Pre-Introduction by Maria Panfiorova

The sundials were tumbled into white pebbles.
Almost noon. Probably. Gav actually had no idea. He bit his lips nervously, trying to find somebody in the crowd of noisy freshman. What if she was late? What if she was ill? Academy seemed so much bigger and fancier compered to his old school; and he was standing in the middle of it alone, so lost and confused.
“Muire, here you are!” Gav run to her as soon as she shoved near the gate.
She nodded silently, looking right through him.
“Those sundials are so confusing”, he went on talking- “why don’t you use bells? We always used bells in our school. It’s much clearer, you know?”
Muire frowned, still thinking about something else.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mother,” she answered grimly.
“Oh, I can imagine what fun it is to live with Master of dead.”
Actually, he couldn’t even imagine that. Muire had written about her mother in her letters to him but in very vague detail. This lesson in basic necromancy is his first opportunity to see her in person.
“Oh, yeah, fun.” Muire lead Gav to the building, as it was almost noon. “She I’ll follow her steps and become her successor. Like, my name to hell, I haven’t even passed the exam yet. Why does she think it’s my thing?”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure she won’t need a successor for next ten thousand years. Or how long do bonechanters live?”
“They do not live,” she mumbled, “they dig themselves a grave and lie there until the end of times.”
“I think it’s the same with all the Masters. Especially – those of language. Especially – your Master Shihi. I’d came only last night and he already lectured me about importance of punctuality, as if it was my fault it was raining.”
“Why are you here, then?”
He shrugged.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
She smiled and said nothing. Only now Gav noticed they walked by the raw of old abandoned cells, carved into the walls. It was dim and cold and smelled like candle wax.
“Are we heading to a morgue?” Gav asked.
“Kind of, you’ll see. There are some mummies in catacombs under us.”
“Huh, it’s my first day and I’m already heading right to my grave.”
“My grave,” Muire smiled. “If my mother’s predictions are true, it will be my grave in four years.”
“Is it so terrible? Necromancy, I mean.”
“It depends on your definition of terrible. In general – not so much, but in my mother’s class it would be insufferable unless you are a dedicated follower.”
 “Does she have a cult? I’m ready to sign up to it, if it gets me a better grade.”
“You can ask her in person, we’re here.”
They stopped near the large oak door, a sole confident voice could be heard behind it. The lecture had already begun.
“-and we’re late.”
“Will she kill me?” Gav whispered.
“No, but when you die, she could turn your corpse into a cloak hander.”
“Then good luck.”
“Good luck to you, it’s your first impression.”
They exchanged quick glances and opened the door.