Page 66 of Group Studies

As we walked to Metaphysics, I kept my eyes peeled for the only mage who truly cared about me. Beryl seldom made an appearance in my life outside of the cafeteria unless he was looking for me. Today was no different. Students in the halls parted like Noah parted the sea as I walked with Ashe at my back. Phones were out. I knew I’d be spending a chunk of time this evening deleting crap and trying not to read nasty comments on my Mêler. The student body already hated me for bringing the MA here, now I was literally in bed with one of them.

In bed with the enemy, who was supposed to be the good guys. I tried to rub my brain through my temples.

The MA agents on patrol gave Ashe nods and waves. I hunched my shoulders, wishing I still had my hoodie to hide in. Every step made me feel more and more out of place.

I finally looked up from the ground when we arrived at the Sphérique. Beryl, flanked by two MA agents, stood in the center. I stopped in my tracks. I’d never seen Beryl anywhere near the dome before.

Officer Keres stepped away from Professor Garnet and somehow managed to look down his nose at Beryl. “You’re a student at the Institute, and as such, you must attend classes,” he stated with a nod.

“Sure thing,” Beryl responded sarcastically. “I live to serve.”

Officer Keres narrowed his eyes. “I will only say this once; You’ve slipped through the cracks—every student who’s been here even half as long as you, has either died or graduated. You will start attending classes again. You will complete your new assessment, and we will determine your fate. Be it death, jail, or continuing your rehabilitation.”

“I live to serve,” Beryl repeated. He moved his hand to his forehead and made a sloppy waving motion.

Officer Keres’ left eye twitched, but he gestured to the two officers on either side of Beryl. They cocked their hands at an angle and sliced the air in a real salute before exiting.

Ashe pulled me out of the doorway before they ran me over.

The foghorn blared twice in the distance.

Professor Garnet clapped his hands together. The remainder of the class joined Beryl and the professor in the center. We stood eyeing each other. I glanced at Officer Keres who watched us like we were rats in a lab. A bad feeling made me shift from foot to foot uncomfortably as we spread out into a circle.

“Right,” Professor Garnet began, “Ashe, you might as well join the class as you’re here for it. Circle up.”

Ashe grunted, taking a step toward Beryl, while I went the opposite direction toward my usual spot between Saffron and Tanwyn. Ashe gripped my wrist, motioning to Beryl.

I pushed his hand off me and froze like a deer in headlights.

Saffron’s yellow rims blazed and Tanwyn tilted his head toward my pillow already between them.

“A,” Ashe barked. “What the fuck?”

He looked pointedly at Beryl, and I flinched. I needed to warn him!

Screwing up my face, I mouthed a silent apology to Saffron. Guilt twisted my stomach as I followed Ashe instead of taking my usual spot. The moment I sat, I turned to Beryl, the only mage I trusted.

He winked. “Nice to have you between us again.”

The warning on my tongue died. I squirmed. Every nerve ending tingling happily with the memory. My blush could have single-handedly heated the Sphérique.

I dropped my gaze to the runes on the floor. If Beryl already knew Ashe was an MA agent, he probably already knew what Officer Keres was up to. Why didn’t I sit between Tanywn and Saffron?

Ashe pushed his MA jacket toward my butt and motioned for me to move so he could slide it under me. My gaze shifted back to Saffron and Tanwyn, my guilt doubling. I betrayed my friend and whatever Saffron was by not sitting with them.

Tanwyn gave me an understanding nod, though he frowned at Ashe. Next to him Saffron shook, his rims blazing as he glared at Ashe and Beryl.

“Right,” Professor Garnet said. He unrolled his yoga mat and took a seat in the large space between Saffron and Beryl, his usually relaxed body tense.

Behind him, Officer Keres made himself comfortable against the wall.

“We’ll start today with a bit of sharing,” Professor Garnet said tightly. “As we have two new students. Remember, metaphysics concerns the line between physics and magic. Most of what we do will be in the theater of the mind. Although magic is limited, imagination is not.”

Professor Garnet pinched the bridge of his nose. “Right,” he let go. “With two new mages, I think it would be best to start with who you are and why you’re here, as in at the Institute, and what your goal is. Saffron, start us off.”

Saffron ran his fingers through his blond locks. “I’m Saffron Gibson. I’m here because the magical fallout did not mix well with my natural magical abilities. I’m in my last year, ideally, and my final project is to create a Golem who can absorb corrupted magic and filter it.”

The mages around me shifted uncomfortably, looking at anything but Saffron. Beryl let out a strangled chuckle and shook his head. I didn’t understand why. Before I could ask, Tanwyn introduced himself.