Page 4 of Class Studies
When the tension left my shoulders, Professor Garnet’s chest rumbled. “What do you mean by the same buyer?”
Ashe eyed the professor again before uncrossing his arms and walking to the semi-automatic coffee machine on my kitchen counter. The sound of pumping water and hissing steam gave me a moment to compose myself before I guided Professor Garnet to my couch. We sat on opposite sides facing each other. With a heavy sigh, I admitted to my contract with Nitis and every painful mistake I made along the way.
Professor Garnet listened, his face a mask of calm patience I hoped he really felt. Partway through the story, coffees arrived, and Ashe joined us in his spot by the fire.
When I finished, Professor Garnet ran his fingers through his brown hair in a gesture so much like Saffron, I laughed despite our serious topic.
He smiled at me before taking a deep breath. “Right, let me make sure I’ve got all this.” He started ticking off fingers. “You owe Nitis a dragon scale in return for the materials you need for an extremely illegal spell to bring your stuffed turtle to life so it can hold your excess magic. But instead of going to Beryl, the mage who, as far as I can tell, will do anything for you, you went to his best friend and signed a blood contract.”
I winced. At the time, it was my only option.
Professor Garnet gave me a pained smile. “Well, you keep life exciting.” He sliced his hand through the air. “All of this is history now. All we can do is move forward.”
A rush of air left my chest. The professor and I were alike in a lot of ways. I hoped my simple nod conveyed how thankful I was he accepted my mistakes and moved forward.
Ashe sipped his coffee. “If Nitis didn’t already have your supplies, he fucking will now.” He scowled. “Those fuckers have all but taken over the portal in the chaos.”
I hadn’t seen Beryl since he left my tower two days ago. I assumed he avoided me because of the ‘L’ word, but maybe I was wrong. A spark of hope kindled in my chest.
“It won’t last.” Professor Garnet grunted. “I’m sure they're getting a lot of items in and out, but the MA’s reorganizing fast. They’ll take control of the portal back soon.” He swirled his coffee. “I don’t know what the MA’s next move is.” His gaze flicked to me. “You’ve put them in a bad spot. They either need to return home as failures with a little girl getting the better of them or stay until the mess they’ve created is sorted.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe, young woman, at least? Though, ‘girl’ does sound more embarrassing.”
Professor Garnet looked up, chuckling. “It’s why I used ‘girl’ repeatedly in our last meeting. Director Flemmings doesn’t want them to leave and report either. If we add being unable to control students to the list of negatives against the Institute, I’ve no doubt we’ll get shut down.”
“Shouldn’t it?” I asked, thinking of Deadeye, Derek’s friend, and all the students who lost control and died here.
Professor Garnet’s face fell. “It needs to change, but it’s serving a purpose.” He set down his coffee. “Maybe instead of being a correctional facility, it should become an actual school. Most of the students here are not criminals, just kids who didn’t have the support they needed.” He picked up my hand and squeezed it. “If this place gets shut down, where would you go, Aphy? Where would your friends go?”
Ashe looked at Professor Garnet with something almost like approval. I pulled my hand back and dropped my gaze. Roisin and Derek had killed people when the unstable magic of the world turned them into Rimmed mages. Derek’s family shunned him. My freckled friend was on his own. Roisin's family sounded like they didn’t know what else to do but leave her here.
My heart fell.
Beryl joked about how fast his family got rid of him. There was no way he hadn’t tried to get in touch with his parents with all his contacts. Based on how solidly he ingrained himself into the Institute’s system, I would bet his family shut him down hard and fast. He lost hope of leaving so long ago; he didn’t even want it anymore.
The MA put mages who were on their last chance in this place. Would they execute all of us like they did Ram’s harem if the Institute didn’t exist?
Fear crawled down my spine, but I banished it. We could still fix this. “Ah, right. So, if I can take back my magic, they won’t have anything to report.” I laced my fingers together on my lap, focusing on the science. “I want to release them, I do. But I don’t know how yet.” I chewed on my lower lip, brightening considerably. “It’s kind of like adding herbs to a potion.” I loved making potions. “I can add more, but I’m not sure how to take them out once they’ve mixed.”
I smiled at the professor. Getting my magic out of the MA was a puzzle which couldn’t hurt the other mages in my life because it only involved me. I wiggled my hips, my excitement building. Despite the questionable morality of my actions , I saved people, and now I would be learning more about myself and my power because of it.
He rubbed my hands in his grip. “You sound excited.”
I nodded. “Honestly, I am. I’m experimenting with my magic. No limits, no rules.”
The professor shook his head. “It won’t work like that, and you already know it.” He squeezed my hands. “Officer Keres will want to be involved. This ‘no rules and no limits’ thing you keep saying, Aphy, remember what I said about existing within societies’ code.”
I blinked. “I thought you said I was right. You didn’t believe that anymore.”
Professor Garnet shook his head. “You are right. I tried to mold you into something the MA would accept, which was wrong, but not incorrect.”
My mind spun. “How can something be wrong but not incorrect?”
Professor Garnet looked at Ashe. My heart fell a little when he gave the Professor a begrudging but approving nod.
“We still live in a world of checks and balances.” Professor Garnet released my hand. “You said you were trying to build something, and I’ll be bold and say that something is your harem. The mages you’ll surround yourself with to help you stay balanced and happy while still functioning in society in whatever way we choose.”
I smiled and scooted toward him. “We?”