“You already understand the fundamentals of magic, now we learn how to buildnewmagical works, rather than just repeat what already is. This is where creativity and discipline with ethical responsibility collide. The first couple of sessions we will spend on the spell I’ve just shown you, dissecting it, introducing errors and complications, then performing it. Following that, you will delve straight into your first spellwriting project. There are four parts to this. One: a two-page design brief defining purpose, mechanism, and including ethical boundaries specific to the spell itself and its reach. Two: draft the first written iteration of said spell with annotations and explanations of logic flow. Three: perform a trial demonstration with a small-scale live test. Four: complete a 4,000-word research paper reflecting on the success and limitations of your spell as well as possible future applications.”
Everyone, including me, was hanging onto his every word, a silence enveloping the room that was most definitely rooted in excited anticipation.
This course was going to be incredible.
Professor Price noticed the awed expressions and the intensity of what he’d created since walking in, and he smiled.
Then, with a snap of his fingers, he spun toward his grimoire. “Well, then. No time to waste with further formalities. Let us delve into the good stuff!”
9
~Zayn~
Time was running out.
I had only a few days left now.
And I was still coming up with fuck all.
I stared down at the paper on the ash-wood cafeteria table in front of me, rubbing my worry stone bracelet as I did. I was at the far end, the tables stretching across the length of the hall. The edges were slightly beveled, giving a refined, handcrafted feel.
The walls were polished black marble with streaks of blue and gray that glowed from the reflection of the sconces mounted between the arched windows. The floors were that same black tile that was throughout the building, and I liked that it all fit together seamlessly—it was kind of comforting. Each table had bench seating upholstered in a cozy charcoal suede. At the far end of the Cafeteria was the serving counter framed by dark steel and stone.
It was an hour after lunchtime, so the place wasn’t as packed, maybe half-full. I had some time until my next class and I’d just had lunch with Evira who’d gone off to herInter-Realm and Species Relations: Coexistence and Cooperationclass withGuest Lecturer Arthur Sterling, an Ancient who worked for the Guardian Movement. I’d had that class in my first year. I knew Winter was in it with her. Vaxan was supposed to be too, but I’d seen him leave campus earlier instead.
I’d decided to just stay here instead of walking about campus or heading to my dorm, and take the time to work on this task that was proving impossible.
That task was figuring out the details of this date that I’d promised Evira.
This date that she’d said was my responsibility to plan asthe asker.
And in the days since she’d said that, one indisputable fact had really been driven home to me.
I hadn’t ever dated.
Dammit.
I took another sip of my tea—fucking Chamomile. A calming beverage. A weak-ass beverage was what it was, and I shot a look around the space to make sure nobody was picking up on it.
There were mostly only magic-wielders around, but I did see a few wolves hanging out, although they were immersed in their food, all their animal supernatural senses on that.
There was a group of five female vampires over at the far end near one of the exits and I saw two of them smile out at me as they took in the tea, seeming to like it.
Great. They thought I was some sensitive shit or something.
I wasn’t.
Of course I wasn’t.
Now back to planning this date.
I took another couple of sips of my tea, then stared down at what I had so far.
Dancing at The Caverns.
Polaris.
Walk in the woods.
