Page 52 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Looks like you’re the only chilly one sis,” he made a sign of crossing his legs and leaning back into the water like it was a heated pool. I flipped him off as I grabbed my bag. No way was I finishing training soaked. Though I had nowhere to change within the wards.

“Don’t leave the ward sis, I promise I won’t look. We both know I wouldn’t intentionally scar myself like that.”

“Yeah yeah, okay.” I changed out of my exercise wear into the uniform I’d packed. This time packing a coat that made my uniform look like an underskirt to the dress coat itself. The inner lining charmed against the cold. I took a deep breath as the cold left my bones. “I’m decent. You can look.”

“You gonna train in that?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with it?”

“You look like you’re going to the opera with that coat!”

“Seems fitting with all your drama.”

He scoffed, placing a hand on his chest.

“I rest my case.”

“Well, my training cost just went up significantly then!”

“Oh? By how much?”?

“I can’t even speak the figure, it’s so high.” His voice rising an octave to illustrate his point. Rummaging through my bag, I threw him a bag of ‘flaming hot’ Cheetos and a box of Little Debbie’s Oatmeal cookie sandwiches. “This okay?”

He stared at me in shock, “Where did you get these?”

“A witch never reveals her secrets.”

He ripped open the bag and stuffed a fistful of the suckers in his mouth. How he didn’t die from inhaling the dust was its own brand of sorcery.

“As your trainer you should know that these are very bad for you, you should avoid them as a regular snack.” Another handful entered his mouth and he began mumbling appreciative expletives.

“Alright well, I’d hate to interrupt your…” I gestured again with a chuckle before leaving the meadow.

A garbled shout followed me, “do mo’ ‘ush and ‘ull ups!!”

“Huh? Sorry? Couldn’t hear you!” I laughed to myself as I continued my walk. I desperately needed to find some nightshade flowers to complete the instructions from Headmistress Alva’s lecture before nightfall.

Twenty-Eight

Adeline

Teddy: Morning! What are you doing today? Goin’ anywhere nice?

I quickly replied before continuing my morning beauty routine. Dorcas had been pestering me all week to hang out before classes and I knew it was because she was assigned the same group as Sage for the Run trials and wanted to know everything humanly possible about her.

Adeline: Good Morning. Oh you know… Just deciding whether to take the private jet to do a spot of shopping in Milan or to have a day on the yacht.

Teddy: The usual then?

Adeline: Absolutely, I am rich darling.

Teddy:haha ??

Teddy: Wait… really?

I smiled, catching a glimpse of myself in my mirror. It struck me how rarely I smiled these days. Like a genuine smile. I really needed to get out more.

Adeline: lol, No. I have lessons the same as you, numpty! Although yes, I am rich…

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