Free Forest of Illusions (The Broken Prism) by V. St. Clair

die.”
    Hayden could hear the bells ringing inside the castle to signal the end of the period, and got to his feet to brush the grass off of his clothing before his next lesson. For a long moment Master Asher was silent, making no move to get up off of the grass, but just as Hayden was preparing to say goodbye and walk away he spoke.
    “Not too scary, all things considered,” he said softly, causing Hayden to pause in his tracks.
    “You aren’t afraid of dying?” Hayden asked incredulously.
    Staring out into the distance Asher said, “Dying is easy. Living is hard.”
    Hayden could think of absolutely nothing to say to that, and a shiver went up his spine as he turned and walked back to the castle, leaving the Prism Master sitting in the grass, staring out at the sea.

5
    Mnemora
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Hayden crumpled the paper in his hand and tossed it into the nearest trash can, resting his head in his hands and rubbing his eyes in frustration. He had spent more time in the library in the last three weeks than in the entirety of his life up until now, combing through every volume he could find on obscure magic that would account for the damage to his magical Foci, or anything else that might help him explain what happened on the day his parents died.
    He’d even asked Masters Asher and Laurren for advice. The latter had suggested a number of books that unfortunately did nothing to help him but were still interesting reads, while the Prism Master recommended that Hayden reach out to a few of his father’s old school friends to see if they knew anything helpful.
    Surprised that he hadn’t thought of it himself, Hayden had enthusiastically written letters to anyone Asher could think of who knew Aleric Frost and was still alive. The problem was that most of the people who were acquainted with him after he became the Dark Prism had been killed either by the Council of Mages or Aleric himself, so the only responses he received were from a smattering of old school friends who more or less just confirmed things that Asher had already told him last year. He had just thrown away one such missive, and was growing agitated by the entire process.
    How can it be so hard to piece my father’s life together? He’s probably the most famous mage in the Nine Lands right now—shouldn’t everyone know everything about him?
    Putting the books back on the shelf where he’d found them, he stifled a yawn and left the library. It was already almost time for bed, and he’d wasted yet another evening trolling through the library when he could be spending time with his friends—a fact Zane felt compelled to point out to him once or twice a day. Even Bonk became restless and spent more time out on the grounds with Cinder or Torin these days, tired of watching Hayden’s fruitless searches.
    He was halfway back to his room when Hayden changed course and moved down the main stairwell, passing a few older students who had just come in from the front lawns. Crossing the pentagonal foyer, Hayden turned sharply and made his way down the hallway that led to the rear exit of the school and stepped outside. The sun had almost completely set as he tugged open the cellar doors that led to the Abnormal Magic classroom and descended the stairs.
    The classroom was dark at the end of the hall, but a light was on in Master Laurren’s office, and Hayden stopped outside of it and knocked on the open door to announce his presence.
    Master Laurren turned his head, saw Hayden standing there, and motioned him inside. He was holding a partially-spent yew wand and standing in what appeared to be a pile of colored glitter, and his normally black hair was stark white, which made his eyes look even more purple than usual by contrast.
    “Hayden, hello. What can I do for you?” he greeted him without commenting on his own strange appearance.
    “Um, sorry to interrupt, sir…is this a bad time?” Hayden ventured cautiously.
    “What?” Master Laurren