I stepped into Magical Theory with the vague hope that today's disasters would remain confined to theory. Riven was already there, drumming his fingers on the desk like a caged imp, while Aria arranged her notebooks with the precision of a jeweler setting diamonds. Velka hovered near the back wall, arms crossed, as far from as the room would allow without requiring an inter-school transit permit.
I swallowed. This "sudden weirdness" from Velka had curious more curious than I cared to admit. Our project for the term was announced: Group collaboration in advanced magical resonance theory. We were to demonstrate a containnt spell, an elental adjustnt, and a structural enchantnt model. Professor Thalen would judge. Nas were drawn. My heart sank when he said, "Thorne, Nightthorn, Aria, and Riven."
I forced a smile. Velka offered none in return.
We clustered around a battered oak table. Velka shifted her stool three inches farther away, carving an invisible moat between us.
"Let's start with fire," Riven announced cheerfully, as if we were at a barbecue rather than under the stern gaze of a professor who believed only in controlled chaos. He raised his hand and summoned a small azure fla over his palm, the heat humming against his skin.
"Impressive," I said, sounding far more encouraging than I felt. Riven turned to face and promptly singed one of his parchnt scrolls. It ignited in a bright whoosh and curled into ash before he could snatch it away.
"Riven!" Aria shrieked, launching into action. She uttered a string of sparkling sigils the Sparklehold Containnt, her own invention sending a cascade of glittering motes that coalesced into a translucent do around the errant fla. It sputtered, hissed, and collapsed like a deflated balloon.
The class erupted in applause. Velka rely watched, arms still crossed, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
Riven bowed theatrically, hair singed in one patch. "My apologies, master and classmates."
Professor Thalen pinched the bridge of his nose. "Next ti, Riven, aim for demonstration fire, not wildcat fire."
Riven flashed him a sheepish grin. "Noted."
Aria bead at . "Did you see that? I actually contained real fire!"
I nodded, leaning toward Velka. "That was brilliant."
She inclined her head briefly. "Functional. Excess glitter is wasteful."
I stifled a laugh. Excess glitter? Only Aria would see glitter as a resource.
Professor Thalen cleared his throat. "Now, magic structural integrity. Thorne?"
I took a deep breath. The assignnt: Dissolve and reconstruct an inert magical barrier. We'd practiced on practice wards, but nothing prepared for the sight of the real enchanted wall set up at the far end of the chamber ancient runes glowing faintly in a soft amber.
I stepped forward, feeling every eye on Velka's too, though she pretended not to be watching. Riven and Aria both whispered encouragents, which only made my palms sweat.
"Focus," I murmured, closing my eyes. The system's voice slipped into my mind: [Channel gently. You're safe.]
I pressed my hand to the rune-carved stone. My magic flowed as smoothly as water, warm and obedient. The runes flickered. The stone shivered. Within seconds, the barrier rippled like wax under a blowtorch and lted into a puddle of glimring dust.
I blinked. Opened my eyes. Took a step back.
No effort. No sweat. No tremor.
Just… a lting wall.
Silence slamd the room. Professor Thalen's jaw hung slack. Aria's mouth ford a perfect "O." Riven looked like he'd swallowed a frog.
Velka's eyes were… wide. Shocked. Almost… proud.
"Miss Thorne!" Professor Thalen finally spluttered, his voice thick with horror. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
I swallowed hard. "I… lted the barrier, as requested?"
He stared at like I'd animated a golem with forbidden soul-snatching magics. "That was not the assignnt. You used nearly no focus. It dissolved in under three seconds. You barely channeled."
I peered at the puddle of rune-dust on the floor. "Isn't faster better?"
He shook his head, looking like he'd aged twenty years in the span of a heartbeat. "Faster is reckless. You must control your magic before it controls the world."
I blinked. "Yes, professor."
The class erupted into nervous whispers. Aria slipped into my side, voice low: "That was incredible."
Riven clapped on the shoulder so hard I staggered. "Notable. Did you see her face?"
I glanced at Velka. Her expression had softened. She was nodding, just a fraction.
The system piped in, cheerful despite the professor's ltdown: [You just used 0.0003% of your full capacity. We may need to talk.]
My heart thudded. "We do?"
[Very soon,] it teased. [I have snacks.]
Professor Thalen regained his color an ashen beige and turned to Velka. "Your turn. Please demonstrate the structural reinforcent."
Velka rose, brows still knit in concentration. She walked smoothly to the edge of the puddle, tapped her fingers along the rune-etched floor, and murmured a phrase so low I could hardly catch it. A slender lattice of shadow-silver light knit itself from the edges of the lted runes, weaving upward until it ford a perfect restoration of the barrier stone and rune complete.
She stepped back exactly one pace. The barrier humd and glowed.
Professor Thalen's eyes were moist. "Remarkable."
Velka inclined her head once, extrely formally. "Functional."
Aria burst into applause, Riven sounded a low wolf-whistle, and I simply stared at her in awe.
All around us, classmates gawked or scurried to scribble frantic notes.
Professor Thalen cleared his throat again. "Group one excellent work, though with room for… moderation. Next group."
Velka returned to our table. She passed so close I nearly caught the faint scent of her lavender soap and sothing else sothing inexplicably mine.
I opened my mouth to ask her what she thought. She didn't look my way.
My heart sank.
Aria reached out and squeezed my hand. "You were brilliant."
I nodded, unsure what to say.
Riven smirked. "Control can be overrated."
Aria gave him a look that could lt iron.
And Velka? She slid into her seat, eyes downcast, posture perfect—yet sothing in her expression spoke of a war waging deep beneath her calm veneer.
I exhaled quietly.
The bell rang.
Professor Thalen lectured about responsible channeling.
I gathered my things, feeling the weight of what had just happened. I had unleashed power I barely understood. But I also saw in Velka's face sothing I hadn't before: not fear, nor disdain, but sothing like pride and worry.
As we filed out, I fell into step beside Velka, determination jangling in my chest.
"Hey," I said softly. "That was amazing."
She glanced at , the tiniest flicker of warmth in her eyes, then looked away.
I squeezed her hand briefly our first real touch since that shouted "hi" and whispered, "We'll talk soon."
She didn't pull away.
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