Page 151 of Scars Beneath a Serpent’s Scales

Found something.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Emmeline

“Good job tonight, Aviana,” Emmeline told her final student as they finished reviewing the last exam she’d taken today, and she tucked the notes on her second Fate tie into her satchel. “And thank you for staying late. I’m sorry our recent sessions had to be adjusted, but at least Miss Corvus was able to step in.”

Emmeline nodded at Myrella who’d sat in on this private session with her and Aviana since she’d been assisting the girl with her practice while Emmeline was consumed with the murder case.

“That’s okay, Miss DeLeoste,” Aviana assured her as she crossed to the door, her bag nearly the size of her torso dragging her down. “Miss Corvus and I worked on different oil blends instead.”

“She’s taking to the oakroot and olive,” Myrella added.

It made sense that she liked that combination, given their grounding properties when Aviana’s readings were feeling so uncontrollable.

“That’s wonderful. You’ll have to show me after the Revels.” Emmeline smiled at them both, though her throat tightened at the reminder of the festival.

“I will.” Aviana paused at the door, gaze catching on the window overlooking the serene gardens of the Academy grounds, a star-speckled sky quiet above the weeping cypher trees. A few voices rolled across the stone pathways, stragglers almost late for curfew. Though, they should be safe within the walls given the extra guards.

“Something wrong?” Emmeline asked.

“I was only wondering…” Aviana tilted her head, looking back at her instructors. “Every Fate has a constellation, right?”

“They do,” Emmeline answered. “Most Fates have many. Legends say there have been endless debates over which constellation belongs to which celestial being, but every Fate has their major constellation at the very least. Why?”

“You were talking about them in class the other day. When Brynn asked.” Emmeline recalled the boy dragging them off track once again, as he tried to nearly every lecture. “And that night my magic felt a lot stronger. When I looked at the charts for the day, I realized that Zorrahn’s constellation was brightest in the sky. Is that why?”

“Has anyone ever told you how astute you are?” Myrella asked, and the girl beamed.

Emmeline laughed, explaining, “Yes, Fate ties will flourish when their particular constellation is nearest. If it was recent, it was likely the Eagle calling to you, which can be found adjacent to Zorrahn’s patron constellation on certain nights. It’s said when eagle meets man they flourish as one.

“There are entire courses you’ll take on the stars and maps and how they affect your magic as you get closer to your Fatorum Revelus. You can go on to study them at Byron after, if you’d like.” She thought of her mother, and her rapt interest in star maps and constellation studies. “If it interests you, I could suggest some reference books from the library.”

Aviana’s eyes glowed. “Yes, please.”

Emmeline pulled a piece of parchment from her desk, scraps drifting to the floor. Quickly, she scrawled out a few titles. “Tell Miss Rigol that I’ve given you permission to request these,” she said of the librarian known for being very strict with borrowing books and passed her the list. Aviana quickly tucked it away. “In the meantime, pay attention to the way your power ebbs and flows with the natural movements of the realm. All magic comes from the earth on Ambrisk, so it will be increasingly helpful as you grow to understand it innately.”

“Pay attention. Got it,” she echoed, scanning the titles and bouncing on her toes. “Thank you, Miss DeLeoste!”

“Of course. Now hurry off back to your dormitory before curfew,” Emmeline told her.

She didn’t let the smile fall from her face until well after the door had shut. Then, she slumped in her chair, her bones tired.

“You all right?” Myrella asked hesitantly.

Emmeline almost lied, but she bit back that instinct, saying, “Tomorrow, Myrella. The Revels start tomorrow. I’ve been reading and researching for hours every night, but with midterm exams, I haven’t been able to get out of the Academy in the past week to do anything productive.”

Her progress in this case had been cut off at the knees. And she’d barely seen Roremar to work out theories together. They were better as a pair.

Letting her eyes slip closed, she contemplated the heavy weight of it all. Her magic was an incessant hum in her chest. She needed to read tonight, but the cliffs were out of the question on her own. She willed the power within her to settle, the ripples of dizzying white fire behind her eyelids to still.

A thunk sounded, and she cracked her eyes open. Myrella was standing in front of her desk, a leather file splayed across the wood. “Come on,” her friend said.

“What?”

“I’m helping. I’m not Roremar, but I can see it all with fresh eyes.”

Emmeline nearly grinned despite the seriousness of the topic. She squeezed the arms of her chair, pushing upright. “Let’s find a murderer.”