A soft chorus of assurances led him to give a tired nod in acknowledgement. “The students will recognize the benefits of the materials we’re working with, but this development in the containment zones isn’t to be made public.”
“I have a lighter courseload this term already, so I’ll do all I can.” Ollas’s brow furrowed. “I’ve got some ideas for adjusting the lectures and lab approach.”
They began discussing an amendment to the syllabus, with Zhenya interjecting details of Rai’s other commitments as they applied. It wasn’t lost on Eunny how self-assured Ollas was when it came to his teaching duties. A stark contrast when compared to their own interactions.
Ollas was naturally kind of shy and quiet, but they’d been friends. Were friends. The delegation-turned-kidnapping-turned-rescue had changed things, of course it had. Eunny knew it. And now, after Song’s Scrap collapsing, things were even more fraught. Like he’d retreated into his shell, wary of her even though the glimmers of that old friendship came through. Or was she just imagining it, so determined not to let her fucked-up break with magic control her that she couldn’t see how their friendship had fractured? Or maybe she’d always assumed it was more solid a friendship than reality had proved it to be.
But then, Ollas wouldn’t offer up his spare room if he didn’t want her around. Would he?
Quietly, Eunny let her gaze linger on him as the three grovetenders deliberated. Even when Ollas pushed back against some of Rai or Zhenya’s suggestions he didn’t become loud or arrogant. Eunny didn’t follow the plant jargon they all were using, but she recognized competence when she saw it. And in Ollas it was… alluring. In a way that had her tilting her head, an unspoken huh behind closed lips. Not unlike how she’d felt when he answered his door clad more in bandages than clothes.
Nope. Eunny gave herself a mental shake. Inappropriate thoughts at any time, but especially now. Get back to just being able to talk like normal people, Eun.
She banished the image of Ollas’s chest and tried to ignore his smooth confidence while in his element. It was alarmingly more difficult than she’d expected. Something to noodle over later. But as she redirected her focus to what Professor Rai had said, his grim revelations quickly consumed her. Troubles in Rhell and the containment effort, people catching sickness from fighting the poison—yet she hadn’t heard a peep from Dae about any of it.
Fear wound around Eunny’s heart. She’d had a letter from Dae not a week ago, and it hadn’t mentioned anything. A gross omission Eunny would be addressing as soon as she got ahold of a pen. But why would Dae keep it a secret? No, Eunny didn’t talk about her magic or lack of it anymore, but Dae knew she could speak in generalities with Eunny. She lived with magic, but not with magic; there was a difference. Maybe the public wasn’t supposed to know, but Eunny wasn’t the public. They were best friends. Best friends didn’t keep serious shit like this from?—
Oh, fuck.
If Dae was sick…
No, she couldn’t be. Even if Dae was stubborn enough to be on some “I didn’t want you to worry” nonsense, Ezzyn would boil the Sylvanor River in his haste to get Dae to safety in the Valley. If he hadn’t sent word either, then it couldn’t have touched them. Yet.
The truth of the situation was enough to make Eunny choke down a frustrated scream, drawing Ollas’s attention. Concern marred his features.
Eunny shook her head. Dae was at the heart of the poison containment efforts. Eunny’s conflicted feelings about being back at Sylveren and hovering at the edges of magic and the community and a semblance of what her life might’ve been if not for losing control in a most devastating fashion—none of it mattered. Sure, the Restorers had just added more work to an already impossible demand. This semester was about to be a great pain to all of them, including an assistant like her. But if she toddled back to the dead end that currently was the state of her repair café, she’d never hear about the evolving situation in Rhell. Not right away. But while she was around the Grove? On hand for the elective? If any more news came in from the Restorers about what was happening in Rhell, Ollas would know. Which meant Eunny could know, too. Ollas might be awkward with her, but she doubted he could lie. Not if she flat out asked. And he still got an extra pair of able hands in the deal.
“Miss Song, any input you have with regard to the mending aspects is, of course, welcome,” Rai said, drawing Eunny back to the present conversation.
She cracked a weak smile. “Maybe. I never was a good hand at growing things.”
Won’t be around long enough to contribute anything useful, either.
“Perhaps we’ll benefit from your fresh eyes,” Rai said. “Would you mind if I had a word with these two? We need to discuss specifics for the course.”
“No problem.” Eunny stood up and glanced at Ollas. “Orient me on the greenhouse later?”
Ollas excused himself, stepping with her outside the office.
His shoulders hunched. “I can’t ask you to do this. Two trials—it’s going to be even more work than?—”
“Again, I’m offering, not being asked. And it’s decided.” She gave him a light smack on the arm. “I’ll be there for you for the gardening part. Will I be any good at it? Maybe, but in many ways, actually probably no. But I’ll be your arms and legs, and you can direct me.”
Ollas laughed softly, shoulders relaxing.
“And, if we’re talking adjustments for body magic, that—” Eunny caught herself from admitting anything like a current relationship to magic. Stopped short of acknowledging it as if it was still a part of her. As if it was something welcome and useful. “Eh, I know the work,” she finished instead.
“If you’re sure,” Ollas said slowly, but was that a note of hope she heard? Uncertainty, but in a good way.
“I am.” And then, since joking with him seemed to bring back some of their old comfort with each other, Eunny gave him a sly smile. “And, I accept, by the way.”
“Accept?”
“Your offer.” She laughed. “We’re going to be roommates, Nev.”
“Oh. Oh, that’s right. I mean, that’s nice. Good.” Ollas blushed, one hand coming up to cover his smile. “I’m glad.”
Something warm coursed through her at his reaction.
