Page 11 of Class Studies

As if suddenly realizing I had my arms around him, he shrugged me off.

I frowned but gave him space.

“But I didn’t let you shine.” He groaned. “I don’t want things to be a big deal because once they are, I destroy them. My brother, my family, my friendships….”

Although I wasn’t holding him anymore, I laced our fingers together. “You’ve not destroyed—”

Saffron cut me off. “My dad spent a fortune to keep me out of here and working with private tutors. But I didn’t care.” He balled his fist. “Rimmed Magic did this to me, and I will find a way to get rid of it. I didn’t only come here to pay for my mistakes. I came here because the students are filled with Rimmed Magic. Theoretically, I can tinker and perfect my Golem. My tool to rid the world of the unnatural magic’s taint.”

I shifted uncomfortably.

“I pull away from Keith,” Saffron continued evenly, “because he’s unnatural. Rimmed Magic is unnatural.” He looked down at our twined fingers. “Or at least that’s what I believed when I first got here.” He laughed bitterly. “I shouldn’t have kissed him in the Sphérique last year. That’s where it started. I’d been dedicated to my Golem, but Keith, Cal, and all the friends I made.…they’re not unnatural.” Saffron looked at me again, somehow looking small. “But I still wished I’d had the choice to get rid of my magic. I still want to give everyone a choice.”

I squirmed, not quite understanding if that was good or bad yet. “Ah, choice is good.”

Saffron started to pull away, but I tugged him back into my arms. He clung to me, trembling, and my heart broke.

“I do know,” I said softly, “life is about making choices, but you have to have options to make a choice.” I squeezed Saffron, hoping he got my message. “I’m struggling with what the right thing to do is, too. Maybe we can struggle together for a little while? Just to see, you know?”

Saffron straightened and yelped as he pulled on injuries he’d forgotten about. He twisted out of my arms, only to wrap me in his.

I curled into his heat.

“I would like that.” He kissed my cheek. “I have a lot to make up for, and I want to earn your trust.”

I nodded in complete agreement. “We can work on our CBASIC.”

“Doctor Roy’s trust models?” Saffron asked before shaking his head, his face falling. “I’ve messed up my Aptitudes, I’m sure. Not to mention made a lot of enemies.”

“Because of your Golem?” I asked, not really understanding.

Saffron nodded. “I guess Mercedes was pretty happy to tell the school I was inventing something that could remove a Rimmed Mage’s power. I’m sure you’ve noticed my opinions on rimmed magic are not shared.” He waited for me to nod before continuing. “For all I know, Nitis added to the flame. He wasn’t too happy when I referred to Rimmed Mages as tainted.”

I wrinkled my nose. “In his defense, I wouldn’t be either. Officer Keres keeps calling the people I’ve put my magic in ‘infected.’ I’ve started doing it too, but it makes me feel dirty.” My stomach fluttered unhappily. “I think what people call things is important to how we view them. I mean, I understand Natural Mages are born with their power, and Rimmed Mages, ah, get it or are cursed with it, whichever way that works. But,” I pursed my lips. “I’m struggling to understand why it matters when we all have to deal with the same problems at the end of the day.”

Saffron’s eyes widened. He pulled me close to his chest like he never wanted to let me go before kissing the back of my head. “You’re something special, Aphy. I wish I could wrap you up and keep you just like this forever.”

My heart raced in equal parts, fear and excitement. I didn’t like the idea of being kept, but I’d never felt this close to Saffron before, and I loved it.

“I’ve been thoughtless.” Saffron’s chest rumbled with a frustrated whine. “I wasn’t thinking. I hate my extra magic, but others view it as a gift.” He relaxed his arms. “My Dad brought me up to believe in the order of Natural Mages.”

I bit my lip and turned to face him. “Where do I fit into that order?”

Saffron traced my cheek. “I don’t know. I don’t even know what the order should be anymore. I can’t stand Beryl, but he stood up for you. He’s made sure Mercedes has a line of communication with her dad. He does that for quite a few students here, ensuring they can reach their families. He’s a better mage than me.” Saffron released me and clenched his fist. “You’ve no idea how hard it is to say that, and I’ll never admit it again.”

I grinned stupidly. Beryl and Saffron reminded me of two cats, only giving each other begrudging respect when the other couldn’t see.

Nurse Norah reappeared with a flourish, making me wonder if she’d been listening on the other side of the door. She chastised me for being on the bed. I slipped off and smoothed down my uniform, wincing as I passed over my injured side.

The nurse scowled at me. “If you’re injured, you should’ve said something.”

She handed Saffron a red and purple swirling potion, which he immediately passed to me.

“Saff—”

“You saved us both.” He jerked his head toward the potion.

I sighed but took a sip. Magic washed through my body, tingling my core and flushing my cheeks with heat.