"--and that's how the spell converts thaumic resonance into an identifiable sigil," said Chantress, pointing at the board. Her dark skin glistened in the sunlight coming in through the window. Melona actively resisted the urge to stare at the professor's broad hips, full buttocks, or, when she turned around, her impressive bust. Chantress was not the kind of woman who took being ogled lightly. It was why she dressed conservatively, or, at least, attempted to, and why she had harsh punishments for students who appeared to be getting distracted in class. "That is a rudimentary understanding of the Detect Magic spell. While it is technically not an enchantment, it's considered part of the discipline because of how intertwined it is with the field. That being said, at this level of sensitivity, it's not perfect. Can anybody name me a couple of everyday magic items that might cause the spell to give a false positive?"
The class was silent, although it was unclear if it was because no one knew the answer, or if they were just too intimidated to say anything.
"Manavision." Chantress sighed, pinching her brow, "Manavision, by definition, receives and transmits signals through the ether. This is perfect for throwing off a basic Detect Magic spell. It's also one of the many reasons we don't allow them on campus; such things make it far too easy to hide contraband." She turned towards the class. "Any other examples?"
The silence remained. Finally, she turned over towards Melona. "You."
"Me?" Melona answered automatically, feeling a twinge of panic.
Chantress looked at Melona and said nothing.
"Oh, okay," Melona stammered, hands fidgeting. She knew the answer, but her mind had gone completely blank! Finally, she thought about last night, and this morning, and without thinking, blurted out a single word. "Wands?"
Melona instantly regretted this answer, The class breaking into a cruel laugh. Chantress, for her part, looked more annoyed than angry. She held up a finger, and the class went silent.
"Not under most cases, admittedly," said Chantress. "As your peers may tell you--" she glanced around the room, daring somebody to laugh again, "--the average wand is merely a conduit for existing magic. It is no more an inherently magical item than a say, an empty irrigation channel is a water elemental." She lost some of her cold demeanor and became more thoughtful. "However, a handful of wands do exist that are magical on their own. Attuned wands, for instance, use their rightful owners' magic to power a thaumic engine within them. Quite good for war mages, but that's more of Fortis' wheelhouse. There are also a handful of Divine Wands, which bear immense amounts of magic. Those, of course, will imbue said magic onto the first person who touches them, at which point they are no longer inherently magical." Chantress looked back down at Melona, and her gaze once again turned impassive. "Eighty-five percent credit for participation today, Pearsly."
Melona was thrilled. This was the first time that she had crested seventy percent in anything for this class.
"Now," said Chantress. "I will cast a crude Detect Magic spell to demonstrate how easily common magical items can interfere with such a basic spell. Any object that has an enchantment on it will glow with an intensity that is exponentially related to the object's magic signature. Observe. Lux macu."
It was then that--
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