Page 36 of Shadows of Change

What terrifies me most is the growing certainty that Malrik might be right. And if he is, what exactly have I gotten myself into?

23. Kaia

I slip into Professor Idorath's classroom, Malrik's warning still echoing in my mind. My shadows haven't settled since our conversation, twisting and writhing like agitated snakes around my ankles. I catch Seren watching me with concerned eyes, but I shake my head slightly. I'm not ready to discuss whatever that was with Malrik—not when I'm still trying to convince myself he's wrong about Darian.

The familiar routine of class should be comforting, but all I can focus on is the weight of different gazes on me: Seren's worry, Malrik's intensity from across the room, and Darian's warm smile that suddenly feels calculated. He sits across the room where Alenya is practically drooling over him, but his attention is fixed on me. His smile is warm and inviting, designed to put me at ease—but my shadows pull back slightly, and I can't ignore their warning this time. I also can't help but snicker as Alenya notices the silent conversation Darian and I seem to be having. The look of annoyance on her face brings me joy.

"Today we'll be working with binding runes," Professor Idorath announces, his chalk scratching precise symbols onto the board."Partner up. And try not to blow anything up this time." He looks pointedly at Finn, who merely grins and waggles his eyebrows.

Before anyone else can move, Torric drops into the seat beside me, his presence radiating heat like a furnace. "You look like you're having a fantastic morning," he says dryly.

"That obvious?"

"You're doing that twitchy thing with your hands. Dead giveaway." He starts setting up the rune materials with surprising care. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not particularly."

Torric shrugs, but I catch the concern beneath his casual demeanor. "Fair enough. Just remember—" he pauses, his usual brashness softening for a moment, "—you don't have to prove anything to anyone here. Especially not to people who think they know what's best for you."

I glance at him sharply, but he's focused on arranging the crystals for our rune work, his expression purposefully neutral. Across the room, I notice Aspen watching us with that quiet intensity he gets sometimes. When our eyes meet, he gives me a subtle nod.

The twins might drive me crazy, but there's something steadying about their presence. No hidden agendas, no cryptic warnings. Just solid, reliable support.

"Now," Torric says, a familiar glint of mischief in his eyes, "want to help me create the most explosively awesome binding rune this class has ever seen?"

Despite everything, I feel my lips twitching. "I thought we weren't supposed to blow anything up?"

His answering grin is positively wicked. "Rules are more like guidelines, really. Besides," he nods toward where Darian sits with Alenya, who is now destroying his perfectly controlled rune work, "some people could use a little chaos in their lives."

As if to emphasize his point, my shadows give an enthusiastic little wiggle. I hear Finn snicker from somewhere behind us, followed by what sounds suspiciously like "Team Chaos for the win!"

The crystals Torric sets up catch the light, throwing tiny rainbows across our shared desk. His hands move with surprising precision for someone who usually solves problems by setting them on fire.

"See, the trick is," he explains, sketching the first line of the binding rune with perfect form, "you have to make it look like you're following the rules before you break them."

I raise an eyebrow. "And how often does that actually work for you?"

"About as often as your sarcasm works as a defense mechanism." He doesn't look up from his work, but I catch the slight curl of his lips. "Now pay attention, Sunshine. I need you to draw the shadow aspect while I handle the fire element."

The shiver that washes though me when he calls me that catches me off guard. I’m not used to Torric like this, fun, almost kind and dare I say, charming?

"Because that combination has historically worked out so well?" But I'm already reaching for my chalk, my shadows swirling with anticipation.

"Trust me. Shadow and Fire can be great together."

He pauses his work, his gaze now focused entirely on me and I’m more than grateful right now that we’re in the middle of class and there’s a crowd of people because otherwise… yeah.

I clear my throat, trying to bring us back to the present. "Famous last words."

I start sketching my half of the rune, trying to focus despite being acutely aware of Darian watching. The chalk feels warm under my fingers, responding to my magic in a way that's both familiar and unsettling.

"Careful with that line," Torric murmurs, his shoulder brushing mine as he leans closer. "You want it to curve just... there." His hand hovers near mine, not quite touching but close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his skin.

My shadows flicker, and the chalk skids slightly. Behind us, Finn's poorly disguised laugh turns into an unconvincing cough.

"Something amusing, Mr. Veylan?" Professor Idorath calls out.

"Just admiring everyone's technique," Finn replies with sugary innocence. "The level of... concentration is inspiring."

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