Aiden was buzzing with excitement as he sat tapping his feet on the awkward plastic chairs, in a rather boring waiting room. It was covered with the normal things you find in all waiting rooms, a mish mash of posters with health and safety warnings and magazines that no one would choose to read outside of a waiting room. 

Around him sat about ten other students from his college all in similar fits of excitement, some tapping and humming most chatting with each other swapping pieces of gossip about the history teacher being spotted with the hot new science teacher at a local DIY store. Aiden generally ignored them. He was good at ignoring people especially those he shared classes with. He had seventeen years of his life to practice, and he felt he had gotten it down to an art. The prattle of gossip was pointless when he was so close to the goal, he had set himself. He was going to be the world’s best Curse-breaker even greater than his personal hero Leo Richards. A gorgeous sorcerer with a shining mane of blonde hair, diamond bright teeth and a series of comics that retold all his greatest adventures. Aiden had religiously collected them all since he was little and today was the day he would get to live one of those adventures for himself.  

His happy little bubble of joy was brought to a resounding pop as the door at the front of the room swung loudly open, shaking the surrounding conversations to pieces. 

“Hello students... You can call me Mr Samson.” The figure paused in the doorway before giving the door another resounding boot back into place. It was kind of surprising it didn’t just collapse in on itself when brought into contest with the imposing Mr Samson who was undeniably part fae with his craggy face and moss green hair that showed no sign of being dyed, let alone his seven-foot height with rugby player frame bound up in a custom-made respectable looking suit. Only part fae of course as it was incredibly rare for a full-blooded member of the fair folk to be found outside of their own lands. Aiden wished he could summon up his sight to have a proper look at Mr Samson, witch sight would let him know so much more. Some days he became frustrated that politeness was more important than knowledge. 

“Now all of you are here today to gain experience of a profession that is important to the smooth running of society. Curses are dangerous things, but they are not uncommon and sometimes not even purposeful.” Samson’s voice was deep and gravelly like a valley washing over the students on their plastic chairs. It was inane stuff they had heard before, but his fearsome expression kept every mouth shut, every foot still as they waited for him to continue. 

“But none of you care about that. You’re all here either because there were no placements left to experience being a police officer with our local force or you have been avid readers of the Cursed series that has been making the rounds or just maybe you’re that kid who just randomly picked one job to follow for a week out of the list and ended up here.” 

Mr Samson’s gaze slowly drifted around the room pinning upon individuals as he described each type. 

“Whatever the reasoning there are some ground rules to observe while you are out in the big bad world of work.” He slammed his foot down to reinforce the point gaining a second wave of sound as everyone jumped slightly where they sat. 

“There are three rules. Don’t do anything illegal. Don’t do anything to endanger the clients, yourselves, or your supervisor. Don’t disgrace your school.” 

The grin he gave as he finished was full of teeth and little mirth. 

“You will be assigned a supervisor, for the week this individual will be your lord and saviour, what they tell you to do is law to your sweet little ears as long as it does not conflict with the laws I have set you now. They are there to educate you but above that they will try to keep you safe, try to help them do this by not being a complete moron in the way you conduct yourselves.” 

He paused letting his words settle in like lead bricks to a swimming pool. 

“Time for me to let the poor sods in.” 

He stepped back towards the door yanking it open and closed behind his hulking frame in a swift motion.  

All the student’s eyes were fixed on the door. The hush was no longer fearful it was expectant. Mr Samson opened the door a little more carefully this time making a motion for whoever was just behind him to enter after he did. 

The Cursebreakers all appeared in an array of colours, shapes, and sizes though one factor remained constant, they all looked respectably magical. What that entailed was the feeling they had tripped backwards through a vintage styled charity shop before slipping into the art shop next door and then had a fight in the glitter aisle. A few carried compact brooms all bronze metal, twigs and wax polish bundled under their arms, a couple wore the old-fashioned pointed hats with a selection of pins glittering like gems in the cold artificial light. 

Aiden had his eyes focused on a sorcerer in purple robes that denoted he was a part of the Spell Knights company, the very company Leo Richards worked for. He wore an ornate set of smoked goggles covered in golden filigree and his short black curly hair shone even down to his close-cropped beard. Aiden was lost in how elegant he found him. 

Each Cursebreaker whirled in, each pausing at centre stage of the room and calling out a name of a student. Aiden got more and more excited as the purple sorcerer remained. This was his guy, he knew it. It was destiny that he would be able to walk the same halls as his idol. 

He was close to hyperventilating as the purple sorcerer was now the only one left. He was getting ready to stand as the man opened his mouth reading off the paper in front of him. 

“Alexa Crow.” 

Aiden was stunned as he felt a girl brush past him. What the hell? Someone else was left? The purple sorcerer greeted her with a small bow before drawing her uncomfortably close to his body. 

“Hold tight Alexa, we’re taking the quick route.” 

With that he recited a quick mumble of words, before they both disappeared in a puff of smoke and sparkles. 

“Show off.” Mr Samson grumbled crossing his arms and beginning to gather up his case. 

Aiden was the only one left except for Mr Samson. He stood nervously his legs shaking with a mixture of anger fuelling him to speak up. 

“Erm, Sir where is erm my Cursebreaker.”  

There was a hint of wheedling edging into Aiden’s voice as he scrunched his fingers into fists so tightly he left little crescent marks where his nails dug into the flesh. He was a grown man he would not throw a tantrum, but it was ever so tempting to give in and just lose it. It was never nice to be the last one picked in a group, it was even worse if no one even bothered to turn up to try and pick you at all. 

Mr Samson gave him a grim-faced look before turning to his sheet. 

“What’s your name boy?” 

“Aiden Price, Sir.” 

“Huh.” He grunted “Not a clerical error like last time, your Curse-breaker should be...” 

The words were cut short as a new figure strode into the room. Voicing herself loud and clear. 

“Ah it seems I’m late.”