THE MOMENT
“Penelope, it gives me great honor to introduce you to Mrs. Donna Chang,” the old, wisened principal looked almost as youthful as Penelope when compared to the short stack of wrinkles that was Donna Chang. She was an ancient woman with long dark hair, and everyone in the room knew she was a dragon in human form. “She founded our illustrious Academy, and she chooses a student to tutor directly every so often; you’ve been chosen this time,” he nodded at the youngest person in the room by at least a millennia.
“Me?” Penelope asked as she looked at the eldest in the room. “It’s my first year…,” she said.
“I’ve seen all the details of your file,” Donna nodded. “I still chose you; however, if you’re not comfortable taking the position, I can choose again. The only thing I can promise you is that it will be a lot of work, and you will learn your craft well.”
“Oh…,” Penelope was surprised. That actually made her feel better. She was worried about being a disappointment, she wasn't as gifted as some of the other kids. However, if Donna knew everything about her that the school did, then she was still chosen with all those deficiencies in mind.
She joined the Academy in the hopes of finding a way to help her family. They would have sworn up and down that she didn't have to worry about them, but, it seemed like they were always working. Penelope's family owned a restaurant, and over the years, on rare occasion, she found herself feeling neglected in favor of the family business. In her mind, going to the academy was a route to more attention. She was still undecided about what she wanted to do with her life, but she knew she'd learn useful skills if nothing else. Although, she never imagined being chosen for a position with Donna Chang.
“I want to!” Penelope nodded. “I mean, if you're sure you chose the right student.”
“I know why I made my choice,” Donna said. “I'm offering you the position, and the only way to change my mind is to turn it down. I am curious, though. Is there some reason you think you're not suitable?”
“My magic is weak..,” it was the first time since she started at the academy that she voiced it out loud. Most of the other students went on and on about their magic talents, even in classes that had nothing to do with magic. It felt like it was the only conversation, other than school work.
Magic stats weren't revealed by the school, but all the students were happy to share their ‘power levels’ as part of normal conversation. Penelope learned just enough about her own score to want to keep it quiet. Through her own research, she discovered she had the lowest magic levels in the school, possibly ever.
“Is it?” Donna asked with a smile. “And you think that's important?”
“Yes!” Penelope agreed first, then thought about it. “Isn't it? It's all anyone at the Academy talks about.”
“And how many of your lessons so far have involved magic?”
“None, but I know the older kids have some magic classes!” she said.
“That they do,” Donna nodded with a smile. “Magic is fascinating by nature, and this is a school. You're surrounded by minds just as young and inexperienced as your own, so it makes sense it would be a frequent topic of discussion. And, of course, the Academy does offer advanced courses for those interested in pursuing them. But they are meant to be for extra learning and not part of the core curriculum,” Donna said.
“If I thought magic levels were important, I would have opened a magic academy, instead of a culinary one.”