Ted, his parents and sister lived in Scotland, in a magicians village, which had already been declassified, as of today. Its name was Slitrent. Teds father, Mr. Francis Spencer, was a general practitioner. He was a tall, swarthy, black-haired forty-three-year old man with hazel eyes. His patients were both magicians and simple people. Teds mother, Mrs. Jane Spencer, was a forty-year old petite blonde woman with blue eyes. She was a chemist by profession. There was quite a big parcel of land at her disposal, where she could grow various magic plants and herbs, and then would brew potions out of them. It had been her hobby ever since her youth. Her husband highly appreciated her abilities and was constantly implementing the fruit of her labors in his medical practice. We have already met Teds sister Lily. As it has been previously observed, both Ted and Lily looked more like their dad, than their mom. It was a friendly, caring and loving family.
Ted came into his house. The whole family were sitting in there and watching television. Lily was the first one to spot him.
«Ted, are you back? So soon?»
«Is everything fine?» Mrs. Spencer began to worry.
«Yes, everythings OK,» Ted sank in a vacant arm-chair. «Tomorrow I am going to start working in the British Museum. In addition, I will be living in a small flat in London».
«Great! In other words, the Master has kept his promise, hasnt he?» asked Mr. Spencer.
«Certainly. Not in vain is he the Master. Id like to gather some things and transfer them to my flat».
«Im going to help you».
«Thanks a bunch, Mom. I would also like some food and money, until I get my salary. May I?»
«Ted, arent you our son?! You should always feel free to ask us for help».
«Im very grateful».
In the evening Ted was already in his new flat. As he had had supper at home, all his time was actually devoted to putting foodstuffs into the fridge, arranging his clothes on the wardrobe shelves until finally, he called Jeffrey.
It was ten oclock, when Ted, tired, yet pleased, dialed his friends number. Jeffrey answered almost immediately.
«Hey, Jeff, arent you asleep yet?»
«Ted, what a surprise! I was thinking that here we go, school is finished, and that youve forgotten your crony. By the way, I called you, but you werent available».
«Really? No one told me. I am calling you from my brand new flat and tomorrow I am starting to work».
«Are you serious? Fabulous! May I come to see you?»
«Sure, but tomorrow. Im dying of fatigue. Howre your party arrangements going? Or have you forgotten?»
«No way! Thats the reason I called you. Im waiting for you this coming Friday at eight oclock».
«Oh, I will come. How about?..»
«Alice also promised to come by. You intended to ask that, didnt you?»
«Yep, youre right, bud. I met her father in the Magistrate today. He recognized me, but I failed to recollect who he was at first».
«Oh, that must have been awkward. Fine. Tomorrow you will tell me everything in detail. Good night, Ted. Have a good sleep».
«You too, Jeff».
After the telephone conversation Ted took a shower and went to bed.
The following day at ten to eight in the morning, Ted, wearing a light blue shirt and a pair of black trousers, was walking onto the terrain of the British Museum. He had already been there plenty of times before, and was fond of strolling through its spacious halls, looking at the Egyptian mummies, ancient Roman and Greek sculptures, collections of antique coins and many other valuable exhibits. However, today Ted climbed up the luxurious staircase under the glass ceiling and walked into the study-room, where one of the Museum Directors assistants Mr. Alan Merlegg was already waiting for him.
«Ah, welcome, Mr. Spencer! Im glad that you will be our new employee. The Master praised you very much and I fully rely on his opinion. Our collaboration will be successful, I hope. Have a seat».
«I am also pleased to meet you, Mr. Merlegg».
They shook hands. Ted looked at his new chief with curiosity. A pleasant fifty-year-old man, his combed-back hair streaked with grey, blue eyes, a straight nose, thin lips and a determined chin.
«I also hope that well get along well,» thought Ted.
«Coffee? Tea?»
«Coffee please. Thank you».
Mr. Merlegg asked his personal assistant to fetch coffee.
«I should have asked you to prepare coffee with the help of your magic wand».
«Unfortunately, one cant conjure food».
«Really? Its a pity. What else can you not conjure up?»
«Money. Such invocations hadnt been invented yet. Besides, it is banned by the Magistrate. Well, otherwise none of us would have to work and it is even scarier to imagine how everyone might end up. I beg your pardon, arent you yourself a magician?»
«No, to my regret. I know quite a bit about the magic world though. Noblesse oblige».
Mr. Merleggs secretary brought the coffee in. Ted had a small sip.
«Ordinary people also drink good coffee, not worse than ours,» thought Ted. But his coffee was hot, that is why he decided to drink it more slowly.
«Will you please tell me a few words about your studies? What have you actually been taught in your School of Magic?»
«Oh, a lot of things. Mainly invocations, incantations and mastering the magic wand. After all, with the help of the wand one is able to open and close anything, likewise to turn certain things into something else. Also, we were instructed on how to prepare all types of elixirs. We studied healing, languages, history, as well as many other subjects, which are being taught in ordinary schools. Unfortunately, even the school does not provide us with all the needed skills and talents. I learned theurgy and enchantment through the magic wand, both orally and mentally. What I do is aspire to have a good command of the so-called corporal magic, that is with the help of your body and without the wand».
Ted was recalling his school years and his eyes shone.Mr. Merlegg watched him smilingly, like the more experienced adults leniently observing the young fledglings that are just commencing their life as grownups. Ted subsided and uttered in confusion:
«I am sorry to have gotten so carried away».
«No, not at all. It was very interesting to listen to you. Now allow me to demonstrate our treasures, throw some light on the essence of our activities here and to explain to you the terms of reference».
Mr. Merlegg took Ted to the Magic History Department.
«Unfortunately, our Department is not big yet. One of your job responsibilities will be to search and complete our collections that are on reserve. We have received the Magistrates special permission for that».
«How should it be completed?»
«Oh, this is a minor issue. There are archives, even newspapers. The Museum has allocated us substantial funds due to the fact that our Department is in demand from visitors».
On passing a number of halls they arrived at the Magic Department. The lights in the Department were off, while the stretched tape was blocking the entrance.
«But the Department is closed. Why?»
«You see, Mr. Spencer, since the previous employee disappeared the Department has been closed».
«Yes, the Master told me about his disappearance. But how on earth did it happen?»
Despite Teds being aware of the nuances, he still wanted to hear Mr. Merleggs version, too. The latter shrugged his shoulders: