The Magykal Papers (8 page)

A M
ESSAGE FROM
M
ADAM
M
ARCIA
O
VERSTRAND
, E
XTRA
O
RDINARY
W
IZARD

TO ALL IN THE CASTLE

The reign of the Supreme Custodian is over! The Wizard Tower is back in operation, and most of the Wizards have been
Returned
. The young Princess has taken her rightful place in the Palace with her adoptive parents, Sarah and Silas Heap. We ask that you respect their privacy as they become used to their new life.

The Palace Guard has been disbanded. The Young Army has been disbanded. All boys and girls who have lost touch with their families have been settled into the old barracks in family groups, for which we seek caring houseparents. We also seek high-quality Apprenticeships throughout the Castle. Many people of the Castle have spent the past ten years working for the Supreme Custodian, performing tasks that perhaps, now, they are not so proud of. To that end, we are happy to announce the Second-Chance Scheme, the first of which will be many new programs to get the Castle back on track. Anyone may come to see us at any time and will be given new training toward a new profession,
no questions asked
.

We do not care what you have done in the past, only what you can do to contribute to
a brighter, better future.

PAPERS FROM THE
W
IZARD
T
OWER

THE
Wizard Tower

HOW TO GET THERE:
From the Palace follow Wizard Way. Go through the Great Arch and stop for a moment to admire the amazing lapis lazuli facings. Now you are in the Wizard Tower courtyard. Cross the courtyard, ascend the marble steps and wait until the duty Wizard answers.
Do not bang on the door.

WHO LIVES THERE:
The ExtraOrdinary Wizard, the ExtraOrdinary Apprentice, Ordinary Wizards with some of their Apprentices and assorted peripheral staff.

WHY YOU’D GO THERE:
You wouldn’t, unless you were invited to see a Wizard.

WHY YOU WOULDN’T:
Marcia Overstrand does not like unexpected visitors.

THE
Wizard Tower

NO. 3 IN THE POPULAR SERIES HEAPS OF KNOWLEDGE

A PAMPHLET BY SILAS HEAP

OTHER PAMPHLETS AVAILABLE
:
HEAPS OF FUN, HEAPS OF MAGYK, HEAPS OF HANDY HINTS, HEAPS OF HERBS

D
ESIGNED AND BUILT
by the first ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Hotep-Ra, the Wizard Tower is the Wonder of the Castle—twenty-one stories high and topped by the great golden Pyramid that houses the famous Pyramid Library, which has been collected by ExtraOrdinary Wizards across the centuries. At the very top of the Pyramid is a small, flat square inlaid with silver, on which are inscribed the unknown hieroglyphs. Tradition has it that these hieroglyphs can only be deciphered at a time of Great Peril. A copy of a tracing of these is available at the Manuscriptorium for a considerable sum.

No one has ever been able to count the windows of the Tower and get the same number twice; this may be because of the
UnStable
window on the seventh floor, which is not always visible. The windows have a purple
Magykal
film floating over the glass, which may appear rainbow colored on a sunny day.

The
Magykal
lights that flicker around the Tower vary in color from light purple to dark indigo blue, depending on the amount of
Magykal
activity within the Tower. The underlying color of the Tower is silver.

The most dramatic approach to the Wizard Tower is along Wizard Way and through the magnificent Great Arch. As you walk across the cobbled courtyard you will see the great white marble steps leading up to the awe-inspiring double silver doors that are the entrance to the Wizard Tower. Please note this entrance is by password only.

Marcia Overstrand’s apartment

The current ExtraOrdinary Wizard is Madam Marcia Overstrand. Like all ExtraOrdinary Wizards, her rooms occupy the twentieth and twenty-first floors. Madam Overstrand shares her quarters with the current ExtraOrdinary Apprentice, Master Septimus Heap—a very talented boy who is rarely allowed to leave the Tower to visit his family. However, it is tradition that the younger Apprentices live in the Tower with their Tutor Wizards. Adult Apprentices may live elsewhere if they so wish.

Below the twentieth floor, there are generally two apartments on each floor, although on the lower stories there are some single rooms for the very junior Wizards. Wizards move up the Tower according to aptitude and experience, although some of those on the lower floors will dispute this.

Dragon launchpad

FEATURES TO NOTE

• The smell of
  Magyk
  . Please be advised that those with allergies may be adversely affected.
  
• The Great Hall with its
  Magykal
  floor. Stop awhile. If you are lucky, you will see a message cross its strangely sandy surface.
  
• The
  Magykal
  silver spiral stairs. Accompanied timed rides are available on alternate Monday afternoons. Please ask the DoorKeeper for a ticket.
  
• The
  Magykal
  pictures on the walls. These appear and disappear according to an ancient and long-lost Spell. The pictures depict moments from the history of the Wizard Tower. Please note that particular pictures cannot be produced on demand.
  
• The great purple door to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard’s rooms. This may be viewed as part of the spiral stairs ride. Visitors must remain silent while on the landing outside the door. You may
  not
  touch the door.
  
• The fabled Pyramid Library at the top of the Tower. It is regretted that Library visits are no longer available to the public.