Chapter Five
“For today’s lab session we will be crafting a bi-magical wand.” The instructor of Basic Magic Constructs, a slim elven man with a dry wit and a perfectionist streak, set a crate of sticks atop one of the lab benches. “Specifically, an ever-burning torch.”
Assignments in every class had been growing in complexity as the weeks passed. Outside, trees grew bare, temperatures brisk, and the occasional storm livened up days and nights with howling wind, chilling rain, and displays of colorful magical lightning.
We’d just been through an hour of lecture, which I managed to survive without shooting too many glances at Sephimara, who sat at the same lab bench as I, two seats down.
I’d diligently paid attention, my class notes were solid, yet somehow, as my gaze shifted from the instructor to students asking or answering questions, my eyes lingered on hers.
A brief tilt of her head as our eyes met.
A fleeting smile over her plush lips. The way she arranged that short amber hair to one side of her ears or the other.
Something was going on between us. Some connection beyond…
I had to be reading too much into it.
As the class lined up to collect sticks, gems, and tools, she let Brenda, who had sat between us, go ahead of her.
So we would be together?
We are literally waiting in line to pick up lab supplies, there is nothing more to it, Theo!
“Do any of these catch your eye in particular, Mister Thistlewood?” she asked, as our turn came.
That’s right. We’d worked together several weekends now, but always with finished boards, not natural sticks.
“I’m afraid I’m not especially familiar with this species of wood.” I turned one of the sticks over in my hand. Long as my forearm and thick as a broomstick, it had a bit of a twist to it. I set it back. “But the usual rules probably apply. Watch for forks and knots, they disrupt the flow.”
She reached for one of the straighter sticks, piercing green eyes darting my way.
I nodded.
She picked it up.
That flicker of a smile crossed her lips. She turned away.
I collected my own stick, a shorter one with a bit of an irregular fork, like a lowercase Y.
Should be a moderate challenge, but not so much that I’d make a mistake and be marked down.
Picking up gems and tools, I returned to my seat.
I liked the fact that our instructor had referred to the device by the colloquial name of ever-burning torch: a technically inaccurate name used by adventurers. That terribly practically minded group of magic users that so many academics seemed to disdain.
I traced the grain patterns of the stick with my fingertips.
An ever-burning torch used a power crystal and two gems to create a couple different light effects, usually an ice torch and a fire torch.
The trick to crafting one was to position all three so that the natural flow of magic energy would miss both gems, while the user could subtly alter the flow to intersect one or the other.
My irregularly shaped stick would require a bit of extra whittling, not to mention more care in gem positioning, but two hours should be plenty of time.
I glanced at Sephimara, who had the correct tool out.
Good. She should be able to do this.
We shot each other glances as we worked.
She occasionally held up tools while I nodded or shook my head.
It would have made more sense to sit next to each other, but I would have had to ask Brenda to move.
We were all supposed to complete the project on our own, though we weren’t prohibited from asking each other questions.
Still, there was a certain charm in being furtive about it.
As she held her nearly complete wand above her head, the tip burst into crimson flame.
That’s my girl.
I couldn’t contain my smile as our eyes met. She batted her eyelids, returning the smile.
Best lab session ever.
As we filtered out of the class, I said my goodbyes to Brenda and Dion. I’d probably see them in the cafeteria or the lounge later on.
Sephimara, nearly the last to leave, spoke, “Tomorrow, Mister Thistlewood?”
“I’ll be there,” I said.
She nodded, a thin smile on her lips, and departed.
I leaned against the wall in the long hall, watching the few remaining students dart off. Most probably to some sort of social engagement, this being the last class period of the last day of the week.
Something seemed to have cooled with… why was I thinking about her? I had a hard enough time reading human women, so whatever I thought I…
The last rays of sunshine filtered through milk glass panes along the tops of the various doorways, casting the eggshell plaster walls in a dim but pleasantly warm light.
My footfalls echoed lightly through the space, overshadowed by the clunk of a door somewhere in the distance. It was nice not to rush.
I glanced out the hall window at the street below, where a coach drawn by a pair of two-legged reptilian ospherants sat at one of the side entrances.
It wouldn’t be for Sephimara, would it?
Halamar had a clean, efficient streetcar system, so I’d always assumed she used that.
That is her.
I paused.
A driver held the coach door open, but she didn’t step in, instead speaking to someone inside.
Why was I watching? It’s her business.
Her gestures and pose stiffened. She argued with someone in the coach.
Did she need help? I clenched a fist. Once again, I had only my dagger with me. I could dash to my dormitory room to grab my scythe-axe, but maybe I should just—
She stepped into the coach, which drove off.
Were there some repercussions of the clipper incident I didn’t know about? Or just typical noble issues?
Which I also had no clue about.
I harrumphed and strode off.
The physical training hall was as empty as the classroom halls, though I did spot Brenda in the archery area practicing with a light crossbow.
“What kind of range doesn’t allow firearms?
” Her tone may have been that of an under-your-breath grumble, but her volume boomed.
Her uniform’s jacket draped over a weapons stand, vest unbuttoned, the sleeves of a cream-colored shirt rolled to the elbow, revealing forearms thicker and more muscular than my own. And I wasn’t exactly out of shape.
I grinned. “I thought the whole idea of a shotgun was that you don’t need to be much of a marksman.”
“What ya training with? Something wimpy and effete no doubt?”
“My preferred weapon is the scythe-axe, if you must know.”
She arched her neck. “Serious?”
“I’m from Thorncove, remember?”
She spun half a turn in a violent burst of motion, extending the light crossbow one-handed, and loosed a shot at the nearest target.
It chunked into a lindworm-shaped mannequin one ring out from the bullseye.
“What was that about shotguns and marksmanship?” she said.
I grabbed a shortbow from the rack and strung it.
Nocking an arrow, I aimed at a conventional circular target and loosed it.
“Not bad.” She nodded approvingly. “But a real adventurer would use a longbow. Better hitting power.”
“Don’t let anyone hear you use the A word.” I winked. “I can use a longbow. But I’m more accurate with this. Besides, one bulky and impractical weapon is enough to carry.”
“You gonna join us later?”
Was there some event I’d forgotten about… “Game night. Right. Dion said something about that. When was it again?”
“Nine bells, lounge area.”
I finished an hour of training, mostly calisthenics, showered, and made it to the cafeteria right before closing.
Tonight was a spicy rice-vegetable dish, with a smoky brown sauce, and iced hibiscus tea.
I took a seat just as Dion, one of the other mage students, was leaving.
He was usually quiet, and after our awkward introduction, had indeed proven quite graceful, often being present without people noticing.
“Tough week, huh?” he said.
“We survived.” I noted his plate was empty. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll catch you guys later for game night. Nine bells, right?”
He nodded and ghosted out of the room.
I didn’t mind being one of the last few people in the cafeteria, and it was nice finishing dinner at my leisure. Sure, I had my share of homework, but I could do it tonight or tomorrow. I could let my mind just go blank. It had been what, a couple months since I’d arrived?
I didn’t exactly have everything under control, but it felt close. Just finish up this project here, read four chapters in geomagic, memorize the next batch of formulas. So close I could reach out and touch it.
What was Sephimara doing tonight? That argument looked heated, but was life at that palace more hectic or relaxed than mine in the dormitory?
There were servants to take care of mundane tasks, but the few times she’d spoken about it, it was clear she wasn’t happy with her day-to-day life there.
Should I invite her to our next game night?
I stared over the dozen empty tables in the dimly lit room, realizing I was now alone.
It was easy to tell myself we could never be more than classmates.
That other feelings for her were pointless.
Yet that little wisp of a smile that crossed her lips when caught off guard, the rare softening of those piercing green eyes, the occasional wry quip, and the way she twined those legs…
I pressed my eyelids shut. That. It awakened another part of my brain intent on beating the sensible part into submission.
No need to imagine all her little quirks and alluring details, we’d see each other tomorrow. Just the two of us.
And then she’d depart for dance practice with the count’s son.
I clenched my jaw.
? ? ?
I reviewed class notes for a few minutes at the desk in my dormitory room.
Cleggs’ monstra plant had grown considerably since we moved in, though I wasn’t sure if it was naturally or through magic.
Biomagic was a third-semester course, but it was possible he’d skipped ahead.
The little gnome was not only annoying, but annoyingly gifted.
The ninth bell sounded.