Extra Curriculars: Operation Sticky Fingers

Learning at Al’Magi had been different for Sharzin since she and the triop welcomed Ishara in.

While she struggled to put it into words, there was something about his energy that was unlike anything she had ever experienced. He didn’t seem to care for the things most boys his age wanted. To her, it felt like he had a singular purpose, and his goal was always just around the corner. And when he finally reached it, he just moved the finish line farther away for himself.

He was, quite frankly, a puzzle to her. But Sharzin tried not to think too deeply about this. Instead, she decided it was easier to simply trust him until she didn’t anymore.

For the time being, she was just happy to have someone who understood her way of thinking. Ishara would have been insufferable if he used his awkward charm to force her to go to class, but, instead, he did something she hadn’t expected—

“Okay, so it’s in that building,” Ishara explained once more as he peeked through the brush that they had found themselves hiding behind. “Southwest corner, second floor.”

Rionriv and Aesandoral shared an evening Magical Accentuation class, which usually left Sharzin alone in her room. But tonight, she prowled with Ishara after he provided her with information on a tantalizing prize.

“And, when you say every test—” Sharzin looked deeply into his eyes, trying to see if there was even an ounce of deceit.

“I mean every test that Al’Magi has ever had and will ever have.” He responded without hesitation. “Most magical principles have remained the same over the ages, so once a test is built, you rarely need to update it. They have about twenty-five years of worth of tests per class that they just cycle in.”

Truth. She thought to herself as she leaned in closer as though to speak even more quietly. But, in reality, she was attempting to get an even better look at Ishara’s eyes through the dim light.

“And you know this because you’re…an oracle.”

“Of course, that’s what I’ve said.”

Hmm, hard to read.

“Hey, I’m being honest,” Ishara whispered back. “I’m on your side. School is dumb. In particular, this school. And as I already said, I want you to steal the test questions and answers for Aes and Ri, too. Even though they’d never accept it, we can work together to slip them into the study sessions. They won’t even know. Then everyone passes the tests in their own special way, and Ri is happy.”

“Okay.”

Ishara handed over a small sack filled with a dozen low-level spell scrolls.

“Copy-Script spell.” He spoke, “Just read the incantations and lay it on the test. It’ll copy everything over to the scroll. Remember, southwest, second floor. This year's tests will be in Cabinet D-dash-three-seven-one-point-seven.”

Sharzin turned to leave.

“Wait!”

He quickly took her hand, stopping her.

Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump!

“Don’t forget—”

“The first-floor staircase.” She replied quickly, pulling her hand away and tucking it closer to her chest. “Steps three, five, seven and eight are alarms. And the painting across from the test room is regularly peered through via spell. I’ve got this.”

She gripped her cloak tightly, pulling it over her shoulder before rushing into the night. Sharzin may have been the shortest and slowest in the group, but she used this to her advantage.

Her quiet steps moved through the dim light, taking her to even the slightest bit of shadow as though it was hers alone to traverse.

She ducked around bushes, kept to soft ground, avoided the lamp posts, and, before the campus police made another pass, had picked the lock on one of the first-floor windows.

Sharzin was in.

Creeping through the small study room, she peeked past the door crack, confirming she was near the first staircase, as Ishara had said she would be.

So far, so good. She thought.

Stepping out, she avoided the squeaky left side of the hall, which would have awoken the security statue. Gracefully, she bounced from step to step, reaching the top without triggering a single alarm.

After giving a quick celebratory bow to no one, she turned and made her way down the hall to the final room. Stopping short, she observed the security portrait from a deeply shadowed corner.

Waiting for a few minutes, eventually the sleepy man’s eyes opened, and he looked around before returning to sleep. Instinctively, she began to move before remembering something her partner in crime had said. Instead, she froze, holding her position for another minute before the man in the painting peeked open a single eye, giving one more sly look before finally going to rest for another fifteen minutes.

Spot on. Okay, this kid definitely knows things.

Sharzin slipped into the room, quickly finding the cabinet that held her prize. Within seconds, she had the lock picked and the tests in her hands. A few minutes later, the originals were returned, and the copies secured in her bag. She emerged again from the room and, with the same stealth and grace as before, returned to Ishara.

“Iz.”

“Aah—” He yelped, grabbing his mouth to stifle the cry. “Sharzin! I’ve told you, you can’t sneak up on allies like that.”

She watched him take a moment to catch his breath before finally directing his attention back to her.

“Did you get them?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about—” She gave him a wink.

“Nice,” Ishara replied, standing from the bushes with a stretch of his arms. “Well then…drinks?”

Sharzin examined him closely, locking her eyes on his proud, dumb grin. Turning away from him, she revealed a pleased smile of her own.

“Sure.”