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

clasped his Mastery Charm and said, “A word, if you have time.”
    Hayden had absolutely no idea who he was talking to until Asher appeared in the middle of the office between one blink and the next, clasping his Mastery Charm in one hand and a mug of hot cocoa in the other. He looked like he was getting ready for bed, dressed in a black t-shirt and striped flannel pants. He was also barefoot.
    “What’s up?” he took in the room at a glance, along with Master Laurren’s strange white hair, though he didn’t look surprised by any of it. “It’s not often that you call me for a late-night consult on your work.”
    His colleague gestured towards Hayden and said, “We’ve been discussing something experimental to help him recover his memory of the day the Dark Prism died, but I can hardly be called an objective source as to whether or not it’s a good idea. You’re his mentor and seem to have his best interests at heart, so I thought to ask you.”
    Asher’s eyebrows lifted in interest and he took a sip of cocoa.
    “ Ah, shuffling the accountability onto someone else’s shoulders, good call. By all means, let’s hear this plan of yours.”
    “What do you know about Mnemora?”
    The Prism Master looked genuinely startled and said, “You want to give him that swill?” He leaned back against the wall and continued without waiting for an answer, more thoughtfully this time. “Doesn’t it have some pretty odd and wide-ranging side-effects?”
    “But they’re supposed to be temporary,” Hayden blurted out, and both Masters turned and silenced him with a look.
    “Yes, and a host of more normal but no-less-dangerous side-effects as well,” Laurren replied as though Hayden hadn’t spoken. “The nosebleeds alone…”
    “I don’t mind a little nosebleed,” Hayden interjected again, and Master Laurren turned towards him once more.
    “ A quart of blood hardly qualifies as a minor nosebleed.”
    “Oh,” Hayden paled slightly, “well…Mistress Razelle is really great at healing, so she can probably fix it in no time…”
    Asher rolled his eyes and said, “I assume you’re eager to try it out for your own academic interests?” to his colleague.
    “Indeed, yes. I’ve read about its effects in numerous references, but I’ve never witnessed it first-hand.”
    The Prism Master frowned. “I’m not sure—”
    “Come on, you have to let me try!” Hayden interrupted, jumping to his feet. “I’m fourteen-years old, and fine—maybe I’m not fully-qualified or ultra-powerful like you two, but my entire life changed because of what happened that day! My mother was killed and something weird obviously happened to my magic, and I have a right to know what it was!”
    He wasn’t aware that his hands were balled into fists until he forcibly unclenched them and tried to look like a reasonable, mature person who deserved to be listened to.
    Asher and Laurren both looked at him for a minute and then the former said, “Alright then, it’s your choice.”
    Hayden was so surprised and relieved that he collapsed back into his chair, fighting to contain his emotions.
    “I’ll need to get the materials and cook it up. I could have it ready by lunch time tomorrow, if you’re willing to keep an eye on him in Prisms afterward and make sure he’s alright,” Master Laurren suggested.
    “Fine by me, tomorrow is a trigonometry day anyway. It’ll be interesting to see if the residual effects have any impact on his ability to learn higher-order math,” Asher agreed.
    “Thank you, both of you, I appreciate—” Hayden began earnestly, but Asher held up a hand to silence him.
    “Don’t thank us until we find out what we’ve done to you.” He wasn’t smiling. “Now come, it’s past curfew and if you don’t get back to your room right now I’m going to have to write you up for wandering about after hours.”
    Determined not to annoy either of his teachers any more that night, Hayden leapt to his feet and