“I take it that’s not much time for something like this?” Eunny said.
Ollas huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s— It’s practically impossible. There are so many variables to record. We’ll use probes, but they’re not the same as being able to dig your fingers into the soil and observe and document from touch. We’ll be making minute adjustments at every step of the process.” His shifted to cradle the side of his face, a frown marring his brow. “One term isn’t enough time. The successive planting, monitor the watering, make adjustments to the soil. There’s so much trialing?—”
“Sounds like the class really needs you, then. And”—she waved a hand at his injuries—“you need an extra set of hands, and a leg, no magic necessary. I can be that for you.”
“Eunny, I can’t ask?—”
“I’m offering. At this point, I’m basically telling you. I’m doing this.”
“The café?—”
“Isn’t going to be open for a while. I need some time, not just to clean up but to figure out what I’m going to do with it.”
“Gransen can help me,” Ollas said.
“Gransen has his own classes. I’m here. I’m unemployed at the moment, and I’m of able body. Let me help you out.”
When it looked like Ollas would protest again, Eunny winced. A quiet sigh escaped as she shook her head, eyes meeting his for a moment before she looked down at her hands. Made loose fists before slowly releasing, palms up, fingers intertwining. Softly, she said, “Term starts soon. You’d only be ready for it if you could take healing magic.”
“Eunny…” Ollas fidgeted. “It’s not all on you. I was there?—”
She looked at him again, the corners of her mouth lifting in a sad smile. “I’m the reason you can’t anymore. We both know it.”
Her magic going rogue, breaking away from her, twisting into something volatile and uncontrollable as it misfired straight into Ollas—she’d been warned of the risks in pushing beyond one’s limits, same as every other mender, but she’d never experienced the consequences firsthand. A dangerous combination of ignorance and arrogance in her mid-twenties had left her convinced that reaching the dregs of her inner well would merely leave her exhausted, sapped of magic until she had a chance to rest. Maybe she’d feel like shit from overextending, sure, but she’d thought her magic would just run out, not go into freefall. Not go against the very core of what her magical affinity was. Not harm instead of heal.
A costly mistake. A mistake that had broken her trust in magic, in herself and whatever ability she’d thought she had. But what did trust or confidence matter in the grand scheme of things? Those were just intangible pieces of emotion that could be shoved into a little box and tossed to the back of her mind. Broken faith was nothing compared to a broken body. Damaging Ollas’s ability to absorb healing magic, that was substantial and real and entirely her fault. It was unforgivable. So, to be the cause of him losing something else…
Eunny would not be the reason again. Not if she could do anything to prevent it.
She straightened, eyebrows lifting as she tried to lighten the mood. “It’s just for a few weeks, right?” She pointed to his bandages. “I can smell the salve from here. Better than nothing, but you won’t be ready by the time term starts.”
“It’ll be so boring for you,” Ollas said, a pleading look in his eyes. “I keep long hours at the start of class, especially one like this.”
“Perfect. I was a champ at all-nighters. Who needs sleep?”
“It’s all repetition, and it’s dirty work,” he tried again. “We’re going to be starting tons of seeds, and most will probably fail, and then we’ll have to restart.”
“Busy work. Sign me up.”
Ollas appeared torn between skepticism and something like hope.
“Great,” Eunny said. “Meet tomorrow for my crash course in all things gardening?”
“At least let me get you listed as a consultant,” Ollas said. “We have some room with the grant.”
She was shaking her head before he finished. “Thanks, but I don’t want a real commitment with the school. I’m supposed to be helping you out, not job-hunting.”
“But the café?—”
“Don’t worry about it.” She got up, flashing a quick smile. “I’ll see if the housing department has something for me. It’ll be easier if you’re not having to send for me down in town.”
Ollas reached for his cane. “I can ask at the desk.”
Eunny waved him back down. “I’ll use your name. Don’t fret.”
“If you’re sure,” he said dubiously.
He might be dubious, but Eunny heard the note of relief in his voice. When she grinned at him, a shy smile spread across his face in return. A real smile, not an I’m humoring you grimace.
