Breaking Magic
an excerpt

“No, leave them. Aku Aku, hold the straw so the ends are even. You’ll be our witness in this. You’ll be able to tell everyone that it was all done properly.” Seriano, who had gotten dressed while Aku Aku was out of the room, stood. “Good.” He said, after Aku Aku had arranged the two pieces of straw in his hand – the ends even, and his hand covering the rest, so it was impossible to see which was longer. “Now. Short straw goes., long straw stays. So, Nydrien, would you like to pull first, or shall I?”
“I think I had better – my chances are better that way.”
“My cousin the scholar.” Seriano teased. “How do you figure?”
“Well, mathematically-“
“Stop, stop! Forget I asked! It doesn’t matter!”
“Well, at least this way I have a choice. You’ll just get what’s left over.”
“That I understand.” Seriano grinned. “But all the same, as it was my idea, I’ll still let you pick first.”
“Oh, thank you!” Nydrien gushed, and reached out to draw a piece of straw from Aku Aku’s hand, hiding it in his own until Seriano took the remaining piece.
“… now!” Seriano cried, and they both opened their hands, to reveal a long piece of straw in Nydrien’s hand, and a short one in Seriano’s. “Oh.” Seriano’s face fell momentarily, but then he fixed a smile on his face. “Alright, then.”
“Sir?” Aku Aku looked rather puzzled on what had just happened, but understand that something very important had just occurred before his very eyes.
“Aku Aku, you have just witnessed the separation of the mage school. I now head the Mage School of Elera. My cousin heads the school of Alchemy on the continent to the south.” Nydrien looked somberly at his cousin.
“The south?” Aku Aku looked even more confused.
“We’ll explain in a moment. Just go and gather everyone. The entire school. From mages to servants. We’ll meet in the main hall – twice the normal punishment if someone is late, three times the normal punishment if they don’t show at all.” Seriano said hurriedly, and gave Aku Aku a push out of the door. “Quickly! Twenty minutes.”