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I can see why. “You’re not a first year?” I ask, neck on a swivel as I take everything in.
“Nope. Second year. And I’ve been here several times before the official school year. The magic’s worn off for me. But I still get a thrill showing others.”
The second I catch sight of the buffet, my mouth waters. But it’s not just the food that makes this place so incredible. It’s everything else.
They charmed every window to glow with scenic images of various realms. At a glance, I recognize the fae realms, an alternate human realm, and a demon realm I only know through my studies.
The windows glow with enough enchanted light to fill the hall, but bobbing overhead, floating orbs of pale-yellow light give the hall a warm, welcoming feeling.
Even the tables and chairs have whimsical lines and an ethereal glow.
But the most unique design element isn’t any of that.
It’s not the displays of fresh foods that look too ornate to eat.
It’s the tree growing right through the center of the hall, branches stretching the width of the room to make a ceiling of yellow and orange leaves. Flashes of glittering light twinkle in the leaves, like trapped pixies or charmed fireflies.
“It’s pretty incredible, right?” Stevie asks.
It’s marvelous. Beautiful enough to exist on Celestus. “I honestly wasn’t expecting anything like this from a demon school.”
“Right? Same though. But you’ve got to remember the school might be run by demons, but witches founded Blackwood U.” The line lurches forward, and Stevie hands me a tray.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“A generation ago, witches suffered with low birthrates and a declining population because they refused to open up theircovens to anything but full-blooded witches. Their first fix was pretty barbaric, but after one of them stood up and demanded better, Blackwood Academy was born to find anyone with the barest trace of magic, train them, and usher them into their birthright, their community.”
Hmm. I wonder if that’s what the headmaster had meant about new blood?
“But to keep the past from repeating itself, the witches had to make concessions. One being our education has to be overseen by an impartial third party. And since they’d already decided Blackwood was the safest place to build the school, demons were the logical option.”
Started as a school for witches. Became a school for all types of magic users.
Interesting.
I pile my tray with a small portion of everything on offer. It all looks so good, soappetizing.It’s a far cry from what I expected and farer still from the bland, indiscriminate gray food I was served during my hospital stay.
Stevie directs me to a table by a window, a luminous depiction of one of the fae realms I’d studied gleaming in the glass.
And, a witch already seated, facing us.
“So, what’s your deal?” she asks, grin wide as we sit down.
“Jesus, Jess, take it easy,” Stevie scolds.
The pretty witch with jet black hair cut in a sharp bob rolls her eyes and puts out her hand. “Hi, I’m Jess.”
“Dove, nice to meet you.”
“So? What’s your deal, girl?” Jess repeats. “What realm are you from? What were you doing when they noticed you? Did you get the honor of a Chonk portal like everyone is saying?”
Chonk. Seems fitting for the fat demon cat.
And portal, I’m assuming, is the human word for fast-travel. Sera was right. I’ll definitely have to watch myself. I won’t get caught because of a stupid word choice.
It’s unlikely using the word shimmer will instantly out me as an angel. But it’s different enough to be noticed, to draw curiosity. All it takes is one person with a need-to-know personality and a knack for research…
“Don’t mind her, Dove, she’s just riled up. The whole school’s been buzzing since the word got out a new demon chick put the heirs in their place,” Stevie says.
