The Shadowseeker - Victor Kloss Page 0,10

but instead of rushing to the entrance, both Ben and Charlie stopped to admire the magnificent building before them. The Institute was a mansion as grand as any of the great historic houses in England. The white façade was criss-crossed with timber panels and leaded windows. Dozens of gables and balconies spanned the building, giving the building a majestic, yet cosy feel. A pair of mighty wooden doors stood at the entrance. Above them the words “Royal Institute of Magic” were etched and seemed to pulse with a warm, silver glow.

“You ready?” Ben asked, glancing over at Charlie.

Charlie was staring up at the Institute, looking a little daunted. “Kind of. I'm feeling nervous and excited at the same time. Is that possible?”

“Course it is,” Ben said, giving Charlie a friendly slap on the shoulder.

“What do we do once we get in? I mean, are we expected? What if nobody is there to help us?”

Ben grinned. “Let's find out, shall we?”

Together, they walked up to the doors of the Institute, pulled the grand iron door knob, and entered.

— Chapter Five —

Master of Apprentices

The sky-lit atrium looked every bit as magnificent as Ben remembered. There were exposed wooden beams everywhere. An old-fashioned staircase snaked its way up the building, leading to the open galleries above. In the centre of the lobby stood a magnificent statue of Queen Elizabeth.

“In or out? You can't just stand there,” an impatient voice said from behind.

Ben realised they were blocking the entrance. With an apology, they shuffled forwards into the lobby. As soon as Ben took his eyes off the magnificent architecture, he noticed something very different to his last visit. The place was buzzing. Institute members, adorned with diamonds of varying colours, went to and fro, up and down the stairs, and even into doors Ben had never noticed before, within the lobby itself.

“Now what?” Charlie asked, watching an elderly gentleman with three white diamonds talk animatedly to a couple of colleagues.

“We ask someone,” Ben said.

Charlie made a face. “Who? Everyone is walking a million miles an hour. I feel like we'd get our heads chopped off for stopping any of these people.”

“I'll do the asking,” Ben said, his eyes narrowing on a younger fellow with only one red star.

“Mr. Greenwood. Mr. Hornberger.”

Ben turned and saw a small, round figure marching towards them. It took Ben a moment to realise that it was a woman. She walked like a drill sergeant and even had a peculiar baton tucked under an arm. Her feet were so large they reminded him of a clown and they pounded the stone floor. Her only concessions to femininity were her ponytail that went all the way down her back and her long eyelashes, which looked out of place in a face so angular it could have been carved from rock. Above her shoulder were four white diamonds, marking her as a Scholar.

“Oh god, it's a female Mr. Bullins,” Charlie said anxiously, referring to their army-like sports teacher.

“Relax, Charlie.”

Ben took a step forwards to meet the lady. She barely came up to his shoulder, but there was an air of authority about her, from her posture to the slightly raised chin, making her size irrelevant.

“My name is Dagmar Borovich,” she said, thrusting a small hand out, which Ben took. Her grip threatened to stop the flow of blood to his fingers. Charlie winced and fervently massaged his hand back to life after his handshake.

“I am the Master of Apprentices. Welcome to the Institute. Please follow me,” she said. Her voice was serious but not unkind. She gave them both searching looks as she spoke, and Ben could tell he was being assessed. He matched her gaze, and was quietly pleased that Charlie did too. Dagmar gave a little nod and turned around, heading for the stairs.

“Walk by my side, please; I prefer to see my apprentices' faces when I speak to them,” Dagmar said, without turning round. There was no anger in her voice, but her no-nonsense tone reminded Ben of a number of school teachers.

Ben and Charlie exchanged looks, before joining Dagmar on either side.

“Where are we going?” Ben asked.

“To the Department of Apprentices,” Dagmar replied. Ben was pleased to note he wasn't reprimanded for asking questions. “We are going to drop your bags off and then head straight to the Initiation Test.”

Charlie made a noise. “I'm sorry – the what?”

“You are to be tested,” Dagmar said, matter-of-factly. “Before you start the apprenticeship programme, we need to establish if you are