Page 9 of Monster's Pet

“Do you need me to nag you, or shall I go get you something from breakfast and meet you in Akhtar’s class?”

I rubbed drool away from my chin and waved a hand to wipe the pool of it off the book I had been using as a pillow. The headache throbbed.

“Ow,” I said weakly. “Why does my magic feel so low?”

Aiden shrugged. “You did a lot yesterday. Maybe it was too much?”

“The nexus point should have refueled me faster than at home. And I usually have an overabundance of energy the first week back. Why do I feel like I could sleep for a week?” I managed to stand up, using the back of the chair to keep me upright.

“Just one more mystery to add to the pile,” Aiden said. “See you downstairs?”

“Yeah,” I agreed, waving him off.

He left me alone in his room, and I looked around helplessly. All my clothes were inmyroom, except the ones I was wearing, and I desperately needed a shower. There was no way I could use a refresh spell, I simply didn’t have enough energy for that right now, so I headed out for my own room to get changed.

Hazel was collecting her books when I entered, looking the same as ever.

“Why aren’t you as out of it as I am?” I asked as I got myself clean clothes.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I stayed here over the holidays?” she said before she left.

I shrugged. That made about as much sense as any other explanation. I cleaned myself at the sink with a washcloth, forgoing a full shower until later in the day, and then got changed quickly.

Before I left the room, I gave head rubs to the two still sleeping dragons. “I haven’t found out what happened to you yet, but I promise I haven’t given up,” I whispered to them.

I passed a few students, everyone running to their classes, and slipped into my Magical Nexus class with only a few minutes to spare.

“We have a problem,” Professor Akhtar murmured, closing the door behind me.

Dread settled in the pit of my stomach.

He had a problem with me?

“I’ll need your full attention on this. Please meet me in my office after classes today. We have a lot of research to do.”

Oh, not with me.

Relief swept through me and I nodded acceptance before sliding into my seat. Aiden had left me a banana and half a grilled cheese sandwich. I turned and smiled at him in the back of the class before focusing my attention on the professor.

“I’m sure you have noticed your lack of energy this morning, and the actions of the familiars last night.” Professor Akhtar steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. “The ley lines have been drained.”

I blinked. “What?” I said, certain I hadn’t heard him correctly.

The rest of the class was buzzing as all the students started talking at once.

The professor clapped his hands together sharply. “Enough of that,” he said, and everyone quieted. “I understand your disbelief, but you can check for yourselves. I believe you know how to look for magic?”

I nodded, swallowed my bite of banana, and then sucked in a deep breath, clearing my mind. I cast the spell on my eyes and squinted, preparing myself for the bright light of magic to fill my vision.

The usual glows of old magic on objects around the room was easy to see past; the bright flares from each student and professor, some dimmer than others, was more difficult. The castle itself had magic intertwined with every stone, protections and containments, among others. But when I looked beyond all that, at where the trickling rivers of magic from the ley linesshould be, there was nothing.

My breath caught and I looked up at the grim face of my professor. He nodded.

I removed the spell, my head already throbbing from its use on top of the extra light it allowed.

“Until we figure out what caused the drain, I want everyone to be cautious in their use of magic. I know most of you are used to living away from a nexus point, but you aren’t utilizing your magic to the same extent as you do here. Let yourself get used to the increased magical load slowly. Some of you already look more drained than you should be,” he pinned me with a glare and I blushed, “so it will take you longer to feel better.”

Aiden raised his hand. “What does this have to do with the familiars?”

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