Page 32 of House of Ydril

Of course, at that moment, I don’t realize it’s not over yet. It takes me a while because Cormac and I have wandered off far from the House of Ydril, but when I get to my floor, I find something waiting for me in front of the door. A gorgeous box of chocolates with a little white envelope attached to it.

Frowning, I pick it up. For some reason, my heart is once again throbbing. I tear the envelope and inside, I find evidence that it might not have been all the alcohol after all.

A note written in elegant albeit forceful cursive.

“He would have bored you and you know it.”

Chapter fifteen

“Can’twetakeabreak?” I plead with Moswen as she stands to my side in the graveyard, watching me pant with my palms on my thighs.

“The First Round is in less than two months,” she says as she circles me, “and I know it’s hard to fit a lifetime of learning to use magic in a couple of weeks, but you’re barely making any progress.” She stops to throw me a look that’s at the same time nervous and urging. “We really need to at least get you to unlock your first rune.”

I let out a deep sigh and turn back to the target in front of me. The graveyard is where we come to train because Moswen doesn’t want to be seen. For fear of dark forces being at play here, I guess. But I can’t say I mind. The Grimm Academy’s final resting place has the benefit of total privacy, the unbelievably high hedges secluding it from the rest of the castle grounds. And it’s more beautiful than any I’ve ever seen, with crumbling mausoleums and overrun graves creating a sort of vine- and moss-covered maze wherever you look.

“Hey,” I hear Moswen scold me. “If you think I’m going to watch you just stand there like a mute...”

“Alright, no need to get your panties in a bunch,” I mutter as I turn back to the statue in front of me. It’s a statue of some powerful fae, at least judging by the fact he has five instead of just three runes around his neck.

But we picked this particular statue because of its tall pedestal. It allows me to place all the four Elements at eye level. A bowl of water, a rock, a lit candle and a bottle containing only air.

I muster all my determination, I activate my Sight and I try to connect with them, any of them. At least that’s what Moswen says should be my first step. The First rune is always the Element rune, but just like the rest of them, it doesn’t unlock until Imakeit unlock.

I stare at them like I’ve never stared at anything in my life, but nothing happens.

“You say I should be feeling a sort of connection with one of them.”

“Yes,” she cuts in. “Most faes only ever learn to manipulate one.”

“But I don’t seeanydifference between them.”

“Don’t look at the physical things,” Moswen urges me, “try to get to their essence.”

I take a deep breath and I try again. I try for another half hour, but it simply doesn’t work. Finally, I throw my arms up and I sit with a loud thump.

“Moswen,” I start, my voice deflated, “thanks for this, but I think I’d rather we try again tomorrow.”

“You won’t be doing yourself any favors.”

“And Iwillby continuing to fail like this?” I snap at her, albeit weakly.

For a second, she just looks at me funny. Then she scoffs and rolls her eyes. “In the name of the Holy Word, quit your moaning already. You’re an Olarel, which means there’s power in you. You should be embracing, not resisting it.”

I look up to throw daggers at her. “Sure, I’m the descendant of some fancy family, but that only makes it worse.”

“Enlighten me, please,” Moswen says with a quirk of her brow.

I shake my head as I look away. “I barely know anything about my parents. Even the Mirror only knows their names. But they were Olarels and they were professors here. So they must have been a couple of badasses.”

And I feel stupid for feeling that way, but it just makes me doubt myself even more, at least when it comes to using my runes.

“Look,” Moswen says, gliding to my side and talking in a softer voice. “I also had parents who were intimidating. So I get it. But ultimately, it’s not your parents holding you back. It’s just you.”

I nod, lowering my head to stare at the ground.

It's only then that the thought crosses my mind, making my eyebrows pull down. “Wait,” I say, looking up at her again. “When did you go to school here?”

“Why does that matter?” she asks, a frown forming on her forehead.

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