He chuckles. “Most students have benefitted from decades of study and instruction with their families before their epiphaneia. If you had had that, you would be leagues beyond your peers, I’m sure.”
“That’s a terrible pep talk.”
“Yes, well, you should be used to it by now.”
“You know what, fair.”
He smirks and shakes his head. “Latin, ancient Greek, and English have survived the diffusion of language and knowledge to become the lingua-franca for spells and incantations. Germanic runes are most commonly used today, though I know of one Runewitch whose mastery of ancient runes is beyond even me.”
“No,” I gasp in mock outrage.
“Yes, as she likes to frequently remind me,” he says drolly. “Sigils are more complex constructs mostly used when summoning. When used to communicatepurpose, the outcome depends on the subjective intent of the wielder creating it: two wielders might use the same symbol for different meanings, or different symbols for the same meaning. When communicatingidentity, that is reversed, and the sigil becomes objective. Say you were to attempt summoning this table here.” He knocks the coffee table separating us with his knuckle. “The sigil you would use to summonacoffee table would be different than the sigil used to summonthiscoffee table specifically—that which belongs to Dr. Wolfram Brandt, Grandmaster of the Fourth Order, purchased from a local woodcarver in 1983, located on the east side of the third floor of the Dreadhurst administration building. You would need to know things like its origin, location, size, any distinguishing marks, etcetera, for the magic to identify it. The more specific you are, the more powerful the sigil. Adding to the complexity—if I were to sell this table tomorrow, the sigil to identify it would change to reflect that of its new owner and location, for example.”
“This is making my head hurt.”
“Why do you think I made us my favorite tea?”
“Make more of it next time.”
“I’ve already ordered it in bulk. Now, let’s get started on spells and runes. We’ll save sigils for after you pass the Crypteia.”
My head is spinning by the time Brandt calls it quits just before midnight. Butthead is waiting for me when I exit the Admin building and leads me through campus back to the dorms, yowling the whole way, bitching me out for taking so long to feed him, probably. After appeasing his majesty with anentire can of tuna, I don’t have the energy to spare a thought at seeing Roth and Luther tomorrow.
“Nyx.”
Maybe if I keep ignoring him, he’ll leave me alone.
Unfortunately, he’s not taking it as well as Thane did yesterday.
“Oh, this is precious.”
Nope. Not doing it.
“Pretty bird.” His warm breath makes the hair on my neck rise when he whispers in my ear. “There is nowhere you could fly I couldn’t catch you. Be a good girl and answer me, hm?”
I turn and glare at Roth in the seat next to mine, startled to find him close enough that our lips almost brush. “I’m not a fucking bird,” I seethe. “If anything, dick, I’m a cat.
“Perhaps you’re right, prettypussycat. Fitting, then, to have one as your familiar.”
Fuck me, that’s even worse. “What would you even know about familiars?” I grumble, turning back to the diagram we’re supposed to be replicating.
“My familiar is a hellhound.”
I scoff and whisper, “A demon dog from Hell? That’s very on brand.”
He tsks. “Careful, pussycat, he’s not the only one who likes to chase.”
“You’re a psychopath.”
“You say that as if it’s an insult.”
“That’s exactly what a psychopath would say.” His low, menacing chuckle sends shivers down my spine.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you enjoy playing with me.”
“About as much as I’d enjoy playing Polish Roulette.”
“I’ll play with you anytime,pussycat.”
