{Javir}
Javir walked through the palace halls, her footsteps echoing off the marble floors.
She could feel the tension in her shoulders, a knot of unease that had been growing ever since she received the letter from the court sorceress.
[What does she want with ?] Javir wondered, her brow furrowing. [It has to be about lisa. There's no other reason she'd summon like this.]
She knew she could have declined the invitation, could have made up so excuse about being too busy with her classes. But she also knew how that would have looked, like she had sothing to hide.
[And I don't,] Javir thought firmly. [I have nothing to be ashad of. I'm just trying to help lisa reach her full potential.]
Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that this eting was going to be more than just a friendly chat.
Zephyra Vortell was a powerful woman, with a reputation for being both brilliant and relentless in her pursuit of the things she wanted.
Javir had only caught glimpses of her back when she was working at the palace, but even then, she'd been struck by the sorceress's presence, the way she seed to command every room she entered.
[I wonder if she's changed at all,] Javir mused, stopping outside the door to Zephyra's office.
Taking a deep breath, Javir knocked on the door, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Co in," a rich, velvety voice called from within.
Javir pushed the door open, stepping into the office with her head held high.
Zephyra was seated behind a large, ornate desk, her athyst eyes fixing on Javir with an intensity that made the professor stiffen up.
For a long mont, they simply stared at each other, sizing each other up like two predators circling for dominance. Javir couldn't help but notice the way Zephyra's lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile, as if she found sothing amusing about the whole situation.
"Javir," Zephyra said finally, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk. "Please, have a seat."
Javir did as she was told, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap. She could feel Zephyra's gaze on her, studying her, trying to read her intentions.
"I assu you know why I've asked you here," Zephyra said, her voice smooth as silk. "It's about lisa Blackfla."
Javir nodded, keeping her expression carefully neutral.
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"I figured as much," she said, her tone even. "What about her?"
Zephyra leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers under her chin.
"It has co to my attention that you recently borrowed several tos on Blood Magic from the palace archives," she said, her eyes never leaving Javir's. "I'm curious as to why."
Javir felt her stomach clench, a flash of panic running through her.
[Ah...]
She'd been careful when she borrowed those books, making sure to go through all the proper channels and fill out all the necessary forms. But, well, when she made that decision, she hadn't counted on the court sorceress not only coming back, but also ending up as lisa's tutor.
[Shit,] she thought, her mind racing. [I can't tell her the truth. Telling her that I gave those books to lisa so she could practice so Blood Magic is probably the number 1 easiest way to ruin what lisa's got going for her right now.]
But she also felt as though lying here completely would be a mistake. Say the wrong thing and Javir felt like she'd only spur Zephyra to look deeper.
"I was doing research," Javir said finally, choosing her words carefully. "For a project I'm working on."
Zephyra raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusent dancing in her eyes.
"A project?" she repeated, her tone skeptical. "And what kind of project would require such... controversial reading material?"
Javir swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.
"It's a theoretical study," she said, hoping her voice sounded more confident than she felt. "On the potential applications of Blood Magic in healing and... and other areas."
It wasn't a complete lie. That was, after all, what lisa had ended up using the texts for.
So far, anyway. lisa still had those tos. She could still find other ways to use Blood Magic.
Zephyra studied her for a long mont, her expression unreadable.
"I see," Zephyra said finally, her voice soft and dangerous. "And does this project of yours have anything to do with lisa Blackfla's... unique capabilities?"
Javir's heart skipped a beat, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of her neck.
"lisa is a talented student," she said, her voice steady despite the fear churning in her gut. "But her abilities are her own. I'm not involved in her personal studies."
It was a half-truth, and Javir knew it. She'd been helping lisa with her magic since the girl first arrived at the academy, guiding her and nurturing her talents in whatever way she could. But she also knew that lisa's true potential lay far beyond anything Javir could teach her.
Zephyra's lips curved into a small, knowing smile, as if she could read Javir's thoughts as easily as a book.
"Of course," she said, her voice silky smooth. "I do apologize if I co across as though I was implying anything. I was rely curious about your... involvent with the girl."
Javir's jaw clenched.
"Well, I can assure you that my involvent with lisa is strictly professional," she said, her voice cold and hard as steel. "I am her teacher, nothing more. I guide her when she asks for guidance. That is all."
Zephyra's smile widened, a glint of sothing dangerous and alluring in her eyes.
"Of course," she purred, leaning forward across the desk. "I would never suggest otherwise."
But Javir could hear the unspoken accusation in her words, the insinuation that there was sothing more to her bond with lisa than t the eye.
[Well... Let her think what she wants,] Javir thought, staring back at the sorceress. [As long as she doesn't get in the way of lisa's research, I don't care what she assus about .]
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