“Isn’t an ice fae on the Supernatural Council?” Aura asked softly.
Professor Hunting hummed. “Yes. He is a mate of Wren Clearwater, the council head’s mate. He has shown great loyalty and that not all fae are bad. However, there are many who are. Being cautious doesn’t mean showing aggression.”
“I see.” She nodded thoughtfully.
“Let’s talk about the dragons and drakes today. Any cultist found was exiled to Blezen, and dragonkind’s population is critically low. Drakes and dragons are still tense with each other. There are some who believe in the Dragon Cult’s twisted ideals, while most curse that way of thinking, thankfully. Their legacy remains stained by violence and forced breeding. When dealing with dragons and drakes, specifically those who originate from Blezen, don’t let the pain of the past dictate how you treat them. Not all hold those beliefs, and it’s a sensitive subject.”
The draconic legacy was indeed tainted by the horrors of the past.
“Another species to be aware of are basilisks. While revered by some for their role in saving thousands during the First and Second Wars, they are feared for their venom. They are of sparse population but should not be treated with disdain for their venom abilities.”
My heart ached when she mentioned that. My mom had dealt with many supernaturals being wary around her because of her power for decades. They feared her, and by association, me, too. I rarely had friends growing up because of it, but I had Tibby, and that was good enough for me.
Truthfully, the way this squad was treating me was more kindness than I’d ever been offered.
“Officially, there is peace in Kalista. Mistrust is common, especially in the Human Territory. Agents must mediate all disputes with care. Escalation can quickly reawaken old biases, and with the News Sector reporting more on the little things, every move is a chance to be ripped apart. Youmusttreat civilians with the same respect and kindness you would show your fellow agents,” she said, glancing at the clock on the screen behind her. “I would like you to be aware that there arewhispers of supernatural disappearances in Kalista. Agents are even vanishing. Be on your guard. Dismissed.”
I frowned. Mom hadn’t mentionedanymissing supernaturals to me.
Before anyone could stand, she clapped her hands once. “Just kidding about being dismissed. Sit down. On to Analytic Tactics 101.” She paused to take a drink of water. “This course develops the critical thinking, pattern analysis, and field strategy skills necessary for intelligent decision-making in high-pressure, high-stakes operations. Strength may end a fight, but brains prevent it from happening. In a post-war world of uneasy peace, it’s often the subtle peacemakers who determine the outcome.”
This class and the history class were heavily lecture-based, but this one included more mental sparring. We learned about tactical pattern recognition, battlefield reading, magical forensics, and the psychology behind species conflict.
By the time classes ended, I was drained and craving potions I’d never had before. Professor Hunting knewa lot. I really enjoyed learning from her, but it also drained my mental capacity for learning anything else for the day.
As we left Apex Nexus and headed toward our first-year house, I took a deep breath as the wards of the academy hummed with magic around us.
Slater fell into step beside me, his chaos magic rippling faintly around him as Snakey wound around his neck. “Seeing your beautiful face is the only thing that got me through the lecture, venom baby.”
I gave him a sideways glance. “Weren’t you paying attention during class?”
“Yeah, I’m multi-talented.” He grinned. “I can sneak longing looks your way and focus on my notes.”
“I’m multi-talented too, pretty little poison, just in a different way,” Zuko murmured sultrily on my other side. “Want to find out how?”
I grinned between them. “Tempting offer.”
“Give into the temptation, then.” His venom dripped from his fang, and I forced myself to look forward before I grabbed him and licked it away.
I was going to give in soon.
“We need to keep our minds sharp,” Dimitri scolded us.
Zuko and I rolled our eyes.
As we crossed the bridge toward our house, a familiar figure appeared near the gate.
I sped up a bit and paused when we reached him. “Hey, Jesper.”
He stiffened, pink scattering across his cheeks. “H—Hey, Rune. How was—uh—your lectures?”
“Informative,” I told him with a grin.
He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “Right. That’s good.”
“What’re you here for?” I tilted my head.
“Mentor session,” he muttered, like it was the last thing he wanted to be doing.
