Page 7 of The Witch & the Grizzly

“Oh…” Morgryn seemed to find the information fascinating. “So the magic skipped over you one way but blessed you in another. What an intriguing combination. You are the best potioneer in your class?”

“Well… I don’t like to brag, but I’m pretty decent, yeah.”

“Have you made any unique mixes?”

“Four,” Eva replied, sounding slightly smug. “One of my potions is being considered for mass production, but they’re waiting until I start my master’s to patent it. It’s an Animal Sense potion. The person who imbibes it has enhanced senses for around twenty-four hours.”

Morgyn nodded thoughtfully. “Yes… that does sound like what I need. I need someone capable of creating unique mixes, of enchanting and breaking through to carve their own path because there are a few things I will require you to make here, in this study, while the fae magic weaves its way around us and penetrates your vials.”

“That sounds very interesting,” Eva said, feeling oddly excited and concerned all at once. “Is it dangerous?”

“Possibly. Isn’t that what makes mixing fun?”

At this point, Professor Umber rubbed his face before saying, “We’re still looking for others that meet your requirements. But we have Nathan, the fae-blooded charmer and sensor, and we have Eva, the potioneer. We just need to arrange suitable meeting times and ensure no one else accidentally wanders into this tower. The lock appears to be broken, by the way.”

“I think I broke it,” Nathan confessed. “I tried to turn the handle, and I heard something crack.”

Morgryn examined Nathan’s bulky stature. “It seems you do not know your own strength. But that is to be expected with an inelegant brute like you.”

While Nathan continued to look indignant, Eva flushed as a brief heated memory flashed through her mind of a night she barely recalled, except for fragments.

The professors gently nudged Eva toward Morgryn, and he showed her a beautiful distillery set containing empty vials, vial holders, a Bunsen burner, and a cauldron. There were also some vials next to the cauldron, which seemed to be filled.

“Over the next few weeks, I’ll be asking you to brew some specific potions, but I want you to add your own wild touch to each one. You see, these potions only work if you have that creative touch in your magic. I want you to be inspired, my dear, and dedicated to the potions.”

He then scooped up a decrepit, mottled, leather-bound book and handed it to her. “Each potion is bookmarked, and the title is circled. Take some time to page through them tonight. Let their essence seep into your mind as you sleep. Tomorrow, I hope you will be filled with its energy.”

“There’s fae magic in that book,” Nathan observed, taking a step forward.

“Indeed there is,” Morgryn said. “But it only works for people of her magic. It’s not for the likes of you.”

Nathan scowled, and the professors looked like they wanted to drag him out of the room. However, now that Eva had the book, the meeting was over, and they were ushered out of the tower, leaving Morgryn in his small patch of the fae wilds. Through the inky darkness, they made their way through the strange corridor that transitioned them from one realm to another and out into the corridor with the four doors and the staircases leading down.

“That went better than expected,” Professor Z’Hana observed. “We’re lucky he didn’t kill Nathan. I got the shock of my life when I saw he was encased in crystal. He’d put the boy into stasis.”

“So that’s why he didn’t turn up.” Professor Umber rubbed his chin. “Did you lose your way to my office, Nathan?”

“Oh no, I found it. I was a little early, so I went wandering.”

“Hell of a wander,” Professor Umber muttered. “Well, here’s the key to South Dormitory 12. We’ve no one in there for the moment, so it’s all yours until we’ve sorted out this whole sorry business.”

“How long do you think it will take?” Nathan asked. “I’ll need to inform my boss, so…”

“Let’s say a month, maybe more. But we have the money; we’ll pay.” Professor Umber handed over the key, and Eva shivered again.

The professors clearly didn’t want anyone lingering behind since they shoved Nathan and Eva ahead of them until they reached the known part of the academy again.

“Do not go up there,” Z’Hana said. “I’ll be arranging for a barrier so that no one does what you did. I didn’t think anyone would be foolish enough to want to go all the way up there and then break through a door, but I underestimated people’s curiosity. That’s on me.”

The professors left, but Eva lingered, taking her sweet time, and Nathan did the same. Each clearly wanted to talk to the other, but Eva didn’t know what to say or where to begin. How exactly did you address a maybe stranger with, I think we’ve met before, and then slide to, remember that one night a year back? Yeah, I doubt you remember all your encounters. Neither do I; I just, you know, happened to recognize…

God, it sounded pathetic, even in her own mind. She wasn’t obsessed or anything, far from it. However… since he hung back, it might be better to hear what he had to say first. Then, depending on that, she could formulate her response and hopefully not appear to be crazy.

He rested those curious green eyes upon her, and she felt a small pang of disappointment that she couldn’t quite recall them. Everything was so dark back then, and her thoughts were blurred by drink and lust. It was a far cry from who she was today.

After a long, studious pause, he said, “I’ll say it. I believe we’ve met before. Do you agree, or am I insane for mentioning this?”

“No, you’re not insane,” she said, her heart twitching in excited anticipation. “At the risk of getting ahead of myself, though, did you use to go to the bars near the academy?”

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