23. Practice makes Perfect
Practice makes Perfect
KYRA
Blaise continues following me, inquiring about my next location. I’ve ignored him every step of the way as I walk towards House Death.
Clicking my missed messages, I respond to Angie’s first.
ANGIE
Whatever you do, keep your emotions in check and try not to say anything while in this class. Oh, if you meet someone with a brown book, don’t talk to him. He’s an ass. And not the squeezable kind.
Yeah, a little too late now.
I should’ve checked my messages as soon as they arrived. A little late for this information, but thanks. And Mr. Ass is following me now.
Blaise matches my pace, and I scroll to Raine’s message next.
SHINING KNIGHT
I’m curious. Have you had a chance to review my gift?
My lecturer released us early, so I have a little time before training with one of the Elders.
These third-year students refuse to stay until their allotted time.
Teaching isn’t for everyone. Speaking of, it’s a good thing you’re not taking my class.
Ahh, he is a second year. I’m not surprised, but how is he training with the Elders? I thought only fourth years had this privilege. And what does he mean by, ‘it’s a good thing I’m not taking his class?’
I haven’t opened it yet. But I will. Promise. And what do you teach? Don’t tell me it’s map navigation?
I break through the Green Wing’s doors, trotting across Rebirth’s middle field around Rebecca’s office, and embrace the sun’s passing rays.
Handfuls of students occupy the open areas, and Blaise inquires once more where I’m heading.
“My dorm, so other rumors can’t spread about me–or us. I’ve had enough for today.” Peering his way, I notice a few students staring from the distance.
“Rumors can’t spread about me. I’m not worried,” he says, noticing the same students, and I scoff.
“Humor me. What makes you less susceptible to rumors?”
Without answering, we come across a student heading towards the Green Wing. “Hey, I want to ask you something,” Blaise says, stopping the guy abruptly. “Did you hear I was caught sniffing fairy dust with Caspian, and we ended up having an orgy with a pack of wolf shifters?”
I snort, cough, wheeze, and gasp all at once, forcing down a laugh as my vision blurs with tears. No, he did not say him and Caspian had an orgy with a pack of wolf shifters. Oh my God. I pound on my chest because between fairy dust and orgy, my lungs try giving out.
He and Angie are equally insane.
Somewhere around campus, a massive tremor shakes the ground, following a murderous yell, and I catch my balance, eyeing Blaise. He chuckles whilst sending a message to someone named ‘Overthinker.’
Being outside, the once shadow over his features no longer lingers, and I discover myself gazing upon his expression. Wondrous…Obscured…Well-groomed. A hottie.
Humor twitches his cheeks, threatening a smile, and this random student who appears fresh out of a hospital with his hand and wrist wrapped, frowns in disbelief.
“No way. How’d you get Cas to agree? I’ve heard the females in House Earth say he’s impossible to sleep with. Unrefined was the word used.”
I’m in utter shock between Blaise’s horrific rumors and this guy spilling some juicy tea.
Mr. Scribbles, or in Angie’s words, ‘Ass,’ clears his voice. “Let me ask again. My friend here…” He places a gentle hand on my back. “Says she’s heard of such rumors about me. Have you?” His tone is a low melody.
A wave of energy surrounds us, and my neck prickles from a cold breeze, lining my arms with goosebumps while this unknown student renders a blank expression.
“What rumors? Who are you?”
“No one.” Blaise smirks. “Go about your day,” he directs before stepping away from my side. What kind of magic allows complete control over someone’s memory? Are he and Alise similar?
Together we continue walking when a massive shadow engulfs us. I find a gargantuan dragon flying above, towards the colosseum. “I’ll never tire from seeing those beautiful creatures,” I mumble, peering through infatuated eyes .
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” My attention returns to the path I’m walking. “Care to explain your little show back there?” I gaze at him from the side. “By the way, I think a dragon caused the earlier tremble.”
“You’re a curious fay, aren’t you?”
“So, I’ve been told.” I roll my eyes.
“Well, back there showcased one of my abilities. I can make anyone forget anything I’d like, which is why you’ll never hear rumors about me.” He smirks. “And no, the tremble you felt was something more sinister.” His smirk grows into a full-blown smile.
“Hold on, that was your aura-thing I felt back there?” I ask, halting my pace underneath a flourishing tree’s shadow.
He retrieves his legendary brown book and begins writing. *Sigh*
“Aura. Thing.” Blaise jots, stirring my irritation.
“Yes, it was my magic. Feels refreshing, right?” He pauses, waiting for an answer, but I observe him with a straight face.
“Any who, my magic can pinpoint your long-term memories and erase anything I command. It’s easier when I’m focused on myself, plus it requires less energy.
Most consider me a ghost around here, and I prefer it as such. ”
Interesting. His abilities aren’t flashy like everyone else’s I’ve seen, but more like Alise’s. “Ohh, so it’s your bloodline ability? Pretty badass.”
“You have knowledge of lineage magic? Who’s been teaching you?” He places his pen on an empty page, ready to write.
I don’t know this fay from the cute freckle on my right ass cheek. I don’t care how handsome he is, what makes him think I’ll give up Alise? “I obtained a few reading materials, and in one of the books, it goes over bloodline magic. Nothing more.”
“From. A. Book.” He jots, then puts it away. “Well, Kyra, it was nice meeting you. Unfortunately, I have some things requiring my attention. You won’t remember me beyond today, but I look forward to re-meeting you tomorrow.”
Taken aback, furrowing brows press over my lashes as a scent of baked brownie-cookies wafts from his skin.
Bronzed and sun kissed. He flicks a wrist, peering down at me behind a pair of two-toned eyes, blazing beneath his double lids.
In all aspects, Blaise is one of those guys I fantasize about seeing but know deep down they don’t exist.
An impassable force collides into me. His aura pushes against my small frame, and deep within, mine pushes back, feeling provoked. He relinquishes a prideful smile, trotting away, and I’m left bewildered at it all. “Okay, bye,” I mutter as my phone pings.
Jace sent a message with an attached link for his blog, containing a video of Tish’s and my battle with his commentary. You can see trepidation within my features as I figure out how my magic works and what can be done against her inferno abilities.
I watch its entirety and notice my palms glow red, creating shimmers of light above me with an identical hue. Now, I’m more intrigued by my own abilities after viewing it. “Thanks Jace.” I grin at the possibilities.
Better to practice in my room, I pull up the map. There is a setting showing how long it will take to walk, and from this tree, it says forty minutes. “Nope.” There must be an easier way.
What if I can summon a sigil? Like Angie and Alex.
Fuck it, no one’s watching anyway, might as well give it a go. If I can’t summon one, there is always option ‘B.’ *Sigh*
Leaning against this tree, my focus fixates on their sigil patterns. Their use, size, and feel when I’m surrounded by their magic. My palms heat, itching with a sparkling tingle as I concentrate on creating one of my own.
Visions of sigils form in my mind. Different sizes, shapes, colors, and symbols. I take pieces of Angie’s, Alex’s, and Ethan’s to form one grandiose design, when a bright flash of red-light manifests. Like someone took an unexpected photo.
“Yes,” I squeal, shimmying a happy dance. I did it.
Sparkling before me is my own sigil. Unlike theirs, mine is a thrumming red diamond, surrounding intricate squares with more squares layering over one another inside it. Text is written throughout, half English and the other…gibberish. But who cares? The point is I have my own sigil, bitches.
Beaming with pride, I disregard the sudden urge for a nap. Hence forward, walking is irrelevant. Try and find me now, Ethan. Fuck, it feels good accomplishing something on my own.
One last squealing giggle bursts from me before departing. “And now for my next trick, I’ll disappear.” Receiving crickets from my non-existing audience, I think Rosie would have loved this joke.
Another memory of our beautiful encounters.
I snap out of it, having no time to go down memory lane. I’m not sure how long my sigil will hold.
Stepping inside my creation, I feel energy surge around me. A pulsating warmth tickles my core. It’s as though this sigil lives and breathes…me, giving energy whilst taking it in tandem. I love it.
Hordes of students sound from the distance, seeming to head my way, and though I want to show off my magic to these non-believers, they’ll see it eventually.
Taking in a lungful of air, I think about my room, figuring it’s what everyone else does before vanishing. My sigil brightens, releasing a cinnamon and lavender scent. It’s hard containing this building excitement as a force presses against me, and I vanish in a blink.
Time slows and races all at once. Passing around the red barrier of my magic, I emerge inside a confined room, and the sigil disperses.
This isn’t my room. Did I mess up?
Light seeps beneath a door to my left. I notice upon arriving that this appears to be some sort of storage closet. Scrolls, books, and other literature take refuge on old, wooden shelves, stacked against the walls.
I remain quiet. Careful not to knock over or against anything here, I make my way towards the door. My phone’ s flashlight helps with this objective. Reaching for the golden knob, I halt, hearing a moaning voice from the other side.