The Staff Guild
The group moved through the castle’s vast corridors, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The torches lining the hallway flickered with cool blue and silver flames, casting ghostly shadows as they descended deeper into the castle. Professor Lyara led the way, her deep blue robes swirling behind her as they made their way toward the lower levels, where the dungeons and forging rooms were hidden beneath the castle’s foundation. The air became cooler, and the magic that filled the halls felt heavier the farther they walked.
Miruna wheeled beside Alaric, her enchanted chair gliding smoothly over the cobblestones. Her thoughts were racing, her mind struggling to wrap around everything she had learned so far. It was becoming clearer that Crystalline Peak was nothing like what she had been used to in Wizarding Britain. She had always assumed magic was the same everywhere, but here, it was like everything had been cracked open to reveal how much she didn’t know.
“So,” she said to Alaric, trying to keep her voice low as they walked with the group. “About the wands… do you know what we’re supposed to expect down there? I thought it would just be like home, you know, the standard options.”
Alaric gave her a small grin, his eyes flickering with amusement. “You’re in for a shock, Miruna. They don’t just offer the usual cores like your home. Here, they have way more options—each tied to the local magical wildlife or artifacts. It’s different from what we’re used to.”
Miruna frowned, intrigued. “Wait, you’re telling me there’s more than just dragon heartstring, unicorn hair, and phoenix feather? But… that’s all we’ve ever been taught.”
He nodded. “I know, but outside of Wizarding Britain, things are a bit more… personalized. The cores and woods are chosen based on where the magic user comes from. They pull from the natural elements of the area, so the options are endless depending on the region. It’s a lot more flexible than you might think.”
Miruna’s eyes widened as she processed this. “That’s… insane. Why doesn’t Britain offer more variety? It feels so limited compared to what you’re saying.”
Alaric shrugged, his smile fading slightly. “It could be tradition, or just the fact that they’ve kept the process streamlined for centuries. But here, you’ll see—there’s so much more to choose from. Just keep an open mind.”
Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. The idea of having so many options was overwhelming. “I had no idea.”
He glanced at her, his expression more serious. “Oh, and one more thing—you might not get a wand. Wands are standard in Britain, but here, you could get a staff. Some people have a natural affinity for one or the other, and the process will show you which one suits you best.”
The idea of possibly getting a staff instead of a wand was something Miruna hadn’t even considered, but Alaric’s words hung in the air as they arrived at a massive iron door engraved with runes and ancient symbols. The sheer weight of the magic radiating from the door made her catch her breath.
Professor Lyara stopped in front of the door and waved her hand, causing the engravings to pulse with light before the door creaked open, revealing the vast room beyond—the Staff Guild.
The room was breathtaking. Tall, vaulted ceilings rose above them, and the scent of charred wood and fresh earth filled the air. Along the walls, intricate sigils glowed faintly, whispering of ancient magic. Shelves lined the walls, filled with rare woods, enchanted crystals, and ancient artifacts. In the center of the room was a massive forge where molten metal glowed like rivers of light. The heat of the forge mixed with the coolness of the dungeon air, creating a strange but powerful atmosphere. Students murmured excitedly as they took in the sight.
Professor Lyara stepped forward and turned to face the group. “The time has come for you to select your magical focus,” she began. “Each of you will be guided into your own private chamber. The process of selecting your wood and core is deeply personal, and I urge you to listen to your instincts. This is not a decision to be made lightly.”
Miruna’s heart skipped a beat as she heard Lyara’s words. Her instincts? The thought of choosing something as powerful as a wand or staff felt like a monumental responsibility. One by one, the students were called into individual rooms. Miruna watched as Alaric was led away, his eyes meeting hers briefly before he disappeared behind a heavy wooden door.
After what felt like an eternity, Miruna’s name was called.
She wheeled herself forward, the air in the room feeling heavier with magic as she approached the door. With a deep breath, she entered the private chamber.
Inside, a simple wooden table stood in the center of the room, but on its surface lay dozens of different woods—each one more exotic and unique than the last. Miruna’s eyes widened as she scanned the assortment. Some pieces of wood were dark and smooth, while others were light and gnarled. Some even seemed to glow faintly, their magic palpable in the air around them.
“Take your time,” came a disembodied voice. It was calm, gentle, and somehow familiar. “The wood that calls to you will make itself known.”
Miruna hesitated, unsure where to start. She reached out to touch a piece of wood, but quickly pulled her hand back. Nothing. No connection. She moved to the next piece, a darker wood, but again felt nothing.
Then her eyes fell on a spiraling piece of wood that seemed to pulse with energy. It was a blend of two woods—Crystalbark and Dreamwood, a label beside it said, twisting together in an intricate pattern. The moment her fingers brushed the surface, a warmth spread through her hand, and she knew this was the one.
“This one,” she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the other pieces of wood disappeared, leaving only the one she had chosen. Miruna felt a surge of magic in the room as shelves rose from the floor, filled with glowing vials containing what could only be cores—each one radiating a different kind of energy.
“Now,” the voice instructed, “choose your core.”
Miruna moved closer to the shelves, her eyes darting over the different options. There were so many—far more than she had ever been taught. There were dozens of options—cores she had never even heard of. Each one glowed with its own unique light. She spotted the familiar shimmer of phoenix feather and unicorn hair, but her attention was drawn elsewhere.
Aurora Borealis Thread. The strands sparkled with a soft, ever-changing glow, radiating magic as ancient as the stars. Her fingers tingled when she touched it. Nearby, a vial of Crystalized Faerie Dust shimmered like a galaxy contained in glass, exuding raw, unbridled power. Lastly, her hand rested on a Frostwolf Fang, radiating fierce, primal energy that sent a thrill through her.
Miruna placed the three cores together on the table, watching as they pulsed in synchrony. Aurora Borealis Thread for illusions, Crystalized Faerie Dust for enchantments, and the Frostwolf Fang for strength and combat.
The shelves disappeared, leaving only the wood and core she had chosen. The air in the room felt lighter now, as if the magic was satisfied with her choices.
But it wasn’t over yet. Another set of shelves rose from the floor, this time filled with crystals and gemstones. Each one sparkled in the dim light of the room, their magical energy nearly overwhelming. Miruna felt drawn to a particular crystal at the top—Spirit Amethyst and Celestial Diamond, two crystals fused together to create a shimmering lavender hue that sent holograph reflections through the room when the light shifted. She took it carefully, knowing this would be the focal point of her staff.
With her final choice made, the shelves sank back into the floor, and the room grew silent.
“Your staff will be constructed shortly,” the voice said. “Please return to the main room and wait for your magical focus.”
Miruna nodded, still processing everything that had just happened. She wheeled herself back into the main room after placing her crystal selection back on the table, her mind buzzing with thoughts of what her staff would look like. Alaric was already there, leaning against the wall with a calm expression on his face.
When he saw her, he gave a small smile but said nothing. No one in the room spoke about their choices. It was an unspoken rule that the selection of one’s magical focus was deeply personal—something to be kept private. Miruna appreciated the silence as she settled in to wait.
More students trickled into the main room, each one carrying the same thoughtful, introspective look that Miruna had seen on Alaric’s face. The air was thick with anticipation, but no one dared break the silence. After about ten minutes, students began getting called back into the individual chambers to receive their newly crafted wands or staffs.
Finally, it was Miruna’s turn.
She wheeled herself back into the chamber, her heart racing as she approached the table. On it, where the wood and core had once been, now lay her staff. It was a masterpiece. The Crystalbark and Dreamwood twisted together in an elegant spiral, the two woods blending in a way that seemed almost impossible. The staff was smooth, its translucent surface catching the light in a way that made it seem alive. It was around 5 feet in length. At the top of the staff was the Spirit Amethyst and Celestial Diamond, the crystal shimmering with a holographic lavender hue.
The Master Wandcrafter stood beside the table, his expression unreadable. “Your staff is complete,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “May it serve you well.”
He handed the staff to her, and the moment her fingers wrapped around it, Miruna felt a surge of energy course through her body. The connection was immediate, and she knew, without a doubt, that this staff was meant for her.
The Master then handed her a wristband, explaining that it would allow her to shrink the staff and summon it at will. With a grateful nod, Miruna shrunk the staff and slipped the wristband on her wrist, the weight of the staff disappearing as it vanished into the enchanted holder.
When she returned to the main room, Professor Lyara was waiting for them. “Now that you have all received your magical foci, we will proceed to your living quarters,” she said. “Follow me.”
The group moved out of the Staff Guild, ready for the next step in their journey, the air around them still buzzing with the quiet power of their new magical tools.