Page 97 of Class Studies
“Ow,” Tanwyn exclaimed jokingly.
I pouted and kissed the spot before leaning against his chest.
“Politics, money.” Tanwyn ticked off his fingers. “Someone above her could even be forcing her hand. We don’t know. The bigger something is, the harder it is to change.”
I scowled at the textured floor, wishing I didn’t understand Tanwyn's words. Instead of arguing or asking more questions, I decided to practice Doctor Roy’s new idea and accept it for what it was.
“How long will we be locked in here?” I asked.
Tanwyn hmphed. “Probably until Metaphysics. I’m assuming they need to reevaluate their position. Vac’s grown attached to you and ate a bunch of your magic. I explained all of this to the Director. Until he’s used your magic up, he won’t fit in me anymore.”
I wrinkled my nose. “In you?”
“Well.” Tanwyn wiggled his eyebrows. “He’s a being of pure magic who lives in my magic system, if that makes sense.” He rubbed my shoulders, and I leaned forward to give him better access. “I’ve got limited space.” He snorted. “Kinda like our phones, so when he eats something too big….”
“He won’t fit anymore,” I finished for him. “What does it feel like to have, ah, your friends living inside you?”
Tanwyn leaned forward and rested his chin on my shoulder. “No one’s ever asked me that before.” His soft breathing brushed across my ear. “It feels good, honestly. It’s comforting to have them with me.” He rocked his chin. “Let's see, maybe it’s like having a contacts list and knowing you can call any of those people at any time, and they’ll be there for you no matter what.”
I squeezed his knee, intimately familiar with his analogy from waking up in the medical wing for the second time. Warmth filled my stomach.
He chucked. “Because they don’t have a choice. They're bonded to me.”
“Er,” I said, suddenly uncomfortable. “So, you’re all friends and stuff?”
“Well.” Tanwyn kissed my neck. “No. Some of them are. Many of them are like Vac, slightly more intelligent than an animal, but not much.”
Vac growled and barked twice. The sound echoed off the concrete walls of the Sphérique. I covered my ears, and the bear-dog immediately whined and crawled forward, placing his still blood-stained muzzle on my lap.
“Except Vac, of course,” Tanwyn added, releasing my shoulders to pet his summons.
Vac purred like a cat, except one hundred times louder and rougher. Tanwyn smiled lovingly at him while I tried not to remember ragdoll Cozbi.
“My first summons used my youth to trick me into getting exactly what he wanted,” Tanwyn said quietly. “He’s highly intelligent, with no concept of time.” He furrowed his eyebrows. “I’m pretty sure he’s hundreds of years old. Fortunately for both of us, I didn’t understand what a bad deal I’d taken. I was a lonely kid, and in many ways, he was a lonely construction of magic with no real place in the world.”
He gave Vac a final pet before gathering me closer to him.
I squeezed Tanwyn’s leg. “Do they scare you?”
Tanwyn rested his head against mine. “Some of them a bit, maybe. It’s less them and more my magic. Even though I function like any other Natural Mage, creatures of pure magic are drawn to me, and I them.” He snorted. “No summoner has ever died of natural causes. If the MA doesn’t kill me, one of my summons will. I just don’t know which one or when.”
I didn’t like our vein of conversation, so I changed it. “Do you believe what you said? About having to be good for our Aptitudes, but not being able to act good outside of the system?” I traced one of the tattoos on his arm. A mist of orange magic followed my fingers.
Tanwyn shivered but didn’t stop my motions.
“Yes. I was about to be out.” He frowned. “I spent the last four years avoiding everyone. Saffron was our golden boy, and he did it by focusing on himself.” He sighed. “Now, look at us. We’re back at square one, probably, because we helped you.”
I cringed, and Tanwyn cupped my cheek. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Helping you is the right thing to do. We wouldn’t lose so many kids to their first Aptitudes if we helped them instead of ostracizing them.”
He gave me a quick kiss. “I’m sorry I wasn’t bolder sooner. I shouldn’t have been the last one to join your harem.” His eyes twinkled. “Professor Garnet kissed me last night.”
I groaned. “Saffron already likes Keith more than me, now you too.”
Tanwyn bopped me on the nose. “I wouldn’t say more, on my account at least. But I enjoy the attention of both sexes. Life’s too short to limit yourself. The professor knows how to kiss. It’s no wonder all the students at the Institute have a crush on him, at some point or another.”
I wrinkled my nose, suddenly wondering how many students Saffron and the professor shared. He’d said not many. I poked myself. This was not the time to let my greedy, jealous dragon side out.
“I need some help,” I said, changing the topic again.