Page 76 of Revenge is a Witch

I check the time, and a thought crosses my mind. “I’ll check in on him later,” I say, more to myself than to Sebastian. “Right now, I need to find somewhere to practice this new spell and work on some counters.”

Sebastian nods, falling into step beside me. “Makes sense. You’ll need to be prepared for tomorrow.”

I glance at him, his easygoing demeanor keeping me grounded, even when my brain wants to spiral into worry about Derek or Kyla’s inevitable takedown. “Thanks for coming with me,” I say, offering him a small smile.

Sebastian smirks back, his eyes sparkling behind those glasses he’s still wearing. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Plus, you know me—I’m always up for a little chaos.”

I laugh softly. "Yeah, I bet you are."

As we walk, I start thinking about where to practice. I know it needs to be somewhere secluded—somewhere we won’t get caught. The last thing I need is for someone to report me for unauthorized spellcasting. My mind races through possible locations.

Sebastian interrupts my thoughts. “You thinking about that abandoned courtyard near the south side of campus? It’s usually empty.”

I blink, surprised. “I was actually.”

He chuckles. “Great minds think alike.”

I give him a playful nudge. “I’m pretty sure that’s just because we’re both troublemakers.”

He grins, not denying it.

After a quick stop by my dorm to grab my wand and change into something a bit more practical for spellcasting—no help from Sebastian, thank you very much—we head down toward the south side of campus. My new gear is much better suited for what I’ve got planned: fitted black leggings, a cropped hoodie, and my trusty sneakers. If I’m about to throw some serious magic around, I need to be able to move without worrying about tripping over myself.

Sebastian leans against the doorframe as I finish adjusting my hoodie. “You know,” he says, “I kind of miss the black dress.”

I roll my eyes, smirking. “Save it for later, Romeo. We’ve got work to do.”

He grins, pushing off the wall as we make our way toward the courtyard. The walk isn’t too long, but the sun’s dipping lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the old stone pathways. The courtyard we’re heading to has a bit of a reputation, mostly because it’s been abandoned for years after some... less-than-ideal events.

When we get there, it’s as eerie as ever. The courtyard is hidden behind a wall of overgrown ivy, with cracked stone pillars and half-collapsed benches scattered around. Once upon a time, this place was used for duels and combat magic practice—until some witch accidentally summoned a storm that took out half the courtyard, leaving it in shambles. Apparently, it was too dangerous to rebuild, so the school just blocked it off, and it’s been mostly forgotten ever since.

I glance around at the dilapidated stone arches and the broken fountain in the center. “You know,” I say, my voice echoing off the empty walls, “this place has character. I kind of dig the vibe.”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow, following my gaze. “You like ruins?”

I shrug. “It’s got a story, right? And hey, no one’s going to bother us here.”

“Fair point.” He steps closer to the center of the courtyard, where the ground dips slightly. “Still, let’s keep the storm-summoning to a minimum, yeah? I don’t think they’ve fixed the lightning ward.”

I chuckle, twirling my wand between my fingers as I follow him. “Don’t worry, no storm-summoning today. Probably.”

He watches as I start pacing, getting a feel for the space. “You really think you’re ready for this?” he asks, his tone more serious now.

I glance at him, my confidence unwavering. “I have to be.”

He smirks again, though this time it’s softer. “Go easy on me when you practice, alright? I doubt you’d enjoy my company if I suddenly lost a few limbs. Or, you know... anything else.”

I pause, then shoot him a wicked grin. “You meanthatparticular body part?”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow, his lips twitching upward. “Call it a valuable asset.”

“Please,” I snort. “As if I’d ruinthatbefore we’ve even gotten more use out of it.”

He laughs, the sound bouncing off the walls, but there's a genuine warmth behind it. “Glad to know you’ve got your priorities straight.”

“Oh, trust me,” I say, pointing my wand at him playfully, “I do.”

The banter lingers in the air for a moment before I flick my wand toward an old column, sending a small spell its way. The pillar cracks slightly at the force, and I feel the buzz of magic settle in my veins. This is exactly what I needed. The tension,the release—magic flowing through me like an old friend coming home.

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