Page 99 of The Powers of Nyx

“I grabbed some muffins and fruit,” Vanya said without looking up. “So we don’t have to go down to the dining hall.”

I blew out a breath and joined her. “Any chance for coffee?”

“I wish!” She groaned and popped a berry into her mouth. “But no.”

Ugh. Strike against Oberon. How hard would it be to get one of the guys to smuggle me in an espresso machine? “This place just keeps getting worse and worse.”

Vanya snickered, and I finally noticed the piles of books already spread out around her. My stomach dropped as I glanced down at my own rather small selection of textbooks. I only had five classes today out of six, though one was supposed to be spent with myMagical Defencementor.

“Come on, we should get moving if we want a good seat,” Vanya said, handing me a muffin. It looked like it might have been raspberry, but after giving it a sniff, I wasn’t sure.

There were a couple of other students entering the common room as we left, and they gave us wide berth. Rumours about what’d happened in the dining hall had spread.

“We only technically have this class for two weeks before it turns practical,” Vanya explained. “My brother did the class in his final year. He said that during one of the full moons, they opened a mirror portal to the Old World to observe how magic has changed there.”

She sounded excited about it, but my stomach twisted. “That sounds...”

“Dangerous, right?” She raised a brow, winking at me. “I know. You don’t want to mess with Old World monsters.”

I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to that, but I nodded instead.

The familiar hum of students eased some of my anxiety, and seeing everyone else in these ridiculous uniforms made me feel like I wasn’t sticking out like a sore thumb.

Vanya talked a little more of what to expect, and I was immediately thankful for her. She had the kind of energy that didn’t sap someone dry, but was also lively and bright, so much so you kind of fed off it. I wasn’t much of an extrovert, and it didn’t seem like she was either, but she appeared genuine and sincere. A total contrast to what I’d been told to expect.

My skin tingled, and a shiver raced down my spine. The block was still firmly in place, and our bond still remained dormant. But he knew I was here. He had to. So, why wasn’t he showing himself? Why couldn’t he be here, with me? Why was he still hiding?

“Ivy?” Vanya rested a hand on my forearm, breaking me out of my thoughts of Ry. The feeling of being watched disappeared. “We’re here.”

I glanced into the classroom—or, well, small lecture hall. There were already quite a few people finding seats, and I sighed. Most were witches and mages, but there seemed to be others, too. “I thought this was a class for...”

Vanya nodded and started towards a row in the middle; I hurried to catch her. “Yeah, but you know, hybrids are common now. Even here where bloodlines and families are determined to keep their power untainted.”

I cringed. “And that seems—”

She glanced back at me. “I know.” Sitting, she crossed one leg over the other and put her book bag on the chair beside her.

I didn’t comment on it any further. Soon, the room filled, and our lecturer entered. I sat up a little straighter, noticing she was the same woman from yesterday, the one who had helped methrough the mental attack. Her dark grey hair was pulled into a ballerina’s bun, and she wore a sleek black dress that went to the floor. It looked like she floated; when she clapped her hands, the room went silent.

“Welcome toA History of Witches & The Rise of Mages. Many of you will have a basic, biased, understanding of how we creatures of Nyx came to power. This class builds on what you already know. It delves into how Nyx gave us our magic. And when we were forced to leave our first world, how that shift in power gave way to mages.” She clapped, and the wall behind her shifted in colour, the shadows churning until an image appeared. “Let us begin.”

~

How are you enjoying your classes so far, Sweetheart?Adrian asked after my second lesson.

I hadn’t felt this excited over going to class since my freshman year when I’d been naive and still had hope.

I really enjoy my History of Witches class,I replied, trying to keep my smile to myself. I followed Vanya through the halls towards theDefensive and Offensive Magicgym, where I was meeting my mentor. I knew Elias was close, his bond a constant hum in my chest, but I appreciated Vanya—even if she had kind of been forced to be my guide.

Adrian’s end of the bond brightened with amusement.I liked that class, too.

You were a history nerd?I asked.

His amusement blossomed into something more, a hint of shyness woven in.Something like that.

If he were here, I’d question him further, but Vanya stopped in front of a hallway that led out of the main academy building. It was a covered walkway, like the bridges at the palace, with magic keeping the elements out. Either side of the hall was open to the misty, cool mid-day. The skies were a gloomygrey, and a dark fog covered the ground. It was eerie and the perfect backdrop for something wicked to happen. Almost like I expected Frankenstein’s monster to rise up from the fog.

“TheDefensive and Offensive Magicarena is down there,” Vanya said, pointing to the dark building at the end of the walkway. “The change rooms are to the right as soon as you walk in, and your mentor should already be waiting.”

---