Topic: How to Get In

Quillyan Daewen

Date: 2010-05-04 06:53 EST
To Whom it May Concern:

Many students pass through our hallways here at the Esoteric Academy, but few have the ability to impact the institution and student population like Quillyan Daewen. She is the type of student that stands apart from the crowd; she is exceptional in every sense: a once-in-a-lifetime pupil. It is with great pleasure that we recommend Quillyan Daewen for admission to the Institute of Arcane Principle.

Quillyan, or ?Quilly? as she is affectionately known, has been with us for two years, and she has excelled in the most rigorous courses our establishment offers. Her innate talent is matched only by her endless dedication, and she continuously proves herself to be an asset not only to her student peers but also to the general study of magical arts. Her innovative techniques and endless creativity illuminate her potential to be a sorcereress of limitless power.

As a faculty, we are saddened that she is leaving, but we understand the necessity of moving on to more prestigious schools. Her talent simply overreaches our abilities for instruction. We look forward to following her astounding progress as she continues to achieve breakthroughs in her field, and we hope that you will heed our recommendation and admit Quilly into your current class of students.

Thank you for your time.

The Administrators of the Esoteric Academy

Quillyan Daewen

Date: 2010-05-04 06:58 EST
The administrators of the Esoteric Academy formed an imposing semicircle opposite the desk, their fatigued countenances painted with varying degrees of dissatisfaction. Outside the office suite, the intimidating din of an angry crowd provided a tempestuous background to the furious silence of the gathered officials. Quillyan faced the incensed gazes, her sapphire eyes alight with an annoying triumph. She was smiling, downright basking in the perceived power of her position as mob ringleader.

The headmaster spoke, his elderly mien seething, suddenly more animated than it had been in years: ?This is ridiculous! Insanity! We have not had this sort of academic interruption -- ever! Quillyan Daewen, you will be expelled for your actions!?

?You can?t expel me!? cried the young witch, wielding her potency with unabashed aggression. ?If you expel me, that crowd out there will burn this place down. One word from me -- ONE WORD -- and you?ll be spending the next five years sorting through the rubble of your middle-tier institution.?

The headmaster smoldered, mentally reciting murderous spells as he imagined putting this arrogant creature in her proper place. Finally, his rage turned to his assistant, and he barked ?Get rid of her! I don?t care how!? before storming into his office and slamming the door.

Outside the administrative suite, the sound of breaking glass crashed over the crowd?s cries, adding a sense of urgency to the disciplinary proceedings.

The headmaster?s assistant, a tired-looking woman who lacked any perceptible vitality, sighed theatrically before muttering: ?Okay. What do you want??

The negotiation caught Quillyan off-guard. Whipped into the frenzy of perceived injustice over dubious class rankings, she had mounted the proverbial soapbox and, armed with trite phrases and brainless passion, led the other students to protest, but that was a far as she had ever imagined. There was never an endgame.

She wasn?t exactly sure what she wanted.

The administrator continued, flatly: ?You know you can?t stay. You were already on academic probation because of your poor grades, and now...now...? She trailed off with a depressed shake of her gray-topped head.

?Fine,? spoke Quillyan, her impulsiveness formulating the skeleton of a plan. ?I won?t stay. And I?ll talk to the students -- I?ll calm them down. But you?re going to get me into another school. A better school.?

The perfect bow of her lips parted in a sly smile.

?I want a really, really good recommendation.?