Demons, Witches, and Toads (BoyxBoy) - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Wheeler stood in the middle of the room where a protective circle had been hastily scribbled onto the stone. Its purpose was simple—protect the onlooking students if something went horribly awry, which (given Wheeler's track record) was definitely a possibility.
Wheeler could sense everyone's eyes on him and the feeling made him want to vomit. He swallowed hard, his clammy hands clutching his wand so tightly his knuckles went white.
Milton glared at him, eyes narrowing behind his small spectacles. "Alright, Mister Trevil," the professor said, not even attempting to mask the disdain in his voice. "Just like your previous exam, you'll be asked to perform three spells. This time however, the incantations will be incredibly advanced. Fail even one and you're out." His gaze flickered over him, his lip curling. "Due to the circumstances I have no doubt that this will be a fairly short ordeal. Are you ready, Mister Trevil?"
Wheeler gave a stiff nod.
"The first spell is called Distant Music. To cast it successfully you must make everyone in this room hear a melody from inside your own head. To perform it you'll need to say the words melədē məlodiam and rely on the spell itself to control your wands movement. It's quite difficult." He offered him a wry smile. "Best of luck."
Wheeler squeezed his eyes shut, concentrating hard as he tried to clear his mind of all things but the spell. A melody came to him now, a simple song his mother used to sing to him as a boy. He could hear it so clearly in his head that for a moment it was as if the sound had a feeling, like he was warm and being held by someone who loved him. His wand seemed to respond to this, tugging at his hand. Wheeler gave in to the sensation, allowing the song to guide his wand through the air.
At last the words left his lips. "Melədē məlodiam."
The warmth of the song felt like it was flowing out of him, running through his veins and out the tips of his fingers into his wand. A series of gasps began to echo around him as the quiet melody spread through the chamber, sounding from within the student's heads causing their eyes to widen in delighted surprise.
Milton and Vera exchanged a glance before Milton finally gave a stiff nod.
Wheeler's heart leapt into his throat, a wave of exhilaration overtaking him. He'd done it! He'd actually cast his first spell.
From within his pocket Mister Pumpernickel let out a celebratory croak.
Giddy with excitement, Wheeler scrambled to collect himself as Milton suddenly cleared his throat.
"Alright," the professor said slowly, clearly attempting to mask his disbelief. "You actually performed the spell...surprisingly well. However, the next incantation will be of a different kind of magic entirely, illusionary. Say the word ənˈrēəl and make us see something that isn't really there."
"Okay!" Wheeler replied with a determined nod.
Once more he shut his eyes, this time picturing a small gold coin floating in front of him. He allowed the image to grow clearer and clearer in his mind, sharpening it and filling in the details until it seemed to actually be floating before him.
Wheeler flicked his wand. "Ənˈrēəl!"
He felt that warm feeling again, this time more intensely, like a hot liquid being pumped through his veins. His skin began to prickle where the warmth rushed through and finally, as if being painted before his very eyes—the coin appeared.
A ripple of shock rang out through the room.
Milton appeared stunned. He quickly removed his spectacles, wiping them on his sleeve before slipping them on once more, as if unable to believe what he was seeing. "Incredible," he finally breathed, turning to Vera. "The coin looks almost perfect. But...he had no talent before, and he's completely untrained. How the hell did he..." Milton was beginning to look rather frazzled.
From beneath his chair Wheeler saw Mulock wink at him.
Milton finally managed to collect himself, straightening his shoulders as he awkwardly adjusted his spectacles. "It seems you've managed to surprise me yet again, Mister Trevil. Due to the fact that you have only one spell remaining...why don't we try something different?" Milton thought for a moment, something unreadable flashing across his gaze. "This spell is called Breath of Life. To cast it successfully you'll need to get a small plant to rise up in front of you."
Vera turned to Milton, her expression hardening. "Breath of Life?" she repeated sharply. "Professor, you know creating a living thing from nothing is the most difficult magic there is. Even members of our own staff are unable to cast such spells. Surely you can't expect an untrained boy to perform that level of magic."
"You asked me to give him an advanced exam so that's what I'm doing," Milton replied icly.
"Advanced as in difficult, not impossible," Vera snapped.
Milton crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Might I remind you that I'm the head of exams at this academy, Vera, and I've made my decision. The boy will perform Breath of Life or he will leave. Understood?"
Anger flared in Vera's eyes but she finally gave a stiff nod, her mouth pressing into a tight line.
"To cast this incantation simply say Vitaə Nova and place your wand where you want the spell to begin," Milton explained, adjusting his spectacles yet again. "As has already been expressed, this spell is extremely advanced so even a small sprout will be acceptable." The corner of Milton's mouth twisted up into a smirk. "Are you ready?"
Wheeler swallowed hard, his heart taking off thundering in his chest as he tried to ignore the anxiety induced nausea turning in his stomach. "I am sir," he answered softly, the words feeling like ash in his mouth.
Slowly, Wheeler lowered himself to the ground, placing the tip of his wand gently against the stone floor. Vera and Milton were watching him intently, their gazes searing into him like birds observing a worm.
As he'd done before, Wheeler began to picture a plant in his mind, roots curling down under the stone, winding their way through the dirt beneath the tip of his wand.
"Vitaə Nova..." Wheeler breathed.
Nothing happened. The air felt still and cool, the tension and anticipation in the chamber weighing down on him so heavily that Wheeler felt like he couldn't breathe.
"Vitaə Nova..." he whispered again, the words coming out more desperately as panic flared within his chest, turning his stomach to knots.
A small, almost smug huff came from Milton. "Well, Mister Trevil, it seems that just like before--"
"Vitaə Nova," Wheeler blurted again, still doing his best to keep the image clear in his mind.
As the words left his mouth this time, he felt something shift in his chest, like a heavy weight suddenly being hurled off him. Heat began to rush through his veins, but this time it burned like boiling water. And then suddenly, from beneath his wand, a small sprout of green sprung up, wriggling out between two stones in the floor.
"My God," Milton gasped, "he actually did it." He pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head in astonishment. "I can't believe I'm actually about to say this Mister Trevil, but...well done--" the words died on Milton's lips as he saw that the plant hadn't stopped rising. "Mister Trevil, that's enough. You can remove your wand."
But Wheeler couldn't.
The magic he'd used to form the plant's roots pulsed beneath the ground, pinning him in place against the magic that was being created above, like he was caught between two strong magnets. The plant was growing larger and larger now and the fire in his veins was becoming scalding, almost unbearably painful.
Branches suddenly began to spring from the plant, the roots ripping their way out of the stone, nearly striking the students.
Vera's eyes went wide in horror. "Oh my God," she gasped, "the spell broke through the protection circle! That shouldn't be possible..."
Screams of panic erupted from the children mixed with Wheeler's own wails of pain. It felt like his body was being ripped apart, every tendon and muscle in his body turning to liquid fire, burning him alive from the inside out.
His mind was going white from the agony as the tree's branches began to rip through the air towards the academy's massive ceiling, threatening to burst through.
That's when Vera suddenly sprung forward, wand in hand. She murmured something but Wheeler couldn't hear it over the thunderous pain in his head. As the words left lips her however, his vision began to blur. All of a sudden Wheeler's body felt numb and the pain began to slowly dull as if it was simply becoming background noise. Wheeler's eyelids began to grow unbearably heavy and despite himself he couldn't stop them from slowly fluttering shut.
He could hear Vera's voice but it came deep in the back of his head, like she was speaking directly into his mind.
"Sleep well for now, Mister Trevil," the headmistress said softly, her voice so calm it was almost like a lullaby. "We have much to discuss when you wake up."