Page 17 of An Arcane Education
It makes me wonder if I’m in for an even harder year than I initially expected. Is there some sort of prejudiceagainst people like me, who have been ignorant of the existence of magic until so late in life, who don’t come from magical families? That might explain her disdain for me, but it’s only one of many theories.
With campus getting busier by the minute, ferries in the distance carting students to the island by the dozens, I head toward the library, not because Max suggested it in her contemptuous verbal attack, but because libraries are calming and predictable. Plus, even if it’s busy, it’ll be quiet.
The entrance is a set of heavy wooden doors carved with intricate patterns of books and scrolls interwoven with what might be magical symbols or simply decorative flourishes. I pull one open and step into the sanctuary that is the library.
The main floor reminds me of a cathedral, grand and sacred, with ceilings at least thirty feet high supported by dark wooden beams. Bookshelves stretch in every direction, and tables are spaced evenly throughout, each with small lamps that cast soft, warm light across the aged wood. Each corner of the room holds a staircase that leads to the upper floors, visible through open balconies that ring the space. The entire room smells of old paper and leather.
Several students occupy various tables, already studying despite the fact that classes haven’t even begun. Their dedication would be impressive if it weren't slightly intimidating. How difficult are the classes that people are already studying on the Friday evening before they start?
I head upstairs, trying not to stare when I witness a student casually levitate a book from its space on a highershelf into his hands. I circle the second level, go up to the next level, then again to reach the top floor. With each level, there are fewer people, and this one, like the first, has a desk positioned on the wall between two of the staircases.
“Can I help you find something?”
The voice startles me badly enough that I actually jump. I turn to find a man, about my age, emerging from between two bookshelves with a few books stacked in his arms.
“Sorry,” he chuckles, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I shake my head and smile. “No worries. I’m just looking around. Thank you, though.”
“Fair enough.” He grins, a lopsided smile that’s casual yet endearing. “Well, if you change your mind, I’ll be working at the information desk over there all year. My name’s AJ.”
“Good to know. I’m Vivian,” I say. He’s cute in that classically handsome, high school quarterback sort of way. He must be six feet tall, clearly muscular with his arms straining against his polo sleeves, and his blonde hair falls in careless waves around his temples. All of that paired with his crooked grin makes him someone who certainly doesn’t have trouble in the dating department.
“Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Vivian. First time in the library?” He tilts his head toward the desk in silent suggestion, and I follow him as he begins to walk in that direction.
“Yeah, is it that obvious?” I joke.
He shrugs as he places the books behind the desk and scribbles something on a sticky note to label the stack.
“I figured you were either new here or confused about where to find a particular book. Most people don’t just stand around in the library.” He turns briefly to wink at me before returning to digging through a drawer. Is he flirting with me? If he is, it doesn’t matter. I’ve known guys like him, men who are handsome and know it and have no qualms about flirting for sport.
“You caught me. I am new, not just to campus, but to… all of this.” I gesture widely.
He raises an eyebrow. “New to magic?”
“Yeah…” my cheeks warm with embarrassment, and I’m not sure why I told him when I made it a point to hide it from the man I spoke to last night. But where Alaric was mysterious and slightly intimidating, AJ is warm and open.
Finishing whatever he was working on, AJ turns his attention toward me fully and, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall, regards me with interest. “Hmm, a freshman then?”
I shake my head. “No. I’m doing my master’s degree, but they’re making me take all the magic courses on top of it to catch up and learn my Affinity. I’ll be drowning in credit hours for the foreseeable future.”
“That’s rough,” he agrees. “What’s your major and Affinity, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Botany and Naturalism.”
His face lights up. “No shit! I’m a Naturalist too! Though I’m majoring in Pharmacology with an emphasis on plant medicine and herbalism.”
“That’s actually really cool! Hopefully we’ll have some classes together, then.”
“Got your schedule on you, by chance?”
“Actually, I do.” I dig around in my bag until I find the folded paper that I’ve almost committed to memory by this point and hand it to him.
“Sweet, it looks like we have Plant Physiology and Biochemistry with Dr. Vale together. Oh, and Professor Hagan’s Naturalism Spellwork class. I’ve had her before.”
“Is she tough?”
“Nah. It’s not a blow-off class by any means, but she doesn’t give many assignments outside of class, though that might change for this class. I’ve heard there’s a lot more research involved.”
