Cassandra's Unstable Magic

The Suga'Tina Academy team stood in line in front of the director and professors, many stufons were nervous because of this.

They were not informed that the director and professors would arrive, and therefore they trained in each other's usual rhythm, breaking into pairs.

Many were training in pairs when the director and professor arrived and did not notice their approach.

Those who were relaxing were communicating with each other, discussing various things, both studies and professors, and did not pay attention to what was happening next to them.

Once nearby, the director looked with a frown at the team that would represent the academy at the tournament.

He had the feeling that he was not watching a team training, but a comic battle between stufons. The professors who accompanied the director saw Suga'Tin's changing gaze, they had no way to explain the behavior of the stufons who were part of the team.

Continuing to frown even more, the director began to release vibrations of magic towards those who were training and resting.

Suga'Tin did not want to harm them, just to attract attention so that the Stufons would see him and the professors.

The Stufons, like those who were fighting or resting, began to feel the fluctuations of magic and, having stopped fighting, turned their gaze to the place where the fluctuations of magic were coming from.

If before everyone had a cheerful expression on their faces, after they saw the director and professors their faces began to change. The fighting stopped, as did the discussions among the campers.

- Everyone line up and go to the middle. - The director said in a calm voice, looking from one stufon to another.

The Stufons did not need to hear the director's order twice; the team gathered together, stood in the center and lined up facing Suga'Tin.

If before everyone had a relaxed expression on their faces, now everyone felt like they were hanging on some kind of edge.

The director slowly began to approach the stufons, examining them; he knew who had what magic and their names.

He hoped that this year the stufons would take their responsibilities more seriously after the last defeat in the academy tournament to a barely significant guild. But his hopes were dashed when he did not see the stufons give their all in training.

- You have been chosen to represent our academy at the academy tournament. Instead, you have fun with each other! - Suga'Tin said in disappointment, casting glances at the Stufons.

The stufons who caught his gaze lowered their eyes down, were they ashamed of the director's words?

They understood that they were given the opportunity to prove themselves not only in the academy but also outside it.

No one tried to argue with the director; at first they tried to come up with tactics and strategy, but gradually everyone became too bored with this activity.

- Do you want to lose and be remembered as stufons who were unable to demonstrate their strengths and abilities? - The director asked in a calmer voice.

The Stufons understood what the director meant, if they are remembered as those who lost in the first match, who would want to hire them at the work?

They felt bitter about their behavior, each of them began to glance at each other; they had already decided to take training more seriously.

- Judging by your silence, I think I was hasty in identifying the team members. - Continuing to speak, Suga'Tin saw a change in the behavior of the Stufons, he needed to hear from them.

No one in the world valued those who could not defend their opinions, and the director was not going to make life easier for these stufons.

Did he have the opportunity to change the team members? No, before coming here he sent the council a list of who would represent his academy this year.

- Director Suga'Tin, please give us another opportunity, we will prove that you were not mistaken in choosing us. - A tense young voice was heard from the young man who stood next to the light elf.

The director approached the young man with interest, who was noticeably nervous as he watched Suga'Tin approach him.

The young man understood that no one had addressed him and by speaking he showed disrespect for the director and his decision.

- Young man, didn't your family say that if no one approaches you, you don't need to take the initiative and attract attention to yourself? - Addressing the young man, the director saw how nervous he was and perhaps already regretted his actions.

The young man began to look around for support from the team or professors, but he saw only gloomy faces and no one tried to help him.

- I apologize for my hasty words, Director Suga'Tin, punish me if necessary. - Apologizing, the young man bowed, he only hoped that he would not be expelled from the academy.

Observing the behavior and actions of the young man, Suga'Tin smiled internally, he was pleased to see that in this team there was someone who would decide to say his word even on emotions.

- What's your name stufon? - asked the director, looking at the young man with interest.

The young man began to get even more nervous, he was already imagining how he would be expelled from the academy and return home, this day would be the most shameful for him and his family.

- My name is Filyer, a third-year student. - The young man introduced himself, trying not to look at the director.

The director nodded silently, continuing to walk along the stufons, he looked with interest at the two elves who stood away from everyone.

- As punishment for shouting out your opinion when you were not asked, you will be the team commander at the tournament of six academies. - The director spoke in a calm voice and continued. - If your team shows poor performance, you will be excluded.

The young man felt like a responsibility had fallen on his shoulders, which he had the opportunity to fail, he did not want to provoke the director even more and only bowed.

- Now show me what you are really capable of. The professors and I will look at your training. - The director addressed the stufons in a loud voice.

The Stufons, hearing the director's words, looked puzzled at their newly-minted commander. The young man felt both team members and professors looking at him with expectant eyes.

Filyer understood that if he continued to remain silent, he would be expelled even before the tournament of six academies.

Sighing and clenching his hands into fists, he began to give orders who would be on which team.

The team members began to disperse in complete silence, casting nervous glances at the professor and director.

If Filyer managed to get the responsibility for the team to perform, they didn't want to see what else the director could come up with for them.

When the team members dispersed in different directions, it was noticeable that one team was missing one member, the director was surprised to see that the dark elf Cassandra was standing in the same place as before. Slowly approaching her, he felt with interest the strong magical vibrations emanating from her.

- Stufon Cassandra why don't you participate in the team's training? - The director asked with interest, simultaneously trying to find the reason for these strong fluctuations.

The magical fluctuations intensified and subsided, the director had the feeling that the dark elf did not control them.

- Director Suga'Tin, I am not able to take part in the team's training right now. My magic can harm other stufons during training. - Cassandra said with a hint of disappointment, looking into the director's eyes.

Suga'Tin, frowned, he saw from her behavior that the dark elf was not trying to deceive him, but he did not understand what these strong fluctuations in the dark elf's body were connected with.

- Let's step back and not disturb your team members' training. - Suga'Tin turned, pointing his hand to the side where the resting stufons were sitting before his arrival.

Cassandra, watching the director's hand, silently walked towards the benches, her thoughts wandered, remembering yesterday when her magic got out of her control.

Approaching the benches and sitting down on the edge, she clasped her hands, she understood that it was possible for her to be kicked out of the team, but she hoped that not from the academy.

- Now tell us in more detail, when did you start to feel that magic was getting out of your control? We saw each other recently and everything was fine with you. - Suga'Tin said thoughtfully, watching as the team began their training.

Cassandra only nodded at his statement that the last time she met with the director, she had no problems with magic.

Trying to formulate what happened to her, Cassandra began to tell how yesterday afternoon during training after sparring with Samantha, she felt how her magic began to become stronger and then the snake on her hand began to shrink more and more.

The magic became more and more naughty and the snake continued to twist her hand, not understanding what was happening, she and Samantha returned to her room and when Cassandra was able to see what was happening to the snake, she, like her friend, froze. The snake on Cassandra's hand shimmered in different colors.

She barely noticeably moved along her hand, the girl did not understand what was happening and looked up at her friend who had the same look as Cassandra.

They both understood that the snake was connected to Trey, did this mean that something had happened to him? Trying to drive away the most terrible thoughts, Cassandra tried to call on the weakest magic, but the magic turned into a strong spell.

Realizing that magic was inaccessible to her, she decided to tell the director about what had happened, but when they came to him they were informed that he was busy and did not have time to talk with the stufons.

- So you are the stufons who came to me yesterday? They told me, but I didn't think it would be you. - The director said understandingly, he saw how nervous Cassandra was and how she did not try to hide it from prying eyes.

Pondering the possibilities and reasons why the snake behaved this way and the instability in Cassandra's magic, the director came to the conclusion that something terrible had happened to Stufon Trey.

The wedding ritual not only provided the opportunity to find out about the fate of the bearer of another snake, but also to warn him if he was in danger.

- Can you show me your snake? - The director asked, he understood that this was personal, but in such a situation it is better to figure it out than to wait until everything returns to normal.

Cassandra froze, pondering the director's request, she understood that she herself would most likely not be able to find the answer and she was worried about the unknown.

Nodding, she lifted her sleeve to show the snake, which was changing color less and was behaving more calmly.

The director examined the snake with interest, trying to direct the vibrations of his magic to the symbol of the wedding ritual.

And almost immediately he felt his vibrations begin to be absorbed by the snake, he met someone who was undergoing a wedding ritual, but not a single symbol tried to absorb his vibrations of magic.

Suga'Tin shook his head, how strong was the magic of Stufon Trey that the snake that drank his blood could fight the hesitation of one of the most powerful magicians?

Breaking out of his thoughts, the director pondered what he had just learned even from the fact that the snake had absorbed his vibrations.

- Your magic will return to normal in a few days. Unless, of course, anything happens to your husband Trey. The snake tried to tell you that he was or was still in danger because of this, your magic became unstable. - While explaining, the director saw how the dark elf's face began to change.

Cassandra understood that most likely the snake's behavior was caused by the fact that something had happened to Trey.

She tried to push these thoughts away, but now that the director confirmed these thoughts, she felt like her legs began to behave poorly and her breathing began to become labored.

- You better rest in your room until you come to your senses Stufon Cassandra. I'll ask your friend Samantha to escort you to your room and I'll alert your team and professors that you're not feeling well. - The director said, trying not to look at the dark elf's drooping behavior.

He hardly understood what Cassandra was going through now, calling out to the dark elf friend who was also associated with Stufon Trey and watching her walk towards them more and more gloomily and frowning, she saw the state of her friend.

Samantha didn't know what the director told her, but from Cassandra's behavior she I doubted it was good.

- Help your friend get to her room and stay with her. - The director turned to the light elf, getting up from his chair and heading towards the professors.

Suga'Tin did not plan to tell Samantha yet what caused the snake's behavior. He had no doubt that Cassandra would tell her everything, returning to the professors, as he told Cassandra, he warned the professors that she would be absent from training for several days.

The professors just nodded in confusion, looking at the training, the director just shook his head, he hoped that a little push would help the team perform well at the tournament of six academies.

Leaving the professors to continue watching the training, Suga'Tin headed to his office; he had something to tell his old friend Ni'Lim.