Chapter Seven - Aura
CHAPTER SEVEN
Aura
IT TOOK NEARLY ten minutes of climbing the spiraling steps of the aura tower with Blythe and Levi to get to the class at the top of the building. Levi explained some classes get mixed with other years, like Aura Reading and Magical Combat, so he was going to be taking this class with us.
I pulled open a wooden door, branded with stars and moon phases, surrounded by symbols for the elements. The rain had finally eased up. The pointed ceiling, made completely of tinted windows, peered up at the gray sky.
The professor stood in the center of the room, surrounded by a semicircle of tables, with chalkboards and charts lining the wall behind him. The words “Professor Douglas. Introduction to Aura Reading” were scrawled on one of the boards. The rest of the room was made up of another semicircle of desks, completing the circular room.
The single-seated desks and chairs went up by five levels so everyone could clearly see the many boards, making up about three times as many desks as the other classrooms I had been in. I followed Blythe to the row of seats behind the front row. Levi left to the other side of the room by the door, where other students I hadn’t seen before were taking their seats, so I guess they were mainly second-years.
I did recognize Trevor when he walked in. His black blazer was neatly ironed, opting to go without the tie, unlike Caleb, who followed him in. While he did go for the tie, it hung loosely around his neck with the white dress shirt untucked.
Trevor stopped to murmur something to the aura professor. The professor nodded back. Caleb brushed his messy, dirty-blond hair from in front of his face so it wasn’t completely in his eyes. He followed Trevor to one of the middle rows opposite of the semi-circle from where Blythe and I sat.
Caleb caught my eye immediately and smirked. I didn’t know how he acted like nothing fazed him while being so charming at the same time, like he was carelessly floating through life. Being here, and being friends with Trevor, who acted the exact opposite, had me thinking that couldn’t be completely true.
I narrowed my eyes at him playfully. He lifted his phone just above the desk, pointing to it before placing it on his lap, reminding me of the text I forgot to respond to.
With my phone in my lap, I typed out a reply while people started taking their seats .
ME: Idk, first day and all. I should study.
I wondered if Christina and Ruby might have told him how I was the only one not able to use fire in Basic Magic.
CALEB: I get that. First day is always the longest.
CALEB: Library study date, Wednesday?
I rolled my eyes.
A quick text came in before I could even answer.
CALEB: I saw that.
It took all my might not to laugh when I looked up and saw that ridiculous, cocky grin of his lighting up his face.
Trevor’s head swung from me to Caleb, peering down to the phone in Caleb’s lap before frowning at him.
My smile quickly faded when my gaze happened to be drawn back to the doors, to the unmistakable bright white hair and dark green eyes as Mr. Ares made his way behind the students. His broad shoulders stiffened as if realizing something he didn’t like, but that didn’t stop him from making his way up to the top, back row. He took a seat in the middle of the semicircle of chairs, between the first-years and second-years, giving him a view of the entire class.
A sharp breath pulled into my lungs. I didn’t know why I let his presence affect me so much. I tugged at the tie in my black hair, matching the painted black nails I chose for my first week of school. My straight hair draped down. I tossed it to the side, blocking my view of him.
“Nickolas Ares. Excuse me, Professor Ares now. Can I help you?” Professor Douglas asked .
When I thought of an aura professor, I didn’t know what I imagined. He resembled my idea of a retired gym teacher, with cropped graying-brown hair. He wore dress pants with a fitted black cotton t-shirt over his bulky frame, tucked into his pants with a too-tight belt. The class went silent as everyone had taken their seats and now was completely focused on their interaction.
Mr. Ares casually leaned back in his chair. “I’ll be sitting in for my free period.” His glare pinned the aura professor, his tone leaving no room for argument. It turned out that attitude wasn’t only aimed at the students.
Professor Douglas’ expression tightened, possibly irked about the new professor inviting himself to sit in his class. His jaw clenched with the most fleeting look of irritation before he merely shrugged, speaking in a booming voice, “A Valentine and an Ares, both sitting in my room? The alignment of the stars indicated this would be a monumental year, and it appears it’s already one for the books.”
I felt Blythe slouch down in her chair.
“Indeed.” Mr. Ares’ face revealed no warmth, no indication of friendliness for his fellow staff, just all business. Something about the way he watched the class was setting me on edge.
It was when his sharp gaze fell on Caleb that my awareness shifted to fully alert. I quickly typed out a reply to Caleb’s text.
ME: Sounds good. I’ll meet you there after dinner Wednesday night.
Professor Douglas cleared his throat. “In Aura Reading, it’s more than just reading someone’s aura, it’s interpreting what the universe is trying to tell you.” He gestured to the board, which sprang to life with glowing constellations that rose from the surface, drifting slowly through the space above us. “For those of you advancing in this class, you may learn how the stars and moon give a chance for strengthened magic. Predictors use this to guide them, creating a stronger connection and a more potent reading. For example, the new moon tomorrow night can heighten readings regarding fears and change.”
The professor stared at a paper and glanced around the room. He talked up to the rows of students about what other changes the sky created for readings. I struggled to take notes.
I didn’t know why, but throughout the class, my eyes kept darting to Mr. Ares. Not once did he look my way or appear to remember me from his morning class, but almost every time I looked at him, he was nearly glaring at either Caleb or the aura professor.
Caleb seemed completely oblivious, constantly sending me looks in the gaps of the lecture.
“We will do a basic reading,” the professor announced. “Understand this can be interpreted in many ways, and likely the reading from a first-year should be loosely interpreted.
“You will start by grabbing the hand of the person you team up with. The one performing the reading will open their mind, clasp your hands over theirs, and let your magic meet, pulling any images you may feel. The person being read will bring their magic just to the surface while thinking of what this year may bring for you. Since you are new to this class, allow your magic to be open, so the reader may get clear images to decipher what they mean.”
Blythe whispered to me, her brown eyes focused on the professor. “My parents said this is a ridiculous class. Very few people know how to interpret readings, and it’s basically useless as the future can change. They didn’t have me waste my time with it in tutoring, but now I’m not so sure.”
“A demonstration, will you, Emerson?” Professor Douglas pointed to Trevor, then his finger traced over that side with second or older years until it landed on Levi.
Levi’s bright green eyes widened and he didn’t move from his seat, looking stunned.
“I already have a partner,” Trevor murmured, placing his hand out to the woman beside him.
They walked to the front of the classroom. Mr. Ares placed a pen to his lips, watching the center of the circle as we all were.
Trevor ran a hand over his short black hair, sighing before taking her hand with both of his. “You need to open your mind,” he muttered.
She blinked at him with wide eyes.
“White hair, a small assortment of shops, a hotel. I would have to guess your mind is focused on the small town of Deimos Bay and Mr. Ares,” Trevor said coolly.
She blushed hard.
Trevor added, “That’s not all. A dark lake. I must have been mistaken. Clearly, you’re planning on shopping for an upcoming weekend and merely amazed by the new professor. ”
She gave him a small smile. “Should I do yours now?”
“No,” he said, and went back to his seat.
“Alright class, find your partners.” Professor Douglas clapped his hands together, and the room broke into murmurs.
Levi crouched and ran over to us, taking a seat. “Alright, Blythe, let me have it.” He extended his hand over to her. Her eyes squeezed shut.
After a few seconds, he blinked. “I really didn’t need to know that.”
She smacked his shoulder.
He laughed and grabbed his arm. “I didn’t get anything. Let me try again.” He got quiet. “I don’t think I’m doing it right. Your dad is kind of mad, I only hear his voice. You’re nervous, and um… I think I’m doing it wrong. You can try it on me and see if you’re any better at it.”
His eyes briefly flicked to mine, a sort of worry I hadn’t yet seen from him. Blythe did mention he had some of the best grades in the academy. It made me wonder if he was bothered he wasn’t doing as well in this—or perhaps he saw something else.
I immediately didn’t like the idea of someone pulling images from my head.
Blythe held his hand for a minute. “Hmm… Oh, I think your ex, James, will reach out. You look kind of upset, and a man walks away from you.”
“You see that?” Levi sounded skeptical.
Blythe tossed a hand in the air. “It was only one picture really, a silhouette and super dark, so I don’t know. But hey, maybe I have a gift for it. ”
The professor caught my eye when I looked around the class. He smiled, heading straight for me.
“Let’s see now,” he said, holding out a large hand with a silver watch around one hairy wrist.
My eyes darted around the room for a fraction of a second. I caught Mr. Ares leaning forward over his desk. His expression darkened as he watched intently, looking ready to jump out of his chair.
My hand placed into Professor Douglas’ grip. I did want to try my first week, I was supposed to give this a shot.
My dream from last night surfaced during the reading. I felt it being pulled, like it was being yanked and clawed to the forefront of my mind. My feet were rooted in place, my body couldn’t move.
Mr. Ares’ stare caused me to bring my walls up like in the class he taught when talking about mind blocking. I really didn’t want anyone in my head. Those claws didn’t stop prying, trying to tear down my defense. I let my mind go to something else, bringing it forward as if to protect my memories. My Basic Magic class was the only other thing that had been on my mind. I focused on my failure, it was better than letting anyone get any further than today. The grip loosened on my mind, like he found what he was looking for.
“Mhmm,” the aura professor said. “Worried about the school year. For your future, I didn’t get much other than possible trouble in your upcoming classes. Study up, and you’ll be fine.” He gave me a nod and moved to another student.