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Wait, he was only telling me this now?

“I want to use it too.”

“I advise against it,” Quentin sighed. “You're pregnant. Who knows what it could do to your child. Blood sacrifices should do the trick, and you'll be able to perform most of Umbra's simple rune rituals.” He gathered up the rest of his research files. “You'd be better off focusing on your ice powers.”

My frustration returned.

“But what...”

“Enough questions.” Quentin tapped the stool next to the table where I had been sitting earlier before he sat down on his own. “Have a seat. You won’t learn anything you don’t write down yourself.” He opened the book and dust swirled up in the bright light of the lab table lamp. “I’m definitely not lending you any of my books.”

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After an hour, ten pages of my notebook were filled with more or less scrawled characters.

Quentin didn't pay attention to whether I was keeping up, but he did check to see if I understood the strange grammar rules. At least, I assumed that was the intention behind his strange looks.

The Umbra language, also known as Umbrien or Graphi Umbra, was as complex as expected. An alphabet of twenty-nine characters that changed direction when combined, not to mention the differences when it came to connection points of the letters and word formation within the four usage categories: ritual, academic, political, and artistic language. In addition, there was a complete overview of runes, consisting of almost seven-hundred runes that could be used to cast active spells.

However, some pages were missing from Quentin's book, and I was sure that I would find out more from the books in the secret room once I had mastered the basic alphabet.

In addition, new ritual runes could be created, but Quentin had not yet managed to create one that actually worked.

Somehow, I enjoyed sitting next to him, just listening to him and occasionally searching for signs of Erik in him. I didn't know if it was wrong, but it felt good. Right. With every syllable he spoke, with every searching glance and every breath I took, in which the smell of his perfume and his body scent resonated, I felt... lighter.

I was in the process of memorizing the alphabet and adding Latin phonetic symbols to help me pronounce the ritual language when Quentin's cell phone rang.

He looked at the display and his features immediately became more rigid.

“Excuse me,” he eventually said, standing up.

I just nodded, watching him as he left the lab.

Who could he be talking to?

I was about to concentrate on the runes again when I suddenly heard his voice very quietly from the hallway.

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“I've made a breakthrough in one of my side experiments, and I think it might be interesting for you.”

I listened intently, putting down my pencil.

“Of course, the genetic experiment takes priority, but Diana has disappeared.”

Now I was really listening.

Whoever Quentin was talking to on the phone knew Diana Adams.

“When will you be in Blairville?” Quentin asked, his voice getting quieter, as if he were moving away. “I see.”

Then he became too quiet for me to understand anything else about this strange conversation.

I was tempted to open the page with the many questions to add five more, when my gaze fell on the two gleaming gold rings in the small Petri dish at the edge of the table.