The Man Who Was Never There by Niall Teasdale

of what had happened to Truldi was enough to confirm that she had been possessed by an outsider. The silence was broken, as one would expect, by Millicen. ‘I didn’t hear you casting any of the spells you used.’ Kori looked at her. ‘Silent casting isn’t that hard.’ Safa shook her head. ‘It’s not very common. Most people have to gesture and speak to cast. Thinking about it, I never hear you casting Kwawim or Aineakas when you deflect spells. I should’ve picked up on it earlier.’ ‘You usually speak when you’re casting in class,’ Millicen said. ‘That way, people don’t realise I can do without,’ Kori replied. ‘The less my opponents know, the easier it is to defeat them.’ ‘Sneaky,’ Safa said. She grinned. It looked a little strained, but she managed it. Kori sighed. ‘She wasn’t Truldi anymore. I don’t regret doing what I did. I wish I hadn’t had to do it, but I don’t regret ending what she became.’ ‘I guess it’ll be back to just four of us studying together,’ Lizbit said. ‘Yes. Sadly, yes.’ 26 th Awlan. The headmistress took the theory lesson the following day. Hunterkis had, apparently, been told to rest for the day. Kori found this a little odd, given that magic could have had him on his feet in a matter of minutes. When class one turned up for their lesson the following day, Hunterkis was waiting for them with a scowl on his face. He waited until everyone was seated before taking the cube out of his desk drawer. ‘Miss Najmi, remove the spell from this cube.’ Kori stared at him f