Page 35 of Self Studies

I followed his finger as he pointed to a little glass dome on the ceiling. A shiver ran up my spine, not liking the idea of constantly being watched.

When I looked back, Derek’s thumb hovered above the Mêler icon. The excitement left his gangly body. Uncertain eyes rimmed with apple green looked up at me. “You’re big news. A lot of stuff about you ended up on Mêler.”

Before I could ask what social media was, Beryl’s muscled build slipped into the seat across from me. He gave me a wide grin. “Morning, Dot,” and picked up my empty coffee cup, replacing it with a full one. “I didn’t peg you as a morning person.”

“Negative points,” Derek mouthed, not so subtly pointing at Beryl.

The kid stood, pulled his full food tray off the table and quickly shuffled away. Several boys his age sat across the room. I recognized Dead Eye from alchemy. High fives surrounded Derek as he rejoined his friends. It made me smile.

I almost jumped out of my seat when Beryl’s foot found mine under the table. Blood rushed to my face as everything but the mage now in front of me fled my mind.

“Dot?” I asked.

“It’s your nickname.” Beryl grinned. “Aphrodite’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

I laughed, probably more than was necessary. “It is, and more fitting. Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and passion.”

“I think that description fits you perfectly.” Beryl leaned forward. “It’s a nickname; I’m not taking away your status as a goddess.” He sat up straight and put a hand over his heart. “I do intend to worship you.”

I snorted and clapped my hands over my mouth. I’d never made a noise like that before.

Beryl’s foot gently rubbed up against my ankle as he chuckled. My heart fluttered, both never wanting to leave this table and to run at the same time.

Saffron’s scowling face rushed up to my table. “Aphrodite, it’s time to go.”

Leaning back, Beryl put one of his beefy arms above his head and winked.

I hadn’t noticed when he’d picked up my phone, but he handed it back to me with another grin. I had two contacts now, Derek and ‘Beryl the Boyfriend.’ I bit my lower lip.

“They both start with B,” he pointed out. “It’s only fitting.”

I wiggled like a kid unable to sit still. Taking a calming breath, I turned off the little screen without correcting him.

Saffron made a jerky gesture with his fist. “We can’t be late for your placement tests.”

I untangled my foot from Beryl’s and put my hood up. Obediently, I trailed after the Greek God, unwilling to look back to see if Beryl watched me go.

We paused once we were out of the cafeteria.

“I know I said you should pick your own friends,” Saffron began. He turned my shoulders to face him. His fingers brushed my face as he pushed down my hood. The tie slipped awkwardly around my neck with my collar still buried under the hoodie. Placing a finger under my chin, he guided my gaze to his own. “Beryl shouldn’t be one of them.”

I wrinkled my nose. Pulling my chin out of Saffron’s hands, I matched his scowl with one of my own and said, “A little late.”

Saffron narrowed his eyes and shook his head before grabbing my hand and pulling me after him down the hall.

* * *

The day dragged. Question after question appeared either on paper or on a little laptop in front of me. The drab gray stone walls became a madding blur behind the stern older woman who watched me like a hawk. I looked blankly at the final question: ‘In five-paragraph essay form, describe the first time you accessed your magic.’

I bit my lip in frustration.

The things I knew, I knew well: like alchemy, runes, and meditation. However, history, magical application, practical skills, and the nature of magic all had questions I didn’t even understand.

Look for answers to questions in other questions and always put something down. Even if you don’t know, write down something. I, we, want to get to know you so the Institute can help you in the long run. Professor Garnet’s advice bounced around in my head.

Crossing my eyes, the test in front of me went out of focus. Although the professor honestly believed the faculty existed to help students, I wasn’t so sure. Advisor Crowe even told me teachers were cruel and set students up to fail. Alchemist Blickenstaff certainly ran her class that way. Derek was convinced it was all a set-up. The thought Professor Garnet had lied to me stung.

“That’s time, Aphrodite. Pencil down and turn it in.” The proctor’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.

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