The Mage's Forgotten Wand

Pre-dawn quiet filled the academy's entrance hall as selected students gathered for the expedition. Zeph adjusted his travel pack while watching others arrive in ones and twos, their voices echoing off marble floors still wet from the night's rain. The hall's ancient pillars cast strange shadows in the dim light.

"Marcus Blackwood," Ash muttered from beside him, running through student profiles on his modified datascreen. "Third year, one of the sponsored students. Parents work for House monitoring division." He glanced up as a tall student with close-cropped hair entered. "That's him now. Top of his class in barrier maintenance."

Being sponsored by one of the Houses meant better equipment and advanced training opportunities, though not quite the privileges of those from noble families themselves. The difference was obvious in Marcus's gear - high quality but without the custom modifications favored by House children.

"Proper choice for a Wound Zone expedition," Thaddeus commented quietly from Zeph's bag. "Though his understanding has more holes than his practical work would suggest."

The entrance hall gradually filled as more participants arrived. Near the main doors, several students from noble families had naturally gathered together, their equipment subtly marking their status. Luna Pembroke stood slightly apart from them, seemingly absorbed in reviewing her gear. But Zeph's sensitivity detected carefully controlled power beneath her focused exterior.

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Expedition Group:

[Students Selected: 24]

[Security Detail: 8]

[House Representatives: 3]

[Equipment Status: Prepared]

[Departure Time: Approaching]

```

"You hear about Sarah?" A familiar voice caught his attention. Michael Reed, one of his study partners, was talking quietly with Kate Winters near the equipment check station. "Thought she was still on review after that incident in Vale's class."

"Apparently her theory scores were too good to exclude," Kate replied, making small adjustments to her wand settings. Her fingers moved with the precise skill of someone who spent more time maintaining equipment than using it. "Besides, that whole thing with Vale seemed odd."

Zeph knew Sarah Brighthall from their shared combat practice sessions. She had a gift for identifying flaws in casting forms, though her own techniques often produced unexpected results. Her inclusion raised questions – either someone wanted her theoretical knowledge badly enough to override Vale's objections, or there was more to her apparent accidents than appeared.

"Final equipment checks," Professor Kendrick announced, her voice carrying natural authority through the growing noise. She moved through the gathering with measured steps, her walking stick tapping a steady rhythm on the marble floor.

Raven entered then, drawing a few glances despite her deliberately understated manner. As a daughter of House Mitchell, she could have worn the most expensive gear available, but she'd chosen the same basic expedition equipment as everyone else. James Ravencroft, another noble-born student, smiled as she passed. "Taking your teaching responsibilities seriously, I see."

"Someone should," she replied mildly, continuing past without breaking stride. As she moved by Zeph's position, he felt the subtle shift in local flows – her magic acknowledging his sensitivity in silent greeting.

"Politics never rest," Ash commented, still scanning data. "Ravencroft family's been trying to build connections with the Mitchells for years. Though his barrier scores are actually decent."

"His magical theory is adequate," Thaddeus added. "His understanding of actual power, considerably less so."

Professor Vale swept through the entrance hall, his power moving in rigidly perfect patterns. "Equipment certification forms," he demanded, targeting students at random. "Safety waivers. Parental permission documentation."

Sarah fumbled with her papers, nearly dropping her wand. Vale's eyes narrowed as he examined her forms with excessive thoroughness. But Zeph's sensitivity detected something odd in the interaction – a subtle disruption in local flows that didn't match either party's apparent power.

"Interesting," Thaddeus mused. "Our suspicious professor seems particularly interested in our accident-prone student. Though perhaps not for the reasons he's displaying."

Morning light strengthened, casting long shadows through the entrance hall's ancient windows. House Blackbridge's transport would arrive soon, carrying them toward whatever waited at Study Site Seven.

The announcement of "Transport sighted" sent quiet ripples through the gathered students. Equipment bags were shouldered and last-minute checks performed. Sarah drifted toward their position, her apparent clumsiness vanishing as she maneuvered through the crowd.

"Zeph," she said quietly, apparently checking something in her bag. "That modification you made to the resonance formula in Professor Chen's class... would you mind reviewing it during the expedition? I have a theory about application in containment scenarios."

Before he could respond, Vale's voice cut through the hall. "Final positions! Equipment inspection line begins now."

"Later," Sarah whispered, moving away as naturally as she had approached. But Zeph's sensitivity detected careful purpose beneath her seemingly random movements.

"Well," Thaddeus commented. "It seems our expedition group contains more than one person hiding their true capabilities. This should prove interesting, assuming we survive whatever's actually waiting at Study Site Seven."

Raven caught Zeph's eye from across the hall, her expression revealing nothing. But he felt her power reach out once more, a silent reminder that whatever they found at the Wound Zone, they would face it together.

"Transport arriving," security announced. "Prepare for departure."

The House Blackbridge transport descended from the morning sky, a sleek vessel that somehow managed to look both ancient and advanced at once. Its hull bore the deep black finish characteristic of House equipment, with subtle crystalline matrices visible beneath the surface. The vessel settled onto the arrival pad with practiced precision, antigravity fields dispersing morning mist in gentle waves.

"Latest model," Ash noted, his modified datascreen capturing readings. "Enhanced containment fields, reinforced reality anchors, and..." He frowned at his display. "Something new in the shielding system. The emissions pattern is unusual."

Zeph's sensitivity detected complex flows of power through the transport's structure. Corporate magic formed rigid channels throughout the hull, but there was something else – older patterns that felt more like true magic than House technology. The combination made his sensitivity hum with uncertainty.

"Standard loading procedure," the security lead announced. "House representatives first, then sponsored students, followed by general admission. Maintain orderly lines and have documentation ready."

The transport's main hatch cycled open with a soft hiss of equalized pressure. Steps extended smoothly from the hull as internal lights activated, revealing an interior that seemed larger than the vessel's external dimensions suggested. Zeph's sensitivity detected subtle spatial manipulation around the doorway – not enough to trigger corporate monitoring, but present nonetheless.

"Interesting design choices," Thaddeus muttered as they waited their turn. "Those containment matrices aren't purely corporate work. Someone's been studying older methods."

Students formed into their designated groups with practiced efficiency. Sarah Brighthall ended up two places ahead of Zeph in line, her earlier grace once again hidden beneath apparently random fidgeting. But he noticed how her gaze kept returning to specific points on the transport's hull where power flows converged.

Inside, the vessel's main cabin stretched longer than seemed possible, with seating arranged in tiered sections. Reality anchors hummed at regular intervals, maintaining stability against whatever spatial manipulation created the expanded space. The effect was subtle enough that most students probably wouldn't notice anything unusual.

"Reality manipulation without corruption," Thaddeus commented. "Properly done, for once. Though I suspect House Blackbridge wouldn't appreciate how much of their 'innovative' design draws from pre-corporate techniques."

Zeph found a seat in the middle section, positioned where he could observe most of the cabin without being obvious about it. Ash settled in beside him, datascreen still gathering readings despite the transport's security fields. The crystalline matrices in the walls seemed to ripple as each new passenger boarded, adjusting to their magical signatures.

"Check the stabilization array," Ash whispered, tilting his screen. "The power distribution isn't corporate standard. Someone's modified the base pattern."

Before Zeph could respond, Professor Vale swept past their row, his attention apparently focused on examining storage compartment seals. But Zeph's sensitivity detected his power reaching out to probe the transport's systems, like fingers testing for weaknesses.

Raven boarded with the other noble-born students, taking a seat that gave her a clear view of both the front and rear cabins. Her placement looked casual, but Zeph felt how it positioned her to observe everything while maintaining appropriate social distance.

James Ravencroft tried to claim the seat beside her, but Kate Winters smoothly slipped into it first, apparently absorbed in reviewing containment protocols on her reader. The subtle maneuvering would have been invisible to anyone not watching for it.

"Final boarding call," security announced. "Departure in three minutes."

Marcus Blackwood was one of the last to board, his movements precise as he stowed his equipment. But Zeph noticed how the sponsored student's gaze lingered on the transport's reality anchors, his expression suggesting more than just professional interest in their operation.

The main hatch sealed with another soft hiss. Power surged through the hull's crystalline matrices as the vessel's systems engaged fully. Zeph's sensitivity mapped complex patterns of energy flowing through corporate channels while older magics moved beneath, the two systems working together in ways that shouldn't have been possible.

"Containment fields active," the pilot's voice carried through hidden speakers. "Reality anchors engaged. Please ensure all equipment is properly secured."

"Remember," Professor Kendrick addressed the cabin, "Study Site Seven is a controlled environment, but Wound Zones are inherently unpredictable. Maintain awareness at all times."

The transport lifted smoothly from the arrival pad. Through the hull's transparent sections, Zeph watched the academy's towers fall away below them. Morning sunlight caught in the crystalline spires, making them blaze briefly with regulated power. But his sensitivity detected the true magic flowing beneath all that corporate control, eternal as the stone itself.

"Course laid in," the pilot announced. "Estimated arrival at Study Site Seven: two hours."

Students settled in for the flight, some reviewing materials while others talked quietly with their neighbors. But Zeph noticed how Sarah's fingers traced equations in the air when she thought no one was watching. How Marcus studied the reality anchors with poorly concealed intensity. How Luna Pembroke's attention seemed to catalog every conversation while appearing to read containment protocols.

"Well," Thaddeus commented quietly, "at least the journey should prove interesting. Assuming none of our fellow passengers' various secrets interact catastrophically with whatever's actually waiting at the Wound Zone."

Zeph felt Raven's power brush his sensitivity once more – the lightest touch of true magic, like a reminder of their shared purpose. Whatever they found at Study Site Seven, they would face it together. He just hoped they were prepared for both the obvious dangers and the hidden ones.

The transport banked gently eastward, corporate magic humming through its hull while older powers moved beneath the surface. Ahead lay the Wound Zone and whatever waited within its corrupted flows. But first they had to survive two hours in close quarters with two dozen people, each carrying their own secrets and motivations.

"Try not to look too interested in the transport's magical systems," Thaddeus advised. "Your sensitivity is showing, and we're not the only ones watching for unusual reactions."

Morning sunlight streamed through the hull's transparent sections as they flew toward their destination. The academy's towers receded behind them while Study Site Seven waited somewhere ahead, holding both corruption's touch and whatever truth the Houses wanted them to see. Or perhaps, Zeph thought, what they wanted to keep hidden.