Bonus Episode 1: Introduction to Psychomancy

[scene 1 - the schoolyard, 3 years before episode 1]

[we hear the sounds of children playing outside]

EZER: Mel, look what I found. The little lordling's all alone.

MEL: No bodyguards? What happened? The other snowballs all finally realize he wasn't worth protecting?

EZER: I don't know, but I don't see any of them around.

[Each of them ignites a ball of flame in their hand.]

MEL: Cold day, isn't it? Mind if we warm you up?

DEVON: Please. I'm - I’m just trying to study. I can go somewhere else, just-

MEL: Oh no, we wouldn't want to evict you.

EZER: Yeah, we wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[A blast of pyromancy. DEVON lets out a yelp as his face is nearly singed.]

DEVON: Please, just, just let me go-

MEL: Oh, but I wanted to thank you. You see, the first time I went home for the holidays, I was expecting to go back to the farm where my parents lived. You know, wide open spaces, lots of sheep and pigs and cows, a nice little tire swing in the front yard.

DEVON: What does this have to do with me?

EZER: They're getting to it Lordling. Have a little patience.

[MEL is getting closer and closer to DEVON, fireball in their hand.]

MEL: Imagine my surprise when instead of the beautiful farm that had been in my family for generations, I went home to a dingy little apartment in Redallon. See it turns out Lord Lancook needed my parent's land to build himself a new palace, and there was nothing compelling him to give them a fair price. So instead of happy sheep and pigs, I got to meet the happy little rats and spiders we had to share that crowded little tenement with. So I just wanted to thank your father for… expanding my family's horizons. He could have at least paid them what it was worth… now he’s gonna pay with his son’s face!

[Pyromancy and cryomancy sounds]

DEAN: Stop! All of you stop at once.

EZER: Dean! We weren’t- we didn’t-

DEAN: It’s very clear what’s happening, and don’t forget I can read your minds. Now go to tell professor Heyworth that I asked him to assign you both detentions. And don’t think I won’t find out if you don’t.

MEL and EZER: Yes, Dean.

[they leave.]

DEAN: As for you, young man- [he starts laughing, and the laugh transitions into Brynn’s laugh] 

BRYNN: I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep a straight face any longer. How was my Dean?

DEVON: Incredible illusion work. Although I think his beard is a little shorter. 

BRYNN: Ugh, facial hair. Never could get the hang of it. 

DEVON: Thank you. For saving me. I think they really meant to mess me up. 

BRYNN: Oh, no problem. Us weirdos gotta stick together. I’m Brynn, by the way. Brynn Tessek.

DEVON: Devon. 

BRYNN: Devon....

DEVON: Just… Devon.

BRYNN: Okay, mystery man. Let’s go get some food.

[opening credits music plays]

NARRATOR: Electromancy, Bonus Episode 1: Introduction to Psychomancy.

[scene 2 -a hallway]

BRYNN: (the 16-year-old version we know and love) Devon, Devon, Devon. What day is it?

DEVON: Dolimar 16th?

BRYNN: Yeah, duh, but what do we commemorate on this day? 

DEVON: Brynn, it is literally just a Tuesday. 

BRYNN: Gaahhhh. Shows how much you care about me. Dolimar 16th is the day we met, Devon. The day I rescued you from those bullies. And the day I first debuted my fake Dean act.

DEVON: Whatever happened to that anyway?

BRYNN: Oh, the real Dean found out about it and made it clear there would be consequences if I ever impersonated a member of the staff again. Which doesn’t mean I’m never gonna do it, mind you-

DEVON: Just that you want to save it for when it really counts. I know you.

BRYNN: Not well enough to remember our Friend-iversary, apparently.

DEVON: I’m sorry! I’m not good with dates. What are you doing here anyway, don’t you still have like two weeks of detention left for that little trip you took into the city?

BRYNN: There is a Brynn in detention, and Mr. McCray no longer has the skills to distinguish it from a living, breathing Brynn. The best part is he has no idea how much our little arms race is helping me hone my skills. *satisfied sigh* I love the cat and mouse game we’ve got going. I mean it, he literally turned into a cat, and I made this illusory mouse- drove him nuts. Anyway, it’s fine. Couldn’t be away from my bestie on our friend-versary. Now, c’mon, I’ve scored some pretty exciting contraband. Just need a little help getting it from point A to point B.

DEVON: Why don’t we just… hang out in the yard or the library and do something… (softly) totally legal and within the rules?

BRYNN: What was that?

DEVON: Just, maybe we could, just for today, not try and break the rules?

BRYNN: But I’m breaking the rules just by being here, it’s a waste if I don’t use the time to do something fun!

DEVON: But I’m not.

BRYNN: Devon. Devon, Devon, Devon. Let me make myself perfectly clear.

*photomancy noise. Devon stifles a laugh*

BRYNN: Get it? Cause I’m invisible-

DEVON: I get it Brynn. Loook,  I- I’m sorry, I really don’t want to get in trouble right now. The Pazik try-outs are next week, and-

BRYNN: *telepathically* Devon, seriously? You’re never gonna get on the Pazik team. And why would you want to hang out with those phonies anyway? Give me a break.

BRYNN: *out loud* Hey, no one’s gonna see us. It was going to be a surprise, but while I was on that little unauthorized excursion, I snagged some of those snack cakes you like, the ones with the creamy center-

DEVON: Wait, Brynn. You really think I don’t have a chance of making the team?

BRYNN: What do you mean, of course you have a chance!

DEVON: You just said you don’t think I do. And by the way, not everyone on that team is “phonies”, whatever that means. Some of them-

BRYNN: Devon, I literally did not say any of that.

DEVON: I’m right here. I know what I heard.

BRYNN: I know what I said, too. Devon, you’re a psychomancer.

DEVON: What?

BRYNN: I didn’t say that thing about phonies, or you not making the team. I just thought it. You just read my mind. You’re dual-natured too! I knew there was a reason I liked you!

I mean, besides the reasons I actually like you.

DEVON: I’ve never read a mind before…Wait a sec. 

[beat]

BRYNN: Yes….

DEVON: I think maybe I have? I've noticed a lot of people saying weird stuff the past few days. Just “why would you say that out loud?” kinda stuff. Which makes total sense if they weren’t. Saying it out loud, I mean. But still, that’s just the last few days, maybe a week or two-

BRYNN: Second aspects can emerge years after your primary one! Connor Rhodes didn’t realize he was a necromancer until a few months before graduation, that’s why they held him back a year.

DEVON: Oh my god. I have to tell the Dean! Or, Mr. Lang-

BRYNN: Or… you could wait. A little while. See how it develops. No harm in telling people a little later, is there?

DEVON: But why would I wait?

BRYNN: I dunno, maybe because being able to read minds is way more useful if no one knows you can do it? Can you imagine how much shit I could get away with if no one knew I was an umbramancer?

DEVON: I don’t know Brynn. This seems like a really big secret to keep. Plus how can I learn how to use this power without anyone to teach me?

BRYNN: Just, think about it okay? Take a little time. No need for any rash decisions, right? 

DEVON: I guess there’s no harm in giving it a little time…

BRYNN: And hey. If you really want to make the Pazik team… maybe this is the way you do it?

DEVON: What?

BRYNN: Look, Devon, you’re a four. Most varsity Pazik players are sixes or higher - or they’re like super tall which, I’m sorry, you are not. 

DEVON: There’s more to the game than magic and… height!

BRYNN: Sure. Like imagine a goalie who can look at whoever has the ball and instantly know exactly what they’re thinking. What play they’re going to make. How would you ever get one past a goalie like that? Even if his ice walls weren’t the strongest?

DEVON: That’s cheating!

BRYNN: Is being tall cheating? Is having stronger magic cheating?

DEVON: No…

BRYNN: Then what’s wrong with using what you’ve got, what makes you special, to give yourself a little edge?

DEVON: I- I…

BRYNN: Just think about it. As one of many possibilities that opens up to you as a secret telepath.

DEVON: But we’ll tell them eventually, right? 

BRYNN: Of course we will. We're just gonna have a little fun first. That's all.

[End credits music plays]

NATHAN: Electromancy is written, produced and directed by Nathan Comstock. This episode was sound-designed by Olanrewaju Odatayu, and featured the voices of Alex Lameroux, Tal Minear, Tuesday Orion Ibert, Karim Kronfli, and Leslie Gideon, with music by Thomas Dwyer. We are now crowdfunding for season 2! Please go to www.electromancypod.com or check out the link in the show notes and donate to help us make a second season that’s gonna blow season 1 out of the water. Help us pay our amazing cast and crew for all the hard work they do. We’ve also got four more bonus episodes ready to roll out. All of them take place before or during season 1, but they might have a few hints about season 2 in them. If you donate any amount, you’ll get to hear all of them, and we’ll be releasing them into the feed as we hit our milestones. So go donate, or if you can’t afford to donate right now, spread the word! And thank you all so much for listening to season one, for telling your friends about us, for talking about us on social media, for leaving us reviews- everything helps. And season 2, it’s - it's gonna be amazing.