The Blue Straggler

Hazel hair that waved in the wind. Blue eyes that shine with the light of Rigel's rays. Dressed according to the era, but with an elegant bearing. As if he were a luxury runway model. No. As if he were the crown prince of some province. He looked to be about 22 years old.

Two people were behind him. The three of them stopped at the entrance of the academy. The two adults, looking to be between 45 and 50 years old, gazed at the building.

“It's your turn, Jared” said the one who looked like the father. He had dark brown hair, dark green eyes. “As part of the clan…”

“I know… I've been listening to the same old tune for over 50 years…” Jared said, making a look of displeasure. “I swear by my clan that I will be, again, a musician…”
“Violinist…” corrected the father. “And I hope that within the next few weeks we begin to receive news of your academic successes.”

Jared sighed and entered the academy with a single goal. Once again, be a successful musician. 70 years ago, he once was. 150 ago, 340 ago… Always with a pseudonym to put up an appearance. And after a while, disappearing. Belonging to a clan known as the Blue Straggler, his method was always the same: absorbing other people's magic. Not only to steal magic, but also, to maintain his youth. 

Jared watched: the women turned to look at him, blushing, attentive to his gaze. His flawless skin was discreetly made up. On his right hand, he wore an opaque, lifeless symbol, as if it wanted to disappear. It looked like one of those drawings a child would make, trying to imitate a real one. His well-groomed, elongated, uncut nails with a slight, well-done manicure completed the look of his hands.

“Stop!” commented one of the professors standing at the entrance. Jared looked at him and felt his magic frequency. “Every witch must…”

“Must go register at the Rigel Building, I know. And thanks…”

“Don't interrupt me again, young man, or else…”

“Or else what?” Jared asked, taking the man's right hand.

The professor's star symbol appeared and he felt a strange tingling sensation. With his index fingernail, Jared opened a wound that ran right across the professor's symbol.

With his left hand, he created a circular barrier that made both of them invisible to others for a brief moment. The professor who had stopped Jared watched in horror as blood spurted from his wrist and Jared licked the flowing blood.

He felt weaker with each lick and knew almost immediately what was happening: his magic was being taken away from him…

“An Alnilam witch…” Jared said once he finished. “Magic to dodge attacks. Or so it seems. It's no use to me…”

“From… What clan do you belong to?”

“I don't remembered” Jared replied. The shield had already disappeared and Jared began walking in the direction where the Rigel Building was located. I think for a time I belonged to Zeta Tucanae. By the way… I'm Jared Vale.”

★★★★★

The Mozart Conservatory had the prestige of accepting magic-less and witches alike, regardless of what hierarchy. Cardia knew this. That's why, when a co-worker told her to try to get in, she accepted the challenge. She took some basic singing classes so as not to stand out awkwardly and, helped in part by her blessing, her natural talent, and her desire to prove what she could do, she took on the biggest challenge of her 20 years.

The morning of her big debut as a professional singing student, she decided on one goal: she wouldn't change her appearance just to fit into the beauty standards that usually existed in the Crystal Citadel. Furthermore, she wanted to prove that, despite belonging to an orange giant, her worth could compare to a blue supergiant star.

On the first day of class, she decided to help that student who seemed to be having an anxiety attack. She guided him to the magic infirmary and stayed with him the entire time. In her mind, Cardia thought that if they saw her helping, they would see her as a hero.

In the infirmary, Caleb finally understood (or tried to) to assimilate his new reality. He was a blessed one. With the help of the coordinator of the conservatory's magic area, a grey-haired man belonging to the Rigel clan, the pianist understood something: he was a witch, blessed by the Threshold Entity of fear who was affiliated with the red star of Ares.

“I understand…” Caleb whispered, looking at his left hand. He was somewhat afraid. It was noticeable. But… Why me?

“Usually, Threshold Entities are unpredictable” said the director. “Surely the Entity that blessed you felt an affinity with you. Now…”

The director stopped. There were two things Caleb needed at that precise moment: his four-pointed blue star, a tattoo which gave him permission to reside in the Citadel legally. In addition… as a novice witch, he should go train his magic.

“You know, Harper?” the director told him. “You need to go to the city of Olympia or the town of Hyperion.”

“To train my magic, right?” Caleb asked. The affirmation surprised the director. “But… Why must I choose a city?”

“Ares is a star that belongs to a binary constellation. In this case, to the Golden Gem and Thunder” the director explained. “What surprises me is that you know well how it works.”

“I have… experience” Caleb explained. “A friend was also blessed by a liminal entity, like me. Can I choose any of the cities?”

“As the director I can tell you it's not wise for you to abandon your studies” the director explained. “But you can choose which constellation to belong to… just to have an identity.”

Caleb chose to belong to the constellation of the Golden Gem, which made the director suspect it was because of his friend.

“I have some talented musicians from the Ares clan” the director continued. “I’ll choose one. He or she will be your tutor.”

Caleb nodded. He already knew the routine: as a newly blessed person, he had to learn how to use his magic, the rules he must follow, and how to relate now with the so-called Magic-less. Upon leaving the director's office, Caleb sighed. He felt like everything was getting more difficult.