Chapter 3

If someone had asked Julian at the end of the first week what classes he thought he would have the most trouble with, he would have answered Spell Formulas and Advanced Numerology. He hadn't accounted for the sheer, grinding frustration of Protection Spells. The textbook was a dense thicket of archaic theory, and the teacher's lectures were less about instruction and more about reciting obscure anecdotes that had nothing to do with the practical application of a barrier. Julian stared down at the exam paper, his quill hovering over the final pages. The last two questions were a nightmare of structural engineering and fluid mana dynamics. One demanded a comprehensive warding diagram for a three-story manor house with a subterranean cellar, requiring precise calculations for weight-bearing mana anchors. He didn't know the first thing about architecture. How was he supposed to know where the load-bearing beams were in a hypothetical house? He scribbled a few desperate lines, trying to guess at the structural integrity of the basement, but the logic didn't hold. He had managed to fill only eight out of the ten questions before the proctor called time. He set the quill down and rubbed his face. The realization hit him with a heavy thud: he couldn't rely on the classroom instruction for this. If he wanted to pass, he was going to have to dive into the library and teach himself the fundamentals of protection from scratch. Julian gathered his things and headed for the exit, only to find Olivia Stone waiting for him by the door. She looked more agitated than usual, her fingers tapping a nervous rhythm against her leather-bound notebook. "How do you think you did back there?" she asked as he stepped into the hallway. "Badly," Julian said. Olivia let out a sharp breath, her shoulders dropping an inch. "Yeah, me too. That was ridiculous. Since when is this an architecture degree?" She didn't move to walk away. Instead, she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a hushed, urgent whisper. "Willow finished in only half an hour. She didn't even look stressed." Julian shifted his bag higher on his shoulder. "Kind of like Ethan." "Exactly like Ethan!" Olivia hissed. "It doesn't make sense. Neither of them were at the top of the rankings last term, and now they're breezing through exams that are stumping the rest of us." "Aren't you a little bit curious how they do it?" Olivia pressed, her eyes searching his. "Of course I am," Julian scoffed. He wasn't just curious; he was suspicious. Rapid improvement like that usually involved something forbidden, or at the very least, something expensive. "Hey, wait up!" A loud, boisterous voice echoed down the corridor. Leo caught up to them, his face slightly flushed from the walk. "I always thought Ethan was no good at anything. I mean, he's a nice guy, but he's never been a scholar." "I guess he was pulling the wool over our eyes all this time," Julian said, though the words felt hollow. Leo shook his head, his expression one of pure disbelief. "Man, that's so stupid. Why would anyone pretend to be that bad at magic for two years?" "He wouldn't," Olivia huffed, crossing her arms. "He would have slipped at least occasionally. You don't just wake up one morning with a perfect grasp of mana-threading." The conversation died down as all three filed into the alchemy classroom, which was really more of a big alchemy workshop than a typical classroom. The air was thick with the scent of dried herbs, sulfur, and the metallic tang of cooling cauldrons. Long stone benches were cluttered with glass vials and weighing scales. As they moved toward their usual station, Leo leaned in and whispered, "Our teacher is kind of hot!" Julian shot him a look of pure annoyance. Serena Wells was indeed well-preserved for a woman of fifty, but he was more interested in her knowledge of reagents than her appearance. "I need good grades in alchemy, Leo. Shut up." "I don't see why you like this class so much," Leo grumbled, setting his bag down with a heavy thud. "It's just cooking with rocks. It doesn't feel like magic. It's a girl's subject." "Leo..." Julian's voice was a low warning. "It's true!" Leo protested, waving a hand at the jars of pickled roots. "Where are the explosions? Where's the power? It's just measuring and stirring." Julian turned to face him, his expression dead serious. "If you don't shut up right now I won't let you partner with me anymore." Leo's eyes widened. "Who's going to help me with that stuff, then?" He gestured vaguely at a complex brewing chart on the blackboard. He went quiet immediately, though he continued to pucker his lips in a silent pout. At the front of the room, Serena Wells was inspecting a potion. Ethan stood beside her, looking slightly nervous but hopeful. Serena lifted the vial to the light, her eyes widening as she observed the swirling, iridescent liquid within. It was an enhancement potion, but it had a distinct, golden hue that wasn't in the standard recipe. "This is remarkable, Ethan," Serena said, her voice full of praise. She didn't even mention that he had completely deviated from the assigned formula. She seemed mesmerized by the quality of the brew, ignoring the rest of the class to continue fawning over his work. The rest of the period passed in a blur of grinding pestles and bubbling liquids. As the session wound down, Stella Vance stepped into the room, her spectacles glinting under the mage-lights. "And that concludes today's lesson," said Stella. "Before you leave, however, I have an announcement to make. Regarding the upcoming Sunstone Festival, the academy will be hosting a mandatory dance." A collective groan went up from the students. Julian let out a particularly low, guttural sound of protest. He had zero interest in formal events, let alone dancing in front of the entire faculty. "Dismissed," Stella called out over the rising chatter. "Miss Stone, mister Hayes, stay after class please." Julian exchanged a wary look with Olivia as the rest of the students, including a still-grumbling Leo, filed out of the workshop. Stella waited until the door clicked shut before turning to them. "I assume you both know how to dance?" "Sure," Julian said, his tone flat. He'd been forced into enough lessons by his mother to know the basic steps of a waltz, even if he hated every second of it. Olivia fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. "I'm not very good at it. My family didn't focus much on the social circuits." "I want you two to help me with the dance lessons," Stella said, ignoring their lack of enthusiasm. "How can we help?" Olivia asked, her expression shifting from apprehension to a tentative sort of pride at being singled out. Julian narrowed his eyes. He knew the academy's reputation for efficiency. "Animation spells." Stella nodded. "Exactly. There is a spell that will guide a person's limbs and body through the movements. It's far more effective than trying to teach the rhythm manually to several hundred students at once." "The spell moves you around like a puppet on a string," Julian added for Olivia's benefit. He looked back at Stella. "I sincerely hope you intend to give students a choice to refuse. Forcing people into animation spells is a bit... invasive." "Of course," Stella agreed. "Students who refuse the animation spell method must attend at least three sessions instead of one to ensure they reach the required standard. The lessons will be held every day at eight in the evening in room six." "And why did you choose us, specifically?" Julian asked. "You both have decent control over your magic and you seem responsible enough to handle the casting without making a mess of it," Stella said. She looked at Olivia. "Miss Stone, you can leave. I need a private word with Julian." Olivia glanced at Julian, curious but obedient, and gathered her books before heading out. Once the door closed again, Stella's professional mask softened slightly. A faint smile touched her lips. "You might be able to change mentors soon, Julian. Arthur Chen is... difficult, and there has been talk of a transfer. I may be the one taking over your tutelage." Julian's heart gave a sudden, sharp jolt. Anything was better than the barking, unfazed madness of Arthur Chen. "Of course I'm interested!" he half-shouted, his usual sarcasm momentarily forgotten. Stella nodded, her expression turning practical again. "We will discuss the details later. For now, I expect to see you at the first dance session." Julian walked out into the hall, his mind racing. Getting away from Arthur would be the best thing to happen to his academic career since he'd arrived at Northwood. But as he looked toward room six, the weight of the trade-off settled in. He'd been planning to skip the dance entirely, or at least hide in a corner. Now, he was not only required to be there, but he was also the one responsible for making sure everyone else danced, too. This was going to be a long festival. ════════════════════════════════════════