Page 69 of Tempest Awakening

Mason's eyes snapped to mine, an unreadable expression on his face. "What do you think about that? Relationships between humans and supernatural beings?"

The question caught me off guard. I blinked, my mind racing. Why was he asking me this? I glanced around the room, taking in the fae's grace, the shifters' strength, and Draven's magnetism. Then I looked down at myself—just plain, human me.

A wry smile tugged at my lips. "I don't think—"

I was about to say "I don't think that's something I need to worry about." After all, these gorgeous, powerful creatures were so far out of my league, they might as well be a different species.

Oh wait, they were.

What supernatural hottie would ever be interested in someone like me? But before I could voice any of this, the classroom door burst open.

A tall, imposing figure strode in, silencing the room with his mere presence. His weathered face, etched with the wisdom of centuries, was framed by fiery hair streaked with silver. Intense hazel eyes swept across the room. Despite his apparent age, he moved with the spryness of a much younger man, his steps light yet purposeful.

"Good morning, class," his deep voice resonated through the room, carrying the weight of ancient oaks. "Welcome to Magic Integration and Ethics. I am Professor Elijah Hawthorne."

His voice commanded attention as he outlined the day's activities. "Today, we'll be working on advanced Core Magic application, specifically focusing on physical enhancement. You'll be required to channel your Core Magic to amplify your strength, speed, and agility."

My stomach dropped. Enhancing physical abilities with magic? I wasn't even sure I had access to Core Magic, let alone the ability to use it like that.

"This exercise is crucial for your development as potential dragon riders," Hawthorne continued, his eyes sweeping across the room. "In high-stress situations, you may need to push your physical limits beyond what's naturally possible. Mastering this technique now, in a controlled environment, will prepare you for those critical moments when lives may depend on your enhanced abilities."

As he delved into the details of the exercise, I felt increasingly out of place. This was so far beyond anything I could do.

"Form groups of four," Hawthorne instructed.

I glanced uncertainly at Mason and Kane. Would they even want me in their group? I mean, what could I possibly contribute to this exercise?

Mason caught my eye and gave a slight nod. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived as I saw Kane's lips twitch into a sardonic smile.

"Well," Kane drawled, his voice low and crisp, "this should be an enlightening experience for all involved." His tone made it clear he meant anything but.

I tried not to let his words get to me, but I could feel my cheeks burning. Focus, Tess. You're here for a reason.

Scanning the room for a fourth member, my eyes landed on a figure dressed all in black. It took me a moment to place her—Anya, the girl I'd jogged with this morning. She sat alone, her dark clothes a stark contrast to the colorful attire around her. Small charms dangled from her outfit, catching the light as she surveyed the room with a look of jaded disinterest.

Our eyes met, and I saw a flicker of recognition in her gaze. Without thinking, I waved her over. "Want to join us?"

Anya hesitated, her eyes darting between me and the others. "Sure," she said with a shrug, her voice tinged with resignation. "Not like I have better options."

As she approached, I caught a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "At least you're a familiar face," she murmured, just loud enough for me to hear.

As Anya settled in, I noticed both Kane and Mason tense up. Kane's eyebrow arched slightly, while Mason's jaw clenched. They exchanged a loaded glance, clearly communicating something I couldn't understand.

"Well," Kane murmured, his voice barely above a whisper but dripping with disdain, "this should be... interesting."

Mason grunted in agreement, shifting almost imperceptibly away from Anya.

Anya rolled her eyes. "Don't strain yourselves with the warm welcome," she said dryly, but I caught the hint of hurt beneath her sarcasm.

I shot her an apologetic look, which she returned with a half-smile and a barely perceptible shrug.

Professor Hawthorne’s voice boomed across the room, "Today, we'll be using Core Magic to enhance our physical abilities. Let's start with something simple."

He gestured, and suddenly, a collection of what looked like solid metal cubes appeared around the room. Each was about the size of a microwave, but I had a feeling they weighed a lot more.

"These cubes weigh approximately 500 pounds each," Hawthorne explained, confirming my suspicion. "Your task is to lift them using Core Magic to enhance your strength. Remember, the goal isn't just to move the cube, but to maintain control and precision."

My heart sank. I could barely lift my oversized purse most days, let alone a 500-pound metal cube. Though, to be fair, it was usually full of books.

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