“That’s the app that Remy used to locate you?” Damien shook his head. “No, I’ve never heard of it, but I find it curious that it showed up exactly when you needed it. As for how it got on your phone, I guess that is a mystery the two of you are going to have to solve.”
Chapter Eight
“Okay, class. That’sit for today. Since you all did so well with this lesson, I’ve decided not to assign any homework this weekend,” Professor Aurelia Towers announced.
A resounding cheer echoed through the large greenhouse as the Basic Spellcasting class celebrated their professor’s generous statement. Over the last month, Starla had thoroughly enjoyed her classes at the magical academy and the culinary school. Some were easier than others, but even the most difficult subjects were entertaining.
So far, Starla found the cooking classes to be the most demanding, but they quickly became her favorites. In fact, she wished she had more lessons than just on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but that would have to wait until the following semester after she completed most of her basic magical courses.
The challenge at culinary school came from the need to complete every task without relying on magic. She wanted to master all of the basics like a real chef. Kneading dough by hand, whisking batters, and following intricate recipes without the aid of spells was both exhausting and rewarding. Each small success left her feeling a sense of accomplishment she never would have received by simply wishing it into fruition.
It also made her realize what a privilege it was to be a supernatural.
Being able to create something with a mere thought was a gift, and it was one she didn’t take for granted. Incorporating the foundation of what she learned in class just made everything she created with magic even better. Focusing on the layers of complexity showed her that even a small modification to a recipe could change the entire flavor profile of a dish.
Although her culinary classes were exciting, integrating into the human world was a little more difficult than she had expected. She was constantly afraid that a careless word or gesture might expose her supernatural status. She finally began to relax after she discovered there were a few other supernaturals attending the culinary school.
Having friends in class made everything more fun. Their support and companionship helped her feel more at ease and allowed her to embrace this new chapter in her life with growing confidence.
At the magical academy, most of her classes were easy. The only exception was Magical Combat. She had been too reliant on her magic over the years, and her physical strength wasn’t what it should have been. She wasn’t looking to bulk up on muscle, but she did want to become strong enough to defend herself if the need arose.
Remy had mixed emotions about Starla learning how to fight. On one hand, he understood the need for it, but as her extremely possessive mate, he wanted to protect her himself. Since he was an excellent fighter, he was able to help teach her the skills she needed and even encouraged her to delve into his memories to review the years of training he had experienced. Gaining his knowledge and skills through their bond gave her an advantage, but she still needed to adapt to the physical part of Magical Combat herself.
“Who knew making trees grow would be so damn hard?” Claudia groaned. “Concentrating on those spells gave me a headache. You are lucky you were just observing today. Now, I need a nap. Are you ready to go?”
Starla glanced up from the flowers she had been watering and smiled at the snow leopard shifter. “I wasn’t observing. I was assisting.”
She hadn’t thought the lesson was difficult at all, but she chose not to say that out loud. Today’s assignment involved coaxing a variety of seeds to sprout and grow, ranging from delicate flowers to hearty vegetables to majestic trees.
Each type of plant required a unique level of concentration and skill, yet the underlying principles remained consistent for all species. Some seeds, like the flowers and vegetables, responded quickly, while the trees demanded patience and focused energy in order to be coaxed into growing.
Nature, in all forms, was truly fascinating.
For Starla, manipulating the elements of nature came as naturally as breathing, thanks to her fairy heritage. She was able to encourage growth with a gentle touch or a mere thought. However, she noticed that casting spells could yield similar results, demonstrating that the fundamentals of different types of magic were the same.
“Go ahead without me. I told Professor Towers I would help her with a few things after class, then I’m going to meet Remy at his football practice.”
Claudia rolled her eyes playfully. “The coaches are going to yell at him for being distracted again once you show up.”
“He is distracted whether I’m there or not,” Starla teased.
“That’s true,” Claudia agreed with a laugh. “I thought he was still pretending to be injured.”
“He is, but it’s still important for him to show up to support the team since they have a game tomorrow.”
“Right. I forgot about that. Want me to walk with you to the stadium?”
Starla shook her head. “You were bored out of your mind last time you came with me to watch them practice. Thanks, though. Go, enjoy your nap. But be forewarned, I’m still dragging you to the game tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll go with you. Games are more enjoyable than practices since they come with beer and nachos.”
“Ah, the essentials.”
“Damn right. I’ll text you later.” With a wave, Claudia headed toward the exit.
While Jessica and Lana had been assigned to the Advanced Spellcasting class, Starla had chosen to remain in the basic class with Claudia. Since the snow leopard was still adapting to her new magical upgrades, she didn’t have much experience using spells, charms, or hexes.
Starla had tested out of spellcasting altogether, but she had chosen to take the class to help her understand the differences between the races when it came to using magic. Once she had discovered there wasn’t much distinction for her, she could have opted out of the class altogether, but she had decided to remain with her friend.
