A Class of Conjuring

A Class of Conjuring

Chapters: 30
Updated: 19 Dec 2024
Author: Evie Wilde
4.5

Synopsis

Cassandra Clarke wishes she could keep her sorcery from running wild. On a mission to take down a demon, she’s horrified when her misfired spell destroys the town’s defense against more of the incoming monsters. So when her fed-up guild dispatches her to the Enchanted Academy, she’s eager to hone her abilities—and maybe even cozy up to a few handsome students. Between the challenging coursework and a troublesome bad boy, she falls hard for a brainy mage and a mysterious werewolf shifter. But beyond the gated grounds, Cassandra discovers a power-hungry wizard is drawing near, intent on stealing magic. And with her tightly bound companions steadily growing in strength and passion, she knows they’ll soon be the enemy’s prime target. Can Cassandra and her red-hot heroes work together to defeat a rising evil?

Fantasy Romance Childhood Sweethearts Friends To Lovers BxG Campus Romance

A Class of Conjuring Free Chapters

Chapter 1 — Cassandra | A Class of Conjuring

It didn’t go as terribly as it first appeared, though Braeden didn’t seem impressed with my abilities. He said my spells were “a good effort,” but I suspected he thought he could have done better. Maybe a little less damage. He said sometimes I was more death and destruction than finesse and precision. I couldn’t disagree.

We stood at the Wayfair City entrance and surveyed the destruction. All the buildings were still standing, though most suffered some kind of damage. Lots of broken windows, caved roofs, and of course, there was a smattering of broken streetlights. I considered it unrealistic to expect zero damage when you were trying to protect your city from destruction by monsters. Sometimes it just sort of happened. It came along with the territory regardless of your witching abilities. There was collateral damage in any battle where magic was used. Everyone knew that.

“What do you think?” Braeden asked. He peered across at the city, his face stern, his eye twitching like it always did when he wanted to tell me something I wouldn’t like. It didn’t really matter what I thought. The destruction was plain to see. It wasn’t the first time I’d left behind such a disaster in my wake, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.

At twenty years old, Braeden was a year older and a year wiser than me. We’d stuck by each other’s sides since we were kids. We both lost our parents early on, mine while they were on assignment for the guild. He lost his father in the same way. Because the world was slowly falling apart, Braeden and I, as teenagers, shared my parents' house. Shortly after losing our parents an earthquake destroyed our hometown. Not one building was left standing. I found my home in a heap of unrecognizable rubble. Braeden and I had been virtually inseparable ever since.

“The fiends are gone,” I said. “We should collect what we’re due.” We’d been promised a large payoff to rid the city of the Sarchi, and it was time to collect. I had potion ingredients to buy and had spied a nice witch’s robe at the guild I wanted to purchase. Black and striped with purple, the robe was more a fashion statement than a requirement.

Braeden rubbed his chin and then put his hands on his hips where his black leather pants met the black leather vest. He wore nothing under the vest, allowing everyone a peek at his muscular arms. He had been cute as a boy and had grown into a handsome young man whom many witches desired. For some reason he put the witches off, making one excuse or another why he couldn’t do the things they wanted to do with him. I couldn’t say for sure, but I didn’t believe he ever slept with any of the other witches. Though it could have been wishful thinking on my part. I did know he had been out with a few non-witches, but I never pried into his relationships. “I think maybe we should make this one a freebie,” he said. He adjusted his black ponytail and looked at me. He seemed more worried than usual.

“No one else could have banished the Sarchi the way I did,” I said. “The city was invested.” I crossed my arms. I knew he would eventually give in. He always did.

“Cassandra, I think maybe we let this one go.” His tone was more aggressive. “There’s a lot of damage. Not as much as usual, but…”

“No,” I demanded. “They understand I’m new which means there most certainly would have been collateral damage. It comes with the territory.”

Braeden raised his hands in surrender. “Have it your way. But I’m telling you, Guildmaster will not be pleased. Come on.”

“Pie first,” I said. “I worked up an appetite.”

“No, Trillion Village is just on the other side of those trees. We’ll eat there, then collect your just reward.” I started to protest but decided it might be against my best interest when I looked back at the damage. As we walked away, he motioned over his shoulder. “Your use of wind and fire separately is coming along well. The combination of the two still needs work. Your fireballs are best used when controlled by wind. You’re lacking precision.”

“I agree,” I said. We’d been together long enough for me to know he was usually right. “You’ll help me work on it?” I knew the answer, but I needed to hear him say the words.

“Haven’t I always?”

We entered the forest, walking side by side. He’d yet to mention my outfit, a new design I helped our guild create. The red lava-like swoops were surrounded by blue and white images of wind. It fit tight but also allowed easy movement when casting spells or evading creatures from the darkest depths. But Braeden had yet to say a word about my outfit. Sometimes he was too much of a friend. He avoided anything that might seem intimate between us, though deep down I thought he felt something for me. We had been together far too long for him not to. I tried keeping my distance, hoping someday he would cast aside the friendship label and become something more.

“I hear they’re finally rebuilding the city,” he said. He was referring to our hometown. He often talked about returning and rebuilding the house we lost. He never talked about his future life, a wife, or kids. I never pressed him because, to be honest, I had no clue what I wanted either. Did any of us at nineteen?

“It doesn’t matter. They’re gone, and I’ll never go back.” The conversation wasn’t a new one. Everything in the house had been destroyed, including family photos and other things I cherished. Everything I needed to remember my parents was tucked away in my mind.

“It’s part of who we are, Cassandra. Really, it’s why we’re here.”

“When the city has been rebuilt, I’ll return with you. How’s that?” I didn’t want to. I wanted to forget the place. I wanted to take my witchery around the world and rid the planet of all evil. Yeah, I wanted to be a superhero people could look up to.

“Agreed,” he said. He balled his hands together and created a sphere of light. He then held the sphere in his right hand, drawing back his left. He watched me from the corner of his eye, hoping this time I would get it. “Let the wind guide your powers, Cassandra.” He brought his left hand quickly forward, sending the sphere crashing into the trees. As the trees splintered, he swirled two fingers toward the destruction and beneath the power of wind, and the trees lowered safely to the ground instead of crashing in chaos. Using a stream of light, he stacked the wood, creating a seven-foot-tall arbor for us to pass under.

“Showoff,” I said and elbowed him in the ribs. I stared at the manly structure. “But it needs roses. Something girly.”

“Cassandra, it looks fine. Let's go.”

“I can do this, Braeden. Give me some room.” I cracked my knuckles and flopped my arms, working out the tightness.

“You’re gonna wear yourself out.” Braeden stepped to the side.

“I got this!”

“Yes, I know you do,” he said, unsure. “Remember, let the wind guide the fire.” He moved behind me and close to a tree, oozing confidence in me.

“I got this. Be prepared to be amazed.”

“Remember, let your thoughts guide the wind. Don’t concentrate on your hands.”

“I know, Braeden. I know. Be quiet.”

I balled my hands together, moving them in circles, one under the other until a sphere of fire appeared. The energy pressed against my soul.

“Concentrate, Cassandra. Repeat the spell to yourself.”

I pulled back my left hand and raised it behind my head. In one swoop I brought my left hand forward and shot the fireball at the arbor, using my thoughts at the last second to make roses grow from the wood.

We dove to the ground as the wood exploded outward, showering us with bark and splinters. Braeden uncovered his head, his face covered in dirt, and looked at me. He never used the words I told you so, but I knew at that moment those were the words on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he did what he always did when I screwed up.

“That time you had the fire and the wind right. Work on the spell, and I think you’ll soon be ready for something harder.” He believed in positive reinforcement rather than always pointing out my weaknesses. He pulled a splinter from my auburn hair and tossed it aside.

Braeden helped me to my feet and for a moment, like always, we got caught in each other’s gaze. It lasted for only seconds and then we headed down the path to Trillion Village.

When we had moments like that neither of us mentioned it again, both knowing it would happen another time. I guessed a girl could always be hopeful. At six feet tall, dark hair with boyish looks, I was definitely attracted to Braeden.

“Why can’t I learn the harder things now?” I asked.

“It’s up to the guildmaster,” Braeden said.

“Okay. Once we collect our reward, I will ask him. I know I’m ready.”

We entered the village and immediately remembered it was the Time of Festivals. Kids were running around under the stars with fire wands. Vendors sold food and crafts. Adults drank beer and spoke too loudly. A variety of food smells filled the air, including pie.

“There,” Braeden said, pointing at a bakery vendor. “Get your pie, and then we go home.”

I pulled two small gold coins from the pouch attached to my belt. “We’ll split a cherry,” I said.

Braeden shook his head, still worried about the damage I caused in Wayfair.

“Lighten up, Braeden. It was only a joke.” I stopped at the vendor’s tent and ordered a slice of cherry pie, handing over the two coins.

We took a seat at one of the open picnic tables, Braeden taking a couple of bites before turning his attention to the electronics vendor behind me. His eyes grew wide. “Damn,” he said. “Look.”

I turned to watch the screen. A young reporter stood in the middle of Wayfair City, destruction all around her, more destruction than I'd left behind. The shot widened and caught several Sarchi ravaging buildings, chasing citizens, and fighting with armed authorities. The camera spanned to the tops of buildings, showing crushed statues.

Braeden stood and approached the vendor. “Can you turn that up, please?”

I joined Braeden and listened to the young reporter.

“Minutes ago, the Sarchi entered the city and began their rampage. As you can see the warded statues have been destroyed, allowing the Sarchi free access to the city. Authorities claim the statues were initially destroyed by a witch who was sent to rid the city of the Sarchi in the first place. Without the statues, we’re doomed.”

“We need to get back there,” I said. “I need to finish what I started.”

Braeden grabbed my arm. “Let Guildmaster Ren send someone else.”

I jerked away from his grasp. “What’s wrong with you lately? If I don’t go back and finish what I started, then I’ll never get another assignment. I’ll always be the witch who was replaced. I don’t want to be that witch, Brae.”

“Damn it, Cass, c’mon,” he said, and I kissed him on the cheek.

We hurried back through the forest and found an infestation of Sarchi at the front gate of the city. I quickly gathered a sphere of fire in my hand and shot it at the group, destroying the whole lot and taking out part of the city gate. “Damn it,” I said.

“You’re not concentrating,” Braeden said. “Watch.” He created a sphere of light and threw it at the next gathering of Sarchi. The light rode a trail of wind that made Braeden’s aim precise. The creatures exploded, and parts flew in all directions. “Think about what you’re doing.”

Another dozen or so Sarchi climbed City Hall while people streamed from the building. The town’s leader came out of the building and stopped, looking up at the destructive creatures. He turned and saw me. He held up his hands and shook his head.

“Cass, wait!” Braeden said.

But I didn’t wait. I created the largest fireball I could muster, aimed it with a trail of guiding wind, and shot it toward the Sarchi, remembering right after it left my hand to add the spell, the one critical mistake.

Braeden pulled me away as Sarchi and building exploded. The man who’d asked me to stop tried to run but was crushed by a large section of the building. When the dust cleared, one Sarchi remained.

“He’s too large,” Braeden said. “Come on. We’ll get him from the backside.”

I followed Braeden to the left, the Sarchi oblivious to our movement. It was too busy scooping up people and eating them. We stopped behind one of the few remaining buildings and peeked around the corner. I didn’t like hiding.

“A single spell is not going to take him down!” Braeden said. “We’re going to have to do this together.” He pointed at the creature’s legs. “I’m going to wrap a streak of light around his feet, then knock him over with a gust of wind. You hit him with a fireball.” He grabbed my arm. “Aim for his head, Cass, and don’t miss.”

We stepped from behind the building, and Braeden did exactly what he said. I then created a fireball and sent it at the creature’s head, hitting him squarely between the eyes. The damned thing writhed on the ground and then blew apart.

“Ha,” I said. “I knew I could do it!”

I started toward the center of the city, but Braeden caught up and stopped me. Dozens of people were gathering, awestruck by the destruction. They started pointing at me and yelling as they moved toward us.

“We need to go, Cass,” Braeden ordered.

“But we saved them,” I said.

He conjured a gust of wind and sent it toward the oncoming crowd. “Run,” he said.

And we did, returning to the forest, bypassing Trillion and heading back to the guild.

When we got to the guild, no one occupied the grounds surrounding the small gated community and only a few lights were on inside the main building.

“We should wait,” Braeden said when I reached for the door. On the other side sat the guildmaster and our payment. “Cass, I think we should let this one go for now.”

“It was that bad?” I asked. “We destroyed all the Sarchi.”

“And more than half the city. Those people were ready to burn us at the stake, Cass. We should lay low for a few days. Go back into the forest and let things blow over.”

“So, you think I failed?” I said, heartbroken. He looked away, and I knew I was being too harsh, but Braeden was right. Our job had been to go into the city and destroy Sarchi, not buildings and people. Though none of that was intentional. It just sort of happened.

“It’s not that I think you failed. There was just too much collateral damage. If you don’t get your magic under control, you’ll never be given another assignment.” He backed away from the door and took my hand, leading me away as well. “Give the guildmaster time.”

I’d messed up. Royally. “It was that bad?”

Braeden thought for a moment and then shrugged. “Not quite as bad as the time you annihilated the fae kingdom while it was under attack by a dragon.”

“The guildmaster is going to be pissed,” I said.

“Worse, I’m afraid.”

Chapter 2 — Cassandra | A Class of Conjuring

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said to Braeden as we stood on my front porch, the morning sun struggling to push above the forest trees to the east. Under his request, we’d spent the night in the forest. He said it would give things a chance to blow over.

Braeden nodded, and we stood there awkwardly for several seconds. It always happened like that when he walked me home. We held hands as friends and talked as friends, but he never came inside despite my invitations. He took his duties seriously and never let anything interfere with his work, especially when it came to training me which he did unofficially. Often, I believed he joined me solely to clean up my messes.

“We should probably go see Guildmaster Ren this afternoon,” he said. “To get it over with.”

“I was trying to avoid seeing him,” I said. “I know I really messed up in Wayfair City. I never mean for these things to happen.”

Braeden released my hand. A strange feeling of loss seeped into my mind when he broke our touch. “I’ll talk to Guildmaster Ren before we meet him together. I’ll speak well of you and your witching abilities. Wayfair was only a minor setback,” he lied. It was a major setback. He stepped off the porch and turned back to me, wanting to say something. Deep down I didn’t think he ever really wanted to leave.

“Thank you for protecting me, Braeden. And for always being there for me.”

He nodded and left me to myself.

I bought the cabin over a year ago from a witch who moved out west. It had everything I needed: fireplace, kitchen with plenty of shelf space for potion ingredients, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and about four acres of land, the backside flanked by the river. I’d done a poor job with the landscaping but, honestly, I was never home long enough to give it the attention it deserved.

Inside my small but quaint house, I removed my shoes and passed by the two bookshelves full of spell books, history of witchery, and a diary I started a few years ago but had not written in for the past six months. Girls my age wrote in their diaries about relationships with lovers, and since I had none, I saw no reason to continue writing about everyday tasks. Sometimes I thought about writing of my adventures with Braeden, but we’d yet to do the things other girls wrote about. Mostly I just drew pictures of things I dreamed of seeing some day. I also used the diary to keep track of new potions and spells.

Next to the shelves of books were two full shelves of potion ingredients I had yet to touch: agarwood, rue, bauhinia, anise, bay leaves, and dozens of others. Braeden had promised someday soon he would teach me the proper mixture of ingredients as several of my potions had caused disastrous events. I’d once turned innocent people into animals, and another time spread a fungus through the town surrounding the guild. It took weeks to clean up my mess.

The fireplace held a large cauldron I used for creating potions, though it sat empty for weeks. Braeden's suggestion not mine.

I passed the fireplace and stopped, feeling a presence in the house. I stayed in the shadows and moved my hands together, preparing a sphere of fire.

“Don’t bother,” a voice from the kitchen called. “I wouldn’t want you to destroy your own house.”

“Guildmaster Ren?” My heart sank into my toes. The only time I ever saw the guildmaster was at the guild. He was never known to leave without good cause. Bad news traveled fast.

“Have a seat, Cassandra.” His voice was controlled for a man who had to be mad for leaving the guild so early in the morning. I doubted he’d had time for his breakfast with the other guild members who stayed on campus. I sat in the chair across from him. He laid out the newspaper in his hands. I tried not to look. “Twenty-four people killed, though they aren’t sure if the deaths were caused by the Sarchi or by the witch who was supposed to be there to save them.” He ran his finger down the article. “Estimated property damage around thirty-two million.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, though I knew sorry helped nothing.

“As am I, Cassandra. Want to tell me what in the hell happened out there?” His voice was beginning to lose control. “I have an entire city to answer to. There’re people waiting for my return at the guild. I’ll be writing checks for years.”

I explained my side of the story, ensuring him it would not happen again. I did point out the fact I killed the Sarchi that attacked the city in the first place. He had to give me kudos for that. I ended with sorry and another assurance there would not be a repeat. But we both knew there probably would be. It was just the way things went with me. “I know I’m new at this, Guildmaster. Braeden has promised to help me along. Tomorrow we’re going to work on potions.”

“First it was the farmer’s entire herd of cattle. Remember that?” he asked. I nodded. A wolf had been stalking the herd at night while the farmer slept. I snuck into the field late one night and cast a dome of protection over the herd. The fireball cooked every cow in the field. For twenty square miles people claimed to smell steak and hamburgers. “And I don’t even want to talk about the time you used your power of wind and blew away an entire village.”

“I’m sorry,” I interrupted. But he wasn’t finished.

“There are at least a dozen other examples, including the fae city. Remember that one?” He folded the newspaper. “We need to figure out what we’re going to do, Cassandra. I can’t allow this to continue.”

“I will train more,” I said.

“Unfortunately, that’s not enough for the guild members.”

“Please don’t, Guildmaster Ren. I can do better.”

He shook his head and looked away. “I don’t want to do this, but you are no longer welcome at the guild. Your mistakes have almost bankrupted the guild. We’ll be paying damages for the next ten years. We can’t accept any more losses.” He took a deep breath and sighed.

A tear ran down my cheek, and I swiftly wiped it away. Crying would show weakness, and it wasn’t the time for weakness. “You could have waited until I arrived tomorrow at the guild,” I said.

“It would have been bad for the both of us if you’d shown up.” He raised a hand to stop my protest. “I’m here for another reason, Cassandra.” He stood and paced the kitchen. “I see a lot of me in you when I was your age. I understand you. I even understand your constant screw ups. Believe it or not but once upon a time I was a rebel like you.”

“Thank you, I think.”

“So, I have a proposition for you. And before I continue, let me say that I still need to discuss this with Headmaster Eliphas.” He stopped pacing and sat in the living room. I followed and stood by the fireplace. “You’ve heard of the Enchanted Academy?”

“Everyone’s heard of it,” I replied. “Those who’ve gone there and come back say it’s a brutal experience.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “It’s an academy that focuses on discipline in the craft of magic. Though it’s difficult, it is one of the best in the world.”

“I don’t want to leave here, Guildmaster Ren. Surely I have a choice?”

“The guild members don’t want to risk another catastrophe,” he said. “Several are threatening to leave the guild if you’re allowed back. Those I’ve spoken to have agreed that if you graduate from the academy, they will allow you to return to the guild.” He stood and joined me at the fireplace. “It’s the only way, Cassandra. If you don’t, the guild will revoke your powers, and you will have to find a new line of work.”

“They can’t do that.”

“They’ve already voted, Cassandra. It’s you or them, and there are too many of them for you to stay. We have guild members who’ve not had a pay increase in years because of the expense we incur cleaning up your messes. They won’t stand for it any longer and are threatening to leave the guild. If that happens, the guild will close, and it will be your fault.”

“I don’t know that I’m good enough for the Enchanted Academy,” I said. “With all these calamities I’ve caused, why would they take me?”

He walked to the front door. “Because not even the guild members can deny your potential, Cassandra. You’re young, beautiful, and have terrific power that only needs to be harnessed and controlled.” He opened the front door. “I believe in you, Cassandra. I really do. But you must make this decision. The guild is expecting me to return with your answer. I need it now.”

“No pressure,” I replied and crossed my arms. If I'd stuck out my bottom lip to pout, he would have walked out. I looked around the room at all the things I would be leaving. But what bothered me most was the thing not in the room I would be leaving—Braeden. We’d been together as friends far longer than we had not. He would be disappointed. I didn’t have many friends at the guild but would miss them dearly. I wasn’t entirely sure I could graduate the academy, meaning I’d be returning early when things didn’t work out.

“Cassandra, I need your answer now.”

I nodded and he sighed. “I will go.”

“I’ll contact the headmaster and make sure we can get you in.” He stepped out onto the porch and stopped before looking back. “You made a wise decision.”

“I’m not so sure,” I said. “I like it here. My friends and the people I trust are here.”

“One last thing, Cassandra.” He looked at the floor, bad news about to follow. “I have to request you stay in your house until you leave for the academy.” He raised a hand when I started to protest. “There are people looking to cause you harm. It’s for the best.”

“But…”

He closed the door and I heard the swoop of wind that was Guildmaster Ren as he rode a streak of light back to the guild. He’d been as diplomatic as he could. I knew enough about the guild members to know few of them were in my favor.

I plopped on the couch and glanced around the house, so much of what I could see had yet to be used. I’d buried myself in my elements: wind and fire, leaving little time for the finer art of being a witch. The Enchanted Academy would change that. It did excite me that I would be learning from some of the best witches and warlocks in the world. Of course, they were strict. I’d heard that most were crass and didn’t tolerate insubordination.

I picked up the phone and called Braeden, asking that he come over. I had important news to tell him. He didn’t seem surprised, so I wondered if he knew or at least had an idea I was in trouble. Maybe he had negotiated with Guildmaster Ren to give me this one last chance. Braeden showed about an hour later, satisfaction on his face that he had helped me the best he could.

“Guildmaster Ren was here when I opened the door this morning.”

Braeden took a seat on the couch. He refused to make eye contact. He knew. “I’m sorry, Cass.”

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“No, not really. But the damage in Wayfair City was too catastrophic that I didn’t see any way they would not punish you.” He patted the seat next to him. “Sit with me and let’s talk.”

“I told him I would go to the Enchanted Academy if they would have me.” I sat next to Braeden, and he put his hand on my knee, comforting me. I couldn’t remember him touching anything except my hand. I wanted him to move it higher, but I said nothing.

“It’s the right decision,” he said. “Did Guildmaster Ren say when?”

“As soon as possible. He’s talking to Headmaster Eliphas today.” I put my hand on his. “Braeden, I don’t want to leave you behind.”

“There’s something I need to tell you, Cass.” Braeden’s face became all smiles. “I honestly didn’t know Guildmaster Ren was going to send you to the Enchanted Academy. I really didn’t. But this morning, after seeing the news about Wayfair and the citizens asking for your head to roll, I thought it a possibility he might do something like send you there.” He took my hands in his. “I spoke to someone close to Headmaster Eliphas, and I’ve been accepted for the fall.”

A wave of relief washed over me. I wasn’t going to go alone. “I will add an addendum to the agreement,” I said. “I will agree to go as long as it’s in the fall!”

“We should go celebrate,” he said.

“I’ve been quarantined to the house.”

Braeden rested his chin on his palm. “No worries. We’ll practice here. I expect you to be ready first thing tomorrow. We start with potions and then move on to hexes.” A smile spread across his face. “I have confidence in you, Cass.” He stood and walked to the door. “Remember, the greatest witches and warlocks in the world graduated from the Enchanted Academy.”

I watched Braeden leave, but I longed for him to stay.