Page 96 of Trivium

There’s no way she could let that happen. It was bad enough that Ren had figured it out.

“I’m sure it has something to do with Ren’s extracurricular activities.”

Adeyemi cocked their head. “No, it does not.” The headmaster gave Ren an amused look, and he cracked a charming smile. Infuriating.

“Ren has debriefed me on the shadow sessions, and despite the rather unfortunate series of events, I must say I’m quite pleased with how you both handled yourselves. It seems you each have a rather distinct and natural ability for Charming.”

“Charming?” Ahmina coughed out in shock.

“Yes.” Adeyemi nodded, turning to face her. “The rumors are true. If you are unaware, Charming is the curation and development of naturally gifted magic.”

“I’m aware,” Ahmina mumbled, her eyes boring into Loveleena who refused to look at her.

“Handled ourselves?” Loveleena couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“The shadow sessions,” Adeyemi repeated. “Both of you displayed magic.”

“Human magic,” Loveleena confirmed. Was she hearing this right? Obviously, she knew she had magic. And when Charming was brought up at the start of the year, she knew the rumors had to come from somewhere. But she didn’t think there was any real modern-day truth to them; she assumed it was just a ghost of Academy history. For her entire life, she had shouldered her secret, and now Adeyemi was talking about it as if it were something to be proud of.

So that’s why Ahmina had brought up human magic on their way there. Loveleena had been so concerned with keeping her own secret, she hadn’t realized what was right in front of her.

“I would like you both to train with a small group of Charmers. I know we are nearing the end of the year, but you might as well start now. The class will carry into next year anyway. There is one condition though: you must handle this special training with the utmost secrecy. Do not tell your friends. Do not tell your squad. Do not tell anyone or you will be… eliminated. Charming is our most sacred specialty. One reserved for those with magic. And it must be kept that way at all costs.”

Ren watched the interaction with a semi-disinterested smugness which made her want to punch him in the face.

“If you think the punishment for traitors is cruel, the punishment for Charmers who betray the sacred rule is torturous. So,” Adeyemi clapped their hands together, pulling the energy back to something less sinister. “Do you accept my offer?”

She and Ahmina nodded in agreement. Did they even have a choice?

This was good, she told herself. Her magic was seeping out of her, and Charming gave her an opportunity to learn to control it—one approved by the Academy.

65

LOVELEENA

Charming was held in an old classroom along the edge of the school grounds that had been deserted in favor of newer buildings. It didn’t look like much from the outside. Long unruly greenery covered its outer walls, its windows were milky, and its door hinge was so rusted it looked like the damn thing would fall off if you looked at it wrong.

The perfect spot to hide a secret society.

“In you go,” Ren ordered, and she and Ahmina ducked through the decrepit door carefully. Inside, they found Adeyemi alongside a handful of other students chatting excitedly.

“Please welcome our new recruits,” Adeyemi said confidently. “Loveleena Alva and Ahmina Ori. Welcome to the small but mighty Charmer team.” A few of the students smiled at them, while others offered only a simple head nod.

Adeyemi clapped their hands together. “But there’s no time for chatter; you can all get to know our new recruits later. Let’s get to work.”

Loveleena paired up with a third-year Charmer named Orla who briefed her quickly on Charming—that it was a specialty to be used sparsely, and only for the greater good. Turns out, using magic to control people was rather frowned upon. But Loveleena would be lying if she said there weren’t a few scenarios that crossed her mind. Orla refused to share what kind of ability her magic produced, instead opting to talk at length about the root of magic in the body.

“Your body is a conduit,” she explained as they stood out back behind the abandoned building. The class had spread out outside to give them more room. The unruly and tall bushes offered them complete coverage from Defender Village and the rest of the Academy grounds, so they were able to practice freely.

“Anything within your body—emotions, physical ailments, even your thoughts—can influence your magic. For better or for worse.”

Orla paused for a moment, her mind somewhere else, before a small giggle escaped her lips and she was back on the topic of magic in the body. Loveleena wondered what had crossed her mind, but she didn’t dare ask. Orla was giving her the key to control her magic, and to her, that was everything.

“Do you know what your magic is?” Orla asked, her sleek box braids shifting as she tilted her head to the side, waiting.

“I can create false scenarios.”

Orla’s eyes narrowed. “So, illusion.”