// THE MARSCAPONE SCHOOL OF MAGIC //


It is a Friday afternoon. I’ve promised to return to the school and give a lecture.

I must give my lecture in what functioned as the living room of the orphanage. Just a few walls away is the bedroom of Kevin Marscapone, now laying empty.

But the children do not know the boy is missing; the door is shut up tight like any other day at the Marscapone School of Magic.

Were he here, Kevin would be sitting quietly, listening to the lecture with rapt attention, desperate to make no sound.

I predict he would have succeeded.


I point to a boy with eyes the color of aged silver.

STRAUD

YOUR NAME, YOUNG MAN.

ELMER

ELMER PARCELL.

STRAUD

ELMER.

I’M DOING A DEMONSTRATION ON LUNAR LIGHT TODAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE?

IT’S BY NO MEANS NECESSARY BUT I THINK IT WILL HELP YOUR CLASSMATES TO SEE THE FEAT WORKED FROM ONE OF THEIR OWN.

ELMER

OF COURSE, SIR.

I’VE DONE IT BEFORE.


My friend’s wife, the woman Myrtle Marscapone, waits at the edge, supervising the gathering of her charges.

MYRTLE

I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU ARE WELL-ACCOMPLISHED IN SUMMONING LUNAR LIGHT BUT I ASK YOU PLEASE GIVE YOUR BEST ATTENTION TO THE COUNT VLADISLAUS STRAUD IV.

YOU MAY VERY WELL LEARN SOMETHING.

NO EVOCATION IS EVER COMPLETE.

SOMETHING EACH OF YOU SHOULD KNOW AND UNDERSTAND FULLY.

YOUR WORK IS NEVER DONE.


A heavy sort of sobriety falls over the crowd.

I return my attention to the young man Elmer.

STRAUD

PLEASE COME UP HERE TO THE FRONT…THAT’S GOOD.

NOW PLEASE SUMMON YOUR LUNAR LIGHT FOR US.


The boy, now standing beside me, joins his two hands together, cupping them slightly and interlocking his fingers. He pulls his hands apart and in the created chasm is a small sphere of glowing light. It starts in overly bright in the small, dimly lit room, but dims and reveals its secrets.

It’s an exact duplicate of the Earth’s Moon, down to each crater. It is alight with a serene blueish glow.

STRAUD

WONDERFUL, CHILDREN.

WE HAVE NOW JUST SEEN YOUR CLASSMATE CONJURE LUNAR LIGHT.

IT GLOWS WITH THE REFLECTED LIGHT OF YOUR OWN SUN.

A TRULY SPLENDID THING TO BEHOLD.


A small hand shoots up to request an audience.

MYRTLE

YES, TZU?


Tzu is small for her age. Her black hair shines in the tiny Moon’s glow.

TZU

WHAT IF THE EARTH HAD TWO MOONS? OR MORE?


It is a simple question that begs a response.

STRAUD

I SUPPOSE THAT THE SPELL WOULD SEE YOU SUMMON ONE OR MORE OF YOUR PLANET’S MOONS.

I DON’T KNOW. I’VE NEVER SEEN THE SPELL WORKED UNDER A PLANET WITH MULTIPLE MOONS.

BUT IF I WERE TO MAKE A CONJECTURE, I WOULD GUESS IT WOULD WORK ONE PLANETARY BODY AT A TIME.

TZU

MAYBE IT WOULDN’T CHANGE BACK AND FORTH.

MAYBE YOU COULD ONLY SUMMON THE MOON UNDER WHICH YOU WERE BORN.


The students not watching Tzu are staring at Elmer’s conjured Moon until he finally snuffs out the light, leaving the room feeling rather dark and empty.

STRAUD

THAT IS A PRESSING TOPIC YOU’VE TOUCHED UPON.

THE MATTER OF PREDESTINATION.

THE THINGS SURROUNDING THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF OUR BIRTH OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL.

SOME SPELLS WILL WORK THIS WAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG.

BUT HOPEFULLY, IF YOU ARE CAUGHT ON SOME UNDESIRABLE SPELL EFFECT, YOU WILL GROW OUT OF IT WITH ENOUGH TIME.

TZU

COULD YOU CONJURE LUNAR LIGHT FOR US?

PLEASE?


The whole of the students start to clamor and whisper in agreement. Even Myrtle has to hide her face in shame at their unabashed display of excitement.

STRAUD

I WILL GIVE YOU A PIECE OF ADVICE.

IF YOU ARE TO CONTINUE TO SUMMON AVATARS OF THE HEAVENLY BODIES –

I SUGGEST YOU KEEP ON A GOOD RAPPORT WITH THEM.


Straud holds out his right hand while bowing slightly. He makes a gesture seeming to be a silent snap, and above his fingers appears so brilliant a sphere that it instantly forces the children to shield their eyes.

It’s not a moon, it’s the Sun.

Within a few seconds, the light calms itself but it is still a little too bright to stare directly at.

STRAUD

I HAVE WORKED ON THIS TRICK FOR MANY A YEAR.


The room is silent in awe for a good chunk of seconds.

TZU

HOW DOES ONE GET ON GOOD TERMS WITH THE SUN?

STRAUD

WORSHIP.

HUMILITY.

DISCIPLINE.

THE MOON IS VERY DIFFERENT DEITY THAN THE SUN.

PERHAPS WE’LL USE THEIR NAMES.

LUNA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN SOL. SHE’LL SHOW HER FACE TO ANY WHO ASK, SO LONG AS YOU HAVEN’T PERSONALLY ANGERED HER.

SHE LOVES HER CHILDREN AND GIVES THEM THEIR FIRST TASTE OF FAITH.

IT IS NOT THAT SOL DOES NOT LOVE HIS CHILDREN, BUT THAT HE IS RETICENT TO GIVE OUT A SUNBEAM TO JUST ANYONE. HE NEEDS TRUST; A SUNBEAM CAN SMITE THE EYE AND HE DOES NOT TAKE KINDLY TO US USING HIS GLORY IN SUCH A WAY.

BUT A MOONBEAM DOESN’T HURT. NO, ONE CANNOT KILL WITH A MOONBEAM.

ELMER

DOES ONE HAVE TO WORSHIP THE SUN TO RECEIVE HIS BLESSING?

STRAUD

I THINK WHAT YOU MEAN, IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN, IS WHETHER ONE MUST BE AN ACOLYTE OF THE SUN TO RECEIVE HIS BLESSING.

FOR WORSHIP, YES, ALL MUST WORSHIP THE SUN IF THEY ARE TO BE BLESSED BY HIM.

BUT NO, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE, AS YOU MIGHT THINK OF IT, MONOGAMOUS.

HE IS ALL-SEEING.


Straud releases his conjuration and the room quickly goes dark.