The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 3

hoped it meant the same thing here as it did back in the non-magical world.
Despite his discovery, it looked as if it was going to be tricky to get into during the day. Not once had the piazza been empty enough to venture across. Once again, his endeavors would have to wait for the cover of darkness, but the sight of that symbol had brought him untold optimism. If it did mean the same thing it meant back home, then maybe they would have something to help Aamir.
Spurred on by his finding, Alex returned the way he had come. As he reached the far wall, curiosity got the better of him. He wondered if he could get through to the piazza, and thus the infirmary, from a different entrance. Mulling over the possibilities, he changed course and crept furtively across to the courtyard they had peered down into the previous night, hoping it would be empty. Lying flat on his stomach, he crawled toward a parapet built in the wall and peered around it, looking down.
To his horror, it was as far from empty as it could possibly be.
The courtyard was full of students, more than the whole of the Spellshadow student body put together, doing drills of some kind. To one side of the yard, big circular targets made of compacted hay, much like the ones used for archery practice back in the ordinary world, were set up against the wall for the students to practice their aim against. He watched in awe as time after time, thin darts of glittering gold shot through the very center of the board, never even a millimeter off the mark. Other students were grouped in threes, practicing shielding on one another. One would take aim and fire at another student, while the third put up a shield to protect their partner. Every time they successfully created a thrumming shield that rebounded the fired magic, they swapped places.
It was mesmerizing, to see them all so in sync, working like cogs in a well-oiled machine. Not to mention that each and every student was as athletic as they were beautiful, and undeniably skillful. There was not a dull pupil among them. Magic seemed to flow effortlessly from their hands, doing their bidding without so much as a creased brow or a drop of sweat.
At the helm of these classes were teachers of equal youth and beauty. There were three in the courtyard, instructing the students and, while they were definitely slightly older than their charges, old age and ugliness did not seem to be permitted within the walls of Stillwater House. Alex listened as these instructors barked orders in crisp, clear voices, the students setting to their given tasks immediately. He was in complete awe. These students were no older than Alex, but they were conjuring complex spells he had never seen before as if they were the most basic of skills, sending them rippling across the courtyard with ease. Before long, the whole place was lit up with a fine mist of glittering gold—the magical fallout of their intricate conjurations.
At the far side of the courtyard, sparring fluidly with a young man twice her height and width, was the supremely stunning young woman from the previous night—the one who had caught Jari’s eye. Not only was she sparring with this huge man, but she was winning too, flooring him with deft movements and expert magic. Alex watched as she ducked and rolled away from her partner’s retaliations, moving as lithely as if she were made of liquid. Soon, it was not her exquisite beauty that kept Alex watching, but her skill. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. Even Natalie’s magic, which was impressive in its own right, wasn’t nearly as powerful as this young woman’s. There was a fierce, fiery crackle to it that bristled with untold strength.
As her sparring partner stepped back to take a breather, the young woman’s gaze snapped toward Alex, who ducked sharply behind his parapet. After a minute, he dared to peer back around, but her gaze was still focused in his direction. Shielding her eyes from the glaring sun, she had clearly seen him. Realizing there was no use in hiding, Alex’s eyes locked with hers in a strange, mutual curiosity. There was surprise, too, and although she was some distance away from him, he was almost certain he could see the curve of a small smile playing upon her lips.
Cursing himself for his mistake, he crawled back across the broad width of the wall and clambered down, dropping the last few meters into the flowerbeds below with a heavy thud. He knew he had just done something that could put them all at risk.
Guiltily, he returned to the small cottage, wishing he had better news. He had intended to go to Stillwater to get something useful for Aamir and had come back essentially empty-handed. True, he now had an inkling where the infirmary might be, but he also had news of potential detection. It wasn’t exactly a worthwhile exchange.
Jari looked up as Alex entered. “Did you get something?” he asked eagerly.
Alex sighed. “I have good news and bad news.”
The others gathered around.
“What’s the good news?” pressed Jari.
“I think I found out where the infirmary is,” Alex replied.
Excitement spread across Jari’s face. “You did? Did you see it?”
Alex shook his head. “There were too many people around.”
“Is that the bad news?” Jari frowned.
“Sadly not.” Alex grimaced.
“So, we go there after nightfall?” Natalie chimed in.
Again, Alex shook his head. “That’s where the bad news comes in.”
“What is it?” Jari was losing his patience.
“I think the students at Stillwater House might know there are some vagrants on the loose,” explained Alex.
“What do you mean?” asked Natalie, suddenly worried.
“I went to the courtyard to see if there was another way in, to reach the infirmary, and… I think I was seen. The girl you saw last night, Jari—I think she saw me,” sighed Alex, hating that it