Page 51 of Self Studies
I glanced at Professor Garnet, pleading with my eyes for him not to make me do this, but he set his jaw in a harsh line. Although I understood he was pushing me to defend myself or learn something, it wasn’t working.
Swallowing down bile, I turned to Ram. His gaze undressed me before his brown magic snaked toward me. I closed my eyes, trying to think about whatever barriers I was supposed to have. His magic easily slid into me. My body lit up as it had with the rest of them. I wanted to be sick.
Before Ram’s harem fantasy could bloom to life, a second stream of magic intercepted it. The two clashed briefly before the new stream booted Ram out. I sunk into my mage-trance. Banana yellow magic still wisped around me.
“That is not part of the exercise,” Ram snapped, glaring over my shoulder at Saffron.
“It’s also not against the rules,” Professor Garnet said. “But now that it’s happened…” he grinned, like he knew something we didn’t. “This is supposed to be helping Aphy with her defenses. I will take rations away from the next person who interferes.”
Ram glared at Professor Garnet.
My knees protested as I spun away from my advisor’s slimy apprentice and came to a stop, looking at Saffron. His angry gaze moved from Ram to me and softened.
I silently thanked him over and over, wishing he could read minds. The wisps of his magic still swirled around my head, adding to the heat building in my core.
“Let’s see what getting out of here looks like,” I finally said.
As if my voice broke a spell, Saffron scowled and nodded curtly.
Like Professor Garnet and Tanwyn, Saffron’s fantasy bloomed in my mind. I blinked, struggling to piece together a kaleidoscope of images. In a set of frames, two adults, a woman and a man who looked too much like Saffron not to be his parents, waved. A younger Saffron, maybe thirteen between them. In another set, Mercedes sat in a rocking chair cradling something which looked like a baby. Yet another group showed Professor Garnet writing at his desk with a soft smile on his face. A fourth displayed a hulking stone and metal Golem underwater, Saffron’s dead body dangling from its raised arm. All the images rotated against each other. Suddenly the snapshots shrank and yet another one added to the mix – my face, the crystal around my irises sparkled impossibly bright with a rainbow of colors.
Saffron yelped in pain, and the images vanished from my mind. In one slow pull, his magic slid out of me. I rocked and moaned. Despite the odd collection of images, Saffron’s magic stroked my core, billowing my need into an overwhelming force.
“Aphy, are you in pain?” Professor Garnet asked. “Do you need medical assistance?”
“Ah, no,” I said tightly.
The world came back into focus. Saffron panted, sweat running down the sides of his face. He took a deep breath and pulled off his shirt before leaning back on his arms and looking at the ceiling.
“Rimmed Magic can be unstable. Especially in Saffron’s unique position,” Professor Garnet said, looking at Saffron with concern. He turned back to the circle and addressed everyone. “These kinds of flare-ups are not uncommon in any mage, especially when they’ve tapped out. Natural or Rimmed, losing control is painful. Learn from Saffron today.”
Unsure how Saffron’s position was unique, I nodded along. Saffron’s images hadn’t felt like a loss of control, more like he’d been unable to focus on a single thing and sent everything on his mind at once.
I curled my legs into my chest to keep from rocking. Need blurred the edges of my vision and rolled through my joints. My stiff nipples rubbed against my thighs, destroying my ability to analyze what I’d seen.
Professor Garnet clapped, making me flinch in surprise. He addressed all of us once more. “Great work today. You know the rules. Only practice outside of class with an approved and willing partner. As always, if you choose to break the rules, that’s your choice. We are always watching, and your decisions will be reflected in your Aptitudes, so make the right ones.”
A curl of fear fought through my need.
Ghalen clapped, mimicking Professor Garnet. “Make the right ones, funny, Prof.”
A few others chuckled. Their chatter bounced around the Sphérique as they headed for the exit. A wave of lust washed away my anxiety. I tried not to rock, focusing on the patterns on the floor.
When the sphere quieted, Professor Garnet’s knees appeared in my vision. “Aphy.”
I bit my lower lip and looked up, forcing my hips to stay still.
“It’s only me and Saff left,” Professor Garnet continued. “Be honest. Did he hurt you?”
Saffron walked up to me, his now wrinkled shirt back in place. “I didn’t hurt her. She’s worked up.” The Greek God adjusted his tented pants. “Just like after her magic transfer.”
I bit my lower lip and nodded.
Professor Garnet cocked his head to the side. “You shouldn’t be feeling like this. You didn’t do magic. There was no transfer. Even Ghalen and I feeding off of you should’ve felt like a brief moment of fatigue.”
I didn’t know how to respond. I couldn’t change the way I felt. “It’s too much,” I looked up at the professor with pleading eyes. “Help me release the pressure.”
“Do it yourself,” Saffron snapped. “Keith’s still recovering from the transfer. He can’t help you.”