23. Kaia
I slip into Professor Idorath's classroom, Malrik's warning still echoing in my mind. My shadows haven't settled since our conversation, twisting and writhing like agitated snakes around my ankles. I catch Seren watching me with concerned eyes, but I shake my head slightly. I'm not ready to discuss whatever that was with Malrik—not when I'm still trying to convince myself he's wrong about Darian.
The familiar routine of class should be comforting, but all I can focus on is the weight of different gazes on me: Seren's worry, Malrik's intensity from across the room, and Darian's warm smile that suddenly feels calculated. He sits across the room where Alenya is practically drooling over him, but his attention is fixed on me. His smile is warm and inviting, designed to put me at ease—but my shadows pull back slightly, and I can't ignore their warning this time. I also can't help but snicker as Alenya notices the silent conversation Darian and I seem to be having. The look of annoyance on her face brings me joy.
"Today we'll be working with binding runes," Professor Idorath announces, his chalk scratching precise symbols onto the board. "Partner up. And try not to blow anything up this time." He looks pointedly at Finn, who merely grins and waggles his eyebrows.
Before anyone else can move, Torric drops into the seat beside me, his presence radiating heat like a furnace. "You look like you're having a fantastic morning," he says dryly.
"That obvious?"
"You're doing that twitchy thing with your hands. Dead giveaway." He starts setting up the rune materials with surprising care. "Want to talk about it?"
"Not particularly."
Torric shrugs, but I catch the concern beneath his casual demeanor. "Fair enough. Just remember—" he pauses, his usual brashness softening for a moment, "—you don't have to prove anything to anyone here. Especially not to people who think they know what's best for you."
I glance at him sharply, but he's focused on arranging the crystals for our rune work, his expression purposefully neutral. Across the room, I notice Aspen watching us with that quiet intensity he gets sometimes. When our eyes meet, he gives me a subtle nod.
The twins might drive me crazy, but there's something steadying about their presence. No hidden agendas, no cryptic warnings. Just solid, reliable support.
"Now," Torric says, a familiar glint of mischief in his eyes, "want to help me create the most explosively awesome binding rune this class has ever seen?"
Despite everything, I feel my lips twitching. "I thought we weren't supposed to blow anything up?"
His answering grin is positively wicked. "Rules are more like guidelines, really. Besides," he nods toward where Darian sits with Alenya, who is now destroying his perfectly controlled rune work, "some people could use a little chaos in their lives."
As if to emphasize his point, my shadows give an enthusiastic little wiggle. I hear Finn snicker from somewhere behind us, followed by what sounds suspiciously like "Team Chaos for the win!"
The crystals Torric sets up catch the light, throwing tiny rainbows across our shared desk. His hands move with surprising precision for someone who usually solves problems by setting them on fire.
"See, the trick is," he explains, sketching the first line of the binding rune with perfect form, "you have to make it look like you're following the rules before you break them."
I raise an eyebrow. "And how often does that actually work for you?"
"About as often as your sarcasm works as a defense mechanism." He doesn't look up from his work, but I catch the slight curl of his lips. "Now pay attention, Sunshine. I need you to draw the shadow aspect while I handle the fire element."
The shiver that washes though me when he calls me that catches me off guard. I’m not used to Torric like this, fun, almost kind and dare I say, charming?
"Because that combination has historically worked out so well?" But I'm already reaching for my chalk, my shadows swirling with anticipation.
"Trust me. Shadow and Fire can be great together."
He pauses his work, his gaze now focused entirely on me and I’m more than grateful right now that we’re in the middle of class and there’s a crowd of people because otherwise… yeah.
I clear my throat, trying to bring us back to the present. "Famous last words."
I start sketching my half of the rune, trying to focus despite being acutely aware of Darian watching. The chalk feels warm under my fingers, responding to my magic in a way that's both familiar and unsettling.
"Careful with that line," Torric murmurs, his shoulder brushing mine as he leans closer. "You want it to curve just... there." His hand hovers near mine, not quite touching but close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his skin.
My shadows flicker, and the chalk skids slightly. Behind us, Finn's poorly disguised laugh turns into an unconvincing cough.
"Something amusing, Mr. Veylan?" Professor Idorath calls out.
"Just admiring everyone's technique," Finn replies with sugary innocence. "The level of... concentration is inspiring."
I force myself to focus on the rune. Shadow and fire. Opposing forces that shouldn't work together, and yet...
"Ready?" Torric asks, his own chalk poised to complete the final line of his half.
I nod, acutely aware of how the air feels suddenly charged with more than just magic. We draw the last lines simultaneously, our chalk meeting in the middle of the desk.
The rune flares to life.
And several things happen at once.
The fire element surges, more responsive than either of us expected. My shadows leap to meet it instinctively, and instead of canceling each other out, they merge. The resulting burst of energy sends our papers flying and makes the crystals hum at a frequency that sets my teeth on edge.
Bob, Patricia and Finnick have all taken on an ember like quality that doesn’t seem real.
"Oh shit," Torric breathes, but he's grinning like a kid on Winter Solstice morning.
Professor Idorath whirls around. "What did you—"
But it's too late. The rune glows once, twice, and then the classroom erupts into controlled chaos. Shadow-flames dance across the ceiling, casting everyone in flickering violet light. They don't burn—they're not real fire—but they move with a life of their own, spinning and twirling like they're putting on a show.
"That's... not supposed to happen, right?" I manage, watching as one particular shadow-flame does what I swear is a pirouette.
"No," Torric agrees, sounding entirely too pleased. "It's better."
From somewhere behind us, Finn starts slow clapping. Several other students join in, while Professor Idorath looks torn between impressed and exasperated.
Only two people aren't watching the aerial display. Malrik's eyes are fixed on me, his expression unreadable but intense. And Darian... Darian is staring at the shadow-flames with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. I don’t miss the slight twitch of his lips, as if he’s pleased with what he sees. Malrik’s warning echoes in my mind: Watch how your shadows react when he’s near.
"Well," Professor Idorath says dryly, "I suppose that's one way to demonstrate the binding of opposing forces." He waves his hand, and the shadow-flames dissipate with a sound like wind chimes. "You both are lucky the forces decided to work together against the odds. Otherwise, the backlash could have destabilized the entire rune matrix, or worse," he says, his tone clipped. “And less theatrics next time Mr. Agere."
"No promises," Torric mutters, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
As the class returns to normal, I catch Aspen watching his twin with that mix of fondness and exasperation only siblings can master. When he glances at me, there's warmth in his eyes, and something else—something that looks almost like pride.
Mouse, who had been curled up in my bag this whole time, pokes his head out and chirps approvingly at the lingering wisps of shadow-flame. At least someone appreciates our artwork.