A Beastologist’s Field Notes of Fated Affection (Academics of Eldoria #1)

1. Sloppy Women Don’t Win Academic Awards

Sloppy Women Don’t Win Academic Awards

Cerise

“All right, class. Time’s up. Please pass in your finals.

” I stood at the wooden podium, scanning the lecture hall full of my students.

“Professor Sharpe will be taking over while I’m on sabbatical, so if you have any questions, please direct them his way.

I look forward to seeing all of you again when I return. ”

They mumbled their assent as the sounds of shuffling and scooting chairs filled the room, the class gathering their materials and filing out the door. I straightened the lapels of my white shirt, rounding to the far side of my desk.

“Excuse me, Doctor Thornheart?”

I turned around, meeting the deep brown eyes of one of my students. “Aaric. How may I help you?”

“I just wanted to say I’m looking forward to being out in the field with you and the rest of the team. Is there anything specific I should bring?” He practically bounced on his toes with excitement.

I gave him a soft smile. One of my best graduate students, I was delighted Aaric had been selected to accompany myself and a small team of researchers on our upcoming expedition.

I shuffled the papers on my desk, stacking them neatly. “Do you still have the list that was mailed out last month?”

“Yes. Of course I do.”

“Just stick to the list and I assure you that will be enough.”

“Perfect. Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Bright and early,” I said with a tip of my head.

“Bright and early!” He beamed, waving over his shoulder as he scurried away.

I took a moment to take in the space around me, reveling in the smell of the parchment, the warmth of the mahogany walls and domed ceiling.

It was a moderately sized lecture hall, individual desks lined up in the center of the room and facing the podium where I gave my lectures.

One wall boasted a row of windows overlooking an extensive bird feeding station nestled in the trees, allowing my students to practice their observation skills in the controlled environment of the classroom.

It was the last class of the day—Research Methods, my favorite—and the last class I would be teaching for several months as I joined a team of scientists in the Wilds of Magmira, cataloging and researching its myriad of rare flora and fauna. Perhaps we’d even discover an entirely new species.

One could only hope.

A light knock turned my attention to the back of the room. My closest friend and colleague leaned against the frame.

“Are you all ready for tomorrow?” Emberly asked.

I slipped my lecture notes into my bag—ensuring they were straight and free of wrinkles—and closed the flap. “I’ve been packed since last week.”

Emberly rolled her amber eyes as she pushed off the door frame and approached. Her red floral dress swished at her ankles, her ebony curls bouncing as she walked, framing her tawny complexion. “Of course you have. And I’m sure you’ve taken inventory of every single item about a dozen times.”

“It never hurts to—”

“Be prepared,” Emberly interrupted. “I know, I know. What ever will we do in the jungle without ollefrass tea, or a luxumstone?”

“You never know when we might need those items.”

The corner of her eyes crinkled with delight. “You actually packed them, didn’t you? You’re aware the guide will probably have luxumstones, right? How else would we see in the dark night of the jungle?”

I straightened the pencil on my desk. “Are you ridiculing me for being thorough?”

“I’m poking fun at you for being uptight. This excursion is just what you need. It will push you out of your comfort zone. You won’t be able to stick to your ‘schedule,’” she said, making air quotes with her fingers.

I stood, looping the strap of my satchel over my shoulder. “I’ve created a different schedule for the excursion. I’m flexible.” I gave Emberly a small smile.

She slung an arm around my shoulders. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

I released a sigh. “Speaking of schedules”—I glanced at my watch—“it’s time I get going.”

It was pertinent I arrived home in time to begin my evening routine and I was already running behind.

Dinner at six. Read for an hour at seven.

Bedtime hygiene, then lights out at precisely nine o’clock.

Tonight was already going to be disorderly as I wanted to go over my packing list one final time. Or two.

What if I forgot something?

“I’ll walk you out,” said Emberly.

A shout then a burst of laughter echoed in the halls as more students exited their classes and made their way outside.

Though the chaos sometimes irked me, I couldn’t help but smile at the joy on their faces as they left for the day.

Oh, to be young and curious again. The world at your fingertips, full of possibilities and adventure.

I used to feel that way. A long, long time ago before the rigors of academia took over my life, full of deadlines, meetings and expectations. Now I was overcome by climbing the ranks, proving myself, and staying on top of the most recent research.

Though I loved it, it was exhausting. Perhaps Emberly was right and this expedition was exactly what I needed.

We walked through the dark halls of Silverleaf Institute of Magic. It was one of the most renowned magic universities in the entire country of Eldoria, rivaled only by Lone Oak Magical Academy in Ravenwood.

Everyone in attendance—in addition to the professors—were witches. Some of us used our magical specialties in our fields of study, while others focused on something entirely different.

The corridors were mostly empty now, the late afternoon sun shining through the arched windows.

Portraits of famous witches—those with academic awards or former renowned deans—were displayed along the windowless walls and I couldn’t keep my gaze from lingering on a particularly large one as we passed.

My mother’s.

Perhaps I would be up there someday.

The high-pitched shriek of the tea kettle pierced the quiet of my spotless kitchen as I turned off the stove.

My adequately sized cottage was within walking distance of the university.

Not too big, nor too small, it was just enough space for me to keep my belongings organized without feeling cluttered.

I abhorred clutter.

I selected a green floral teacup and matching saucer from the cupboard above the sink, setting them on the counter with care. As I poured my tea, the brush of soft fur rubbed against my ankles, accompanied by an urgent meow.

“One moment, Arthur.” I looked at my black cat, peering up at me with bright yellow eyes. “You know I must get my tea first.”

Arthur chirruped and hopped up onto a stool, patiently awaiting the dried fish flakes he received at the exact same time every evening.

After setting my teacup on the side table beside my favorite reading chair, I returned to the kitchen to feed my feline friend.

A sprinkle of treats had him purring appreciatively and I gave him a scratch on the head before returning to my spot overlooking the back garden.

He ate with the utmost of manners, exactly like the perfect gentleman he was. I was going to miss him while I was gone. Luckily, Emberly’s wife had volunteered to look after him and I had no doubt he would get the best care.

“I just hope Rosamund remembers your schedule.”

Arthur answered with an enthusiastic meow.

Tilting the cup to my lips, I let the cinnamon dance on my tongue as I took a sip.

It was my favorite time of the evening. Where I indulged in my tea, watched the sun set, and read—an academic text, of course.

I was almost finished with Insect Identification of Magmira.

The perfect book to refresh my memory for the expedition.

I gingerly tucked my legs beneath me, settling into the plush red velvet as I took a moment to stare out the window.

I was going back in the field, something I hadn’t done in years, and was ecstatic.

Despite the challenges that would come with not being able to stay organized and control everything, it was thrilling.

As a graduate student, I loved being amidst nature.

The sounds of animals surrounding me. The fresh air. The floral smells of the jungle. The—

My phone rang.

“Oh!” I gasped, dropping the hot tea in my lap. “For goodness’ sake.”

Scrambling to pick up the teacup, I set it on the table and snatched a towel, frantically wiping up the spilled beverage before I rushed to the rotary phone on the wall of my living room.

“Yes?” I answered, trying to hide the irritation in my voice at the interruption.

“Cerise, dear. Is that how I taught you to answer the phone?”

I froze at the sound of my mother’s voice.

“Sorry, Mother. I was reading and not expecting a phone call.”

“You must be better prepared for the unexpected,” she chided. “What if it had been one of your colleagues? Or your boss? Would you really answer the phone so unprofessionally?”

“Right. Yes, of course. How are you this evening?”

I adjusted the collar of my shirt as my mother droned on about some new recent academic accomplishment she had made. Though now retired, she had been the headmaster of the university where I was currently employed and still consulted on the occasional research project throughout Eldoria.

Anya Thornheart never truly stopped working.

“I almost forgot! You leave tomorrow, don’t you?”

“Yes. Early in the morning. We’ll be traveling for a couple of days to meet up with the rest of the team in Ravenwood. Actually…I should probably get some rest,” I responded.

“I assume you’re all packed.” She ignored my attempt to get off the call.

“I am.”

“Now, Cerise. You must treat this expedition as an opportunity. If you discover a new species, surely that will put you on track to move up to be the dean of your department.”

I nodded, though she couldn’t see. “That’s the goal.”

“Well…you’ve said that for years but it still hasn’t happened. You must work harder. When I was your age, I had already been dean for two years.”

I tuned her out. I’d heard this story countless times before. My mother became a dean when she was thirty-three, moved up quickly and was headmaster before she turned forty. And now, having just turned thirty-five, I was ‘behind.’

“Well, Mother, I truly need to get going,” I tried again.

“And whatever happened to Antoine? Antony?” she kept on.

“Ambrose,” I corrected her. “We ended things. I told you that.”

“Yes, well you never told me why. Antony—”

“Ambrose.”

“Yes, Ambrose. He was perfect for you, dear. He is highly respected in his field and if you’d continued your relationship, surely it would have boosted your reputation.”

She thought he was highly respected and yet she still couldn’t bother to get his name correct. Not surprising. She didn't make the effort unless it suited her. My mother was something else.

“I know. It just didn’t work out. I’m too weary to discuss this right now.”

“Then you must get better rest, Cerise. Are you sticking to your schedule? Don’t forget, a scatter-brained woman is a sloppy woman. And sloppy women don’t win academic awards.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’m aware.”

“Well, you’ve kept me on the phone long enough. I must get going,” she said. “Goodnight, dear.”

“Goodnight.”

I released a frustrated sigh, looking down at Arthur.

He tilted his head as if he knew exactly how that chat had gone.

A typical conversation between the two of us—my mother dominating with stories about herself or reasons she was disappointed in me.

We had dinner together monthly, along with the occasional phone call, and it was about all I could handle.

And why did she have to bring up Ambrose?

That had been a terrible relationship, full of condescension on his end.

He was well-known and respected within the academic community for his works on the life cycle of a rare species of butterfly found only in the snowy mountains of The Golden Hills.

The little girl in me still desperately yearned to please my mother and so, despite my unhappiness, I’d stayed in the relationship far longer than I should have, hoping it would help my career in some way.

But after he had yelled at me for not cooking dinner properly, I’d had enough. Encouraged by Emberly and Rosamund, I’d ended the relationship and hadn’t spoken to him since. That was six months ago.

It didn’t matter. I had no time for dating or romance. My mother was right; this expedition was the perfect path to becoming dean and I wouldn’t let anything get in my way over the next couple of months.

Because I would discover a new species. I would become dean.

And I would make my mother proud.