by Marisa Mills
“I—I’m trying to find my home,” I said. “I’ve narrowed it down to—”
“Then, shouldn’t you be looking at a map of Argent?” he asked. “And not Plumba?”
“I’m trying to familiarize myself with the nearby areas, too,” I lied.
Alexander’s eyes bore into mine. Such a soft, playful blue, and yet somehow so imposing. It wasn’t fair for anyone to be so handsome. Especially so handsome and mean. And when he looked at me, it was such a strange feeling. It was like he could tell everything about me, see every lie and every deception.
“I don’t see why you’d bother with that place. There’s nothing worth seeing there,” Alexander said. “Nothing good, anyway.”
“Have you ever been there?” I asked.
“No,” he said stiffly, “But everyone knows it.”
Maybe he was right. Life had been terrible in the Scraps. But it was still my home, and there was something deeply comforting in the familiarity of the place. Or maybe the demon attacks and the quakes had made me think more highly of a place that had never really been that great.
“Can you go annoy someone else?” I said. “I’m reading.”
“But I want to annoy you,” he said.
“Why are you even here?” I asked.
“I was just walking around,” Alexander said, “And I saw you through the windows. I thought I would exchange a few words.”
A warm flush spread to my cheeks. He’d come here to talk to me. “That was nice of you,” I said coldly. He was acting stiffly formal, but I wasn’t going to fall for his fake charm.
Alexander shrugged. “Don’t take it too seriously,” he replied. “As a prince, it is necessary to ensure that the people of Reverie are well.”
“Right,” I replied. Was he bragging? I thought he didn’t want to be treated like royalty.
“The fire you used was impressive. How did you accomplish such a thing?” he asked, his eyes narrowing. Ah, so this was an interrogation. I should have known I couldn’t avoid it.
I swallowed. “Luck, I guess,” I said, “Or I was scared. Remember what Celeste said? Sometimes, you perform more powerful magic when you’re feeling something strong. Maybe it was that.”
“Was it?” Alexander asked, his voice soft and dark. “Or was it something else entirely?”
“I don’t know what you’re implying.”
“Then, maybe I need to be more explicit,” Alexander said, leaning even closer.
His breath ghosted over my neck. Suddenly, I realized that he smelled nice, like something earthy. He put a knee on one arm of my chair, his hand on the other, as if worried I’d bolt if left an opening. For a wild moment, I thought of Sterling and how close he’d stood when he kissed me. Alexander kept finding me like this and trapping me places, and I didn’t know how to react. My heart fluttered in my chest as he leaned closer.
“You can hear them, can’t you?” he whispered.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.
“Don’t tell anyone,” he said. “Nobody hears them, except the darkest mages, and those always die tragically. Plus, it’s forbidden. If you don’t want to be executed as a traitor, keep your mouth shut.”
Did he mean the hisses? If so, it meant maybe I wasn’t just going crazy. I stood up quickly, pushing him away from me. He stumbled backward, kicking over a potted plant and knocking a few volumes off a shelf. I didn’t get far before he grasped my wrist and pulled me back to him.
“Let go!” I snapped.
“I’m just trying to warn you,” Alexander said, his voice soft. “Demons whisper evil temptations and destroy minds. You can’t trust them. You must have an iron will to control such beasts, Wynter. If you don’t, they’ll possess you and make you do dreadful things.”
It was the first time he’d said my name, and I realized how close we were standing. His fingers were still clasped loosely around my wrist, sending warm tingles up my arm. His eyes were earnest, and there was something strangely protective in them.
But was it a warning, or a threat? Before I had a chance to decide, we were interrupted by Viviane’s shrill voice.
***
“What are you doing?” her voice rose, as sharp as a knife. Alexander dropped my hand quickly, and I drew in a shaky breath and stepped away from him.
“We were discussing the demon today,” Alexander said.
Viviane crossed her arms. “Great,” Viviane said, “So now, you’re finished?”
I didn’t feel like getting between them or watching an argument.
“We are,” I said, darting away. I shelved the book I was reading and hurried from the library, half-expecting Alexander to follow me. I left the Academy alone, and walked briskly across the grounds and through the front gates. It was cold out, and I rubbed my bare arms. I thought about returning to the dormitory and getting my coat, but instead, I kept going. I needed some time alone. The streets were lit with flames that danced and flickered in wrought iron lanterns, casting dark shadows over the path. Patches of ice clung to the edges of the sidewalk.
I thought of the demon attack and shivered. What if it came back? It probably wasn’t wise to be walking around alone, but I couldn’t have asked anyone to go with me. Not for this. I pulled out the map beneath the lights and set off towards the edge of Reverie. It only took me ten minutes to find it. The entire kingdom was surrounded by a tall, silvery fence, composed of intricate swirls and floral patterns. It would be easy enough to slip objects through. I glanced around at the few people dotting the street.
I slowly walked along the edge of the fence, trying to match the map with the shape of the perimeter. When I peered from the edge of Reverie, I saw only darkness below. I wondered if anyone had ever fallen… or been pushed. A chill traveled down my spine. Maybe that’s why the mage from Viviane’s story cut the noblewoman into pieces first, so they’d slip through the fence more easily—if that story was even true.
Hisses whispered behind me. I froze, alarmed at first, but then I heard the laughter. It was soft and pleasant, like a bubbling spring.
I stepped away from the fence, melding into the shadows. My heartbeat quickened. I hadn’t been doing anything wrong, but it was better if I didn’t need to explain what I was doing out here by myself. A couple walked in front of me, their steps slow and easy. I recognized the man as Professor Gareth, but not the stunning woman whose arm was linked with his. The woman’s snow-white hair was the longest I’d ever seen; it went all the way to her waist. Her knee-length coat was sky blue and trimmed in white fur and covered the top of her black, heeled boots.
“Well, I think it’s fascinating. I’m sorry you don’t agree, dear,” Gareth said.
“I like seeing you passionate about it,” she said, her voice light and teasing, “But maybe you should look more at me like you look at those sigils you love so much.”
Hisses punctuated the conversation.
“I’ll try to work on that,” Gareth said.
What kept hissing? I looked around, searching for a demon, but none appeared.
“Thank you.”
Still nothing. Once they’d passed, I slumped in relief against a building behind me. That was enough of a scare that I decided to head back to the Academy before I pushed my luck. With the day I’d had, I didn’t feel much like talking to Professor Gareth, so I waited a few minutes before leaving my spot in the shadows.
I found him on the road, heading back to the Academy, but the woman was gone. I hadn’t passed her going the opposite way. She must have gone into one of the nearby buildings, but which one? And how had she left so quickly? I sighed. Maybe I was reading too much into things, but in Reverie, it seemed like dangerous secrets lurked around every corner.
I sighed with relief when I entered the school grounds, and headed straight to my dorm. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. I’d have to actually go to class and pretend to be a mage. It would be obvious I couldn’t perform
real magic, and the longer I kept pretending, the sooner I’d be found out as a fraud. After everyone went to sleep, I’d try to access the forbidden archives. The sooner I got out of Reverie, the better.
Fifteen
BOOKS IN HAND, I HEADED down the hallway towards Introduction to Sigils. At least, I had some familiarity with what those were. Besides, they might be useful for figuring out how to open the locks on the third floor. From what I’d read on sigils, though, they weren’t quite as easy as I’d imagined. Instead, they were made of a bunch of small symbols that had to be combined in certain ways, as specifically as possible, to receive the desired effect.
Apparently, there was something capricious about them, too, but it seemed that even the mages didn’t understand what that something was. Two mages could draw the same sigil perfectly and receive different results, seemingly for no discernable reason. I could see why Viviane might have trouble with it, but there was definitely no way I could manage it. And this, unfortunately, didn’t seem like something I could easily fake. Hopefully, everyone would assume I was one of those mages who just couldn’t get it. Besides, it was only the first day, how bad could it be?
As I eased in the door, my eyes swept over the classroom. It was massive, with rows of tables, each with a wooden box upon them, and seats before them. Was this what all classrooms looked like? An arm slammed into mine and I nearly dropped my book. Viviane smiled when I looked at her. “Sorry,” Viviane said. “I didn’t see you there. I thought you were the help!”
“Honestly, Viv,” Alexander said. “Can you pick another day to score points? I don’t feel like doing this today.”
“My what a lovely dress,” Viviane continued. “Didn’t you wear that yesterday… and the day before?”
I frowned, suddenly self-conscious. In the Scraps, we wore clothes until they were dirty. All the mages, I realized, seemed to change outfits every day. What a waste. Still, if I was going to blend in, I’d have to pay more attention from now on.
When Alexander jerked his head towards the classroom, Viviane followed him in, muttering something in hushed tones. I took a seat a few rows behind them, shifting around to accommodate the sword. I’d seen other students wearing them, so I thought I might as well bring mine. I was enrolled in battle magic officially, after all, though it seemed strange to carry weapons into class. Viviane leaned her head towards Alexander and was whispering rapidly, casting glances in my direction. I ignored them and looked around the classroom, hoping for a familiar face. When I found none, I opened the box on my desk. It was filled with a few different bottles, goggles, a couple of plants and some copper cups.
Du Lac walked in. He gave me a sharp nod, but his smile had a predatory edge to it. It was strange because he hadn’t actually done anything to me. I didn’t really even know him, but there was something about him that just made my skin crawl. I wondered where he’d gone after his speech at the forum. It must’ve been embarrassing to have a demon attack right after he assured everyone it wouldn’t happen again. I remembered what Dorian had said about someone releasing demons, and I wondered if that was true. What if someone was trying to make the Council look ineffective? But who would even do that, and why?
I couldn’t afford to worry about the politics. All I had to do was keep my cover long enough to finish the job I was hired for. I opened my book and skimmed the first page. It seemed that magical objects were very important to mages, which I already knew a little about. I thought about how special and expensive mage tech was in the Scraps. How did that fit into all of this? The device was in my dormitory, tucked carefully beneath a pile of clothes and wrapped up in a pair of socks. For the first time I wondered how it worked. Was it the result of demons and sigils as well?
The door to the room slammed closed with such a sudden burst of noise that I jumped. Du Lac waved a hand, and I heard it lock, exactly on time.
“Welcome,” he said, “To Introduction of Sigils. I’ll be your instructor for this class. I am Dr. Markus Du Lac. I imagine most of you will know much of the material I’m going to cover today already, but for those of you who don’t,” he said, his eyes seemed to linger on me, “Pay attention. This is important.”
I rolled my shoulders back and prepared to listen. I had seen what sigils could do, which was quite a bit, and even though replicating any of them was beyond my skills, it wouldn’t hurt to learn a few things.
Laughter. Great. Now, the talking sword was mocking my efforts.
I’m not…
Then, what was he doing? Because it definitely wasn’t encouraging. And why was the sword even talking right now, when it had been mostly silent yesterday?
Tired.
Du Lac passed out a polished wooden box engraved with complex, circular seal. I craned my neck to see what was being taken from it. Large, brightly faceted hunks of gemstone. I watched as the box slowly worked its way back, admiring the different colors.
When the box was passed back to me, I reached inside and pulled out a light blue one.
“These gemstones,” Du Lac said as the box moved on, “Are enchanted to change color.”
I frowned at the gemstone in my hand. Changing the color of an object sounded incredibly…wasteful. They were already beautiful. If a gemstone was going to be enchanted, shouldn’t it do something useful?
“What I want everyone to do today is to practice making ink. Then, you’ll use your ink to draw a sigil on your gemstone, hopefully changing the color. This activity requires very precise measurements and patience, so be careful.”
I pulled a slip of paper from the box and furrowed my brow. This recipe had thirty different steps, and at the bottom, there was sigil along with a thirty-step process of drawing it, line by line, including which direction to draw the pen and how thick to make each mark. I began pulling objects out of my box; they were labeled, at least. Surely, this couldn’t be too hard, right? Just mix a few things together in the right amounts.
More laughter, much louder that time.
The was probably a bad sign. I glanced hesitantly at my rapier, half-afraid that the demon might spontaneously appear and attack me.
You don’t know anything about demons.
No, I didn’t. But I’d seen them, and I’d feared the monsters in the Scraps. I didn’t think the monsters in the Scraps were demons, but they looked kind of similar. They were dark and spindly creatures, but looked more like large animals than the demons, which were vaguely human. None of the mages seemed to believe the demons were good or even amicable. Alexander specifically told me I couldn’t trust them. I still didn’t know why this demon, the one in my sword, had even bothered to save me, though. Why fight his own kind?
But you’re…student… You’re supposed to be…
There was a bitter edge to the words. I frowned, unsure what the demon had been trying to say.
The first step. Three drops of quicksilver into a copper cup. I took the bottle of quicksilver and glanced around to see how everyone else was doing it. No one else seemed hesitant about this. Three drops. Was I just supposed to dump it?
I unscrewed the cap and slowly tipped the open bottle into the cup. Three drops. A small fourth drop fell before I tipped the bottle back. “How much does accuracy matter in this?” I whispered, hoping Viviane or Alexander might take pity on me and answer. Nobody responded.
The…whole bottle.
That sounded really helpful. It was just one extra drop. It couldn’t make that much of a difference, could it? I moved to the next step, which involved sprinkling in quartz powder. I sprinkled it in, only to discover that I was supposed to roll the quartz powder in my hand first.
Maybe I’d only botched a couple of steps.
I worked to mix the rest of the potion. It was only a couple of mistakes, and when I was finished—long after most of my classmates—the copper cup was filled with a shimmering, silvery-lavender substance. Viviane’s creation was silver, so my color wasn’t that off.
; I tilted my head, watching Viviane. She grabbed a paintbrush, dipped it in the substance, and drew a line directly across the gemstone. Nothing happened. I swallowed thickly and grabbed my own paintbrush. I drew the line across my gemstone and waited, but I had no more success than Viviane. I had managed to speak to the device, though, and it had worked for me. And then, my rapier.
But why? There was a demon in my sword, apparently. Was there a demon in the device as well? In this gemstone? Maybe the gemstone would do what I wanted if I talked to it. “I would really appreciate it,” I murmured. “I know what you can do, and you’re really powerful. And if you can change color, that would be great. Please.”
Nothing happened. I swiped my thumb over the mark I’d left.
“No luck?” Du Lac asked, hovering over my shoulder.
“No,” I replied.
“You’re supposed to have a silver-colored substance,” Markus said, “Like Viviane’s.”
But Viviane hadn’t managed to make the stone change colors yet either.
“A pity,” Du Lac said. “I’d expected to see something much better from you, especially after you put on such a show at your examination. What happened?”
Did I imagine that he was being…more obnoxious towards me than the other students?
“I guess I got lucky,” I replied.
“For your sake, I hope not,” Du Lac said. “Try again.”
I emptied the copper cup in the sink, unleashing coils of green smoke. Then I tried again, doing my best to get the recipe exactly right this time. But even when I thought I’d gotten it perfectly, the gemstone still refused to change colors. Viviane’s had changed. Alexander’s had changed. The bells tolled, signaling the end of class. I frowned at my gemstone, as if I could force the color to change through the sheer force of will, but of course, it didn’t.
“How terrible,” Du Lac drawled, plucking the gemstone off the table before me.