25. The Wisdom of Friends
25
The Wisdom of Friends
Dorian
The next morning, I went for a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Ebonshire. The air was crisp with the chill of fall, a refreshing change from the musty tomes and arcane incense that permeated my office at Blackstone Academy. Fallen leaves skittered across the sidewalk and smoke rose from chimneys as fireplaces inside blazed.
The leaves were deep burgundy and rust, collecting in drifts against iron fences where spiderwebs glittered with morning dew. Ancient oak trees lined the street, their branches forming a natural archway overhead.
Unlike the austere stone buildings of the academy, this part of town embraced a wilder magic. Garden gates wore wreaths of dried herbs and protective sigils, while black cats dozed on windowsills next to glowing crystals and bottles filled with mysterious tinctures.
I pulled my coat closer and turned down the walkway of a charming little two-bedroom cottage near the center of town. Well-trimmed bushes grew along the edges of the property, while colored stepping stones marked the path to the front door. A wooden sign swung gently in the breeze, proclaiming “Rowan Greyfable: Life & Relationship Coach—Discover Your Inner Magic!”
With a fond smile, I rapped my knuckles against the forest green door. A moment later, it swung open to reveal Cassian's imposing frame. The faun's impressive horns nearly grazed the doorframe, and his brown eyes scanned me from head to toe with his usual no-nonsense attitude. His workshop apron was still tied around his waist, dusted with wood shavings that caught the light like fallen stars, and his calloused hands spoke of both strength and careful craftsmanship.
“Good morning, Profess—” Cassian began, only to be unceremoniously shoved aside by a blur of ash blond curls and excited energy.
“Dorian!” Rowan exclaimed, throwing their arms around me in an exuberant hug. I chuckled, patting their back as I tried not to stumble under the force of their enthusiasm. Rowan's own spiraling horns just missed poking me in the eye, a hazard I'd grown accustomed to whenever Rowan hugged me, which was nearly every time I saw them.
“Let him breathe, Ro,” Cassian grumbled, though I caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Rowan pulled back, their green eyes sparkling with mirth. “Oh, hush, you big grump. It's not every day our favorite necromancy professor graces us with his presence.”
I couldn't help but grin. “I'm fairly certain I'm the only necromancy professor you know, Rowan.”
“Exactly! Which makes you our favorite by default,” they quipped, ushering me inside with a flourish.
The cottage embraced us like a warm hug. The air smelled of cinnamon and woodsmoke, mingling with the earthy scent of Cassian's latest carpentry project. Even the magic felt cozy here, protection wards humming like a lullaby while enchanted teacups arranged themselves by season. Plush throw pillows adorned a well-worn leather couch, and crystals of various sizes and colors dotted every available surface.
A delicate chirping sound drew my attention upward, where Eko lay sprawled across one of the ceiling beams, her nine tails dangling lazily over the edge. The fennec fox familiar's ears perked up at the sight of me, and she vanished in a shimmer of golden light, only to reappear in Rowan's arms. “Yes, yes, you dramatic thing,” Rowan cooed, scratching behind her oversized ears. “You saw him just last month.” Eko's response was to flick her tails in a way that somehow managed to convey both agreement and dismissal of the timeframe as irrelevant.
“Tea?” Rowan offered, already bustling towards the kitchen. Eko trotted after them, her tails swishing with purpose.
“Actually,” I said, my voice tight enough to make both Rowan and Cassian pause, “I need to discuss something urgent first.” I remained standing, my fingers drumming against my coat buttons. “There's been some unusual spirit activity at the academy. Formerly benign spirits have become aggressive, and one of them attacked my former student, Ren Wickens.”
Cassian straightened, his easy posture shifting to alert attention. “How bad?”
“The spirit marked him as a chosen sacrifice for a dark necromantic ritual,” I said grimly. “We believe Alistair Grimshaw intends to carry it out in a cave on the grounds of the old academy.”
Eko's ears flattened against her head, her tails bristling as she sensed the gravity of the situation. She leaped to the back of Cassian's chair, all nine tails fanned out in a protective display.
“Dagon?” Rowan asked quietly, their hands stilling on the kettle.
I nodded. “We believe Alistair intends to bind his soul to the elder god. If we can locate the specific cave and find a way to disrupt the ritual, perhaps cleanse the space...”
“We can stop him,” Cassian finished, exchanging a look with Rowan. “But you'll need backup.”
“That's why I'm here,” I admitted. “Your knowledge of the old grounds, Cassian, and Rowan's expertise in cleansing spaces... I can't do this alone. Not with Ren's life at stake.”
Something in my voice must have caught Rowan's attention, because their expression softened with understanding. “Of course we'll help,” they said, resuming their tea preparation with renewed purpose. “But first, sit. You're wound tighter than Eko's tail springs, and we need to talk this through properly.”
Rowan bustled back into the room, a tray of steaming mugs balanced precariously in their hands. Eko trotted behind them, each of her nine tails holding a different crystal or bundle of herbs with surprising dexterity. The familiar had clearly appointed herself Rowan's assistant, though from the way she kept rearranging the items with her tails, she seemed to have her own opinions about proper magical organization.
I accepted a mug of tea from Rowan gratefully, inhaling the soothing scent of chamomile.
“You do realize,” Rowan said, their eyes twinkling as they sat next to Cassian, “that this means you're stuck with us now. We don't let family face eldritch horrors alone.”
The word 'family' settled warmly in my chest, a different kind of magic altogether.
As I sipped my tea, I couldn't help but notice the way Rowan’s and Cassian's hands naturally found each other, their fingers intertwining with the ease of long-practiced intimacy. It made my heart ache with a bittersweet longing, my thoughts drifting to Ren.
Rowan, ever perceptive, must have caught the flicker of emotion on my face. “So, tell us about this Ren,” they prodded gently. “He must be quite special if you're willing to face down eldritch horrors for him.”
I felt heat creep up my neck, no doubt turning my ears a fetching shade of crimson. “Ah, well, you see...” I fumbled for words, suddenly feeling like a schoolboy with his first crush rather than a distinguished professor of necromancy.
Cassian snorted, a rare grin spreading across his face. “Oh, you've got it bad, don't you?”
I groaned, sinking further into the armchair. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to anyone with eyes,” Cassian deadpanned, earning him a playful swat from Rowan.
“There's nothing wrong with having feelings, Dorian,” Rowan said gently. “But I sense there's more troubling you than just a crush.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Ren is... exceptional. Brilliant, really. His grasp of necromancy is intuitive in a way I've rarely seen. But more than that, he's kind, and funny, and...” I trailed off, searching for the right words. “He makes me feel alive in a way I haven't in years.”
Cassian raised an eyebrow. “Alive, eh? That's a bit ironic for a necromancer, isn't it?”
I couldn't help but chuckle. “I suppose it is. But there's something about Ren that just... lights up a room. Even when he's knee-deep in grimoires about death and decay.”
Rowan leaned forward, their expression softening. “You're in love with him, aren't you?”
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. I stared into my tea, watching the leaves swirl at the bottom of the cup. “I... yes. I believe I am,” I admitted quietly. “And that terrifies me more than any eldritch horror we might face.”
Cassian snorted. “It should. Love is terrifying.”
Rowan elbowed him gently before turning back to me. “Oh, don't listen to this old grump,” Rowan said, rolling their eyes affectionately at Cassian. “Love is beautiful, Dorian. Scary, yes, but beautiful. Tell me, Dorian, what is it that frightens you most about your feelings for Ren?”
I took a deep breath. “Well, there's the matter of our positions at the academy, of course. The age difference. But more than that, I... I worry about overwhelming him. Ren has been through so much already, and I don't want to add any additional burden to his shoulders.”
Rowan nodded thoughtfully, their fingers absently tracing patterns on Cassian's arm. “It's admirable that you're so concerned about Ren's well-being. But have you considered that your feelings might not be a burden to him at all? That they might, in fact, be a source of strength and support?”
I blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. “I... I hadn't thought of it that way, I must admit.”
Cassian chuckled, his gruff exterior softening slightly. “For a brilliant necromancer, you can be remarkably dense about matters of the heart, professor.”
My cheeks flushed. “I've made extensive pro/con lists,” I admitted sheepishly. “They weren't particularly helpful, as Ren kept appearing in both columns.” I sighed. “I seemed to find myself just absently doodling his name like some lovesick schoolboy.”
“Dorian,” Rowan continued, their voice taking on a more serious tone. “Dorian, I sense there's something else you're not telling us. Something about Ren that you feel you can't share.”
I sighed, choosing my next words carefully. “Out of respect for Ren’s privacy, there are certain things I can’t discuss openly, even with friends. But it’s that very subject that’s troubling me. I’m not sure how to navigate this… how to approach Ren without overstepping or complicating things for him.” I looked up. “You and Cassian… How do you navigate the complexities of being in a relationship with a man as a non-binary person?”
Rowan smiled faintly and squeezed Cassian’s hand, smiling over at him. “Well, it hasn’t always been perfect, but it’s been real.”
Cassian snorted. “I messed up a lot, especially at the beginning.”
“The key has always been communication,” Rowan continued. “I had to let Cassian know early on that, while I didn’t fit into the traditional boxes, I wasn’t any less of a person, or any less deserving of love. And he had to show me that he saw me— all of me. Not just the label.”
I nodded, absorbing their words. “That sounds… difficult, but also beautiful.”
Rowan leaned in slightly, their voice softening with understanding. “It can be challenging, but it’s also about letting the other person see the parts of you that are vulnerable. There’s no shame in being open about what you need, or in trusting someone to care for all of you.”
Cassian’s eyes softened. “Yeah. And it’s not always about grand gestures, Dorian. Sometimes, it’s just about being there when they need you, without making them feel like they have to explain themselves all the time.”
Rowan nodded in agreement. “Love is in the small things we do for each other. It takes thought and time, and effort, but you learn as you go. With Ren, I imagine it’s the same. He may not always know how to express what he needs, but that doesn’t mean he’s not longing for you to see it, or to offer your support.”
I chewed on their words for a moment. “I want to do right by him. I’m just afraid of pushing him too far, too fast. Ren’s been through so much already, and I don’t want to cause him more stress.”
Rowan’s gaze softened, their eyes warm. “The fact that you’re thinking about this means you’re already on the right track. Don’t rush anything. Trust that you both will find your pace. Just remember, sometimes, just asking what someone needs, instead of assuming, is the greatest gift you can give.”
Cassian chuckled. “And if you mess up, just apologize and move on. We’re all learning as we go.”
I nodded, a weight lift from my shoulders. “Thank you both. Your wisdom is, as always, invaluable.”
Rowan beamed, their curls bouncing as they hopped off the arm of the couch. “Now, about those caves. I think I have just the thing to help cleanse the space.”
They disappeared into the back room, leaving Cassian and me in comfortable silence. I sipped my tea, mulling over their advice.
“You know,” Cassian said, his deep voice rumbling through the room, “Rowan and I wouldn't be together if I hadn't taken a chance. Sometimes, you have to leap before you're ready.”
“How did you know, Cassian?” I asked quietly. “That they were the one?”
Cassian let out a short laugh, glancing toward the back room where Rowan had disappeared. “The idea of ‘the one’ has never really fit with me,” he said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “But with Rowan... I guess I just knew in the way you do when something fits, even if it doesn’t look like you thought it would.” He paused, searching for the right words. “I’ve never believed in that whole ‘one true love’ nonsense, at least not in the traditional sense. But Rowan? There was something about them, something different .”
He shifted in his chair, his gaze softening as he spoke. “I wasn’t looking for a soulmate or some grand, perfect connection. What I found with Rowan was real. Messy, complicated, and sometimes frustrating as hell, but real. And it wasn’t about finding some idealized version of a person, it was about recognizing them as they were, right in front of me.”
I nodded, trying to absorb what he meant. “So, you didn’t feel like you were meant to be together, like some grand destiny?”
Cassian shrugged. “Not exactly. But I did feel like I wanted to be with them in every way that mattered. Even when I didn't fully understand it. Sometimes, love isn’t some grand revelation, you know? It’s about seeing the person beside you and realizing you can’t imagine being without them, flaws and all. And then taking the leap. Letting go of the ‘what ifs’.”
I mulled this over in silence for a moment. “I think I understand. With Ren, I want to be with him all the time, but not necessarily in the way I expected. I just like having pieces of him around me. I like knowing I’ll get to see him, and seeing him succeed. Being a part of that makes me proud, not just of my work as a teacher, but of him as a person. There’s this sense of… shared joy. A quiet joy in just being near him.”
Cassian’s eyes twinkled, his gruff exterior softening. “Exactly. It’s not about grand gestures or rushing ahead. Just being together, however that looks. Take the chance, Dorian. The rest will follow.” He paused, his tone shifting to something more grounded. “But don’t forget: it’s important to see each other. All of each other. And don’t let fear hold you back from showing up as your full self. Love isn’t static. It’s a living thing. It grows and changes, sometimes in ways you don’t expect. But that’s the beauty of it.”
I blinked, a flicker of realization lighting up my chest. Perhaps it wasn’t love that terrified me, it was the vulnerability. The fear of truly seeing and being seen by Ren. Of embracing everything about him, everything about me, without worrying about what might go wrong.
As Rowan gathered their supplies, explaining the protective properties of black tourmaline and mugwort, I watched them move around their cottage with such easy confidence. They and Cassian had built something beautiful here. Not just a home, but a sanctuary where love could flourish in all its forms.
Perhaps that was the real magic I needed to learn: not the grand gestures of necromancy, but the quiet spell of letting yourself be loved.
“Ready?” Cassian asked.
I straightened my shoulders, feeling the weight of both the challenge ahead and the support around me. “Ready. Though I don't suppose either of you knows a good protection spell against awkward conversations?”
Rowan's laughter filled the room like sunshine. “Oh, darling. For that kind of magic, you'll just have to trust your heart.”
And somehow, surrounded by the warmth of friendship and the promise of possibility, that didn't seem quite so terrifying anymore.