1525 Monday 26th May 2025

"A three, a bloody three." Emery said while shaking his head in disbelieve.

"How do you get a three, you're straight sevens normally." Helena replied.

"Chucked it together last minute, apparently got some bad spelling and grammar." Emery sighed as he looked at his reflection in the window.

A smartly dressed year eleven wearing a shirt, tie and blazer, longish shaggy brown hair and blue greyish eyes. Helena was wearing a blouse and tie, green eyes and slightly shorter brown hair than Emery.

"Well well, you know who won't be doing last minute dot com again, don't ya." Helena giggled fiendishly.

"How about we go to Tesco's before we go back to mine." Emery asked, ignoring Helena's last comment.

"Any particular reason?" Helena asked back.

"I'm thinking about cooking dinner and need some supplies." Emery replied.

"Fair enough." Helena said as the final bell rang.

Everyone stood up and collected their bags before leaving the classroom. As Emery and Helena walked to Tesco's, which was a five-minute walk from their school, Emery felt like he was being followed, but quickly dismissed it as paranoia. In Tesco's down the world foods aisle, Emery was looking at some sushi rice, rice wine vinegar, mirin and nori for rice balls when Emery noticed a glimmer of light out the corner of his eye. He turned to look at the light, it appeared to be coming out of thin air. He instinctively put out his hand.

"Reveal hidden light." Emery said.

A bright flash of light illuminated the aisle, a tall beefy man wearing a black leather jacket, black shirt and black jeans appeared.

"Hello, Emery." The man said.

Emery and Helena were both startled and looked at each other confused.

"Hi, and you are?" Emery asked.

"Cairne, Julius Cairne. My colleagues call me Cairne, but you can call me by either of my names." Julius explained.

"So, Julius, why have you been following me today?" Emery asked realising that his suspicions of being followed were correct.

"Ahh, now that will take some explaining." Julius replied.

"Please continue." Emery said.

"To put things shortly I am on a recruitment mission. You and Helena are my, potential recruits." Julius explained.

"To recruit us for what?" Emery asked.

"Better question, do you know what you have just done?" Julius asked back.

"I don't know, it seemed like, magic." Emery said confused.

"Bingo." Julius smiled.

"So what you're saying is that my best friend just used magic to, reveal hidden light was it?" Helena asked.

"Yes, he did." Julius replied.

"God today just got exciting." Helena beamed.

"Exciting it got indeed." Julius smiled. "Well, I better give you a tour of your potential place of work and study. If you would both take my arm we will teleport there.

Emery and Helena placed their hands on Julius' arm and they disappeared in a flash of light. In what seemed like a split second the trio was outside a massive glass building in a field off of the A689, near Brunstock in Cumbria. The building had MASI in huge frosted letters on the front, above the entrance.

"Wow, I wasn't expecting this." Emery gawped.

"It does take the breath away a bit, doesn't it." Julius said.

"I'll say." Helena said.

The trio walked into the building and was greeted by a very smartly dressed young lady wearing a grey suit, white blouse and matching wedges.

"Welcome to MASI." The lady smiled.

"Hi, Veronica. Could you let Zak know that we are here." Julius asked.

"Of course Cairne, anything else." Veronica replied.

"Yes, we also need a clean up in Tesco's, Whitfield, Dover, Kent." Julius said.

"I'll get right on it." Veronica said.

"So, who is Zak Julius?" Emery asked.

"Zak is the viceroy of the MASI British branch. Which means that he is the boss." Julius explained. "He will have an informal chat with you both and brief you on what MASI is all about and what your prospects are. How are you feeling Emery?"

"A bit ill, but I'll be fine, I think." Emery replied.

"To be expected as it is probably the first time you have used magic." Julius said.

"Well hello you two, Cairne." A middle-aged man said.

Zak had silver hair, purple eyes and was wearing a black and red robe and a black suit.

"Emery, Helena, this is Zak."

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you both at last." Zak beamed. "Shall we go to the canteen and have a cup of tea."

They walked to the canteen, which was a short walk down the northeast wing of the building. They each got a cup of tea except for Julius who settled for a coffee instead and sat down at one of the empty tables.

"So, MASI, the Magic Association and Science Institute or the Magi Academy of Science and Information technology depending on whom you are addressing. Here at MASI, we enforce the law, magical law to be exact, which is an extension on general law set by the government. Only the highest members of the governments worldwide know of MASI's existence and leave the control of magical society to us, as it has been for over a century." Zak explained.

"So, why are me and Emery here. I mean why pick us to work for you when we have barely finished school." Helena asked.

"You both have very high spiritual pressures which are required for using magic. Also, your academic results are both exemplary in both science and IT which are a requirement for studying and working at MASI. As for accepting you before you finish school that is down to Emery's episode in Tesco's today. We think you are both ready now that you know about us. If you do decide to join us then it will be immediately subject to the aptitude test, which is our equivalent to an entrance exam. Your school will be notified of the transfer which will be under a government order, so they can't refuse." Zak explained.

"I will take you to see your headmistress shortly to tell her of your transfer if you both accept." Julius explained.

"Why wouldn't we." Emery said enthusiastically.

"You don't have to ask us twice, you can't get rid of us now." Helena beamed.

"Good, I'm glad we have you on board." Zak smiled.

"Right then, let's get outside so we can teleport to your school." Julius said.

Emery, Helena, and Julius teleported just outside the school gate, no one was around to see though. They walked through the main building towards the headmistress' office. Julius knocked on the door.

"Come in." A voice said on the other side of the door.
The trio walked in and took seats.

"Who are you?" The headmistress asked acerbically.

"My name is Julius Cairne and I am from the Magi Academy of Science and Information technology, I am here regarding these two students of yours who have expressed their wishes to transfer from Christ Church Academy to MASI, effective from tomorrow." Julius explained.

"I can't allow this, you just waltz into my office and tell me that you're poaching two of my best students." The headmistress replied flustered.

"It is the end of the school year, to my knowledge their final subject is science yes?" Julius asked.

"Well, yes it is. But why are you trying to enrol them before the end of the term?" The headmistress asked.

"Because this is a work opportunity as well as a learning opportunity. We don't have school terms our learning is continuous throughout your school holidays except for Christmas. And Emery and Helena have already said that they wish to transfer immediately, this meeting with you is merely a formality as we have governmental rights to, poach as you put it, from any school within the UK." Julius explains.

"Well do you two agree to this." The headmistress asked.

"We do." Emery and Helena said in unison.

"Well then, it seems I have no other choice. I will expect an email confirming this transfer in the morning, no later than nine hundred. Good day to you all and good luck you two." The headmistress said.

The trio stood up and left the headmistress' office. Julius made sure that the coast was clear and teleported them back to MASI.

"First things first, we need you both using magic so we will go to gymnasium one which is just off from the canteen and do some sparring." Julius explained.

The trio walked into gymnasium one which was a huge white void with a twenty-five-metre radius from floor to ceiling and walls.

"Right then, let's start with Helena. You haven't used magic before so we'll start with some basics. Emery, can you copy me please?" Julius asked

Julius created a ki blast, a ball of energy and light. Emery copied the technique with ease.

"Good, now you are going to throw the ki blast at Helena, and Helena, you're going to catch it." Julius explained.

Emery threw the ki blast at Helena, but Helena absorbed it rather than catching it.

"Okay Helena, what did you feel when you absorbed that ki blast." Julius asked.

"I felt like I got a boost from it and I think that I can recreate that ki blast." Helena replied.

"Then please do recreate the ki blast." Julius responded.

Helena created a ki blast, but it was unstable and disintegrated.

"It's fine, try again, but concentrate harder on the ki blast." Julius said.

Helena tried again, this time she successfully created a stable ki blast and tossed it at Emery. Emery caught it and thrown it back to Helena, she caught it without absorbing it this time.

"Well done. Now I'm going to teach you both some martial arts." Julius said.

Julius started by teaching Emery and Helena some punches and kicks including a standing roundhouse kick. Emery and Helena engaged in battle, Emery starting with two punches and a roundhouse kick in Helena's abdomen. Helena recovered and gathered a ki blast in her hand and punched Emery knocking him flying across the gymnasium.

"Okay, now I'm going to teach you self acceleration." Julius said.

Julius quickly demonstrated self acceleration by doubling back and running with tremendous speed and precision across the gymnasium.

"Now you two have a go." Julius said.

Helena tried first, she took a few steps back and started running. She started off running normally, but the self acceleration kicked in and she zoomed, stopping just shy of the wall. Meanwhile, Zak had sat down in the observation room above the gymnasium to watch Emery and Helena practice. Emery then tried self acceleration, he got a running start then he vanished. Suddenly a loud thud echoed across the gymnasium and Emery was on the floor bleeding heavily. Helena and Julius rushed over, but then a bright light appeared over Emery.

"Self-repair auto start." Emery croaked.

All Emery could see was white, then he started to see strings of characters in front of him, it was his own subatomic changelog.

"Identifying corrupted sequence, rewinding changelog back fifteen seconds just before impact, overwriting corrupted sequence with specified data. Self-repair complete." Emery said

Emery got up off of the floor and the blood that was once there was gone. Helena and Julius were standing next to Emery, Helena on the verge of tears.

"We thought you'd just killed yourself you dum dum. Helena said while punching Emery's shoulder.

"I thought I did too." Emery said wearily.

Zak was standing at the door of the gymnasium.

"Do you know what you have just done Emery?" Zak asked.

"I rewrote my own subatomic changelog so the injury had never happened." Emery replied.

"Yes you did, are you aware though that subatomic changelog rewriting is very advanced magic?" Zak asked.

"No, I didn't" Emery replied.

Zak got out his tablet computer and swiped a card on it.

"Here take this." Zak said handing Emery the tablet and the card he swiped.

Emery Yates Employee number: 00002C87D

Granting Elevated Privileges for Medical Role.

Privileges Entail: Unrestricted Sparring for any party when YOU are present in that Gymnasium; Access to all areas of any MASI building; Access to Medical

Laboratories 1, 2 and 5; Access to Library restricted sections 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7.

Please swipe ID card to accept.

"Thank you, Zak." Emery beamed.

"These privileges come with a few catches, one, you must not abuse these privileges, two, you must take up medical training with Doctor Valery, three, due to the consequences of rewriting the subatomic changelog you are not obligated to use it for anyone else other than yourself, if this is the case then you cannot allow potentially lethal sparring sessions on your watch, otherwise you may allow such sparring sessions providing that you will selflessly use your gift to heal those with otherwise life-threatening injuries. Understood?" Zak asked.

"I understand the consequences of rewriting subatomic changelogs and will selflessly use my gift to help those in need of it, always." Emery said proudly.

"I appreciate that." Zak said. "Helena this card is yours." Zak said handing the card to Helena and taking back the tablet from Emery.

"Okay, Zak have you got the brochure for the parents?" Julius asked.

"Yes, here it is." Zak said handing over the brochure to Julius.

"We should tell your parents and bring them here to brief them." Julius said

"How do we do that?." Emery asked. "Hey mum just got accepted for magic high and got a job as a medic. I don't think that will wash somehow." Emery said sarcastically.

"Ahh, that's what the brochure is for, take a look." Julius explained.

Emery and Helena looked at the brochure and it was changing from Magi Academy to Magic Association before their eyes.

"So this brochure, it has magical properties then" Helena statemented.

"Yes, if any one of your parents has a magical lineage is should break the perception filter so that both copies can be read by choice. And if they comment on it it will break the perception filter completely and all your parents will be able to read both copies." Julius explained.

Emery, Helena, and Julius teleported outside Emery's house. Julius knocked on the door and Emery's mum answered the door.

"Yes." Emery's mum said.

"Mrs. Yates, I'm here about your son and his friend Helena." Julius said while handing over his MASI ID card. "I am pleased to inform you that Emery and Helena have been accepted to study and work at the Magi Academy of Science and Information technology."

"You'd better come in then. You can call me Eliza." Eliza said.

Emery's dad Eral and Helena's parents Susan and John were sat in the living room around the coffee table. Julius took a seat next to Susan and John and handed out the brochure to Eliza.

"As I have just explained to Eliza, Emery and Helena have been accepted to study and work at the Magi Academy of Science and Information technology. I have come to explain what happens next and when they will start." Julius explained.

"This can't be right, the brochure is changing the text." Eliza said confused.

Emery and Helena looked at each other and smiled.

"It says the Magic Association and Science Institution, but it also says the Magi Academy of Science and Information technology in the same spot." Eliza said.

"They are both right, you see the Magi Academy of Science and Information technology is our public face but also true, Magi as in not Maggie but Magic. MASI is the government for those who possess magic, like your children. We train them in various fields of magic give them A-Levels and Degrees in whatever subjects they want and give them a job. Work while they study. Due to Emery's own magical capabilities, he has already been given a medical role in MASI." Julius explained.

"So let me get this straight, you want our kids to train as magicians?" Susan asked confused.

"Yes, but don't confuse magician with the magic tricks that you see performed on stage, this magic is scientific in nature. And we prefer the term warlock." Julius explained.

"I see." Eral said.

"When will they start." John asked.

"Tomorrow. They will do their aptitude test and then we will settle them into a house share in Carlisle, Cumbria. MASI is near Brunstock which is a ten-minute drive from Carlisle." Julius explained.

"Cumbria?" Eliza said shocked. "That's the other end of the country."

"Yes, but when you're a warlock Cumbria is only ten seconds away." Julius said.

"Shut up." Susan laughed.

"Really, may I take you all there so that you can see for yourself?" Julius asked, a bit worried about what the answer may be.

"Okay, humour us." Eral said. "Take us to Cumbria in ten seconds as you said."

"Okay then." Julius said nodding Emery and Helena over. "Everyone please stand up and place a hand in the middle all touching mine. Teleport."

Within a few seconds Eliza, Emery, Eral, Helena, John, and Susan were standing outside the MASI building.

"I eat my words." Susan chuckled. "You weren't joking."

"Right." Julius said as the group walked into the building. "Zak is going to whisk the parents off to brief them on our procedures and your care package, I will brief you on your care package and take you both to see the Doc."

Emery, Helena, and Julius split up from the parents and walked to the medical wing on the first floor, northeast wing.

"So your care package includes a two bed fully furnished house that you both share, a car, a shared bank account that you both have a card each with Natwest that is already set up and funded with enough money to pay the bills, a laptop slash tablet and a mobile phone each for your work and a CASTE each of your own designs." Julius explained.

"What's a CASTE?" Helena asked.

"A Cast Assisting Sacchion Technology Embedded device." Julius explained.

"Sacchion, that's a subatomic particle right?" Emery asked.

"Yes, it is." Julius smiled. "You're catching on fast."

"It kind of makes sense to me, I don't know how to explain it." Emery said.

"Well, we're here." Julius said. "Hey Doc, got some patients for ya."

"Ahh, Emery Yates and Helena Sullivan, a pleasure it is to finally meet you." The Doc said enthusiastically. "My name is Doctor Geoff Valery. Let's get biometrics out the way then, Emery please step into the scanner."

Emery stepped into the scanner as it made a whirring noise.

"Oh my god, Cairne, three million sacchion cycles per second." The Doc said shocked.

"Is that bad." Emery asked concerned.

"Yes and no." Julius said "Three million SCPS is very high, the highest I've ever heard of let alone seen. It will make training you difficult." Julius explained. "Helena next.

Helena stepped into the scanner.

"two hundred thousand SCPS." The Doc said.

"Good, we can easily work with that." Julius said.

"All done." The Doc said. "Now Emery I hear that you can rewrite subatomic changelogs and that you have been assigned to me for training. Our schedule will be nineteen hundred hours till twenty one hundred every day starting tomorrow okay."

"Got it Doc." Emery said.

"Okay then, let's go and meet the parents." Julius said.

The trio walks back to the entrance to meet up with Eliza, Eral, John, Susan, and Zak.

"Hey, mum." Emery said.

"Hi darling, so I hear that you're moving in with Helena tomorrow." Eliza said.

"Yeah, we're fully kitted out so don't you worry." Emery said as his mum ruffled his hair.

"Right, so Helena is going to go back to hers to collect her belongings and she will be staying at ours tonight." Eliza said.

"Cool cool." Emery said.

"Just as a reminder any reference to MASI must be to the Magi Academy of Science and Information technology and that you must not tell anyone of our true nature." Zak explained.

Julius teleported the group back to Emery's house and said goodbye for the day. Helena got back to Emery's house with a butt load of stuff. Emery had also packed for tomorrow. Eliza finally told Emery and Helena to go to bed as they had an early start.