A Crack in the Walls

The deafening bang echoed through the hallway once again, sending shivers down their spines. Elara, barely regaining her composure from the first crash, stammered, "Wh-what is that?" 

Before anyone could answer, a frantic voice cut through the air, ranting, "Fairies! What is wrong with this door?!" The voice grew louder, approaching their room at an alarming pace. 

A cold dread washed over Percival. He recognized that voice all too well, and the realization sent a wave of terror through him. 

"Who is that?" Asher asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. 

Percival swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "I-it's Barnaby." 

Just as Percival confirmed his worst fear, the door splintered inwards with a resounding crack. A tall, lanky figure stood in the doorway, his face contorted in a mixture of annoyance and relief. It was Barnaby, his flamboyant clothes somehow looking even more disheveled than usual. 

"Asher!" he bellowed, his voice booming through the room. "What did I tell you about trying to kill people in the school?!" 

Asher bristled. "Yeah, I'm sorry, you said just—" 

"No! Don't kill them!" Barnaby cut him off, his voice laced with urgency. "I told you, don't kill them and don't even use your powers for trying to kill them!" 

"But—" Asher protested, trying to defend himself. 

Barnaby raised a hand, silencing him. "No buts!" He then turned his gaze to scan the room, landing on Percival. "Percival, what are you doing here?" 

Percival stammered, caught between relief and confusion. "I can ask you the same thing. You told me not to use hand powers!" 

Barnaby threw his hands up in exasperation. "Because you're a wizard, Percival! You can't just be going around zapping people left and right!" 

Percival's jaw dropped. "Then why can you use it?" 

Barnaby let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Look," he said, his voice dropping to a lower tone, "I'm a mix of human and wizard. I can use hand powers." 

Percival's jaw hung slack. "I-I'm a mix too?!" he stammered, his mind reeling. "But why can't I use hand powers?" 

Barnaby winced, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Right," he muttered, "I forgot to add a detail. I'm not just a human-wizard mix, I'm also an Adept, like Ignatius and Asher." He glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on Ignatius for a fleeting moment. 

"That still doesn't explain why wizards can't use hand power!" Percival exclaimed, a flicker of defiance sparking in his eyes. 

Barnaby sighed, rubbing a tired hand over his face. "Wizards," he began, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "don't have hand power. They have spells, wands, incantations – a whole different system." He sank down onto a rickety chair, his flamboyant clothes seeming strangely subdued in the cluttered room. 

"Let me tell you a story about your dad," Barnaby continued, a hint of sadness lacing his voice. "He was a powerful wizard, Percival. He could conjure firestorms with a snap of his fingers and teleport across continents in a blink. But even the most powerful wizards have their desires." 

Percival leaned forward, his eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. 

"Your dad," Barnaby explained, "wanted what Adepts had – the raw power to manipulate the world with his bare hands. He yearned for the freedom it offered. So, he delved into forbidden magic, dark rituals whispered in forgotten texts. He made a wish…" 

Barnaby paused, his voice trailing off. A heavy silence descended upon the room. 

"Wishes are dangerous, Percival," he finally said, his voice grave. "Your father got what he wished for – hand powers. But…" 

Percival's breath caught in his throat. "But?" he echoed, a feeling of dread creeping into his stomach. 

Barnaby met his gaze, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "But it wasn't the best choice. The power was wild, unpredictable. It… it corrupted him." He looked away, a flicker of pain crossing his features. "I tried to warn him, Percival, " Barnaby continued, a flicker of pain in his eyes, "but Alder wouldn't listen. He was always so stubborn!" A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a bittersweet memory flickering across his face. "By that time, you were already born, a bright-eyed little thing. Your dad…" 

Barnaby faltered, his voice catching in his throat. Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. 

"He used his hand power," Barnaby finally managed, his voice thick with emotion, "but at the wrong time. And your mother… she…" 

He couldn't finish the sentence. The grief was too raw, the memory too painful. He closed his eyes for a moment, a single tear tracing a path down his cheek. 

"Look," he finally said, his voice gruff, "you guys aren't even allowed to be on this side of the school. It's too dangerous. We'll head back to LunaSpire tomorrow, your lessons are starting already." 

Percival, Elara, and Rory all nodded silently, the weight of the revelation crushing them. 

"And," Barnaby added, his voice hardening, "don't tell anyone you were here. This school is a secret for a reason." 

Rory, Elara, and Percival all nodded again, a promise hanging unspoken in the air. 

Barnaby, with a muttered incantation and a tap on the wall, created a swirling portal. Without another word, he ushered them through. The world shimmered around them, the chaos of the hidden school dissolving into the familiar stone corridor of LunaSpire. 

Asher and Ignatius watched them disappear, the silence in the shattered room thick with tension. 

"Hey!" Asher finally burst out, frustration coloring his voice. "My ring is still gone!" 

Ignatius sighed. "Let it go, Asher," he said calmly. "It was just a ring." 

"That ring meant something to me," Asher retorted, his voice laced with defiance. "It helped focus my powers, made them stronger." 

Ignatius raised an eyebrow at him. "Mate," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice, "you are already the strongest in the school, even without a fancy ring." 

gnatius glanced at the clock hanging precariously on the wall – a testament to the chaotic state of the room. "Look how late it is," he said, his voice laced with urgency. "We'd better get to Ramrugling before Headmistress Umbra throws a fit." 

Asher scoffed. "Ugh, Ramrugling. That class is so boring it should be illegal." 

Ignatius rolled his eyes. "Two hours of lessons with him won't kill you, will it?" 

"Spoiler alert," Asher muttered, "it already does." 

Together, they exited the trashed room, leaving the mystery of the missing artifact and Percival's lineage hanging in the air. 

Back at LunaSpire, Barnaby ushered Elara, Rory, and Percival into the familiar stone corridor. 

"Remember," he said, his voice serious, "not a word to Headmistress… Esmeralda." 

He continued to brief them on the importance of secrecy, but the students seemed preoccupied with something else. 

Percival, unable to contain his curiosity, stammered, "B-Barnaby…" 

Barnaby cut him off, waving his hand dismissively. "No, no, I know," he said, his voice strained. "She can be… annoying sometimes. But trust me, Esmeralda…" 

Enter Esmeralda: 

Suddenly, a voice, firm and laced with amusement, cut through Barnaby's rambling. "…was behind you, raising an eyebrow, wouldn't you agree?" 

Barnaby froze, his face draining of all color. He turned slowly to face the imposing figure of Headmistress Esmeralda. 

"Oh, hey Essmay," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. 

Esmeralda, a tall woman with a regal bearing and a glint of mischief in her eyes, silenced him with a gesture. 

"Since I can be 'so annoying,'" she quoted, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "I trust you'll use your time productively? Cleaning the 6R stall, perhaps? Apparently, there's been quite the mess." 

Barnaby's facade crumbled entirely. "Did I say annoying?" he squeaked, his voice high-pitched. "I meant… beautifulest headmistress Esmeralda!" 

Esmeralda simply smirked. "Mhm," she said, acknowledging his fumbled flattery with a single word before turning and gliding away, leaving a flustered Barnaby and four bewildered students in her wake. 

Barnaby let out a dramatic sigh. "Don't let me clean there, Essmay!" he whimpered as she disappeared around a corner. 

Elara, Rory, and Percival, unable to contain themselves any longer, burst into laughter. The tension of the day, the near-discovery by Headmistress Esmeralda, and Barnaby's flustered reaction proved too much to bear. 

"Well, lucky for us, we're getting out of here," Elara chortled, wiping a tear from her eye. 

Rory nudged Percival with a mischievous grin. "Lucky for 'you,' you mean," he teased. 

Percival scowled playfully. "Yeah, yeah," he grumbled. "Like you only wanted to get out of here because Asher throws things at you." 

Rory's grin faltered slightly. "Hey," he mumbled defensively, "you asked way too many questions about his reputation." 

Elara chimed in, "It was only two questions, Rory! Not an interrogation!" 

Their laughter echoed through the corridor as Esmeralda's voice boomed down the hall, laced with mock severity. "You three! Get yourselves to your house halls! Or would you prefer to join Barnaby in his delightful task of cleaning the 6R stalls?" 

Without hesitation, Elara and Rory chorused, "We're going! We're going!" 

Percival, eager to escape another potential lecture from the crystal, added a quick, "Let's go!" to the chorus. 

They raced down the hallway, Percival leading the way towards his house hall. As they reached the entrance, a familiar figure – the same stern-faced man – stood guard. 

"Woah, woah, little one," the man stopped Percival, his voice firm. "First, we need to verify if this is your house hall." 

Percival rolled his eyes, exasperation coloring his features. "I am the same person!" he exclaimed. 

The man's brow furrowed in confusion. He turned to the crystal embedded in the wall, the same one that had malfunctioned earlier. 

"Is he from this house?" he questioned the crystal. 

The crystal, in a booming voice that vibrated through the room, responded, "If we first searched your brain for a shred of logic, the answer would be yes. But considering your apparent lack thereof, I'm afraid I have no answer for you." 

A bead of sweat trickled down the man's forehead. "Ugh, the crystal's probably broken again," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. 

The crystal, its voice brimming with indignation, retorted, "I am over 500 years old! Don't even think about suggesting I'm broken! Since it appears logical thinking is scarce around here, let me clarify – your brain is malfunctioning, not me, and it's in desperate need of repair!" 

The guard, his face burning with embarrassment, stammered, "N-nevermind. You… you can go in." He mumbled an apology under his breath as Percival, Elara, and Rory slipped past him, eager to escape the malfunctioning crystal's scolding. 

Meanwhile, Ignatius and Asher were making their way towards their next class, a stark contrast to the playful chaos unfolding on the other side of the school. Whispers followed them like a shadow, a constant reminder of Asher's reputation. He smirked, reveling in the fear he inspired. 

"Mate," Ignatius muttered, his voice laced with concern, "why does it not bother you? The whispers, I mean." 

Asher shrugged, a predatory glint in his eyes. "I like it," he said, his voice low. "It keeps people at bay. It's better when they're scared of me." 

Suddenly, a voice, filled with malice, cut through the hallway chatter. "I didn't know Asher would be hanging out with a nerd." A ripple of laughter followed, causing Ignatius to hunch his shoulders and stare at the floor. Shame painted his cheeks a burning red. 

Asher, seeing the humiliation etched on Ignatius's face, narrowed his eyes. He wouldn't stand for someone disrespecting his friend. 

With a swift movement, Asher unleashed a jolt of electricity at the offending student. A surprised yelp escaped the boy's lips as the zap coursed through him. 

Gasps filled the air. The laughter died instantly, replaced by a tense silence. 

"He used his power against Asher!" another student exclaimed, his voice laced with fear. 

"Leave him alone!" a friend of the first boy yelled, stepping forward. "Or he'll seriously hurt you!" 

The first boy, however, was brimming with defiance, fueled by a misplaced sense of bravado. "Ha ha!" he scoffed. "What could he do now?" 

But Asher wasn't finished. 

He unleashed another jolt, this time more potent, laced with the raw power of controlled electricity. The student crumpled to the ground, a cry of pain escaping his lips. 

Asher didn't stop there. He focused his power, and the air crackled with electrical energy. His eyes, a startling blue, fixated on the fallen student. 

"Say sorry to Ignatius!" Asher's voice boomed, laced with an icy command. 

The student on the ground tried to speak, but no words came out. He was paralyzed, the effects of Asher's power silencing him. 

Fear, raw and primal, flooded the hallway. This wasn't just a playful display of power anymore. This was a warning, a demonstration of Asher's true potential, and the consequences of disrespecting him or his friends. 

The boy on the ground stammered, "S-sorry," a cough wracking his body. He winced in pain and then, with a tremor in his voice, managed a choked, "Sorry, Ignatius!" 

Asher's eyes narrowed further. "I said to Ignatius, not me!" he growled, his voice echoing in the silent hallway. 

"S-sorry, Ignatius," the boy mumbled, his bravado thoroughly extinguished. 

Asher finally relented, the blue light in his eyes fading. However, a faint electric current still crackled around his pupils, a chilling reminder of his power. 

He scanned the crowd, his voice laced with a dangerous edge, "I thought it was already clear who's the strongest around here." His gaze lingered on each face, daring anyone to challenge his statement. 

A sea of shaking heads met his eyes. Nervous whispers filled the air, replaced by a newfound respect, tinged with fear. 

Ignatius, shaken but grateful, leaned closer to Asher and whispered, "Asher, let it go. It's alright." 

Suddenly, a voice, laced with exasperation, cut through the tense atmosphere. 

"Headmistress Umbra!" someone murmured, the name sending shivers down everyone's spines. 

There, standing a few feet away, was Headmistress Esmeralda herself, her regal bearing and piercing gaze taking in the scene before her. She spotted the boy sprawled on the floor, Asher with the lingering electric glow in his eyes, and the surrounding crowd of wide-eyed students. 

"Why can't I ever have a moment of peace?" she muttered under her breath, her voice barely a whisper. 

Then, addressing Asher directly, she boomed, "Detention! My office. Now!" 

The silence in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. The only sound was the rhythmic ticking of a clock, each tick a beat of nervous anticipation. Finally, Headmistress Esmeralda cleared her throat. 

"Asher," she began, her voice surprisingly calm considering the situation. "First, I want to say… apologize. Esmeralda and I both have a role to play here, and perhaps it would be best if I allowed her to handle this…" 

Before she could finish, a different voice, firm yet polite, cut in. "No problem, Headmistress. I will leave you now." With a nod towards Asher, Esmeralda walked towards the door, her face a mask of controlled emotions. However, as she reached for the knob, she cast a single, stern glare in Asher's direction before exiting, leaving him alone with his teacher. 

The weight of disappointment hung heavy in the air. 

Asher looked down, unable to meet Esmeralda's gaze. Her words, "more responsible than your father," struck a deep chord within him. He knew the story – the incident that had forever stained his father's legacy. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over him – anger, grief, shame. He clenched his fists, fighting back the urge to lash out or cry. He wouldn't let himself crumble. 

Headmistress Esmeralda, sensing his turmoil, sighed and softened her tone slightly. 

"I, uh…" she stammered awkwardly, uncharacteristically flustered. "I apologize, Asher. I spoke out of turn. It wasn't my place to comment on your family." 

Asher nodded, a flicker of appreciation crossing his features for her unexpected apology. 

"However," Esmeralda continued, her voice regaining its firmness, "that doesn't excuse your actions. This is your second day at LunaSpire, and already we've had… incidents. Threatening a fellow student, using excessive force – these are serious breaches of conduct." 

She picked up a sheet of paper that materialized seemingly out of thin air and began to read aloud. "Two counts of threatening behavior, one count of using excessive force, potentially endangering another student. Care to explain yourself, Asher?" 

Asher remained silent for a long moment, the weight of Headmistress Esmeralda's words pressing down on him. Finally, she spoke again, her voice laced with concern. 

"Care to explain, Mr. Cinder?" she prompted. 

Asher met her gaze, a flicker of vulnerability flashing across his eyes. "Since I lost my power ring," he confessed, his voice low, "I can't control my anger as easily." 

Esmeralda studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Asher," she began, her voice firm but not unkind, "you were known for your temper even before the ring was lost. I agree, it's worse now, but we can't have this level of aggression in the school. Mr. Cinder, people already call you by dangerous nicknames. They're scared, and with good reason. Fear breeds silence, and fear makes it difficult to maintain order. When I ask for witnesses, they often remain quiet." 

Asher swallowed hard, the truth of her words hitting him like a blow. He mumbled an apology, his bravado fading. 

"Asher," Headmistress Esmeralda continued, her tone softening slightly, "if you need to vent your anger, use the electro-room. We have a facility specifically designed for safe energy discharge. Don't take it out on your fellow students." 

She gestured towards the door. "You may leave my office now." 

As Asher rose to leave, a sense of gratitude welled up within him. Despite the stern reprimand, she offered a solution. He bowed his head respectfully towards Headmistress Esmeralda and stepped out into the hallway. 

There, he spotted Ignatius waiting anxiously. Relief washed over Ignatius's face when he saw Asher. 

"Asher! I'm so sorry you got detention because of me. You were just trying to protect me," Ignatius exclaimed, worry etched on his features. 

Asher slung an arm around Ignatius's shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it, mate. It wasn't a big deal." 

"Big deal?" Ignatius scoffed playfully. "You missed the first lesson, and I took it upon myself to get the assignment and… well, I already finished your homework too." 

Asher raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Why'd you do that?" 

Ignatius fidgeted, looking down at his shoes. "Well, I just felt bad," he mumbled. 

Asher squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Hey, you don't need to feel bad. You're my best friend, and I'll always protect you, just like you protected me today. I promised myself after losing my father… never again. No more loved ones lost. No more letting violence win." 

A heavy silence descended between them for a moment, the weight of Asher's past hanging in the air. The scene ends on a somber note, hinting at the deeper emotional turmoil Asher carries and the bond of friendship he shares with Ignatius. 

Ignatius said, "But I never protected you, Asher." 

Asher playfully slapped him and said, "Of course you did! You made my homework when I wouldn't have completed it and failed. And remember when your family helped me avoid The Hollows? I'm serious, Ignatius. If it weren't for your family and my mom talking to them, I'd be there now for killing Dad. You already helped me a lot." 

Ignatius said, "Yeah, my mom almost gave up on letting you stay away from there, but Dad talked to them for ages until they agreed not to send you. It counted as protection." 

Asher said, "Not really, you did it for your mom. And it doesn't count because I killed someone without a real reason to defend myself." 

Asher said, "If you were Elara, I would have thrown things at you." 

Ignatius smiled. Asher said, "What? You're happy you're not Elara? Yeah, me too. She's so annoying..." 

Ignatius said, (thinking for a moment) "No, it's not that..." He then said, "Never mind. Maybe a little bit." 

Before he could explain further, he grabbed Asher's arms and ran. 

Asher said, "Huh? Why are we standing at a blue door?" 

Ignatius said, "They came from here! Maybe we can go to their world!" 

Asher said, "Before we go, can I grab some stuff to throw at Elara?" 

Ignatius rolled his eyes, opened the door, grabbed Asher, and said, "No time!" 

They got there and Ignatius smiled like a madman. Asher said, "I don't understand why you're so happy." 

Ignatius said, "Look there!" 

They looked above. Then Ignatius said, "I heard Elara say it was a broom..." 

Meanwhile, with Percival... 

Percival sighed and said, "We totally forgot to help Asher find the thing he lost. Oh well, I'll try and search it later if we get into his world." 

Percival sat down and said, "Barnaby, why would you send me to a wizard school? I'm 10!" 

Barnaby teleported from nowhere and said, "Cause you're a wizard and technically legal age to be in this school." 

Percival said, "But Barnaby-" 

Before he could say anything, Barnaby tapped the ground with his wand and teleported away. Percival didn't even know what Barnaby was doing in his free time, probably trying to avoid cleaning the 6R room.

Lost in thought, the magic mirror flickered on. He saw a bored Rory in the mirror, and Elara and Percival jumped onto his bed and shuffled closer to the mirror. He then asked, "What's wrong?" 

Rory said, "Percival, save yourself! Hang up before that bloody monster makes us do our homework, something we don't even have classes for tomorrow!" 

Elara said, "I wanted to give us a lot of homework to do so we wouldn't have to worry about it later. And also, I love homework." 

Rory then said, "See, she's pathetic! Save yourself, you really don't want to do the bloody homework. Also, when someone knocks, don't-" 

But it was too late. He heard a knock.