Master Lavon moved through the ranks of this year's new batch of mages, motioning for them to prove themselves.

The first class of the year was always dedicated to introductions, and it was easily his favourite part of the academic year. To see their raw, equal potential - to encourage them to send their power forth, so all could see how beautiful their differences were. How both good and evil could be useful.

A spindly, pale-faced young man with the Death Magic emblem stitched to his blazer summoned the power of the dead to turn the green grass of the field they were standing on a withered brown.

"Oh, well done, well done, Kalo," the Mastered clapped his frail hands. "Yes, and do you see the possibilities before you? Do you see how you can use this to kill a field infected with pests, or target a sworn enemy's crops?"

Kalo nodded and smiled as his classmates cheered.

Lavon moved on, nodding amiably or stopping to comment as they all stepped forward, eagerly, to prove themselves. One girl used her Ice Magic to summon a host of heartbreakingly beautiful, animated sculptures that capered around the awed and laughing class before crumpling to shards of ice and melting away.

"Beautiful, Ina, quite beautiful," he said gently. "But expand your abilities. Beauty is good in itself, but think of its potential. You could order those sculptures to fight in our battles, to destroy. Or to act as carriers for our warriors. Think what else you can use your sculptures for, except ordering them to run in a circle as simple art."

He swept on, patting her on the shoulder as she looked chastised. "Don't look so glum. That's why you're here: to learn how to apply your gifts, no matter what it is. To learn the good and bad sides of your magic. To see how it could all be useful to build our nation, or used against our enemies. None of your gifts will be wasted, when your training ends."

Lavon reached the end of the line, and paused in front of a boy who looked barely old enough to be enrolled in first year.

"What's your name again?" Lavon asked.

The boy was pale with fright, and his lip trembled.

"My name's Peter. I'm afraid you won't - like my power," he said, his voice hitching on the words. "It's...it's unique to me..."

"Go on, boy," Lavon said gently. He was curious: there were countless magics, and new ones discovered every week. But they were always interesting. "I do not judge. Beautiful or dark, all power is welcome and useful to the Academy. You'll see."

The boy screwed up his face and threw out his hands. A shimmering mist squiggled in the air. It drifted pointlessly in the air, before fading out.

There was an embarrassed silence.

"Please, tell me how I can use this?" the boy asked. "I know I have to be here, all mages do. But everyone's been laughing at my power at home, telling me it's useless. Please tell me the truth? Is this a good ability? An evil one?"

Lavon stifled his urge to tell the boy to go home, that his power was neither. All mages in the Kingdom had to be here, it was law. He couldn't turn the boy away. Everyone was equal in the Academy. He stalled to buy time.

"Erm, I'll have to think a bit, lad. Why don't you go stand at the back of the group while I test the others, eh?"

Peter had seen the brief flash of astonishment and embarrassment on Lavon's face when he'd demonstrated his power. The sadness in him turned to resentment as he trudged to the back of the group. All power was useful, that was the rule. How would he make a living as a mage if no-one thought it was?

He kept walking, unnoticed by the group of first years as he slipped away, his fury growing by the second. To his surprise, he found Ina practising by herself. She must have slipped away too, to work on her sculptures.

They were beautiful. So beautiful, and useful to the Kingdom. In his festering resentment, he threw his hands out, and sent his magic forth. He'd tried it before - see if it was useful when used against others - but it had never got very far. Usually just drifted around himself.

But this time, he was angry.

His mist hit Ina in the chest. She cried out and tried to retaliate. Petey braced himself, but there was nothing.

"What have you done?" Ina whispered. "My magic it's... gone. You did something! Take it back!"

She tried to summon magic again and failed, as Petey ran away, filled with terror and elation. It could be spread to others, if he was angry enough. Could probably be used for the good of the Kingdom, by turning its power against the enemy.

Could be the equal of the other magics.

But he saw again the amusement on the others' faces, their distaste for his lack of power.

He could be the only mage left, by cancelling theirs. Let them see what it was like, to be useless. To be ordinary. Watch them grow to hate themselves, as he'd hated himself.

For the only thing considered truly horrifying in this world, was a lack of magic.