.�
We head across Empire Walk, even in the daytime the gas lights have a mystical glow. It�s so peaceful, hard to believe a whirlwind battle took place here just last night. �So, if it really is possible, then how did he do it?�
�Why don�t you come by this weekend and ask him yourself?�
�Are you serious!�
He shrugs.
�Why not.� He grabs my notereader and jots down his address: Egress Estates Apt 605. �We live off campus, not too far from the edge. Come by Sunday afternoon.� I tell him I will and then turn right onto Gargoyle Alley toward the dorms.
Swipe my card at the front desk. They�re so big on security here, it was never as big a deal in Arena. The collars took care of that. I head up to my room and flop down on the bed, my eyes level with the bottom shelf of disks. Did Student number 3194�er�Blitz really just invite me over to his place this weekend to hang out with him and his roommate?! What awesome luck! The two smartest mages at Forge U, there�s so much I can learn from them.
Maybe things are really starting to come around for me. What with the scholarship and the opportunity to practice magic hands-on, all while being PAID to study at the best University in the Alliance Cities. I guess I always knew my hard work would pay off eventually, it�s just strange. I�m so used to working toward tomorrow, it�s strange to be able to enjoy today. I shrug and open up the 14th Edition of the Mage�s Handbook of Spells, Magic and Wizardry. Even when today is good, it never hurts to prepare for tomorrow.