I set down my textbook. “It’s called a specialization, but it’s the most general course of study that deals with magic. Sure, you learn some magic with something like botany. The way certain plants have magical characteristics, how magic influences their growth.” I inspected the edge she put on the larger chisel. “Not bad. Nice edge. But while Ilikedbotany, I didn’t want tobea botanist. The one thing common to everything I was interested in was magic.”
She tipped her head, uttering a ‘hmm,’ her lipsrelaxed.
“How about you?” I asked.
“I am afraid my motivations are rather more romantic than yours.”
Romantic?
“I had traveled, of course, but never to any of the far-flung provinces of the former Empire. I sought adventure. This academy, with its newly created mage specialization, located at the former frontier, was…” She glanced at me.
Thatkind of romantic. I frowned a little.
“It wasnota whim, Mister Thistlewood.” Her expression stiffened. “I realize how my own performance will affect the rest of the class. I would never contribute anything less than my utmost to my studies.”
I raised my hands. “You’re here on a weekend. That says something.”
With her chisels sharpened, I demonstrated a few basic cutting strokes on a block of poplar wood.
We continued in silence for over an hour before my stomach growled. “Did you want to get lunch? The cafeteria will be open for another half hour. They don’t have much selection on weekends, but it’s something.”
“Thank you, but no. I am afraid I have another engagement.”
My heart sank. “Oh, well, perhaps some other time.”
She stood and packed up her notebook. “But Iwould not wish to keep you from your midday meal. I believe I can practice on my own.”
Nice going, Theo! You’ve just managed to cut the meeting short.
“Ah. Well, you can keep the tools and blocks of wood if you like… and perhaps next weekend if you…”
“If you are willing, I would like that very much, Mister Thistlewood.”
That hint of softness she showedfeltlike it was for me alone. A gentle warmth flowed through my chest, and my own expression was probably the sweetest of smiles.
We chatted as I walked her along the corridor to the side entrance of the academy. “So what is your next… engagement?” The word felt odd on my tongue.
“Dance instruction together with Count Greanderal’s son, Halfar.”
A chill pierced my gut. “Ahh… that’sinteresting.”Why did I care? It wasn’t as if she’d given me any clue there could ever be more to it than simply helping her with classwork. I forced a smile through a clenched jaw.
“He attends a different university and asked me to their winter ball.”
“Winter ball?” Dancing. Balls. I knew there were a few, select, social events at the academy, but they seemed like a distant mirage. “When exactly is…”
“Several months. But he seems to believe the local variation on the Ashryn Waltz to be different than the way we dance in Drach-Principalis.”
“Ah-ha.” I slid both hands behind my back to hide clenched fists.
“I thank you for your assistance, Mister Thistlewood. Good day.” She bowed slightly.
“Good day to you, Lady Arazniros.”
She departed.
And the distant mirage shimmered and grew more distant.
Chapter Five
