Chapter 3

Magnus quickly changed and headed to the operations center for his shift. He knew that he was a few minutes late but talking to his father and getting change had taken a bit longer than he had thought it would. He quickly took his spot at the observation desk. This had been his post the for the last week and he enjoyed looking over the computer screens and seeing where demon activity was at in the city. The consoles were set up so he could see where demon activity was the highest but also if there were downworlders or mundanes in trouble that weren't always because of demon activity. He noticed that for the moment all was quiet out in the city. The early afternoons were quieter than late at night. Demon activity tended to increase the later in the day it got. Demons were stronger at night, the sunlight affected them, and they did their best to stay out of the sunlight.

While he was watching the consoles, he decided to go through the file that his father had given him. He wanted to learn all he could about the New York Institute and who he would be working with for the foreseeable future. He had heard many things about the New York Institute, but the most recent had been the appointment of Jace Herondale to institute head. He was the youngest of an institute at the age of 17, but he had made many changes in the way the institute was being run. He had implemented new policies with the way the shadowhunters at the institute interacted with the downworlders in the city. He had also created a downworld cabinet or council that held regular meetings about the care and concerns of the downworld community.

Magnus started reading about his placement and learned more about Jace and Isabelle who he would be working closely with. He wanted to make sure he knew everything that he needed to before he arrived in New York.

Placement: New York Institute

Person of Contact: Isabelle Lightwood and Jace Herondale

Positions at the New York Institute: Isabelle is the Weapons Master and Chief Medical Examiner. Jace Herondale is the Head of the New York Institute

Report day: June 4th, 2009

Purpose of placement: To learn more about shadowhunters and how they work outside of your home institute. To learn more about the policies and procedures the New York Institute has put in place for interacting with the downworld community in the city.

Information about the Institute: One of the biggest institutes in the world. The first institute to work closely with downworlders on a consistent basis. Has come to see downworlders as beneficial part of the Shadow World and how they make positive contributions to the community. Jace Herondale is the youngest institute head at 17 years of age and Isabelle is the youngest weapons master that the Clave has seen at the age of 17. Both have made many positive contributions to the Shadow World, namely being a large part in helping to bring down Valentine Morgenstern and the Circle. Both played a large part in helping to stop the war and bring peace to the Shadow World.

Magnus stopped reading for a moment. He hadn't realized that the two had helped to bring down Valentine when he tried to take out all downworlders a couple of years ago. He figured their appointments to the positions that they hold at the institute made more sense now. The two were good at what they did and helped to save the Shadow World from a mad man bent on taking out the entire downworld. Magnus knew that the war had brought about a lot of changes, but to realize that two shadowhunters just a little bit younger than him had helped with that gave him hope for the future. He wanted to help the Clave change and knew that being placed at the New York Institute was a good for him. He couldn't wait to meet Jace and Isabelle and to be able to learn from them.

He knew that he needed to send Isabelle a fire message with what he would need upon his arrival at the institute. He had been thinking about and realized that most of what he would need he should be able to take with him, but he would have to check with his father before submitting a final list to Isabelle. He wanted to be able to take his own weapons that he had been using for the last few years. He was familiar with them and they felt natural in his hands. Seraph blades would be fine, he could use what they had in New York but his personal weapons he wanted with him. He continued to think about this and realized that all he really needed would be a place to lay his head and a decent sized closet for his clothes, other than that he should be able to get the rest of what he needed once he was in New York.

Magnus looked up when he felt someone next to him. He smiled when he saw Ragnor standing at the consoles next to him and knew that his friend had many things on his mind. He wondered why they were being split up, but knew the Clave had their reasons and hoped that the separation would only be for the first six months and not any longer than that. He didn't think he could go longer than six months without his parabatai.

"What are you thinking about?" Ragnor asked

"Just thinking about our placements and the fact that we don't be able to see each other for six months," replied Magnus looking over at his friend.

"I know, that is going to be hard. We haven't really been separated since we became parabatai. I think there is a reason why the Clave is sending us to different institutes, and I hope that we will be able to figure out why. What else did Asmodeus want to talk to you about?"

"He just wanted to pass along a concern from Jace and Isabelle. They have been working closely with downworld community in New York for the last couple of years and are concerned that I will come in and undo all their hard work. I'm not offended, I am an unknown person and they don't know what I will bring to the table so to speak."

"Makes sense and I can understand their concerns. I would feel the same way if I were in their position. Have you figured out what you are going to need once you get to New York? I'm only asking because of the vast wardrobe that you have here my friend. I don't think you can take the whole thing with you. You won't be in a bigger bedroom like you are here and able to have a larger closet than most people. I know that has to be a concern of yours and I hope that you will be able to survive with less."

"I have thought about it. I just hope that I will get assigned to a bedroom that has decent sized closet and I can go from there. I know I can't take all my clothes with me and not to mention I will be New York so I can always get more clothes while I am there. The fashion industry is bigger in New York and I look forward to being able to benefit from it. I need to talk to Asmodeus and see about my personal weapons though. I'm fairly sure that I will be able to take them, but I do want to double check on that before we leave. I guess I can ask him about it at dinner tonight."

"I already talked to Lorenzo about my weapons and he was telling me that when we leave the institute the weapons that we use here can be taken with us. He explained that because they are our personal weapons it wouldn't make sense to leave them here. We would want something with us that we know and our familiar with. Our weapons were custom made for us and wouldn't really work as well for someone else. The seraph blades we will have to leave, but that isn't a problem since all institutes have those on hand."

"Well gee thanks Rag, I appreciate that. I guess that will be one less thing that I have to talk to my father about tonight. I was concerned about our weapons. I didn't want to have to leave them and it does make sense that if they were made specifically for us that we would be able to take them with us. Have you had chance to look through your file yet?"

"I have, Lydia Branwell is a bit of a security genius and I am excited to be able to learn from her. Her family has been over the London Institute since the mid-1900s and she is set to follow in their footsteps of taking over for the current head when the time is right. She spent some time in New York working with Jace and Isabelle and learning from the previous head. Besides being a security genius, she also goes over a lot of different strategies for when they are out in the field. Many of her theories have been tried out and used by different institutes around the world. I'm excited to learn from her and hope that I won't be a burden to her while I am there."

"Rag, you won't be a burden you are amazing at what you do and have improved security here in ways that my parents couldn't have thought you would. They didn't make a mistake in putting you as the second to the head of security. I know that no matter where we end up everything will work out. I'm a bit intimidated to be honest. I was reading through the file about New York and learned that both Isabelle and Jace played a big part in helping to bring Valentine down a few years ago. This is why they were appointed to such high positions at such a young age. I haven't accomplished half of what they have, and they are younger than me."

"Just because you haven't helped to bring down a maniac doesn't mean that you don't have a lot to offer the Shadow World as well. You are great at what you do, and you will go on to do great things in the future. You have an amazing opportunity to learn from the two, so don't let feelings of intimidation keep you from learning from them."

"You're right. I don't need to let my insecurities stop me from learning from two amazing shadowhunters. There is always more to learn and do. I guess this is why the placements at other institutes are so important. If just stayed here Jakarta we wouldn't have the opportunity to grow and learn. I need to send a fire message to Isabelle letting her know what I will need when I get there in a few days, can you cover for me for a minute?"

"Yeah, I can cover for you while you send that fire message. I don't think anything will happen while you are away, but you never know."

Magnus stepped away from the observation area to send a quick fire message to Isabelle Lightwood letting her know what he would need. She was quick to reply back letting him know that all would be ready for him when he arrived. She also mentioned that she was looking forward to meeting him and hoped that they would work well together. Magnus hoped for the same thing.

He stood in the center of the room facing he opponent. This was a new experience for him, since he had never been allowed to interact with his opponents for more than the time it took him to train with them. He had never trained anyone and was unsure on whether or not he would be a good teacher. He knew that he needed to be if was going to have any chance of earning his freedom from his prison. He looked at the boy who couldn't have been much older than him. The boy looked like he had never been in a fight before in his life and he wondered if he would be able to train the boy successfully.

"The first thing we are going to start with is how to stand. In any fight your position and posture are key to being able to keep your opponent at bay. This will also allow you to become more familiar with your body and what it can do. Just remember your body is a weapon and that will help you even when you don't have anything other than your hands and feet to fight with. Stand up straight and look at me," he directed as he walked around the boy.

Looking at the brunette boy in front of him it was easy to see that he had good body posture when he was standing, and this would help him greatly when he started moving around more.

"What is your name?" he asked the boy.

"My name is Simon Lewis. What is your name?" Simon inquired still standing straight.

"Simon, that is a good name. I don't remember my name. I haven't heard it in years and maybe if I were to hear it, it would come back to me. The guards just call the prisoner. You may call me sir or teacher. I don't really like to be called the prisoner, but that is what I am to the guards," he replied moving Simon's arms in front of him.

"Those will work for me. I wish I had name to call you but maybe that will come in time," Simon stated moving his arms as he was directed to do.

The two worked together for hours. Simon was a quick study and did all that was asked of him. He was shown how to block and throw a punch. He had him practice the moves over and over so that Simon could develop his muscle memory. He knew from years of practice that the more you practiced a move the easier it would be for your body to recall it when the time came.

Time passed quickly and before the two knew it, it was time for him to be returned to his room. He followed the guards to his room and was told that his dinner would be brought to him shortly. Once in his room his thoughts turned to Simon and how he could prepare him to beat him in a fight. He knew that this would be his only chance to win his freedom this way and he wanted to make sure that he went over every aspect of what the fight would entail. He also thought about his other plans for escape, he knew he needed a back-up plan in case Simon wasn't able to beat him. For the first time in many years he felt hope and knew that things were going to change soon for him.