Professor Azula sits behind her desk, red hair pulled back in a high bun, two tendrils framing her angular face.
“Miss Vandermere,” she says by wayof greeting. “Take a seat.”
I do. Sinking into the chair, I wince a little. My body aches were terrible earlier this week, and my muscles are still sore from it.
Professor Azula raises one sharp red eyebrow. “You look unwell.”
“I’m fine,” I say, trying to smile. But she doesn’t appear convinced. So I add, “It’s just a cold.”
She seems to shift back subtly, like she’s suddenly uncomfortable to be breathing the same air as me.
Is fear of colds a fire witch thing? She and Lyra both act like I’ve got a deadly contagion and not a little bug.
“I will be brief, then,” she says. Folding her hands on the desk, she regards me with a neutral expression. “You have greatly improved this term. Your strength, your stamina, your ability to shape your element without allowing it to control you. The progress has not gone unnoticed.”
A little flicker of warmth dances in my chest, and my lips pull up in the corners. “I’m glad.”
“As you should be. You’ve worked very hard, Miss Vandermere.” She pauses, her crimson eyes narrowing as she regards me. “However, fellowship selection is never guaranteed. Even strong candidates can be overlooked if the board senses instability or magical inconsistency.”
My pulse flutters, and Isis shifts a bit in response, as if trying to remind me that she’s there, supporting me. “Inconsistency?” I ask, voice quiet.
“There was a period,” Professor Azula continues, “when your magic was fluctuating more than I was comfortable with. Enough that it prompted concerns and discussion amongst the faculty.”
I curl my fingers into the fabric of my academy skirt. “I didn’t realize it was that serious.”
“Indeed. I’ll admit, I considered pulling my recommendation of you to the board. It’s why Headmistress Moonhart assigned Professor D’Arques as an additional mentor for you this term.”
Suddenly, I’m flashing back to the conversation I had with Severin before he started teaching me in swordsmanship.
Professor Azula believes you are close to being ready, but your next demonstration is critical. With my experience in control, the headmistress believes I may be of some help to you.
Professor Azula was going to pull my recommendation? And... Severin knew about it?
My cheeks heat up, storm magic pulsing beneath my skin.
“Do not allow yourself to get upset,” Isis hisses against my throat.
How can I not?
Professor Azula arches a brow, her gaze darting down to my scarf. I clear my throat to disguise Isis’s hiss.
But my heart is still beating harder than it was a moment ago.
Professor Azula looks back at me. “Your recent work has quieted many of those concerns, and I’m now comfortable in my recommendation of you. But the final decision is made by the fellowship board. That is why your application essay and your performance over the next few weeks are critical.”
Maybe it’s the cold, but my head is spinning. Azula was going to pull my recommendation. Severin knew about it.
He knew, and he didn’t tell me.
“Maeve,” Professor Azula says, drawing my drifting focus back to her. “You have the power, discipline, and vision tosucceed at the Arcanum Collective. But you must trust yourself as much as I trust you. As much as Headmistress Moonhart trusts you.”
My throat grows tight, and it makes me start to cough.
Immediately, Professor Azula sits back. Even her iguana scurries off his perch next to her desk and goes to hide under the couch in the corner of her office.
“I-I will,” I finally manage to say.
“Good. Now, please, go have a cup of tea, and make sure to get plenty of rest. We need you well for your demonstration before the board.”
