Academy of Magic: Daughter of Time, #0.5

By Stephanie M. Jones

Rynlee Nalis is struggling with her magic. Healing should come naturally to all Purator students, but not to her. When a teacher tries to force her magic to cooperate with an unconventional method, Rynlee feel used and hopeless.

 

Something sinister is going on at Sträuslin, the academy of magic where Rynlee is studying to become a Purator, a demon hunter. When Rynlee meets a new friend who only creates more questions than answers, and other healers are dying too soon, they have to figure out the mystery. With graduation looming soon, if Rynlee can't pass her healing class, she won't pass her first year and she'll never achieve her dream of becoming a Purator.

 

Never mind her grades, the mystery force killing healers might force the entire academy to shut down permanently. Can Rynlee find the power of her own magic and protect her fellow students in time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie M. Jones
• Release date: Jan 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9780993857850

Book preview

Academy of Magic

Academy of Magic

A daughter of time story

Stephanie M. Jones

Contents

Academy of Magic

Other books by Stephanie M. Jones

Acknowledgments

About the Author

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Copyright © 2020 by Stephanie M. Jones

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [e-mail]

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eBook ISBN: 978-0-9938578-5-0

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9938578-4-3

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www.authorstephaniemjones.com

For anyone who’s ever lost a friend

Academy of Magic

I can’t do it. Rynlee stepped away from her classmate and looked crossly at her teacher.

The injured bird on the table still twitched and chirped. Was it waiting to be healed, or put out of its misery? With her skills, Rynlee wasn’t sure the latter would be more pleasant. It would likely die before she figured out her magic, and then what would be the point?

Ms. Annasa crossed her arms, turning away from the rest of her class to face her failing student. Everyone else in the class can do this, everyone else uses the same techniques I taught you. What’s wrong?

Rynlee’s face felt hot with embarrassment. "Why don’t you tell me?" she walked out of the classroom before she took her frustration out on someone.

Purators-in-training passed her in the halls without so much as a glance. She was just another first-year student to them, a part of the crowd.

She jogged the rest of the way to her rooms, which were attached by a door to the room of her mentor, Natell. There was a light visible under his door. Rynlee knocked and then opened it without waiting for a response.

What am I doing wrong? She complained.

He looked up from the book he was reading with a confused expression. His black hair was messy and his face looked tired. Well, from here I can see your braid is coming undone and the sash on your dress is missing.

I didn’t ask for an outfit critique. She snapped. "What am I doing wrong in class?"

He sighed and put down the book, folding his hands into his lap. Now that’s a question I can’t answer without knowing more. Which class? Which part of it are you getting wrong?

Rynlee was feeling impatient already—why had she come to him again? Natell was a skilled teacher, and always patient when she had her panics. In the heat of her frustration, it probably wasn’t a good idea to be in the same room with anyone. She knew it wasn’t fair to take this out on him, but she had no one else.

She took a deep breath and tried to explain. After listening, her mentor looked up at her and said, You need to have more faith.

Rynlee dropped her hands in frustration. "What does that even mean? Do I just say, I have faith, and…" She looked down at a red scratch on her arm, concentrating on how it would look if it weren’t there, willing the skin to mend.

Nothing happened.

I meant faith in yourself. Natell clarified. The immortals can’t help you when you’re convinced it’s impossible before you even start.

What do the immortals care if I can heal people or not?

Lystrata, the immortal that fills all Purators with their magic, does know you. She is not perfect or all knowing, but she does care about you. Each one of us here in this school is a bright star in a dark world.

Rynlee wasn’t sure if she bought that. Natell could be a little…philosophical and rambling sometimes. Then what do I do?

Come here, kid. He put an arm out and Rynlee sat next to him on the couch, his arm landed over her shoulders. This might be bad timing, but I have to tell you something. I’m…not going to be your mentor much longer.

What?

Well, I need to start a new life. I think it’s time for me to travel, to see the world beyond these walls with my fiancée. Time for an adventure. He grinned. We want to get married somewhere exotic.

Trust me—it’s not all uniwolves and rainbows out there. She said, wondering what kind of adventure he was expecting.

You’re still not going to tell me why you came to this school? The memories haunt you, even I can tell. His gaze probed her eyes as if he could figure out the answer from staring into her soul.

I did. She said, lying easily. It was only easy because she’d told it so many times. My friend Draeger...I lived with his family after leaving home. He thought I should explore my magic, get an education, work towards a future. Simple.

I meant why you left your home.

Rynlee sucked on her bottom lip. Was she ready to talk about this yet? Even after starting at this school almost a year ago, nobody in Sträuslin knew about her past. She took a deep breath and looked down at her feet, trying to fight against the pressure of grief in her chest. My best friend ran away from home, and I followed him. I never found him. She said, biting her lip. Natell’s arm tightened around her. "He’s probably dead, but…I’ll n-never know for sure. I came here to start my new life, but it’s ironic that you’re leaving to start one."

She looked up at him then, not caring anymore if he saw the pain in her face. She was sure her emotions