Page 27 of Elemental Affections

“Sort of?”

“I keep changing my mind. Hi, Eunny,” a quiet, shy voice said.

Dae turned to introduce herself, startling with belated recognition. “You’re the grape—girl.” She caught herself from saying “thief” at the last second.

The white-haired younger woman blushed, but her laugh was good-natured. “Um, yes. Hi. I’m Zhenya Lee.”

Dae shook the offered hand. “Anadae Helm.”

They snagged a third chair so Zhenya could join them as a server brought her tea.

“What was all that stuff from the social for?” Dae asked.

“Sending samples to my mama. The vinery keepers wouldn’t let anyone try them before the social.” Zhenya made a face. “My family lives just down in North District, but Mama can’t stand the Valley. We’re both grovetenders, focusing on inscription work. I wanted to send her a place card since I made the ink for them.”

There was something charming about picturing Zhenya mailing off pilfered place settings and pressed grapes—or whatever she did to make them mail-worthy. It put a smile on Dae’s face, albeit a wistful one. Hard to imagine her own mother being happy to receive water from the Valley.

Eunny’s instinct to introduce the two proved savvy, as Zhenya was also taking the ecological restoration seminar. Eunny sent the pair of them off an hour later as she left to open her repair café for a communal crafting shift.

“I expect updates on further developments of the now-requited love,” she murmured into Dae’s ear as she hugged her goodbye.

“You’re a menace,” Dae grumbled before heading back to the school with Zhenya.

The walk gave them time for Zhenya to fill Dae in on what the first seminar session had covered, as well as provide a new perspective on the school as a whole. Though Eunny had done her Initiate levels there and now lived in the Valley, Dae was hesitant to delve too much into magic in their conversations. Eunny was so relaxed about her withdrawal from magic use, perhaps too relaxed. While she didn’t shy away from the subject, Dae hadn’t missed how her friend didn’t linger over it, either. Never broached it first. Whatever had happened during the failed diplomatic mission, the specifics of her captivity, and especially the fallout that had occurred in the Song family after Eunny’s rescue, the answers were wrapped in thorns.

But Zhenya? Within minutes of meeting, she gave the impression of having lived and breathed the university since her primary days.

“Since North District is so close, I got into a specialized study course during winter break when I was sixteen. Ten years later and I just kind of never left. I mean, I did for the rest of primary, but I was up here all the time,” Zhenya said. “I work for Professor Saren Rai over in herbalism as his research assistant, and I help with the lab for the introductory inscription course. I just love it here.” She spread her arms wide to encompass their surroundings.

The Valley seemed to love her back. There was a rosy glow to Zhenya’s light brown cheeks. The wind played with her white hair, causing loose wisps from her bun to dance in the air, whereas Dae’s own hair whipped about her face. Still, it didn’t sting, and something about the breeze made her feel light. Energized, almost as if the wind scooped her forward every few steps. She wondered if this was the Valley’s way of getting a feel for her. Judging her worthiness.

Dae didn’t think she’d ever have quite the same level of belonging as Zhenya did, but she hoped for a little. The younger woman’s love for the place was infectious. As she described more of university life and what Dae could expect from an assistantship and her Adept One courseload, Dae felt a touch of relief. Of calm. And a swell of optimism she’d lacked in her first week. She loved having Eunny close in town, and now with a new friend at the university as well, Dae allowed herself to think that maybe shedidbelong. Never mind that she had no formal magical education, or that Brint had decided to show up out of nowhere, rumor mill in tow. And Ezzyn … Dae didn’t know what to make of that. Of him and his choice of words. It didn’t matter. They’d figure out some sort of workable armistice. She would have her quiet year,requitingnothing so far as Ezzyn-godsdamned-Sor’vahl was concerned. She wouldn’t think of him at all, as he so clearly wished to be free of her.

“Ana! Hey, Ana.”

Crossing the courtyard in front of the Towers’ central atrium, Dae had nearly made it to the door when the sound of her name brought her up short. Though, that particular version of her name and the unfortunate familiarity of the voice speaking made her want to quicken her step. Brint’s voice had a way of carrying that made it difficult to miss. Dozens of people were about, some on their way to or from the Towers while others hung around, mingling between classes. Plenty of people to witness if she tried to ignore him.

Dae paused before the atrium doors and turned around, her public smile in place. Brint waved and called out a greeting—by name—to a pair of students heading inside before he stopped in front of her. Dae’s smile became a bit more forced. Of course, only Brint Avenor would’ve already made friends after being on the school grounds for less than a day. Ingratiating himself amongst people who had no idea how he’d snubbed their choice of school only a few months ago.

“It’s good to see you, Ana. I was hoping to run into you.” Brint flashed one of his dazzling smiles.

“Brint,” she said, tamping down a reflexive if untrue repeating of his greeting back to him. “I’m surprised to see you here.” Her brows knit together as she noted his fur-trimmed cloak.

He laughed, the sound so loud and cheerful it put her teeth on edge. He stuck his hands in his trouser pockets and shrugged, a picture of affability. “You got me there. I was too hasty in judging this place. You opened my eyes, Ana.”

Her suspicion somewhat mollified, she said, “It’s Anadae. Or, um, I’m not going by Ana here.”

“I understand. A fresh start.” He winked at her.

“Something like that.” She nodded toward his cloak. “Cold?” The Valley wasn’t a particularly warm climate, but it wasn’t frigid. Winter in Central District saw temperatures far colder than today, and it wasn’t even raining.

“It’s a lot wetter here,” Brint said. He grinned. “I’ll adjust.”

Dae glanced back at the atrium’s glass doors. Inside, Ezzyn strode across the floor, shedding his cloak as he moved toward the main stairs from the side entrance. An idle look around made his step slow as he caught sight of her through the clear glass panels. His mouth thinned into a frown as his eyes swept over her and her companion. He turned away and continued up the stairs without any acknowledgment.

“Am I keeping you from something?” Brint craned his head around to peer at the door.

“Yes, actually, I have a commitment I need to get to,” Dae said. “Was there something you needed?”

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