Chapter eleven

Neah fell from her cot onto the wooden floor. Panting, and covered in sweat, she shakily got to her feet. She was getting sick of that dream. She looked herself over, straightened her clothing, and grabbed her staff before leaving her room on the ship.

"Miss Andson! Land is just ahead!" A member of the ship's crew approached her.

"Good, good." Neah spoke absentmindedly. She walked to the side of the ship and rested against it, looking out at the water. Sighing, she tried to think of something besides her past. Her thoughts traveled to how she left Sindria. She laughed and buried her face in her hands, "Why did I do that?" Her skin was hot against her palms. It was a meaningless kiss, she knew she was just trying to be 'cool'. She began laughing harder, "And Ja'far's face...! That was priceless!" Her voice was muffled, her face still buried in her hands. Neah's thoughts slowly drifted back to her nightmare, causing her to scowl.

Something began glowing and humming in her pants pocket. Neah lifted her head and pulled out the 'Eye of the Rukh' that Yamraiha had given her. The red on her face deepened. Fuck.

"Neah, are you there?" Sinbad's voice asked inside the small colorful ball.

"Yeah, sup?" Neah tried to act casual.

"Have you arrived in Magnostadt yet?"

"Uh, not yet." Neah looked around. The docks looked to be only ten or so minutes away. "We're almost there." She began fidgeting a bit.

"Is there something bothering you, Neah?" Sinbad asked.

"Huh?" Neah turned her unfocused gaze on the magic tool. Despite her distant feeling, she shot back, "What, you care?"

Sinbad sighed and changed the subject, "Tell me what Matal Mogamett says about your offer once you ask him. Call before you head to Reim."

"Kay." Neah nodded lazily and shoved the magic tool back into her pocket. The same crew member from before walked over and said that the ship would be docking and that she should get her things. Neah trudged back to her room and grabbed her bag before walking back, all the while yelling at herself for being so upset all of a sudden. "That damn dream..." She muttered bitterly. I never thought I'd have to live through it again...

~

Neah floated around Magnostadt on her staff, amazed at the technology around her. Everything was done using magic and magic tools, she'd never seen anything like it. The amount of white rukh around was more than she'd ever seen in one place. As she made her way to Magnostadt's academy, she tried to think of what to say. Matal Mogamett wouldn't like that she was fallen, but she also thought he might be interested in the fact that she was a magi. Or at least she hoped so.

"Hey, you! You can't just enter!" Neah stopped at someone's shouting.

"What?" The magi lowered to the ground and hopped off her staff.

"You can't just enter Magnostadt! You need to take the entrance exam! Only magicians can enter!" A man began ushering her backwards.

"Isn't it obvious I'm a magician if I was flying?" Neah raised and eyebrow as she was pushed back to Magnostadt's entrance.

"Go take the exam!" He pushed her again.

"Geez, calm down, douchebag." Neah shook her head and raised her hands in surrender. "I'm going, I'm going." She walked around a bunch of people that looked to be taking the so called 'entrance exam'. Standing in line, she realized this was going to take forever.

Several minutes, and several disgusted glares at Neah's rukh later, it was finally her turn. "Next!"

Neah stepped towards a man holding a very large hammer in the air. The man narrowed his eyes at her. Neah remembered Yamraiha mentioning that Magnostadt would want to experiment on her if they found out she was a magi. Shit...How did I forget that? "Is there a problem?"

A man holding a book and pen stood beside the man holding the hammer looked her over, "No. Continue." Neah watched as the hammer came down on her, her borg easily deflecting it. She still wasn't used to using her borg, she was never able to in her own time. It would have given her away instantly. Both men still glared at her, "Alright. Next!"

The black haired magi climbed back onto her staff and flew off. Now past the main walls, she could see even more magic tools and other magicians than before. Not a single black rukh floated around besides the ones swarming her. Neah felt like everyone in the country was glaring at her as she made her way to the academy. She didn't care.

Another line was forming before her. Now what? Neah lowered to the ground and got off her staff again. Other magicians were casting magic in special magic circles, then being handed a necklace with a number on it. Is this to get into the school? I don't need that.

"Hey, it's your turn!" A person behind Neah said, pointing to in front of her. A magic circle was on the ground, and a man with a long white beard stood at a podium.

"Ah, I'm not-" Neah tried, but she was pushed forward.

"Just cast magic into that circle, and I will decide your kordor." The bearded man spoke.

"Right..." Neah spoke slowly, looking at the circle. She looked back to the man, "Look, I'm just here to talk to Matal Mogamett."

"Students don't get that honor unless it is a very special occasion."

Neah frowned, "I'm not a student."

"If you have business with Matal Mogamett, you need a letter or something similar saying so."

Neah tried to think of something to say, but was at a loss. She had no leverage here. No special titles or documents saying she's expected to be here. "Fine, whatever. I'll do your stupid test." She marched over to the circle and raised her staff, "Sharrar Baraq!" A large water dragon was created, twisting around in the air, unable to escape the magic circle. The magi lowered her staff and looked at the old man in annoyance.

He was shocked, "U-Uh, first kordor!"

Several people around them began talking, "Look at her rukh...it's black. What does that mean?"

"I don't know. Look how it's swarming around her, that's freaky! Why do the rukh like her so much?"

Neah snatched the first kordor necklace and stomped off, not really sure where she was going. She found herself in another part of the city, more buildings and magic tools everywhere. "Now, where the hell is Mogamett?"

~