Page 80 of Monster's Baby

“Already?”Una asked, eyes wide.

“My thesis involves a series of potions being used for each successive potion,” Lilia said with an easy shrug, as if that wasn’t the most difficult concept I’d ever heard.“This one is the first, and it needs to rest for a week before I can use it in the next potion.”

“What happens if you make a mistake halfway through?”Rhiannon asked.

“I’m making a huge batch of this first one,” Lilia said.“But I’m not worried.Professor Wainwright will be keeping an eye on me, and I’ve never had problems brewing potions before.”

“It sounds intense,” I said.“What are you trying to prove with your thesis?”

“That power grows with potions brewed by the same witch and it’s better to make your own from scratch rather than buy pre-made potions.”

My eyebrows rose.“I can think of several potion companies who aren’t going to be pleased with your thesis.”

“Yeah, well, that’s their problem.”Lilia shrugged again.“There will still be witches who prefer the quick way.It has its own benefits, like time saving.But if you are after power, it’s better to make your own.”

Brom kissed her cheek and she smiled at him.

“What about you?”I asked Hazel, who seemed lost in thought.

She blinked, focusing on me.“Oh, sorry.What was that?”

I repeated my original question.

“I’m collecting rare plants in the Dark Forest this weekend with Professor Calderwood,” she said.“I need some of them for my thesis, and the others are for the higher level Herbology and Potions classes.”

“Clarissa?”I asked.

“Bruce and I are heading to the mainland to meet up with the Blackthorn family,” she said.“Something about power transfer.”

Bruce added, “If I want to take over as Headmaster of this school, I need to have the support of the rest of the family, which means getting to know them.”

“Doesn’t one of Ophelia’s children want the position?”Aiden asked.

Bruce grimaced.“Yes.The old man wouldn’t be good for the school, though.”

“Isn’t he only in his forties?”Brom asked.

“It’s all in his attitude,” Bruce said.“He’s not connected to the youth today the way I am.”

“The youth today?”I repeated, chuckling.“Are you sureyouare?”

Bruce laughed with me.“You know what I mean.”

“Why are you asking us about this weekend?”Una asked, changing the subject.“What areyouup to?”

“I’ve gotten permission from Professor Akhtar to go back to Liangshan Yi to take measurements for my thesis.”I almost bounced in my seat.“He’s coming with me, of course, but he said I could bring a friend.”

“And Aiden is...”

“Unavailable,” Aiden replied with a sigh.“I would love to go back, but I need to catch up on my own thesis work.The Magical Olympics combined with Professor Reynolds’s...umm...inability to assist, means that I’m about two weeks behind where I should be at this point.”

I frowned sympathetically and rubbed his arm.We’d discussed it the previous evening, after Professor Akhtar had told me we were going back to China on Saturday.

“So you’re working with Professor Dunlop for now?”David asked.

“Yeah.”Aiden shifted uncomfortably in his seat.“He’s great at helping with the spellwork, but he doesn’t have the background that Professor Reynolds has.Had.The math is over his head, and I’m struggling,” he admitted.

“Ouch.I’m sorry to hear that,” Bruce said.

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