Page 23 of Group Studies

When a person turned into their soul beast, their animus, the substance of their very nature, moved to the outside of their bodies. I became a crystal dragon. Step one of operation DUMP was to harvest two of my scales.

Abe had given me some time in the alchemy lab, and I’d used it well. The same potion I’d made on my first day here, size modifier included, sloshed in its bottle as I played with it between my fingers.

Step two was getting those scales off me. This book held the answers I needed; directions on how to make it happen. Only, I needed raw power and a charged potion of neutralization.

I was stuck. Not only could I not charge the potion, but I now needed yet more items and magic.

I bit my lower lip.

Beryl would ask why I needed the scales. Professor Garnet would try to stop me. I wasn’t sure if my roommates had enough raw magic for this. I considered asking Tanwyn, but I didn’t know the mage well. Even if Ashe was willing, I didn’t want to test his friendship against his loyalty to the MA.

Leaving Saffron.

I pulled my phone out of my bookbag and sent him a text asking for a chat. He responded immediately.

Greek God: You in the library?

A: Yes. Not alone though.

Greek God: Something you don’t want your new bodyguard to know about?

A: Yes.

Greek God: Right. Do you remember where my Coterie meets?

A: I’ll be there in five.

Although I tried to slip away without waking Ashe, the Gentle Giant stirred when I did. He stretched, taking his usual spot at my side.

I didn’t have time to sneak around Alice, so I tried to hide behind Ashe as we walked out. If Alice noticed, she didn’t make a sound.

“Where are we headed?” Ashe asked when I didn’t turn toward my dorm.

“I just need to move,” I lied.

Ashe looked at me skeptically but followed my lead. I took us on a roundabout path before going down the hall connecting to Saffron’s martial arts Coterie. Saffron’s two buddies came out of the doorway. They looked overly surprised to see us and I hoped Ashe didn’t see through whatever set up this was.

The spiky-haired one with burnt orange rims gave Ashe a friendly smile and offered a fist bump.

Ashe took it like he fist-bumped them all the time.

“We need to try out a new move on a mountain,” one of them said, jerking his head toward the room with a grin.

Ashe puffed out his chest.

“Ah, you’re friends with these guys?” I asked.

Ashe grunted and looked at me for permission to follow. My eyelid twitched. We didn’t spend every waking moment together, though it did feel like it sometimes. I don’t know who I pictured Ashe hanging out with, but I wouldn’t have picked the two guys in Saffron’s harem.

I realized Ashe was still waiting for my permission. I nodded.

“Pussy whipped,” the one with the spiky hair said. He gave me a wink, “Don’t worry, you can watch us beat up your boy toy.”

Ashe grinned like they’d given him a compliment. I held out my hands and shook them in denial, but the two had already disappeared into the room, the Gentile Giant trailing after.

I dropped my hands and looked at the sky for help, before following. A scan of the classroom turned martial arts studio revealed no Saffron. I relaxed against the wall near the door and studied Ashe’s easy manner.

The Gentle Giant was good with people. He’d shown me pictures of his brother’s kid a few times. An entire reel from the seven-year-old’s first martial arts competition. Ashe said he was more of a boxer, but he’d been so proud of his nephew. They’d done a few kung-fu classes together. Ashe had so many pictures. Both the Ashe showing me the picture and the Ashe in the picture glowed with pride. It was adorable.