Page 22 of Witchful Thinking

She needed to know more about what was going on with the golden threads. She waited for Professor Everflame to head back to the library before ambushing her with questions.

"Magical fusion is incredibly rare," Professor Everflame explained when Diana cautiously inquired about the golden threads."It happens when two magical cores are so compatible they naturally reach for each other.The ancient texts call it 'amoris veneficium' - love magic - though that's a bit romantic for academic purposes."

"And these...connections are visible?"Diana asked, trying to sound merely professionally curious.

"Only in advanced cases, and typically only to those experiencing it.Though magical creatures can often sense it."Everflame gave her a knowing look."Have the garden gnomes been acting strangely around you lately?"

Diana felt her face warm."I wouldn't know.I don't make a habit of observing garden gnome behavior."

"Mmm," Everflame smiled."Well, if golden light appears when you touch someone, I'd suggest having a very honest conversation with that person.Magical fusion doesn't create feelings, Diana, but it does amplify what's already there."

That was helpful. And terrifying.

“Here, read this.” She handed her a thick tome, "Magical Fusion: Extraordinary Connection and its Risks" by Archmage Burrata Morbier.The yellowed pages contained detailed accounts of fused magical pairs achieving feats impossible for individual mages.

Diana took it back to her room to read. It was boring as heck and she skipped a great deal of it.But as she turned to the final chapter, "Dangers of Dependence," her stomach tightened.Morbier warned that prolonged fusion could eventually make separated magic unstable, like muscles atrophying without use.In rare cases, forced separation had resulted in permanent magical impairment.

Diana closed the book slowly.Her healing magic had improved based on their connection.It was beginning to worry her how her spells seemed to instinctively reach for his energy to complete themselves.The thought of losing that connection was increasingly terrifying—not just emotionally, but professionally.Was she risking her lifelong healing abilities for love?And was that a price she was willing to pay? She’d have to do more research. But for now, they had Adelweiss to deal with.

Chapter 6

"Everyone back.Maintainthe safety perimeter."Malachai's voice boomed across the east practice field, his usual jovial tone replaced by urgent authority.

Diana gripped her healing satchel—the one with the temperamental zipper that bit anyone else who tried to open it—and mentally ran through her emergency protocols.Across the field, Alarick stood with his feet planted firmly, hands weaving patterns as he maintained their protective circle.The same hands that had been weaving patterns of an entirely different nature across her skin the other night.Even from this distance, she saw golden threads dancing around his fingertips—evidence of their magical fusion that grew stronger with each kiss they'd shared.

Professor Xena Guillet strutted around the dueling circle like a runway model with a teaching certificate still warm from the printer.At twenty-five—a full decade younger than Diana—her elaborate robes were strategically tailored to highlight curves that had no business being part of academic attire.The same Xena Guillet who just five years ago had been whining in Diana's infirmary about magical acne treatments was now a "rising star in theoretical dueling."

"She's planning something flashy," Diana muttered to Minerva, who was leaning against a cart full of healing potions."Those aren't teaching robes.They're 'watch-me-show-off' garb."

"Raven's watching."Minerva nodded toward where the Headmistress stood beneath an oak, her familiar Edgar preening importantly on her shoulder."Not even Guillet would try something ridiculous with Raven here."

Diana wasn't convinced.Xena had that unmistakable gleam of a witch with something to prove—the same look Diana had seen on far too many recent graduates who thought six months of field experience qualified them as experts.It didn't help that this morning she'd overheard Guillet telling Alarick how "refreshing" it was to work with someone who "appreciates innovative approaches without being stuck in outdated methodologies"—while looking directly at Diana.

Alarick caught her eye.The golden thread between them allowed her to sense his wariness.She sent back reassurance, watching as he subtly strengthened the northwestern corner in response.

"For today's advanced demonstration," Xena announced, her voice magically amplified to theater-level drama, "I'll be showcasing revolutionary dueling techniques I've rediscovered from the ancient masters."

---