Page 27 of Self Studies

I ducked. “I’m not special.”

“You are.” Professor Garnet stood and started pacing. “Your inner beast is a dragon. The rimming of your eyes is clear; it sparkles with magic that’s not been classified. Rimmed Mages always have one of the primary colors or a mixture of two. Natural Mages have no rimming. I don’t think even most of the instructors here have taken the time to look past your obvious lack of coloring to see the truth.”

I pulled my knees into my chest. “I didn’t know my coloring was unique.”

“How can you not know?”

“Because unlike your first twelve years in the real world, my master changed my diapers. He’s literally the only other person in the world I’ve seen until I woke up in the hospital yesterday. Unless you count the memories of the MA putting bullets into us.”

Professor Garnet stopped pacing and sat in front of me. His smooth hands cupped my cheek.

I leaned into him.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he said softly. “But I’m not sorry you’re free from him. You’re unique, Aphy.”

Just his touch lit me on fire. His words blended, and my magic called for him. I wanted relief from all of this. I wanted the world to disappear. “Kiss me.”

“I won’t kiss you until every bit of your magic is out of my system.” He removed his hand from my cheek. “It was wrong when my master used me like that, and it was wrong when he taught me to follow in his footsteps. Magic transfers have no place in today's society. No one person needs this much power.” He rubbed his hands across the top of his legs, his gaze distant. “You shouldn’t have done this to me.”

I swallowed but didn’t look away from his face. Even if I’d known, I still would have transferred.

“It freed me,” I finally said, keeping my voice soft. “I thought I’d lost all access to my magic, but you showed me it’s still possible. Thank you.”

Professor Garnet looked at me sadly. “Everyone can use their own magic.”

“I hope so, but so far, unless the cafeteria’s used it, only you’ve managed to bring it out of me.”

Professor Garnet sat again. “The cafeteria doesn’t rely on a student’s magic. It’s a closed system powered by the administration.”

I wrinkled my nose at the confirmation. “My magic still wants to complete the transfer,” I whispered, rocking slightly. “I want to complete the transfer.”

Professor Garnet leaned forward before pushing away from me and shaking his head.

I moved my gaze to the dizzying collection of carpets covering the floor.

Before I could ask more questions, the door we’d come through opened. Saffron slid his shoes off his feet. The younger mage moved with ease and familiarity into Professor Garnet’s office. Trays of amazing-smelling food filled his hands. My mouth watered. I could feel a new love for flavor blooming. Maybe if I tried hard enough, I could be as round and happy as Roisin.

The professor stood again. He took the tray from Saffron and kissed the man on the cheek. My eyebrow arched. They set the food platter on the low table and sat cross-legged with their knees touching.

I tugged on my braid. “Are you, um…”

“Together?” Professor Garnet filled in for me. “We are. I’m going to assume you know little about the world of mages?”

I nodded.

Saffron put a plate of steak and mac 'n' cheese in front of me and busied himself arranging the table. I wrinkled my nose. He’d even noticed what I’d been eyeing in the cafeteria; maybe I’d been too quick to judge.

“You’ll learn as you live alongside your fellow mages,” Professor Garnet continued, pulling my full attention once more. “Magic calls to magic. It’s that simple. If you are powerful, other mages will be drawn to you.”

Professor Garnet smiled softly at Saffron, still focused on the food. “People can be close-minded. The limitations and rules the non-magical put on society are not valued by the magical community. Though frowned upon by the administration because he’s my student, my relationship with Saffron would otherwise be another part of life. Although this gets very tricky for Natural Mages and lineage.”

He nodded at Saffron, who didn’t acknowledge it.

“Most Rimmed Mages don’t concern themselves with gender,” the professor continued. “Only power. Do two men together make you uncomfortable?”

I shook my head. “No. Ah, it’s not something my master even mentioned.” I tore my gaze away from the two and moved it to the food. “You left food for me at the library as well, didn’t you Saffron?”

“I didn’t have many rations left on my gem,” Saffron answered, looking irritated. “Otherwise, it would’ve been more.”

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