I waited for a good ten minutes, and when I was sure that Sinclair wouldn’t be coming, I went into the library, having been amazed by the sculptured cat just by the entrance.
As I stood amidst the hushed aisles of the library, the scent of aged paper and leather bindings enveloped like a familiar embrace. It was strangely comforting, this sanctuary of knowledge, amidst the chaos in the hallways. With a faint smile, I decided to explore the shelves, my curiosity piqued by the prospect of uncovering hidden secrets within the pages of dusty tos.
My first class teacher would have to forgive .
Approaching the front desk, I greeted the librarian, a stern-looking woman peering at over the rim of her glasses.
"Excuse , do you have any books on magic beasts?" I inquired, trying to sound nonchalant despite the excitent bubbling within .
The librarian’s expression softened slightly, her curiosity evident as she regarded . "Magic beasts, you say?" She murmured, her gaze assessing intently before nodding towards a distant corner of the library. "You’ll find what you’re looking for over there. You are only permitted to have one book."
Thanking her, I made my way towards the designated section, the anticipation coursing through my veins like electricity. As I scanned the titles, one particular book seed to call out to , its weathered cover bearing intricate designs that hinted at the wonders held within. I reached out, my fingers grazing the spine reverently as I extracted it from the shelf.
But I wasn’t content with just one book. No, I needed more. My hunger for knowledge demanded satisfaction, and I found myself drawn to another volu nearby, its pages whispering promises of arcane wisdom. With a furtive glance towards the librarian, I swiftly concealed the smaller book within the folds of my clothing, hoping to avoid detection.
As I turned to leave, I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at the edges of my conscience. Would the librarian notice the missing book? Would she suspect of theft? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn’t dwell on it now. I needed to escape before I was caught.
Hurrying towards the exit, I tried to appear casual, my heart pounding in my chest as I approached the librarian’s desk. But to my relief, she barely spared a glance, her attention focused elsewhere as I slipped past unnoticed. With a sigh of relief, I stepped out into the crisp air, the weight of my newfound knowledge heavy in my arms.
As I walked away from the library, heading toward my classroom, the thrill of my daring escapade still coursing through , I couldn’t help but feel fully awake.
***
I walked into the classroom with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. The eyes of my classmates followed , their whispers buzzing like flies in my ears. I ignored them, my gaze fixed straight ahead as I made my way to my seat.
Rachel’s absence was conspicuous, but I didn’t spare it a second thought. Her minions scoffed as I passed by, but I paid them no mind. I had bigger things to focus on. Like my little magic act of last night, and the beast.
As I settled into my seat, I first noticed a change in the seating arrangent. Levina was now seated closer to , courtesy of the principal no doubt. She must still be in her father’s office, dealing with whatever issues had brought her there.
At that mont, Professor Bullock entered the room, his stern deanor sending a wave of unease through the class. He wasted no ti in getting down to business, asking for the assignnt that was due today. He didn’t even apologize for the lateness. Good, I had stopped by the library.
I stood up from my seat when he glanced at , and collected the papers from my classmates, making sure that Levina’s assignnt and mine were beneath the pile. I had taken hers from her bag.
I submitted them to him, without a word, totally unfazed when he reached for the notebooks beneath. He must have seen through my ruse.
He picked mine, and scanned through it with a critical eye.
"Who wrote this?" He asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
"I did," I replied confidently, eting his gaze head-on.
He seed taken aback by my response, but quickly regained his composure. "Very well then, Akwoods. You may return to your seat."
As I made my way back to my desk, a nagging question gnawed at the back of my mind. I couldn’t stomp down the feeling of anger about his deceit yesterday. He had told an hour, and I had spent three. That didn’t speak well of him as a teacher. So, I decided to confront him about it.
"Professor Bullock," I turned around and called out, interrupting his scanning process. "May I ask why you added extra two hours to my detention yesterday?"
His expression darkened, and I could feel the tension in the room rise. "That is none of your concern, Akwoods. You will do well to mind your own business."
But I refused to back down. "I believe it is my concern, Professor. You are here to teach us, not to bully us into submission."
His face flushed with anger, but before he could respond, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. I returned to my seat, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over . I had stood up for myself, and no amount of intimidation could silence .
He glared at hotly. I smiled in response, aware of the murmurs that had intensified around us.
But he didn’t rise to the bait. Fortunately.
Rather he stord out of the classroom in a fit of rage. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of victory.
However my triumph was short-lived when Raul approached imdiately after the professor left.
"Dora..."
I ignored him, refusing to engage with him in any conversation.
He stood idly by my desk for a re second, and then left the classroom without another word. I breathed a sigh of relief.
***
"Levina, do you rember the assignnt from art class?" I asked. We had just been dismissed from school, and were standing in the parking lot.
She nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Of course, Dora. I always rember everything. And yes, I will bring mine over during the weekend."
I chuckled at her response, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Levina. By the way, I’m going to the shop now. Can you drop off?"
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