The Grove

by J. R. King

  “And yet you can’t deny the fact that you enjoyed it—reveled in it, nearly.” Kaleb chuckled at the protesting sound stuttering forth from Rome’s lips. “I wouldn’t be nearly as bold-faced in my lies to you. For instance, I’d willingly admit that yours is the finest blood I’ve ever sampled. So exquisite, in fact, that I’m making it a point to ask you if I might try it again.”

  “If you’re trying to make me feel more at ease, you’re doing a real bang-up job.” Rome frowned at the forest floor. “Let me think on it, okay? In the meantime, if you can come up with something more casual, then I’ll try and deliver.”

  Kaleb set the guitar on a bed of clover, sighing at the polished wood. “I’m sure I’ll think of something. Maybe you can help me escape this mind-numbing place for a day.”

  “You don’t find the classes interesting?”

  Kaleb offered him a dead-serious stare. “One of my instructors is clinically insane. She prattles on and on about the spirit of the rocks and the trees.”

  “There has to be something about this place that you like?” Rome said. Kaleb didn’t seem keen on sharing, if he’d thought of anything at all. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I never would have imagined the things I know now. But a place is only as good as the people in it.”

  “Everyone here talks too much.”

  Rome couldn’t argue with that. “It’s usually the loudest ones who have the least to say. Still, you need to find something. If you don’t like magic, that’s fine, but don’t let circumstance dictate your happiness. Trust me.”

  “That’s nice, but how do you suppose I do that? Circumstance is all that I have.”

  Rome shrugged. “I don’t know. Some days I’m still trying to figure that out for myself.” They were quiet for a time, each engrossed in thought. Rome slipped the phone from his pocket, hovering over Ariahna’s name in the contact list. “I’m glad we had a chance to talk,” he said. “I think we can make this work.”

  Kaleb sighed. “Right. The question is, for how long?”

  ***

  The second floor opened into a massive collection of books. To call it a library was seriously understating the amount of knowledge that was no doubt packed within its walls. Students lingered everywhere; at computers and around tables; some in groups, others opting for a more solitary approach. Rome glanced at the text on his phone, following the instructions to a side door. The sigils stood out, cut deeply into the wooden frame. His fingers touched the swinging door and he pressed it inward, quickly absorbing their meaning.

  The darker wing of the library (reserved for learning of the magical sort) was far less organized than the study hall he’d left behind. Few, if any categories adorned the sides of the shelves. And the thick scent of dust overwhelmed his senses as soon as he stepped into the space. Rome gripped the strap of his backpack, walking slowly down the middle aisle. Every few feet the far wall would open up the cramped room with colonial style windows, allowing fragments of dust to glimmer in the midday sun. To his surprise, the space was otherwise illuminated by candlelit chandeliers and candelabras. He passed one or two students along the way, discovering empty tables, lone chairs, and more than a few piles of misplaced books.

  It was beautiful, if not a bit chaotic.

  Rome found her just a few rows from the very back, nestled in a secluded area of the repository. Ariahna looked at home among the shelves, surrounded by stacks of books she seemed to be gathering for their study session. She hadn’t seen him yet, and Rome couldn’t help but ease himself into the adjacent aisle, watching her through the gaps in the open shelf. She reached for a book resting just above her head, standing on tiptoe and struggling ever so slightly. He rounded the aisle then, making himself known. “Hey,” he said.

  Ariahna startled, turning to face him. Two large books dangled loosely from her arm. “Hi… You’re early. I was just pulling down a few references.”

  Rome glanced at the table from where he stood. “Just a few?” He smirked, dropping his bag by the chair and slumping into the seat. “At least you’re prepared.”

  “I try. Finding anything in here can be a bit impossible at times.” She set the books on top of her growing stack, carefully sliding out a chair for herself. “I’m glad you came.” Her next question was almost an afterthought. “What did you want to start with?”

  Rome pressed his thumbs against his knuckles, popping each one in secession. He hadn’t honestly been prepared to do schoolwork, but he supposed it was his own fault for not specifying why he wanted to meet. He watched her skim over his course list, matching his subjects to the spines of the books. The moment of quiet grew weighted.

  “What about Elements?” he said.

  Aria shook her head. “Not outside of class, remember?”

  He mirrored the action, eyes studying the wood grain.

  “Are you alright?” she said.

  Rome watched her smile at the hesitant look he returned. And for a second, he recalled everything he’d come here to say. He put his fear aside, deciding to go with the truth. “I didn’t really contact you because I wanted to study. I thought that maybe we should talk.”

  Ariahna folded her hands in her lap. “Rome—”

  “Before you say anything, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I don’t want you to feel guilty about what happened. It was an honest mistake. Anyways, I probably should have realized.”

  The confusion decorating her face was abundant.

  “Realized what?” she said.

  “That you were—with someone.”

  Aria let out a soft laugh. “That’s not why. I just—I can’t. It’s hard to explain.” He looked as baffled as she felt. “I’m sorry if I gave you the impression…”

  The moment seemed to drag on as he reached for the tome at the top of the pile. Rome cracked the book open, feeling a combination of confusion and embarrassment flood the room. “The only impression that you gave me was that I wasn’t crazy for feeling whatever it was that I was feeling.”

  “I’m sorry. I wish I could tell you more, or say things could be different. But I’m not going to make false promises. I can be your friend and your tutor, but… nothing else.”

  Rome stared at her consideringly. He’d heard through all the things she’d said, down to the things she hadn’t. The truth could always be found there, hidden behind the walls constructed by words. Everything she’d done had led him to believe that she’d felt something. But for reasons beyond his understanding, she was trying to push him away.

  “Honestly,” he said, “friends is more than I could have hoped for. I suppose tutor wouldn’t hurt, too.” They stopped to smile at one another. “I know. I’m drowning in things I know absolutely nothing about. And we’ve only just met, but, somehow, between then and now, you’ve already convinced me to give this a chance.” He stared down at the book in his hands. “I just thought you should know that.”

  He watched as Ariahna tucked a strand of curls behind her ear. Smiling at the gesture, he turned his attention back to the table and the materials she’d prepared. “Do you think we could start with Transmutation?” He dug around in his backpack, handing her his current assignment. “I can’t even decipher what it’s saying.”

  She skimmed over the explanation, nodding as she read it. “This shouldn’t be too hard.” His expression said he thought otherwise. “Take an object that’s base value is 1 or 0, and transmute it into an object of higher value. It’s a simple alteration,” she said. “Think for example, turning water into wine.” Ariahna pointed at the ring he was twisting around his finger. “That would work. Silver is easy enough to manipulate.”

  Rome slipped it from his hand, placing it in her open palm.

  “I’ll be careful,” she said. She turned her attention to the small ring. It was scratched and faded around the edges, and the unmistakable quality of it suddenly caught her eye. “Is this an heirloom?”

  “I don’t think so. My mother used to wear it on a chain,” he said, “but I
don’t know where she got it from. Why?”

  “It’s enchanted.” Aria could feel the subtle layering of magic in the metal, the buzzing warmth of one carefully cast spell after another. “Did you know there was an inscription on the inside?”

  He nodded. “I’ve never been able to read it, though.” Aria guided her fingers around the ring, and he watched the band turn blue under her touch. “Was that supposed to turn it into gold or something?”

  “No… but I can tell you what it says now.”

  He leaned in, gazing down at the tiny inscription. “‘To thine own self be true.’” Rome smirked at the quote.

  “Likely it relates to the enchantment in some way.”

  “Now I’m a little curious what it does,” he said. “I’ve been wearing it a while.”

  “How do you feel when you wear it?” she asked.

  “I don’t know… the same?”

  Ariahna set the ring gently on the tabletop, watching as it faded back to gray. She watched him pick it up then, warily slipping it back onto his finger. There was a new appreciation mixed with doubt as he regarded it. “From what I can tell it seems to bring out a characteristic of honesty,” she said. “I’d guess that it likely aids the wearer in speaking their mind—or perhaps more accurately, in finding the truth in most instances. It’s hard to say, but that’s the feeling I get.”

  “Could be why I just can’t seem to keep my mouth shut sometimes. Spouting the truth is like the last thing that I need.”

  “It’s probably better we don’t go altering it with magic,” she said. “I’ve never tried transmuting an item that was enchanted. It would be best not to test it.”

  “Any suggestions, then?”

  Aria reached inside the collar of her blouse, pulling out a thin silver chain. A locket, heart in shape and patterned with delicate swirls hung from the end. “This wasn’t my mother’s, but it was a gift from her. Here,” she said. She placed it in his hand.

  Rome could feel the warmth of her skin on the metal. His eyes flicked up to meet hers. “Are you sure?”

  Ariahna nodded. “I trust you.”

  He brushed a thumb over the etchings.

  “Don’t think about it,” she said. “Close your eyes and feel it. Magic isn’t some abstract power. It’s emotion. Find something that moves you; something to be grateful for.”

  Rome furrowed his brow. He was searching for a memory – something happy and light. It felt like it took ages to find something, and he was starting to worry Aria was going to grow impatient when he finally settled on one from his childhood.

  It was a day in late summer. He was maybe only seven at the time. His mother had taken him to the park outside of town. She always drove him to that park, even though it was smaller than the one near their home (even though it was a good forty minutes away). It was their secret place. She was pushing him on the swings as the world soared by around him, and he kept screaming: ‘Higher! Higher!’ He could still remember the rush of wind blowing past him. He was swinging so high it felt like he was flying. In that moment, the whole world was waiting for him. All he had to do was spread his arms and the wind would take him wherever he wanted to go.

  “What now?”

  “Concentrate,” she said. “Slowly develop a picture in your mind.” Rome nodded at her, and she watched him take a few shallow breaths. His hand began to relax, and when he unfolded his fingers, her locket sat perfectly untouched in his palm.

  “I guess I can’t expect to get it right the first time.” Rome undid the clasp, asking to place it back around her neck.

  “You really can’t,” she said, sweeping her hair to the side.

  He sighed. “I know.”

  “You’ll get it. I’ll be damned if you’re going to make me out to be a bad tutor.” He laughed and she felt his breath against her ear. “We’ll try again tomorrow, alright?” Ariahna made him agree before tucking her locket away. He reclaimed his seat then, looking at her curiously. “What?” she asked.

  “I can’t tell yet.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Rome leaned his elbow on the tabletop, chin resting on his knuckles. “There’s something about you I just can’t pin-point.”

  She held back a smile, feeling her cheeks flush with color. “You should concentrate more on how you’re going to pass all of your classes.” She reopened the book he’d grabbed earlier, flipping to a chapter she thought he might find interesting. “Skim over this and let me know if you have any questions.”

  “I’ve got one,” he said. “What’s your favorite flower?”

  Ariahna smiled at those curious blue eyes, trying to hide how amusing she found his teasing. “I know what you’re doing…”

  Rome slid the book to the edge of the desk, curling his fingers around the top. “I want to get to know you, that’s all.”

  “You promise you’ll read, then?”

  He nodded in agreement.

  “Daffodils,” she said. “Now please.”

  Rome smirked as she angled a look at him, practically daring him to disobey with her eyes. Part of him wanted nothing more than to accept that challenge—to tease her a little bit more. Like when she’d snagged that letter from his back pocket.

  “Okay, but what if I don’t?”

  “Rome.” Her eyes were wide with laughter.

  “Yeah?”

  “You promised.”

  “I suppose I did,” he said. “But I never said as to when.”

  “You’re incorrigible,” she replied.

  “And you use big words when you’re nervous.” Rome bit back a smile, glancing down at the text in his hands. “I’m going to read now, unless you don’t want me to?”

  “Please,” she said softly. “That is what we’re here for.”

  He began reading as they fell into a quiet rhythm. Aria had a small pile of books of her own that she was pouring through and making notes on. Students passed by their table every so often, and he would glance at her over the top of his book, being careful not to get caught. It was an entertaining game, but one that kept his focus split.

  Transmutation was trickier than he’d anticipated, and not just in practice. The textbook’s explanations were somewhat difficult to grasp, but he was enjoying himself all the same. Rome turned a page, squinting at a formula beneath one of the paragraphs apparently relating to hue and the perception of color. He laughed suddenly, startling her.

  “Am I reading this right?” He lowered his voice as she pressed a finger to her lips. “You can change your eye color?”

  “It’s a form of alteration, and yes. Alteration falls under the category of transmutation. It’s similar except instead of completely changing the shape or chemistry of something you simply change one small aspect. They have an elective just for alteration. It’s a pretty simple course. Why,” she asked, “do you want to have green hair, or change the color of your clothes?”

  “It could be fun. You could use it to mess with people.”

  “That would be a quick way to get in trouble,” Aria said.

  “Knowing what I know now, I can honestly say I’ve seen worse around town.”

  “Unfortunately, I believe that.” Ariahna looked at him playfully, setting her book aside. “Do you want to see how it works?” she said.

  Rome nodded. “Sure.”

  She waited as a small group wandered past their table, watching them turn into one of the nearby aisles. Aria placed her hands at the crown of her head, smoothing her palms down the length of her curls. Her hair turned a chestnut brown beneath her fingertips, giving Rome an excuse to stare.

  “That’s different,” he said.

  “What, you don’t think it suits me?” She smiled devilishly. “Being able to change your appearance can certainly be useful. I’ve had to do so on occasion. It’s definitely something you should learn.”

  “I’m more curious why you had to in the first place. And I don’t know. It suits you fine enough I guess.” Rome shrugged, rubbing
a palm over his jaw. “There’s just something off about it. It’s like a lie that doesn’t do you justice.”

  “It’s a disguise. The point is to blend in. And mostly, I’ve just employed it to avoid being noticed. My family is well known, and I’m easy enough to recognize. It can be annoying, when trying to go about your day without having to stop and explain yourself. Everyone needs the ability to become invisible sometimes.”

  Rome watched as she changed her hair back. “It sounds like what you need is a place where you can completely be yourself. It can be difficult to do that in the company of others, though.”

  “That’s because what you’re describing isn’t invisibility.”

  “No,” he said. “It’s transparency.” Rome slipped his things into his bag, throwing it over his shoulder as he stood. “Did you want to join me for dinner?”

  “I think I’m going to stay here for a while,” she said.

  “Alright. Same time tomorrow, then?”

  Ariahna smiled. “Same time tomorrow.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Breaking Our Fall

  Rome moved through the crowded dining hall, a worn novel clutched in his hand. The lines were too long to even justify waiting for dinner. All he wanted was the privacy of the courtyard. No distractions or obligations, just a sea of concrete and a few stone benches. Thankfully, no one seemed to share his appreciation for the crisp night air. And for the first time in days, he actually had a quiet moment to himself. He managed to get fifteen minutes of solitude before the distinct sound of footsteps pulled him back to reality.

  “I’ve been looking for you,” Dallas said.

  Rome sighed. “Why does that not sound good?”

  “You tell me.” Dallas’ hands were held stiff in his pockets. “You have something you’re trying to hide?”

  “You know, you’re kind of passive aggressive.”