Page 4 of Ulune's Daughter

“The runic language that the Magi of the Mist used, would you say it’s related to any modern language?” he asks.

I shake my head. “From what we can tell, they were a true splinter culture. They withdrew to Isla Cedros around eight hundred B.C., possibly in response to aggression. Oddly, they never tried to return to the mainland. They never attacked any of the neighboring tribes; they just kept to themselves and built a civilization that all but disappeared from the historical record. They must have brought in new blood with every generation because there’s little evidence of genetic mutation, but there doesn’t seem to be a system for doing so. There’s no evidence in their art or rituals that they hunted for mates. Their language and art evolved linearly and independently. There’s no influence from the Olmec or Mayan civilizations. There’s some evidence that they traded with Polynesians, but why go that far when the Olmec and Maya were so close?”

Luca raises his eyebrows. “Do you have any theories?”

I shake my head. “It’s one of the many mysteries surrounding them.”

“Including why their civilization collapsed?”

I suppress a grin. “I have a theory about that, but it’s the subject of the exhibit I’m preparing so I probably shouldn’t give it away. I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”

Luca grins, a startling change to his intense, almost angry, expression. His grin shows very long, very sharp incisors, banded with thin rims of metal near his gums. That’s not the only body modification he has. His ears and nose are pierced and the edge of a tattoo peeks from under his sleeve.

Since I have a few modifications of my own, I can’t look down my nose at him.

“Is the exhibit why you’re not teaching any classes this semester?” he asks.

I nod. “I’m scheduled to teach a Winter Study seminar and then two classes next semester.”

“I know. I’ve pre-enrolled in all of them.”

I tip my head to the side. “I didn’t think you could pre-enroll until after midterms. I haven’t seen any list.”

His grin flashes again. “It helps to know someone who works in the registrar’s office. I’m excited for your Winter Study.Walking Between Worlds. Will it be a practical? Will we actually plane walk?”

“Yes, as long as the target planes remain stable and safe, we should be able to plane walk several times.”

Luca drums his fingers on his thighs, a fast rat-a-tat-tat against the black fabric. “I understand the theory. I’ve studied it as extensively as I can on my own. I can’t wait to put the theory into practice.”

“I thought Professor Kame taught plane-walking two years ago?” I ask.

I know plane-walking hasn’t been part of the curriculum since his retirement. Jane nagged me non-stop about it last year, saying Air and Earth mages were graduating from Bevvy with a fundamental gap in their education. It’s one of the reasons I agreed to come back to Bevington earlier than I’d planned.

“I was only a sophomore then. It was a junior and senior seminar. No exceptions. Believe me, I tried.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, but you’ll definitely have a chance in January.”

He leans across the sturdy café table until he’s close enough that I can feel his warm breath on my face. “What about some private tutoring sessions?”

I blow out a stream of Air that should push him back into his seat.

His smile flashes as he resists my magical nudge, countering it with a breeze that blows my braid back and dries the light sweat between my breasts.

Fuck, he’s strong. I’ll have to ask Jane about him. She’s mentioned there are some extremely advanced Air mages in her classes. Luca must be one of them.

“I already have a lot going on this semester,” I tell him. “I don’t have time for one-on-one tutoring.”

“Not even if I make it worth your while?” he asks.

When I shake my head, he sits back.

“I could assist you in your research,” he offers. “Be your grunt setting up the exhibit. I have advanced fetching and carrying skills.”

I can’t help but crack a smile.

“That’s the extent of your resume, huh? Fetching and carrying?”

“I’m also excellent with coffee orders.” He nods at my cup. “I’ll never get your matcha latte with oat milk and one sugar wrong.”

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