Zmerr continued his search in the main building, hoping to find someone to help him with the fire problem. there were the occasional freshmen , but none of them would be able to help. he needed someone with advanced magic skills. ahhhhh the disadvantages of being a non-magic user. fortunately, he'd been here long enough to know who to get ahold of. any of the teachers or members of the board. that's it! 

Zmerr took the corner that would take him to the teachers' apartments. he knocked on the first one he could find. a light flicked on in the room behind it, casting an eerie light through the space between the floor and the door. 

"What is it?" a grizzly voice sounded from the other side. 

"There's a serious problem! i need someone that knows advanced magic!" Zmerr practically shouted to make sure the teacher could hear him through the thick wood.

"If you're here for some crazy love potion or an invisibility spell so you can get some tonight, don't bother."

"I'm not a student and this is a serious problem!" anger just barely controlled in his voice. this guy thinks he's a student? sheesh!

"oh?" the voice said and the door opened a crack to reveal Maxus Renum, the the professor of stealth potions and magic.

"yes and if we don't hurry, all the horses in the stable will die." Zmerr sounded irritated now. he started walking toward the main entrance when Maxus came out of his room and closed the door behind him.

"So what happened?" Maxus asked as he finally caught up with Zmerr.

"somebody lit the stable on fire with magic and i can't put it out. they also used a silencing spell on it so that it would burn down unnoticed."

"i swear, if it's one of my students again, i'm quitting." Maxus sounded furious.

"I don't have a clue." Zmerr said as they came up on the stable, now completely enveloped in flames. suddenly, Maxus stoped dead in his tracks. "you alright?" Zmerr asked when he noticed.

"That's no ordinary magic fire or silencing spell..... go inside and get the higher ups. this is serious." Maxus' eyes were clouded with the darkest dread Zmerr had ever seen. "i will stay here and try to put out the fire."

"you got it!" Zmerr shouted, already running back towards the school.