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Theophilus
This is Amadeus’s piece! It is 877 words. Do tell me if anything needs to be changed. Otherwise, I hope you like it!
Amadeus flipped through his book. Written inside in careful, neat handwriting were the many spells, learning points and stepping stones across his time of learning magic. Stopping at a blank page, he smoothed it. Dipping his pen into ink, he began writing.
Today, I managed to practice my magic on the isles. Father said that he and Mother used to go there to practice as well. Since my instrument is different from theirs, I need to learn more and learn differently to master my magic! Father says that my instrument is surely different and unique.
Setting down his pen, he stared into the candle, watching its flame wave back and forth. The magic that ran in his veins, the magic that his family was renowned for was just like a candle flame, burning with passion and power, yet having the steady rhythm and beat of music.
A click sounded behind him, and he turned to see his father, Lucas, stepping into his room. The older Fae’s skin glowed with the light of stars, mirrored on Amadeus’s scales, and he was beaming at seeing Amadeus hard at work.
“Done practising for today?” Lucas asked, sitting down beside his son.
“Yes,” Amadeus nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “You should have seen it, no one has ever seen more Fallen Streaks circling the Isles before I practised my magic today. It was amazing!”
Lucas nodded thoughtfully in approval. “I think you’re making good progress. Tell you what, when your mom and I go to the Observatory tomorrow, you can come with us.”
Amadeus was barely able to contain his elation. His parents were only invited to the Observatory maybe once or twice each season, because of their magic and prowess, and they helped the scholars document the musical magic aspect of their studies. And now, he, Amadeus, their son, could go with them!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Amadeus waited outside the Observatory with his parents, flapping his wings harder than usual due to his excitement and nervousness. His magic, although still musical, was different from his parents’. His mother, Varia, said that he was blessed with more magic when he hatched from his egg, thus he had a unique and special form of musical magic.
A scholar opened the doors for them and ushered them inside. Amadeus followed his parents, looking around at the curving walls and towering telescopes with awe. They entered a room set in the side of the slanted wall, a room covered with the sweet magenta of Arcane and humming with magical energy.
The scholar at the desk, a female Fae named Blue, stood up to greet the family. Lucas and Varia set down their instruments on the table for Blue to inspect, and Blue’s deep pink eyes widened when she saw Amadeus.
“Is he…?” Blue asked.
“Yes, he’s our son, the one I’ve told you about,” Lucas answered, a hint of pride in his tone. Amadeus shifted anxiously and wondered what about him his father had told this scholar. “I believe his powers are strong now.”
Blue nodded her head in interest. “Okay, let’s take him down to the menagerie and see how the familiars respond to his music. Come on.”
Amadeus followed the Fae down the stairs to an open area where there were many many Fallen Streaks, Jewelled Octoflyers, Petal Jumpers… Amadeus couldn’t count all of them. His heartbeat quickened as he realised that Blue was giving him a test, to work his magic and see how these creatures respond.
He licked his lips nervously, glancing at his parents. Lucas gave him a nod, and Varia smiled reassuringly.
Blue looked him over. “You don’t have an instrument?” the Fae asked, addressing Amadeus for once instead of his parents.
Amadeus shook his head. “My magic doesn’t need instruments… Instruments that I have to bring along, that is.”
Blue nodded in affirmation, curiosity filling her gaze, as she walked to stand with Amadeus’s parents.
Well, here goes nothing, Amadeus thought to himself as he started chanting, seeing the threads of magic, magic that only he could see. He chanted faster and faster, the threads glowing brighter and brighter. He reached out to the glowing threads and played them like he would with a violin.
When the tunes of his song faded away, Amadeus was stunned to see all the familiars crowding past the fence and sitting around and on him, their eyes filled with emotion. They seemed disappointed that the music ended, and they all slowly headed back to the menagerie as Blue, Lucas and Varia approached.
“That was stunning,” Varia gushed. “I never knew my little boy could be so powerful and influential!” Even Lucas seemed to inflate with a father’s pride.
Blue directed them back to the room, and there they waited while Blue discussed the results of the menagerie experiment with other scholars in the same field. Amadeus’s parents never stopped praising him, but he was more anxious to know the results from Blue.
Finally, the Fae came in, glasses perched on her nose and a clipboard clutched in her claws. Her eyes were shining with excitement.
“We’ve realised that Amadeus’s magic is not using magic to play instruments, not physical instruments at least.”
Blue leaned closer.
“Amadeus plays
heartstrings.”
