Page 11 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Are…” nope, not today! I kept my head down and ignored the tall, very handsome stranger currently trying to get my attention, “Hey!” His voice was quieter now, more distant. At least he wasn’t following me. I don’t even know how I’d explain stumbling out the woods crying and covered in leaves. I bet he thought I was an absolute mess.

I continued walking, ignoring the world around me until I found I was standing outside my own dorm. I suppose I’ll try sleeping again. A sleeping potion would have to do if not.

Eight

Sage

There’s always teachers you vibe with more than others, and that for me was Professor Hershaw. I didn’t know she would be my favourite, as her subject of Rituals was the most intimidating to me, but by the end of the day she had beat out the others by a mile. She was young, early thirties by my guess, sweet, and very good at helping put me at ease, despite my obvious disadvantage. Professor Biggle, in Divination, wasn’t bad if you didn’t mind someone who was always a bit cross with a tendency to yell, not to mention her fast-paced teaching that left me no room to ask the questions that had been plaguing me all my life. I had found no mention of seers in the assigned textbook, or the type of glowing I emitted during visions. It made me ill to think that perhaps this school would have no more answers for my affliction than the mundane world. Professor Qadir was quirky with a hankering for misspoken puns (that took us all way too long to dissect), while Professor Allard was a pompous asshat.

Stomping away from Potions and his many remarks about my blank collar matching my blank mind made me feel better. Especially when I stomped past a wooden sign in the shape of an arrow that said ‘Lakeside.’ Texting Theo, I ran down the path, my boots crushing twigs and leaves that littered the path.

The Lake was breathtaking. It created its own horizon where the Boys’ Campus was the star. A pier jutted out into the lake, pointed at the campus, like the North spoke of a compass. I strode out and laid across it, it was wide enough for three of me head to toe. It was interestingly sturdy for a place that wasn’t supposed to be crossed.

Not bothering to pull out my phone, I looked at the clouds. They had ranged from white, to orange, to red, and then grey before Theo eventually showed up. He was only a few inches above my 5’10 but his broad build made it feel like he towered over me. He’d let his blonde hair grow out over the summer so it fell into his eyes as he ran toward me.

“What took you so lo-” I said.

He lobbed a roll at my head.

“You messaged during dinner, shithead,” he replied, “lemme guess, you didn’t eat?” He began rummaging through his backpack.

“Oh… Uhhh, well…” I mumbled, not wanting to admit the truth but also hoping he’d brought food to share. He withdrew a bag of drumsticks and rolls and began to swing it back and forth.

“If you want this, you gotta either admit I’m right, orrrrr…” He threw me a bag of pickled asparagus, “finish every bite and I’ll consider your apology accepted.”

I glared at him. My need to be right warred with my absolute hatred of pickled asparagus. Where had he even found any?

“I didn’t eat. I was foolish to not take care of myself.” The words tasted like sawdust. The bag of chicken landed in my lap and I squealed. Before digging in, I was sure to toss the offensive asparagus at his face. Each bite was heaven.

“Since you’re occupied, I’ll graciously tell you about my day. I somehow cannot escape the shadow of the guy they assigned as my tutor. He’s not only one of my room mates but every teacher has sung his praises when I asked how they’d recommend I catch up. He’s years ahead of the curriculum, in addition to being in the year ahead of me. On top of which, his family has mad connections so no student or teacher will speak a word against him. Something is not right about him, I’m telling you.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” I mumbled around my roll.

“Headmistress’s daughter?”

“Yeah! How’d you guess?”

“Guys talk, they’re all obsessed with her.”

“She’s… I don’t know. Unknowable. Like, she was told to give me a tour of the campus… and despite everything she explained, she managed to stay a stranger.”

“Huh. Weird. Well anyways, my tutor and her go way back. Probably had the same tutors since birth, maybe even shared the silver spoon they were born with.”

“Eww don’t be gross, I get it. Oh shit… don’t we have tutoring tonight?” Theo’s face paled.

“Oh no.”

We both scrambled to our feet and did a little wave before running back the way we came. Turning back, I saw his row boat was jolting haphazardly through the water, forcing Theo to slap the no-doubt faulty rune every time it slowed. We were both toast and it was again, all my fault.

* * *

Adeline

I looked up from my laptop to see a red-faced American stumbling through the door to the library. She looked around, her eyes scanning the tables until they fell upon me.

I raised my eyebrow, waiting. Her shoulders fell when she realised she was here to see me. As happy to see me as I was to see her it seemed.

“You’re late,” I commented, as she reached the table.

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