Ara’s anxiety settled under the weight of his confidence. “Could it be from your magic? It feels different than anyone else’s.”
Cal brought his hand to his chin and rubbed it. “Could be? For now don’t mention it to anyone else, okay?”
Ara nodded her head. She hadn’t known she was reading Cal’s mind. How would she know if she was doing it to others? It felt as if she had begun down a path that was uncertain and unprecedented.
“Sit, eat. If you want,” Cal said gently, but when she stood frozen he sighed. “We unlocked your power, Ara. Who knows what you are truly capable of without testing the boundaries of it. There isn’t anything wrong with you. You are incredible.”
The tightness in her chest eased a fraction. “Now who’s reading who’s mind?” she smiled.
Cal’s laugh was deep and felt like a warm blanket on a winter’s night. “You just broadcast your thoughts adorably.”
Ara snorted. “Adorably.”
“I said what I said,” he said as he gestured to their forgotten picnic.
It was hard to argue with him and she found herself sitting down away from the spilt tea. Cal sat next to her and handed her his cup. The world ahead felt daunting but this, this felt simple.
An hour later, Arabella concentrated her entire being on ignoring the redhead who sat next to her. Roxie hadn’t looked away from her ever since Ara had settled herself into her chair. How Roxie was managing to retain notes from this class she would never understand. It must be terribly difficult when all she seemed determined to do was stare at Ara.
Losing her patience, Ara kicked her friend under the table. Roxie let out a sharp yelp which earned them the attention of the entire class.
“Miss Marudas. Miss Laurier. Do either of you have something to add on defense spells that arise from blood magic?” Professor Atwood’s voice was cool and collected, but Ara noted the way he seemed to stay in one place, whereas usually, he spent classes walking around the room. She would have thought he was nursing injuries after last night, but where his jaw had clearly been broken, it was perfectly healed.
Ara smiled. “Only that someinaccuratelybelieve it is the most base and crude form of magic. Mostly because its effects are often not what the witch expects and is forbidden to all students.”
“Hardly insightful, Miss Marudas. All hatchlings learn this on their first day. Please make more of an effort to keep up.” Dismissing her he returned to his lecture.
Arabella’s traitorous cheeks flushed crimson. She had never been spoken to by a professor like that. Most of her professors were quick to praise her.
Roxie snickered beside her and Ara thought it might be worth it to kick her friend once more. She knew she was mad at her for not coming to breakfast to discuss what happened last night, but Cal had taken up most of her morning. Roxie would just have to wait till after class to speak to her.
“What is the exception to the prohibition on blood magic use, Ms. Darling?”
A witch with strawberry blonde hair startled at the sound of her name. The witch had recently joined the second-year class in Professor Atwood’s class for showing a strange proclivity for defensive magic despite only being a first-year.
“Witches and wizards from South Silden.” Her face twisted around the word as if it were disreputable. “They can access blood magic without sacrifice.” When she was finished, she twisted around to shoot an icy glare at Lily who sat next to Roxie.
Professor Atwood seemed to go perfectly still, and the room hummed with tension. After what seemed like an eternity, Professor Atwood walked down the aisle, his face betraying nothing, but the way the air seemed suddenly too humid betrayed his intentions. The young witch that was the focus of his attention squirmed in her seat as he came to tower over her.
“And what, Ms. Darling, are blood witches and wizards known for utilizing their magic for?” Each word was clipped as if it took effort to speak to her.
“Professor—” Her voice shook.
“Answer the question,” he prompted, clearly impatient.
She swallowed. “Healers. They use their magic to heal or at least that's—”
“No elaboration is required, Ms. Darling.” Taking his time to look at each of the young women as if assessing their own thoughts, he continued. “Those born with the innate ability to use blood magic without sacrifice have shown to be enigmatic healers. Their ability to manipulate blood and bone have saved countless lives in day-to-day life, but their sacrifice in the Magnus and Trinity wars earned them respect tenfold. If not for their bravery, I would imagine some of you would not be here today owing your lineage’s survival to them.”
No one seemed to move a muscle with the lone exception of the subject of his ire who sat up straighter. “My aunt fought in the Trinity Wars, and she told me she saw blood wizards reanimate corpses and use them to kill witches. She said she even saw some that were powerful enough to take control of living witches.”
The breath Professor Atwood took was one of years spent learning to control his magic. He backed away from the desk and in one smooth motion withdrew a pocketknife from his pocket. There was a collective inhale from the room as they hurried their minds to consider what his intentions were.
Professor Atwood held out his wrist and drew a straight, even line across his wrist effectively severing his artery. One of the Kingston triplets screamed as crimson ran down either side of his wrist. They might have been discussing the weather for as much as Professor Atwood was affected. He strode back down the aisle past Ara and Roxie and stood in front of Lily.
She glared at Professor Atwood as if she could turn him into ashes where he stood, but there was a glisten in her eyes that Ara suspected only she and Roxie would be able to see.
“I’m not a dog. I don’t do tricks,” she bit out, crossing her arms over her chest.
