Reimagia
Summary: Now a graduate of Ever Realm Academy, Sofia accepts Cedric's invitation to train in a secret realm called Reimagia, which is home to some of the most powerful sorcerers on earth. However, there's a dark force lurking in the realm, destroying conjurors one by one, all while offering cryptic clues to his identity. If Cedric and Sofia can't solve the mystery, they'll be next.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First or any characters affiliated with the show. However, I do own the Kingdom of Reimagia and many new OCs mentioned in the story.
A/N: Okay, guys, so this chapter title is based on an old Raven-Symoné song called "Some Call It Magic." Don't know if I have any That's So Raven fans out there, but that's where I got the inspiration for the title. You'll get to see Cedric and Sofia bonding and working together here, but you'll also get to see the start of the mysterious clues to the bad guy's identity. :D I like that people are already speculating. That's good. Keep working at it. ALSO, keep an eye out for chapter 7! YOU GUYS will be working to see if you can help unscramble the message before Sofia and the gang do. 😉 So, brush up on your detective skills. Haha. Also, pay attention to things that are said and done between here and there. Hmm. And there will be some sweet moments and a rather interesting surprise I've had planned coming up in a few chapters. :D Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Some Call It Magic
Despite initial concerns over Malvino's strange behavior the previous week, on Monday he was sober and completely focused. It was like he was an entirely different person. He worked with Sofia to demonstrate how to not only control the overwhelming pain she sometimes felt, but also how to utilize her newer powers to the greatest extent possible.
"Watch this," the Hand Magic expert insisted as he stood behind her and held her shoulders steady. "Relax."
Sofia breathed out once as the magic expert guided and extended her hands forward. She wasn't sure what his aim was, but she was listening carefully and doing as she was told.
"The goal of mastering Hand Magic is to control it—don't let it control you. Focus all your energy into the palms of your hands and the tips of your fingers.
She did as she was told, closing her eyes as she did.
"Uh-uh, never close your eyes," Malvino insisted as he stood next to her, folding his arms as she blinked her eyes open. "It singles you out as weak or easy prey, and I'm sure you don't want that."
Cedric narrowed his eyes from the sidelines as he leaned against a wall, his arms folded, watching their interactions. He didn't quite care for Malvino's choice of words…
Sofia nodded as she returned to her original stance, eyes open and focused.
"Right, since you've gathered all that energy into your hands, let your focus now be on activating it—releasing it. You'll feel it welling up within you, and you'll have no choice but to let it go."
Staying quiet and clear-headed and doing as she was instructed, Sofia inhaled and exhaled slowly before thrusting her hands forward, releasing a blast of magic. She watched as it soared through a bullseye target before dissipating. She gasped. "I did it!" She grinned toward Malvino and then at her partner. "I did it, Mr. Cedric!"
Cedric smiled back at her as he unfolded his arms and clapped a few times. "I knew you could, my dear."
Malvino placed a hand on the teen's shoulder, his dark eyes narrowed at her. "You can't celebrate every time you accomplish something in magic, Princess Sofia. It shouldn't even be a celebration. This should naturally become a part of you—like walking, speaking, or breathing. Magic is just an extension of your body. You don't cheer every time you eat, do you?"
"Depends what I'm eating," she retorted somewhat sarcastically, clear annoyance lacing her words.
The magic expert sighed, shaking his head. "I apologize if I sound blunt, but it's my job to get you focused and prepared for any magical attack or confrontation. Hand Magic is a great tool to utilize if you allow it to be."
She nodded, her shoulders slumping a bit as she lowered her head. "I get it. I'm sorry." She then gave him one of her sincere smiles. "Let's try it again."
The dark-haired boy blinked once, frowning in contemplation, before nodding. "Adapt your stance."
The training with Malvino lasted another hour and a half before she moved along to her other trainers. Ending lessons with Lord Wellsworth dealing with wand usage and Dame Dellareese dealing with potions were easy enough, as she was rather good with both magical properties. However, from Lady Maeve, who'd come directly after her encounter with Malvino, she learned all about the history of Light Magic and its advantages—most of which she already knew thanks to either school or Cedric. But she also learned a few key points to countering dark magic.
"Dark Magic has its own unique set of weaknesses," she'd told Sofia earlier in the day. "It's a close cousin to evil itself, and even evil can be overpowered by enough goodness returned. Light Magic comes from the heart. Dark Magic comes from the absence of a heart…or, at the very least, one very difficult to find—almost like it's shadowed by the darkness."
Those words had followed her all day, through the rest of the training and even to suppertime later that evening, when she and Cedric were back in the Diamond Dormitory, eating some sandwiches and fruit.
"You're awfully far away, aren't you?"
Sofia blinked, looking up at her friend as he smiled at her. "Oh…" She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Mr. Cedric." She placed an apple core on her plate beside her as she allowed her legs to dangle in the pool water yet again. In fact, they were both in their swimming suits again, enjoying the water's relaxing nature while they ate. Besides, it was much calmer here than in the Grand Cupola. "Guess I'm just thinking about a few things."
"I can understand. Starting off with that Malvino character couldn't have been easy."
"It's not even him." She sighed, amending her statement to, "It's not just him. I mean, I know his job is to get me to take Hand Magic seriously and use it to keep myself safe and everything, but this whole thing is just…" She shook her head, leaning up against a cabinet to her left. "I don't know. I guess it's just overwhelming."
"Magic can be a lot to take in and handle," the sorcerer admitted as he set his empty plate aside. "There are a lot of rules, exceptions to those rules, secrets… Not to mention the thousands of incantations or—"
"You are so not helping right now." Sofia folded her arms as she gave her friend a pointed stare.
He chuckled before retrieving his wand and summoning her own, tossing it to her and smirking as she barely caught it.
"How did you…?" Sofia blinked. "Are our wands connected to where you can summon mine out of thin air or something?"
"What a rather astute analysis," he remarked, shrugging. "I suppose it's something like that… But that's besides the point. I know you have official trainers now, but how about a little practice with me…for old time's sake?"
She smiled. "So, you're my mentor again for a while?" She lifted her wand, mimicking his movements.
"For now. There's a slight advantage I have over the other trainers though: I know you better. I know what you're capable of doing." He pointed toward the Amulet of Avalor with his wand, gently tapping it. "You've used this a great deal to do so many things: changing size, talking to animals, saving lives, and so many other things. Now, I think I should teach you a stronger spell-one that will allow you to do what your amulet does for you: change into another form."
"Okay… Not that I'm questioning the logic behind that, but…yes, I am." She laughed. "Why learn the spell for changing forms when my amulet can do it for me?"
"Because sometimes it's better to rely on yourself and your own magic than to become dependent on the amulet." He shrugged as she blinked, and he lowered his wand. "Not that I'm saying you shouldn't use your amulet. But having more than one method of doing something never hurts, right?"
Sofia pondered this for a few moments before nodding. "I guess that's a good point." She then grinned and moved her plate before scooting closer to him, nudging him playfully. "Admit it: you just miss training me in magic."
"Sometimes. I'm glad you've come into your own, but…well, I suppose you never stop learning." He tapped her head with the wand, causing her to laugh. "That, my dear, is a good thing. Now, point your wand to yourself and repeat after me: animalis transformatio."
She did as indicated and stated clearly, "Animalis transformatio!" Instantly, she changed into a small purple crab with unusually large blue eyes. Her wand was clutched in one of her claws. "Um, Mr. Cedric… Is there any way that I can control which animal I change into?"
"Of course," he laughed, patting his partner on the shell of her head. "But we'll learn that bit tomorrow. Good night, Sofia." He pretended like he was going to stand up, but he laughed when she began scampering toward him, those tiny feet clattering against the pavement in sheer panic. "Relax, I'm only kidding."
"That's not funny! I don't want to be a crab!" She pouted. "I'm not Malvino."
He smirked as she giggled. "Good point. When you do your next transformation, focus hard in your mind and envision the type of animal you want to be. If you want to be a cat, really concentrate and imagine that you are a cat."
"Got it." She (with a bit of difficulty) aimed her wand at her small form and focused hard before saying, "Animalis transformatio!" This time, she changed into a unicorn: the same form from several years ago, but her purple mane and matching braided tail were much longer and wavier now.
Cedric rolled his eyes. "Of course. I might have known you'd choose a unicorn."
"What?" She laughed. "Skye is a unicorn, and he is one of my favorite animal friends, so… Yep!" She then paused as she noticed her hoofs and the wand now lying stagnant on the pavement. "Um…whoops. I guess unicorns don't have thumbs or the option of 'holding' something."
"Well, you could always pick it up with your mouth, though that might make it difficult for you to say the magic words." He smirked. He was actually having fun with this.
"Ugh… You are literally no help." She pondered her options before grinning as she decided to try something different. She used her tail (braided like she often did her own hair) to swipe the wand and hold it securely (surprisingly). "Okay, I'm ready to change back. What's the spell for that?"
"Transmutatio humanae."
She echoed his words and sighed in relief as she changed back into her human form. She then blinked. "Hey, where's my wand?"
Cedric smiled in humor and reached up to the girl's braid, removing the wand from the woven strands and passing it over to her. "Here you are."
Sofia laughed, accepting the wand. "You know, Mr. Cedric… Out of everything I've done in my life, working with you—no matter what we're doing—is still my favorite thing to do, because you make things interesting."
He was a little surprised to hear that. "Out of everything in your life…?"
She smiled. "Our relationship is unique, you know… It's much like magic: it's wonderful to witness, and we're lucky to have it and to be able to share it with each other. In fact, some might even call our friendship magic…because, in its own way, it is."
Cedric smiled thoughtfully as she leaned against him, hugging his arm. "I appreciate that a lot, Sofia…" He used his free hand to gently pat her hand. "I think we should call it a day, hmm?" Seeing her nod, he pulled his legs from the water and stood, pulling her up with him. "It's been a long day anyway, and I wouldn't mind turning in for the evening."
"You? Going to bed early?" She laughed. "I guess there's a first time for everything." She hugged him. "Thanks for helping me, Mr. Cedric. I feel a lot better now."
He returned the hug, gently patting her back in the process. "You're most welcome, my dear."
While the two friends were preparing to retire for the evening, at The Galley, all was not well. Sir Leignton stood before some of his trusted advisors, who had solemn looks on their faces.
"Three more sorcerers have been found dead?" the leader of Reimagia asked in both surprise and dismay. He was aware that the situation was becoming more dire day by day, but three at one time?
One man nodded. "All found within a few minutes of each other: Chigano, Erstad, and Varsmad."
"Those were three of our most promising up-and-coming sorcerers," another advisor lamented. "Sir Leignton, we have to do something to stop this madness."
"I agree." The silver-haired man frowned heavily. "It's going to take our entire realm to take down this dastardly culprit—whoever it is. We may even have to recruit the princess and her royal sorcerer friend to help. The more power we have behind us, the better."
"Sir Leignton!"
The leader turned briskly as Bergon, the red-haired boy from earlier, hurried up to him, panting.
"Bergon, what is it, lad?" Sir Leignton blinked as the boy pressed a letter into his hand. "What is this?"
"A-Axima and Hironko said this was attached to the door to the Grand Cupola. It was addressed to you." He bit his lip. "I…think there's blood on it…"
"Are my children all right?" he demanded, his eyes narrowed at the nervous boy.
"Yes, sir. They're staying with Lamaya's family for now. They didn't feel safe being at the Grand Cupola, especially when the letter was found there…"
"Thank you, Bergon. Might I suggest that you head home now? I'll collect them soon enough. Please be careful." Seeing the boy nod, Sir Leignton glanced down at the letter, which was dirty and crudely addressed to him. "Gentlemen, I believe we have our first clue…" He opened the letter, his eyes scanning its contents before looking toward them grimly. "…to determining who the murderer amongst us is."
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Riddle Me This