Paige's face flushed at the derisive snort, and she pressed her teeth together, as his voice commanded her. Of course he thought they were together, and of course he was judging them. He was, after all, Master Darius. Paige fought not to bite into her tongue, or glare at the man. He outranked her, and as good as she was at magic, given a physical fight he would win, always. Hell, he probably could with magic as well, he was so flexible. Paige was good at one type of magic, the rest she could pass at, though she was barely of any use.<br/><br/>With a glance back to Cecily, she started down the passage, almost running to keep up with his gargantuan pace. Though she tried not to be angry, she could not help it. The man was insufferable, and absolutely cruel. He'd delighted in the fact that she'd done horribly her first four years, and hated her for the last. He used every means available to bully her, and he always snapped orders at her. Paige wasn't certain whether to hate, or pity the man, so she settled for avoidance. At least, she had managed fairly well until now.<br/><br/>She mounted the stairs easily. Though she didn't rely on magics to make her attractive, as some did, she was fit, she had to be to live in the absurdly tall tower. As they reached the chamber, Paige gave a bow to the assembled magi, silently following the order to stand in the circle. She hadn't ever used a teleportation circle before, but she'd heard that it felt like you were being turned inside out. Taking a deep breath, Paige attempted to steel herself, closing her eyes, and clenching her fists. Preparing for the unknown.<br/><br/>And then it happened. For the span of one heartbeat, she felt torn apart, inside out, upside down, numb and vivid. As her feet touched the ground again, her knees buckled, pitching the slight woman forward, her stomach clenching as her body attempted to reject the breakfast she had never eaten. She panted, eyes tearing as she knelt, shaking, for a while. They were in a grassy knoll outside the village. The grass had long since turned brown, and it felt as if small spikes here burying themselves into her palms. The air was completely dry, and every bit of energy was weak, screaming in pain and desperation in the sort of cacophony only a Life magic adept could hear. Paige sat back on her heels, sharp pain beginning between her eyebrows, and clapped her hands over her ears in vain, trying to block out the inaudible screams.<br/><br/>"Ah-!" She gasped. "I- Master..." She stuttered, face alternating between pale and red. "How do I make it stop?" Already her eyes began to well, tears spilling from closed lids unbidden. The pain tore at her heart, the piercing screams at her sanity.