The Night Wand

The rewards for the winning magician would be great – but failure spelled death

- AADITYA RAMSUNDER

I STARED at the others nervously, waiting. Sweat ran down my forehead as I heard the dis embodied voice blast over the speakers. “In a moment,” it began, “the competitors will participate in the first task. Remember –”

He was cut off by the crowd’s cheers. I turned my attention to the screen which displayed the thousand or so people watching a screen that would soon be switched on.

“Quiet!” the voice yelled, and immediately, there was absolute silence. “Remember: the one who wins this takes a seat at the Magicians’ Council – a truly high and rare opportunity.”

The crowd burst into cheers again and this time the voice didn’t stop them.

I was oblivious to the task itself. All I knew was that it was complex. A high level of magic was required, and those who didn’t possess this high level of magic would die.

A man walked into the room where the competitors had gathered. “Hello,” he said, and I immediately recognised his voice as the one that had just been blasting over the speakers.

“I assume you know who I am.” Of course, I knew. This man was none other than Wells Korter, the highest-ranking member of the Magicians’ Council.

Immediately, everyone got down on one knee and bowed. “Rise,” he said, and everyone complied.

“In a few short moments,” Korter explained, “you will be faced with a task that, if failed, will physically or mentally kill you.”