16

My second class was about as bad as my first, with the only exception being that I wasn’t humiliated in front of an entire classroom. We had to study the theory of magic, something I also failed to grasp considering, to me, there is no theory to magic. It is a part of us like our senses are, there to use and wield as we see fit.

But my horrible class experiences are nothing compared to the dread I feel as I enter Kaz’s classroom, dragging my feet towards the door leading to his office. My heart thrums in my ears, and I’m filled with so much anxious adrenaline, I almost believe I’d fly away if any danger arises.

This must be how a rabbit feels when it enters a wolf’s den.

Exposed and defenceless.

Even while I wield wild magic, a form of magic said to overpower the regular sort, I doubt I can defend myself if Kaz ever suspects me of it. With his record of persecuting Anomalies, I’m certain he’ll have me detained before I can even throw a spell at him.

How many others had fought him only to fail? How many Magians were persecuted because their magic was no match for his?

And as bitter it is to admit, I don’t know as much about magic and spells as I think I do. All I know is the tomes Gran left me to study, and none of them is up to Academy standards. In a twisted sense, I feel like I can learn a lot here, evolve my magic, and grow stronger. But none of that will be possible if I’m discovered.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I finally open the door and enter my dreadful professor’s office.

However, consider me pleasantly surprised upon discovering the room resembling a laboratory – I half expected it to look a torture chamber, mind you. The walls on either side of me are stacked with bookshelves from floor to ceiling with wheeled ladders to reach the top. There’s a little garden in the middle of the room, and a spacious potions lab installed at the far end near the windows.

The air itself smells heavily of brewing potions, the scent making me feel right at home. All this place needs is a…

I gasp when I look up to see a skylight, the rays of the setting sun drowning the room in golden light. This place is perfect. More than enough space for potion making, a garden, plenty of shelves for books, and the skylight is useful for letting in moonlight for the potions that need to be charged with it.

For a moment, I’m almost jealous of Kaz for owning all of this.

But that moment ends as soon as one of the bookshelves creak and moan before sliding to the side…to reveal the persecutor himself emerging from it. Of course, he would have another secret room hidden behind his bookshelves.

“On time, I see,” he says without sparing me a glance. “It’s a good start. Follow me.”

It takes my brain a second to register the command before my feet jolt to life. I scurry after him and stop at a table that’s covered with a sheet.

“This,” Kaz removes the sheet and a gasp loudly, “is Emily. She’s been hit by the blight yesterday morning.”

I gape at the motionless girl on the table in horror. She looks as good as dead. Ash white skin, bluish lips, and the pulsing rash spread over half her face and upper torso. Still, she breathes, even though weakly.

“I’m aware the Dean wants me to bring you up to date with your classmates,” Kaz continues monotonously as if the sight of the girl doesn’t bother him in the least, “but after careful consideration, I decided to leave you responsible for your own studying. The only purpose you have here and to me, is finding a way to fix this.” He gestures at Emily.

Feeling the lump return to my throat, I tear my eyes off the girl to look at him. “But…what if the Dean sees that I’m not improving? Won’t he suspect anything?”

“The Dean is preoccupied with matters of the blight enough as it is, I doubt he’ll spare a moment to assess your progress. Why else would he make you my responsibility?” Kaz says it so coldly, I almost believe I’m his burden rather than his responsibility. “Find a tutor, someone from my class to get you up to date. While in my office, your only purpose is to find a cure. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” I mutter, my respect for him slipping by the minute. Stealing another glance at the girl, I stare at the rash when a question comes to mind. “What of the rash, sir?”

That question was meant to sound ambiguous. If Kaz and the healers couldn’t see the rashes, it can either mean one of two things. Either only werewolves get them – but I now know that is not the case – or only wild magic wielders can see them. I had to figure out which is which to know how much information to exclude to this man.

Fortunately, Kaz answers my questions without even realizing it. “Emily has no rashes; I had the healers perform a full examination on her. I do believe that symptom is only visible in werewolves as your claimed.”

I nod slowly, making a mental note not to mention the rash that is practically consuming Emily’s face to him. It’s now evident that only I can see it, which makes me wonder if Eisley spoke the truth. That wild magic is responsible for this blight.

“I shall get started, then.” I draw our conversation to an end and place my bag on the nearest surface.

Thankfully, Kaz also concludes this meeting. “Good. Let me know if you find anything.”

I half hoped that he’d return to his hidden room behind the bookshelf and leave me to work in peace and safety. However, he merely backed up to a desk near the potions lab to resume whatever work he was doing before I arrived.

Knowing he’s right there supervising me, I hover for a moment, wondering where to begin with my examination. Only when he clears his throat do I jolt into action.

I grab a notebook and pen from my bag and place them next to Emily. I study her like I did to Zari, taking her temperature, checking her eyes, shining a light to see how her pupils react, and finally, examining her mouth. Her symptoms all match Zari’s.

However, it is the rash that I’d rather want to be studying.

Stealing a glimpse of Kaz, I notice him focusing intently on a document in front of him, his brows creased handsomely above his shades. Taking advantage of his occupation, I transfigure my pen into a scalpel and nick off a patch of Emily’s skin on her shoulder where the rash is at its worse. I’m horrified to find that, instead of crimson blood, a black liquid oozes from the wound.

In a beat, I cast at it before it can trickle onto the table and make a mess. The wound closes, and the piece of rash I cut off grows back twice its size.

Staring down at the piece I cut off, I notice it still pulses between my fingers. Disgusted, I summon a vial from my bag and slip it inside to examine in private. Something tells me the rash is the key to what caused the blights…and how to cure it.

“What are you doing?”

My heart spikes when, out of the blue, Kaz’s voice sounds right behind me. Enclosing the vial in my hand, I spin around to face him, keeping it hidden behind my back. He regards me suspiciously, brows creased and rendering me numb with dread.

“I…uh…” What do I say? I can’t lie to save my life. I have a tell, and he’ll know it in a heartbeat. Raking my brain for an escape, I blurt the first thing that comes to mind – which also happens to be the worse thing to say to him of all people, “Is it true that your eyes are cursed?”

Kaz rears back. “What did you just say?”

“That’s why you always keep them hidden,” I continue word-vomiting like I always do when my nerves get the best of me.

“Shut up –”

“Which, now that I think of it, makes much more sense because –”

“I said shut up!” Kaz appears before me with such speed, I stagger backward and into the table Emily is lying on.

He cages me against it, forcing me to lean back to protect the little personal space I have left. But even that is futile, seeing as we’re practically chest to chest. He’s so close, I can feel the heat he radiates, taste the mint on his breath, and get high off his spiced honey scent.

I’m both terrified and anticipating – for what, I’m not sure.

“Inquire about my eyes again,” Kaz seethes above my lips, his breath fanning my cheeks, “and it’ll be the last thing you’ll ever do. Get back to work.”

He straightens up in a flash as though nothing happened and strides out of the room, leaving me both numb and breathless.