Page 45 of The Gargoyle in the College

I swear something shimmers inside the liquid. “What did you put in it?”

“Faerie’s dust.”

I stare at him, not sure whether I should take him seriously.

He nods. “Surprised, huh? My guy brought that in today. I was going to tell you, but you’re here already. Did you catch wind of that?”

I take a sip of the drink. It is spicy. I don’t understand the combination. “Is faerie’s dust supposed to be spicy?”

“A tad bit. Depends on species.”

I lift the glass and stare at the liquid. “How did the guy come into possession of such a thing?”

“Right? But that’s the hunter’s secret.”

I nod. “I get it.”

Faerie’s dust is the nickname of the glittery powder from a very rare type of fungi that is rumored to only live in the cleanest mountain with the best air, soil, water, and everything imaginable. The powder is said to be able to heal whatever injuries are out there.

I don’t believe every part of that myself. Some parts have to be exaggerated by the hunters so that they can sell stuff for more.

The powder is good for health, probably, but it’s not perfect and that magical.

There’s a surge of heat swirling inside my stomach. Maybe it has to do with the faerie’s dust, or maybe it’s just the alcohol.

Mckur watches me with eager eyes again. I roll my eyes. I don’t want to entertain him. Maybe I should have stayed on the campus to save my trouble. There won’t be alcohol, but there won’t be anyone to interrupt me either.

His gaze remains on me for another moment before he sighs. “I mean... I want you to be comfortable when you’re here.”

I take another sip of my drink. I want to be comfortable when I’m here too. The music is fine for me today. If it is louder, or if I stay here for longer, it may be able to drown my thoughts. The other gargoyles have enough respect for me that they won’t talk to me unless they have to. I’m pretty well known as the one who doesn’t talk much, except Mckur has yet to get a notice.

He works on a few other drinks for others while I stare at my own glass.

Why doesn’t Laura want me?

She told me, but I refused to take that as an answer. There has to be something more to that, right?

Just because I’m a gargoyle?

I have nice wings...

Maybe I’m a disappointment even though I tried to impress her.

Why?

I hate losing her without even knowing the reason for it. When it comes to her, it feels like I haven’t even started to fight, but it’s over.

A heavy hand finds its way to my shoulder. It is Mckur again. He has a light frown. “Do you want to talk? Or be somewhere quiet?”

I nod. I don’t want to think, but I can’t do anything about that. My legs are heavy, and I don’t like my wings.

Maybe Laura doesn’t like wings. I move the tip of my wings, trying to stretch them, but not really trying. Maybe the wings are too stiff for her.

Mckur brings me to one of the meeting rooms downstairs. This is near the chamber for the chanting, which we sometimes use after the ritual. It is darker here than the outside. There’s no artificial wall here other than the door. The rest are stones from the cave itself.

I let out a breath. This place is cooler than upstairs, so it may be able to cool my head too.

There’s a round table for gargoyles to chat and enjoy a drink or two. There are chairs around it, which I put my slumping body onto.

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