Nothing is as it seems

Lana decides that for the rest of the evening she keeps to herself. She stays either in her room or near the fire, settling by the warmth with her violin. 

Daiki heads to the Firejolt Café to speak with the manager. The café comes into view, large and bustling, and the evening is clearly a busy one. Students crowd the space after introductions and first dates, and the café is livelier than it has been all week. Among the servers is Mina, another student Daiki has worked closely with. She wears a barista shirt and carries trays of drinks. When she spots Daiki, she brightens immediately. “Oh, Daiki, I’m so glad you’re here. It’s been so busy.”

Daiki happily agrees and jumps straight into work, asking where the manager is. Behind the bar stands Alina, the café’s manager, tapping drinks while Mina runs them out. Daiki confirms that the others are not present and immediately starts collecting orders and serving tables, flying all around the café. He keeps working without raising his question, deciding it is far too busy to interrupt.

As the evening wears on, the café slowly quiets. It remains a relaxed place to congregate, but deeper into the night many patrons drift toward the tavern instead, leaving behind only a few students studying over sweets. Alina relaxes as well, scrubbing the bar and tidying up between orders.

When there is finally a lull, Daiki approaches her. “Hi Alina, do you have a little moment for me?” She looks up warmly. “Of course, of course, Daiki. What can I help you with?”

Daiki explains that when he first came to help, they agreed on payment in sweets because he was very hungry at the time. Now that he has met his dorm mates, he feels he needs more money. He asks if he could have a raise—less sweets, more gold.

Alina laughs softly. “A raise? My poor Daiki. Of course you can have sweets, but there was always money. We agreed.” She explains that payment is given at the end of the ten-day period, which coincides with the start of school. Daiki blinks in surprise, realizing he misunderstood and thought he was only being paid in sweets. Alina gently teases him, asking if he has ever worked anywhere before.

Daiki admits that he usually just helps people, and sometimes they reward him. Alina rummages under the bar, laughing as she pulls out a small envelope and hands it to him. She thanks him sincerely for his help during the busy week and assures him that things will be calmer now, so he will not need to cover so many shifts.

Daiki beams. “Thank you. Oh wow… I guess that’s good, because I have to start classes tomorrow. My first—what do we call this—payday.” He marvels at the envelope, thrilled, already thinking of showing it to his friends and adding it to his hoard. He carefully tucks it into his pouch, promising to finish his shift. Alina laughs as he flies off and returns to cleaning the bar.

---

Later, Ruben realizes he does not yet have study books for basic magical auras. Wanting to prepare, he goes to the library and approaches older-looking students for advice. None of them are helpful; some admit they are just as confused, while others refuse to explain, insisting he experience it himself. Ruben returns to the dorm anxious and unsettled, worried about how to prepare without guidance or books. Sleep does not come easily.

When Ruben re-enters the common room the next morning, Lana notices his stress immediately. He looks distracted, snacking from Daiki’s pile of sweets, staring at a cinnamon roll while flipping through his spellbook. Lana plucks idly at her violin strings and asks what is wrong. Ruben admits he has no idea what to expect from basic magical auras and feels unprepared. Lana reassures him that it is his first day and that he will be fine. Kroak, unhelpfully, suggests maybe he will not be.

Lana points out the logic of the situation: without books or instructions, there is nothing Ruben can do but attend and see what happens. When Ruben asks how Kroak deals with anxiety, Kroak answers simply, “Be nervous.” Lana offers to play a song instead. She chooses a relaxing melody, something gentle and comforting. The music helps, and Ruben thanks her, grateful to have her as a dorm mate. He eventually retires early, though sleep remains elusive.

Night passes, confetti from the earlier festivities still drifting down and clinging to everything, a reminder of the grand introduction. The next morning, at ten o’clock sharp, the group heads to their first lecture. The building lies behind the Biblioplex, one of the central campus’s generic lecture halls. The courses have been vague about required materials, much to Ruben’s frustration, and he arrives with no preparation at all.

Daiki is buzzing with excitement, flipping around as they walk. He chatters about learning basic spells, especially a cleaning spell. Along the way, they pass a workout area near the Biblioplex where muscular students train. Nimry is visibly distracted, admiring them and gushing about how strong they look. Lana is unimpressed, pointing out that lifting things is simply what bodies do.

Eventually, they reach the lecture hall and take their seats in a small circular classroom with far fewer students than the opening ceremony. The professor is nowhere to be seen. The room grows awkwardly quiet. Daiki wonders if the teacher is late. Ruben speculates that it might be a test. He recalls hearing the name “Professor Slackwater.”

Ruben looks around for water, spotting only a single cup on the teacher’s desk. He casts a spell to feel for illusions, sweeping the room, but finds nothing. Daiki eagerly joins in, creating a glittering dust illusion shaped like a little bunny on the desk. The class stares.

Bored, Daiki flutters over to Kroak and asks if they can make a prophecy about when the teacher will arrive. Kroak insists on payment. Daiki proudly opens his envelope, discovering fifteen gold pieces, and offers one. Kroak accepts, though notes that prophecies are about people, not events. Their prediction is vague: “He’ll be here.”

Meanwhile, Lana slowly walks around the room, subtly using her telepathy to search for anyone hidden or unseen. She calmly, repeatedly asks Professor Slackwater to make himself known. At last, wet footsteps echo from the doorway.

A disheveled man enters barefoot, his steps sounding like flesh meeting puddles. He looks almost homeless, with messy hair and a strange presence. He greets the room cheerfully and immediately comments on Lana walking around. He encourages everyone to stand, to walk, to loosen up. The class hesitates but complies.

Ruben rises and murmurs to Kroak about whether they should be normal or embrace being strange. Kroak grins and stands. The professor claps his hands, announcing that today’s lesson on magical auras begins with feeling and movement. Daiki laughs, delighted, flopping and flying with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Lana stands stiffly, unimpressed, questioning what exactly she is supposed to feel. The professor comments on her aura, suggesting it seems red, and urges her to relax. She calmly challenges him, reminding him that he is the teacher. He insists she is not relaxed and continues the exercise regardless.

Around them, Daiki laughs and floats. Kroak grabs Ruben by the head when he raises his arm and starts dancing with him, pulling him along with an infectious energy. Daiki bursts into laughter, while Kroak cheers, “Let’s go, Ruben,”

The attention of the room shifts as the instructor urges everyone to look at their fellow students and truly see them. Daiki looks around and asks who is next to him, nods and walks over to Nimry, greeting her with a friendly “Hello, Nimry.”

Nimry answers quietly, visibly awkward, trying to avert her gaze before looking back with uncertainty, as if unsure what she is supposed to do. Daiki admits, laughing, that he does not know either and is simply following instructions. Nimry meets his eyes but is clearly uncomfortable with the entire exercise, which only makes Daiki laugh harder.

The instructor encourages the students again, asking what they see. Ruben turns toward Kroak and stares deeply into their eyes, intent and focused, trying to look past the surface and into their very soul. He believes magic comes from the mind rather than the heart, and he concentrates intensely, as if peering through eyes, biology dissolving in his imagination, searching for something deeper. He seems to find: red-tinted eyes, a murky depth, and beneath it all a burning desire for learning and an open mind. It feels alien, different from Ruben’s own way of seeing the world, similar in places yet fundamentally strange.

The instructor asks about colors, about auras, and whether Ruben has studied the meaning behind them. Confusion follows as books are mentioned, then dismissed entirely. There are no books, the instructor insists—only feelings. Learning here comes through sensing, experiencing other people and their magical auras.

The class is prompted to describe what another student’s sense of humor tastes like. Daiki closes his eyes, licks the air, and declares thoughtfully that it tastes “a little bit salty.” The instructor seems surprised but accepts the answer. Around the room, students begin sticking out their tongues, awkwardly trying to taste the air, while others look on in confusion. Daiki laughs uncontrollably. Ruben, meanwhile, pointedly does not lick the air, staying focused on the instructor while turning his head sharply toward Kroak in disbelief.

Discussion turns to personal auras. Kroak asks how one sees them, and the instructor speaks vaguely about feelings and desires. Ruben expresses interest in protective auras, but the instructor insists the course is not about magic mechanics, only feelings. Daiki begins to grasp the concept in his own way, waving his wings and scattering fairy dust, sparkling in the air as he declares that the aura is calling to him.

Kroak approaches Daiki, ignoring him entirely as they carefully sweep up the fairy dust into a small vial, remarking that it could be useful. Lana watches all of this in silence. She thinks of her harsh hometown, where feelings are not valued, where toughness is everything. She knows she has always been too soft there, yet here she feels strangely strong. She observes quietly, understanding Daiki’s enthusiasm, Kroak’s behavior, and noticing Ruben’s discomfort when Kroak invades his personal space. She sees everything but says nothing.

Ruben asks about the learning objectives of the course. The instructor dismisses the idea entirely—there is no pass or fail, only doing and feeling. Daiki excitedly suggests a group hug so everyone can feel each other. The instructor eagerly agrees, encouraging the class to join. Some students hesitate, confused, but eventually a loose group hug forms. Ruben joins carefully, trying not to squeeze anyone. Lana stays on the outer ring, lightly tapping backs in polite participation. Kroak declines.

Afterward, the instructor asks what color their aura has now. Lana and Daiki say pink. Ruben hesitates, suggesting blue. The instructor presses him, and Ruben describes it as “ocean reef blue.” The instructor seems intrigued and asks what each student wants to learn. Daiki cheerfully says he wants to clean smelly smells and dirty stains. Ruben, blushing, speaks about studying, acquiring knowledge, and learning to enjoy life’s challenges. The instructor is visibly moved, calling it inspiring.

Questions continue about the instructor’s appearance, their mismatched clothes, and their strange relationship with time. Lana challenges them gently about being late, explaining that in her homeland, the sun cannot always be relied upon. The instructor listens with curiosity, commenting on her aura and origins. Lana admits she is confused by him but accepts that perhaps she does not yet understand.

Kroak describes Lana’s aura as mustard yellow. The instructor accepts this thoughtfully, hinting at meanings without explaining. When asked why Kroak is here, they simply say they want to be a witch. The instructor calls it inspirational. Daiki asks the instructor’s name and learns he is Professor Slackwater, though he prefers Horton, at least at first.

Talk turns to seeing magic, to “the magic eye.” Kroak says they can do it. Daiki grows uneasy, sensing something off. Encouraged by Lana, he finally speaks his mind and bluntly calls the instructor a fraud. The room goes silent. The instructor reacts with wounded disbelief. Daiki insists something feels wrong. He creates an illusory pink aura around the instructor and questions whether it is real.

Murmurs spread through the class. Lana watches closely, impressed by Daiki’s boldness, but she does not see what he sees. Daiki explains that he expected something different, something truly magical, and this all feels off. Ruben suggests the lesson may be about deception and looking beyond appearances.

Lana steps in, asking the instructor how he feels about being called a fraud, tying it back to the lesson on feelings. The instructor grimaces, then smiles. Before their eyes, he transforms, shedding the disheveled appearance and revealing a composed figure in fine robes, with pale skin and eyes. Realization spreads—he is a changeling.

Now standing straight and authoritative, the instructor explains that this was the first lesson: looks can be deceiving. Magic is not what it seems at first glance. He praises Daiki for pushing through the deception and encourages students to question authority, to talk back, to challenge even professors.

Ruben recalls seeing the instructor among the faculty during the opening ceremony but cannot place his affiliation. The instructor commends Daiki again, noting his potential and marking his file. Each student reiterates why they are here. Daiki wants to be a dragon. Ruben seeks knowledge from inspiring leaders. Lana says she was sent for personal development and boldly vows to defy the odds. Kroak reaffirms their ambition to become a witch. At last, the teacher signals that the real lesson will begin. 

---

The professor claps his hands, the sharp sound cutting through the low murmur of the classroom until silence gathers. He looks around calmly. “Any questions so far?”

The professor straightens slightly. “You may address me as Professor Vantrax. Horten is a character.” His gaze sweeps the room. “We might be characters. You might be. Anybody could be. And the question is for you to find out.”

“This character is Professor Vantrax,” the professor continues, clearly. “And I would like to be addressed as such.”

Kroak goes back to sit down next to Ruben. The professor points briefly, correcting someone’s movement, and Lana clears her throat. “Um, my name is Lana Rimov, for your—” She gestures vaguely. 

“Lana, I am aware,” the professor says evenly.

“And that’s why you did not deem me worthy to call me by my name, although you knew it?”

“I am aware. I make it a requirement of mine to learn all my students’ names, to be familiar with them. This is an elective after all. You chose to be here, so I should give you my full and undivided attention and try to guide you as best as I can.”

“Well, thank you very much,” Lana says. Ruben nods. “That is appreciated.”

Lana continues, “My question to you, sir, is—you were like Mr. Slackwater, and you are Professor Vantrax—what kind of others do you have in your arsenal?”

“I have plenty in my arsenal,” the professor replies. “These are the only characters of concern to you. And I would ask you to refrain from mentioning this to any of their other new prospective students in the coming week. Not everybody has this course at the same time. There needs to be a challenge. If you ruin that challenge, how can somebody prove themselves? How can somebody prove their worth at Strixhaven?”

“The secret,” Daiki says, catching on.

“It is,” the professor confirms. “And I think you will find it a very well-kept secret.”

Daiki nods again. “So… what are we going to learn?”

“Excellent question. So eager. Very good.” The professor’s tone sharpens with interest. “Today we start with a challenge. It is a manifestation of what you’ve already learned, and I want you to dive a bit deeper into that. We looked at people. Now, when people are a form of magic—magic comes from the mind, from the weave.”

“People weave magic into existence,” the professor continues. “If you know the people, if you know how to look through the people, how can you tell from the magic? Every magic has a pattern. Everything is there for a reason. There are no accidents.”

“I thought there were happy accidents sometimes,” Ruben offers.

“Accidents are for those who are not skilled enough to do things on purpose.”

“All right,” the professor says. “The challenge you face today, if you are ready for it, will take up the rest of the class. You will solve it together.”

Ruben nods enthusiastically. Lana shifts in her seat.

The professor moves to the middle of the room, where a desk stands. He pushes it aside and reaches for a stick resting nearby. He taps it against the floor. From the ceiling, something begins to descend—a magical device. At first it looks mundane, barely noticeable, but as it lowers it transforms into a brilliant contraption: a diamond-like core surrounded by concentric rings of magic, elements, and glowing symbols. It becomes impossible to ignore.

“Ooh. Wow,” Daiki breathes.

Magic radiates from it. The air hums. There is a crackling sound in everyone’s ears, sparks dancing at the edges of vision. A strange lethargy settles over the room, a creeping tiredness. The professor steps back. “All right. It is your turn now. What is going on here?”

“You mean with this thing?” Daiki asks.

“Yes.”

Kroak studies it closely. “It looks like there are multiple concentric circles.”

“And what does that mean?”

“Probably that there’s a center, and several different kinds of magic, all in balance.”

“Now look deeper.”

“This is an illusion,” Ruben says suddenly.

“And what makes you say that?”

“Because we have to question what we see. That’s the lesson of today.”

“What makes you question it?”

“Well, usually I cannot see the types of magic. And now I can. I don’t know why. So I think it’s a fraud.”

The professor nods. “This is magic made by me, to show you the types I see—what you would normally sense with detect magic. That illusion is not the main one. Look beyond. Feel. Sense. What are you missing?”

Ruben stares intensely at the diamond, forcing his gaze, then looks up and meets the professor’s eyes with a sharp, understanding look—equal parts awe and disbelief.

Meanwhile, Lana watches the professor’s hands. The stick he holds seems to function as a focus; it is thick, well-used, clearly capable of channeling magic. Kroak considers the display carefully, comparing it to the familiar experience of detect magic. It feels almost identical—too identical. That, in itself, is suspicious.

“You feel drained,” the professor says aloud, watching their reactions. “What does that tell you?”

“The magic is not coming from you, professor,” Kroak says slowly. “It’s using our power.”

“Excellent. And what magic would do that?”

“Necromancy.”

The professor snaps his fingers. One of the green concentric rings fades away, dissolving into nothing. The oppressive drain lifts immediately.

They identify more layers—conjuration dismissed, transmutation questioned, illusion debated. A mage hand reaches into the glowing sphere and vanishes instantly, swallowed whole. The professor presses them to rely on senses other than sight: sound, strain, emotion.

“Illusion is meant to conceal,” he explains. “It covers up reality. You felt the necromancy, yet you could not see it.”

At last, he snaps his fingers again. The illusion peels away entirely. What remains is a far less stable object, shaking violently, crackling arcs of energy lashing outward like lightning whips. It looks moments from collapse.

“Evocation,” Daiki says. “It’s damaging.”

“Correct. And you could hear it even before you saw it.”

Another layer fades. Only a faint pink aura remains.

“Charm,” Lana says slowly. “I was drawn to it. I wanted to watch it.”

“Exactly,” the professor says. “Emotion. Influence. You feel rushed, unsettled, yet calm enough to stay.“ 

“That is enchantment.” exclaim Kroak and Daiki.

At last, he explains the final lesson: not everything should be dispelled. Abjuration holds the whole construct together. Remove it all at once, and disaster would follow.

With the device finally dismissed, the professor looks around the room. “This concludes the majority of today’s lesson. This course has books. Many of them. There will be exams. There will be failures. Study hard.”

He produces a sheet of required reading—one and a half pages long. Kroak stares at it. “Wow.”

“One book per tenday,” the professor says calmly. “There will be a test on every book.”

Daiki smiles. “Awesome. I love this class. Thank you.”

The professor inclines his head. As students begin to stand and gather their things, he packs up the device, lifting it back toward the ceiling. The hum fades, the crackling dies away, and the classroom slowly returns to normal as students file out, minds buzzing with magic and unease.

Kroak lingers after class and asks whether anyone knows what the other books are for the remaining courses, wondering if they can buy everything in one go or if some of the requirements are still unknown. It turns out the rest of the courses are clearly defined, each with its own course book and a list of required materials. Only these particular books were not listed beforehand, but it means they can still be bought all at once. Before exiting the classroom, Lana pauses and looks at Kroak and Daiki for a moment. She asks why Daiki answered her question earlier. Daiki blinks. “Question?” He hesitates, then adds that he answered many questions. Kroak immediately apologizes, sounding sheepish. Lana explains calmly that the teacher had specifically asked the question about charm or enchantment to her, and Daiki had answered much faster. That does not necessarily mean it was his question to answer. Ruben murmurs another soft “Okay” in the background. Lana says she simply wants to know why it happened.

Daiki explains that the teacher told them to just speak up, but he apologizes anyway. Lana points out that the teacher even said her name. Daiki winces. “I’m sorry if I messed up.” Kroak cuts in with a firm, “That’s it.”

Lana nods. She accepts the apology and makes it clear she is not attacking him. She only wanted to understand the situation. Kroak admits they just got really into it, and Daiki agrees that he was really into it as well. Lana reassures them both. 

Daiki changes the subject, suggesting they go buy the book and get some sweets afterward. He feels drained and hungry. Lana jokes that maybe she does not need the book at all and that Ruben can help her study because she will probably fail. Kroak agrees enthusiastically, saying Ruben sounds really smart. Lana wonders aloud whether there will be a fighting class, since she would sweep the floor with most people there, but admits that knowing the magical schools is another matter. She implores the others to help her because she really wants to stay.

Kroak offers to help, even suggesting they could make a potion that makes her smarter. Ruben proposes a more sensible approach: they can study together by showing spells and determining which school they belong to. Lana brightens at the idea and gladly accepts Ruben’s offer to study together. Ruben agrees, but first he wants to buy the book. Daiki says he will join the studying too.

They agree to buy the books. Daiki asks if someone can carry his books because they look heavy. Lana laughs when he points out that he is small and they are all big. She happily agrees to carry them. “Yay,” Daiki cheers.

They discuss the price. Lana admits she only has seventeen gold pieces and is not rich. Daiki is in the same situation. Kroak casually mentions they took a gold piece from Daiki earlier, so they are fine. The books cost about fifteen gold per course. Kroak panics at the thought of the price, but they learn that communal books can be rented from the Biblioplex instead.

Lana decides she will do that and head to the library. Ruben suggests they could split the purchases, each buying books for different courses. Kroak offers to buy the Arcanobotany books, since they share Archaeomancy with Ruben anyway. Lana ultimately decides she will rely on the communal library because she does not have enough funds; she could buy one book and then be broke.

Ruben, on the other hand, wants to buy the first book from every course, just to have a start. There are four courses in total, including a mandatory one called Magical Physiologies, along with Basic Magical Auras, Introduction to Archaeomancy, and Arcanobotany. Study books are expensive, and Kroak reacts with horror. They half-jokingly ask about scholarships.

In the end, Ruben buys four books and carries the heavy stack. Kroak immediately asks if they can borrow one of them. Ruben agrees, saying he does not need to study them all at once and that perhaps Kroak can return the favor later—maybe in potions or prophecies. Kroak agrees readily, promising they will share.

As they walk, Daiki suggests they recap the class by practicing sensing magical auras. Ruben demonstrates by casting mage hand and letting it float between them. They talk through what kind of magic it is, whether it can be touched, seen, or sensed. Lana reasons it through step by step, concluding correctly that it is conjuration because it is summoned and forms an object. Ruben confirms she is right, praising her and suggesting she might not fail the course after all.

Eventually, they reach the Biblioplex. Inside, mechanical archivists roam between the shelves, cleaning up and redistributing books as students bustle about. Many communal books are already taken, but after some searching, Ruben manages to find misplaced copies, saving them from being shelved incorrectly. Some of the books are worn, but they will do.

As they look around, they notice a group setting up a makeshift stage. A small but loud figure bosses everyone around, organizing trunks filled with costumes. Daiki, distracted from the books, flits over and asks what is going on. He learns it is a live-action roleplaying club preparing a performance. First-years cannot join yet, but they can watch. Daiki excitedly returns to the group to ask if they want to join someday. Lana firmly declines. Ruben suggests watching first. In the end, Daiki politely refuses the invitation so he can stay with his friends.

They decide to watch the performance later. Kroak offers the organizer a potato for good luck, insisting it is more useful than “break a leg.” The group then settles near the café. Ruben sits down to read his new book, carefully writing his name and the date inside. Daiki conjures an illusion to make his worn book look shiny and pretty.

Kroak orders drinks for everyone, making increasingly strange requests: raw black coffee beans, honey water with a straw for Daiki, local tea for themself. The café worker stares but complies. Kroak pays and even leaves a small tip.

They sit with their drinks as the chairs are arranged around the stage. The performance begins, with Rosie playing a bizarre monster—a thin owlbear-like creature with extra eyes. Adventurers battle through a dungeon, and the acting is energetic and convincing. Rosie throws herself into the role, complete with dramatic “bleeding” ribbons. The crowd is enthralled.

Then something goes wrong. A shriek rings out as one of the adventurers opens a chest. At first, the audience gasps in admiration, but Lana and Daiki realize something is off. The chest clamps down on the performer’s arm, teeth sinking in, tongue wrapping tight. Blood spills, real and unmistakable.

Lana exhales sharply. “It’s a mimic.”
Daiki stares in horror, recognizing it too.