“You like it?” Willow asks. “Theo always has the most fun clothes.”
No reply.
Willow sighs and strokes her hair. “I’m going to go get dressed, but then I’ll grab Duncan’s game-tab. Maybe it will make the day pass quicker for our little guest.”
Ludo appears out of the tunnel carrying a white plastic seat with built-in-toilet
—I will now go and find another cot. You are not comfortable all in the same bed—
“And bring one for yourself,” I tell Ludo. “No more sleeping on the concrete.”
He shrugs, and puts a hand on my cheek. —I feel no discomfort in the service of you—
Ludo disappears into the gloomy passageway, and Willow heads upstairs.
I’m not sure how much the child is taking in, but I try to explain everything anyway as I pull on my uniform.
“Willow and I have to go to classes, but Ludo will be here. I’ll come back and check on you at lunch. I’ll bring food, is there anything you don’t like?”
I don’t get an answer.
“That’s OK, I’ll get a selection. Why don’t you get tucked up back in bed for a while?” After a pause, I add. “You are being so very brave, but I want you to know you’re safe with us. We’ll never let anything bad happen to you again.”
She kicks off the shower shoes and crawls into my bed, then covers herself completely with blankets.
I knot my brown tie and try to turn my mind to mundane stuff like classes.
???
The smell of pond water and capsicum usually makes me gag, but today, the familiar stench of Beginning Potions is oddly comforting.
A little normal in a world that has become anything but.
I’m mechanically swirling a test tube, watching it fail to change color, when Donovan’s brain echoes into my head.
—How’s your morning going so far, Tee? I’m in my Sigil & Syntax class—
—Sigil & Syntax? What’s that?—
—Your guess is as good as mine. I’ll just copy Wes’s assignment like normal and not understand a thing—
—How is he?—
There’s a pause, then I can hear the tenor change in Donovan’s thoughts.—Like a ghost. I miss him. And really I miss you, Tee. Fuck this curfew, I’m sleeping in your basement tonight—
—I love the sound of that, but it’s too risky. I’m supposed to be all hypnotised and a good little student remember? And then there’s the cameras…—
—I’m not a happy bunny—Donovan tells me.—Also…I had this idea that…—
Sadly, I don’t hear the end of his thoughts. The overhead speakers in the classroom suddenly start blaring.
“Attention all students. Attention all students.”
The robotic message is replaced by the dean’s voice. Her tone lacksallof its usual chirpiness.
"Good morning, students. Effective immediately, as instructed by the Conclave, our Validus Vale housing is going to be optimized to reflect the Conclave-ascribed magical hierarchy. Restructuring notifications are being pushed to your tablets now. The rest of today’s classes are cancelled to facilitate the moves…” A deep sigh sounds over the loudspeaker. “...which must be completed by curfew tonight.”
The classroom goes deathly silent for a beat, then, a chorus of digital chimes erupts.
